- The problem
- 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).
- The risk
- The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2015 Toyota Highlander Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 193 complaints about the 2015 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (52) and the body, doors & structure (33). Those complaints describe 17 crashes, 6 fires and 16 injuries. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in November 2018 for the electrical system. For comparison, the 2014 has 136 and the 2016 has 111.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Highlander year, for its age
#66 most complained-about 2015 vehicle
- Complaints
- 193
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 17
- Fires
- 6
- Injuries
- 16
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2015 Toyota Highlander problems
Share of all 193 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2015 Toyota Highlander recalls 2
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- 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.
What owners say
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193 complaints about the 2015 Toyota Highlander
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 8.
My 2015 Toyota Highlander equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine developed an engine oil leak originating from the timing chain cover sealing area. On April 30, 2026, Kearny Mesa Toyota in San Diego, California, identified the leak during an inspection when the vehicle had a little over 100,000 miles. I am concerned that this condition may indicate premature failure of the timing chain cover sealing system and warrant investigation into a potential design or manufacturing defect. An engine sealing system should be...
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sufficiently durable to prevent oil leakage under normal operating conditions. The occurrence of this problem at just over 100,000 miles raises concerns about the long-term reliability of this component and whether similar failures affect other vehicles equipped with the same engine. Although the leak was described as seepage or oily residue, it may worsen over time. Depending on its severity and location, leaking oil could contact hot engine or exhaust components, potentially causing smoke or creating a fire hazard. Continued oil loss could also compromise engine lubrication, lead to significant engine damage, or result in unexpected vehicle failure. These are potential safety risks associated with the condition, not claims that a fire or engine failure has already occurred. The oil leak was identified by a Toyota dealership during an inspection. The dealership's diagnosis and related service records may be available for review upon request. Whether the manufacturer has formally investigated or acknowledged this condition as a defect is unknown. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this complaint alongside other reports involving timing chain cover oil leaks in 2015 Toyota Highlanders equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine. I ask the agency to determine whether these reports indicate a recurring premature component failure, whether the condition presents an unreasonable safety risk, and whether further investigation or corrective action is warranted.
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)
Blizzard White color - Car paint peeling on multiple areas.
The a/c condenser was damaged due to impact of road debris. This caused loss of proper system operation. The cost to repair was $1100+. The debris entered thru the front grill, which has nothing in place to prevent debris from entering the engine compartment.
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 adhesion loss between the factory base coat and primer. First noticed 5/5/2026 at ~137,193 miles, it has spread across the roof and pillars, with the largest piece so far (~4"x2") flying off the...
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vehicle. Delamination lines radiating under the paint indicate more will detach, and the defect affects all painted surfaces. On 7/20/2026, while driving at highway speed, a large paint chip detached from the passenger-side A-pillar and flew off, directly witnessed by my passenger. Paint released from a moving vehicle poses a road hazard to trailing vehicles, and further detachment events are likely. This is a known manufacturing defect in Toyota's 070 Blizzard Pearl paint. Toyota acknowledged the identical defect - UV-related adhesion failure between primer and base coat - in Customer Support Program ZKG, covering the Camry, Corolla, Avalon, 4Runner, Scion, and Lexus GX of the same era. The Highlander was painted with the same 070 formulation in the same period but was excluded, and that program has expired. CSP 23TE08 (Sept 2024), covering paint adhesion failure on 2016-2022 Tacomas in 040 Super White, shows Toyota continues to acknowledge this defect category on other models while Highlander owners remain excluded. The delamination exposes primer and bare metal, leading to panel corrosion. I contacted Toyota's Brand Engagement Center on 8/4/2026, case #260804002309, requesting goodwill assistance and was denied the same day; a case manager review is pending. I file this complaint to document the defect on a Highlander so NHTSA has an accurate record of affected models beyond those Toyota has chosen to cover.
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)
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the power liftgate consistently failed halfway through while opening and closing the liftgate. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact became aware of information online about Technical Service Bulletin: SB0023/16, NHTSA ID Number: 10134306 (Structure, Electrical System); and associated the failure with the TSB. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty, TSB, or a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the infotainment screen would go blank and the system would turn on inadvertently. This issue became more frequent, occurring approximately every 10 seconds. The power steering warning light also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an auto parts store where a handheld diagnostic machine did not detect any failures or codes. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various...
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speeds, the steering wheel became extremely stiff. On one occasion while his daughter was driving and turning the vehicle on a curved road, the vehicle veered into oncoming traffic. The contact stated that she managed to get the vehicle back to the correct side of the road, then stopped and inspected the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to an auto parts store where a handheld diagnostic machine was used, but the failure was not detected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact believes that the steering failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V144 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,800.
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 by the driver. The alleged defect is dangerous to passengers as it can cause unintentional door openings while a vehicle is in use, result in inoperable doors during emergency situations, and leave a...
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vehicle and any contents therein more vulnerable to theft. This poses serious safety concerns, for example when vehicles are involved in vehicular accidents because the occupants may become entrapped when the Door Actuator Defect prevents an occupant from unlocking the doors. Furthermore, this defect jeopardizes the safety of vehicle occupants given that not all doors are capable of being manually unlocked from the exterior. Since owning my highlander I've taken it to the dealership several times for this issue. The front door driver and passenger were replaced and a lock switch however dealership claimed they could not recreate the issue for all doors yet the issue continued and is noted several times in service history. Even when under warranty they refused to change the parts despite multiple service notes and verbal compilations due to their claim of not being able to recreate the issue. There were no warning lights or messages or other symptoms prior to failure. I've had this car since 2019 and it's been an issue notably since 2021. I fear the safety of myself, my family and other passengers are compromised every time we enter the vehicle.
Exterior lights continually burn out.
The moon roof in my car completely shattered out of no where while I was driving down the road and fell all into my backseat. If my children were in the car, they would have had glass all over them.
The side mirrors are too large and located in a position that when the driver is turning left the driver's side mirror blocks the ability to see the crosswalk and also the center divider of the lane they are turning into and has almost caused me to strike a center divider and not see a pothole on a freeway on ramp causing damage to the left side strut and alignment. There were other multiple times I almost hit the smaller center dividers in town and the glare in the mirror causes glare that you can't see where you are going. terrible design
[[redacted]] battery light appeared on dash. [[redacted]] 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 catastrophic accident.The dashboard went blank. The engine stayed on as I called Limestone and was told I needed to be towed..As I was calling Allstate for a tow the dashboard came back on and...
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so did the steering. I drove to Limestone. After checking everything I was told they didn't find any codes and there must be a glitch in the system. Battery good, alternator good, serpentine belt good. We also found a recall NHTSA campaign number15V144000 for unexpected loss of electric power steering increasing the risk of a crash for 2015 Toyota Highlander. Jan2 2026 i drove to Brookfield Ct Toyota and was informed by a very helpful service manager Katelyn Hadden that Unbelievably my Vin number was not included in this recall and to come back when it happens again I am a [[redacted]] grandfather who takes his grandchildren everywhere and will not put their lives in danger in this car until this problem is fixed. I was told by Limestone to stay local and come back when it happens again. I would sincerely appreciate any help in correcting this defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Paint is peeling off my car, This is confirmed by Toyota it was covered by the Consumer Support program which expired in July however the paint did not start peeling off until last week.Toyota said that there wasn't anything they could do. this is clearly a manufacture defect and should be repair by Toyota at no charge to me.
When right front pax sits in seat and fastens seatbelt, the airbag indicator correctly says "ON." But after a few minutes, the airbag turns "OFF" and the driver's dash gets an "unfastened seatbelt" warning and a "faulty airbag" warning. All of these occur while the front right pax has remain seated and buckled. If the pax unbuckles and exits the seat, these incorrect warnings all remain the same. The right front pax seat belt buckle has been replaced with no effect. The seat has been recalibrated (seat...
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sensors) with no effect. The wires under the seat have been disconnected, cleaned, and re-connected with no effect. This is a safety issue in that the airbag on that front right side de-activates when a passenger is in that seat. There is a Toyota Recall Campaign for this identical problem, but it does not include my model year (2015). Requesting NHTSA get Toyota to extend their recall to include 2015 models, please.
The blizzard pearl paint on my vehicle is peeling off of the roof and possibly the side of the vehicle.
I have noticed speed issues or high idling with this vehicle for a while. I committed a rear end collision with a vehicle on July 4, 2025, at approximately 2pm. My car rear ended his truck while it was stopped behind another vehicle. My vehicle sustained total damage to the front end. I was ticketed for not reducing speed to prevent a accident. The only warning light was that it need maintenance, which comes on prior to an oil change. My safety was put at risk because the car is idled too fast for the type...
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of driving I do, which is small town and rural road driving. Due to the speed of this vehicle during normal driving, it's difficult to stop quickly to avoid an accident. If it was rainy and slippery, the situation could have been much worse.
On [[redacted]] my vehicle suffered an unintended acceleration on a very busy highway of The Dominican Republic, reaching a speed of 100 MPH. I was able to drive the car into the bushes of the highway service road hitting all king of obstacles such as trees, wall, advertising signs and safety barriers. The car damages resulted in a total loss. My life and my family life were in extremely dangerous situation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Trunk keeps malfunctioning. During lift would not open all the way or at all and sometimes once open will not close.
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.
Driving to take my son to work. Check engine light came on said check and system. Hard shifting put in manual drive and made it to destination.
Unknown-tailgate failure keeps beeping will not automatically go up or down not sure why?
I have a 2015 Toyota Highlander XLE. Last winter I began noticing a burning smell which I believed to be electrical inside the vehicle. I was able to determine it was the driver seat heater and the burning smell continued even with the toggle switch turned off. I stopped at a local Toyota dealership, Koch Toyota, who refused to show me which plug under the seat to unplug to disconnect power. They tried to insist that I drop the car off and let them check it. Due to past negative experiences with that Toyota...
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dealership I refused. I was able to speak to my own mechanic who instructed me to remove the fuse for the driver's seat heater which I did and the smell stopped however the seat heater is not functioning now. Upon recent research online it appears this is a common problem especially in 2015 Toyota Highlanders. I found a couple other owners of the xle models on a website called Toyota Nation who experienced similar problems where their vehicles actually caught fire and melted the center consoles after the burning smell was misdiagnosed. I believe this is a huge safety concern and have recently filed a report with Toyota Corporate in hopes to get the issue rectified. There were no warning messages or lights that came on to advise that there was an issue.
BSM works when it want to and sometimes not at all
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after 45 minutes. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and charged a fee for...
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diagnostic testing. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18E107000 (Electrical System, Visibility); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 193,000.
Toyota Highlander: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 511 | 3 | F |
| 2018 | 277 | 5 | D |
| 2017 | 272 | 4 | C |
| 2016 | 111 | 3 | B |
| 2015 | 193 | 2 | C |
| 2014 | 136 | 5 | B |
| 2013 | 212 | 3 | C |
| 2012 | 191 | 2 | C |
| 2011 | 187 | 5 | C |
2015 Toyota Highlander vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Toyota Highlander | 193 | 2 | C | |
| 2015 Ford Explorer | 1,822 | 9 | F | Compare |
| 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 1,372 | 10 | D | Compare |
| 2015 Kia Sorento | 755 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 2015 Ford Edge | 732 | 7 | C | Compare |
| 2015 Subaru Outback | 509 | 5 | D | Compare |
| 2015 Dodge Durango | 505 | 4 | D | Compare |
| 2015 GMC Acadia | 261 | 4 | C | Compare |
| 2015 Hyundai Santa FE | 255 | 2 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2015 Toyota Highlander
Does the 2015 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2015 Toyota Highlander: electrical system (November 2018); electric power assist system (March 2015). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Toyota Highlander?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (52), body, doors & structure (33), steering (25).
How many complaints has the 2015 Toyota Highlander had?
193 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on December 15, 2014 and the latest on October 29, 2026. Of these, 17 describe a crash and 6 a fire, and together they report 16 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2015 Toyota Highlander a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 53 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Toyota Highlander year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Toyota Highlander years have the most complaints?
2021 (543), 2019 (511), 2008 (406). See every Toyota Highlander year compared.
What should I do if my 2015 Toyota Highlander has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data