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Reliability report · 2016 Toyota Highlander · Updated July 2026 · ~$2,950/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

A sweet-spot year — the bulletproof six-speed, if you check the engine for oil leaks first.

This is the last year before Toyota's troubled eight-speed automatic arrived. The 2016 keeps the six-speed automatic that the mechanic community calls bulletproof — 'they sincerely never go bad' — so the transmission anxiety that shadows 2017–2019 does not apply here.

The catch is the engine, not the gearbox: the third-gen 3.5-liter V6 is notorious for a front timing-cover oil leak whose repair requires dropping the engine — a $2,000–$4,000 job out of warranty (mechanic-quoted). It is simple to inspect for, so this is a check-before-you-buy year, not an avoid year.

Evidence: 109 NHTSA complaints · 3 recall campaigns · 6 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Chirping

What that means: 109 federal complaints, the lowest of the third generation, and three recalls that are all label or wiring inspections. The one real owner-pays risk is the third-gen 3.5-liter V6's front timing-cover oil leak — common, expensive out of warranty, and easy to inspect for before you buy.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

109

Federal complaints

3

Recalls

$2,000–$4,000

Timing-cover reseal, out of warranty (mechanic estimate)

Federal crash tests

5-star scale
Overall
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover

Tested variant: 2016 Toyota Highlander SUV FWD (NHTSA VehicleId 10121)

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) →

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

Front timing-cover oil leak (3.5L V6) — the one to inspect for

major

The third-generation V6 is, in the words of an independent Toyota mechanic, 'notorious for oil leaks,' and the common one is at the front timing cover. It rarely leaks fast enough to run the engine low, but it coats the engine in oil and, in bad cases, smokes on the exhaust — and the fix means dropping the engine, which is why it runs $2,000–$4,000 out of pocket (mechanic estimate). It is easy to check: the timing-cover area should be dry. If it is wet with oil, walk away or negotiate, and if the car still has warranty, get it done before you buy. This is the single most important pre-purchase check on a 2016.

Timing-cover reseal, out of warranty (mechanic estimate)

$2,000–$4,000

Sources: Independent mechanic channel transcripts (Car Care Nut 2014–2019 buying guide)

Water pump — coolant leak or bearing rattlemoderate

The 2014–2016 V6 water pump can leak coolant or develop a failing internal bearing that makes a loud rattle rising and falling with engine RPM. Left unchecked with the coolant low, it can overheat the engine. On a test drive, listen for an RPM-linked rattle and check the coolant level and for weeping around the pump. Replacement is more involved than an average water pump but far from catastrophic.

Sources: Independent mechanic channel transcripts (Car Care Nut 2014–2019 buying guide)

Six-speed automatic — the reassuring partminor

The 2016 uses the carried-over six-speed automatic, which mechanics describe as bulletproof for as long as the fluid is maintained — 'I've never seen one' fail. This is the practical reason 2016 sits before the eight-speed's rough 2017 debut. Keep the transmission fluid serviced and it is a non-issue.

Sources: Independent mechanic channel transcripts (Car Care Nut 2014–2019 buying guide)

Known nuisances: brake-light bulbs, warped rotors, radio, paintminor

Across the third generation, owners replace brake-light and fog-light bulbs often; the front rotors warp easily under city braking (a recurring 'Achilles heel' regardless of pad quality); the infotainment can reboot or drop Bluetooth; and the chrome front-grille trim and — on Blizzard Pearl / Super White cars — the factory paint can peel. Toyota ran a warranty program for the Blizzard Pearl / Super White paint peeling on 2008–2018 Highlanders; check the paint on white/pearl examples and ask about that coverage.

Sources: NHTSA manufacturer communications (paint program, recall documents) · Independent mechanic channel transcripts (Car Care Nut 2014–2019 buying guide)

The 2014 to 2016 Highlanders have a bulletproof transmission for as long as you keep up with the maintenance.
6 mechanic & owner sources

Open recalls

Free fixes at any Toyota dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 16V-775Brake fluid level sensor may not be connected to the wire harness (2016 built May 26–Sep 16, 2016), so a low brake-fluid level might not be detected. Dealers inspect and connect the harness free.open
  2. 16V-420Southeast Toyota Distributors load-carrying-capacity label may show the wrong added weight. Corrected label provided free.open
  3. 18E-107Aftermarket Fujian Wanda replacement windshields for 2014–2018 Highlanders have a wire harness water can leak into, risking engine-control-module (ECM) damage and stalling. Applies only if such a windshield was fitted; free replacement/inspection.open

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2016 Highlander

Four sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

21 MPG combined (19 city / 25 highway) for the FWD, 3.5L on the EPA federal fuel-economy test.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — EPA’s federal fuel-economy test, recomputed with current gas prices. EPA record 37124 (Highlander 2WD).
Other builds EPA lists: AWD, 3.5L 20 MPG · FWD, 2.7L 22 MPG · Hybrid AWD, 3.5L 28 MPG.

$2,950/yr

at $4.15/gal · 15,000 mi/yr · 55/45 city/hwy · pulled Jul 12, 2026

Crash losses

Collision losses run about average here. Neither a red flag nor a discount at the insurer.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI collision losses, 2014–16 models, published December 2016 (report R-16). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Toyota Highlander 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Toyota Highlander 4dr 88 · Toyota Highlander hybrid 4dr 4WD 112, where 100 = average.

94 vs 100

6% below average

Theft

Stolen about 37% less often than the average vehicle. One less thing to price into coverage.

Source: HLDI — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2016–18 models, published May 2019 (report WT-18). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Toyota Highlander 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Toyota Highlander 4dr 75 · Toyota Highlander hybrid 4dr 4WD 102, where 100 = average.

63 vs 100

37% below average

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

Timing-cover reseal, out of warranty (mechanic estimate)$2,000–$4,000
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

Get the printable pre-purchase checklist and an alert if this year’s recall sheet changes.

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Have a specific one in your sights?

The VIN is on the listing. We’ll check this exact car — build, open recalls, and whether the “completed” repairs stayed fixed.

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01Before anything else, check that the front timing-cover / engine area is dry — an oil-soaked engine here means a $2,000–$4,000 reseal.
  2. 02Listen on the test drive for a water-pump rattle that tracks engine RPM, and check the coolant level.
  3. 03Confirm the transmission fluid has been serviced — the six-speed is durable but not maintenance-free.
  4. 04Run the VIN for 16V-775 (brake-fluid sensor) and 16V-420 (label); ask whether an aftermarket windshield was ever fitted (18E-107).
  5. 05On Blizzard Pearl or Super White cars, inspect for factory paint peeling and ask about the Toyota paint program.
  6. 06Test the infotainment with your own phone — reboots and Bluetooth drops are common and not always fixable.

Own one already?

The canary watches your VIN — new recalls and the mileage where known issues start.

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