What are the most common 2026 Highlander problems?

Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (50%), the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (50%) and visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (50%). A complaint can name more than one area.

2026 Toyota Highlander: Too new to judge

The 2026 Toyota Highlander has been on the road for 11 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 0.3× the rate other Highlander years drew in their first 11 months, per vehicle sold.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the engine (50% of complaints).

Complaint index: 0.3×; partial: first 11 months
Rank: Not ranked; rated after five years
Complaints: 2; in 11 months so far
Recalls: 0; campaigns

4th generation, 2020–2026 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate

Photo: 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles

Engine50% · 1 complaints
Powertrain50% · 1 complaints
Visibility50% · 1 complaints
Driver assistance50% · 1 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.

Recalls

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2026 Toyota Highlander.

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 24 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2026 Highlander. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

T-SB-0040-24 Rev1 · June 2026Some 2020 – 2026 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a water leak from the roof rack attachment clips.
T-SB-0003-26 Rev1 · June 20262026 model year Toyota vehicles are equipped with driver side floor mat retainers to secure the floor mat in the correct position.
T-SB-0004-26 Rev1 · June 2026During the manufacturing process, tires are mounted on the vehicle as matched sets to help reduce conditions such as pulling or drifting.
T-SB-0002-26 Rev1 · June 2026Long-term or off-site storage requires special care to maintain vehicle condition.
T-SB-0005-26 Rev1 · June 2026A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and service life.
T-SB-0017-25 Rev2 · February 2026OBSOLETE NOTICE February 12, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete.
T-SB-0005-25 Rev2 · February 2026OBSOLETE NOTICE February 6, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete.
T-SB-0005-26 · February 2026A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and service life.

All 2026 Highlander bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2026 Toyota Highlander reliable?: The 2026 Toyota Highlander has been on the road for 11 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 0.3× the rate other Highlander years drew in their first 11 months, per vehicle sold. 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 2026 Highlander problems?: Owners' complaints most often involve the engine (50%), the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (50%) and visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (50%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2026 Toyota Highlander been recalled?: NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2026 Toyota Highlander.

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 2026 Toyota Highlander on NHTSA.gov · How we rate