Your vehicleHome›Toyota›Highlander› 2017

Toyota · Large SUV

2017 Toyota Highlander

Hybrid Gas

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

Safety Signal

83 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3

Complaints18 crash · 2 fire · 26 injured reported 274

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 29 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2017 Toyota Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 274 complaints, most often about the power train. 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 LE Plus	Hybrid	AWD	3.5L 6-cyl + 288V Ni-MH	30	28	29	$2,300
Highlander Hybrid AWD	Hybrid	AWD	3.5L 6-cyl + 288V Ni-MH	29	27	28	$2,400
Highlander	Gas	FWD	3.5L 6-cyl	20	27	23	$2,900
Highlander AWD LE	Gas	AWD	3.5L 6-cyl	20	27	23	$2,900
Highlander LE/XLE/SE/LTD	Gas	FWD	3.5L 6-cyl	21	27	23	$2,900
Highlander	Gas	FWD	2.7L 4-cyl	20	24	22	$3,050
Highlander AWD	Gas	AWD	3.5L 6-cyl	20	26	22	$3,050
Highlander AWD	Gas	AWD	3.5L 6-cyl	19	26	22	$3,050

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38426, 38425, 38416, 38427, 38415, 38414, 38423, 38424.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus	8 / 10	LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Highlander Hybrid AWD	8 / 10	LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Highlander, Highlander AWD, Highlander AWD LE, Highlander LE/XLE/SE/LTD	7 / 10	LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Highlander	6 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / 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

295 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	3
Seating capacity	8 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	8

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

Optional: Parking assist

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 the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: ASU50L/GSU50L/GSU55L/GVU58L, LE/LE Plus, Ltd/Ltd Platinum, Ltd/Ltd Platinum Hybrid). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	192.5 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	4,332–4,894 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 (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

20TA02, 20LA01

1,525,742 vehicles 92% reported repaired

Problem 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, 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. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an

Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 20V682000 reported Nov 4, 2020 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Equipment

17R3

1,121 vehicles 75% reported repaired built Nov 16, 2016 – Jul 19, 2017

Problem Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly. Risk The roof rails may loosen and possibly detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash. Fix GST will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly torque the fasteners, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 17R3.

NHTSA campaign 17V520000 reported Aug 23, 2017 Gulf States Toyota, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

○minor

Tires

17R2

409 vehicles 58% reported repaired built Mar 21, 2017 – Mar 30, 2017

Problem Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label. Risk A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 17V295000 reported May 2, 2017 Gulf States Toyota, Inc. 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 2017 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 2017 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

274complaints filed

18 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 26 injuries · 0 deaths reported

14 per 10,000 built · Toyota reported 201,100 Highlander built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 30 · 2018: 28 · 2019: 27 · 2020: 20 · 2021: 40 · 2022: 15 · 2023: 29 · 2024: 22 · 2025: 29 · 2026: 34

Most-cited components

Power Train → 77

Unspecified 53

Engine → 52

Electrical System 47

Fuel/Propulsion System 38

Service Brakes 30

In depth: transmission and drivetrain problems → · engine problems →

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.

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the brake power low, stop at a safe place warning message was displayed. The contact stated that shortly after several warning lights were illuminated, the brake pedal was depressed and was firm.

Service Brakes at 55,000 miles Jun 29, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11422739

As I was turning left at a green arrow across a divided highway, the car stopped moving in the middle of the intersection. There were no warning lights or alarms in advance of the stop, nor were there any crunching or grinding sounds at the time the car stopped.

Power Train at 20,000 miles Jan 17, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11063286

This vehicle has a defective windshield washer pump that Toyota refuses to replace. I was in chicago on 12/26-31/2017 and the temperature was below 20 degrees. The windshield washer froze and I took the vehicle to grossinger Toyota, lincolnwood, il on 12/27 and 12/29.

Visibility/Wiper at 6,500 miles Jan 8, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11061292

While driving up the I-5 grapevine at 72 MPH the car suddenly slowed without any warning to under 20 MPH. The check engine light turned on and the dash said AWD system disengaged or error or some similar message and to take to the dealer. I was barely able to accelerate to get off the road.

Engine at 7,000 miles Dec 29, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11057498

The driver's seatbelt is not ergonomically placed, and reaching up, back and pulling forward with my left arm to attach the seatbelt has damaged my left shoulder (severe tendinitis and a partially torn rotator cuff). To date physical therapy has not resolved the issue and I must return to the orthopedic surgeon for further evaluation

Seat Belts at 250 miles Dec 29, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11057407

I experienced issues right after buying car new. Car unable to read sid card, gsp not working, multi-media screen white wash (white) and unable to read, keeps trying to restart 'bluetooth', auto wiper system does not work, seat belt warning system does not always work, forward collision button on steering work does not work, blind spot…

Electrical System Apr 9, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10971485

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: 155 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 221 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 77 per 100,000 built. 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 20k

miles, typically

Half the 123 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 8,000 and 40,000 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 34

10k–20k 25

20k–30k 16

30k–40k 16

40k–50k 11

50k–60k 4

60k–70k 7

70k–80k 4

80k–90k 0

90k–100k 1

100k–150k 4

150k + 1

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Unspecified	26	20,000	—
Engine	26	23,000	0.4×
Power Train	25	20,000	0.5×
Fuel/Propulsion System	19	35,000	0.95×
Electrical System	15	36,000	1.03×
Service Brakes	14	30,000	0.91×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2017-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: engine (0.4×), power train (0.5×). 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. Standard driver-assist: lane departure warning.

Driver-assist crash reports (33)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01

33reports filed

7 minor · 20 no injury reported · 6 severity unknown

Apr 2023 to Jul 2026 · 0 with an air bag deployment · 6 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: 126.23.04.11 (1), 126.25.05.10 (1), 128.25.05.29 (1), 130.23.10.12 (1)

Crash partner: Passenger Car 13 · SUV 9 · Other 5 · Non-Motorist: Other 2

Filed by: Zoox, Inc.

Incident	System	Struck	Injury alleged	State	Speed	Report
Jul 2026	ADS · 150.26.07.08	Other	unknown	CA	40 mph	30610-16272
Jun 2026	ADS · 169.26.06.24	Passenger Car	unknown	NV	3 mph	30610-15638
Mar 2026	ADS · 144.26.03.14	Passenger Car	unknown	CA	—	30610-14665
Sep 2025	ADS · 185.25.09.20	Non-Motorist: Other	unknown	FL	—	30610-11903
Jul 2025	ADS · 194.25.07.08	Pickup Truck	unknown	NV	—	30610-11515
May 2025	ADS · 128.25.05.29	Passenger Car	no injury reported	CA	7 mph	30610-11103
May 2025	ADS · 126.25.05.10	Other	no injury reported	CA	—	30610-11099
May 2025	ADS · 196.25.05.03	Passenger Car	minor	NV	1 mph	30610-11097
Apr 2025	ADS · 154.25.04.24	Passenger Car	minor	CA	1 mph	30610-10824
Mar 2025	ADS · 203.25.03.28	Passenger Car	no injury reported	NV	—	30610-10516
Mar 2025	ADS · 180.25.03.07	Other	no injury reported	NV	—	30610-10508
Mar 2025	ADS · 166.25.03.19	SUV	no injury reported	NV	6 mph	30610-10294

Showing the 12 most recent of 33; 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 autonomy was proceeding northbound on [redacted] in stop-and-go traffic through an active construction zone. At the same time, an e-scooter traveling near the right curb was passing other slow traffic behind the Zoox vehicle.

Zoox, Inc. report 30610-5232 Apr 2023 NHTSA SGO filing

A Zoox vehicle (Vehicle 1) in autonomy was traveling east on [redacted] in stop and go traffic in the right travel lane, approaching the intersection with [redacted]. The Zoox vehicle slowed gradually for a stopped vehicle ahead in the same travel lane, when it was rear ended by an SUV (Vehicle 2) that was traveling directly behind.

Zoox, Inc. report 30610-7464 Mar 2024 NHTSA SGO filing

A Zoox vehicle (Vehicle 1), operating in autonomous mode, was stopped behind traffic in the right through-lane for a red traffic light on southbound [redacted] at [redacted] in Las Vegas. A passenger car (Vehicle 2) was also stopped for the same traffic light, directly behind the Zoox vehicle.

Zoox, Inc. report 30610-10516 Mar 2025 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

Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Toyota warranty extension 24TE05Although 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…

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Toyota warranty extension (10) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 368

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-02-13

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 364 service bulletins, 2 service campaigns, 2 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Structure, Electrical System, Engine, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.

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.
24TE05 Warranty extension
2025-01-30 · Service Brakes
Although 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 customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to certain internal malfunctions of the Brake Booster and Brake Booster Pump Assemblies in some of the subject vehicles.
T-SB-0014-25 Service bulletin
2025-01-29 · Service Brakes
Some 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. One or more of the following specific Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): C1391, C1252, C1256, and/or C1253 will be stored in the vehicle memory to be used as verification. This condition may be caused by a small internal brake
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

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
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 →	3 bulletins
P0300 P0300 on Toyota →	Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.	Engine · Ignition coils →	3 bulletins
P0302 P0302 on Toyota →	Cylinder 2 is misfiring.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Ignition coils →	3 bulletins
P0A80 P0A80 on Toyota →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	3 bulletins
P0087 P0087 on Toyota →	Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.	Equipment · Fuel pump →	1 bulletin · 1 owner report
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
P1605 P1605 on Toyota →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	2 bulletins
U0100	A module has stopped hearing from the engine control module over the vehicle network.	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 0.82%

failed emissions

6,820 initial inspections of 6,681 vehicles.

Measure	The 2017 Highlander	Every 2017 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	0.82%	3.7%	6,810
Failed the safety inspection	1.5%	2.1%	6,820
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.38%	0.25%	6,820
Miles driven a year	10,947	10,048	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	101,695	93,238	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 2017 vehicle” is every 2017 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 this page B 3 274 29 mpg 2016 B 2 117 28 mpg

Common questions about the 2017 Highlander

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2017 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 Toyota Highlander. The most serious on file is 20V682000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2017 Toyota Highlander?

NHTSA gave the 2017 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 (83/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Toyota Highlander?

Across the 8 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 Toyota Highlander, the best EPA combined figure is 29 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2017 Toyota Highlander?

Transport Canada measured it at 192.5 in long, 76.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 68.1 in tall, on a 109.8 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,332–4,894 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 2017 Toyota Highlander?

Owners have filed 274 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Toyota Highlander, most often about power train, unspecified, engine. Of those, 18 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 26 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 2017 Toyota Highlander?

The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Toyota Highlander runs 6 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 — Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III SULEV30, LEV-III ULEV70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Toyota Highlander?

The manufacturer has filed 368 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Toyota Highlander, most often covering equipment, structure, electrical system. 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 2017 Toyota Highlander do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Toyota Highlander failed the emissions check on 0.82% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%). 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	8 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	8 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	3	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	274	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	368	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	33	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	13 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.

JSON for this page · API