Last updated: 2026-03-04
Toyota Grand Highlander vs Toyota Highlander: Reliability Compared
Toyota Grand Highlander
Toyota Highlander
Choosing between the Toyota Grand Highlander and the Toyota Highlander? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Toyota Grand Highlander currently leads with an average score of 75/100 compared to 72/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Toyota Grand Highlander and Toyota Highlander Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota Grand Highlander is more reliable than the Toyota Highlander, scoring 75/100 vs 72/100.
The Toyota Grand Highlander and Toyota Highlander both exhibit strong reliability, with scores of 85/100 and 84/100, respectively. However, the Grand Highlander has a slightly higher rate of owner complaints at 8.2 per 10,000 sold compared to the Highlander's 5.8, though it benefits from having significantly fewer recalls over a shorter production period—10 recalls in 3 years versus 66 in 9 years for the Highlander. While independent repair cost estimates for the Grand Highlander are not available, the Highlander's estimated annual repair cost is $489, suggesting it may be more predictable in long-term maintenance expenses. Overall, while both models are closely matched, the Grand Highlander edges out with fewer recalls, though prospective buyers should consider the higher complaint rate.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota Grand Highlander has 56 fewer total recalls
- 2Toyota Grand Highlander scores 3 points higher in reliability
- 3Toyota Highlander has 2.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Toyota Grand Highlander vs Toyota Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Toyota Grand Highlander | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 75/100 | 72/100 |
| Years Tracked | 3 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 10 | 66 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 8.2 | 5.8 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 2 | 0 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Toyota Grand Highlander and Toyota Highlander?
The Toyota Grand Highlander and Toyota Highlander exhibit distinct problem profiles, with the Highlander showing a significantly higher volume of complaints, particularly in the power train and air bags categories. The Highlander has 485 power train complaints with 5 linked to crashes, and 162 air bag complaints with 41 crash-linked, indicating more severe issues compared to the Grand Highlander's 34 power train and 27 air bag complaints, with only 1 crash-linked in the latter category. Additionally, the Highlander faces a notable number of service brakes complaints (179), with 10 crash-linked, a problem area not as pronounced in the Grand Highlander. Both models share issues in electrical systems and fuel/propulsion systems, but the Highlander’s higher complaint numbers suggest broader reliability challenges.
| Component | Toyota Grand Highlander | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 1.4Low | 1.5Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.7Low | 0.7Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 1.1Low | 0.5Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.6Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.6Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.2Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.4Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | 0.4Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Toyota Grand Highlander or Toyota Highlander?
How Does Toyota Grand Highlander vs Toyota Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Toyota Grand Highlander | Toyota Highlander | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 80/1003R / 33C | 76/1008R / 40C | Toyota Grand Highlander |
| 2024 | 69/1007R / 171C | 67/10016R / 198C | Toyota Grand Highlander |
| 2026(predicted) | 75/100(predicted) | 72/100(predicted) | Toyota Grand Highlander |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander scored 80/100 and the 2025 Toyota Highlander scored 76/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Toyota Grand Highlander vs the Toyota Highlander?
Toyota Grand Highlander vs Toyota Highlander: Common Questions
- Is the Toyota Grand Highlander more reliable than the Toyota Highlander?
- Based on our data, the Toyota Grand Highlander is more reliable with an average score of 75/100 compared to 72/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Toyota Grand Highlander or the Toyota Highlander?
- The Toyota Highlander has more recalls (66) compared to the Toyota Grand Highlander (10). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Toyota Grand Highlander or the Toyota Highlander?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Toyota Highlander has a lower complaint rate at 5.8 per 10,000 sold versus 8.2 for the Toyota Grand Highlander. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Is the Toyota Grand Highlander or Toyota Highlander safer?
- Both the Toyota Grand Highlander and Toyota Highlander received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Toyota Grand Highlander comparisons
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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