RoadVitals

2016 Toyota Highlander Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Nov 20, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 109 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Toyota Highlander submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Nov 20, 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the trunk power switch failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the trunk power switch was enabled to unlock, however the trunk door did not unlock. The contact stated that the trunk power switch failed to unlatch the trunk door and the trunk door was stuck. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with battery failure due to a lack of voltage. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that a Representative provided remedy options over the phone. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred intermittently. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

NHTSA ID
11626493
Incident
Apr 17, 2024
Mileage
48,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 26, 2023

2016 toyota highlander le model v-6 cylinder. The FUEL PUMP runs after engine has been turned off for several hours, even up to as many as 8 hours. This situation can be heard in a closed in garage, in the completely quiet of night time, and at multiple times during the same time period. It happens intermittently with various levels of gas in the tank. The length of time FUEL PUMP can run can be as little as 10 minutes to over 60 minutes.

NHTSA ID
11561849
Incident
Dec 21, 2023
Electrical
Filed Mar 16, 2023

Description of Problem (electrical issue affecting multiple systems): Engine shuts off while driving. All instrument/electronic displays shut off or flicker while driving. Steering wheel locks and vibrates. Liftgate does not open. Vehicle cannot be unlocked with fob. Vehicle does not start. May start after several attempts. Safety: My family's safety was put at risk when car stalled and almost hit by other vehicles while driving on streets and highway. Risk has continued because Toyota has not identified and fixed the problem. Dealer: The problem has been reproduced by dealer. Dealer blamed and replaced battery, but problem continued. Vehicle only inspected by dealer and nobody else. Warning Lamps/Message: No Service lights or warning messaged on.

NHTSA ID
11512162
Incident
Jan 1, 2023
Electrical
Filed Apr 25, 2022
Fire reported

I had bought my vehicle 5 months ago in an authorized Toyota dealer, on Easter Day we got on the vehicle drove 15 minutes from home to the park, parked my vehicle, turn it off and went to the park are next to where my vehicle was parked, from where i was sitting i was able to see my vehicle and we wasn't that far, not even 5 minutes after that i walked near the vehicle and notice it was on fire. No light was on in the dashboard, everything was working fine, the vehicle just had an oil change at the begging March 2022 and now in April 2022 it caught fire. This was my dream vehicle and i worked hard to get it. Fire fighters arrived at the scene, police department as well, the police gave me a report number, also a fire department investigator was called to the scene where he certified it was a short circuit and gave me a report number as well.

NHTSA ID
11462149
Incident
Apr 17, 2022
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 13, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shut-off without warning. The contact would be able to restart the vehicle a few minutes after the failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to an unknown dealer. The dealer attempted to charge him a diagnostic fee and the contact refused. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure and they sided with the dealer and insisted that he pay a diagnostic fee to have the vehicle serviced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11424583
Incident
Jun 14, 2021
Electrical
Filed May 9, 2020

THE IPHONE 11 IS NOT COMPATIBLE WHICH CAUSES YOU NOT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE HANDS FREE. EVERY TIME I TURN ON MY CAR AND CONTEXT MY PHONE MY CAR AUDIO DISCONNECTS. I CONFIRMED ON THE TOYOTA WEBSITE THAT THE IPHONE 11 IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH TOYOTA CARS WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE HANDS FREE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11323965
Incident
May 9, 2020
Electrical
Filed Jan 29, 2020
1 injury reported

THE LIFTGATE HIT MY 73 YEAR OLD MOTHER IN THE HEAD KNOCKING HER BACKWARDS WITHOUT ANY SAFETY FEATURE STOPPING OR REVERSING THE DOOR AS IT CLOSED.

NHTSA ID
11302752
Incident
Jan 23, 2020
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 24, 2020

INTERIOR LIGHTS ON AND OFF; WARNINGS E.G .HOOD OPEN WHEN NOT; DID NOT (LIGHT) ALERT CARS ALONG SIDE OR PASSING; MODULE CRACKED BY TAPPING TO DELETE PHONE #S PUT INTO SYSTEM BY TOYOTA TECH, NAVIGATION STARTED ON ITS OWN AND IT WAS INCORRECT!; MAPS INCORRECT TO LOCATION; MAP SHOWING NORTH AS SOUTH AND EAST AS WEST ALL WHEN CAR IN MOTION

NHTSA ID
11301574
Incident
Jan 10, 2020
Mileage
8,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 18, 2019
Crash reported

PARKING SENSORS AND PARK ASSIST RANDOMLY TURNS ITSELF OFF. WILL NOTICE THE SENSORS NOT DETECTING WHILE BACKING UP AND NOTICE DASH LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED. NOT FUNCTIONING WHEN BACKING AND PARKING.

NHTSA ID
11244734
Incident
May 7, 2019
Mileage
47,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 18, 2019

TWO SEPARATE ISSUES: 1. RAIN SENSING WIPERS ACTIVATE RANDOMLY ON CLEAR DAYS, SUN SHINING. WIPERS WILL WIPE ON TIME WHILE DRIVING RANDOMLY. A SEVERE DISTRACTION. 2. CRUISE CONTROL DISPLAY ACTIVATING RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING WITH NO VEHICLES NEARBY IN FRONT (ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL VEHICLE). DISPLAY WILL BE NORMAL AND THEN GO BACK AND FORTH THE THE SET DISPLAY SCREEN. DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY.

NHTSA ID
11244733
Incident
Mar 2, 2018
Mileage
25,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 18, 2019

VEHICLE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM ACTIVATING RANDOMLY WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES NEARBY. DASH DISPLAY LIGHTS UP WITH WARNING ACCOMPANIED WITH RAPID BEEPING WHILE DRIVING. MULTIPLE TIMES NOTED ON VIDEO FROM DASH-CAM. HAS COME ON WHILE CHANGING LANES AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY THE DISTRACTION. HAS HAPPENED ON FREEWAY AS WELL AS CITY DRIVING. WHILE COASTING AND ACCELERATING. DATE LISTED BELOW IS APPROXIMATE.

NHTSA ID
11244731
Incident
Apr 10, 2018
Mileage
25,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 20, 2018

CAR'S AWD STARTED NOT WORKING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS WAS "CHEWED" UP BY RODENTS. THEY STATED THEY SEEN IT BEFORE DUE TO A ORGANIC BASED OIL ON THE HARNESS WIRES.

NHTSA ID
11120983
Incident
Aug 20, 2018
Electrical
Filed Nov 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUSH THE IGNITION SWITCH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON THE VEHICLE, AND THE LOUD NOISE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID
11051156
Incident
Oct 1, 2017
Mileage
35,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 23, 2016

MY CAR ENGINE STARTED ON ITS OWN AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. I WENT SHOPPING AT WALMART AND PARKED MY 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE IN THE PARKING LOT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUSHED THE ENGINE START/STOP BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR. MY FAMILY AND I EXITED THE CAR AND I USED THE KEYLESS ENTRY PAD TO LOCK THE DOORS. WE SHOPPED FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MIN. WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE CAR, I USED THE KEYLESS ENTRY PAD TO UNLOCK THE DOORS SO I COULD PUT OUR PURCHASES IN THE TRUNK. AS I GOT CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE I HEARD AN ENGINE RUNNING, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR NEXT TO US. I BENT DOWN AND LISTENED UNDER THE FRONT END OF MY HIGHLANDER AND TO MY SURPRISE, I REALIZED MY CAR ENGINE WAS RUNNING. WHEN I OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD, I NOTICED A SMALL TRIANGULAR YELLOW CAUTION LIGHT WAS FLASHING BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE MESSAGE SAID OTHER THAN CAUTION. IF MY CAR RANDOMLY STARTS ON ITS OWN WHILE ITS IN A GARAGE, IT COULD CAUSE TOXIC FUMES TO FILL MY GARAGE IF LEFT ON LONG ENOUGH, AND COULD CAUSE HARM OR DEATH TO SOMEONE WHO BREATHES IT IN. AFTER READING ABOUT THE BRAKE/HYDRAULIC RECALL ON SOME 2015-2016 HIGHLANDERS, COUPLED WITH THE RECENT ISSUE I HAD AT WALMART, I AM NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING MY CAR. I WISH I HAD READ ABOUT THESE ISSUE BEFORE BUYING MY CAR 30 DAYS AGO. I THOUGHT I HAD DONE MY HOMEWORK AND READ SEVERAL WEBSITES BEFORE BUYING THE CAR, BUT I WILL READ RECALL REPORTS BEFORE BUYING A CAR FROM NOW ON.

NHTSA ID
10937219
Incident
Dec 22, 2016
Mileage
640 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .