Problems · NHTSA complaints

2015 Toyota Highlander problems

Owners filed 193 complaints about the 2015 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA between Dec 2014 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (52).

Complaints
193
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system52
  2. Structure32
  3. Steering25
  4. Service brakes15
  5. Visibility/wiper12
  6. Engine11
  7. Vehicle speed control11
  8. Exterior lighting10
  9. Air bags8
  10. Power train7
  11. Seats4
  12. Fuel/propulsion system4
  13. Electronic stability control (esc)4
  14. Seat belts3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20141
201527
201623
201721
201825
201921
202017
202112
20228
20238
202412
20255
202613

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

52 reports4 fires1 related recall
“The a/c condenser was damaged due to impact of road debris. This caused loss of proper system operation. The cost to repair was $1100+. The debris entered thru the front grill, which has nothing in place to prevent debris from entering the engine compartment.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11760154

Structure

32 reports1 crash
“The paint is severely peeling on the outside. This can likely flake off and damages other vehicles, property, and roadway infrastructure. This is the factory coat of paint. Color is Toyota Blizzard Pearl (070)”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2026StructureODI 11766542

Steering

25 reports1 crash1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the infotainment screen would go blank and the system would turn on inadvertently. This issue became more frequent, occurring approximately every 10 seconds. The power steering warning light also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an auto parts store where a handheld diagnostic machine did not detect any failures or codes. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the steering wheel became extremely stiff. On one occasion while his daughter was driving and turning the vehicle on a curved road, the vehicle veered into oncoming traffic. The contact stated that she managed to get the vehicle back to the correct side of the road, then stopped and inspected the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to an auto parts store where a handheld diagnostic machine was used, but the failure was not detected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact believes that the steering failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V144 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 1, 2026Steering, Electrical systemODI 11741329

Service brakes

15 reports5 crashes
“I have noticed speed issues or high idling with this vehicle for a while. I committed a rear end collision with a vehicle on July 4, 2025, at approximately 2pm. My car rear ended his truck while it was stopped behind another vehicle. My vehicle sustained total damage to the front end. I was ticketed for not reducing speed to prevent a accident. The only warning light was that it need maintenance, which comes on prior to an oil change. My safety was put at risk because the car is idled too fast for the type of driving I do, which is small town and rural road driving. Due to the speed of this vehicle during normal driving, it's difficult to stop quickly to avoid an accident. If it was rainy and slippery, the situation could have been much worse.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 4, 2025Vehicle speed control, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11671284

Visibility/wiper

12 reports1 crash
“The side mirrors are too large and located in a position that when the driver is turning left the driver's side mirror blocks the ability to see the crosswalk and also the center divider of the lane they are turning into and has almost caused me to strike a center divider and not see a pothole on a freeway on ramp causing damage to the left side strut and alignment. There were other multiple times I almost hit the smaller center dividers in town and the glare in the mirror causes glare that you can't see where you are going. terrible design”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2026Visibility/wiperODI 11721079

Engine

11 reports2 fires
“My 2015 Toyota Highlander equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine developed an engine oil leak originating from the timing chain cover sealing area. On April 30, 2026, Kearny Mesa Toyota in San Diego, California, identified the leak during an inspection when the vehicle had a little over 100,000 miles. I am concerned that this condition may indicate premature failure of the timing chain cover sealing system and warrant investigation into a potential design or manufacturing defect. An engine sealing system should be sufficiently durable to prevent oil leakage under normal operating conditions. The occurrence of this problem at just over 100,000 miles raises concerns about the long-term reliability of this component and whether similar failures affect other vehicles equipped with the same engine. Although the leak was described as seepage or oily residue, it may worsen over time. Depending on its severity and location, leaking oil could contact hot engine or exhaust components, potentially causing smoke or creating a fire hazard. Continued oil loss could also compromise engine lubrication, lead to significant engine damage, or result in unexpected vehicle failure. These…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2026EngineODI 11774416
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.