Toyota Highlander Complaints (2004)

286 consumer complaints on file.

#10789080November 8, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10777806September 26, 2015
ENGINE
WE HAVE A VEHICLE WITH A 2.4LITER/4 CYLINGER ENGINE THAT IS LOOSING OIL AT A RATE OF 1QRT PER 1000 MILES AND NOW THERE IS A COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM THE GASKET SEAL BETWEEN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND HEAD. THERE IS NO GUAGE THAT TELLS YOU HOW MUCH OIL IS MISSING UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO OVER HEAT. BOTH THE OIL AND COOLANT IS LEAKING ON ROADS, PARKING LOTS AND DRIVEWAYS, WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT THE BOLTS THAT ARE NEAREST THE LEAK ARE STRIPPED, THEY EITHER STRIPPED IN ASSEMBLY OR FLAILED DO TO OVERHEATING OF THE BLOCK DO TO THE ENGINE BLOCK NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT COOLING BECAUSE OF A HEAVY FOAM PAD THAT RESTRICTS AIR FLOE AROUND THE ENGINE CAUSING THE HEAD TO FLEX AND LEAK AT THE GASKET SEAL BASED ON ONLINE COMPLAINTS THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS THAT SOME OF THESE ENGINES ARE HAVING SUCCESS BY DRILLING, TAPPING AND INSERTING NEW COILS INTO THE ALUMINUM BLOCK, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE A PERMANENT SOLUTION. IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. THE MOST COMMON SUGGESTED REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AND WE ASSUME THAT THEY PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN SINCE THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE PROBLEM.. REPLACEMENT IS AT THE OWNERS COST FOR MATERIALS AND LABOR AT APPROX $6,000-$8,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763812September 15, 2015
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX M/S2 TIRES, SIZE: P225/75/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE THREAD SEPARATED FROM THE BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10748001August 11, 2015
SEATS
BEGAN DRIVING VEHICLE A WEEK AGO, USED TO BE MY WIFE'S VEHICLE. I NOTICED A SQUEAK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, AND NOTICED IT WIGGLED. I EXAMINED THE MOUNTING BOLTS, AND ALL 4 SEAT BOLTS WERE LOOSE, NOT EVEN FINGER TIGHT. THE ONLY SERVICE PERFORMED ANYWHERE NEAR THE SEAT WAS RECALL WORK ON THE FLOOR MAT RETAINING CLIP AND A SEAL IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, BOTH RECALLS WERE DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY AT RUDY LUTHER TOYOTA, 8805 WAYZATA BLVD, GOLDEN VALLEY, MN 55426. RECALL WORK WAS DONE A COUPLE YEARS AGO. I TIGHTENED THE BOLTS WITH MY OWN TOOLS. PASSENGER SEAT BOLTS WERE TIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10721835May 27, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY/WIPER
GAS STATION DID NOT CLOSE HOOD COMPLETELY AND IT BLEW OPEN WHILE TRYING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY AT JUST OVER 40 MILES PER HOUR.THE SECONDARY SAFETY CATCH DID NOT HOLD OR WORK ! THE HOOD BLEW OPEN AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND BENT THE HOOD UP INTO THE ROOF.THE TOPS OF THE FENDERS NEAR THE HINGES WERE ALSO RIPPED UP.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714718May 5, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING THE HEATER OR THE AIR WILL JUST COME ON, USUALLY WHEN YOU WOULD DRIVE OVER A ROUGH SPOT IN THE STREET.USUALLY THE AIR WILL COME ON IN THE WINTER AND THE HEATER WILL COME ON IN SUMMER.CALL TOYOTA THEY SAID COST ABOUT 800.00. I HAD IT FIX BY AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE.IT STILL COST ME 370.00. THEN I GO ON LINE AND OUT THERE'S HUNDREDS IF NOT LOTS MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.I THINK SINCE THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REIMBURSE US AT LEAST PARTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714728May 5, 2015
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 60-65 MPH WHEN ENGINE BEGAN OVER HEATING. PULL OVER RADIATOR WAS LOW. PUT ANTIFREEZE IN DROVE HOME CHECK WAS ALLOW AGAIN. THE NEXT CALLED TOYOTA DEALER, WITH OUT EVEN LOOKING THEY SAID YOU PROBABLY HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. BUT WHEN WE TEAR IT DOWN AND IF THE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED OUT IT WILL COST UPWARDS OF 2000.00. SO NOW I HAVE THE CAR IN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. I'M OUT ALMOST 800.00 NOW, AND THE CARS STILL NOT FIXED. I BELIEVE TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM LONG BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THE HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN 2001-2006 MODELS.I THINK THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681355February 4, 2015
ENGINE
MY CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING AT 140K MILES. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HAD THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED. THE CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN A WEEK LATER. TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN HE WENT TO REPLACE THE GASKET HE FOUND THAT THREE HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED ON THE BLOCK. THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS SEPARATING FROM LOWER PART OF ENGINE BLOCK CAUSED A COOLANT LEAK. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING ERROR. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY THE SOLE OWNER. HAD OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE BEFORE NOW. PLEASE PLACE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. THIS IS NOT THE OWNERS FAULT, NOR SHOULD IT BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670096January 5, 2015
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN PROVIDED WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662293December 4, 2014
ENGINE
AS SHOWN ON YOUR COMPLAINT SECTION I AMONG MANY MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN SOLD A DEFECTIVE 2.4 LITER ENGINE 4 CYLINDER. THE HEAD BOLTS BECOME STRIPPED AND MIGRATE LOOSE OVER TIME AND THERE IS NO REPAIR SOLUTION. YOU HAVE TO SCRAP THE ENGINE AND MAYBE THE WHOLE VEHICLE NO MATTER HOW GOOD OF CONDITION ITS IN. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND RESULTING MAJOR LEAKAGE OF ANTIFREEZE WHICH IS A LIFE THREATENING CHEMICAL BABIES AND PETS DRINK AND DIE FROM. I FIRST FOUND THIS POOL OF ANTIFREEZE ON MY GARAGE FLOOR AND I HAVE 2 DOGS! NOT TO MENTION GETTING STRANDED OUT IN TRAFFIC OR A DESOLATE AREA WHEN ENGINE OVERHEATING OCCURS PUTTING YOUR OWN LIFE IN DANGER FROM BECOMING A STRANDED MOTORIST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661801December 2, 2014
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND WOULD ALSO INTERMITTENTLY SEIZE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 1/7/15*CN UPDATED 06/3/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10659890November 20, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES
MY VEHICLE IS HAVING AN ISSUE WHERE THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS ARE BEING DISABLED. THIS IS THE DEFAULT MODE WHENEVER THERE IS AN ISSUE. IT IS NOW OCCURRING EVERY TIME I START MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653201November 6, 2014
AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE NOBODY WAS EVEN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, WHILE TRAVELING ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY. A CHECK OF THE TOYOTA OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM WOULD NOT FUNCTION IF THIS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR NO REASON AT ALL. SINCE WE LIVE NO WHERE NEAR A DEALER, NEAREST DEALER IS 100 MILES AWAY, I LET IT STAY THAT WAY FOR AWHILE. THERE WAS ALSO A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS MODEL, WHERE THE ALWAYS ON DAYLAMPS MELT THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND LEAVE A VISIBLE MELTED BUBBLE, THAT THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MANUFACTURE THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE VEHICLE YEAR AND MILEAGE IS OUT OF WARRANTY- BUT, WE STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE- THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THEN, MOST RECENTLY, A SHUFFLING SOUND FROM BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL/ BEZEL CLUSTER OCCURRED AND MAKES THE WEIRD SOUND FOR 3 OR SO MINUTES SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME, ABOUT EVERY 2 TIMES NOW. THE SOUND USED TO MAKE A CLICKING SOUND FOR ONLY 1 MINUTE- SO, IT'S GETTING LOUDER, AND LONGER. WE WERE ALSO TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THE SUSPENSION/RODS/SHOCKS ARE BAD AND WILL NEED REPLACED- THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638580September 23, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR VERY SLOWLY AND VEHICLE SLOWLY CREEPS FORWARD. MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED WITH NEW. (HISTORY: AT 79000 MILES THE TOYOTA FACTORY RECALL TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER CUP KIT WAS PERFORMED BY TOYOTA DEALER ). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626190August 18, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE IN THE UP POSITION AND DROPS DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618236August 1, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION JUMPS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610270July 14, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I NOTICED THAT MY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT/MANUFACTURER PASSENGER-SIDE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHT LENS HAD A BURNT SPOT ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS (CLEARLY MELTED LENS MATERIAL). I CHECKED THE HEADLIGHT BULB, WHICH IS A FACTORY-INSTALLED KAITO MODEL HB3 LOW-BEAM BULB. THE BULB WAS DISCOLORED BLACK AND SMOKY LOOKING WITH AN OBVIOUS BULGE OF MELTED GLASS IN ONE SIDE OF THE BULB. THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS STILL WORK, BUT THE BULB SEEMINGLY HAS OVERHEATED, MELTING BOTH THE BULB GLASS AND THE INSIDE OF THE LENS ASSEMBLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587923May 12, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579640April 14, 2014
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK DYNAPRO HT TIRE, SIZE: P225-70-16T, AND DOT NUMBER: 7ADHUH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DEFLATED. THE CONTACT ADDED AIR TO THE TIRE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE BELT WAS SEPARATED AND BUBBLING. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,995.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578324April 8, 2014
ENGINE
VEHICLE HAD LOST SOME WATER/COOLANT AND BEGAN TO GET HOT. REPLACED FLUID AND DROVE HOME. KEPT LOOSING FLUID, SO I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP. THEY THOUGHT IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP WHICH DISCOVERED THAT 3-4 OF THE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED; THEY ARE STEEL AND THE BLOCK IS ALUMINUM. REPAIR KIT EXISTS AND HAS BEEN ORDERED. SO, TOYOTA MUST KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND COULD HAVE ISSUED AN ADVISORY TO ALL OWNERS. EXPECTED THIS MOTOR TO LAST 150-250 THOU MILES, BUT THIS IS A BUILT IN PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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