Toyota · NHTSA safety record

2018 Toyota Highlander

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

259

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 Toyota Highlander have filed 259 safety complaints with NHTSA between January 2018 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 61 of them (24%). The typical failure was reported at 16,250 miles, the median across the 110 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints rose 39% year on year: 39 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 28 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

20V682000 · November 4, 2020

The defect: 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, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: 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 expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 1,525,742 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

20V012000 · January 13, 2020

The defect: 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 and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: 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.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 1,830,752 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

18V211000 · April 3, 2018

The defect: 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.
The risk: A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: 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.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 6,046 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

17V831000 · December 20, 2017

The defect: 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."
The risk: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: 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.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 649 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 259.

POWER TRAIN 61 24%

SERVICE BRAKES 53 20%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 42 16%

ENGINE 33 13%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24 9%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 22 8%

AIR BAGS 19 7%

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 14 5%

STRUCTURE 12 5%

STEERING 10 4%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9 3%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 8 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 46.

2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS Filed March 2, 2021

4 injured · crash · towed · 33,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT 50 MPH CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE 5 INJURED REPORTED AND 3 NEEDED MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO POLICE LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.

NHTSA complaint 11398708. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed April 14, 2026

3 injured · crash · towed · 140,000 miles

The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, occupied with her children in the rear passenger seats, the contact was attempting to merge onto the intersection, and a state trooper failed to yield at 55-60 MPH vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the vehicle, causing the whole front end of the vehicle to detach from the vehicle. The contact stated that no air bags were deployed in her vehicle. The contact stated that she and her children sustained injuries, however under direct legal advice, she cannot disclose this information. Medical attention was required. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The contact mentioned

NHTSA complaint 11731139, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed January 29, 2020

2 injured · crash · towed · 22,000 miles

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 1/28/20 WHERE I SUSTAINED A DIRECT, FRONT IMPACT COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, ACCELERATING FORWARD THROUGH A GREEN-LIT INTERSECTION WHEN A LARGE DODGE RAM TRUCK TURNED IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING OUR VEHICLES TO COLLIDE. THE IMPACT WAS SO HEAVY THAT IT CAUSED MY BODY TO PROJECT FORWARD AND UPWARDS. MY SON'S GLASSES FLEW OFF HIS FACE AND ALL CUPS IN CUP HOLDERS FLEW ACROSS THE CAR. MY SON COMPLAINED OF THE SEATBELT HURTING HIS SHOULDER, AND I SUSTAINED BRUISES ON MY LEGS AND ARMS. UPON THIS IMPACT, NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. THIS CAR WAS DETERMINED BY THE ADJUSTER TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. THE INSURANCE

NHTSA complaint 11302878, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed February 5, 2020

2 injured · crash · towed · 23,340 miles

WE WERE INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 01/25/2020 WHERE WE EXPERIENCED A FRONT IMPACT COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE WERE IN MOTION IN THE LEFT TURNING LANE OF A TWO LANE ROAD, THE ADVERSE VEHICLE PULLED OUT FROM A PARKING LOT ON THE RIGHT, CROSSED TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC RIGHT INTO THE FRONT OF OUR VEHICLE CAUSING US TO COLLIDE. THE FORCE OF THE COLLISION WAS SO HARD THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT ON THE TOP SIDE HAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE ENGINE, I PROJECTED FORWARD AND MY GLASSES FLEW FROM MY FACE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BUMPS AND BRUISES, ISSUES WITH OUR BACKS, SHOULDER AND WRIST PAIN. DURING THE IMPPACT THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER HAS DECLARED THE VEHICLE

NHTSA complaint 11307214, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed August 15, 2026

GUEST STATES HER VEHICLE IS WHINING DURING ACCELLERATION, WILL STOP WHINING FOR A MOMENT WHEN VEHICLE UPSHIFTS AND THEN RETURN. GUEST HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SERVICE MANAGER. NOISE CONFIRMED IN DRIVETRAIN, NOTED SUBLT BUT IT DOES OCCURE TEST DROVE ON BACK HILL. PLEASE HAVE CHECKED ADVISE. Comments: Verified reported sound. Like make and model comparison vehicle did not exhibit sound. Traced source of sound to transmission. Replacement of transmission needed to address reported sound. Warranty company sent independent inspector out, warranty company approved replacement with OEM remanufactured transmission. Car has been at dealer for since July 18, 2026 (1 month and counting) and still

NHTSA complaint 11757138, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN Filed July 28, 2026

This vehicle has a UA80 8-speed transmission that has prematurely failed. This is a KNOWN issue to Toyota and they have refused to provide a fix. It is a safety hazard when all acceleration stops when attempting to merge into heavy traffic (as had happened to me last week) or on a highway traveling at top speed. I have only 27,000 miles on this automobile and it failed with NO WARNING! Within a very short time frame the following occurred: the check AWD system, TRAC off, check engine and the transmission fluid at a high temperature lights appeared on the dashboard. Shortly thereafter I experienced a burning smell, suddenly no acceleration with a high TAC response and vehicle jerking. My

NHTSA complaint 11753332, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed July 24, 2026

1 injured · crash

I was parking my car and was almost to the gray slab to stop when the car suddenly surged forward! It felt like an airplane taking off. I hit a brick building. Somehow my nose was broken, and I was bleeding profusely. If someone had been walking on the sidewalk in front of me, they would have been crushed against the brick wall. Others have had this problem; in fact, one lady said she almost hit a brick wall! Ironic! There was no warning of any kind. However, the day before, while driving on the highway, the car did the same thing: it surged forward, but fortunately I was able to control it, and there had been no one in front of me. If I had been driving locally, I surely would have hit

NHTSA complaint 11752659, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Filed July 16, 2026

While driving my 2018 Toyota Highlander Limited, the check engine light began flashing off and on. I was near an exit and drove off the freeway. I could feel the car (near the gas pedal) start shaking, then the power went down quickly... as I was trying to find a safe place to go. The farther I drove, there was less power until the car was going about 2 miles an hour. The check light continued flashing as I pulled into a parking lot. This was very scary as I'm sure the car would have just stopped on the freeway if I had not been near an exit as it just simply had no power left. (The check engine light has been on over a year and I took it to three different mechanics. Not one could fix it.

NHTSA complaint 11750828, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE Filed July 10, 2026

I just got my vehicle inspected and successfully passed with no codes on 07/07/2026. Today 07/10/2026 as I was driving to work my vehicle began to jerk/ jitter and when into limp mode. I took it to a shop to have the codes checked on it and they said it was something to do with the transmission and they don’t specialize in that type of work. My vehicle has less than 45400 miles on it and been maintained regularly. I was told this was a common issue with these vehicles. I don’t know where to go to get this serviced. I called around to local shops with no luck at getting someone to fix or look at the cause of it.

NHTSA complaint 11749652. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION Filed June 25, 2026

101,000 miles

The contact’s daughter owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a clunking sound coming from the front driver’s side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the owner was informed that the struts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was later driven to a local tire and battery service center who inspected the vehicle and informed the owner that the front control arms were rusted and needed to be replaced, and that the front axle was cracked. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The daughter was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure

NHTSA complaint 11746490, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Toyota Highlander

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Deaths
2025	9	3	—
2024	39	7	—
2023	172	9	—
2022	230	5	1
2021	488	4	—
2020	305	4	—
2019	472	3	—
2017	262	3	—
2016	109	2	—
2015	189	1	—
2014	134	4	1
2013	205	3	—
2012	181	2	—
2011	181	5	—
2010	216	10	—

Other 2018 Toyota models

Camry 731 RAV4 330 C-HR 309 Tacoma 202 Corolla 133 Tundra 99 Sienna 69 4Runner 58

Every Toyota on this site — 272 vehicles, 370 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file , published August 20, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API , most recent campaign filed August 12, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file , published 2026-08-19.

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by guarledes
Independent developer and analyst