Passenger Car • 2.5L 4-Cyl hybrid, 2.4L 4-Cyl hybrid, and 2.4l 4-cyl configurations • 4th Generation (XU70) • NHTSA & EPA Certified Data
The 2026 Toyota Highlander has zero owner defect complaints and zero safety recall campaigns recorded in the current AutoUtility NHTSA dataset.
EPA testing covers 10 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2.5L 4-Cyl hybrid, 2.4L 4-Cyl hybrid, and 2.4l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 22 to 36 MPG combined. The 2026 Toyota Highlander belongs to the 4th generation (XU70) Highlander platform spanning model years 2020–2026.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Highlander Hybrid Hybrid | 2.5L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 37 MPG | 34 MPG | 36 MPG | — | $1,700 / yr |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT Hybrid | 2.5L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 35 MPG | 34 MPG | 35 MPG | — | $1,750 / yr |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD Hybrid | 2.5L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 35 MPG | 35 MPG | 35 MPG | — | $1,750 / yr |
| Grand Highlander Hybrid AWD Hybrid | 2.5L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 36 MPG | 32 MPG | 34 MPG | — | $1,800 / yr |
| Grand Highlander Hybrid AWD Hybrid | 2.4L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 26 MPG | 27 MPG | 27 MPG | — | $2,300 / yr |
| Grand Highlander LE/XLE | 2.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 21 MPG | 28 MPG | 24 MPG | — | $2,550 / yr |
| Grand Highlander Limited | 2.4L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 21 MPG | 28 MPG | 24 MPG | — | $2,550 / yr |
| Highlander AWD | 2.4L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 21 MPG | 28 MPG | 24 MPG | — | $2,550 / yr |
| Grand Highlander AWD LE/XLE | 2.4L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 21 MPG | 27 MPG | 23 MPG | — | $2,650 / yr |
| Grand Highlander AWD Limited/Platinum | 2.4L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 20 MPG | 26 MPG | 22 MPG | — | $2,800 / yr |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HYBRID SUV HEV AWD | 5 / 5 | 4 / 5 | 5 / 5 | 4 / 5 | 16.400000000000002% |
Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2026 Toyota Highlander models.
Summary of 0 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
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 2026 Toyota Highlander problems & component breakdown (0 categories) →Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA
No open safety recall campaigns are currently on file with NHTSA for the 2026 Toyota Highlander.
View all 2026 Toyota Highlander recalls & campaign history (0 campaigns) →Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2026 Toyota Highlander
AutoUtility's current federal dataset records zero official NHTSA safety recall campaigns for the 2026 Toyota Highlander.
Recall records can change as manufacturers and NHTSA publish or update campaign notices.
AutoUtility currently records zero consumer defect complaints on file with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) for the 2026 Toyota Highlander.
A zero-complaint record in federal databases reflects submitted owner filings and does not guarantee the absence of mechanical issues.
Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2026 Toyota Highlander earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 1 tested configuration(s).
Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.
Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2026 Toyota Highlander range from 22 to 36 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.
The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:
Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.