The Verdict
Worst problem area
Driver Assistance & Speed Control
Driver Assistance & Speed Control leads by volume: 3 of 11 complaints (27%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Steering include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 43 in 2024 to 11 in 2025.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 11
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,800–$2,600
- Combined MPG
- 24–35
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | vs. 2025 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,750–2,600 | 1,750–2,600 | 1,800–2,600 | 1,800–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–36 | 24–36 | 24–35 | 24–35 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–36 / 28–35 | 21–36 / 28–35 | 21–35 / 28–35 | 21–35 / 28–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 245–371 | 245–371 | 253–371 | 253–371 | |
| Complaints filed | 199 | 43 | 11 | 4 | |
| Recalls issued | 9 | 7 | 4 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2025 Toyota Highlander have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2025 Toyota Highlander?
Driver Assistance & Speed Control: 3 of 11 NHTSA complaints (27%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Toyota Highlander get?
EPA rates it 24–35 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2025 Toyota Highlander?
EPA estimates $1,800–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 22 mpg | 29 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 359 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 21 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 370 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 21 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 371 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 35 mpg (high) | 34 mpg | 35 mpg (high) | $1,800 (low) | 253 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 35 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | $1,800 (low) | 254 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB06 and 26TA06.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:ANCHORAGE
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A seat belt that does not properly restrain an occupant increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reinstall the seat belt anchor with a new bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TA16.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
- Defect
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles. Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights.
- Consequence
- An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Additional letters will be sent, anticipated in May 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB08 and 25TA08. Lexus' numbers for this recall are 25LB05 and 25LA05.