Toyota Highlander Complaints (2001)

137 consumer complaints on file.

#10072803May 18, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER WAS HIT ON LEFT FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE BY ONCOMING CAR IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLY.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072409May 11, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CHECK ENGINE AND ABS BRAKE LIGHT COME ON AT THE SAME TIME; AFTER A WHILE UPON RESTARTING THE ABS BRAKE GOES OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE STAYS ON FOR A FEW HOURS THEN GOES OFF UPON RESTARTING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068142May 1, 2004
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUN ROOF LEAKING EVEN WITH SUNROOF COMPLETELY CLOSED. SEEMS TO BE NO DRAIN LINES FROM DRAIN HOLES IN SUNROOF COMPARTMENT. WATER DRAINS INTO CAR WELL ON PASSENGER WELL IN FRONT OF CAR. ALSO HAVE HAD WIND NOISE COMING FROM LEFT AREA OF CAR- THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE ROOF RACK. DEALERSHIP CHECK OUT & COULD NOT FIND NOISE. THEY ALSO REMOVED LEFT PANEL OF CAR AROUND WINDSHIELD AND WHEEL WELL TO LOOK FOR NOISE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063255March 16, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE IN A CAR WASH DRIVER RELEASED PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT BOUNCED BACK AND SURGED FORWARD AGAIN, HITTING A WALL. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF BY THE DRIVER. MANUFACTURER WAS SUPPOSED TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM, BUT NEVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF THE FINDINGS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062137March 14, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRONT MUDFLAPS ARE BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES. I DID NOTHIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THEM TO FAIL. AS I DRIVE AROUND, I NOTICE THAT ALMOST ALL HL'S HAVE BROKEN FRONT MUDFLAPS.*AK THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST, EVEN IF OUT OF WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070964January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL SLUDGE ISSUE. THE TOYOTA WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 1.5 WEEKS. THE FINAL BILL DID NOT INCLUDE ANY TOTALS, BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED PARTS ALONE WERE CLOSE TO $1600. WE WERE VERY DISTURBED WITH TOYOTA'S POSITION THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REPAIR THIS ISSUE ONCE WITHIN THE FIRST EIGHT YEARS. THEY INDICATED THAT WE FOLLOWED THE WRONG MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE OF NORMAL RATHER THAN SEVERE CONDITIONS FOR FLORIDA. CONSIDERING THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT SPECIFY THIS, AND THAT I OWN A LEXUS THAT HAS NO SIGNS OF PROBLEM AFTER FOLLOWING THE SAME SCHEDULE, WE WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR RESPONSE. SINCE THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP COULD GIVE US NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE, EVEN IF THEY CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 5000 MILES AS HE DIRECTED, WE TURNED AROUND AND TRADED THE VEHICLE IN ON A HONDA THE SAME DAY. I DID CONTACT SW TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ACCUSED US OF THE SAME FAULTY MAINTENANCE AS THE SERVICE MANAGER. IT WAS OBVIOUS AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS THAT TOYOTA NO LONGER STANDS FOR QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. AS I INDICATED TO THEM IN A RECENT EMAIL AND A LETTER THAT I AM CURRENTLY DRAFTING, THEY HAVE LOST A TOYOTA OWNER FOREVER. NOW THAT WE HAVE DIVESTED OURSELVES OF THE HIGHLANDER, I PLAN TO SELL THE LEXUS AS WELL. I KNOW YOU DIDN'T NEED TO HEAR ALL THIS, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. TOYOTA HONORED ITS CSP (ONCE IN EIGHT YEARS), BUT I UNSURE HOW MUCH THE REPAIR COST WERE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071350January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF OUR ENGINE PROBLEM WAS $7,200 (CANADIAN) AND IT STARTED AT 38,000 KM (24,000 MILES). THE MATTER WAS RESOLVED WHEN WE DUG UP AN OLD OIL CHANGE SLIP THAT MY WIFE AND I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT ALTOGETHER. BEFORE THE DISCOVERY WE WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A RECEIPT FOR EACH YEAR THAT WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR SO TOYOTA INSISTED THAT IT WAS CUSTOMER NEGLIGENCE THAT RESULTED IN THE OIL SLUDGE. TOP ENGINE BLOCK WAS REPLACED AND WE GOT OFF SCOTT FREE. WHEN AN OIL LEAK WAS DETECTED AFTER A WEEK OF GETTING THE CAR BACK FROM THE SHOP, WE BROUGHT IT BACK IN AND THEY FIXED IT AGAIN - NO CHARGE. I FEEL THAT THIS WAS A BIT LIKE DAVID KNOCKING OUT GOLIATH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069763January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING RIGHT AT 25,000. CAR GAVE NO SIGN OF FAILURE OR ANYTIME OF PROBLEM. OIL CHANGES WAS PERFORMED EVERY 5000/MI AND CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL THE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND WE TOOK CAR TO CONCORD TOYOTA TO CHECK ON THE ENGINE LIHT PROBLEM. CONCORD TOYOTA SAID THE ENGINE WAS BURNED IN AND OUT DUE TO LACK OF OIL AND BLAMED THA CUSTOMER FOR POOR MAINTENANCE TO THE CAR AND REFUSE TO FIX THE CAR UNDER THE WARRANTY. IT'S BEEN 3MONTHS THAT CONCORD TOYOTA STILL HAS POSSESSION OF THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE OPENED APART AND STILL REFUSED TO COVER UNDER THE WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070044January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY HIGHLANDER HAD SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS CLEANED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT IF I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES INSTEAD OF 7,500.00 THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN. THE TOYOTA MANUEL STATES EVERY 7,500. REMEMBER MY CAR ONLY HAS 18,202 MILES ON IT. IT'S NOT EVEN 2 YR OLD YET. THE SERVICE ADVISOR ASSURED ME THAT IF I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3,000 AND NOT EVERY 7,500 LIKE THE MANUAL SAYS THAT IF THIS HAPPEN AGAIN THEY WOULD COVER THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049099December 3, 2003
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VEHICLE. AT TIMES, WHEN SPEEDS EXCEED 65 MPH THE REARVIEW SIDE MIRRORS CREATE A WHISTLING SOUND. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE AND TOLD ME HE COULD NOT TEST THE VEHICLE AT THAT SPEED, BUT SEVERAL HIGHWAYS AROUND MEMPHIS, TN PERMIT SPEEDS OF 65 AND 70 MPH. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041787October 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL SLEDGING PROBLEM IN MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I AM CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA'S CSP POLICY WILL NOT GO FAR ENOUGH TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE BOTH BLAME FAULTY MAINTENANCE FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 7500 MILES AS INDICATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. TOYOTA'S CSP WILL ONLY REPAIR THE ISSUE ONCE IN 8 YEARS, AND NEITHER WILL ADDRESS WHAT WILL HAPPEN SHOULD THIS ARISE AGAIN. THE DEALER MAINTAINED THIS WAS OUR FAULT UNTIL WE PRESENTED RECEIPTS TO SHOW THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MAINTAINED APPROPRIATELY. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE THE MECHANICS THAT CHANGED OUR OIL NEVER ACTUALLY CHANGED IT. BASED ON THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND FORUMS I MONITORED ONLINE, I FEEL THIS IS TOYOTA'S ATTEMPT TO AVOID TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A LARGER PROBLEM. I ALSO OWN A LEXUS GS300, AND THE OIL WAS CHANGED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE HIGHLANDER AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH IT. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041814October 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IS BURNING APPROXIMATELY 1.5 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES. TOYOTA USA SAYS THAT THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT IS 1 QUART EVERY 1,000 MILES AND WILL NOT LOOK AT MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10036699August 27, 2003
SUSPENSION
WHEN DRIVING MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN, A PIERCING HIGH PITCH SOUND ELEVATES AND HURTS YOUR EAR THAT YOU CANNOT HEAR ANYTHING (PRACTICALLY DEAF). I'VE INFORMED TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER (CHAD) ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN JANUARY 2003, THEY CLAIMED THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. ONE OF THE MECHANICS AT TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER, STATED THAT HE HAD COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS AND APPARENTLY THIS PROBLEM IS WITH ALL THEIR SUV. I'VE ALSO ASKED SEVERAL OF OUR FRIENDS (HIGHLANDER OWNERS) TO TEST DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES WITH THEIR WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN AND THEY'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. WE BASICALLY PURCHASED A VEHICLE THAT YOU CANNOT BE ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW WHEN DRIVING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031428August 22, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HEAVY VIBRATION AND CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK AT 55 MPH WHEN BRAKING, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO THE CONTROL THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER AT 75-80 MPH, WHEN BRAKING (NO EMERGENCY), THE STEERING SHOOK VIOLENTLY. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026249June 30, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026251June 30, 2003
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 2-3 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WENT INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RUNNING INTO GARAGE DOOR. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022002June 2, 2003
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR PASSENGER'S WINDOW IS INOPERATIVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017575April 25, 2003
TIRES
VEHICLE TIRE PUNCTURED. MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED 5 TIRE FAILURES ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011054March 26, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN AUGUST 2001..........AT 15 MONTHS/50,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING AND WHEN IT STARTED SLIPPING TOYOTA RAPIDLY REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION. A LEAK WAS DETERMINED WITHIN WEEKS OF THE REPLACEMENT AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER SEAL (TCS) HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPON REPLACING THE TCS THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS FOUND TO BE DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. HAS THE HIGHLANDER REQUIRED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS?*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009723March 17, 2003
TIRES
FAILURE OF DEULER TIRES. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIVE TIRE FAILURES AT DIFFERENT MILEAGES ( 4500, 12816, 15480, 20000, 29160). *TT *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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