2026 Toyota Grand Highlander problems, complaints & recalls

Updated Oct 11, 2026 from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander, most often about body & structure. There are 3 recalls for this model year.

Complaints: 38
Recalls: 3
Crashes: 1
Fires: 0
Injuries: 5
Median mileage: 10,000 mi

Key facts

Body & Structure is the most-reported problem area, named in 9 of 38 complaints (24%).
Engine (6) and fuel, hybrid & EV propulsion (5) follow.
Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 10,000 mi.
Owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires and 5 injuries.
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander has 3 recalls on file.
NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.
It ranks 2nd of 3 Toyota Grand Highlander model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
That is 50% fewer complaints than the 2025 model year (76).

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)	Complaints
Unknown or other	12
Structure:body	8
Engine	6
Fuel/propulsion system	5
Visibility/wiper	2
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	2
Service brakes	2
Lane departure: assist	1

When problems happen (mileage)

Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander complaints that list mileage.

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander recalls (3)

Recall 26V598000Sep 17, 2026617 vehicles
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX350, RX500 Hybrid, TX500 Hybrid, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Grand Highlander Hybrid vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front steering knuckles may crack and break, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
Risk: A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckles, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TA19 and 26LA09.
Recall 26V437000Jul 8, 20265,408 vehicles
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX Plug-In Hybrid, TX Hybrid, TX, Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, and Grand Highlander vehicles. The rear axle carriers may have been manufactured with insufficient material strength and could break.
Risk: A broken rear axle carrier can cause a sudden loss of vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle carrier sub-assembly code, and replace the sub-assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB13, 26TA13, 26LB08, and 26LA08.
Recall 25V744000Oct 30, 20251,024,407 vehicles
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.

NHTSA defect investigations

DP26006Opened Aug 20, 2026Open
Road debris/rocks damaging the heat exchangers
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a Petition dated July 20, 2026. The Petition requests an investigation of road debris / rocks damaging the heat exchangers in model year (MY) 2024-2026 Toyota Grand Highlander vehicles. The Petition contends that the Grand Highlander’s front-end grill has large, open apertures and no protective screen between the grill and the vehicle’s heat exchangers. The Petition further alleges that as a result, during normal driving, the damage to heat exchangers results in coolant leakage and sudden loss of propulsion. The Petitioner cites thirteen (13) …

Recent 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Filed Oct 3, 2026TXSeats & Seat Belts
Design of middle seat backward/forward latch adjustment and, in particular, the rear seat fold down /lean back latch adjustment is of poor engineering integrity. The latches on top of each of these seats are difficult to maneuver, particularly for those with weak hands. And if you overextend the latch, their is risk of bursting the associated cable mechanism. Note that Toyota does not factory warranty such a burst seat cable mechanism. In my case, I was on extended trip…
NHTSA complaint #11768726 · source
Filed Oct 3, 2026ILFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionOther / Unknown
Design flaw of front grille of vehicle causing major damage. Due to the large gaps in front grille, the vehicle is susceptible to rock damage to the coolant system. Under normal highway driving, coolant started to leak and immediate power loss put my wife at risk. She was unable to accelerate to maintain speed while on a busy highway. There are no immediate signs for damage since any small rock can pass through the grille and create multiple punctures. You don't know…
NHTSA complaint #11768711 · source
Filed Oct 3, 2026OHBody & Structure
About two months after purchasing my new 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, I noticed the air conditioning had stopped cooling. I did not notice any impact, so I do not know exactly when the damage occurred. I drive normally on public roads and do not go off road. The vehicle had approximately 7000 miles when the problem was found. There were no warning lights or messages. The only symptom was the AC blowing warm air, which I first noticed around September 25, 2026. Tansky…
NHTSA complaint #11768701 · source
Filed Sep 29, 2026PA3 injuredBrakesSeats & Seat BeltsVisibility & Wipers
June, July and August multiple occurrences of Electronic Parking Brake and Drive Engagement Failure intermittently occurring. The Automatic electronic park brake fails to release from Park to Drive or Park to Reverse while drivers seatbelt is fastened, all door closed, vehicle on level ground. Vehicle behaves as if it's still in Park and revs RPM with gas pedal pressed without movement. Vehicle may abruptly lunge once engagement finally occurs after vehicle on/off & multiple…
NHTSA complaint #11767749 · source
Filed Sep 27, 2026TXFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
Periodically, when you apply the gas, there is no power. The gas pedal is dead. This obviously is a hazard when trying to maneuver through traffic. The problem is random and cannot be reproduced at will. The dealership said they could do nothing about it if they could not reproduce the issue. Vehicle is still under the manufacturer warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11767296 · source
Filed Sep 19, 2026LAOther / Unknown
Windshield has experienced multiple cracks/chips at extremely low mileage. Initial crack occurred before 1,000 miles and originated at the upper edge of the windshield. Crack has propagated from the top to the bottom. Multiple additional star cracks have developed. I am concerned about possible windshield/glass, installation, or structural issue. I previously owned a Highlander for over 10 years and did not have any issues of this and I live in the same area. I had one crack…
NHTSA complaint #11765486 · source
Filed Sep 15, 202610,000 miMOCrash2 injuredTowedAirbags
The contact owns a 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a commercial lawnmower that fell from a truck. The driver's seat air bag deployed in a downward position, and the other air bags failed to deploy. The driver and the front passenger sustained cuts on their necks from their seat belts and received medical treatment. The driver also received trigger point injections for pain…
NHTSA complaint #11764343 · source
Filed Sep 14, 2026TXFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
My 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander XLE has a recurring gasoline smell near the rear driver’s side after long trips or when parked with the engine idling. The source of the odor and the specific component involved are unknown. I am concerned about a possible fuel or vapor leak and the potential fire risk to myself and my passengers.
NHTSA complaint #11764246 · source

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Other 2026 Toyota models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology