Reliable Auto DB

2024 Toyota Highlander reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2024 Toyota Highlander has 42 complaints with NHTSA after 3 years, or 14 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 7 recalls on file, including Recliner, Anchorage, and Display.

2020 Toyota Highlander LE
Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

42

Per year

14

Recalls

7

Years on the road

3

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (8 of 42), then Fuel and propulsion system (7) and Electrical system (6). The most filings arrived in 2026 (18 of 42). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 4 that report an injury.

Next to 2023 and 2025

The 2023 Highlander has 180 complaints, 42 per year, and the 2025 has 9 complaints, 5 per year. The 2024 has fewer complaints per year than the 2023.

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 2024 Toyota Highlander. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (7)

Recall seats, middle or rear assembly, recliner 2026-03-05 · NHTSA campaign 26V128000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall seat belts, rear or other, anchorage 2025-12-17 · NHTSA campaign 25V872000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall back-over prevention, display 2025-10-30 · NHTSA campaign 25V744000
Summary 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."
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.
Recall electrical system, instrument cluster 2025-09-11 · NHTSA campaign 25V595000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall Labels 2024-07-23 · NHTSA campaign 24V548000
Summary Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia Hybrid, Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, Venza Hybrid, 2023-2025 Crown, and 2025 Camry Hybrid vehicles equipped with GST accessories. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Remedy GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.
Recall Tires 2024-06-18 · NHTSA campaign 24V452000
Summary Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Highlander vehicles. The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Remedy SET will inspect and replace the tires and information placard, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2024. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET24A.
Recall Tires 2024-06-06 · NHTSA campaign 24V419000
Summary Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022-2024 model year Highlander L and Highlander LE vehicles equipped with the Blackout Package that includes 20" black alloy wheels and tires. The installed tires have an insufficient load rating. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Remedy GST will inspect and replace the tires as necessary, and install a new tire information label as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R1.

Complaints by component (42 total)

Service brakes
8
Fuel and propulsion system
7
Electrical system
6
Engine
5
Structure
4
Powertrain
3
Back-over prevention
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Other or not sure
1
Seat belts
1
Seats
1
Speed control
1
Suspension
1
Tires
1
Visibility
1
Show 9 more Show less
Crash-flagged

4

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

4

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

72024172025182026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I have been experiencing a gas smell issue with my Toyota Highlander near the rear of the car by gas cap area upon putting in gas and driving. The smell starts typically when it’s a hot day outside and I only usually…"
    Unknown or other, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-01
  • "Driving the vehicle a strong smell of fuel vapor is noticeable coming from rear driver side of vehicle by rear door and fuel cap area. This happens when car is driven for long periods of time or on hot days. I drive my…"
    Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-08-27
  • "There is a strong odor of gasoline coming from the car, to the point where the fumes are so strong they’re entering our home and making it very unsafe. We brought the vehicle to the Toyota dealership, and they said they…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-08-18
  • "The third row seat belts in the 2024 Highlander are very difficult to latch. I had to bring my Highlander to the dealership twice over the seatbelt buckles in the third row. The buckle part does not lift up high enough…"
    Seat belts · filed 2026-06-21
  • "The trunk will not close using any of the buttons. This is an on going issue on so many newer highlanders."
    Electrical system, Structure · filed 2026-06-08

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2024 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV AWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2024 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2024 Toyota HIGHLANDER SUV AWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2024 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 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 22 29 25 MPG $2600
Highlander 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 21 28 24 MPG $2700
Highlander all-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 21 28 24 MPG $2700
Highlander hybrid 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Front-wheel drive 36 35 36 MPG $1800
Highlander hybrid all-wheel drive 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) All-wheel drive 35 35 35 MPG $1850
Highlander hybrid all-wheel drive LTD/PLAT 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) All-wheel drive 35 34 35 MPG $1850

Specs and fitment

5th generation, 2020–present
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 (SAE 5W-20 may be used; 0W-20 preferred) , 5.8 qt capacity
Tire size 235/65R18, 235/55R20
Towing capacity 5,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

Recall 20V-162 covers certain 2020 Highlander vehicles with the 3.5 L V6 gasoline engine where an engine control unit programming error may fail to supply fuel correctly while the stop-and-restart feature is active, which can stall the engine; dealers reprogram the ECU, free of charge. Recall 20V-633 covers certain 2020 Highlander and Highlander hybrid vehicles where incorrect front seat trim covers can prevent the seat-mounted side air bag from deploying properly; dealers inspect and replace the trim covers as necessary. Recall 23V-720 covers certain 2020-2023 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles where minor front bumper impacts may leave the lower front bumper cover loose or detached; dealers repair or replace the bumper covers. Recall 23V-865 covers certain 2020-2021 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles (among other Toyota and Lexus models) where a short circuit in the Occupant Classification System sensor may prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying; dealers inspect and replace the sensor as necessary. Recall 26V-128 covers certain 2021-2025 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles whose second-row seat backs may fail to lock during adjustment; dealers replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies as necessary.

Compare

Previous year 2023 Toyota Highlander Next year 2025 Toyota Highlander See every Toyota Highlander model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2024 Toyota Highlander reliable?

The 2024 Toyota Highlander has 42 complaints with NHTSA after 3 years, or 14 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 7 recalls on file, including Recliner, Anchorage, and Display.

What are common problems with a 2024 Toyota Highlander?

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (8 of 42), then Fuel and propulsion system (7) and Electrical system (6). The most filings arrived in 2026 (18 of 42). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 4 that report an injury.

Is the 2024 Toyota Highlander more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2023 Highlander has 180 complaints, 42 per year, and the 2025 has 9 complaints, 5 per year. The 2024 has fewer complaints per year than the 2023.

Has the 2024 Toyota Highlander been recalled?

The 2024 Toyota Highlander has 7 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 2024 Toyota Highlander?

Owners have filed 42 complaints about the 2024 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2024 Toyota Highlander get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2024 Toyota Highlander is 29.8 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.