Toyota Highlander Complaints (2004)

286 consumer complaints on file.

#10198279August 2, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH AWD AND 4 CYL. VEHICLE IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AT 67,500 MILES. DEALERSHIP SAY THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM AS IT AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXPECTED RELIABILITY OF A TOYOTA PRODUCT, BUT IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. MY OTHER VEHICLE IS A LEXUS RX 300 WHICH I LOVE, BUT I WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA PRODUCT IN THE FUTURE AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197842July 30, 2007
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
MOON ROOF BEGAN MAKING SLIGHTLY FUNNY SOUND ON OCCASION, THEN WAS FINE AND STOPPED MAKING NOISE, THEN VERY SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP IT STOPPED OPENING AND WON'T SHUT.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197844July 30, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
ACCELERATION LAGS ALL THE TIME, BUT IS ESPECIALLY APPARENT WHEN "FLOORING IT" UPON FREEWAY ENTRY, PASSING, ETC. I SEE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT 04 HIGHLANDERS. OVERALL, QUITE DISAPPOINTED IN MY OVERPRICED SUV. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197846July 30, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
VARIATION IN BRAKE PRESSURE. SOMETIME BRAKES FEEL FINE AND BRAND NEW AND OTHER TIMES, BRAKE ALMOST GOES TO FLOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193972June 22, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE STEERING SENSOR ON THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO ENGAGE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THIS CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAR HAD TO BE PULLED OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC ENVIRONMENT. CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGING. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I ASKED THE DEALER TO DISCONNECT THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM, BECAUSE THIS SYSTEM WAS MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE PROBLEM IT WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS. THE DEALER SAID THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND IF THE STEERING SENSOR WAS NOT REPLACED, THE CAR WOULD NOT BE DRIVABLE. IF A SENSOR IN A CONTROL SYSTEM FAILS, IT SHOULD NOT CAUSE A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. IF A SENSOR FAILS, THE BRAKES SHOULD NOT ENGAGE, THE SYSTEM SHOULD JUST BECOME INOPERABLE. THE LOGIC IN THEIR CONTROL SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND THE COMPUTER SHOULD BE RE-PROGRAMMED TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA MOTORS WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY CHOOSE TO IGNORE MY COMPLAIN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STIRRING SENSOR FOR A RIDICULOUS PRICE AND THE CAR IS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AGAIN WITHOUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGING. MY WIFE IS AGAIN DRIVING A CAR WHICH IS INHERENTLY UNSAFE. WE ARE CONSIDERING SELLING THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING SAFETY PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193839June 20, 2007
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
I BOUGHT USED 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND NOTICED A HEARD A THUMPING SOUND THAT COULD ALSO BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT SLOW SPEEDS. HAD AN ACCIDENT A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHERE ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT MY FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THE THUMPING GOT WORSE SO I MENTIONED IT TO THE BODY REPAIR SHOP. THEY HAD IT TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER EVEN THOUGH I HAD DRIVEN IT FOR 6 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WHERE THEY WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR , 85,000 MILE,) ON THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $380 +. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS NOT ACCIDENT RELATED. I STILL HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193437June 15, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE TOYOTA THE HESSITATION ON ACCELERATION BEGAN. I HAD THE COMPUTER PROGRAM FLASHED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY COULD. ENTERING HIGHWAYS OR TURNING CORNERS THE CAR STALLE D UNTILL THE THROTTLE GRABBED, AND THEN TOOK OFF. IT JOLTED THE BODY AND MADE DRIVING THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VERY DIFFICULT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190922May 16, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK PULLED UP TO STOP LIGHT WITH MANY OTHER CARS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I GOT UP TO 20 MPH AND THE BRAKES KICKED ON SLOWING ME DOWN TO ALMOST A STOP, AND CREATING A LOUD NOISE. THE CAR BEHIND HIT ME, BUT DID NOT CAUSE ANY DAMAGE. HE SAID I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. IT WILL ONLY GO 15 MPH BEFORE THE VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL WENT ON AND STOPPED THE CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN FOR THE PROBLEM. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS IN A RECALL BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY , ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH ACTIVATED FOR NO REASON AND NO BRAKE LIGHTS WENT ON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190213May 8, 2007
STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING SHAFT ON THE 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DID NOT FEEL SAFE, FELT LOOSE AND NOISY WHEN TURNING. TOYOTA REFUSESD TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY, A TSB WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY 2006, WHICH INDICATED TOYOTA'S AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT WANT TO PUBLICLY ADMIT IT. WHILE DRIVING IT FELT LIKE THE STEERING COLUMN COUD BREAK OFF, AND IF THAT HAPPENED, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MANY DEATHS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188944April 26, 2007
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR, STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE SWERVED WHILE DRIVING FORWARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE CLICKING STOPPED, HOWEVER, THE SWERVING CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 46,000 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185765March 21, 2007
STEERING:COLUMN
NOISY STEERING SHAFT CAUSED ME TO TAKE CAR TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE I WAS TOLD THE SHAFT WAS 'WORN' (TINY BEARINGS WITHIN THE SHAFT WERE WORN) AND THE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. DEALER INFORMED ME THEY'D SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS, AND ON THEIR ECONOMY TOYOTA PRISMS AS WELL, BUT MANUFACTURER HAD NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS. I PAID THE BILL USING MY EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184188March 4, 2007
STEERING
LOOSE AND NOISY STEERING SHAFT, DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177404December 30, 2006
STEERING
2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BEGAN MAKING A NOISE WHICH COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, PARTICULARLY WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER A BUMP AT SLOW SPEED. TOYOTA HAS A TSB OUT ON THIS BUT IT IS NOT KNOW TO OWNERS, AND IS NOT WELL KNOW AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS DESPITE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. FURTHERMORE, TOYOTA REPS AND THE DEALER'S SERVICE WRITERS WILL TELL YOU FACE TO FACE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT WON'T PUT IT IN WRITING. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY REPAIRED BY REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING SHAFT, I BECAME AWARE THAT PRIOR TO THE REPAIRS THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN AS THE VEHICLE NOW TRACK STRAIGHT AND THE WHEEL EASY TO TURN. WITH SUCH SYMPTOMS I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO NOTIFY VEHICLE OWNERS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175675December 9, 2006
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
I HAD A TIRE GO VERY NEARLY FLAT AND THE LOW TIRE INDICATOR ON MY 04 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER NEVER ILLUMINATED. A PASSING MOTORIST MADE ME AWARE OF THE TIRE CONDITION. I BARELY WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A STATION WITHOUT RUINING THE ALMOST NEW TIRE. I HAD JUST CAME INTO TOWN, AND WAS PREVIOUSLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH 2 ELDERLY PASSENGERS BESIDES MYSELF. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER HERE IN MCKINNEY TX SAID THAT TOYOTA TECH SUPPORT SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST DRIVEN ABOUT 5 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH ONE TIRE PURPOSELY UNDER INFLATED BY 10 POUNDS TO PROVE TO THEM THAT IT WAS NOT WORKING, THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, EXCEPT TO VERIFY THAT THERE IS NO CODES SET IN THE COMPUTER! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174949December 1, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SHIFT HESITATION ON ACCELERATION AT LOWER SPEEDS. JUST ENOUGH LAG TIME TO SCARE ME A FEW TIMES THAT I WOULDN'T MAKE IT ACROSS TRAFFIC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174054November 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM DIFFERENTIAL - 2000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY - DEALER SAID THEY HAVE AT LEAST TWO OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS THIS VEHICLE IS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173375November 13, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED ERRATICALLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAD REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168408September 15, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DEALER (GREEN'S TOYOTA, LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY) MAKING RECALL REPAIRS ON MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (RECALL # 06V253000) FAILED TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF NHTSA RECALL, BY REPLACING DEFECTIVE RETAINING CLIPS WITH VELCRO. NO REPLACEMENT CLIPS WERE USED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167210September 1, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, WHILE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM, YET WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE BRAKES DUE TO THE DESIGN. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE CONTACT NEEDED TO WARM UP THE ENGINE BEFORE DRIVING, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 11/9/2006 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO SAID THE ARE STILL WORKING ON A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166227August 22, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE IN MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4X4 2004 WITH A 20000 MILES, THE DEALERSHIP INFORM ME THAT THE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACE AND TOLD ME THAT WARRANTY DOES NOT INCLUDE TIRES. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT TIRES SHOULD HOLD MORE THEN 15000 MILES. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 687. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota Highlander