2014 Toyota Highlander Reliability
The 2014 Toyota Highlander has 138 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and unknown or other. Compared with other Highlander model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Highlander's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
138
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
5
Complaints citing a crash
1
Complaints citing a fire
2014 Toyota Highlander complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 model year, filed between 2014 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 36 | 26% |
| Unknown or other | 33 | 24% |
| Body structure | 32 | 23% |
| Visibility / wipers | 11 | 8% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 9 | 7% |
| Seat belts | 5 | 4% |
| Speed control / throttle | 5 | 4% |
| Tires | 4 | 3% |
2014 Toyota Highlander recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2014 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14V051000 | Feb 7, 2014 | Seat belts — rear/other | Toyota is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander vehicles manufactured November 20, 2013, through January 18, 2014. The third row middle seat belt assembly might not have been properly secured to the vehicle floor anchorage during vehicle assembly. As… |
| 14V272000 | May 22, 2014 | Electrical system — software | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles may have improper software installed in the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) for the operation of the… |
| 14V274000 | May 22, 2014 | Seats — mid/rear assembly | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander vehicles manufactured April 23, 2014, through April 29, 2014. The affected vehicles may have a second row right-hand seat assembly that does not fully lock into… |
| 14V576000 | Sep 19, 2014 | Fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Sienna, and Highlander and model year 2015 Lexus RX350 vehicles. Fuel may leak from the one of the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment. |
| 18E107000 | Nov 27, 2018 | Electrical system | 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… |
How the 2014 compares with nearby Highlander years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Highlander analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 191 | 2 | Steering | Solid |
| 2013 | 212 | 3 | Steering | Solid |
| 2014 (this page) | 138 | 5 | Electrical system | Solid |
| 2015 | 197 | 2 | Electrical system | Solid |
| 2016 | 117 | 3 | Unknown or other | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2014 Toyota Highlander
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2014 Toyota Highlander can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2014 Toyota Highlander reliability FAQ
Is the 2014 Toyota Highlander reliable?
The 2014 Toyota Highlander has 138 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and unknown or other. Compared with other Highlander model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Highlander's typical year.
What are the most common 2014 Toyota Highlander problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2014 Toyota Highlander are electrical system (36), unknown or other (33), body structure (32), visibility / wipers (11). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2014 Toyota Highlander have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2014 Toyota Highlander, including 14V051000 (seat belts — rear/other) and 14V272000 (electrical system — software). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2014 Toyota Highlander compare with the 2013 and 2015 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2013 has 212 complaints and 3 recalls (solid); the 2015 has 197 complaints and 2 recalls (solid). The 2014 has 138 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2014 Toyota Highlander?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota Highlander research
Other Toyota Highlander model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2014 Highlander, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.