ToyotaHighlander2023Overview/toyota/highlander/2023/base/

2023 Toyota Highlander

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 Highlander.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2023 Toyota Highlander employs an Automatic (S8) transmission and delivers EPA fuel economy ratings of 21/28/24 mpg while operating on a 4.8-quart capacity of 0W-16 or 0W-20 viscosity oil. When contextualized against the model's complaint history from 1997 to 2026, this year's 164 total owner complaints place it well below the 2021 peak of 475 issues, though above the 1997 low of just one. With nine recalls documented and the primary complaint area listed as unknown or other, the 2023 model sits in a moderate position within the vehicle's long-term reliability profile, suggesting a stabilized iteration that avoids the extremes of the model's history.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-16 / 0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque76.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy21/28/24 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 90915YZZN1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tail / brake / turnRELAYOEM · verified
Tire size235/65R18 106VOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZN1
Engine air filter17801F0050 alt 1780177050
Spark plug90919A1008 alt 9091901289
Front wiper blades852120E090 alt 852220E090
Serpentine belt90916A2030
Thermostat16343F0010 alt 16342F0010
Cabin air filter8713958010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length194.9 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height68.1 in
Wheelbase112.2 in
Curb weight4123 lb
Track (front / rear)65.4 / 65.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined21 / 28 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Highlander of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.2–8.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.20 sec — 2023 Platinum
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2023Platinum 2.4L Turbo I-47.20 sec15.50 sec265 hpAWD
2023XSE 2.4L Turbo I-48.00 sec16.10 sec265 hpAWD
2021XLE 3.5L V66.80 sec15.30 sec295 hpAWD
2021XSE 3.5L V66.80 sec15.40 sec295 hpAWD
2021XSE 3.5L V66.90 sec15.40 sec295 hpAWD
2020Platinum 3.5L V66.70 sec15.30 sec295 hpAWD
2020XLE 3.5L V67.20 sec15.60 sec295 hpAWD
2020Hybrid Platinum 2.5L I-4 + Elec7.30 sec16.00 sec243 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.8 qt of 0W-16 / 0W-20 engine oil, ATF in the differential, DOT 3 · SAE J1703 · DOT 4 · SAE J1704 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76.0 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity1.8 qt
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703 · DOT 4 · SAE J1704
Differential Gear OilATF
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.8 qt
Engine CoolantToyota Super Long Life Coolant
Engine Oil0W-16 · 0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity4.8 qt

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76.0 ft-lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 40,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Hybrid Battery Compartment Air Filter (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft Flange Yoke (torque) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 40,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant) · Intercooler (drain & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The Toyota Highlander has seen a fluctuating complaint trend over its history, with recent peaks in 2019 and 2021 followed by a steady decline. The 2023 model year falls into this downward arc with 164 complaints, a notable improvement over the 223 reported in 2022 and 475 in 2021. While complaints decreased, 2023 saw a spike in recalls to 9, which is higher than the 5 recalls in 2022 and 7 in 2024. Primary complaint areas for 2023 include "Unknown Or Other" and "Structure," though the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. Given the significant reduction in overall complaints compared to previous recent years, this is a good year to buy.

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
130
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
164
Owner complaints
11 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 164 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other29
Structure25
Seats10
Service Brakes10
Engine8
Electrical System6
Air Bags6
Power Train5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

23V480000Steering:ColumnReported 12/07/2023

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024… Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's…

23V720000Structure:Body:BumpersReported 26/10/2023

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Highlander & Highlander Hybrid vehicles. During normal vehicle operation, minor impact to the front lower bumper cover may result in the… 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. Owners may contact Toyota customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 130 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0040-24 Rev12026-06-25StructureSome 2020 – 2026 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a water…
T-SB-0021-262026-03-18Electrical SystemSome 2020 – 2024 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a…
T-SB-0055-24 Rev22026-01-07Unknown Or OtherSome 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
T-SB-0086-252025-11-18StructureSome 2020 – 2023 model year Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a…
T-SB-0083-252025-11-07Electrical SystemA new head unit software update is available for 2022 – 2025 model year Tundra, and…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Highlander. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2023 Highlander take?

4.8 qt of Toyota Genuine Motor Oil ILSAC GF-6B 0W-16 or Equivalent. If 0W-16 is unavailable 0W-20 may be used but must be replaced with 0W-16 at the next oil change., per the factory manual.

Does the 2023 Highlander have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Highlander get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 28 highway / 24 combined mpg.