2017 Toyota Highlander
Hybrid Gas Midsize / large SUV
The 2017 Toyota Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize or large SUV with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 267 complaints, most often about power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus | Hybrid | AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl + 288V Ni-MH | 30 | 28 | 29 | $2,150 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD | Hybrid | AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl + 288V Ni-MH | 29 | 27 | 28 | $2,250 |
| Highlander | Gas | FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,700 |
| Highlander AWD LE | Gas | AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,700 |
| Highlander LE/XLE/SE/LTD | Gas | FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,700 |
| Highlander | Gas | FWD | 2.7L 4-cyl | 20 | 24 | 22 | $2,850 |
| Highlander AWD | Gas | AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 20 | 26 | 22 | $2,850 |
| Highlander AWD | Gas | AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 19 | 26 | 22 | $2,850 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
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Recalls (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline
highProblem: 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,
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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
Equipment
highProblem: Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly.
Risk: The roof rails may loosen and possibly detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GST will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly torque the fasteners, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 17R3.
Tires
highProblem: Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
Risk: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
NHTSA investigations
Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds (closed)
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005
Owner complaints
267 complaints filed
18 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 26 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2017: 30 · 2018: 28 · 2019: 27 · 2020: 20 · 2021: 40 · 2022: 15 · 2023: 29 · 2024: 22 · 2025: 29 · 2026: 27
Most-cited components
- Power Train — 71
- Unknown Or Other — 52
- Engine — 48
- Electrical System — 47
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 29
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 17% |
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 17% |
| SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 18% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: lane departure warning.
Other Highlander model years
2026 Highlander
0 recalls · 2 complaints
B2025 Highlander
3 recalls · 9 complaints
F2024 Highlander
7 recalls · 42 complaints
F2023 Highlander
9 recalls · 186 complaints
D2022 Highlander
6 recalls · 244 complaints
D2021 Highlander
5 recalls · 520 complaints
D2020 Highlander
5 recalls · 320 complaints
B2019 Highlander
3 recalls · 483 complaints
C2018 Highlander
4 recalls · 269 complaints
B2016 Highlander
2 recalls · 115 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 38426, 38425, 38416, 38427, 38415, 38414, 38423, 38424). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.