2026 Toyota Highlander
Hybrid Gas Midsize / large SUV
The 2026 Toyota Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize or large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Highlander Hybrid AWD, is EPA-rated at 35 mpg combined. NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year so far (Safety Signal A). Owners have filed 2 complaints, most often about back over prevention. 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 | Hybrid | AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 35 | 35 | 35 | $1,800 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT | Hybrid | AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 35 | 34 | 35 | $1,800 |
| Highlander AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,600 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
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Recalls (0)
No NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2026 Toyota Highlander. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them.
Owner complaints
2 complaints filed
0 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2026: 2
Most-cited components
- Back Over Prevention — 1
- Visibility/Wiper — 1
- Power Train — 1
- Engine — 1
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 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Other Highlander model years
2025 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
C2017 Highlander
3 recalls · 267 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 50181, 50180, 50132). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.