Used car safety, rank #14 of 188
Toyota Highlander 4WD Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 Toyota Highlander 4WD, a midsize SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
Honorable MentionIIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2020-23 Toyota Highlander 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 7 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize SUVs average of 24, which is 71% below the class average. That places it #14 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 87.2/100, earning our Honorable Mention designation.
What the Toyota Highlander death rate means
At 7 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Toyota Highlander 4WD beats the midsize SUVs average of 24 by 71%. The 95% confidence interval is 1 to 13, so even the pessimistic end of the range is no worse than the class average.
The other-driver death rate of 39 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Toyota Highlander. Its 95% confidence interval is 25β53. It is higher than the Toyota Highlander's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest midsize SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Toyota Highlander 4WD highlighted. It ranks 3 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD at a death rate of 5.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Atlas 2WD | 2020-23 | 5 (0 to 16) | 89.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Volkswagen Atlas 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 16) | 87.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Highlander 4WD (this page) | 2020-23 | 7 (1 to 13) | 87.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia Telluride 2WD | 2020-23 | 8 (0 to 22) | 84.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Bronco 4WD | 2021-23 | 10 (1 to 19) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Traverse 4WD | 2022-23 | 10 (0 to 23) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Highlander hybrid 4WD | 2020-23 | 11 (1 to 20) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee L 4WD | 2022-23 | 11 (0 to 25) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E electric 4WD | 2021-23 | 11 (0 to 26) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize SUVs: 24 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Toyota Highlander
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Toyota Highlander we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Toyota Highlander | No award | 75.6 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 87.2 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Toyota Highlander 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
9 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering seats, back over prevention, electrical system, steering, equipment, tires, structure.
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Seats: mid/rear assembly, recliner
Risk: A seat back that fails to lock may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the return springs in the seat back recliner assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 9, 2026. This is a phased recall.
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Back over prevention: display function
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026.
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Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Additional letters will be sent, anticipated in May 2026. This is a phased recall.
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Steering: column
Risk: A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge.
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Equipment: other, labels
Risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge.
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Tires
Risk: Tires with an insufficient load rating can be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will inspect and replace the tires and information placard, as necessary free of charge.
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Tires
Risk: Tires with an insufficient load rating may be overloaded and fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will inspect and replace the tires as necessary, and install a new tire information label as necessary, free of charge.
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Structure: body, bumpers
Risk: A detached front bumper cover can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the upper and lower front bumper covers as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 22, 2024.
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Steering: column
Risk: A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Toyota Highlander 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Toyota Highlander 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 7 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 Toyota Highlander 4WD, 71% below the class average (24 for midsize SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 87.2 out of 100 and rank #14 of 188 used vehicles, with a Honorable Mention designation.
What is the Toyota Highlander 4WD driver death rate?
7 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 1 to 13. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Toyota Highlander died at a rate of 39 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the Toyota Highlander 4WD compare with other midsize SUVs?
The midsize SUVs class averages 24 driver deaths per million; the Toyota Highlander 4WD sits at 7. Among the 9 midsize SUVs compared above it ranks 3 by safety score; the top of that group is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD with a death rate of 5.