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The 2014 Toyota Highlander has 135 NHTSA owner complaints and 5 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2014 Toyota Highlander has 135 NHTSA owner complaints and 5 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). The most-reported system is electrical at 32 complaints (~$850 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Highlander | 186 | 5 |
| 2012 Highlander | 191 | 2 |
| 2013 Highlander | 211 | 3 |
| 2014 Highlander (this page) | 135 | 5 |
| 2015 Highlander | 190 | 2 |
| 2016 Highlander | 109 | 3 |
| 2017 Highlander | 265 | 4 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2014 Toyota Highlander SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: visibility is flagged critical on this model . Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 5 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is powertrain (~$2,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
The speedometer consistently indicated that I am traveling 2 to 3 MPH more than my actual speed. The highlander is factory original with no aftermarket parts installed. This issue was observed while traveling cross country and observing the plethora of radar speed indicators…
Passenger front seat belt will not retract, when I got out of vehicle today. Dinging sound coming from somewhere when we drove it last night.
Power lift gate will not open or close and lock when the outdoor temperature is below 32 degrees f. Vehicle is stationary and cold as stated.
Stationary vehicle. Power rear lift gate will open or close on demand only sporadically. It may begin to open or close and move just several inches, or perhaps a foot. It thus requires the operator to manually open or close the gate which is very difficult to accomplish…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
In the event of a crash, a larger front passenger seat occupant may not be properly restrained and be at an increased risk of injury.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.6 out of 10 based on 135 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 Toyota Highlander has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2014 Toyota Highlander is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 6.6/10 — around the segment average; 5 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the electrical first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 32 owner complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 135 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is electrical. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is electrical, with 32 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop.
The visibility is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $350 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 135 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $350, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.