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Your vehicleHome›Toyota›Highlander› 2018
Toyota · Large SUV

2018 Toyota Highlander

Hybrid Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
8 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
78 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4
Complaints24 crash · 2 fire · 25 injured reported 274
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 29 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 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 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. 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
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Highlander Hybrid AWD LE PlusHybridAWD3.5L 6-cyl + 288V Ni-MH302829$2,300
Highlander Hybrid AWDHybridAWD3.5L 6-cyl + 288V Ni-MH292728$2,400
HighlanderGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl202723$2,900
Highlander AWD LEGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl202723$2,900
Highlander LE/XLE/SE/LTDGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl212723$2,900
HighlanderGasFWD2.7L 4-cyl202422$3,050
Highlander AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl192622$3,050
Highlander AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl202622$3,050

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39879, 39878, 39730, 39741, 39729, 39626, 39739, 39740.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Highlander Hybrid AWD, Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus7 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Highlander, Highlander LE/XLE/SE/LTD5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Highlander AWD, Highlander AWD LE5 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Highlander3 / 10California LEV-II ULEV / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 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 styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors5
GVWR classClass 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement3.5 L
Engine configurationV-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower256 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows3
Seating capacity8 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
TransmissionContinuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Transmission speeds8

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

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: LE Hybrid, 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
Length192.5 in
Width (body, without mirrors)76.0 in
Height68.1 in
Wheelbase109.8 in
Track, front64.2 in
Track, rear64.2 in
Curb weight4,332–4,894 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear55/45

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.

Also on file Beside the 2018 Highlander
Other years The 2026 Highlander Recalls Toyota recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Toyota Highlander is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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Recalls (4)

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

Fuel System, Gasoline

20TB02/20TA02/20LB01
1,830,752 vehicles 92% reported repaired
Problem 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 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. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V012000 reported Jan 13, 2020 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

J0K/JLD
6,046 vehicles 89% reported repaired built Oct 4, 2017 – Nov 3, 2017
Problem 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. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0K/JLD.
NHTSA campaign 18V211000 reported Apr 3, 2018 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Equipment

Toyota H0Z Lexus HLF
649 vehicles 93% reported repaired built Oct 24, 2017 – Oct 26, 2017
Problem 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. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V831000 reported Dec 20, 2017 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing 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 2018 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 2018 Toyota Highlander, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2018 Toyota Highlander

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

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Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
274complaints filed

24 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 25 injuries · 0 deaths reported

12 per 10,000 built · Toyota reported 237,736 Highlander built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2018: 25 · 2019: 31 · 2020: 46 · 2021: 26 · 2022: 24 · 2023: 25 · 2024: 28 · 2025: 24 · 2026: 45

Most-cited components

Power Train → 69
Service Brakes → 59
Unspecified 46
Fuel/Propulsion System 37
Engine 35
Electrical System 24

In depth: transmission and drivetrain problems → · brake 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 2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated while coming to a complete stop and depressing the brake pedal, he heard abnormal squeaking and rubbing sounds. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted while at a complete stop.
Service Brakes at 36,000 miles Nov 10, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11493057
January 22, 2019 while driving approximately 75 MPH on the interstate the panoramic sunroof glass exploded in my car. Sounded like a shotgun when off and the pressure I felt in my back, I thought I got shot. Glass totally blew out of the car with only a couple inches left around the sides. No rocks or anything hit it.
Structure at 23,161 miles Apr 25, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11203750
I noticed a hesitation with the vehicle when I pressed the gas pedal. On one incident on I-288 I pressed the gas to pass a car and it hesitated and the RPM jumpted to 51/2. Finally the car engaged so I could pass. I thought it was going to blow up. On the way home on I-295 it repeated again only this time the RPM jumped to 4.
Engine at 10,999 miles Mar 22, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11190851
Early today, 3/21/19, was alerted that my hatchback was open. The car had been locked for several hours, but when I came outside I was told by a friend that the hatch had just opened on it's own.
Electrical System at 11,500 miles Mar 21, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11190636
The xle front passenger seat sits very high, causing my head to brush up against the ceiling. This is will cause head and possibly neck injuries in the event of a collision. I'm not particularly tall at 5'10', but anyone taller will have a worse problem. There is no way to lower this seat.
Seats Mar 16, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11187225
Recently involved in an accident when going in reverse. The SRS alarm malfunctioned and the airbags did not deploy. The reverse braking system did not indicated that I was close to the object
Air Bags at 2,200 miles Jul 9, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11110346

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: 189 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 4 killed, 248 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 79 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 16k

miles, typically

Half the 110 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 8,000 and 38,000 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 24
20k–30k 14
30k–40k 11
40k–50k 6
50k–60k 2
60k–70k 2
70k–80k 4
80k–90k 2
90k–100k 2
100k–150k 7
150k + 2

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Unspecified289,900—
Service Brakes2321,0000.74×
Engine1814,8000.3×
Power Train1392,0002.66×
Fuel/Propulsion System1327,0000.85×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2018-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 (0.3×); later: power train (2.66×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2022 model years the Toyota Highlander ranks 37 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.92× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 16,982 miles against a fleet 23,512).

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
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆18%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

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

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 359
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-02-13
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 355 service bulletins, 2 warranty extensions, 2 service campaigns

Most often about: Equipment, Structure, Electrical System, Engine, Power Train.

  • 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.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
C1253
C1253 on Toyota →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Service Brakes · Brake pads →1 bulletin · 1 owner report
C1256
C1256 on Toyota →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Service Brakes · Brake pads →1 bulletin · 1 owner report
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.Electrical System · Mass air flow sensor →2 bulletins
P0302
P0302 on Toyota →		Cylinder 2 is misfiring.Electrical System · Ignition coils →2 bulletins
P0741
P0741 on Toyota →		The torque converter clutch is not locking up when commanded.Power Train2 owner reports
P0A7F
P0A7F on Toyota →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →2 bulletins
P0A80
P0A80 on Toyota →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →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.

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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Toyota Highlander failed the emissions check on 0.74% of first inspections — lower than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%).

New York inspections 0.74%

failed emissions

9,129 initial inspections of 8,966 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2018 HighlanderEvery 2018 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check0.74%3.0%9,105
Failed the safety inspection1.5%1.9%9,129
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.24%0.22%9,129
Miles driven a year10,75910,002odometer at inspection
Average odometer89,14282,833odometer 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 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 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 mpg2025 C 4 10 35 mpg2024 D 7 43 36 mpg2023 D 9 198 36 mpg2022 C 6 270 36 mpg2021 C 5 548 36 mpg2020 C 5 330 36 mpg2019 B 3 508 29 mpg2018 this page C 4 274 29 mpg2017 B 3 274 29 mpg2016 B 2 117 28 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 Highlander

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2018 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 2018 Toyota Highlander?

NHTSA gave the 2018 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 C (78/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Toyota Highlander?

Across the 8 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 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 2018 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 2018 Toyota Highlander?

Owners have filed 274 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota Highlander, most often about power train, service brakes, unspecified. Of those, 24 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 25 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 2018 Toyota Highlander?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Toyota Highlander runs 3 to 7 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 — California LEV-II ULEV, California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Toyota Highlander?

The manufacturer has filed 359 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 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 2018 Toyota Highlander do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Toyota Highlander failed the emissions check on 0.74% of first inspections — lower than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). 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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations8 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates8 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints274NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings3 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins359NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA13 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe 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.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2026 Highlander The Highlander model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Toyota recall on file All campaigns filed against Toyota vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Highlander by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

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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