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FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH

The 2015 Toyota Highlander has 2 NHTSA safety recalls on file, 189 owner complaints, and gets about 28 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.

FREE PUBLIC RECORD · U.S. GOVERNMENT DATA

2015 Toyota Highlander

  • Engine 6-cyl 3.5L
  • Drive All-Wheel Drive
  • Fuel Regular
  • Body Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD

Should you worry?

Look closer

Something in the public record needs a closer look before you buy.

Caution

Are there open safety recalls?

2 open

Ask the seller for proof each was fixed. Repairs are free — and there’s also an open investigation.

Caution

What do owners report?

16 injuries reported

16 of 189 reports (~8%). On a high-volume model that alone isn’t unusual — look for patterns below.

Good

How did it score in crash tests?

5 out of 5 stars

5 is best. This model scored well in government crash tests.

Open recalls · nearby years

Same make and model. This car is the 2015.

  • 20133recalls
  • 20145recalls
  • 2015 · this car2recalls
  • 20163recalls

Based on free U.S. government safety data · checked August 27, 2026.

SAFETY

Will it protect people in a crash?

These are government crash-test scores. 5 stars is best. They rate this year and model, not your exact car.

Overall
5 / 5 stars
Frontal
4 / 5 stars
Side
5 / 5 stars
Side pole
5 / 5 stars
Rollover
4 / 5 stars

Factory safety & driver-assist equipment

Stability control
Standard
Forward collision warning
Optional
Lane-departure warning
Optional
Government crash-test photo
Photo from a government crash test of this model

Tested as: 2015 Toyota Highlander SUV AWD · 2 versions tested

Open safety recalls

2 open

A recall means the manufacturer must fix a safety problem for free at a dealer. Ask the seller for proof the work was done.

  1. Electrical System

    27/11/2018

    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).

    How they fix it: 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.

  2. Steering

    13/03/2015

    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.

    How they fix it: 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.

The government also has an open investigation on this model. Look it up on nhtsa.gov before you buy.

From NHTSA (U.S. safety agency) · checked August 27, 2026.

OWNERS

What problems do owners report?

People file these with the government when something goes wrong. They show patterns, not a diagnosis of any one car for sale.

Owner reports · nearby years

Same make and model. This car is the 2015.

  • 2013210reports
  • 2014134reports
  • 2015 · this car189reports
  • 2016109reports

189 owner reports on file

17 crash mentions 6 fire mentions 16 injury mentions

Parts mentioned most often. Longer bar = more reports. Counts are out of 189 total reports.

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 45 of 189

    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 repa

  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER 33 of 189

    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.

  • STEERING 25 of 189

    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, occ

  • STRUCTURE 20 of 189

    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

  • VISIBILITY/WIPER 11 of 189

    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 caus

  • VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9 of 189

    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

Bars are sized relative to the most-mentioned part on this list, not to 100% of all cars.

From NHTSA owner complaints · checked August 27, 2026. Anyone can file a report; they are not verified repairs.

FUEL COST

What does it cost to drive?

EPA estimates for this year and model. Your real cost depends on gas prices, how you drive, and how far you go.

Showing

Figures below are for the Hybrid AWD version.

Combined MPG · nearby years

Same make and model. This car is the 2015.

  • 201320mpg
  • 201422mpg
  • 2015 · this car28mpg
  • 201622mpg

$2,200

estimated fuel cost per year if you drive about 15,000 miles

Miles per gallon. Higher is cheaper to drive.

City driving 27 mpg
Highway driving 28 mpg
Combined (typical mix) 28 mpg

Over 5 years, compared to an average new car

About the same fuel cost as an average new car over 5 years.

From EPA fueleconomy.gov · checked August 27, 2026.

HOW IT WAS BUILT

Factory details

What’s on the build record for this VIN or model.

Engine

6-cyl 3.5L

Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Transmission

Automatic (AV-S6)

Fuel

Regular

See all factory details (7)
Engine
6-cyl 3.5L
Cylinders
6
Displacement
3.5 L
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Transmission
Automatic (AV-S6)
Body
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel
Regular

From EPA and NHTSA vehicle records · checked August 27, 2026.

What this free check does not include

We only show free U.S. government data: safety recalls, owner reports, crash tests, and fuel economy. We do not show prior accidents, flood or salvage titles, odometer rollback, insurance history, or a “should you buy” verdict on a specific listing. For that kind of check on one car for sale, use the VINly app.

BEFORE YOU BUY

What to check on this car

Confirm the recalls were fixed

This model has 2 open NHTSA recalls (including the electrical system). Recall repairs are free at the dealer, so ask the seller for proof the remedy was performed, or verify by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.

Watch for a pending investigation

NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.

  • Test-drive the basics

    Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.

  • Check the title and the VIN

    Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.

  • Ask the seller the right questions

    Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.

See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.

FOR SALE NEAR YOU

2015 Toyota Highlander listings

    Quick answers

    What is recalled on the 2015 Toyota Highlander? +

    NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2015 Toyota Highlander, including the electrical system. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.

    What gas mileage does the 2015 Toyota Highlander get? +

    The EPA rates the 2015 Toyota Highlander at 28 mpg combined (27 city / 28 highway), about $2,200 a year in fuel.

    How safe is the 2015 Toyota Highlander? +

    NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2015 Toyota Highlander 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.

    What do owners complain about on the 2015 Toyota Highlander? +

    Owners have filed 189 complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Toyota Highlander, including 17 involving a crash. The most-reported area is electrical system.

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