Model year guide

2018 Toyota Highlander

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2018 Toyota Highlander is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 62 on record.

2018 Toyota Highlander — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2018 Toyota Highlander at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints253
Combined23 mpg
Typical price$31,664

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2018 Toyota Highlander recalls 5

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump NHTSA Campaign #20V682000 · 04/11/2020

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 Lexu…

Fix: 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 pa…

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump NHTSA Campaign #20V012000 · 13/01/2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 To…

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles an…

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #18E107000 · 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).

Fix: 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.

Equipment:other:labels NHTSA Campaign #17V831000 · 20/12/2017

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and …

Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum NHTSA Campaign #18V211000 · 03/04/2018

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0K/JLD.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2018 Toyota Highlander common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 253 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Latches/locks/linkages
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2018 Toyota Highlander MPG & running costs

Combined23 mpg
City20 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,725

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2018 Toyota Highlander worth?

Low
$26,995
Typical price
$31,664
High
$38,900

From 35 comparable 2018 Toyota Highlander listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2018 Toyota Highlander costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$13,625
Depreciation (5 yrs)$7,500
Total$21,125
Per mile$0.28

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($31,664) with the same model 5 model-years older ($24,157), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2018 Toyota Highlander trims & engines on record

Trims
SE/XLE · LE/LE Plus · Ltd/Ltd Platinum · LE · XLE Hybrid
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl 295 hp · 2.7L 4-cyl 185 hp · 3.5L 6-cyl 256 hp

2018 Toyota Highlander vehicles on record

Other Toyota Highlander model years

2018 Toyota Highlander — frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Toyota Highlander have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2018 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota Highlander?

Based on 253 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, steering, fuel/propulsion system.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Toyota Highlander get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2018 Toyota Highlander at about 23 mpg combined (20 city / 26 highway).

How much is a 2018 Toyota Highlander worth?

Comparable 2018 Toyota Highlander listings run roughly $26,995–$38,900, typically around $31,664 (from 35 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.