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Toyota Highlander lug nut torque by year

Every Highlander manual we checked prints 76 ft-lb (103 N·m, 10.5 kgf·m). That covers 2001–2007 (XU20), 2008 (XU40) and 2018 (XU50). We have not found a manual for the 2020-and-later XU70, so this page gives no value for it.

By the Torque Reference editors 3 sources cited Last reviewed Method
Contents7 sections

Key takeaways

  • 2001–2019 (XU20, XU40, XU50): 76 ft-lb (103 N·m) ⁠1 ⁠2 ⁠3
  • Same torque as the RAV4, Camry and Corolla
  • Toyota: never use oil or grease on the wheel bolts or wheel nuts ⁠3
  • 2020+ (XU70) manual not found; no value listed

Toyota Highlander lug nut torque by year

Model yearsVariantTorqueStudOwner’s manual
2001-2007XU20 (1st gen)all76 ft-lb103 N·m–
Page p283 / printed p277 2001 Highlander Specifications

“Wheel nut torque, N·m (kgf·m, ft·lbf): 103 (10.5, 76)”

Toyota 2001 Highlander Owner's Manual (OM48432U)

⁠1
2008-2013XU40 (2nd gen)all76 ft-lb103 N·m–
Page p538-541 / printed p538-541 6-1 Specifications

“Wheel nut torque 76 ft•lb f (103 N•m, 10.5 kgf•m)”

Toyota 2008 Highlander Owner's Manual (OM48851U)

⁠2
2014-2019XU50 (3rd gen)all76 ft-lb103 N·m–
Page p660-662 / printed p660-662 9-1 Specifications

“Wheel nut torque 76 ft•lbf (103 N•m, 10.5 kgf•m)”

Toyota 2018 Highlander Owner's Manual (OM0E031U)

⁠3

Values as printed in the manufacturer’s owner’s manual for the year shown, not converted. Years between two checked manuals of the same generation are assumed to share the value. Open a row to read the exact wording.

What the owner’s manual says

  • Re-check: When installing aluminum wheels, check that the wheel nuts are tight after driving your vehicle the first 1600 km (1000 miles).
  • Re-check: When rotating, repairing or changing your tires, check that the wheel nuts are still tight after driving 1000 miles (1600 km).
  • Threads: Never use oil or grease on the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.

What the manuals show by generation

  • XU20 (2001–2007): 103 (10.5, 76), meaning 103 N·m, 10.5 kgf·m and 76 ft·lbf. We checked every year from 2001 to 2007 ⁠1.
  • XU40 (2008–2013): the 2008 manual gives 76 ft•lbf (103 N•m, 10.5 kgf•m) ⁠2. Its extracted text reads “ft•lb f”, which is a PDF artifact, not a different unit. This is the only XU40 manual we could get.
  • XU50 (2014–2019): the 2018 manual gives 76 ft•lbf (103 N•m, 10.5 kgf•m). The flat-tire steps repeat “Tightening torque: 76 ft•lbf (103 N•m, 10.5 kgf•m)” ⁠3.

The Highlander is a three-row SUV, but it takes the same wheel torque as Toyota’s cars. That differs from the three-row crossovers from GM (the Traverse at 140 ft-lb) and Honda (the 2016–2022 Pilot at 94 lbf∙ft). Don’t carry a setting over from another brand’s similar vehicle.

None of the Highlander manuals we read split the value by wheel material. They give one figure for every wheel.

Re-check and thread condition

The XU20 manuals say: “When installing aluminum wheels, check that the wheel nuts are tight after driving your vehicle the first 1600 km (1000 miles)” ⁠1. From 2008 on the wording is “When rotating, repairing or changing your tires, check that the wheel nuts are still tight after driving 1000 miles (1600 km)” ⁠2. The same manuals say “Never use oil or grease on the wheel bolts or wheel nuts” ⁠3. Tighten in a crisscross pattern and finish with a torque wrench (lug nut tightening guide).

Years we have not checked

We could not get the 2009–2013 XU40 manuals or the 2014–2017 and 2019 XU50 manuals. Those years are assumed to share their generation’s checked value. For the 2020-and-later XU70, all the manuals we tried (2020–2026) are blocked to us and not archived. We don’t extend the older value to the new generation. No Highlander owner’s manual lists an oil drain plug or brake caliper torque.

Sources

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

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