The 2017 Toyota Highlander is associated with 267 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 4 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Powertrain, accounting for 54 reports (20% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 8 certified vehicle configurations spanning 3.5L 6-Cyl hybrid, 3.5l 6-cyl, and 2.7l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 22 to 29 MPG combined. The 2017 Toyota Highlander belongs to the 3rd generation (XU50) Highlander platform spanning model years 2015–2019.

Key Data Findings
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 267 reports
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 4 campaigns
  • • Top Reported Defect Area: Powertrain (54 / 20%)
  • • Safety Incident Signals: 18 crash / 2 fire / 15 injury reports
  • • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
  • • EPA Efficiency: 22–29 MPG (8 variants)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
Fuel Economy
22–29MPG
8 EPA certified variants (3.5L 6-Cyl hybrid, 3.5l 6-cyl, and 2.7l 4-cyl configurations)
Reported Complaints
267
267 submitted owner reports
Safety Recalls
4
4 official NHTSA recalls
NCAP Safety Rating
5 / 5 Stars Overall

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2017 Toyota Highlander?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Highlander Hybrid AWD LE Plus Hybrid 3.5L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S6) 30 MPG 28 MPG 29 MPG — $2,100 / yr
Highlander Hybrid AWD Hybrid 3.5L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AV-S6) 29 MPG 27 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Highlander LE/XLE/SE/LTD 3.5L 6-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 21 MPG 27 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
Highlander 3.5L 6-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 20 MPG 27 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
Highlander AWD LE 3.5L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 20 MPG 27 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
Highlander 2.7L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 20 MPG 24 MPG 22 MPG — $2,800 / yr
Highlander AWD 3.5L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 20 MPG 26 MPG 22 MPG — $2,800 / yr
Highlander AWD 3.5L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 19 MPG 26 MPG 22 MPG — $2,800 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2017 Toyota Highlander?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SUV FWD 18.5%
SUV AWD 16.900000000000002%
HV SUV AWD 16.900000000000002%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2017 Toyota Highlander models.
View complete 2017 Toyota Highlander crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2017 Toyota Highlander?

Summary of 267 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
267
Crash Reports
18
Fire Reports
2
Complaints w/ Injury
15
Total Injuries
26

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Powertrain 54 complaints
Engine 16 complaints
Fuel & Propulsion System 16 complaints (1 crash)
Visibility & Wipers 12 complaints (1 crash)
Electrical System 11 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2017 Toyota Highlander problems & component breakdown (68 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2017 Toyota Highlander?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #20V682000 Active Recall
Affected Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Defect Summary: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
NHTSA Campaign #18E107000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Defect Summary: 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).

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Campaign #17V520000 Active Recall
Affected Component: EQUIPMENT

Defect Summary: Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly torque the fasteners, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2017. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 17R3.
View all 2017 Toyota Highlander recalls & campaign history (4 campaigns) →
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.