Toyota Highlander Complaints (2013)

212 consumer complaints on file.

#11329478June 17, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR DOES NOT WORK, MAKING LOCK INEFFECTIVE AND NOT WORKABLE. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. UNSURE HOW INEFFECTIVE LOCKS ARE NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY ON A CAR THAT IS NOT THAT OLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11319949April 1, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE PARKING SPACE, TRAVELING DOWN A HILL ABOUT 40 FEET DOWN LANDING ON THE FRONT GRILLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11306213January 31, 2020
ENGINE
HEAD GASKET CRACKED, LEAKING COOLANT INTO 5TH CYLINDER. THE REASON FOR A PO305 MISFIRE CODE ON READER. AUTO SHOP REMOVED HEAD GASKET AND SAW THAT THE FINISH ON THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS HORRIBLE. THEY CALLED TOYOTA THEMSELVES TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND HAVE THEM REPLACE THAT SIDE OF THE BLOCK. AUTO SHOP DOESN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE REPLACING HEAD GASKET WITHOUT TOYOTA FIXING THE FINISH. IF THE FINISH IS AS IS, HEAD GASKET WILL EVENTUALLY CRACK AGAIN. HIGHLANDER WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND ONLY HAS 73K MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11299473January 15, 2020
STEERING
INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT - NOISE BEGAN AROUND 60K MILES AND HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, NOW AT 104K. IF TOYOTA KNOWINGLY MADE A DESIGN CHANGE AND ISSUED A NEW REPLACEMENT PART, RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11288536December 11, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND HAS TWICE HAD RATS CHEWING ON THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE CENSOR WIRING. THESE ARE THE ONLY WIRES THEY'VE CHEWED ON SO FAR. I FEEL THE SOY BASED WIRING THAT TOYOTA USES IS TO BLAME SINCE MY NEIGHBORS ARE NOT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES THAT ARE PARKED OUTDOORS. A CLAIM WITH USAA HAS BEEN FILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11286731December 3, 2019
STEERING
'THUNK'/POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, AND LEARNED THAT A NEW ONE WAS DEVELOPED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN 2013 BUT NO RECALL OR SAFETY NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11282138November 25, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
DRIVER DOOR STARTED POPPING AFTER 100,000 MILES WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING. RESEARCHED AND IT'S THE DOOR CHECK. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A FAMILIAR PROBLEM THAT NO ONE IS RECALLING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11254600September 11, 2019
STEERING
WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL GOING VERY SLOW OR STATIONARY MY STEERING WHEEL MAKES A POPPING SOUNDS AND MY MECHANIC SAYS IT'S THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. ITS GETTING WORSE AS I'M PUTTING MILES ON IT. SINCE IT'S A STEERING COMPONENT, IT'S A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE SINCE IF IT FAILS I WILL LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11253078September 4, 2019
AIR BAGS
I HAD A FRONT END ACCIDENT ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I CAUSED REAR END DAMAGE TO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. ON SEPT. 2, I HAD ANOTHER FRONT END COLLISION. I RAN INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER THAT HOLDS LIGHT POSTS IN PARKING LOTS. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED ME CHEST, BACK, AND NECK PAIN. THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I AM STILL IN PAIN DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT.THE FRAME WAS BENT IN FROM THIS COLLISION.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11243113August 11, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
THE DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY TO REPAIR THEM AFTER OWNING CAR FOR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. THE POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO OPERATE AT RANDOM TIMES. THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 TOYOTA YARIS WINDOW PANEL. THE CAR JUMPS OR SKIPS WHILE ACCELERATING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11241450August 3, 2019
STEERING
MY STEERING MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND, WHICH YOU CAN ACTUALLY FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT OCCURS, WHEN TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS INCREASING IN OCCURRENCE AND INTENSITY. IT OCCURS AT ANY SPEED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY LUBRICATED SOMETHING, SAYING THERE WAS NO DANGER. SHOULD IT BECOME WORSE BRING IT BACK. IT'S GOING BACK!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11241464August 3, 2019
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
MAINTENANCE LIGHT IS ON AT ALL TIMES FOR THE FORWARD PASSENGER SEAT, MAKING AIRBAGS USELESS. READ IT CAN POTENTIALLY BE A WIRE. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED ON OTHER VEHICLES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RECALL AS PASSENGERS WILL BE UNSAFE AND COULD HAVE GREAT BODILY HARM WITH THIS DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230712July 10, 2019
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE NOISE GREW LOUDER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,493.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11223009June 27, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
WE RECENTLY HAD OUR HIGHLANDER COMPLETELY TOTALED BY OUR INSURANCE AFTER A FAILURE TO HAVE OUR AIR CONDITIONING DRAIN PROPERLY. THE CLOG CAUSED WATER TO BACK UP INTO THE FRAME OF THE CAR AND FLOOD OUR FLOOR CARPETING. THE DRAINAGE ISSUE ALSO CAUSED THE HEADLINERS TO BECOME WET AND DRIP ONTO THE LEATHER UPHOLSTERY. WE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP ADVANTAGE TOYOTA VALLEY STREAM AND THEY FIRST SUGGESTED CLEARING THE MOON ROOF BUT THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THEM THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE A/C DRAIN. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IT'S NOT PART OF THEIR STANDARD MAINTENANCE PROCESS. WE COULD HAVE SAVED OURSELVES A HEADACHE BY HAVING THEM "ADD" THIS TO THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11219356June 11, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ VIA THIS SITE, WATER HAS COLLECTED BENEATH MY FLOORMATS FROM THE DRAINAGE TUBES RUNNING FROM SUNROOF. THE DEALERSHIP HAS STATED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CLOGGED WITH DIRT AND THEY HAVE "UNCLOGGED" THEM 3 TIMES IN 10 MONTHS. FOLLOWING THE THIRD VISIT, THEY ARE NOW SAYING THERE'S NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO, THIS IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM. MY CAR NOW SMELLS OF MOLD TO WHICH I AM ALLERGIC, AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. I WAS FIRST TOLD TO WASH MY CAR AND BLOW THE DRAINAGE HOLES CLEAR IN THE SUNROOF, BUT I HAVE DONE SO REGULARLY AND HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM TWICE IN 6 WEEKS. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT DIRT IS ENTERING THROUGH THE UNDERBELLY OF THE CAR AND THAT NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE HAVING THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HERE AND A HUNDRED OTHERS ONLINE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OTHER ISSUES COULD BE CAUSED AS A RESULT OF THIS WATER (RUST, ELECTRICAL ISSUES, DAMAGE TO AIRBAGS, ETC.) OR WHERE THE TUBING BEGINS LEAKING AND WATER REDIRECTS TO THE FLOORBOARD RESERVOIR. I SEEM TO GET A DIFFERENT ANSWER EACH TIME IT IS SERVICED. 3 SEPARATE TOYOTA SERVICEMEN HAVE AGREED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW BUT RETRACT THAT ANY TIME I ATTEMPT TO MAKE MY CASE THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11218621June 8, 2019
STEERING
CLUNKING NOISE FROM FRONT END WHEN TURNING WHEELS, APPEARED AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES. TOOK TO SHOP FOR REPAIRS, AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS SO LOOSE HE COULD MANIPULATE IT WITH HIS HAND AND WAS CLOSE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210544May 29, 2019
STEERING
RE: INVESTIGATION EA18006. MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN DURING SLOW TURNS TO THE RIGHT SO I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS AND ARTICLES TALKING ABOUT A 'KNOWN' ISSUE WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. ONE ARTICLE LED ME TO YOUR INVESTIGATION. WHILE AT THE DEALER YESTERDAY, I EXPLAINED THE ISSUE AND ASKED THEM TO INVESTIGATE. THEY SAID FOR $70 THEY CAN LOOK INTO IT. GIVEN I CONSIDER STEERING A CRITICAL SYSTEM, I PROTESTED THE SERVICE CHARGE AND THEIR ONLY RESPONSE WAS THEY COULD DO A 'VISUAL' INSPECTION FOR FREE BUT IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT DEEPLY TO DIAGNOSE PROPERLY. I HAD THEM PROCEED AND THEY CAME BACK WITH A SUGGESTION THAT THE STEERING COLUMN BE REPLACED. I ASKED IF IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN AND WAS TOLD 'YES IT WILL BE AT SOME POINT'. OBVIOUSLY, I HAD THEM REPLACE IT BUT FEEL THAT IF THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE, THEY SHOULD BE PROACTIVE AND REPLACE THESE STEERING COLUMNS ON ALL AFFECTED PRODUCTS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I SENT A CONCERN TO TOYOTA AS WELL BUT WANTED TO ADD THIS TO YOUR ACTIVE INVESTIGATION RECORD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11206853May 10, 2019
STEERING
I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND BOUGHT IT NEW FROM A TOYOTA DEALER. MY 2013 HIGHLANDER HAS 54,700 MILES. FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR (STARTING MAY, 2018), I AM EXPERIENCING A CLUNK AND KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. NOW MORE RECENTLY, I AM EXPERIENCING IT MORE OFTEN, AND WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE FOUND AFTER A RESEARCH THAT THIS STEERING COLUMN ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD AND TOYOTA HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, AND RECOMMENDING TO CHANGE WITH THIS REVISED PART TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE. THE OLD PART# WAS 45220-48170, WHICH HAS BEEN RE-DESIGNED BY TOYOTA AS NEW PART# 45220-48171. IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND REQUIRED TO CHANGE THE DESIGN, THEN TOYOTA MUST CHANGE THIS PART AND RECTIFY THE ISSUE FREE OF COST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11205833May 6, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OUR 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS HAD 3 OF THE 4 DOOR ACTUATORS FAIL IN A 26 MONTH PERIOD. THE FIRST ACTUATOR FAILED IN IN MARCH 2017 (CAR WAS ONLY 3 YEARS, 8 MONTHS OLD), THE SECOND ACTUATOR FAILED IN FEBRUARY 2018 (CAR WAS 4 YEARS, 7 MONTHS OLD) AND THE THIRD ACTUATOR FAILED IN MAY 2019 (CAR WAS ONLY 5 YEARS 10 MONTHS OLD). BECAUSE THE DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED, THE DOOR DID NOT LOCK WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN DRIVE WHICH INCREASED THE CHANCES THE DOOR WOULD OPEN IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH; THEREBY, REDUCING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE IN A CRASH. SINCE THE ACTUATORS ALSO FAILED TO AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED IN PARK, THE ACTUATORS WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT; THEREBY, POSSIBLY IMPEDING THE ABILITY TO ENTER/EXIT THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. A COMPLAINT WAS LODGED WITH TOYOTA AND A CASE NUMBER WAS ESTABLISHED. HOWEVER, TOYOTA INDICATED THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL RELATED TO DOOR ACTUATORS AT THIS TIME AND THERE IS NOTHING THE COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11197102April 18, 2019
STEERING
CAR HAS ONLY 53K MILES AND I AM BEING TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE MY INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. DUE TO KNOCKING SOUNDS. I AM WORRIED IF IT WILL RESULT IN THE STEERING WHEEL FALLING OFF OR WORSE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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