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Toyota · NHTSA safety record

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander

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

Owners have filed 35 safety complaints about the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the body structure, named in 8 complaints, 23% of the total.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers November 2025 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

35 complaints on file

35

Complaints

1

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

5

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11 · 31%
STRUCTURE 8 · 23%
ENGINE 6 · 17%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 · 11%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 · 6%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 6%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 · 6%
AIR BAGS 1 · 3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 · 3%
LANE DEPARTURE 1 · 3%
POWER TRAIN 1 · 3%
SEAT BELTS 1 · 3%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 35.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 34.

36 27 18 9
25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2025 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2026 Toyota GRAND HIGHLANDER, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV N/A AWD SUV N/A FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 17.4% 16.9%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

26V598000 · September 17, 2026

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX350, RX500 Hybrid, TX500 Hybrid, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Grand Highlander Hybrid vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front steering knuckles may crack and break, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
The risk
A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckles, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TA19 and 26LA09.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 617 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

26V437000 · July 8, 2026

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX Plug-In Hybrid, TX Hybrid, TX, Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, and Grand Highlander vehicles. The rear axle carriers may have been manufactured with insufficient material strength and could break.
The risk
A broken rear axle carrier can cause a sudden loss of vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect the rear axle carrier sub-assembly code, and replace the sub-assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 23, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB13, 26TA13, 26LB08, and 26LA08.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 5,408 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

25V744000 · October 30, 2025

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 1,024,407 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Road debris/rocks damaging the heat exchangers

DP26006

Still open defect petition · opened August 20, 2026

the engine and its cooling

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a Petition dated July 20, 2026. The Petition requests an investigation of road debris / rocks damaging the heat exchangers in model year (MY) 2024-2026 Toyota Grand Highlander vehicles. The Petition contends that the Grand Highlander’s front-end grill has large, open apertures and no protective screen between the grill and the vehicle’s heat exchangers. The Petition further alleges that as a result, during normal driving, the damage to heat exchangers results in coolant leakage and sudden loss of propulsion. The Petitioner cites thirteen (13) complaints received by ODI alleging this failure, which, when added to the petitioner’s own complaint, bring the total under consideration at this time to fourteen (14). ODI will evaluate these complaints to determine if they are related to the failure cited in the Petition and conduct a technical review under 49 CFR Part 552. This Defect Petition is being opened to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11754975.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

VISIBILITY/WIPER

3 injured

June, July and August multiple occurrences of Electronic Parking Brake and Drive Engagement Failure intermittently occurring. The Automatic electronic park brake fails to release from Park to Drive or Park to Reverse while drivers seatbelt is fastened, all door closed, vehicle on level ground. Vehicle behaves as if it's still in Park and revs RPM with gas pedal pressed without movement. Vehicle may abruptly lunge once engagement finally occurs after vehicle on/off & multiple Park to Drive manually placed. Seatbelt of driver has stated that the drivers seatbelt is not buckled when it is and all doors are closed. Display on the info display states that driver door is open when it's closed and

NHTSA complaint 11767749, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 10,000 miles

The contact owns a 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a commercial lawnmower that fell from a truck. The driver's seat air bag deployed in a downward position, and the other air bags failed to deploy. The driver and the front passenger sustained cuts on their necks from their seat belts and received medical treatment. The driver also received trigger point injections for pain management. The vehicle was towed to Car Craft, where it was repaired. The vehicle was inspected by the insurance company. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and a case was opened, and the

NHTSA complaint 11764343, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Periodically, when you apply the gas, there is no power. The gas pedal is dead. This obviously is a hazard when trying to maneuver through traffic. The problem is random and cannot be reproduced at will. The dealership said they could do nothing about it if they could not reproduce the issue. Vehicle is still under the manufacturer warranty.

NHTSA complaint 11767296. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Windshield has experienced multiple cracks/chips at extremely low mileage. Initial crack occurred before 1,000 miles and originated at the upper edge of the windshield. Crack has propagated from the top to the bottom. Multiple additional star cracks have developed. I am concerned about possible windshield/glass, installation, or structural issue. I previously owned a Highlander for over 10 years and did not have any issues of this and I live in the same area. I had one crack that entire time. I currently have 9000 miles with the long crack +3 additional star shape cracks. One occurred from a very small rock that hit and the other I never even heard one hit it.

NHTSA complaint 11765486. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander XLE has a recurring gasoline smell near the rear driver’s side after long trips or when parked with the engine idling. The source of the odor and the specific component involved are unknown. I am concerned about a possible fuel or vapor leak and the potential fire risk to myself and my passengers.

NHTSA complaint 11764246. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
After starting the vehicle and coming to a conplete stop the vehicle will hesitate upon new acceleration. The hesitation causes a lag in the vehicle and it then will jerk or jolt while shifting. The vehicle will Rev up in a low gear and not shift correctly. This causes a safety issue especially when going into traffic. I have not taken it to the dealer as of yet, but I will be. This is an intermittent issue, so i fear toyota will say they cannot replicate the issue. There were no warning lamps when the event happens.

NHTSA complaint 11762019. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Toyota Grand Highlander

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 75 3 —
2024 233 4 1

Other 2026 Toyota models

Camry Hybrid 133 Tundra 32 RAV4 Hybrid 22 BZ 17 Corolla 17 C-HR 8 4Runner 7 Prius 6

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Toyota on this site — 281 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

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
Independent developer and analyst