Reliable Auto DB

2015 Toyota Highlander reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2015 Toyota Highlander has 191 complaints with NHTSA after 12 years, or 24 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Highlander years here — under the median of the other years, which is 27. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Electrical system and Electric power steering.

2014 Toyota Highlander
Photo by Lord of the Wings© from Toronto, Canada, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0
Complaints

191

Per year

24

Recalls

2

Years on the road

12

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (52 of 191), then Structure (31) and Steering (25). Those filings include 17 that report a crash, 6 that report a fire, and 12 that report an injury.

Next to 2014 and 2016

The 2014 Highlander has 135 complaints, 13 per year, and the 2016 has 110 complaints, 15 per year. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2014. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2016.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2015 Toyota Highlander. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall Electrical system 2018-11-27 · NHTSA campaign 18E107000
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).
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.
Recall Electric power steering 2015-03-13 · NHTSA campaign 15V144000
Summary Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.
Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Complaints by component (191 total)

Electrical system
52
Structure
31
Steering
25
Service brakes
15
Visibility and wipers
12
Speed control
11
Engine
10
Exterior lighting
10
Air bags
8
Powertrain
7
Electronic stability control (ESC)
4
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Seats
4
Seat belts
3
Suspension
3
Engine and engine cooling
2
Latches, locks, and linkages
2
Tires
2
Visibility
2
Equipment
1
Lane departure
1
Wheels
1
Show 14 more Show less
Crash-flagged

17

Fire-flagged

6

Injury reports

12

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

12014272015232016212017252018212019172020122021820228202312202452025112026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Blizzard White color - Car paint peeling on multiple areas."
    Structure · filed 2026-09-12
  • "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…"
    Electrical system, Unknown or other, Engine · filed 2026-08-27
  • "The factory paint on my 2015 Toyota Highlander, Blizzard Pearl (Toyota code 070), is delaminating from the primer. The base coat lifts and peels in sheets, starting on the roof, fender, and pillars — the panels with the…"
    Structure · filed 2026-08-04
  • "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)"
    Structure · filed 2026-07-21
  • "The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the power liftgate consistently failed halfway through while opening and closing the liftgate. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was…"
    Electrical system, Structure · filed 2026-07-17

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2015 Toyota Highlander HV SUV AWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2015 Toyota Highlander SUV AWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2015 Toyota Highlander SUV FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Highlander two-wheel drive 2.7L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 25 22 MPG $2950
Highlander two-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 19 25 21 MPG $3100
Highlander all-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 18 24 20 MPG $3250
Highlander hybrid all-wheel drive 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) All-wheel drive 27 28 28 MPG $2300
Highlander hybrid all-wheel drive LE Plus 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) All-wheel drive 28 28 28 MPG $2300

Specs and fitment

4th generation, 2014–2019
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 (SAE 5W-20 may be used; 0W-20 preferred) , 5.8 qt capacity
Tire size 245/60R18, P245/60R18, 245/55R19
Towing capacity 5,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

Recall 14V-272 covers certain model year 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles whose air bag electronic control unit may use the restraint setting designed for small occupants for all front passenger sizes; dealers install a software update in the air bag ECU, free of charge. Recall 14V-576 covers certain model year 2014 Highlander vehicles (with 2014 Toyota Avalon, Camry, and Sienna and 2015 Lexus RX350) where fuel may leak from one of the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment, increasing fire risk; dealers replace suspect fuel delivery pipes. Recall 20V-012 and its expansion 20V-682 cover certain 2017-2019 Highlander vehicles, among many other Toyota and Lexus models, where the low-pressure fuel pump may fail and stall the engine while driving; dealers replace the fuel pump, with 20V-682 specifying an improved assembly. Toyota Special Service Campaign 19TC04 addresses the engine oil cooler pipe on certain 2017-2019 Highlander Hybrid (Highlander HV) vehicles, where a manufacturing issue may allow a small oil cooler leak that can lead to low-oil warnings if ignored; dealers replace the pipe, free of charge.

Compare

Previous year 2014 Toyota Highlander Next year 2016 Toyota Highlander See every Toyota Highlander model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Toyota Highlander reliable?

The 2015 Toyota Highlander has 191 complaints with NHTSA after 12 years, or 24 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Highlander years here — under the median of the other years, which is 27. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Electrical system and Electric power steering.

What are common problems with a 2015 Toyota Highlander?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (52 of 191), then Structure (31) and Steering (25). Those filings include 17 that report a crash, 6 that report a fire, and 12 that report an injury.

Is the 2015 Toyota Highlander more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2014 Highlander has 135 complaints, 13 per year, and the 2016 has 110 complaints, 15 per year. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2014. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2016.

Has the 2015 Toyota Highlander been recalled?

The 2015 Toyota Highlander has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2015 Toyota Highlander?

Owners have filed 191 complaints about the 2015 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2015 Toyota Highlander get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2015 Toyota Highlander is 23.8 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Toyota Highlander take?

US gasoline Highlanders in these generations prefer 0W-20 (5W-20 may be used temporarily). Approx. capacities with filter: ~6.4 qt (2012-2013 3.5L), ~5.8 qt (2014+ 3.5L V6).

Does recall 20V-162 cover the Toyota Highlander?

It covers certain 2020 Highlander vehicles with the 3.5L V6: an ECU programming error may fail to supply fuel correctly during stop-and-restart; dealers update the ECU software.

What generation is the 2020 Toyota Highlander?

5th generation (2020 onward). 2014-2019 are 4th generation; 2012-2013 are late 3rd generation in this catalog.