2014 Toyota Highlander Owner Complaints

PURCHASED NEW 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN MAY 2014, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP A FOUL ODOR BEGAN TO EMIT FROM A/C UNIT WHENEVER VEHICLE WAS STARTED. AFTER 3 TRIPS TO SELLING DEALER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I WAS GIVEN TOYOTA T-SB-0142-13 WHICH INFORMS ME THAT THERE ARE 23 TOYOTA VEHICLES WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED TO PLACE BLAME ON VARIOUS ITEMS BUT, SINCE TOYOYA PUBLISHED A TSB IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT WANTING IT TO BECOME KNOWN AS IT MIGHT IMPACT THEIR SELLING VEHICLES. MY A/C EXPERIENCE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY AN IMPROPERRLY DESIGNED A/C SYSTEM WHICH IS FAILING TO DRAIN ALL THE MOISTURE FROM THE A/C SYSTEM THEREBY ALLOWING MOLD, MILDEW, ALGAE TO GROWN IN THE UNDRAINED LEFT OVER WATER IN A/C SYSTEM.

2/26/2015

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THERE IS LOUD WIND NOISE WITH WINDOW SHUT. ALSO IF ONE WINDOW IS DOWN THERE IS A AWFUL NOISE THAT HURTS THE EARS.

9/24/2015

OUR 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH 18 MILES ON FEBRUARY 25, 2014. ON MARCH 7, 2014 WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS ANOTHER DRIVER FAILED TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT SO I PRESSED THE HORN TO ALERT THE DRIVER WHILE I SWERVED OUT OF HIS PATH. THE HORN DID NOT WORK SO THE DRIVER WAS NOT ALERTED AND CONTINUED IN THEIR DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. MY NEED TO SWERVE WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE OTHER DRIVER WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND I WAS ABLE TO ALERT HIM WITH MY HORN. *TR

3/10/2014

TO SELECT AN OPTION ON THE MAP MODE SCREEN (TURN LIST, FREE-WAY EXIT LIST ,INTER-SECTION SCREEN OR THE TURN-BY-TURN SCREEN) VEHICLE HAS TO IN MOTION. DRIVER HAS TO TAKE EYES OFF ROAD AND FOCUS ON THE SCREEN AND THEN FIND THE OPTION HE WANTS AND THEN SELECT IT. ALL THIS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED. A SOFTWARE UPGRADE CAN FIX THIS SO VEHICLE DOESN'T NEED TO BE IN MOTION. NOTIFIED TOYOTA CASE # [XXX] 8/3/2014. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

8/4/2014

WHEN DRIVING ON THE FWY, INTERMITTENTLY DEPENDING ON THE WIND OR HOW THE DOOR WAS SHUT FOR THE RUBBER SEAL TO MAKE A SOLID CONNECTION, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT WIND NOISE THAT BREACHES THE SEAL AND MAKES EXCESSIVE NOISE. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE AND IS WHERE I MEASURED FOR SOUND LEVELS. THE CLOSER I BRING THE METER TO THE WINDOW BY THE SIDE MIRROR THEN MORE NOISE IS RECORDED. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AT ALL, EVEN AT 70MPH. OTHER TIMES, AND OFTEN IT THERE IS A WIND NOISE COMING INTO THE CABIN. WITH TOYOTA'S CLAIM FOR IT BEING SUCH A QUIET CABIN, THIS NOISE IS NOT RIGHT. I TEST DROVE WITH THE TECH MANAGER AT MY DEALER AND HE TOO NOTED THE PROBLEM. HE ORDERED A NEW DOOR SEAL. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DOOR SEAL, AND I DIDN'T HAVE IT INSTALLED. HOWEVER THERE WAS A WINDOW FRAME BLACK PLASTIC PANEL THAT WASN'T PROPERLY SEATED, AND THIS WAS REPLACED. NOT SURE IF IT FIXED THE PROBLEM, AS ITS TOO EARLY TO TELL. THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF REPORT FROM OTHER OWNERS ONLINE WITH THIS ISSUE. SO FAR I KNOW OF ONE OWNER WHO RETURNED THE CAR DUE TO THIS EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE. *TR

3/28/2015

REAR DOOR HATCH STALLS UPON OPENING AND CLOSING. FREQUENTLY REPORTED PROBLEM ON TOYOTA WEBSITES. WHEN DOOR SWITCH IS ACTIVATED EITHER AT THE DOOR, REMOTE FOB OR DASH SWITCH, THE DOOR OPENS A FEW INCHES THEN STOPS. PRESSING AGAIN MOVES IT BACK THEN STOPS. YOU MUST MANUALLY OPEN OR CLOSE THE DOOR. NOT CERTAIN THE DOOR LOCKS COMPLETELY WHEN CLOSING. ONGOING ISSUE SINCE JULY 2014

11/9/2015

THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO TRANSMISSION SHIFT SEQUENCES. WHEN STARTING OUT, THE TRANSMISSION IS IN FOURTH GEAR. IF YOU ARE AT SAY A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ARE MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND THEN NEED TO MAKE A RAPID ACCELERATION, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS DOWN TO A LOWER GEAR, PROBABLY 1ST GEAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT TORQUE STEER THAT AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER WOULD FIND VERY DISTURBING. ALSO, WHEN TRAVELING 60 - 70 MILES PER HOUR AND YOU SHIFT FROM "DRIVE" TO "S" POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO FOURTH GEAR WITH A RESULTANT SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN RPM'S. IT WOULD SEEM LOGICAL THAT WHEN YOU SHIFT FROM "DRIVE" TO "S", YOU SHOULD REFLECT THE SAME GEAR THAT "DRIVE" WAS IN. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR A 5,000 MILE CHECK UP, MY DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO RELATED TO TRANSMISSION PROGRAMMING. SECOND ISSUE, SAME VEHICLE, REFERS TO THE INSTALLATION OF MUFFLER AND TAILPIPE, WHICH CAUSES TAILPIPE TO BE THE LOWEST ITEM UNDER VEHICLE RESULTING IN IT DRAGGING THE GROUND IN CERTAIN INSTANCES; I.E., GOING UP A STEEP DRIVEWAY. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING TO RAISE MUFFLER/TAILPIPE. *TR

1/29/2015

THE TRANSMISSION HAS A FLUTTER WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT UP OR DOWN TO DIFFERENT GEARS. IT CAUSES A HESITANCY. IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY THE CALDWELL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CONWAY, AR USA AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT IS IN OTHER HIGHLANDERS. I REQUEST A RECALL TO HAVE THIS FIXED. THANK YOU *TR

9/15/2015

THE FLOOR ANCHOR OF THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE IS LOCATED BEHIND THE SEAT AND CAN BE STEPPED ON BY THE REAR PASSENGERS. STEPPING ON THE FLOOR ANCHOR AND BELT BY THE REAR PASSENGERS, OFTEN CHILDREN, IS A CONSTANT SOURCE OF DISTRACTION FOR THE DRIVER. *TR

5/22/2014

TO AVOID TWO DEER CROSSING ROAD (BULL BRIDGE ROAD, SOUTH KENT, CT) ON CURVE, LOST CONTROL ON RIGHT SHOULDER, HIT STRAIGHT ON THE UTILITY WOOD POLE. MY SPEED WAS IN BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH. DURING THE ACCIDENT, ALL AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK ME UP. THE IMPACT CAUSED MY CHEST, BACK, NECK AND HEAD INJURIES.

6/30/2016

REAR LIFTGATE SQUEALS TERRIBLY WHEN LEFT OPEN FOR A FEW MINUTES, SEEMS 'STICKY.' WORKS FINE WHEN OPENED AND CLOSED QUICKLY. FEELS FAULTY AND THAT STICKY SQUEALING WILL LEAD TO PREMATURE FAILURE. *TR

10/27/2014

AUTOMATIC LIFTGATE DOES NOT CLOSE. STARTS TO CLOSE, STOPS, THEN BEEPS. REQUIRES MANUAL CLOSURE. HAVE HAD IN FOR REPAIR 5 TIMES, INCLUDING HAVING THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY REPLACED. STILL MALFUNCTIONS. WHILE USING A LOANER CAR OF THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR, IT HAD THE SAME MALFUNCTION. *TR

12/8/2014

THE SPEEDOMETER CONSISTENTLY INDICATED THAT I AM TRAVELING 2 TO 3 MPH MORE THAN MY ACTUAL SPEED. THE HIGHLANDER IS FACTORY ORIGINAL WITH NO AFTERMARKET PARTS INSTALLED. THIS ISSUE WAS OBSERVED WHILE TRAVELING CROSS COUNTRY AND OBSERVING THE PLETHORA OF RADAR SPEED INDICATORS ALONG I-80 AND COMPARING TO THE INDICATOR IN THE HIGHLANDER ALONG WITH DIGITAL INDICATION ON BOTH GPS AND IPHONE APPS. I MENTIONED THIS THE TOYOTA WHILE PERFORMING THE FIRST SERVICE ON THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THE SUPPOSED ISSUE. ITS NOT A SAFETY ISSUES AS FAR AS I KNOW, BUT IT IS AN IRRITATION. *JS

12/30/2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER MORE THAN ONCE BECAUSE IT HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS WAS A SAFETY CONCERN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR VARIOUS RATES OF SPEED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO DETERMINE IF THEY HAD A SERVICE CAMPAIGN OR SOLUTION TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

5/15/2017

THE SAFETY FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT PROPERLY SEALED. *TR

8/26/2014

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON OUR STREET, WHICH IS CONSIDERED A PRIVATE ROAD, WHILE PREPARING TO TURN AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD, A 94YR OLD WOMAN WALKED IN FRONT OF MY CAR, WAS STRUCK, AND DIED. AT NO TIME DURING MY TURN DID I SEE THE WOMAN AS SHE STEPPED IN FRONT OF MY CAR. RESEARCH OF THE 2014 HIGHLANDER REVEALED MANY OWNERS HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING ANY OBJECT OR PERSON DUE TO THE BLIND SPOT OF THE LEFT SIDE MIRROR. RESEARCH AT TOYOTA NATION FORUM, REVEALED ALL OWNERS HAD BLIND SPOTS DUE TO THE SIZE AND POSITION OF THE LEFT SIDE MIRROR. MOST WERE RELATED TO DRIVERS 5'2" IN HEIGHT, BUT 6FT DRIVERS ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BLIND SPOT OF THE LEFT SIDE MIRROR. IN FACT, I FOUND ANOTHER DRIVER WHO HIT A PEDESTRIAN, BUT THEIR VICTIM SURVIVED.

4/23/2019

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE JERK. THEN A WARNING SIGN APPEAR ON THE DASH THAT SAID EPS FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. I BEGAN TO STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AT THAT POINT IT WAS LOCK. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS; I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO AN EMPTY PARKING SPACE, PARKED THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO DICK DYER IN COLUMBIA SC. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHAT WAS ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME, THEY THINK THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN STATED HE HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH A PROBLEM BEFORE AND WAS NOT SURE HOW TO FIX IT. I DID NOT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM DICK DYER INSTEAD I PURCHASED IT FROM SPARKS TOYOTA IN MYRTLE BEACH SC. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD TO CALL THE CENTRAL OFFICE. I WAS TOLD BY THE CENTRAL OFFICE TO COMPLETE THE ARBITRATION PROCESS. I AM IN PROCESS OF DOING THIS NOW. AT THIS TIME, I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND INSTEAD WOULD LIKE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. AT DICK DYER NO ONE WANTED TO SIGN OFF ON THE SERVICE INVOICE STATING THE CAR IS FIX. I FEEL NO ONE WANTS TO BE LIABLE FOR ANY FUTURE ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE IF THIS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

9/12/2014

VEHICLE SHUT OFF DURING DRIVING, CAUSING ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO FAIL INCLUDING THE ELECTRONIC STEERING, WHICH SINCE VEHICLE ALSO TURNED OFF, CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK UP. SINCE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT SPEED AND INFACT WHILE MAKING A TURN, A NEAR COLLISION OCCURED. THE PROBLEM OCCURED MULTIPLE TIMES IN SUCCESSION AND WAS ALSO INTERMITTENT WITH MUCH TIME ELAPSING BETWEEN EPISODES. TWO OTHER TYPES OF RELATED OCCURRENCES DURING THIS TIMEFRAME WERE THE (1) VEHICLE ALSO CYCLING OFF AND ON AND (2) WOULD ALSO TURN ON ITSELF IF THE KEY WAS IN THE VICINITY OF THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA OF SEATTLE EXPERIENCED THE ISSUES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN AND DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE TO BE A LOOSE BOLTED CONNECTION OF THE NEGATIVE ELECTRICAL WIRE FROM THE BATTERY TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES SINCE TIGHTENING OF THE NEGATIVE WIRE BOLTS. ONGOING ISSUES INCLUDE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CYCLING OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING INCLUDING THE NAVIGATION AND FRONT CONSOLE DISPLAY. THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT IN SEPTEMBER 2014 AND HAD LESS THAN 25K MILES AS OF APRIL 2016. ON TWO PRIOR INSTANCES ELECTRICAL ISSUES WERE IDENTIFIED AND DOCUMENTED TO TOYOTA OF SEATTLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS KEPT FOR TESTING. THE FIRST ELECTRICAL ISSUE OCCURED WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FAILING AND THEREBY REQUIRING PASSENGER INTERVENTION TO AVOID COLLISION. THIS CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE FIRST SEEMED TO OCCUR IN DECEMBER 2015. TOYOTA OF SEATTLE DID NOT FIND ANY FAULT AND SENT ME AWAY. THE SECOND PRIOR ELECTRICAL ISSUE OF THE BATTERY PREMATURELY FAILING OCCURRED IN MARCH 2016. THE READINGS INDICATED SOME ODD DRAWS. TOYOTA OF SEATTLE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND SENT ME AWAY WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE ODD DRAWS. THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY REMAINS SUSPECT WITH ONGOING ELECTRICAL CYCLING OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING.

6/15/2016

2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED HAS BEGUN MAKING NOISE WHEN TRAVELING RELATIVELY SLOW (<30MPH) ON A NORMAL ROAD. WHEN THERE'S A VERY MINOR BUMP, A SQUEAKY SOUND WILL COME FROM THE REAR. IT'S NOT SO NOTICEABLE ON THE FREEWAY (PERHAPS FEWER VIBRATIONS AND/OR THE THE WIND NOISE OVERPOWERS IT). UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION (RIDING IN THE BACK AND LISTENING FOR THE SOURCE), IT'S COMING FROM THE REAR-HATCH DOOR/CAR GAP NEAR THE BOTTOM CORNERS. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE THE POWERED HATCH ISN'T FULLY TIGHT AND THE WEATHERSTRIP IS RUBBING. HOWEVER, THE DOOR DOESN'T FEEL OR APPEAR LOOSE AT ALL. *TR

11/14/2014

I'VE PURCHASED 2014 HIGHLANDER ON JAN 2014. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERS ABOUT THE REAR NOISE STARTING IN 2014 AND ALL THEY COULD SAID WAS TO MAKE SURE THE JACK TOOL IS SECURED IN THE BACK. THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE. TODAY I FOUND SB0016-16 AND HAD A DEALER CONFIRMED THE TRAILING ARM ISSUE. THIS IS PART OF THE REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. I CONTACTED TOYODA WITH CASE #1708260897 AND THEY SAID MINE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WON'T PAY FOR THE REPAIR. IT DIDN'T MATTER IF THE ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED BEFORE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND BEFORE THIS BULLETIN SB0016-16 CAME OUT. THE REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE $1,200.

9/8/2017

I PURCHASED THE ABOVE IN JULY 12, 2014. THIS VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN LATITUDE TOUR TIRES. THIS VEHICLE HYDROPLANES VERY BAD. I AM TELLING YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED, LIVES WILL BE LOST. YOU COULD FEEL THE VEHICLE FLOATING. IT SCARED ME TO DEATH, EVERYTHING WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL, AND I WAS GOING SLOW. I HAD A PASSENGER WITH ME. MY VEHICLE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, MY FRIEND PURCHASED A 2015 HIGHLANDER LIMITED, NOT MUCH RAIN AT ALL AND HYDROPLANED. HER VEHICLE HAD DIFFERENT TIRES. IT HAS HAPPENED OTHER TIMES. I THINK IT IS IN ALL HIGHLANDER 2014 AND UP AND XLE AND UP. I AM GOING TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER, I DO NOT EXPECT MUCH. I WANT TO VOICE MY CONCERNS BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT ANYONE HURT. *TR

11/17/2014

SPARE TIRE WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED AND UNUSABLE WHEN NEEDED. IT WAS NEVER USED BEFORE. TECHNICIAN CHANGING TIRE SAID IT WAS UNSAFE.

8/20/2018

PURCHASED VEHICLE 5/26/14. AT FIRST HAD A POPPING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR BREAK; TOOK TO DEALERSHIP STATING COULD FIND PROBLEM, SO LIVED WITH IT. AT 10,000 + MILES DEALER FOUND FRONT BREAKS WARPED, SO HAD THEM REPLACED. AROUND SAME 10K + MILES DEALER HAD TO DROP ENGINE TO REPLACE LEAKING OIL FOUND AROUND TIMING COVER AREA, STATING FACTORY INSTALL DID NOT ALLOW PROPER SEALING. ON 7/22/15, @ 12,748 MILES NOTICED OIL LEAK SAME AREA, AND INFORMED BY DEALER THAT ENGINE HAS TO BE DROPPED FOR THE 2ND TIME TO REPAIR OIL LEAK. ABOVE DOES NOT INCLUDE OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS REPLACING MIDDLE ROW CUP HOLDER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT RECUSHION. SOUNDS LIKE I PURCHASED A 2014 HIGHLANDER LIMITED CONSIDERED A LEMON. MY THREE PREVIOUS CARS - '06 AVALON; '02 4RUNNER; & '90 4RUNNER NEVER HAD EXTREME ISSUES, SUCH AS THE 2014 HIGHLANDER.

7/22/2015

NEAR THE END OF A 180 MILE TRIP, VEHICLE WAS ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN LIGHT CAME ON SAYING ENGINE HAD STOPPED. ENGINE WAS SMOKING AND WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL DESPITE IT BEING FULL AT THE START OF THE TRIP. MECHANIC FOUND THAT ENGINE HAD SEIZED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FULL. UPPER MANIFOLD ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO PRESENCE OF METAL SHAVINGS. TRANSMISSION WAS LATER FOUND TO BE LEAKING OIL AND AT THIS TIME APPEARS UNFIXABLE. CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES AND THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF ANY ISSUES - CAR RAN SMOOTHLY UNTIL THE ENGINE SEIZED.

10/13/2020

POPPING NOISE FROM REAR BREAK FREQUENTLY WHEN I DISENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LEVER. WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND NOT BEEN USED FOR 3 HOURS ON; TOOK TO DEALERSHIP STATING COULD FIND PROBLEM, BUT DEALER SAYS IT DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING ABNORMAL.

10/21/2015

POPPING NOISE FROM REAR BREAK FREQUENTLY WHEN I DISENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LEVER. WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND NOT BEEN USED FOR 3 HOURS ON; TOOK TO DEALERSHIP STATING COULD FIND PROBLEM, BUT DEALER SAYS IT DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING ABNORMAL. DEALER'S MECHANIC SUGGESTED RELEASING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE RELEASING PRESSURE FROM BRAKE PEDAL AS A RECOMMENDATION. I TOLD THEM THIS IS NOT THE ORDER OF STEPS RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURER (TOYOTA) IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THEY CONTESTED MY STATEMENT TELLING THTA THEIR MECHANICS ARE SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL PERSONNEL WHICH THEY TRUST.

1/21/2016

MY SUNROOF EXPLODED AS I WAS DRIVING WITH MY KIDS, ON THE HIGHWAY. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT AND THE GLASS FELL ALL OVER ME. *TR

10/31/2016

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph, there was a loud wind sound present. After opening the interior sun roof sliding shade, it was discovered that the glass sun roof had detached from the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was repaired at a local repair center. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 168,000.

5/24/2021

I PURCHASED MY 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ON 4/24/14. I NOTICE A FEW DAYS LATER THAT THEIR WAS A CHIRP NOISE IN THE PASSENGER 2ND ROW WHILE DRIVING ( VERY ANNOYING). I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSIS THAT THE RAIL RACK SHOWS SIGN OF FRICTION AND POSSIBLE CAUSING IT CREATE THE CHIRP NOISE. *TR

5/5/2014

WE PURCHASED A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED ON AUG 9, 2014. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 150 MILES THE PERSON IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EXPERIENCES SEVERE BACK AND DISCOMFORT IN THE AREA OF THE TAILBONE. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY HARD TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE SEAT. I COMPLAINED TO THE SELLING DEALER AND THEY RECOMMENDED COMING BACK WHEN THE ZONE REP WAS IN AREA. I RETURNED A WEEK LATER AND MET WITH THE ZONE REP. SHE HAD ME SIT IN ANOTHER HIGHLANDER LIMITED AND ASKED IF IT FELT DIFFERENT, IT DID FEEL THE SAME. HER REPLY WAS "DIDN'T YOU SIT IN THE CAR BEFORE YOU BOUGHT IT?" I TOLD HER MY WIFE SAT IN THE BACK SEAT AND I DROVE, SALESMAN SAT IN RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTOMOTIVE UPHOLSTERY SHOP WHERE THE REMOVED THE LEATHER SEAT COVER AND DISCOVERED THE METAL SEAT HEATER MODULE AND WIRING DIRECTLY UNDER THE LEATHER AND ON TOP OF THE FOAM. THE SHOP CUT ABOUT 1/2 INCH INTO THE FOAM AND BURIED THE MODULE AND PLACED THE CUT OUT FOAM ON TOP OF IT. THEY ALSO DID THE SAME FOR THE SEAT BACK. I REQUESTED DEALER TO REIMBURSE ME THE $200.00 IT COST TO HAVE THE ABOVE MENTIONED WORK DONE; THEIR RESPONSE WAS THEY WOULD REQUEST TOYOTA TO COVER THE COST. A WEEK LATER I LEARNED THAT TOYOTA REFUSED TO PAY FOR A MODIFICATION THEY DID NOT APPROVE AND THEY FELT THE PLACEMENT OF THE MODULE WAS NOT A DEFECT. I THEN ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO REIMBURSE ME AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID TOYOTA WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE EXPENSE. I TOLD HIM I WORKED FOR A GM DEALERSHIP AND SAW MANY MODIFICATIONS THAT WERE APPROVED BY GM. HIS RESPONSE WAS "CHEVROLET HAS TO ACCOMMODATE CUSTOMERS IN ORDER TO SELL CARS AND TOYOTA DOESN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY SELL CARS AS FAST AS THEY ARE MADE. AND, WHEN TOYOTA SELLS TWO MILLION CARS AND ONLY A FEW HUNDRED CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN ABOUT AN ISSUE SUCH AS MINE TOYOTA ISN'T CONCERNED ENOUGH TO MAKE OR REIMBURSE A MODIFICATION;" UPON LEARNING THIS IS THE ATTITUDE OF TOYOTA, I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A TOYOTA AGAIN. *TR

5/7/2015

A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS PURCHASED IN 2/2014.THE CUSTOMER NOTICED WATER COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE SEAT BELT A-FRAME PANEL CAUSING THE INTERIOR FLOOR TO BECOME WET WITH STANDING WATER.UPON DEALERSHIP INSPECTION IN 2/2015, BLACK MOLD WAS FOUND FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE EXTENDING TO THE TRUNK.THE BLACK MOLD FOUND WAS EXTENSIVE PENTRATING THE CARPETS, THE SOUND BARRIER FOAM INTO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE.DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE MOLD FOUND, THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED THE CUSTOMER THAT CORPORATE WOULD NEED TO BE INVOLVED, AS THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DEALT WITH AT THEIR LEVEL. WHEN THE CUSTOMER MET WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF TOYOTA CORPORATE,THE CUSTOMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS THE 3RD VEHICLE THAT THE REP HAD IN THEIR TERRITORY. THE CUSTOMER LEARNED OF AN INTERNAL TOYOTA DOCUMENT THAT SPECIFIES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER?S DEFECT THAT OCCURRED DURING THE BUILD PROCESS (T-TT-0322-15). THE DOCUMENT DESCRIBES THE KNOWN ISSUE WITH A KINKED SUNROOF DRAIN THAT LEADS TO WATER INTRUSION AND MOLD.WHEN ASKED WHY THIS WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE HEALTH EXPOSURE OF BLACK MOLD, THE REP RESPONDED THAT THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE LIKE A BRAKE FAILURE.THE REMEDIATION PROCESS OUTLINED BY THE CORPORATE REP WAS INADEQUATE AS IT DID NOT REMEDY THE SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. TOYOTA COULD NOT PRODUCE ANY DOCUMENTATION THAT SUGGESTS A THOROUGH EVALUATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS OR CERTIFIED THAT THEIR PROCESS WILL RECTIFY THE MOLD EXPOSURE. THE CUSTOMER HAS PHOTOS OF THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, THE INTERNAL TOYOTA DOCUMENT SPECIFYING THIS DEFECT AND EMAILS WITH TOYOTA THAT DEMONSTRATE A LACK OF WILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS THIS FROM A HEALTH AND SAFETY PERSPECTIVE BUT RATHER FROM A CORPORATE LOSS STANDPOINT. TOYOTA?S ACTIONS SEEM UNWILLING TO HELP DETERMINE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION REGARDING A KNOWN TECHNICAL ISSUE LEADING TO THE WATER INTRUSION AND BLACK MOLD. *TR

3/2/2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS OBSCURED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR FAILED TO RETRACT. IN ADDITION, THE LIFTGATE AUTOMATIC RELEASE BUTTON WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER TOYOTA (8566 SUDLEY RD, MANASSAS, VA 20110, (866) 352-4910) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.

7/13/2018

TO AVOID TWO DEER CROSSING ROAD (BULL BRIDGE ROAD, SOUTH KENT, CT) ON CURVE, LOST CONTROL ON RIGHT SHOULDER, HIT STRAIGHT ON THE UTILITY WOOD POLE. MY SPEED WAS IN BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH. DURING THE ACCIDENT, ALL AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK ME UP. THE IMPACT CAUSED MY CHEST, BACK, NECK AND HEAD INJURIES.

6/30/2016

I WAS T BONED ON PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS PUSHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN HEAD ON COLLISION. SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN- I INITIALLY HIT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, WHEN T-BONED, THEN WITH FRONT IMPACT HIT STEERING WHEEL, ROOF AND CENTER CONSOLE. *TT *TR

4/14/2018

SPARE TIRE WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED AND UNUSABLE WHEN NEEDED. IT WAS NEVER USED BEFORE. TECHNICIAN CHANGING TIRE SAID IT WAS UNSAFE.

8/20/2018

2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WHEELS LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE TRANSMISSION STOPS, PULLS, THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS STATING 'CHECK ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRACK OFF'. THE SOLENOID FAILED. *JS

5/17/2019

OUR 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH 18 MILES ON FEBRUARY 25, 2014. ON MARCH 7, 2014 WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS ANOTHER DRIVER FAILED TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT SO I PRESSED THE HORN TO ALERT THE DRIVER WHILE I SWERVED OUT OF HIS PATH. THE HORN DID NOT WORK SO THE DRIVER WAS NOT ALERTED AND CONTINUED IN THEIR DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. MY NEED TO SWERVE WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE OTHER DRIVER WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND I WAS ABLE TO ALERT HIM WITH MY HORN. *TR

3/10/2014

FACTORY INSTALLED GPS SYSTEM WHEN SET TO A DESTINATION WILL TAKE YOU OFF THE MAIN ROAD JUST PRIOR TO YOUR DESTINATION AND DIRECT YOU IN CIRCLES THEN TELL YOU TO GET BACK ON THE MAIN ROAD THAT YOU JUST GOT OFF OF. THIS CREATES AN ISSUE AS ONE TIME IT TOOK US IN A UNDESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD; BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WILL TAKE YOU CRUISING IN UNKNOWN NEIGHBORHOOD'S BEFORE IT TELLS YOU TO GET BACK ON THE MAIN ROAD YOU WERE JUST ON. ON OTHER OCCASIONS IT WILL TELL YOU TO TAKE SAY A RIGHT TURN THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER TELL YOU TO TAKE A LEFT TURN CAUSING YOU TO ERRATICALLY CHANGE LANES AND MAKE TURNS. *TR

9/10/2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT HOOD WAS SO HEAVY AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PROP OPEN. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. MA 08/05/15

6/16/2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT HOOD WAS SO HEAVY AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PROP OPEN. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. MA 08/05/15

6/16/2015

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE MELTING THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. BOTH SIDES ARE MELTING FROM THE HEAT OF THE LOW BEAM LIGHT BULBS. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED AT 37,000 MILES, AT 3 YEARS OLD. FACTORY INSTALLED PARTS, NO MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS ARE ONLY OPERATING AT NIGHT, ABOUT 25% OF THE DRIVING TIME ON THE VEHICLE, SO THE MELTING OCCURRED WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES OF DRIVING TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN IT WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA, BUT THIS MELTING HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE DAY ONE. THIS DEFECT WILL AFFECT THE SAFETY OF NIGHTTIME DRIVING IN THE VEHICLE. WORKED FOR MONTHS WITH DEALERSHIP, UNSATISFACTORY RESOLUTION.

9/3/2017

MY COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE SAFETY OF THE WELLBEING OF MYSELF AND PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE. THE REAR AUTOMATUC DOOR LOCK ON MY PASSENGER SIDE OF MY HIGHLANDER WENT OUT FIRST. THEN THE DRIVER DOOR AT ANY GIVEN TIME MAY OR MAY NOT OPEN. NOT EVEN WITH THE KEY. I HAVE TO GO TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CLIMB OVER AND UNLOCK THE DOOR AND GO BACK AROUND TO GET IN. MY CONCERN IS BEING IN A WRECK AND THE DOOR NOT OPENING. NOT BEING ABLE TO GET A CHILD OUT OF THE CARSEAT IN THE BACK BECAUSE THE DOOR WON'T OPEN. YES. IT MAY BE THE ACTUATORS AND I HAVE READ THE EXPENSIVE REVIEWS OF GETTING THOSE FIXED ONLY TO FIND IT HAPPENS AGAIN OVER AND OVER. MY OTHER COMPLAINT IS THE BLUETOOTH PHONE SYSTEM WILL FREEZE UP AND YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR TO UNFREEZE IT. THE SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN CONTINUOUSLY. I HAVE READ REVIEWS ON THIS ALSO AND TOYOTA IS AWARE OF BOTH OF THESE COMPLAINTS BUT HAVE HAD NO RECALLS TO DATE. PLEASE HELP!

3/16/2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR POWER DOORS AND TRUNK MADE A BUZZING NOISE AND WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: SB0023-16 AND NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10134306 (STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). SPARKS TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 4855 HIGHWAY 501, MYRTLE BEACH, SC 29526, 888-847-7870) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

9/24/2019

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while opening the hatchback, the hatchback failed to fully open as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the support struts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 43,000.

9/20/2022

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the tailgate failed to open and close properly or as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

4/14/2023

Rear lights located both on the tailgate and body of the vehicle. The lights covers failed to remain adhered to the lights themselves and fell off and are partially adhered as a result of what appears to be a failure of the adhesion material . Two light covers may have been lost while driving. Unknown if their loss resulted in damage(s) to others. Without the outer cover results in the exposure of the lights to weather and potential failure. Review with Toyota of Orange service manager confirm the failure of adhesive/ manufacturing process of the lights

6/3/2025