Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Toyota Highlander
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Toyota Highlander has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 274 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V682000 Fuel Pump May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V012000 Fuel Pump May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18E107000 Water May Enter Windshield Wire Harness NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V211000 Brake Assist Vacuum Pump may Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V831000 Incorrect Load Information on Label/FMVSS 110 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 73 complaints
- Service Brakes 53 complaints
- Unknown or Other 46 complaints
- Engine 36 complaints
- Electrical System 24 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 22 complaints
Of the 274 complaints on file, 23 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 274 complaints, owners report 25 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Toyota Highlander has average reliability, primarily due to fuel pump recalls and notable complaints about brakes and powertrain issues. While generally durable, frequent brake, fuel, and electrical concerns affect its dependability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel pump | 30,000–60,000 miles | $400–$1,000 | common |
| Brake vacuum pump | 20,000–50,000 miles | $300–$750 | common |
| ECM wiring | 40,000–70,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | occasional |
| Powertrain | 60,000–90,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 6,000 miles
- Brake fluid change every 2 years
- Coolant replacement every 3 years
- Transmission service at 60,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 6,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Sudden loss of brake assist
- Engine hesitation or rough idle
- Fuel odor or leakage
- Persistent warning lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Toyota Highlander at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.