Toyota Highlander Complaints (2021)

550 consumer complaints on file.

#11566223January 18, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, there was a flat tire sound coming from the vehicle The vehicle was steered to the side of the road where the contact observed the undercarriage sticking out from under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the undercarriage and additional unknown parts needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11565819January 16, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
I’ve had brakes inspected and was told my brakes look great. However there is major chattering coming off highway to slow on off ramp sometimes they don’t grab as they should and I have to be extra proactive. Sometimes steering back and forth quickly to slow vehicle until the brakes will work properly bringing vehicle to a stop or before a collision could occur
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11564106January 8, 2024
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle continued to accelerate forward before coming to a stop. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions but no cause for the failure was found. The contact was informed that the vehicle operated normally due to the hybrid system. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 10.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11563517January 4, 2024
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Varias veces mientras conduzco en la ruta la velocidad permitida, el carro frena, pierde potencia el motor, el sistema de aceleración no responde, esas veces me salve de accidentes mortales junto a mi familia, reclame a toyota corporación indicar eso y para ellos no paso nada nunca tomaron en serio, mientras que el carro para reparar eso, paso más de 25 días en las veces que se daño xq prácticamente el carro no es seguro para manejar
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11561252December 21, 2023
AIR BAGS
Air bag sensor malfunction alert on the dash. Toyota dealership maintenance determined the issue was sensor in the passenger seat was bad and is aware that the entire system will not work because of one sensor that would cost me almost $2000 to repair. Why would the entire system not work because of one sensor? This is not safe as the vehicle still needs to be driven and Toyota customer care does not care about the safety and well being of the consumer when contacted. Toyota Brand Engagement Center Reference # 230608000511
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11559385December 10, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES
My 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid braking system has, since about 18 months ago, been intermittently failing. When coming to a stop, with my foot on the break, the break releases (or at least feels like it does) before coming to a full stop and then re-engages a moment later once I press harder. Such, gives one a start and is quit disconcerting. There have been times when I was sure the car was going to drift into an intersection. Also I am concerned that such breaking behavior may put pedestrians, cyclists, etc., at risk. I have on two occations reported this to the dealer. They have not been able to reproduce the problem, which is typical of intermittent problems. Tomorrow, December 11, 2023, they are looking at it again. No warning lights or messages have occured. Neither the manufacturer, insurance company, nor the police have inspected the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11553576November 4, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES
Electronic parking brake not always disengaging and sending error.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11553161November 2, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While slowing and braking to stops (approximately less than 20 mph), the vehicle will lurch/lunge forward. It feels like you took your foot off the brake pedal but you did not. This occurs randomly. It does not happen every time. There are no warning lamps, messages, etc., prior to or during this issue. The vehicle has ~39000 miles. This has been occurring for at least 20000 miles. Risk: If this occurs when close to pedestrians, other vehicles, intersections, etc., it could result in an impact. The dealer could not reproduce but did find online message forums that reported the same issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552496October 29, 2023
STEERING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
The steering technology in this vehicle reads lines on the road that are not correct or valid lanes and almost caused several accidents during the 2 years I had the vehicle. Luckily, I was paying attention and had to jerk the wheel to the correct lane but the steering wheel will force itself to the other false lane. This is extremely dangerous and this is a huge safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552162October 27, 2023
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
The lane assist will not stay turned off, even when it is done manually each time I get in the car. The steering pulls me back when I'm trying to change lanes, making it unsafe.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11550315October 16, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle has accelerated suddenly when I apply the brakes. It has happened on multiple occasions in different circumstances. I was heading up a hill into a slow stop at a stop sign and once I applied the brakes it suddenly jolted forward for a second until I slammed on the brakes more over riding it. I have had the car for a week and thought it could be just happen stance but it has happened multiple times. The first time there was a car in front of me as I applied the breaks and it is terrifying as I almost crashed into them.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11550108October 16, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES
My 2021 Toyota highlander hybrid is having seemingly random issues when braking. I notice it most of the time when the vehicle is going downhill. The vehicle will lose braking briefly, and I have to depress the brake harder to slow the vehicle. In that moment when it loses the brake, the vehicle gives the feeling it is lurching forward, which can cause unpredictable stopping distance. It creates a hazard for the driver, the vehicles in front, and the vehicles behind.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11549688October 12, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The Passenger rear tire burst automatically today around 8 AM morning. Unsure if this automatic burst is part of any recall or not but it was a scary burst with big noise with no warnings of low air pressure. A lot of time was wasted today and spent money to fix a new tire.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11546874September 27, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Vehicle windshield glass has a distorted and wavy quality that impacts visibility for the driver. I have contacted the dealership about this issue and there is not a current recall for the windshield. The windshield says Toyota Pilkington laminated acoustic heated [XXX] , DOT15. I purchased this vehicle in the last week and did not notice the distortion on the short test drive. At first, I thought it was a reflection issue from the dash, but it is not. This should be investigated and remedied. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11542344September 3, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
The sunroof on my 2021 Toyota Highlander spontaneously exploded. I was merging onto a highway but just started to accelerate normally - was going approximately 20-30 mph. The entrance ramp was a merge lane, and there was a semi truck with no load, so intentionally accelerated slowly to allow the truck driver easy access to the highway. The temperature outside was approximately 80 degrees, clear skies, no construction around me. No object from the truck in front flew backwards to hit my Highlander. It sounded like a gunshot, but felt no impact to the Highlander. I slightly opened the sunroof liner, because the loud noise seem to come from directly overhead. I saw that the sunroof was shattered, so quickly closed the sunroof liner to prevent any glass from falling down. I exited the first exit and drove to the dealership. Ironically, I already had an appointment for routine maintenance. When I arrived at the dealer - I saw that an approximate 6" x 2" section of glass was missing, and the rest of the sunroof was completely shattered. There is no visible damage to any other part of the Highlander. The service advisor looked and it looked like the glass looked like it was pushed up, in his words "looked like it was pressure induced from the inside". My friend searched - and found this is a common problem in 2020-2021 Toyota Highlanders.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540829August 25, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
I was driving on the highway when suddenly I heard a terrible sound like a shot, I thought that we were shot or had an accident. But the sunroof glass was broken. there wasn't anything causing impact I you can see this incident is outward like something exploded from inside via stress
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539954August 21, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES
When slowing down with steady brake pressure, sometimes there is a short pause, 1-2 seconds where it feels like you just lost the brakes. Sometimes this happens when turning and braking too. It isn’t something I can recreate and Toyota opened a case, looked at the car, and said it is normal. Not my 1st hybrid and this is not normal. This has happened many times over the last year and Toyota has looked at the brakes at least 3 or 4 times.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11535729August 1, 2023
TIRES, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
Tire Size 235/65R18 Tires are under 40,000 miles and especially passenger right tread is gone. Tire’s already need to be replaced. The tire won’t hold air. No puncture anywhere, went to dealership and they couldn’t believe that the tires are so worn down already with such low mileage. I tried contacting Bridgstone they dismissed any concerns. I've been trying to get some help. These tires seem defective.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11529181June 27, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES
ON OCCASSION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BREAK IN TRAFFIC OR SLOW DOWN AT A YIELD OR STOP SIGN THE BREAKS SEEM TO "FADE". THE CAR DOES NOT STOP UNTIL I PRESS HARDER ON THE BREAKS. I FEEL THAT THE CAR SEEMS TO MOVE FORWARD EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PRESSED ON BRAKE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY DURING STOPING AT THE BOTTOM OF A SLOPE, DURING TURNING OR TRYING TO STOP ON A ROUGH SURFACE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON 2 OCCASSIONS AND HAS APPARENTLY BEEN RECALIBRATED, WITH THE PROBLEM ONLY TO REOCCUR. THE DEALER DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE A PERMANENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. WHERE THIS PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITENTLY THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB0017-21 TO RECALIBRATE. ON OCCASSION I FELT I WAS GOING TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME OR DRIFT INTO THE INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. BREAKING HARD TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM COULD CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO BE REAR ENDED. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE WERE NO WARNING LAMPS, MESSAGES OR OTHER SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE "FAILURE"
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11528387June 22, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES
While braking at random times, at any speed, the vehicle surges forward. This makes you have to break harder to get the vehicle to stop. It seems as if the breaks do not work at all for a brief period. I have brought it into the dealer, my car is no longer under warranty, they found nothing wrong.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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