The 2018 Toyota Highlander's elevated safety profile includes 2 recall campaigns and 246 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

246

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

18V2110002018-03-04

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

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.

A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA

18E1070002018-27-11

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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).

The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2018 Toyota Highlander has accumulated 246 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with power train leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Power Train44

02Service Brakes33

03Unknown Or Other22

04Fuel/propulsion System13

05Engine13

246 total across 1 model years (2018–2018)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Toyota Highlander Fuel Economy

22–29mpg combined

19-30city

24-28hwy

$1,500-$2,000/yr

With 8 configurations tested, the 2018 Toyota Highlander ranges from 22 to 29 MPG combined. That's a 7 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus - Automatic (AV-S6)

29mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

30 city28 hwy~$1,500/yr6/10 Average

Highlander Hybrid AWD - Automatic (AV-S6)

28mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

29 city27 hwy~$1,550/yr6/10 Average

Highlander - Automatic (S8)

23mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

20 city27 hwy~$1,900/yr5/10 Average

Highlander AWD LE - Automatic (S8)

23mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

20 city27 hwy~$1,900/yr5/10 Average

Highlander LE/XLE/SE/LTD - Automatic (S8)

23mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

21 city27 hwy~$1,900/yr5/10 Average

Highlander - Automatic (S6)

22mpg

2.7L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

20 city24 hwy~$2,000/yr4/10 Average

Highlander AWD - Automatic (S8)

22mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

19 city26 hwy~$2,000/yr4/10 Average

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2018 Toyota Highlander

37States

25%in top 3

If you're near Texas, you're in luck: 10% of listings are there. But with 37 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

TXTexas

1,00110%

CACalifornia

8048%

FLFlorida

6737%

PAPennsylvania

4695%

NYNew York

4665%

DCWashington DC

4044%

NJNew Jersey

3423%

ILIllinois

3353%

NCNorth Carolina

3273%

DEDelaware

3203%

GAGeorgia

3163%

MDMaryland

2993%

NHNew Hampshire

2793%

OROregon

2693%

MNMinnesota

2493%

MAMassachusetts

2312%

WAWashington

2272%

AZArizona

2192%

MOMissouri

2112%

COColorado

2102%

TNTennessee

1852%

RIRhode Island

1482%

IN145

AL144

MI142

OH135

UT123

WI123

OK121

KY95

ME66

LA63

NE61

NV58

AR52

CT51

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2018.

2018 Toyota Highlander Buyer FAQ

What to know before you buy

Is the 2018 Toyota Highlander a good car to buy?

The 2018 Toyota Highlander has 2 recalls on record. There are 2 recalls on record, so check that they've been completed before buying. The most commonly reported issue area is power train, which is worth inspecting during a test drive. Review the safety data and pricing breakdown above.

Are there recalls on the 2018 Toyota Highlander?

NHTSA shows 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Toyota Highlander. Before buying, verify all recalls are complete. The dealer must fix them at no charge. See the safety section for the full list.

What's the gas mileage of the 2018 Toyota Highlander?

Depending on configuration, the 2018 Toyota Highlander delivers 22–29 MPG combined. Choose wisely. The full comparison shows how engine choice affects your wallet.

What are common problems with the 2018 Toyota Highlander?

POWER TRAIN is the number-one complaint area for the 2018 Toyota Highlander, based on 246 NHTSA filings. During a test drive, pay extra attention to this system. See the known issues section for the full breakdown.