Model year 2026 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
2026 Toyota Highlander: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2026 Toyota Highlander at 24–35 mpg combined across 3 versions. NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 4 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
0
EPA combined mpg
24–35
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Toyota dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2026 Toyota Highlander recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 0 safety recalls for the 2026 Toyota Highlander, newest first.
No recalls are listed for the 2026 Toyota Highlander in NHTSA's recall file as of Oct 27, 2026.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
Advertisement
2026 Toyota Highlander fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | City/Hwy/Comb | Fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander AWD | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-speed | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | 21/28/24 mpg | $2,800 | 371 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT (6 modes) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | 35/35/35 mpg | $1,900 | 254 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT | 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT (6 modes) | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | 35/34/35 mpg | $1,900 | 253 |
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2026 Toyota Highlander crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Tested vehicle | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk | Forward collision warning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV HEV AWD | 5 stars | 4 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars | 16.4% | Standard |
| 2026 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUV N/A AWD | 5 stars | 4 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars | 16.4% | Standard |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
Advertisement
2026 Toyota Highlander owner complaints
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Toyota Highlander, most recently on Oct 12, 2026. 0 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
| Component named in complaints | Mentions |
|---|---|
| Back over prevention: Sensing system: Camera | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 |
| Power train | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 |
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.
Other Toyota Highlander model years
| Year | Combined | Recalls | Complaints | Overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Highlander | 24–35 mpg | 4 | 10 | 5/5 |
| 2024 Highlander | 24–36 mpg | 7 | 43 | 5/5 |
| 2023 Highlander | 24–36 mpg | 9 | 198 | 5/5 |
| 2022 Highlander | 23–36 mpg | 6 | 272 | 5/5 |
| 2021 Highlander | 23–36 mpg | 5 | 548 | 5/5 |
| 2020 Highlander | 23–36 mpg | 5 | 330 | 5/5 |
| 2019 Highlander | 22–29 mpg | 3 | 511 | 5/5 |
| 2018 Highlander | 22–29 mpg | 4 | 275 | 5/5 |
| 2017 Highlander | 22–29 mpg | 3 | 274 | 5/5 |
| 2016 Highlander | 20–28 mpg | 2 | 117 | 5/5 |
| 2015 Highlander | 20–28 mpg | 1 | 195 | 5/5 |
Advertisement
Other 2026 Toyota models
Sources
- Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
- Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
- Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
- Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
- NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Toyota.