Third generation (XU50)
2016 Toyota Highlander
The most reported problem on the 2016 Toyota Highlander is brake wear, with 19 complaints, usually around 28,000 miles.
- 110owner complaints
- 3recalls
- 14involved a crash
- 28,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 10, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Problem sheets
No single problem on the 2016 Toyota Highlander has enough owner reports for a sheet of its own yet. The counts below still cover every complaint on file.
Is the 2016 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2016 Toyota Highlander has 110 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, less than half the median of 248 for 2016 SUVs on this site. Of the 12 Highlander model years since 2014, it has the 10th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 10 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs well under the 2017 (27). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- No problem dominates. The largest, brake wear, covers 19 of the 110 complaints (17%), and airbag is next with 10 (one complaint can fall under more than one problem, so these overlap). A quarter of the 14 owners who gave a mileage for brake wear saw it by about 15,000 miles, and half by about 28,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 16 of the 110 complaints (15%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 14 reports mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 10 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 7 of 14, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- 3 recalls are on file, but no problem here has enough reports to set against them.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2019 at 21 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 5. So far in 2026, 4 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: brakes grind, pulse or wear early, 19 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
110 complaints is 2.3 times fewer than the median 2016 model on this site and 2.3 times fewer than the median 2016 SUV. Among the 11 Highlander model years here it ranks 10th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2016 Toyota Highlander
Toyota filed 269 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Toyota Highlander. 22 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 3 bulletins · 19 complaints
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
Some 2014 ? 2019 model year Highlander vehicles may exhibit a vibration from the front brakes during light application of the brake pedal at highway speeds. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
1 more on this problem
Some 2015 ? 2018 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit brake vibration due to improper lug nut torque. Brake vibration can occur at any time if improper torque is applied to lug nuts. Even one lug nut over or under torqued can cause vibration.
Airbag warning light or recall 1 bulletin · 10 complaints
Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition.
Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 4 bulletins · 9 complaints
TT: Some 2014-2020 model year Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles are equipped with alloy wheels that are clad with a plastic cover.
TT: Chrometec (plastic clad) wheels are being damaged during mounting and dismounting of tires.
2 more on this problem
TT: Front Brake Vibration Key Points: * Issue can occur at any time if improper torque is applied on lug nuts * Over time, even one lug nut over or under torqued, can cause a vibration issue * When lug nuts are over torqued, this causes the rotor to have a ...
DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS TIRES ARE MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE AS MATCHED SETS TO HELP REDUCE CONDITIONS SUCH AS PULLING OR DRIFTING.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 14 bulletins · 6 complaints
Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free. This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
TT: Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free. This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
12 more on this problem
TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle.
TT: Some customers who have upgraded their iPhone® to iOS13 are experiencing a condition where the Bluetooth connection disconnects and reconnects.
TT: Some customers may experience poor outgoing Bluetooth sound quality, this can occur for various reasons. Current multimedia systems are designed with the ability to adjust Bluetooth sound quality to compensate for echo or excessive background noise.
TT: For customer concerns of no or poor outgoing sound from the Bluetooth systems there are diagnostics in the repair manual which can be performed to diagnose the condition.
TT: Some vehicles may exhibit an error message when trying to perform a radio software update: "Unable to update the software. Please try again later." If the following screen is seen; follow the directions below.
TT: Some customers may experience greyed out buttons or inactive screens (lockouts) while driving. This is to promote safe driving practices and reduce the amount of distractions while driving.
TT: Some customers may experience Bluetooth disconnections or loss of SMS text message functionality on the navigation/audio system with Android phones running OS 4.4 or later.
TT: SOME CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE BLUETOOTH CONNECTION ISSUES AFTER UPDATING THE ANDROID OPERATING SYSTEM TO 5.X.X (LOLLIPOP) OR LATER.
TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty pairing the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth failure to connect when first turning on the vehicle.
Tech Tip: Some customers may experience a condition that, after using Siri Eyes Free, the head unit will change from whatever source they were listening to, to the Bluetooth Audio source. This condition was introduced with the iOS 9 and later versions.
Plus 2 older ones not listed here.
Complaints filed by year
21 complaints came in 2019. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2016 Toyota Highlander
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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).
Risk and remedy
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.
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."
Risk and remedy
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.
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."
Risk and remedy
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.
All 3 recalls on the 2016 Toyota Highlander, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
Brake wear, with 19 of the 110 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 28,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2016 Toyota Highlander problems start?
Of the 68 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 13,000 miles and half by about 28,000.
Is the 2016 Toyota Highlander better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has fewer complaints than the 2017: 10 a year against 27.
How many 2016 Toyota Highlander complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
16 of them (15%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for brake wear on the 2016 Toyota Highlander?
No recall on file for the 2016 Toyota Highlander is on the same system as brake wear. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.