Toyota Highlander Safety Rating by Year
NHTSA has published crash-test ratings for the Toyota Highlander in 15 model years from 2011 to 2025; the 2025 earned 5 out of 5 stars overall. Check a specific Highlander’s crash and title history below.
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Toyota Highlander— By the Numbers
- Model years rated, 2011–2025
- 15
- 2025 overall rating
- 5★
- Highest overall on record
- 5★
- Lowest rollover risk shown (2020, 2022, 2024–2025)
- 16.4%
- Recall campaigns, 2025 record
- 3
Model years rated, 2011–2025
2025 overall rating
Highest overall on record
Lowest rollover risk shown (2020, 2022, 2024–2025)
Recall campaigns, 2025 record
Quick Answer
- What is the Toyota Highlander safety rating?
- NHTSA has published crash-test ratings for the Toyota Highlander in 15 model years from 2011 to 2025; the 2025 earned 5 out of 5 stars overall. A rating applies to one model year and one body style or drivetrain, so check the year you are actually buying.
- Which Toyota Highlander years have the highest safety rating?
- The 2014–2025 model years earned 5 stars overall, the highest score on record.
- Did NHTSA rate every Toyota Highlander model year?
- Every model year from 2011 to 2025 has a rating on record.
Toyota Highlander safety ratings, year by year
NHTSA rated the Highlander in each model year, 2011 through 2025: its overall result steps up at 2014 and holds from there, while its side-impact and rollover ratings stay level throughout.
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover | Rollover risk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16.4% | |
| 2024 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16.4% | |
| 2023 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16.9% | Full 2023 ratings |
| 2022 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16.4% | |
| 2021 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16.9% | Full 2021 ratings |
| 2020 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16.4% | |
| 2019 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16.9% | |
| 2018 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 18.5% | |
| 2017 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16.9% | |
| 2016 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 18.5% | |
| 2015 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16.9% | |
| 2014 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16.9% | |
| 2013 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 17.4% | |
| 2012 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 17.4% | |
| 2011 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 17.4% |
What changed across Toyota Highlander model years
From 2014 through 2019 the front passenger result sits above its 2011 to 2013 level, then returns to it from 2020. That leaves a 2020-or-later Highlander matching a 2011 to 2013 Highlander on every front, side and rollover rating, with only the overall score and the rollover risk figure setting them apart.
The overall score reaches its highest, 5 stars, in 2014–2025.
The ratings describe the HighlanderNHTSA crashed. Check the one you’re buying.
Salvage and rebuilt brands, reported accidents and odometer records follow the VIN.
Buying a used Highlander: which year's rating applies
A rating belongs to one model year and one version. Before relying on any figure on this page, match it to the Highlander in front of you.
Confirm the model year from the VIN, not the listing: a 2013 and a 2014 sit on opposite sides of the change in overall result, and a 2019 and a 2020 sit on opposite sides of the front passenger change.
Each year's rating covers separate versions. The row printed here is all-wheel drive through 2015, then moves between front-drive and all-wheel drive from 2016, so check which drivetrain the row names before comparing it with the car.
Recall work is tracked per vehicle, so whichever year you pick, run the VIN and ask for dealer paperwork showing open campaigns were closed.
Recalls and complaints by model year
NHTSA files these beside each year's crash-test results. They describe what owners and the agency reported afterwards, not how the vehicle was built to perform in a crash.
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Owner complaints | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024 | 7 | 42 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9 | 177 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 238 | 0 |
| 2021 | 4 | 505 | 0 |
| 2020 | 4 | 311 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3 | 478 | 0 |
| 2018 | 5 | 264 | 0 |
| 2017 | 4 | 265 | 0 |
| 2016 | 3 | 109 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 190 | 0 |
| 2014 | 5 | 135 | 0 |
| 2013 | 3 | 211 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 | 191 | 3 |
| 2011 | 5 | 186 | 3 |
Whether a recall was repaired on a particular car is in the manufacturer’s records for that VIN; a dealer or NHTSA’s VIN lookup can confirm it. The Toyota recall check by VIN lists the campaigns filed for a model and year.
How NHTSA's ratings work
NHTSA announced new NCAP crash tests and rating criteria in July 2008, including a new overall rating that combines the frontal, side and rollover results. It then postponed the change by a year: the new criteria apply to vehicles tested beginning with model year 2011, not 2010 as first announced.
In NHTSA's own words, its rollover resistance ratings “estimate the risk of rollover if a vehicle is involved in a single-vehicle crash.”
One limit applies to every vehicle here. NHTSA notes that the frontal crash rating “depends on vehicle mass, and cannot be compared across vehicle weight classes” — a full-size truck's frontal stars and a compact car's are not the same measure.
- Federal Register, 73 FR 79206 (Dec. 24, 2008) — new NCAP criteria begin with model year 2011
- Federal Register, 73 FR 40016 (July 11, 2008) — NCAP testing and rating changes, including the overall rating
- Federal Register, 68 FR 59250 (Oct. 14, 2003) — NCAP rollover resistance ratings
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Year pages and related models
Every version NHTSA rated in a given year, plus rating histories for other models.
Every rated version of the 2023, with inspection notes.
Every rated version of the 2021, with inspection notes.
15 rated model years, 2011–2025.
14 rated model years, 2011–2024.
15 rated model years, 2011–2025.
12 rated model years, 2011–2022.
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Toyota Highlander Safety FAQ
What NHTSA’s record shows across model years, and what it cannot tell you about one car.
What is the Toyota Highlander safety rating?+
NHTSA has published crash-test ratings for the Toyota Highlander in 15 model years from 2011 to 2025; the 2025 earned 5 out of 5 stars overall. A rating applies to one model year and one body style or drivetrain, so check the year you are actually buying.
Which Toyota Highlander years have the highest safety rating?+
The 2014–2025 model years earned 5 stars overall, the highest score on record.
Did NHTSA rate every Toyota Highlander model year?+
Every model year from 2011 to 2025 has a rating on record.
Are Toyota Highlander ratings from before 2011 comparable?+
Not like for like. NHTSA changed its crash tests and rating criteria starting with model year 2011, so this page lists 2011 and later only. Earlier ratings came from different tests.
Does the rating apply to a used Highlander?+
It applies to the Highlander as built. A used one that has been in a serious crash, rebuilt from salvage or had airbags replaced is no longer the vehicle NHTSA tested. NHTSA's 2025 record lists 3 recall campaigns; a VIN check shows that car's title brands and reported accidents, plus the recall campaigns filed for its model and year.
Every year’s rating is for the model. The VIN is for the car.
A crash rating can’t see a salvage or rebuilt title, reported accidents or an odometer rollback. The VIN record can.
Or get the full VIN history reportVérifications VIN connexes
Plus d'outils pour vérifier l'historique de tout véhicule