2015 Toyota Highlander — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $16,000–$24,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 5 Toyota Highlander years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
The reliability champion of three-row crossovers — the 3.5L V6 and conventional automatic (no CVT, no dual-clutch) have a long durability record, and the Highlander is comfortable, roomy, and holds its value like few family SUVs. The third row is tight. Buy the maintained one; even a high-mile Highlander usually has plenty left.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-25
NHTSA holds 190 owner complaints for the 2015 Toyota Highlander, and 2 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. The largest single group is electrics and electronics at 27%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.
2 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Not written up yet: steering (25 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2015 Toyota Highlander
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
The way-back is kids-only. A packaging trade-off, not a fault.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Entune is slow and lacks modern smartphone integration.
Repair cost (estimate): $0-$400
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (52).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Ex-fleet with no records
- ✗Crash repair under paint
- ✗Neglected oil despite the durable V6
Good Signs
- ✓Documented service
- ✓Quiet, smooth V6 drivetrain
- ✓One or two owners, clean history
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Found a specific Toyota Highlander?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2015 Toyota Highlander in general. A free read looks at the one you're considering— it checks that seller's asking price against the market and names the issues that matter most for this exact year.
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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