2016 Toyota Highlander Safety Report
2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Safety Analysis
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Toyota Highlander
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Toyota Highlander. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (109) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 0 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Unknown Or Other | Compare unknown or other issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2015 | Compare against the 2015 Toyota Highlander with 184 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Toyota Highlander before buying across this generation. |
Toyota Highlander Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Toyota Highlander years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Toyota Highlander | 245 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Toyota Highlander | 184 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Toyota Highlander | 242 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Toyota Highlander | 428 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Toyota Highlander | 266 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Toyota Highlander | 406 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2016 Toyota Highlander Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Toyota Highlander, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Unknown Or Other
16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Toyota onlyService Brakes
13 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Toyota onlyElectrical System
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Toyota onlyVisibility/Wiper
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Toyota onlyExterior Lighting
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Exterior Lighting issues Toyota onlySteering
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Toyota onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Toyota Highlander
Reliability Score
The 2016 Toyota Highlander receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Toyota Highlander
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Toyota Highlander
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Toyota Highlander:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes Recalled due to potential brake failure, affecting multiple vehicles. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Recalled for wiring issues and labels, impacting visibility and safety. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering Column Wear Can become loose, affecting steering control and safety. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Tire Sidewall Bubbles Developed within the first 13,000 miles, posing a risk of tire failure. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Toyota Highlander:
Recalled for potential brake failure.
Recalled for wiring and label issues.
Steering column can become loose.
Tire sidewall bubbles developed.
Recall Details for the 2016 Toyota Highlander
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Toyota Highlander by NHTSA:
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).
Consequence: The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
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.
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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Toyota Highlander
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Toyota Highlander with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 3 reported injuries or fatalities.
Steering column can become worn prematurely causing loose steering and possibly loose control
I was on Hwy 27 headed south bound at Bellecita Rd in Davenpoerrt, Fl. This is a busy four way intersection. I moved into the left hand turn lane. When the left turn green light came on I began my U-Turn to head north bound. The steering wheel would not respond to my input and the vehicle kept going straight into oncoming traffic. It took a great deal of bodily force to get the vehicle to respond....
I was driving on a 2-lane road early in the morning with light snowfall. There was about 1" of snow on the road, with the roads not yet plowed or treated as it was the beginning of the snowfall. About 15 minutes into my trip, I was on a relatively flat and straight stretch of the road and let up on the gas paddle to avoid going too fast -- was probably traveling ~35 mph. Although the road was s...
**Nature of Safety Defect Within 13,000 miles of normal mixed highway and light off-road use on a Toyota Highland, one tire developed a sidewall bubble and all four tires exhibited extreme and uneven tread wear—far below the advertised 50,000-mile treadwear warranty. The remaining tread depth on all four tires is already under 2/32" in multiple locations, with severe cupping and feathering that ma...
I was traveling on an interstate going home from work. My speed was approximately 65mph. I noticed traffic slowing up ahead. I began to drop my speed (cost down), as I was approaching the traffic the car in front of me was applying their brakes; I had already began to apply mine. I was applying more pressure to my brakes to slow down more as the person in front of me began to slow more quickly. Th...
P245/55R19 103T Nitto Crosstek2 BW. Vehicle pulls to different directions when the tires are cross swapped. I have taken the vehicle to 4 to 5 wheel alignments within 3 months and 3 different shops after the purchase of the tire. Recently I took the vehicle Big O Tires and they _verified the tires have "Radial Pull" / Tire Conicity due to Manufacturing Defect of the a belt separation within the t...
On multiple (3-5), but not all, occasions at the same location my pre collision warning and automatic breaking appear to have been triggered as I approached an expansion plate at the edge of a bridge. The pre collision warning sounded, then the brakes were automatically applied. After a few seconds the braking stopped and my car proceeded normally. If a car had been following closely I may have...
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander equipped with Cooper Tires, Tire Line: Evolution H/T, Tire Size: 245/55/R19, DOT Number: UPPIILE. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 55-65 MPH, the rear driver's side tire unexpectedly had a blowout. The contact's wife pulled over to the side of the road. The contact arrived on the scene and replaced the rear driver's side tir...
The water pump on my 2016 Toyota Highlander XLE disintegrated while I was driving in heavy traffic. The pulley came loose from the water pump shaft. I have the water pump. Our safety was at risk because this happen in heavy traffic and it could have effected my control of the vehicle if it had came off completely. The pulley was wedge between the wheel well and fame. I sent a claim to Toyota and ...
The contact owned a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed low speeds on a decline, the brake pedal depressed all the way to the floorboard. As a result, the vehicle rolled downhill into a busy intersection and was struck by another vehicle on the passenger side door. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to ...
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the trunk power switch failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the trunk power switch was enabled to unlock, however the trunk door did not unlock. The contact stated that the trunk power switch failed to unlatch the trunk door and the trunk door was stuck. The vehicle was taken to an i...
The driver side rear passenger door can not be opened,either by remote or manually. This poses a threat to the safety of passengers in the rear seat area in the event of a crash. First responders would need to take other measures to tend to any injured passengers.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the front right passenger's side view mirror suddenly fractured. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000,
2016 toyota highlander le model v-6 cylinder. The FUEL PUMP runs after engine has been turned off for several hours, even up to as many as 8 hours. This situation can be heard in a closed in garage, in the completely quiet of night time, and at multiple times during the same time period. It happens intermittently with various levels of gas in the tank. The length of time FUEL PUMP can run c...
The side view mirrors are positioned in a way that completely blocks visibility on the sides of the car, especially when making a left-hand turn. After owing the vehicle for several weeks, I collided with another car when making a left-hand turn. I couldn't see the car when turning until it was too late. I've been driving for 30+ years and have never had an accident before. I had another close cal...
Had cv boot and control arm work at 30k miles caught it in time in 2021 and dealer fixed it. 2 years later same issue if i had bot taken it to dealer and just did oil changes myself cv boot and control arm would break during operation. Seems like they have serious issues with cv boots and control arms at low miles. I only have 50k miles to have a second replacement.
I have had problems with the brakes since I bought the vehicle new in 2016. I have the brakes checked every year and when I had problems but they never found the problem why the brakes do not work. The worse accident was on November 19, 2022 when my wife was using the car. She was in the car alone. She went to brake and the brakes did not engage, she slammed on the brakes 4 times and the car d...
brakes did not work in January 13, 2023 when backing out of driveway. Have had numerous dealership look at it multiple times in last 4 years.
Description of Problem (electrical issue affecting multiple systems): Engine shuts off while driving. All instrument/electronic displays shut off or flicker while driving. Steering wheel locks and vibrates. Liftgate does not open. Vehicle cannot be unlocked with fob. Vehicle does not start. May start after several attempts. Safety: My family's safety was put at risk when car stalled and almost h...
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND SUNROOF EXPLODED. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT.
Showing 20 of 109 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Toyota Highlander
Has the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER have?
The 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER has 109 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. 10 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
The 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER involve unknown or other (16 complaints), service brakes (13 complaints), electrical system (8 complaints). Other affected components include visibility/wiper, exterior lighting, steering.
How many crash reports does the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER have?
There are no fire reports for the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
10 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER is acceptable with caveats. It has 109 complaints, 3 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER are: 1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (16 complaints), 2. SERVICE BRAKES (13 complaints), 3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (8 complaints), 4. VISIBILITY/WIPER (6 complaints), 5. EXTERIOR LIGHTING (6 complaints). UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the single most-reported problem area with 16 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
Be cautious of service brake and electrical system recalls. Check for loose steering and tire sidewall bubbles. The 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER has 109 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
The 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 109 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 0 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Service Brakes and Electrical System.
What are the known issues with the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER?
Known issues with the 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER include: Service Brakes, Electrical System, Steering Column Wear, Tire Sidewall Bubbles. These are based on patterns found across 109 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
Yes, recalls have been issued for service brakes and electrical system issues.
What are the common tire problems with the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
Tire sidewall bubbles have been reported, developing within the first 13,000 miles.
Is the steering column prone to issues?
Yes, the steering column can become loose, affecting steering control.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of service brake and electrical system recalls. Check for loose steering and tire sidewall bubbles.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Toyota Highlander
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Toyota Highlander. The data includes 109 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 10 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Toyota Highlander an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16