MODEL
Toyota Grand Highlander Later Release
NHTSA safety across every Toyota Grand Highlander Later Release model year we cover.
Across the 1 model year of the Toyota Grand Highlander Later Release we cover (2025 to 2025), the strongest crash-test showing is the 2025 at 80 on the NHTSA Safety Index. 3 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Toyota Grand Highlander is a three-row midsize SUV aimed squarely at families who need the extra space and capability that the standard Highlander cannot deliver. Positioned above its sibling in Toyota's lineup, it targets buyers who prioritize passenger room, towing capacity, and long-haul comfort without stepping into full-size truck-based territory. It competes in one of the most hotly contested segments in the American market.
The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander earns a MotorCaliber Safety Index of 80 out of 100, placing it in the Strong band, which is a genuinely competitive result for a three-row family SUV. The NHTSA crash-test picture is largely encouraging. A perfect 5-star side-crash rating is the headline number here, reflecting excellent occupant protection in the test scenario most likely to cause serious injury in a real-world collision. The 4-star frontal and 4-star rollover ratings are solid, though not perfect, and shoppers should note that the rollover figure is fairly typical for a tall, body-on-frame-adjacent vehicle of this size and ride height. Three recalls across the 2025 model year is a modest count for a relatively new nameplate still being refined in production, and buyers should verify that any open recalls are addressed before or at purchase through NHTSA's VIN lookup tool. The 52 owner complaints on file are worth monitoring, but critically, zero crashes, zero fires, zero injuries, and zero deaths are reported among them. These are unverified allegations and the count itself is not alarming for a vehicle with this sales volume. The overall safety picture for the Grand Highlander is one of a well-tested, well-performing family hauler with no serious red flags in the current data.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally regard the Grand Highlander as a significant upgrade over the standard Highlander in terms of interior space and driving refinement, praising its genuinely usable third row and composed highway manners. Most consider it a strong choice in the competitive three-row midsize SUV segment, though some note that the segment itself is exceptionally crowded with capable alternatives.
- The 2025 Grand Highlander earns a 5-star NHTSA side-crash rating, which is the strongest result in its crash-test profile and a meaningful safety advantage for occupants in lateral-impact collisions.
- Frontal and rollover ratings both come in at 4 out of 5 stars. The rollover rating is typical for tall three-row SUVs, but it is not a perfect score, and buyers with rollover concerns should factor this in.
- Three recalls have been issued for the 2025 model year. Shoppers should run the vehicle's VIN through NHTSA's free recall database before purchase to confirm all open recalls have been remedied by the dealer.
- All 52 owner complaints on record report zero crashes, zero fires, zero injuries, and zero deaths. While complaints should always be monitored as a leading indicator of emerging issues, there are no fatality or injury patterns in the current data that raise immediate concern.
Most-recalled year on record: 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Later Release with 3 recalls.