Last updated: 2026-10-10
2026 Toyota Highlander Reliability Report
The 2026 Toyota Highlander has an excellent reliability standing and no owner complaints or recalls on file yet, though it is still early.
Recalls
0
Complaints
0
Complaint Rate
0per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$489
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,500
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Final year of the fourth generation, with an excellent standing and no complaints or recalls on file yet, though it has had little time on the road.
Generation & Refresh (US)
2026 is the last model year of the Fourth generation (XU70).
- Final-year models are typically the most refined version of a generation.
- 4th generation Highlander (US).
What this means for buyers
Final-year models are usually the most polished version of a generation, but resale value may dip as buyers anticipate the next redesign.
2020: Fourth generation (XU70) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2026: This Model Year
2026 is the last model year of the Fourth generation (XU70).
Should You Buy the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
Buyers can expect a dependable SUV here. Reliability standing is excellent, and it sits above average among 2026 SUVs. It also ranks first among the nine Highlander model years we score. That ranking deserves a caution, though. This is the final year of the fourth generation, and it has had little time on the road to collect complaints.
Right now there are no owner complaints and no federal recall records for this year, so there is no known symptom to warn you about. The federal crash-test rating is 5 of 5 stars. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repair spending for the Highlander at $489, below the $573 typical for its class.
Because records are still thin, run the VIN through the federal recall lookup before you buy and ask for service records. The 2025 model has a lower standing, with 40 complaints and 8 recalls. If you look at one, confirm that every recall repair was completed.
See also the 2025 Toyota Highlander for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Strong reliability score
- +$84 cheaper to maintain than avg midsize SUVs
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (13%)
- +No recalls issued
Cons
No recurring complaint themes yet.
Compare 2026 Toyota Highlander With
2026 Mazda CX-90
Reliability: 72/100
2026 Volkswagen Atlas
Reliability: 64/100
2026 Nissan Pathfinder
Reliability: 82/100
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
Reliability: 75/100
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
Reliability: 88/100
Recall Overview
0
recalls on record
No recalls are on record for the 2026 Toyota Highlander — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
0
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 4.6
Safety Incidents
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
Buying a used 2026 Toyota Highlander? Check its history first
Every 2026 Toyota Highlander has a different past. A VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2026 Toyota Highlander NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas / HEV Powertrain
Rollover risk: 16.4%
Safety Technologies
Toyota HighlanderRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$489
vs $573 avg for midsize SUVs
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.3
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
13%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Toyota Highlander Resale Value
The Toyota Highlander is estimated to retain about 71.1% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the Toyota Highlander model overall and is not specific to the 2026 model year.
- Value Retained
- 71.1%
- Depreciation
- 28.9%
- Listings Analyzed
- 720
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . Actual resale value varies by trim, mileage, condition, and location.
Explore Toyota Highlander depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
24 MPG
Running cost: $3,000/yr
Fuel + repair
21 city / 28 hwy MPG
Hybrid
35 MPG
Running cost: $2,200/yr
Fuel + repair
35 city / 34–35 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2026 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander AWD 2.4L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,500 |
Hybrid trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlander Hybrid AWD 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 35 | 35 | 35 | $1,700 |
| Highlander Hybrid AWD LTD/PLAT 2.5L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 35 | 34 | 35 | $1,700 |
Best & Worst Toyota Highlander Years
Best Toyota Highlander Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreToyota Highlander Years to Avoid
Toyota Highlander Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 70/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 70/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 73/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 67/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 84/100 | Excellent |
Toyota Highlander Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2026 Toyota Highlander reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
Does the 2026 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
How much does it cost to repair a Toyota Highlander each year?
Is the 2026 Toyota Highlander better than the 2025?
Don’t buy a 2026 Toyota Highlander without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2026 Toyota Highlander
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2026 Toyota Highlander does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on complaint severity (70/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Toyota Highlander.
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