UsedScore

2018 Toyota Highlander: Solid

Owners filed 147 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota Highlander in its first five years on the road, about 62 for every 100,000 sold: 1.0× the rate of a typical Highlander year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the brakes (26% of complaints, median 15,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.0×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Highlander year
Rank
6th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
147
first five years; 62 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
4
campaigns
3rd generation, 2014–2019 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2019 Toyota Highlander SE

Photo: 2019 Toyota Highlander SE · Cutlass, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Brakes26% · 38 complaints · median 15,000 miles
  2. Air bags7% · 11 complaints · median 19,000 miles
  3. Fuel and propulsion19% · 28 complaints · median 26,000 miles
  4. Engine14% · 21 complaints · median 14,000 miles
  5. Body and structure7% · 10 complaints · median 19,000 miles
  6. Driver assistance4% · 6 complaints
  7. Electrical12% · 18 complaints · median 15,000 miles
  8. Powertrain5% · 7 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  9. Suspension3% · 4 complaints
  10. Steering3% · 5 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Air bags

Many owners describe air bags that did not deploy during real-world collisions of varying severity, including front, side, and rear impacts. A few also report dashboard SRS warning lights tied to wiring issues that dealers said were not covered by warranty.

Warning signs:
Some owners noticed an SRS warning indicator light on the dashboard before any impact; others report no warning at all before the crash.
What shops did:
Some dealers diagnosed a wiring harness or open circuit issue and quoted repair costs, while others found no fix or said the issue was outside of warranty.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 25,000 miles, among 9 complaints that give it

“we get a SRS airbag warning indicator that says visit the dealership”

“S.R.S malfunction error message due to open circuit in the left front door harness.”

Brakes

Owners describe sudden or gradual loss of braking power, often preceded by warning lights or a 'Braking Power Low' message, sometimes leaving the car unable to start. Many say a related recall exists but their specific vehicle was excluded, leading to disputes with dealers over repair costs and diagnosis.

Warning signs:
Many report a 'Braking Power Low, Stop in a Safe Place' dashboard message, a brake warning light, a soft or spongy pedal, unusual noises, or vibration before or during the failure.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced the vacuum pump, brake booster, or master cylinder, though some owners say dealers could not duplicate the issue, found nothing wrong, or said the vehicle was excluded from the recall and repairs were not covered.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 35,000 miles, among 25 complaints that give it

“Intermittently during normal driving conditions, there exists instances where brake hydraulic failure occurs.”

“While traveling down the Rocky Mountains, we experienced a gradual loss of braking. It took extreme pressure on the brake pedal to slow the vehicle.”

Fuel and propulsion

Owners describe the fuel pump failing or losing pressure, sometimes causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving, occasionally with a warning light or rough idle beforehand. Many say dealers told them recall repair parts were not yet available, leaving the stalling unresolved for a long time.

Warning signs:
Many report a check engine or low fuel pressure light, rough idle, hesitation on acceleration, engine shuddering, or stalling without warning.
What shops did:
Dealers often said recall parts were unavailable, replaced batteries or fuel pumps, reset the computer, or could not duplicate the failure; some owners paid out of pocket for a fuel pump replacement.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 35,000 miles, among 14 complaints that give it

“car would not restart. The steering wheel locked and car would not crank”

“2 of the 6 fuel injectors had failed—#s1 and 4”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (4)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 20V682000November 20201,525,742 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    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.

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 20V012000January 20201,830,752 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    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.

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V211000April 20186,046 vehicles

    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.

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

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V831000December 2017649 vehicles

    Equipment: other: labels

    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."

    Risk: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Toyota sent NHTSA 268 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2018 Highlander. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 24TE05 · January 2025 · Warranty extensionAlthough the Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump Assemblies are covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the…
  • T-SB-0014-25 · January 2025Some 2017 – 2019 model year Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the brake, ABS, and/or TRAC warning lights are on and/or a Check VSC message displays.
  • TSB003220 · August 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ?
  • 23TE01 Dealer Pa · April 2023DP: Although the high-pressure fuel pump is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers?
  • T-SB-0115-22 Rev · March 2023TSB: Some 2019 ?
  • TSB000923 · February 2023TSB: Some 2014 ?
  • 23TE04 · February 2023DL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court.
  • T-SB-0115-22 · December 2022TSB: Some 2019 ?

All 2018 Highlander bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2018 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Owners filed 147 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota Highlander in its first five years on the road, about 62 for every 100,000 sold: 1.0× the rate of a typical Highlander year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Highlander years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2018 Highlander problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the brakes (26%), the air bags (7%) and the fuel or propulsion system (19%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2018 Toyota Highlander been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2018 Toyota Highlander, the most recent in November 2020 (fuel system, gasoline). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Toyota. The 2018 Toyota Highlander on NHTSA.gov · How we rate