Toyota Highlander Complaints

958 consumer complaints on file.

#11480255August 19, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
We have owned our 2021 hybrid awd platinum highlander for 8 months and within the past two months (around 16k miles) it has started to do an acceleration upon applying the brake. The car does catch itself and then after hitting the brake harder it does stop. This has happen on 7 different occasions, flat roads, hills, parking spots now. It has happened while my husband drives it and myself. It was brought it for computer recalls around the same time that this issue started. After the recalls were fixed I brought it back in and left it with the dealer for a few days. They cannot replicate it and therefor won’t do anything. They tried to tell me that I can’t drive with two feet…. Which I don’t. I’ve seen other reports where Toyota claims it’s inexperienced regenerative braking driving. We have owned a 2011 Prius that we had for 6 years and it never did it once. We also had a 2021 Audi e-from which fully relies on regenerative braking. We are not novice when it comes to hybrid driving systems. It has come to the point where I’d like to sell the car and get something else rather than worry about a car crash with my babies in the car. I also owned a 2019 awd regular gas highlander that never had any braking issues. So I don’t know what the solution is, but this is a very expensive car to be having these kinds of issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11479851August 17, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Drivers side mirror shakes causing visibility to be blurred. The shaking makes me dizzy when trying to change lanes. Toyota has this same issue on their RAV4 model and there is actually a fix. They need to make the car safe and not have mirrors that shake while driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11479705August 17, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I'm reporting this problem as follows. Drivers side mirror (glass) at speed exceeding 20 miles an hour vibrates causing issues with me seeing traffic coming up beside me on the drivers side. This problem with vibration only gets worse at highway speeds. This is a known problem to Toyota. When I took my new Toyota to the dealership I was told that both the dealership and Toyota were aware of the problem with the mirror but could do nothing to correct the issue. My conversation was with Clyde Sanders Service Manager at Riverside Toyota. I was told this issue goes back about two years starting with the 2020 year model. There are numerous post on Toyotas forum talking of this issue. This is not a one off issue but is tied to ALL Toyota Highlanders. I'm reporting this issue because I believe it is a safety issue that needs to be corrected.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11479480August 16, 2022
SEAT BELTS
The 2022 Toyota Hybrid Highlander is advertised as a family vehicle that safely fits 7 passengers with the captain chairs. We purchased a brand new 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid for our family of 5. However, you cannot safely install a booster car seat in the third row as advertised in any position. In every position of the third row the booster car seat covers the buckle not allowing you to secure the seat belt/booster seat. The car manual show on page 58-59 to install the booster seat on the passenger side of the third row but there is not enough space. The second picture shows a car seat in the middle using an anchor bracket that does not work for a booster seat and thus would also obsure other seat buckles thus not allowing the two other seats to be used. The seatbelts are deep in the seat and cannot be brought up to be safely buckled. Now 2 of the 3 seatbelts in the back stopped working. I’ve been upset about not being able to properly use the seatbelts since I purchased the vehicle. I had to buy a device you put around the buckle in order to lift it a little so that my children can buckle their seatbelts. This is a huge safety concern. The third row seat is useless.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11478632August 10, 2022
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, an acorn fell from a tree impacting the front glass windshield causing the glass windshield to become cracked. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the incident but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 10,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11478269August 8, 2022
Insert, Padding, Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
Inside ped cheep off and child hurt arm not safe we have this car seat for less than few months
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11478125August 8, 2022
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
The airbag malfunction alert message has been displayed for more than two months. The vehicle was taken to Toyota of Newnan (GA) dealership four times for repair; they kept my vehicle for an entire week at their facility the latest time (fourth). The problem still exists! It seems they have not taken this problem seriously because they have not called me regarding the problem. I called them so many times ... I need help from the your office because I have to use this vehicle for my three kids to go to and from schools every day. Please please please help me! Thank you.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11477828August 5, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
The front bumper, with the lower bumper cover, detached from the car while driving in the highway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11477792August 5, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES
I bought this car in March 2021 to haul my 1st grandchild around. I noticed early on their was something weird happening when I braked, but it occurred randomly, so I thought maybe it's a hybrid thing (or even my imagination). I was the sole driver of the car 99.9% of the time. It gradually got worse over the first 12 months. My husband would occasional drive us to town, but never experienced it, until he did. Scared and concerned for my safety, he didn't want me to drive it anymore. The brakes literally fail when you least expect it causing you to turn too fast, it catapults you forward and you have no control of the vehicle for several seconds. We have had numerous near accidents. I took it to the dealership and they said they fixed the problem with a computer update. I picked it up on a Friday around closing time and got halfway home when I decided I needed Starbucks. Turning into the drive thru I nearly rear-ended a DPS car! GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK! I called the dealership that Monday morning and they said it fixed, but I could bring it back in. Took it back and they basically handed the keys to me and said there's nothing wrong. I told them it's dangerous and when my luck runs out and I have an accident, then what?? Who will be responsible?! No one is allowed to drive my car. My mom, my sister, not even my 21 year old who could drive a NASCAR. It is extremely dangerous and will eventually get someone hurt or dead. I told them I refuse to pick the car up until they figure this out. Gullo Toyota in Conroe, where I bought the car, said my keys are ready when I am. I am contacting a lawyer and filing a complaint here.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11476330July 28, 2022
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The headlights on the Toyota Highlander XLE AWD (2021) are set too high. They are constantly bothering vehicles in front of me, they believe I have the high lights and upcoming traffic are constantly putting on their highlights because they are annoyed. My Toyota dealership has not received any complaints but they are legit.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11475898July 26, 2022
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
On July 19, the car was parked and refused to start. Tried Jump start and the gas was at more than half a tank. The car would operate for 30 seconds, stutter and then stop. On July 20, took the car to ED MARTIN TOYOTA in Noblesville, IN. They could not diagnose the issue. Replaced Fuel Pump system. Evaluated all electrical and no issues observed. Escalated to TOYOTA Regional Engineering to teoubleshoot. The car is still in the shop with no root-cause. If the car was in motion and this issue would have occured, could have resulted in a serious accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11475871July 26, 2022
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while her partner was reversing out of a driveway, the vehicle independently surged backward up a hill as her partner applied the brake pedal. Her partner was able to place the vehicle into drive which sent the vehicle forward. The vehicle hit a tree which stopped the acceleration. The contact heard screaming from inside her home and called 911 for assistance. The air bags did not deploy. Her partner was taken to the hospital for an examination and suffered no injuries. A police report was not filed. No property damage was reported. The dealer and the manufacturer were both notified about the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer for an impending investigation. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11475759July 25, 2022
SEATS
The left rear seat on my 2022 Highlander doesn't stay locked in the first 3 detents. you think it is locked but when you lean back in the seat it slides through the next couple of detents. Toyota mechanic said he couldn't find anything wrong with the seat. I see this as a problem when using child safety seats. Parent's could think the seat is safely locked in position until they get rear ended and the seat slips through the next couple positions.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11474288July 16, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, POWER TRAIN
Several minutes after leaving my vehicle once I parked and shut the engine routinely, it rolls back a hundred feet and crashes into another vehicle. When I come back I became aware of this as I noticed the back of the driver side of my vehicle is lodged into the side of another vehicle. This caused damage to both vehicles.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11473917July 14, 2022
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
When the child is buckled in and the straps are all tight, they can be pulled loose without using the release button at the bottom. This is incredibly unsafe and would make this car seat useless if we were to be in a car accident. My car seat has not been inspected but the manufacturer has been notified.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11473299July 11, 2022
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
1. The SRS airbag malfunction alert message has been displayed for more than a month. The vehicle was brought to the Toyota dealer where it was purchased for being diagnosed and repaired TWICE, but the problem still exists now. [The alert message is always displayed and keeps the driver from seeing any other information on the instrument panel. This is annoying and very dangerous.] 2. The engine sometimes automatically turned off while the vehicle stopped and was waiting for green lights at intersections or yielding to other vehicles at stop signs. The driver had to start the engine again before continuing driving. The vehicle was also brought to the dealer where it was purchase for repair, but the technicians were unable to find the problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11472443July 5, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
When braking, and going down a slight grade, and when there is a slight bump in the road, the brakes seem to cut out for a second or surge. This will only last for a second and then the brakes will engage again. This could cause an accident if the car in front of me stops suddenly. On the lane departure warning, if an on ramp is merging into lanes (truck by passenger lanes on I-5 in Portland), the lane departure gets confused by the merging lane markings and alters the steering. This could cause a crash
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11470543June 22, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle was driving at highway speed, transitioning to off ramp. Warning lights came on stating Braking Power low. Brakes proceeded to fail. Stepping on brakes did nothing but initiate a stuttering response. Vehicle would not slow down. Rolled into dealership that was luckily .5 miles away. It was diagnosed to be a wheel speed sensor. A sensor failing should not cause a vehicle to be unable to brake. Shocked and traumatized over the incident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11470228June 21, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH and attempting to accelerate to enter the highway, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle responded sluggishly. The vehicle emitted abnormal sounds as though the transmission was in neutral. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal all the way to the floorboard and the vehicle responded as intended. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but hesitated to respond, causing 20 feet stopping distance delay. The contact stated that the failure mainly occurred in wet conditions, snowy conditions while driving approximately 60 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and test driven. The dealer informed the contact that though the vehicle was sluggish, it was not concerning. However, the failure reoccurred increasingly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a second and third time. The dealer test drove the vehicle and informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a strong burning wire coating smell coming from grill radiator while driving approximately 60 MPH. The contact stated that there was a metallic rotating sound coming from the air conditioning vent while using the heat. The contact stated that the sound persisted after turning off the vehicle. The contact also stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear passenger’s side subframe while reversing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was awaiting a call back. The failure mileage was approximately 1,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11470049June 20, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
On the driver side windshield, there is an inside crack/defect that keeps spreading causing glare while driving. The Toyota dealer has been notified and they are working on paperwork to fix it. It appears to be in between the glass windshield. Pictures cannot show because of the glare from the reflection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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