Seats: mid
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 10 owner complaints for the 2025 Toyota Highlander. Most complaints involve vehicle speed control (3) and service brakes (2). The EPA rates it 24–25 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The third row center seat belt roof anchor may have been installed at an incorrect angle, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining the occupant.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Highlander model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 136 |
| 2002 | 327 |
| 2003 | 270 |
| 2004 | 286 |
| 2005 | 225 |
| 2006 | 279 |
| 2007 | 124 |
| 2008 | 406 |
| 2009 | 134 |
| 2010 | 238 |
| 2011 | 187 |
| 2012 | 191 |
| 2013 | 212 |
| 2014 | 138 |
| 2015 | 193 |
| 2016 | 111 |
| 2017 | 271 |
| 2018 | 273 |
| 2019 | 508 |
| 2020 | 323 |
| 2021 | 535 |
| 2022 | 266 |
| 2023 | 189 |
| 2024 | 43 |
| 2025 | 10 |
“The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while leaving the driveway at the doctor's office on a slope, the accelerator pedal was depressed while making a left turn, but the vehicle failed to move. The vehicle then rolled into traffic. The brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle was slow to respond. The dealer informed the contact that her foot was on the brake and accelerator pedals at the same time, or a sensor identified movement around the vehicle, which stopped the flow of fuel. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. Toyota was able to locate an issue in the log occurring at 3:00 PM. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.”
“Black Toyota Highlander Hybrid AWD 2025 ~15000 miles What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Without any warning, the braking action is delayed. It is a momentary loss and happens occasionally at light braking application, nowhere near hard enough to lock the wheels up The vehicle is available for inspection upon request How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? If I were been closer to another vehicle/pedestrian/obstacle, an accident could happen Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, yet, I will book an appointment to allow the dealer to verify the issue Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? NO Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO General: I have been driving the Highlander for a little bit more than a year, and this issue has happened at least 5 times, twice (2) this week”
“I was backing up the vechial accelerated the steering wheel was turning rapid & a grinding noise causing me too hit another vechial about a month before my husband was driving & the vechial accelerated going toward also we had had some issues with back camera not doing a warning signal with a object behind vechial when the accident happened my vechial has braking system that stops you if something is behind you this time it didn’t I called the dealership when accident happed which was May 21 2026 & reported it they said they had accelerations before & advised me to call Toyota engadgment which I did they did a diagnostic test June 5 & to this day I’ve never heard back from them”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo, SIDI & PFI; with Stop-Start · Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 29 | 25 | $2,550 | 359 |
| Highlander Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo, SIDI & PFI · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,700 | 370 |
| Highlander AWD Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,700 | 371 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
4 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 10 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are vehicle speed control (3), service brakes (2), forward collision avoidance (2). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2025 Toyota Highlander at 24–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2025 Toyota Highlander 5 out of 5 stars overall.