There are 6 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2016 Toyota Highlanderin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The water pump on my 2016 Toyota Highlander XLE disintegrated while I was driving in heavy traffic. The pulley came loose from the water pump shaft. I have the water pump. Our safety was at risk because this happen in heavy traffic and it could have effected my control of the vehicle if it had came off completely. The pulley was wedge between the wheel well and fame. I sent a claim to Toyota and it was rejected due to the vehicle be out of warranty. I'm saying this is a manufacturing defect. No warning before it happen.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH on the highway, the contact pulled over and heard water dripping. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to the residence and then to the dealer where it was diagnosed as the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000. The contact stated that the failure speed was actually 0 mph and the mileage was 90,723. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure.
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR INOPERATIVE DURING NORMAL USE
ENGINE IS MAKING A AUDIBLE KNOCKING SOUND THAT INCREASES WITH ENGINE RPM. THE SOUND IS EMITTING FROM THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ENGINE (UNDERNEATH/TO THE RIGHT OF THE OIL PAN ON THE SIDE NEAREST TO THE PULLEYS AND SERPENTINE BELT). I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO RELIABLE TOYOTA IN SPRINGFIELD MISSOURI. DEALER CLAIMS THE SOUND IS NORMAL EVEN AFTER VIDEO EVIDENCE WAS PROVIDED. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM OTHER HIGHLANDERS. A NON DEALER MECHANIC WAS CONSULTED AND HE HEARD TO NOISE AND ADVISED MY TO RETURN TO THE DEALER SO THEY MAY SOLVE THE ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY,
WHISTLING/SQUEAKING NOISE FROM ENGINE WHEN TURNED OFF AFTER DRIVING. TOOK A VIDEO AND SHOWED DEALER WHO THOUGHT IT WAS UNUSUAL BUT NO DIAGNOSIS ON MULTIPLE VISITS.
WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS COLDER LIKE 35 DEGREES OR LOWER I AM HAVING ISSUES STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALREADY CHANGED THE BATTERY BUT IT DID NOT HELP. I HAD THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALER FOR 10 DAYS BUT THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. IN THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR RENTAL AND OTHER EXPENSES. YESTERDAY IT TOOK ME 45 MINUTES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. I SPOKE TO TOYOTA AND THEY ARE NOT VERY HELPFUL.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026