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2016 Toyota Highlander

Hybrid Gas

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

89 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2

Complaints14 crash · 1 fire · 12 injured reported 117

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 28 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Toyota Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Highlander Hybrid AWD, is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 117 complaints, most often about the service brakes. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Toyota Highlander — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Toyota Highlander · Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Highlander Hybrid AWD	Hybrid	AWD	3.5L 6-cyl + 288V Ni-MH	27	28	28	$2,400
Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus	Hybrid	AWD	3.5L 6-cyl + 288V Ni-MH	28	28	28	$2,400
Highlander 2WD	Gas	FWD	2.7L 4-cyl	20	25	22	$3,050
Highlander 2WD	Gas	FWD	3.5L 6-cyl	19	25	21	$3,200
Highlander AWD	Gas	AWD	3.5L 6-cyl	18	24	20	$3,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37127, 37128, 37123, 37124, 37126.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Highlander Hybrid AWD, Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus	7–8 / 10	Bin 3 / LEV-II SULEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Highlander 2WD, Highlander AWD	5–6 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors	5
GVWR class	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	6
Displacement	3.5 L
Engine configuration	V-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower

231 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain

4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes one configuration rather than every trim (seen: Base/Hybrid). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	191.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	76.0 in
Height	68.1 in
Wheelbase	109.8 in
Track, front	64.2 in
Track, rear	64.2 in
Curb weight	4,244–4,828 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	55/45

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: AWD 4-door SUV, FWD 4-door SUV, Hybrid 4-door SUV. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

G03

7,056 vehicles 89% reported repaired built May 26, 2016 – Sep 16, 2016

Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Highlander vehicles manufactured May 26, 2016, to September 16, 2016. The brake fluid level sensor may not be connected to the wire harness, preventing the sensor from detecting the brake fluid level. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems." Risk If the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, connect the wire harness to the sensor, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this G03.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 16V775000 reported Oct 24, 2016 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

○minor

Equipment

SET-16C

4,253 vehicles 97% reported repaired built May 6, 2014 – May 13, 2016

Problem Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars." Risk An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF

NHTSA campaign 16V420000 reported Jun 9, 2016 Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Highlander

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Toyota publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Toyota’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Toyota Highlander, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

117complaints filed

14 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 12 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 11 · 2017: 18 · 2018: 19 · 2019: 22 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 10 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 5

Most-cited components

Unspecified 22

Service Brakes 22

Electrical System 14

Air Bags 10

Engine 10

Visibility/Wiper 9

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

We were driving on the highway on 5/16/20. We were driving around 65 MPH straight. We were driving on black asphalt and then when we drove over a bridge with white/grayish concrete, the car's emergency braking system activated and applied sudden braking even though we were normally driving.

Service Brakes at 42,000 miles Jun 1, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11326887

Stopped in intersection waiting to make a left turn. When attempting to accelerate engine did not start hybrid warning stated hybrid system failure stop immediately. Glided to a parking space. Attempted to restart engine continue to get same warning. After three attempts called aaa and Toyota dealership. I was urged to tow the vehicle.

Fuel/Propulsion System at 75,170 miles Sep 6, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11124768

The door on the drivers side top corner struck me in the temple and caused bleeding and a headache. The door has a sharp angle. It was stationary I closed the door and was exiting the vehicle to go in a crowded restaurant. In a private parking lot

Structure at 15,000 miles Jul 31, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11115033

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander hybrid. While driving 40 MPH using the factory compact spare tire, the contact lost control of the steering when driving over grooved roads. The contact filed a complaint with the manufacturer, but there was no resolution. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 28,000

Steering at 28,000 miles May 10, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11092839

Driving south on 12/20/2017, on US-287 near the oklahoma/texas border with no other vehicles visible in front of US or oncoming traffic, the front section of our sunroof suddenly exploded. Luckily the shade was drawn or small pieces of glass would have fallen down on my family. The weather was clear and nearly cloudless blue sky day.

Visibility/Wiper at 19,500 miles Jan 2, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11058116

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander. While the vehicle was parked in the driveway, it automatically turned on without warning. The contact had to push the ignition switch to stop the vehicle. The contact also stated that there was a loud noise when the ignition switch was turned on.

Electrical System at 35,000 miles Nov 29, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11051156

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Toyota itself: 161 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 5 killed, 222 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every Highlander model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 28k

miles, typically

Half the 73 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 12,000 and 47,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 17

10k–20k 10

20k–30k 13

30k–40k 9

40k–50k 8

50k–60k 6

60k–70k 4

70k–80k 3

80k–90k 1

90k–100k 1

100k–150k 0

150k + 1

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Service Brakes	17	28,000	0.7×
Unspecified	12	35,000	—

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2016-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	17%
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	17%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	18%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Driver-assist crash reports (35)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01

35reports filed

4 minor · 30 no injury reported · 1 severity unknown

Jul 2021 to May 2023 · 0 with an air bag deployment · 0 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: 04.22.09.01 (1), 10.22.01.11 (1), 10.22.22.07 (1), 105.2022.06.28 (1)

Crash partner: Passenger Car 21 · Non-Motorist: Cyclist 3 · Van 3 · Non-Motorist: Other 2

Filed by: Zoox, Inc.

Incident	System	Struck	Injury alleged	State	Speed	Report
May 2023	ADS · 86.23.05.15	Passenger Car	minor	NV	—	30610-5714
Mar 2023	ADS · 69.23.03.20	Pickup Truck	no injury reported	NV	—	30610-5225
Mar 2023	ADS · 112.23.03.17	Other	no injury reported	NV	4 mph	30610-5224
Feb 2023	ADS · 18.23.02.07	Passenger Car	no injury reported	CA	7 mph	30610-4993
Feb 2023	ADS · 96.23.02.08	Passenger Car	no injury reported	CA	—	30610-4994
Feb 2023	ADS · 96.23.02.11	Passenger Car	no injury reported	CA	—	30610-4995
Feb 2023	ADS · 66.23.02.05	Non-Motorist: Cyclist	minor	NV	—	30610-4810
Jan 2023	ADS · 90.23.01.22	Passenger Car	no injury reported	NV	24 mph	30610-4814
Jan 2023	ADS · 110.23.1.1	Passenger Car	no injury reported	CA	3 mph	30610-4815
Nov 2022	ADS · 2022.28.11	Passenger Car	no injury reported	CA	—	30610-4362
Nov 2022	ADS · 111.22.11.20	Van	no injury reported	CA	—	30610-4383
Nov 2022	ADS · 20.22.11.15	Passenger Car	no injury reported	NV	9 mph	30610-4384

Showing the 12 most recent of 35; every one is in this page’s JSON and the dataset.

From the manufacturer’s own filing

The reporting entity’s narrative as NHTSA published it, with anything identifying removed and nothing added. A narrative is a notice, written before the entity had verified what happened.

A Zoox vehicle in autonomous mode was stopped in traffic when a passenger vehicle from behind made contact with the rear of the Zoox vehicle at low speed. The police were not called

Zoox, Inc. report 30610-2651 Mar 2022 NHTSA SGO filing

A Zoox vehicle in manual mode was proceeding with the right of way through a four-way stop, when a person operating an electric scooter failed to stop at the stop sign and proceeded into the intersection from the right and made contact with the rear corner of the Zoox vehicle at low speed. Police were not called.

Zoox, Inc. report 30610-2584 Mar 2022 NHTSA SGO filing

A Zoox vehicle in autonomous mode was proceeding westbound with the right of way on a green traffic light at the six way intersection of [redacted], [redacted], and [redacted], when a person operating an electric scooter ran a red light and proceeded northbound into the intersection.

Zoox, Inc. report 30610-3072 Jun 2022 NHTSA SGO filing

A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 390

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-02-13

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 387 service bulletins, 3 service campaigns

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Structure, Engine, Service Brakes.

T-SB-0009-26 Service bulletin
2026-02-13 · Engine
This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing a rescue charge. The GRX-5100 should be used wherever the Repair Manual references the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) charger.
T-SB-0119-15 Rev2 Service bulletin
2026-02-13 · Engine
OBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0009-26.
T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 Service bulletin
2026-01-07 · Unknown Or Other
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interi
T-TT-0790-25 Service bulletin
2025-08-20 · Electrical System
Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free. This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 Service campaign
2025-06-13 · Electrical System
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 Service bulletin
2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint
T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 Service bulletin
2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.
T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 Service bulletin
2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0A80 P0A80 on Toyota →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	3 bulletins
C1252 C1252 on Toyota →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Service Brakes · Brake pads →	2 bulletins
C1253 C1253 on Toyota →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Service Brakes · Brake pads →	2 bulletins
C1256 C1256 on Toyota →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Service Brakes · Brake pads →	2 bulletins
C1391 C1391 on Toyota →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Service Brakes · Brake pads →	2 bulletins
P0171 P0171 on Toyota →	The engine is running lean on bank 1: too much air, or not enough fuel, for the mixture the computer wants.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor →	2 bulletins
P0300 P0300 on Toyota →	Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Ignition coils →	2 bulletins
P0302 P0302 on Toyota →	Cylinder 2 is misfiring.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Ignition coils →	2 bulletins
P0304 P0304 on Toyota →	Cylinder 4 is misfiring.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Ignition coils →	2 bulletins
P0A7F P0A7F on Toyota →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins
P1603 P1603 on Toyota →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	2 bulletins
P1604 P1604 on Toyota →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 0.77%

failed emissions

5,977 initial inspections of 5,872 vehicles.

Measure	The 2016 Highlander	Every 2016 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	0.77%	4.2%	5,966
Failed the safety inspection	1.9%	2.2%	5,977
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.22%	0.27%	5,977
Miles driven a year	11,296	10,028	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	116,186	103,109	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Highlander by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 0 4 35 mpg 2025 C 4 10 35 mpg 2024 D 7 43 36 mpg 2023 D 9 198 36 mpg 2022 C 6 270 36 mpg 2021 C 5 548 36 mpg 2020 C 5 330 36 mpg 2019 B 3 508 29 mpg 2018 C 4 274 29 mpg 2017 B 3 274 29 mpg 2016 this page B 2 117 28 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 Highlander

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2016 Toyota Highlander. The most serious on file is 16V775000, covering Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Toyota Highlander?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Toyota Highlander 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (89/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Toyota Highlander?

Across the 5 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Toyota Highlander, the best EPA combined figure is 28 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Toyota Highlander?

Transport Canada measured it at 191.3 in long, 76.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 68.1 in tall, on a 109.8 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,244–4,828 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Toyota Highlander?

Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Highlander, most often about unspecified, service brakes, electrical system. Of those, 14 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 12 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Toyota Highlander?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Toyota Highlander runs 5 to 8 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 3, Bin 5, LEV-II SULEV, LEV-II ULEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Toyota Highlander?

The manufacturer has filed 390 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Toyota Highlander, most often covering equipment, electrical system, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-02-13. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Toyota Highlander do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Toyota Highlander failed the emissions check on 0.77% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.9% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	5 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	5 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	2	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	117	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	3 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	390	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	35	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	9 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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