The Lemon Index2018 Toyota Highlander.
The 2018 Toyota Highlander is better than average by owner complaints: 128 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 52, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 22 to 29 mpg combined. The best Toyota Highlander year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2014–2019 Toyota Highlander, 19.0M views. The 2018 is the same generation.
- Timing chain & engine622K views
2014-2019 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid Buying GuideThe Car Care Nut · 376K views · 3 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical594K views
Toyota Highlander (2014-2019) Apple CarPlay Android 10.2" Touchscreen UPGRADE ViaBecsPicture Time · 151K views · 5 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors471K views
Troubleshooting highlander rear door 2014 to 2019Steven Welch · 406K views · 2 videos - Oil changes & service204K views
Bluetooth greyed out? Hard reset for 2014+ Toyota highlander-tacomasTech 305 · 116K views · 2 videos
Show 4 more
- Spark plugs & ignition coils118K views
2014 - 2020 Toyota highlander 3.5L spark plugs replacement. Save money diyAJ Imports · 118K views - Brakes & ABS76K views
How to Replace Front Brakes 2014-2019 Toyota HighlanderTRQ · 76K views - Steering & suspension57K views
How to Replace Control Arms 2014-2019 Toyota HighlanderTRQ · 57K views - Cooling system57K views
How to Replace Radiator 2014-2019 Toyota HighlanderTRQ · 57K views
Before you buy, watch
Highlander Vs. Pilot: Which 2017 3-Row SUV Should You Buy? — Cars.comCars.com · 464K views
Top 5 Problems Toyota Highlander SUV 2014-2019 3rd Generation1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 185K views
2014 Toyota Highlander Liftgate ProblemsKyle Moody · 57K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 274 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota Highlander year. 2018 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 5K to 37K miles on the car (115 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- brakes complaints mostly came at 2K–27K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 8K–44K miles
Recalls 5
- fuel system, gasoline 2020
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- fuel system, gasoline 2020
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,…
- electrical 2018
The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM).
Show all 5 recalls
- brakes 2018
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.
- equipment 2017
These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Highlander SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Highlander SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–2900 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.7L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
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.
2018 Toyota Highlander owner · NHTSA complaint 11110346
More owner reports
My car is only 2years but I found oil are leaking. I had check up at local body shop and they found out that oil leaks vacuum pump so I need to replace.
NHTSA complaint 11327495
Car vibration at 40mph and up and brake vibration too .
NHTSA complaint 11183795
Quick answers
Is the 2018 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 52; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Highlander year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2018 Toyota Highlander problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (19%), engine (14%) and fuel or ev drive system (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota Highlander have?
5 safety recalls (latest: fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Toyota Highlander get?
22 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2018 Toyota Highlander safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2018 Toyota Highlander problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,900 and 37,000 miles. The middle report was at 16,000 miles, from 115 complaints.
Does the 2018 Toyota Highlander have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2018 Toyota Highlander cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $2900 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2018 Toyota Highlander have?
2.7L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Highlander year is better than the 2018?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works