2018 Toyota Highlander reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2018 Toyota Highlander has 265 complaints with NHTSA after 9 years, or 33 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Highlander years here — over the median of the other years, which is 26. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Fuel pump, Electrical system, and Vacuum.

2017 Toyota Highlander — Photo by Bull-Doser, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain

Complaints

265

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (65 of 265), then Service brakes (53) and Engine (33). Those filings include 23 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 15 that report an injury.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 Highlander has 267 complaints, 28 per year, and the 2019 has 480 complaints, 49 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

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 2018 Toyota Highlander. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (5)

Recall Fuel pump 2020-11-04 · NHTSA campaign 20V682000

Summary Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

Recall Fuel pump 2020-01-13 · NHTSA campaign 20V012000

Summary Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

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 hydraulic brakes, power assist, vacuum 2018-04-03 · NHTSA campaign 18V211000

Summary Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.

Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0K/JLD.

Recall Labels 2017-12-20 · NHTSA campaign 17V831000

Summary Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Remedy Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.

Complaints by component (265 total)

Powertrain

Service brakes

Engine

Electrical system

Fuel and propulsion system

Air bags

Fuel system, gasoline

Structure

Steering

Forward collision avoidance

Speed control

Suspension

Exterior lighting

Hydraulic brakes

Visibility and wipers

Wheels

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Lane departure

Seat belts

Seats

Back-over prevention

Latches, locks, and linkages

Tires

Visibility

Show 16 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"Whining noise in the transmission"
Powertrain · filed 2026-09-14
"whining sound in the transmission, including high-pitched whining, erratic shifting, clunks, hesitation, and premature failure. These vehicles are equipped with the UA80F (AWD) and UA80E (FWD) 8-speed automatic…"
Powertrain · filed 2026-08-31
"Transmission failure happened suddenly. I pulled out of a car wash and car would not accelerate. I was in heavy traffic and car wouldn’t move."
Powertrain · filed 2026-08-27
"The position of the screen monitor for the backup camera is hard to see when the sun creates a glare on the front windshield."
Unknown or other · filed 2026-08-26
"The Pre-Collision System (PCS) failed to engage the automatic emergency braking during a stop-and-go traffic, thereby, resulting in rear-ending the vehicle ahead of our 2018 Highlander Limited vehicle. Our Highlander…"
Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-08-23

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV AWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2018 Toyota Highlander SUV AWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2018 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	2.7L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	20	24	22 MPG	$2950
Highlander	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	Front-wheel drive	20	27	23 MPG	$2800
Highlander all-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	19	26	22 MPG	$2950
Highlander all-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	20	26	22 MPG	$2950
Highlander all-wheel drive LE	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	20	27	23 MPG	$2800
Highlander hybrid all-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (AV-S6)	All-wheel drive	29	27	28 MPG	$2300
Highlander hybrid all-wheel drive LE Plus	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (AV-S6)	All-wheel drive	30	28	29 MPG	$2250
Highlander LE/XLE/SE/LTD	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	Front-wheel drive	21	27	23 MPG	$2800

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 2017 Toyota Highlander Next year 2019 Toyota Highlander See every Toyota Highlander model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Toyota Highlander reliable?

What are common problems with a 2018 Toyota Highlander?

Is the 2018 Toyota Highlander more reliable than the years next to it?

Has the 2018 Toyota Highlander been recalled?

The 2018 Toyota Highlander has 5 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 2018 Toyota Highlander?

Owners have filed 265 complaints about the 2018 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 Toyota Highlander get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Toyota Highlander is 24 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.