RoadVitals

2016 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
10
Latest Dec 16, 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.
9%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 10 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 engine

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

Engine
Filed Dec 16, 2024

The water pump on my 2016 Toyota Highlander XLE disintegrated while I was driving in heavy traffic. The pulley came loose from the water pump shaft. I have the water pump. Our safety was at risk because this happen in heavy traffic and it could have effected my control of the vehicle if it had came off completely. The pulley was wedge between the wheel well and fame. I sent a claim to Toyota and it was rejected due to the vehicle be out of warranty. I'm saying this is a manufacturing defect. No warning before it happen.

NHTSA ID
11631008
Incident
Dec 3, 2024
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
Engine
Filed Jun 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH on the highway, the contact pulled over and heard water dripping. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to the residence and then to the dealer where it was diagnosed as the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000. The contact stated that the failure speed was actually 0 mph and the mileage was 90,723. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure.

NHTSA ID
11467000
Incident
May 6, 2022
Mileage
90,723 mi
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
Engine
Filed Apr 4, 2021

ENGINE IS MAKING A AUDIBLE KNOCKING SOUND THAT INCREASES WITH ENGINE RPM. THE SOUND IS EMITTING FROM THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ENGINE (UNDERNEATH/TO THE RIGHT OF THE OIL PAN ON THE SIDE NEAREST TO THE PULLEYS AND SERPENTINE BELT). I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO RELIABLE TOYOTA IN SPRINGFIELD MISSOURI. DEALER CLAIMS THE SOUND IS NORMAL EVEN AFTER VIDEO EVIDENCE WAS PROVIDED. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM OTHER HIGHLANDERS. A NON DEALER MECHANIC WAS CONSULTED AND HE HEARD TO NOISE AND ADVISED MY TO RETURN TO THE DEALER SO THEY MAY SOLVE THE ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY,

NHTSA ID
11406286
Incident
Dec 22, 2019
Mileage
82,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2020

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR INOPERATIVE DURING NORMAL USE

NHTSA ID
11383080
Incident
Dec 11, 2020
Mileage
56,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 18, 2019

WHISTLING/SQUEAKING NOISE FROM ENGINE WHEN TURNED OFF AFTER DRIVING. TOOK A VIDEO AND SHOWED DEALER WHO THOUGHT IT WAS UNUSUAL BUT NO DIAGNOSIS ON MULTIPLE VISITS.

NHTSA ID
11244730
Incident
Apr 8, 2019
Mileage
46,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 19, 2018

WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS COLDER LIKE 35 DEGREES OR LOWER I AM HAVING ISSUES STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALREADY CHANGED THE BATTERY BUT IT DID NOT HELP. I HAD THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALER FOR 10 DAYS BUT THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. IN THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR RENTAL AND OTHER EXPENSES. YESTERDAY IT TOOK ME 45 MINUTES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. I SPOKE TO TOYOTA AND THEY ARE NOT VERY HELPFUL.

NHTSA ID
11063769
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Mileage
7,100 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Feb 2, 2017

OCCASIONALLY, AT A STOP SIGN/INTERSECTION OR ENTERING A HIGHWAY IF I HAVE COME TO A FULL STOP BEFORE PROCEEDING THE CAR WILL STALL. I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS. MY WIFE AND I HAVE FOUND OURSELVES IN THIS PREDICAMENT SEVERAL TIMES NOW AND IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. THIS SCENARIO IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR SEVERAL REASONS, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS THAT MY FAMILY HAS BEEN INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL SCARES NOW, BECAUSE THE CAR STALLED ON US AS WE WERE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS OVER THE PHONE AND BOTH TIMES THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED. AFTER THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL BEHAVIOR DUE TO A DELAY BETWEEN THE COMPUTER AND THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS, BUT HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS EXTREMELY UPSETTING BECAUSE MY FAMILY IS NOW AT RISK DUE TO A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. I URGE THE NHTSA TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE BASED ON INTERNET SEARCHES ARE DEALING WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. I OWN A 2005 HIGHLANDER WITH 105000 MILES AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED. YOU WOULD THINK THAT A 2016 MODEL WITH ALL OF ITS SAFETY FEATURES AND ENHANCEMENTS WOULD BE A PLEASANT DRIVING EXPERIENCE? BUT, NOW THAT I OWNED THE CAR FOR ALMOST 8 MONTHS I AM SECOND GUESSING MYSELF WHETHER THIS WAS THE RIGHT PURCHASE. ONCE, AGAIN I URGE THE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS AND TO ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE, PLEASE SPEAK UP SO THAT BOTH TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10949035
Incident
Jan 31, 2017
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 .