2015 Toyota Highlander

Family: Highlander · filed with NHTSA as HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID

Summary

In its first three years the 2015 Highlander drew 75 complaints — 0.8× the median of its generation (2014–2019). It does not stand out from the other years of this generation.
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Complaints are spread across systems: the largest, Electrical System, holds 33% of the 165 that name a component.
2 recalls filed for this model year.
1 federal defect investigation covers this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints: 196
Recalls: 2
Investigations: 1
NCAP overall: 5 of 5 stars
Combined MPG: 20–28
Annual fuel cost: $2,250–$3,100
Median mileage at complaint: 30,500 mi (n = 126)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths: 17 / 6 / 16 / 0

What owners report

Electrical System

54 complaints · 33% of complaints that name a component · median 41,000 mi (n = 38)

Owner report Door lock actuators, yes it is available for inspection. Doors cannot be locked or unlocked with a remote key fob or the interior power door locks. Lock defect poses a significant safety hazard in that a single or multiple doors may not lock at any time, whether the vehicle is on or off and despite actions or commands …

Owner report The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Highlander. While stopped at a gas station with the engine on, the contact's wife smelled an abnormal, burning odor coming from the vehicle without warning. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact's wife saw flames shooting from the dashboard near the infotainment system; the contact's w…

Body & Structure

32 complaints · 19% of complaints that name a component · median 17,000 mi (n = 17)

Owner report The paint is severely peeling on the outside. This can likely flake off and damages other vehicles, property, and roadway infrastructure. This is the factory coat of paint. Color is Toyota Blizzard Pearl (070)

Owner report The factory paint on my 2015 Toyota Highlander, Blizzard Pearl (Toyota code 070), is delaminating from the primer. The base coat lifts and peels in sheets, starting on the roof, fender, and pillars — the panels with the greatest UV exposure. There has been no collision, repaint, or chemical damage; this is spontaneous …

Steering

25 complaints · 15% of complaints that name a component · median 35,000 mi (n = 17)

Owner report [XXX] battery light appeared on dash. [XXX] on my way to Limestone service station 399 Danbury rd Ridgefield ct ph203-438-8028 a warning appeared on dash stating i will lose steering.Luckily I managed to pull into a parking lot and lost all ability to steer. Thank God i was not on the highway and was not in a catastro…

Owner report Driving the car was hard to steer. Check engine light came on and check speed sensor. Went to a mechanic and disconnected the battery, the sensor reset and back driving ok for about two weeks. This went on for a few weeks. Been a month now and it hasn't come on but it was dangerous due to driving and turning issues.

16% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (2014–2019)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 94.

Model year	All complaints	First three years	Note
2014	138	40	not compared
2015	196	75
2016	117	49	not compared
2017	274	85
2018	276	102
2019	512	152	most complaints

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

18E107000 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Filed 2018-11-27 · 8,202 vehicles

Defect: Fujian Wanda Automobile Glass Industry (Wanda) is recalling certain aftermarket Replacement Windshields sold for use in 2014-2018 Toyota Highlander vehicles. The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM).

Risk: The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Wanda will notify owners, and service centers will replace the windshields, and inspect the ECM for damage, having it replaced, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2019. Owners may contact Wanda customer service at 1-864-281-2760.

15V144000 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Filed 2015-03-13 · 110,085 vehicles

Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.

Risk: An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Federal investigations

Action	Component	Opened	Closed	Recall
DP22005	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM	2023-01-27	2023-08-07	22V063000

DP22005: Pedestrian alert sounds

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Fuel cost / yr
Highlander 2WD	2.7L 4cyl	Automatic (S6)	Front-Wheel Drive	20	25	22	$2850
Highlander 2WD	3.5L 6cyl	Automatic (S6)	Front-Wheel Drive	19	25	21	$2950
Highlander AWD	3.5L 6cyl	Automatic (S6)	All-Wheel Drive	18	24	20	$3100
Highlander Hybrid AWD	3.5L 6cyl Hybrid	Automatic (AV-S6)	All-Wheel Drive	27	28	28	$2250
Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus	3.5L 6cyl Hybrid	Automatic (AV-S6)	All-Wheel Drive	28	28	28	$2250

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover
2015 Toyota Highlander SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
2015 Toyota Highlander SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
2015 Toyota Highlander HV SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆

Service bulletins

Toyota issued 470 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about equipment.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2026-02-13	ENGINE	OBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0009-26.
2026-02-13	ENGINE	This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing a rescue charge…
2026-01-07	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Serv…
2026-01-07	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Serv…
2025-06-13	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant…
2025-06-13	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and in…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicl…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood…

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this Highlander, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Toyota Highlander model page.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.