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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2016 Toyota Highlander is associated with 115 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 3 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Other / Uncategorized, accounting for 16 reports (14% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 5 certified vehicle configurations spanning 3.5L 6-Cyl hybrid, 2.7l 4-cyl, and 3.5l 6-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 20 to 28 MPG combined. The 2016 Toyota Highlander belongs to the 3rd generation (XU50) Highlander platform spanning model years 2015–2019.

Platform Architecture: 3rd Generation (XU50) • Production Span: 2015–2019 • Platform Code: K • Lifecycle Note: Facelift (2017–2019)
Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 115 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 3 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Other / Uncategorized (16 / 14%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 14 crash / 1 fire / 8 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 20–28 MPG across 5 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2016 Toyota Highlander?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Highlander Hybrid AWD Hybrid 3.5L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S6) 27 MPG 28 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus Hybrid 3.5L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S6) 28 MPG 28 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Highlander 2WD 2.7L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 20 MPG 25 MPG 22 MPG — $2,800 / yr
Highlander 2WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 19 MPG 25 MPG 21 MPG — $2,950 / yr
Highlander AWD 3.5L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 18 MPG 24 MPG 20 MPG — $3,100 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2016 Toyota Highlander?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SUV FWD 18.5%
SUV AWD 16.900000000000002%
HV SUV AWD 16.900000000000002%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Toyota Highlander models.
View complete 2016 Toyota Highlander crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2016 Toyota Highlander?

Summary of 115 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
115
Crash Reports
14
Fire Reports
1
Complaints w/ Injury
8
Total Injuries
11

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Service Brakes 15 complaints (3 crashes)
Electrical System 8 complaints (1 crash)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 6 complaints
Visibility & Wipers 6 complaints (1 crash)
Air Bags 5 complaints (3 crashes)

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2016 Toyota Highlander problems & component breakdown (37 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2016 Toyota Highlander?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #18E107000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Defect Summary: Fujian Wanda Automobile Glass Industry (Wanda) is recalling certain aftermarket Replacement Windshields sold for use in 2014-2018 Toyota Highlander vehicles. The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM).

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Wanda will notify owners, and service centers will replace the windshields, and inspect the ECM for damage, having it replaced, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2019. Owners may contact Wanda customer service at 1-864-281-2760.
NHTSA Campaign #16V775000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Defect 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."

Free Manufacturer 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.
NHTSA Campaign #16V420000 Active Recall
Affected Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Defect 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."

Free Manufacturer 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.
View all 2016 Toyota Highlander recalls & campaign history (3 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2016 Toyota Highlander

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2016 Toyota Highlander

How many safety recalls does the 2016 Toyota Highlander have?

The 2016 Toyota Highlander is associated with 3 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 3 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2016 Toyota Highlander?

NHTSA records list 115 consumer defect complaints for the 2016 Toyota Highlander. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Other / Uncategorized, appearing in 16 filings (14% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2016 Toyota Highlander defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2016 Toyota Highlander?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2016 Toyota Highlander earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 3 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2016 Toyota Highlander get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2016 Toyota Highlander range from 20 to 28 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.