2016 Toyota Highlander — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $17,000–$25,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 3 Toyota Highlander years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
The three-row SUV to buy if you plan to keep it a decade. The 2GR V6 is one of the most durable engines Toyota has built, the automatic is conventional, and there is no CVT anywhere. It costs more used than a Traverse for exactly that reason.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11
NHTSA holds 109 owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota Highlander, across 3 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 the brakes at 17%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.
3 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: the brakes (19 complaints), electrics and electronics (14 complaints). Those groups are in the public record and are not covered by the issues below. Treat them as something to ask about, not as absent.
Looked at and set aside: airbags (10) — 10 airbag complaints on file, almost always a recall matter rather than a repair bill; have a dealer check this VIN for open airbag campaigns and confirm any were performed.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2016 Toyota Highlander
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
Part of the very large Denso low-pressure fuel pump recall that can cause stalling. Verify completion by VIN.
Repair cost: $0 recall
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (10); 3 NHTSA recall campaigns on this model year.
The 2GR water pump weeps around 100k-140k miles. Routine.
Repair cost (estimate): $500-$900
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (10), steering (6).
A light shudder around 30-45 mph in lockup. Fluid service usually addresses it.
Repair cost (estimate): $250-$600
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Not a defect — but the third row is tighter than a Pilot or Telluride, which matters if it is why you are buying.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Fuel pump recall showing open
- ✗Coolant loss with no visible source
- ✗Rideshare use with very high mileage
- ✗Frame rust in salt states
Good Signs
- ✓Recall completed
- ✓Water pump and coolant service documented
- ✓One-owner family vehicle with dealer records
Found a specific Toyota Highlander?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2016 Toyota Highlander in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99No account required. Delivered to your inbox, usually within minutes.
Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
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.
Other Toyota Highlander years
More from Toyota
Similar suvs & crossovers
No bullshit, no upsells, no affiliate links. One report, one price — we'll never charge you rent for your own thinking.
Think we got something wrong? Tell us — a real person reads every message.