Overview
This guide lists the recall campaigns the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has on file for the Toyota Highlander, 2016–2024 model years, grouped by the system they affect, with what a pre-purchase inspection can and cannot tell you about each. It is built from NHTSA's recall records pulled on August 27, 2026, not from owner-forum anecdotes or failure-rate guesses.
NHTSA lists 24 campaigns for this model across those years. The 12 most recent, running from March 2026 back to May 2022, are covered below; older campaigns are not repeated here, so run the VIN yourself rather than treating this page as the complete list. Model years shown are limited to this guide's 2016–2024 range; a campaign can list earlier or later years.
How to read a Highlander recall list
A recall campaign applies to certain vehicles, identified by VIN, built in a specific window. A model year appearing in a campaign does not mean every car of that year is affected, and a car outside the listed years can still be included in a multi-model campaign.
This page lists recall campaigns, which are manufacturer safety actions recorded by NHTSA; it does not rank reliability. A completed recall means the manufacturer's repair has been performed on that vehicle. What matters for a used purchase is whether the specific car in front of you has any open campaign and whether the seller can show the work was done.
Toyota Highlander: Air bag, seat belt and seat recalls
March 2026, NHTSA campaign 26V128000, listed for Toyota Highlander model years 2021–2024 (2016–2024 range). The second-row seat backs may fail to lock into position during seat back adjustment. A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. This campaign names more than one model or trim, so confirm your VIN is included. Remedy per NHTSA: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. This is a phased recall.
December 2025, NHTSA campaign 25V872000, listed for Toyota Highlander model year 2024 (2016–2024 range). The third row center seat belt roof anchor may have been installed at an incorrect angle, preventing the seat belt from properly restraining the occupant. A seat belt that does not properly restrain an occupant increases the risk of injury during a crash. NHTSA's summary spans model years 2024 to 2025 across all the models it names, some of them outside this guide's 2016–2024 range; check your own model year with the VIN lookup. This campaign names more than one model or trim, so confirm your VIN is included. Remedy per NHTSA: Dealers will reinstall the seat belt anchor with a new bolt, free of charge.
December 2023, NHTSA campaign 23V865000, listed for Toyota Highlander model years 2020–2021 (2016–2024 range). A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying. An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury. This campaign names more than one model or trim, so confirm your VIN is included. Remedy per NHTSA: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024.
What the inspection covers here: An inspector cannot test an occupant-classification sensor or predict how an air bag would behave in a crash. The inspection does cover the interior, including seat belts, and the gauges and the operation of the electrical items, and anything unusual is reported. Whether a campaign's remedy was performed is answered by the VIN lookup.
Toyota Highlander: Steering, suspension and structure recalls
January 2025, NHTSA campaign 25V040000, listed for Toyota Highlander model year 2023 (2016–2024 range). NHTSA's summary limits it to vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. This campaign names more than one model or trim, so confirm your VIN is included. Remedy per NHTSA: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge.
October 2023, NHTSA campaign 23V720000, listed for Toyota Highlander model years 2020–2023 (2016–2024 range). During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the cover coming loose or detaching. A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. This campaign names more than one model or trim, so confirm your VIN is included. Remedy per NHTSA: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge.
July 2023, NHTSA campaign 23V480000, listed for Toyota Highlander model year 2023 (2016–2024 range). An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash. This campaign names more than one model or trim, so confirm your VIN is included. Remedy per NHTSA: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge.
What the inspection covers here: Steering and suspension are checked on every inspection, along with an underbody check for rust, frame damage, or structural repair. The inspection cannot confirm that a specific recalled part was replaced; the VIN lookup does that.
Toyota Highlander: Electrical, software and camera recalls
October 2025, NHTSA campaign 25V744000, listed for Toyota Highlander model years 2023–2024 (2016–2024 range). NHTSA's summary limits it to vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. NHTSA's summary spans model years 2022 to 2026 across all the models it names, some of them outside this guide's 2016–2024 range; check your own model year with the VIN lookup. NHTSA's summary does not name this model directly; the model years listed come from NHTSA's vehicle data, so confirm with the VIN lookup. This campaign names more than one model or trim, so confirm your VIN is included. Remedy per NHTSA: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge.
September 2025, NHTSA campaign 25V595000, listed for Toyota Highlander model years 2023–2024 (2016–2024 range). Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights. An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury. NHTSA's summary spans model years 2023 to 2025 across all the models it names, some of them outside this guide's 2016–2024 range; check your own model year with the VIN lookup. This campaign names more than one model or trim, so confirm your VIN is included. Remedy per NHTSA: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. This is a phased recall.
What the inspection covers here: Lights, gauges, and the operation of the other electrical items are part of every inspection, and Silver adds a battery load test. Gold adds a full electronics and infotainment audit. Whether a software update or a battery-related campaign was completed is a VIN-lookup question.
Toyota Highlander: Tire, wheel and label recalls
July 2024, NHTSA campaign 24V548000, listed for Toyota Highlander model years 2023–2024 (2016–2024 range). NHTSA's summary limits it to vehicles equipped with GST accessories. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash. NHTSA's summary spans model years 2023 to 2025 across all the models it names, some of them outside this guide's 2016–2024 range; check your own model year with the VIN lookup. This campaign names more than one model or trim, so confirm your VIN is included. Remedy per NHTSA: Gulf States Toyota will mail new labels to owners, free of charge.
June 2024, NHTSA campaign 24V452000, listed for Toyota Highlander model years 2021–2024 (2016–2024 range). The 20-inch accessory tires with an insufficient load rating for the vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) were installed. Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy per NHTSA: Southeast Toyota Distributors will inspect and replace the tires and information placard, as necessary free of charge.
June 2024, NHTSA campaign 24V419000, listed for Toyota Highlander model years 2022–2024 (2016–2024 range). NHTSA's summary limits it to vehicles equipped with the Blackout Package that includes 20" black alloy wheels and tires. The installed tires have an insufficient load rating. Tires with an insufficient load rating may be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash. NHTSA's summary names these Toyota Highlander trims: L, LE. This campaign names more than one model or trim, so confirm your VIN is included. Remedy per NHTSA: Gulf States Toyota will inspect and replace the tires as necessary, and install a new tire information label as necessary, free of charge.
May 2022, NHTSA campaign 22V310000, listed for Toyota Highlander model year 2022 (2016–2024 range). The load carrying capacity modification labels may not be permanent and can fade, becoming illegible. An illegible label may allow the vehicle to be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash. This campaign names more than one model or trim, so confirm your VIN is included. Remedy per NHTSA: Gulf States Toyota will notify owners by mail, including a replacement load carrying capacity modification label for their vehicle and detailed replacement instructions, free of charge.
What the inspection covers here: Tires and wheels, including tread depth, are checked on every inspection. Whether a recall repair was performed, and whether a label or marking was corrected, is a VIN-lookup question.
Check a Highlander's VIN for open recalls before you drive out
Enter the 17-character VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls), which is free and shows open recalls for that exact vehicle. Manufacturers also offer their own recall lookups. The VIN is usually on the dashboard at the base of the windshield and on the driver's door jamb. Ask the seller for it before you travel.
If the lookup shows an open campaign, the remedy text NHTSA records for most campaigns describes the repair or update as free to the owner. Ask the seller for the dealer paperwork showing the work was done, or make the open repair a condition of the sale. If NHTSA flags a do-not-drive advisory, do not take delivery until the repair is complete.
What a pre-purchase inspection adds on top of a recall lookup
The recall lookup tells you what the manufacturer has reported to NHTSA. An independent inspection tells you what is going on with the car you are about to buy, including problems no recall covers.
Every Vehicle Inspectors inspection covers the body and paint for prior repair or respray, rust and underbody condition, tires and wheels, glass, evidence of previous accident or flood damage, lights and gauges and the electrical items, the interior and seat belts, the motor and transmission, the driveline including all-wheel-drive systems, steering, suspension, braking components and exhaust, the engine bay, fluid levels and leaks, an OBD-II scan for stored codes (1996 and newer vehicles), and a road test where the vehicle is street legal, insured, and conditions are safe. You receive a photo-documented PDF report with a plain-English go, caution, or stop summary.
Silver adds a battery load test, brake pad and rotor measurement, and A/C and heater temperature readings. Gold adds an extended road test with live OBD-II data capture, a full electronics and infotainment audit, and paint-depth readings panel by panel. The tiers are price bands by vehicle value; the core inspection is the same at each. See pricing or book an inspection and paste the listing link.