Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2016 Toyota Highlander. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Brake Fluid Level Sensor Inoperative/FMVSS 135
- Summary
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Highlander vehicles manufactured May 26, 2016, to September 16, 2016. The brake fluid level sensor may not be connected to the wire harness, preventing the sensor from detecting the brake fluid level. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- Consequence
- If the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, connect the wire harness to the sensor, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this G03.
Incorrect Load Carrying Capacity Label/FMVSS 110
- Summary
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
- Consequence
- An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (111)
111 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The unknown or other is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 111 |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 21 | 18.9% |
| Service brakes | 19 | 17.1% |
| Electrical system | 14 | 12.6% |
| Air bags | 10 | 9% |
| Engine | 9 | 8.1% |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 8.1% |
| Tires | 7 | 6.3% |
| Visibility/wiper | 7 | 6.3% |
| Steering | 6 | 5.4% |
| Electronic stability control | 4 | 3.6% |
How 2016 compares with other Highlander years
Best and worst Highlander years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 182 | 2 |
| 2013 | 207 | 3 |
| 2014 | 136 | 4 |
| 2015 | 192 | 1 |
| 2016 | 111 | 2 |
| 2017 | 268 | 3 |
| 2018 | 268 | 4 |
| 2019 | 490 | 3 |
| 2020 | 319 | 4 |
| 2021 | 527 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2016 Toyota Highlander suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 28 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,400
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 313 g/mi
- EPA class
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 28 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · AV-S6 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 28 / 28 / 28 | $2,400 | 313 |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 25 / 22 | $3,050 | 398 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 21 | $3,200 | 425 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 437 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 Highlander for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2016 Toyota Highlander FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Highlander have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 16V775000 (brake), 16V420000 (equipment). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Toyota Highlander problems?
Owners filed 111 complaints with NHTSA. Unknown or other (21), Service brakes (19), Electrical system (14) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 Toyota Highlander get?
EPA rates the 3.5 L 6-cyl · AV-S6 CVT version at 28 city, 28 highway and 28 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2016 Toyota Highlander get?
NHTSA rated the 2016 Toyota Highlander suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (18.5% rollover risk).
How does the 2016 Highlander compare with other years?
Among the 2012–2021 Toyota Highlander model years at least five years old, the 2016 drew the fewest complaints (111) and the 2021 the most (527). The 2016 drew 111. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.