The 2016 Highlander is generally solid, but the 2.7L I4 has catastrophic oil consumption issues leading to engine failure, while the 3.5L V6 remains one of Toyota's most reliable powertrains with minimal issues across typical ownership.
2.7L I4 Severe Oil Consumption and Engine Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Burning 1+ quart every 1,000 miles, Blue smoke from exhaust on startup, Check engine light with misfire codes, Complete engine seizure if oil runs dry
Fix: Piston ring design flaw causes oil to burn past rings into combustion chamber. Toyota issued TSB but no recall. Requires complete engine rebuild (piston rings, cylinder honing) at 18-25 hours, or short block replacement at 20-28 hours. Many owners only discover when engine is already damaged beyond simple ring replacement.
Estimated cost: $4,500-8,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Corrosion and Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddles under vehicle, Pink or red fluid near radiator area, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement if fluid level drops, Visible rust or wet spots on steel cooler lines
Fix: Steel transmission cooler lines rust through where they route along frame rails, especially in salt-belt states. Lines run from transmission to radiator-mounted cooler. Replacing both lines and connections takes 2.5-4 hours depending on access and corroded fasteners. Some techs replace with upgraded braided stainless aftermarket lines.
Estimated cost: $350-650
Front Engine Mount (Transmission Mount) Failure
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk or thud when shifting from Park to Drive, Excessive vibration at idle in Drive, Visible engine rocking when accelerating hard, Metal-on-metal contact sound during throttle transitions
Fix: Hydraulic front engine mount (often called transmission mount in Toyota parts system) degrades and loses fluid, allowing excessive drivetrain movement. V6 models particularly affected due to torque. Replacement requires supporting engine from above or below, takes 1.5-2.5 hours. OEM mount strongly recommended over aftermarket.
Estimated cost: $280-450
3.5L V6 Water Pump Bearing Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Squealing or grinding noise from front of engine, Coolant weeping from pump weep hole, Rough bearing feel when rotating pump pulley by hand, Overheating if pump fails completely
Fix: The 2GR-FE water pump bearings can fail before the rest of the pump shows wear. Since this is a timing belt engine, smart shops replace water pump during any timing belt service (due every 90k). Pump alone is 2-3 hours, but done with timing belt at 5-6 hours total for complete service including tensioner and idlers.
Symptoms: Power liftgate slowly sags or won't stay open, Liftgate closes too fast or slams, Misaligned liftgate causing wind noise or water leaks, Liftgate motor straining or making grinding sounds
Fix: Gas struts wear out and lose pressure, causing liftgate to drop or close violently. If ignored, puts extra strain on liftgate motor and can bend hinge mounting points. Strut replacement is simple (0.5 hours), but if hinge points are bent from prolonged strain, realignment adds 1-2 hours. Replace both struts as a pair.
Estimated cost: $180-320 (struts only), $400-650 (if hinge/alignment work needed)
Symptoms: Hybrid system warning light, Reduced power or 'turtle mode', Inverter overheating codes (P0A94, P0A9A), Coolant pump motor not running (testable with scan tool)
Fix: Electric coolant pump that cools the hybrid inverter fails, causing inverter to overheat and shut down hybrid system. Vehicle still drives on engine alone but with severely reduced power. Pump is 2-3 hours labor to replace, requires partial coolant drain and accessing pump under inverter assembly. Aftermarket pumps have shorter lifespan than OEM.
Estimated cost: $650-950
Owner tips
If buying a 2.7L I4 model, check oil consumption immediately — run it hard for 1,000 miles and monitor dipstick religiously. Walk away if it burns more than half a quart.
V6 timing belt is due at 90k miles — never skip this, and always do water pump at the same time to avoid paying twice for overlapping labor.
Check transmission cooler lines annually if you're in the rust belt; catching them early is a $400 fix versus a $3,000 transmission replacement from running low on fluid.
On hybrids, verify inverter coolant pump operation during pre-purchase inspection with a competent scan tool — replacement is expensive and often not negotiable at point of failure.
Buy the 3.5L V6 or hybrid without hesitation; avoid the 2.7L I4 entirely unless you have full service records proving no oil consumption issues.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Standard top post terminals; battery located in engine compartment
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Every control module on the 2014-2017 Toyota Highlander — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
📍 Rear cargo area, driver side trim panel or behind rear bumper
🔧 Techstream or Autel/Launch for sensor calibration
⚠️ Sensor calibration may be required. Integrated with Intelligent Clearance Sonar on some trims.
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
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).
Consequence: The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · 16V775000
2016-10-24
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Highlander vehicles manufactured May 26, 2016, to September 16, 2016. The brake fluid level sensor may not be connected to the wire harness, preventing the sensor from detecting the brake fluid level. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Consequence: If the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, connect the wire harness to the sensor, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this G03.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · 16V420000
2016-06-09
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
20mpg
Highway
25mpg
Combined
22mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
Capability & size
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Wiper blades
2014-2019 generation (XU50). Standard hook attachment for front blades.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2016 Toyota Highlander 2.7L I4 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.