Toyota Highlander Reviews

The collision prevention feature included in the package I've paid for, simply just does NOT work. Drivers are at high risk of car accident it if they turn on this feature and rely on it. I have complained to Toyota USA about this issue, but they have been ignoring my complaint. I visited Puente Hills Toyota Dealer in California. They ran an "electronic test" on my car and told me everything in the car was fine. They may be correct that my car was built mechanically and electronically to the design, but the collision prevention feature which I've paid for did NOT and never do the job it was supposed to. It is a DESIGN FAILURE! I asked Toyota to send someone to test drive the car with me to verify my complaint. They refused to do so. I am considering suing Toyota.

In the 23 months I had my 2017 Highlander the car did not start at all. Just recently I was waiting for 10 minutes at the airport. Did not start again. The airport police had to call a tow truck. My dealership blames all on me and did not even want to take the car in. It is a clear lemon. I called the arbitration company who never calls back, now I took an attorney. Toyota cars I never will buy again. Will go back to Mercedes.

I bought a new vehicle 2015 in Jan 2015. Till now I have done following repairs. I have driven only 44k mile and car has not been any accident and has been all regular maintenance and oil change. Work done is engine brake, brake pad both front and back, front glass repair 2 times, all 4 tires. Till now spent 4500 USD, please don’t buy this vehicle.

I purchase my Highlander two month ago, it have multiple problems that drives me crazy. 1) The very first day I get the car, there is a loose screw sound behind the dashboard, very annoying, after going down a big slop, the screw seems stuck somewhere, the sound goes away, what a poor quality car! 2) There is something wrong this the rear suspension. Whenever I go over the bumpy area, the rear suspension make metal click or vibration sound, went to the dealer to check twice, the dealer call it "NORMAL"! 3) I have the same problem as one of our reviewer here, there is a pop out in the middle of the dashboard, find it the first day I have mine vehicle, it is annoying, but compare to the second problem it is nothing! 4) Very poor internal material. The gear shift panel is made of very cheap plastic, I clean it with microfiber carefully, it is scratched! What a shame! Final advise: maybe buy cheap cars from Toyota, definitely avoid by luxury car from them!

Dash has a humped up area on top of dash just to the left of clock. Service manager at dealership agrees it's a problem and had Toyota rep inspect. He noted issue, took pics and agreed a problem. Shortly thereafter I was told by Toyota, "Others have same issue so you're SOL." Filed Atty General complaint, Toyota offered a dash because they said I had been a long term customer (30 years) but would not guarantee it would be defect free and I was responsible for install and I had 60 days to accept. I contacted dealership, was told they would install if Toyota would agree. I told SM to get back to me after he heard from Toyota. Did not receive a reply. 60 days went by and I contacted AG and explained.

My 2015 Toyota Highlander Limited busted a valve spring at 75473 miles (I think it's still at the dealership). My extended warranty only covered 75000. I have found evidence of faulty valve springs in other 2015 Highlanders. Toyota has agreed to pay $1500 of the $4646 to fix my Highlander. I feel this should be a recall situation. I have voiced my opinion to them, and on social media. I think they should fix my vehicle a hundred percent paid.

I absolutely love my Toyota Highlander. My Toyota has been the single most reliable, amazing and newest vehicle I have ever had the pleasure of owning. I can go places most trucks can't, and I love that it's sporty, rugged, and soccer mom all in one. However, my car definitely gets awful gas mileage. I hate that it costs me $20 to get to work and back for 2 days. I also don't like that there isn't a way to hook my phone or iPod up to my car's sound system. Nevertheless, I love the sunroof, the fact that it has 8 cupholders, the four wheel drive, and the overall space in it. I love the 3rd row of seats as it comes in handy when I have my nieces over or my daughter has a sleepover and the seats can be hidden by pushing them into the floor.

The 2013 Toyota Highlander is all wheel drive which is great and it also has a power trunk that is nice because it goes down with just a quick touch of a button. It's black inside and in good shape all in all. It has a great Bluetooth system, it has leather seats, it has power seats, it has nice captain seats, it has seven passenger seats. It is a nice vehicle and feels safe. But I don't like the mileage.

We love our Highlander because it is well made, good looking and very reliable. Our Highlander seats seven people. It is comfortable and the styling still looks good after eight years. While the ratings and residual value are excellent and we have enjoyed owning the vehicle, I wish our Toyota Highlander has been less expensive and had more features that we wanted at the price we paid. The new ones have all that we want but they have gotten much too expensive.

I chose this vehicle because of its reputation for quality vehicles that will last me a long time. It is a very trustworthy brand that will give me miles and miles of enjoyment. I also feel that should I have any problems Toyota will stand behind their workmanship. I can count on the Toyota Highlander to provide me with a smooth, comfortable ride. I like the durability of the vehicle and the confidence that it will give me the best safety components. Overall, I find the Toyota Highlander to be the most perfect vehicle and would hate to see it tampered with.

I've had a good experience, I like that it's an SUV and the car runs well with no issues, minimal repairs to the vehicle so far, decent gas mileage and plenty of room for my children and all of the baby gear. It has a 3rd row seat, large enough for car seats, and I like the style and the color. It's easy to drive and handles well. But I wish it had more upgrades. I would like a back up camera, a sunroof and heated seats for example. A DVD player in the backseat for the kids would be great too. But other than that, my children and passengers are always comfortable in this vehicle.

I love the Highlander's generous indoor space, it's versatility and dependability. I like the dashboard and console storage as well as the color and shape of car. It's got great audio and comfortable seating for 20 hour drives! Though extra lumbar support and a little bit more room in the 3rd seat would be nice. I also wish it came with cargo nets and a roll down rear window. Those would be huge plus. The car mats are awesome too but they curl in exposing the floors. Floors are not carpet or easy to clean surface. I would prefer easy to wash floors.

2013 Toyota Highlander - The model has been great, extremely helpful with the 3rd row feature. I also have enjoyed the USB outlet in the dash and the extra outlet in the third row. I love the gas mileage. Plenty of cup holders too. The ability to have captains chairs with arm rests or a full bench seat is great too. But the doors are very light. I wish it was a heavier car. I also wish I had heated seats over the back up camera.

While I like many things about our new 2018 Toyota Highlander, the recent reports of death by CO2 are troubling. When I first read of this happening, I thought, "people are stupid. How can they forget to turn off the car? Then leave it running in the garage, filling the home with CO2." Then after my nephew drove it back to our home while we went camping, we found it running in the garage upon our return 24 hours later. He's no dummy, college educated and in his 30's. It was just his first experience with a FOB key on a Highlander. This is a design flaw. Luckily, no one was home and except for airing out the house, washing windows, and losing a quarter tank of gas, nothing serious happened. How many lives will it take to have them correct this?

I wouldn't trade my 2006 Toyota Highlander in for any of the newer model, mine can haul a 7ft. grandfather clock and comfortable and I have tires for life through dealership and only has 86,000 miles. It wouldn't have that if I didn't have to go to Jacksonville, FL for 8 years. It's not got all the computer equipment the new ones do and it's mine.

The Toyota Highlander is a good all around car. It is not great at any one thing but is the best in its class of mid-price large SUVs. It is comfortable, has plenty of power and safety features, and modern amenities. Gas mileage is so so as is handling but understand it's better than other vehicles in its class. It is fairly attractive and has a large moonroof although the roof doesn't open but halfway so ventilation in the far back is not the best. It seems durable and well designed.

We bought a Certified Pre-owned Highlander with very low mileage in 2016. The car had 12,000 miles on it and now has about 42,000. We also purchased an extended warranty. The car basically overheated while my daughter was driving, she pulled off the highway and tried re-starting later to move to a safer spot and the car wouldn’t start up again. When we took it in to the dealership they said the water pump malfunctioned, causing the car to overheat, then the engine seized, basically killing the engine. It has no indicator on it. All she would have seen would have been steam and maybe heard a funny noise. She pulled over as soon as she noticed anything. Toyota wants us to pay $3500 to take the engine apart to determine if there was “driver error” before they will replace the engine.

Toyota Highlander - Outstanding durability and very solid SUV. Already have a hundred and twenty thousand miles on a 2013 limited. No significant issues with it at all. I got a good deal on mine but generally they are overpriced. And do not like the first generation Etune.

Love the 2017 Toyota Highlander. But be very careful when you finance the car or possibly just buy it. They ask you to sign, BUT on a electronic signature. Like a dummy I did. When I got the Hard Copy I got almost $1,000.00 in charges I never agreed to and wasn't on my original sales receipt. I was able to get most of it back only after complaining directly to Toyota's Regional main office. Never sign electronically.

We have driven Toyotas for 12 years. We have always had the best service and reliability with each one. We had a Camry, Avalon, and Highlander. I prefer the Highlander since it has the 3rd seat and we have 6 grandchildren. It is durable, classy and dependable. I’ve never had an issue with these vehicles! I would recommend it to anyone.

I've driven this Highlander 2004 since 2004 and it's been great, has served my purpose, low maintenance. Great for carrying people, groceries and other shopping. Handles well, keeps me high enough to see around other cars on the freeway.

Purchased 2018 SE Highlander. I have had Toyotas in the past and then went to Hondas for almost 16 years. Never an issue. The SE I just purchase that now has almost 2,000 miles on it has seats that look like they either have too much material or not enough padding. Even my friends ask me what is wrong with my seats. I took it to my dealer, Toyota of Louisville, and it was sent to an upholstery shop that they use. I was contacted and told they put more padding in where they could but many places couldn't be remedied as it "was just the characteristics of the seats." Now, this is not one of my seats, but 3 of them. The seats still look like they are missing padding. One seat was laid down for extra space when needed and it still has the indention in it from where it laid on the seat belt holder for less than 2 hours.

I have owned many Toyota trucks and SUV's. I traded my Tundra in on a 2015 Highlander which I purchased in 2014. Drove for two years and loved it. No issues. I was up around 40k miles and my sales guy called and offered me a deal to trade it in and purchase a 2016 with 0% interest. I thought it was a good deal. I never make decisions on the spot but was a great deal so why not. I am one that takes very good care of my vehicles. I soon washed it and after lowering the driver side window down and then back up noticed the front third of the window was saturated. Like someone ran over it with a sponge. I immediately called the dealership and they replaced the felt but nothing changed. They also made sure the holes in the door were not plugged for drainage.

There is a vibration noise in this vehicle at all times. My husband drives this and he has hearing issues (never hears off the turn signal). I hear it all the time. Found out the dealer let the car off the lot with 44 lbs of pressure in all the tires. Remedied that, but the vibration is still there. This is the vehicle we use for traveling and now WE WON’T. I want to jump out of the car. I can’t take it. How much time and money do you want to waste trying to fix this problem??? Pass up the Highlander.

When I drive in slush or snow all four door sills of my 2017 Sport Highlander fill solid with inches of slush. The door panel wraps around the bottom of the vehicle, so the whole area is packed with snow. Pant legs get covered in dirt when entering or exiting the vehicle. Took it to London, Ont Toyota town where I bought it. Was told there is a design fault in the vehicle, just like in the Lexus, there is nothing they can do but send a note to Toyota Canada. I asked about extra rust protection or something, as the salt and water sitting trapped in there is a concern. Service manager said it is protected by paint like the outside of the vehicle. If you drive on wet or snow covered roads DO NOT buy this vehicle!!

I bought a 2017 Toyota Highlander XLE Hybrid. So far I made over 6000 miles. I have 3 things to share: 1) Gas mileage! One can never get the specified 29 MPG (city), 28 MPG (hwy). In reality one can average, at best, 24 MPG (combined). I complained to Toyota and they concluded that I push the brake pedal and then the gas pedal too often. Stupid!!! I live in DC, the stop signs are everywhere, the traffic is bumper-to-bumper. Isn't the hybrid suppose to take advantage of the braking?! Why I paid the premium for a hybrid?

I purchased a brand new Toyota Highlander 2017 and I'm very displeased the way the vehicle makes noise inside like an old car. Sounds like something is loose. Not tight. Maybe it's in the cargo space or even the third row. What can I do.

OK, the user manual states that the Highlander requires any trailer over 1000 lbs to have trailer service brakes... So far so good... RV's all have electric brakes which means that the Highlander would need a brake controller... Still sounding doable as that's exactly what was done with earlier model Highlanders.

We are in a touch and go traffic on a normal street, car ahead of us, moved and we followed. As soon as the car stopped (suddenly), I was trying to stop, but the Collision avoidance system kicked in, took control of my brakes, but the car didn't stop, This happened at around 10-15 mph speed, ended up rear-ending the car and now dealing with my first accident ever. I called Toyota immediately, but it was Thanksgiving time, so office was closed. I called today and gave them a very clear explanation of what exactly happened. They are looking into this and said someone from Toyota will call me and talk about the next steps. The whole point of buying a brand new 2017 Toyota Highlander SUV loaded with safety features is because you don't want to deal with these kind of headaches, but the car didn't stop when it mattered or didn't let me stop. Both are worse. I hope Toyota fixes the problem and also takes care of the damage occurred to my car.

We have a 2010 Highlander model and take care of our vehicle with regular maintenance and recommended follow up visits. The car has served us very well; the materials are long-lasting; the only problem we had was that over the years [16] the headlights looked dull and took away from the presentation. We replaced them buying headlights online and having a street mechanic install. Voila! The car not only runs very well but now looks exceptional.

My Highlander satisfaction does not yet match that of my 1999 4Runner but still solid. I've 2 episodes over the last 6 months with the car overheating and needing coolant refills. 3 days ago I was leaving for church only to see a pool of antifreeze under my car. I refilled and drove it to NTB yesterday. I was told there was a crack in the radiator so I paid $850 to have the radiator replaced. So far the car is working fine. I just don't understand why a 2015 highlander with 46,000 miles should need to have its radiator replaced.

It's great on gas, the body is strong and the engine is great. As for the tranny, one can't feel it shift. Its air condition and heat is wonderful. Overall, it's a great SUV.

In 2015 I purchased a 2014 Highlander and began having electrical problems from day 1. The back hatch wasn't working and soon began having dead battery problems. I then had steering wheel problems. The wheel would jerk back and forth as if it was locking up. The dealer replaced the battery about three times in a year and half time frame. I finally dropped the vehicle off and told them I didn't want it back until it was fixed. I didn't feel safe in it and certainly could not trust it on long distant trips. I was told it had to be locked up because things were still running after it was turned off.

We have a 2012 Toyota Highlander. The radio cuts out intermittently. Our dealership doesn't know what the problem is and so they are calling it an internal failure. Lots of $$$ for a new one. As I read reviews it seems there are a lot of problems with the radios Toyota is installing in their vehicles. When does it become their responsibility to replace faulty equipment. Toyota used to be a better company.

Toyota Highlander 2013-For the second time my breaks failed, the first time I parked on a hill, applied the breaks and the car commenced to rolling down the hill, there was no damage because the oncoming bus driver saw me coming and stopped about a yard from me. Today I wasn't so fortunate, I was turning around, stopped and put the car in reverse. The car seemed to lead over the sidewalk and I couldn't control it. I ended up jumping the sidewalk and hitting someone's house. This really happened. I am a personal driver. I need a reliable, dependable car. I thought that it was in the Toyota brand, it is not. DISAPPOINTED, DISSATISFIED.

I own a 2016 Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum AWD. Soon after I bought it, I started to notice problems. Here is a rundown of the problems and their status: Navigation System: It does not update automatically like an app in your phone. It needs a replacement of the Map Card. The card in my vehicle is from early 2015. The vehicle was manufactured in early 2016, I bought the vehicle in May 2016. The card was obsolete from the get go. To replace it, Toyota wants to charge $200 for the card plus labor and taxes. They claim an update only comes out once a year and that the salesman should have told me about the map card being obsolete. It is a finger pointing game right now.

I have a 2015 highlander xle and have lots of problem since I purchased. Steering wheel make whining noise. I went 4 times to dealership to fix the problem but still makes noise. Passenger door weather seal rubber touches and stuck to the frame when open the door and makes rubbing noise. I went to dealer and they put some grease.. Omg still make noise. Radio and navigation touch screen freeze at least once a day and I have to turn power off and turn on. Radio power turns off all of sudden and turns on... NO MORE TOYOTA.

I have always owned a Honda Pilot but since my husband leases a Toyota Camry, I thought I might try the 2016 Toyota Highlander. They were offering a lease at a terrific price and it was a great looking car built on a Camry Chasse. I test drove it and everything was fine, but, I realize now why everything seemed fine. The guy who took me out had me make right turns only.

Purchased a 2015 Toyota Highlander XLE late in 2014 and 2 months later had starting problems. Dealer told me this vehicle needed to be driven, at least every three days, to fully charge the battery; too many electronic devices (computer) to drain the battery. Starting problem occurred a few months later, and was given the same speech. Prefer driving my 2011 Highlander during the winter months to keep the 2015 looking new. Anyone else told the same story? Just curious.

I'm a loyal, longtime Toyota owner and am sorry to write this negative review. In 2015, I very hesitantly traded my reliable, much-loved 2000 4Runner for a new 2015 Highlander Limited. What a huge mistake. Other people have commented here that the steering wheel goes crazy when you accelerate - especially from a full stop. I, too, have that problem. You must have a firm grip on the wheel to keep the vehicle under control and stay in your lane. It's hard to control even when you expect it to happen. I've also seen complaints here about the Highlander's brakes. I've had many close calls when someone in front of me stopped suddenly. When I hit the brakes hard, it feels like the pedal goes all the way to the floor. The ABS does not engage.

My car engine started on its own after being turned off. I went shopping at Walmart on 12/22/16 and parked my 2016 Toyota Highlander XLE in the parking lot (only had 640 miles at the time). I put the car in park and pushed the engine start/stop button to turn off the car. My family and I exited the car and I used the keyless entry pad to lock the doors. We shopped for approximately 45 min. When we returned to the car, I used the keyless entry pad to unlock the doors so I could put our purchases in the trunk. As I got close to the vehicle I heard an engine running, but thought it was the car next to us. I bent down and listened under the front end of my Highlander and to my surprise, I realized my car engine was running. When I opened the driver side door and looked at the dashboard, I noticed a small triangular yellow caution light was flashing but I don't remember what the message said other than caution.

Toyota had me sign a contract that was on a computer and never disclosed the surrender fee. It was not until I received a copy of the lease agreement from Toyota. I have had problems with the vehicle stopping. I must apply the brakes much sooner than my Nissan or my Ford Mustang. There is rust on the hood of the vehicle. Paint is flaking off the hood down to the primer. I repeatedly advised Toyota of the brake issue which was the traction light coming on and having to reset itself when the brakes were applied. The vehicles was put in park and started rolling backwards.

I had an accident on the freeway. Traffic was stopping ahead of us, it was raining. I had plenty of time to stop, but the alarm on the Highlander came on and no matter how hard I pushed on the brakes, it would not slow down. It sounds like the ABS system "takes over" to prevent you from sliding. Unfortunately, it doesn't allow me to stop. This could have been SO much worse, but this is a serious problem that must be fixed by Toyota.

After nine months of ownership, the touch screen radio broke. A simple push of the finger on a 106F day and a crack went across screen. Dealer refuses to repair or replace "due to outside influences". Which I can only take to mean ISIS or aliens. This is a $3500 replacement. I also find out I was duped into buying a cheap Panasonic and not the JBL I thought I was getting. After numerous attempts with dealer I was told to call Toyota Customer Care. After an hour on the phone with Toyota Corporate, they turned around and called the dealer. Again I was told it was caused by "outside influences". Toyota customer care is a joke, and the dealer network is worse. To stick a customer with a $3500 cost on a nine month old vehicle is insane. They have not returned calls, or followed up on claims I submitted. They did not test or exam the radio, they only took a picture. I cannot recommend a Toyota. I will never buy another Toyota.

I purchased a brand new 2015 Toyota Highlander Limited vehicle, and within the first 90 days of ownership, the plastic front and side panels that cover the machinery at the bottom of the driver's seat came apart. Immediately, I scheduled a service appointment to have it repaired. It took approximately four long months and numerous attempts on my part to schedule the repair appointment. It was finally repaired, only to break within 48 hours of retrieving it from the dealer. Subsequently, I contacted the dealership numerous times over approximately a six months time frame to schedule the second repair. I was always told they were waiting on the FTS person to arrive in the area to address it.

I bought a 2015 Highlander brand new. I am very unsatisfied with my choice. I am getting 15 mpg in the city. On the highway... the best I've been able to average is 17mpg. Took the car to the dealer and the best they got it up to was 16mpg. I've had to had the driver's side window seal replaced 3 times due to squeaking when I roll up the window, and it needs to be replaced again for the same problem. The driver's side door panel chrome is now aligned properly and needs to be replaced. The rear arm axles (or something with the suspension) went out and had to be replaced at 10,000 miles. When I turn corners, the car makes an almost listing noise. Imagine the noise you would hear in a boat swaying over waves in the ocean. The dealer hasn't been able to find where this noise is coming from. I have 13,000 miles on the car now and I'm ready to trade it in.

Purchased my 2014 Highlander LX new. Twice now the plastic driver's plastic seat trim which covers the seat electronic controls has broken. The first time was within a year of purchase and dealer replaced it. At that time, the service rep said if it broke again, I would have to pay to have it replaced. That certainly raised a red flag and sure enough, less than a year later, the same thing happened. I called the service manager who told me he has never heard of the trim breaking. Odd, since they had already replaced mine.

My 2015 Toyota Highlander Limited V6 produces horrible torque steer under the slightest brisk takeoff and even if I am starting off with slight accelerator pressure with a damp service the vehicle has a difficult time finding grip. The car is a FWD model and when I have attempted to press the vehicle to get out into fast traffic it decides which way I should be steering. This thing is horrible, embarrassing when I gave guest aboard, and is dangerous if you are not completely ready for its torque steering shenanigans.

I was driving to work in my Toyota Highlander when I came upon a red light (where other cars were already stopped). I pushed down on the brakes and quickly realized the car was not responding. I had no control of the vehicle. To avoid the car in front of me, I directed the car into the opposing lane (because there were no cars) and tried to apply the breaks again, but still nothing. Finally after the third try of hitting the brakes the car came to a stop. I was petrified, and immediately pulled the Highlander to the side of the road.

I purchased my first Toyota expecting great trouble-free ride. I have 5,400 miles on the car in 6 months. The alarm has gone off 3 times on its own. I have called the dealer and they said that was an old problem that Toyota corrected so not sure what is wrong. I am back home up north for about a month and my poor relatives are keeping my car in their driveway in Florida. They are not real happy or are their neighbors.

Just want Toyota and other consumers know how brutal the front seats are when traveling LONG distances. It is unbelievable how bad it hurts in these front seats!!! I will never purchase another Highlander!

2014 Toyota Highlander before its first oil change 5000 miles started making noises. It appears to be coming from under the carriage right under the middle row, sounds like an old car. Also both the captain chair in the middle row rattle and shake when driving over bumps or rough terrain. I took it to the dealer a few times but they don't seem to have a fix for it, and as for the chairs, they say they're just bad quality. I'm surprised that with so many complaints for the same issues, Toyota does not take care of the problem.

Car now has 36000 miles. From day 1 burned 1 qt every 2000 miles at best. Toyota will not do anything to correct as they say it is normal to burn 1 qt for every 1200 miles! Owned 8 Toyotas and never between oil changes do I ever have to add oil. They are not backing up their product and Lemon Law proceedings are under way as the car also had numerous oil leaks which they finally dropped the engine and redid 21 seals and gaskets.

Bought 2006 Highlander in June 2008 with 44k miles. Had 2 owners by this time. Won't hold an alignment. Warranty on follow up alignments are free for 6 months but it did not matter how many times I returned it for a realignment. Tires are new, balanced etc. Previous owners must have seen this problem and dumped it. I had a loan and not in financial position to do the same. Dealer I bought it from was one of many that GM closed in 2008. Gave it to my son and I bought a bicycle. During the time I had it I did not have to do any repairs.

Totally frustrated with the hands free system in my 2015 Highlander. I have completed the tutorial, voice trained the system, and still does not work properly. I have communicated with Toyota but so far they feel there is not an issue. Dealer has been good to work with but does not have an answer. Examples:

Toyota Highlander Platinum Hybrid 2015 - On four separate occasions the car would not start. I get a flashing yellow indicator in the instrument panel but no messages are record. On the first occasion the car would not start for 3 consecutive days. On the forth day I called Toyota Care and arranged for a tow truck to take the vehicle to the nearest Toyota Dealer for service. The tow truck driver informed me that we would need to push the car away from the house in order to hook it for loading on the flat bed. When we started pushing the car it suddenly started. I asked the tow truck driver to tow the vehicle anyway. The tow truck driver then informed me that he could not load the truck on the flat bed since the tow hooks were missing from the vehicle.

Purchase a brand new 2015 Highlander LE plus which was special order to get the Blizzard Pearl with black interior. Terrible rattling noise from the back driver seat area when a small bump or imperfections on the road. Have taken it to the dealership twice and basically got a sorry that's the way it is. On one occasion they did take the seat off and tried to re-adjust the seat but did not take care of the issue. Can't believe I have to deal with this on a brand new car, only has 3,200 miles on it. Will probably not buy a Toyota vehicle again. If someone else has this issue, please let me know.

Purchase 2013 Highlander and 7 months later went to dealer for an oil change, comes out with engine vibrating and tapping. Contact Toyota Corp they refuses to repair or replace vehicle. Went to arbitration and of course his job was to favor them. Dealerships still refuse to fix the vehicle and it is tapping and vibrating extremely bad. I feel as though all the Toyota owners of these damaged vehicles would be extremely nice if we can file a class action lawsuit against Toyota. That is the only way we can conquer that Corporation as an whole not as an individual.

24,000 miles only on the car. Brake failed backing down a hill.

We purchased two new 2014 Toyota Highlanders, one for me and one for my wife. The side panel of the seat that contains the electric seat controls was coming apart after a few months and we took my wife's car back and then a month or so later my Highlander was doing the same thing. They ordered a new part but it didn't fix the problem and so we have two new 2014 Toyota Highlanders that have the side panel hanging down from the seat.

Brake failure on new 2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, twice - Three days after I bought my new car from DCH Toyota of Oxnard, a systems trouble warning light came on. As I was pulling my car over to call the Toyota dealer that I bought my car from, the brakes went out, then the car lurched to a stop. I had no control of the car. I shut the car off, called the dealer. Was told to take it to the nearest Toyota repair. I turned the car back on, there was no warning light and the brakes worked, so like an idiot, I drove the car to the nearest dealer. The Santa Barbara service department I took the car to was very nice, they gave me a loaner and worked on my car. The next day I drove an hour back from where I live to pick the car up, I was told they found and fixed the problem. I drove my new car from California to Montana and back, over steep mountain passes. I really liked this car.

I've been battling with the issue of overheating since I purchase my car. I have changed the thermostat and radiator coolant but still persists. I've also pressure tested the cooling system for any leakage and flushed the radiator for any sediments too. I'm almost tired getting tired of the car as I can't use A/C because if I do so, the temperature rise immediately. Kindly advice me for next action. Thanks.

2014 Highlander - Broken seat control casing on driver's side: C. of Castro Valley, CA wrote about the same problem that I have had. I bought the car in March. By Dec. 1st the dealership had tried to repair the broken plastic casing that anchors the driver's seat and protects the controls for lowering and moving the driver's seat - five times. They even installed running boards as they claim that the way I get in and out of the car was causing the breakage. After the fifth time they said I was the reason for the problem and that I was the only person they knew of who had the problem in the USA and thus they would no longer pay for any more repairs. Now the controls are contained with scotch tape and I ride around with the broken plastic pieces looking for a solution to a broken seat.

I purchased my 2012 Highlander 12/28/12, I started having issues soon after, I took it into AutoNation formally, Champion Toyota, Houston, TX. I was given the run around and they just kept putting band aids on the problem. I spoke to several upper management personnel but by no avail the problem still occurs. The Upper Light Console falls down while driving at any given time while driving or just being parked. I have taken my vehicle in on several occasions for this. I'm Highly Disappointed and upset to keep going through this with the dealer which I purchased it and also purchased EXTENDED WARRANTY! I just can't be the only one having this problem. I feel they are shafting me since I have warranty and it's covered and they need to replace it, I believe it's a bigger problem and they don't want to do it. I have noticed they are hiring Kids to repair and work on vehicles instead of real people that knows what they are doing. This is why it's not being fixed because they do not know how to do it.

152000+ miles. Only things replaced are brake pads, tires, tire rotation annually, oil changes every 7,500 miles with Mobile 1 synthetic, routine maintenance every 30,000 miles by Toyota, genuine Toyota timing belt and water pump replaced at 90,000 miles, 2 fuel oxygen sensors replaced (cost $450 per sensor; but use only OEM since replacement parts may not be compatible like I found on my previous Camry). That is it. Best car, minivan or SUV I ever owned -- Almost 13 years & 150K+ miles; and still runs like new.

I was driving into a driveway. The pavement was wet with leaves and I was only going about 5 mph up a slight incline. I felt the car slip on the leaves while I applied the brakes and then the car lunged forward slamming into the car that was parked in the driveway. I continued to step on the brakes, but I couldn't get the car to stop. My Hybrid finally stopped when the car in the driveway was smashed against their garage door and outside brick. The other car was severely damaged, garage door and frame were damaged and the bricks were destroyed. The insurance company says I am 100% at fault, but I know something went wrong with the Hybrid.

We own 2011 Highlander SE AWD has 31,000 mile. On November 16, 2014 moved the car from garage and found metal pieces on garage floor. Immediately took the car to the garage and found that both side of front brakes inner pads completely worn out and damaged both rotors. Outside pads has almost 60% thickness left on it. Ended up changing both rotors and pads. Cost me $375 dollars. Mechanic said this may be resulted from faulty brake system. Talk to Toyota and ended up nowhere.

Our new 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Limited has begun making noise when traveling relatively slow (<30mph) on a normal road. When there's a very minor bump, a squeaky sound will come from the rear. It's not so noticeable on the freeway (perhaps fewer vibrations and/or the wind noise overpowers it). Upon further investigation (riding in the back and listening for the source), it's coming from the rear-hatch door/car gap near the bottom corners. It sounds like the powered hatch isn't fully tight and the weatherstrip is rubbing. However, the door doesn't feel or appear loose at all. This just started occurring this past week at around 2500 miles.

2013 Toyota Highlander - Purchase vehicle in 2013. Seven months later engine started tapping and vibrating. Told need motor mounts. Toyota dealership refuse to acknowledge that the engine is tapping and vibrating. Vibrating is very intense that it vibrate in panels inside of the car and runs loud. Arbitrator did not diagnose this vehicle properly and was in favor for Toyota. This vehicle is vibrating even more harder now. Windows is beginning to fall off track as well. As a customer of Toyota, Toyota is not honoring their warranty and I feels as though a Class Action lawsuit needs to be file against Toyota Corporation because of denying and not honoring the warranties on their products. It would be great to start a Class Action Lawsuit against this corporation.

2010 Toyota Highlander - The first issue was with the front driver's window either coming off track (several times) or the time that the door would not open from inside. I had to roll down the window to open. After the warranty expired, we don't go to the dealer to get it fixed. This started just months after purchasing the new vehicle. Next, just after the 3-yr/36,000 warranties expired, the starter went bad. I contacted both my local dealer and Toyota but neither would. Luckily, we know a good mechanic who fixed and saved us a lot of money. Finally (hopefully), the rear door sensor keeps indicating the door is open when it is not. This causes the interior lights to flash, door to chime, and the rear display to show door open. This happens all of the time. I am afraid to take to the dealer since it is out of warranty and after hearing of similar issues and the cost. Toyota is not a quality product and too bad it took $38,000 to figure it out. I thought I would give them a try after all of the very serious issues they recently had.

The cover panel on my new 2014 Toyota LE Highlander came apart shortly after having it PermaPlated in May (purchased April 2014). Since that first incident on May 7, 2014 through September 2, 2014 that same part has broken and been replaced by the dealership five times. This is the part that covers the switches on the side the driver's seat. While Toyota of Concord said that they would replace the seat in July, Toyota now refuses to replace the seat. Has anyone had any issue with this part of your Highlander breaking, coming apart? Purchased NEW. Suggestions other than arbitration? Thank you.

I've had my 2005 Highlander since 4/06. It has approximately 135,000 miles. Happy to say that I've had no issues. I service regularly, all recalls done. Just put on my second set of tires. I drive a lot. It's not a luxurious vehicle, but it runs every day. Gas mileage ok… Oh, did replace battery once and brake pads once, but that's usual maintenance. Great Vehicle.

I was driving at a freeway at 65 mph and all of sudden, the engine on my Highlander 2010 limited turned off; the steering wheel got locked. The brakes were working and restarted the car for through the key-less ignition button and was able to pull the car safely to the side. The car did a number of resets by itself and would shutdown as I try to move it forward. I had to tow it to the dealership who have advised me so far that I have a missing battery mount and current is being earthed. The dealership will replace it for 95.95+ tax and will further diagnose for any more problems. I don't think this is the issue since I have been running this car for over 25K miles without such a problem. It was really a terrible experience and never felt such negative about Toyota quality.

2002 Toyota Highlander has just turned 90,000 miles. Not driven long distances as work commute is under a mile and it is a secondary vehicle. In April it starts to buck and plume white smoke. Oil change, tune up, and I'm told it's burning oil. Went ok for about a week and the sporadic but crazy smoking is creating a hazard. Ok so I am told a new engine or a new car. At 90,000. Never knew there were others out there with same issue.

2012 Toyota Highlander AWD - After four months I had a problem with four inches of water throughout my car! I brought it back to McGee Toyota in Hanover, Mass. The sales manager and Nicole said it was the AC and was fixed! They left the water inside for me to take out!! The problem has reoccurred! Steve ** said they couldn't find the problem. It's been over a week and now I have to get a lawyer involved!! I paid cash, extended warranty and have to wait for it to happen again because of lemon law?!?! Welcome to the USA.

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. discriminating against Toyota owner due to vehicle safety issues; NOT offering compensation/replacement for families 2011 Highlander that is proven unreliable and unsafe with a number of service records for engine malfunction issues.

The driver side window is falling down. I have a 2010 Toyota highlander. I have never had this issue before in any vehicle that I have owned. I called Ralph Hayes Toyota about fixing it. They said that it would cost me too much and said that it would be cheaper for me to go to a body shop. I have had 3 brand new Toyota vehicles - two of which were highlanders and out of the 3 vehicles, I have only been happy with one of them. This 2010 highlander has had 3 issues - one the front bumper latches came loose and I had to have an auto body repair shop fix it.

My wife was driving our 2005 Toyota Highlander Limited on a local city street, when the front area of the engine compartment started on fire. There were no warning signs at all when the fire erupted inside the front engine area. The fire resulted in damage to the front grill, hood, engine and various plastic body parts in that area. The Police and Fire department were called, at which point the Fire Department needed to pry the hood open since the hood release latch was apparently too melted to allow the hood to open. Damage was concentrated on the frontal area of the engine compartment and headlight area. At this point we are not sure what actually caused the fire to erupt.

My 2002 Toyota Highlander never gave me a problem until the summer of 2013 when I noticed the oil level low between changes. I took it to the dealer and we decided to monitor the oil more closely between changes. It kept getting worse to the point that the car used a quart of oil in 500 miles. Whenever the car drove at speeds of 65mph or better, oil consumption increased. After reading several oil sludge blogs, I discovered this is a common symptom. After complaining to the dealer and following the "proper channels" to report my problem to Toyota, Toyota says it will not fix my Highlander because I reported the problem too late. I never knew I had a problem until this summer and had no knowledge of the oil sludge class action lawsuit. My Highlander has only 70,000 miles and right now is probably worth salvage value. I'm stuck with an expensive piece of junk that was the fault of a manufacturer's defect that Toyota will not fix. Is this another case of buyer beware or will Toyota do the right thing and stand behind their product?

The check engine light was on. I took the vehicle to the dealer and they said I must have run over something to crack this canister. However, the plastic shroud around the outside was not cracked. It's in perfect condition. The part is molded together. Very suspicious that the crack is right where the two parts are molded. The dealer wants $1,100 to fix this. The Highlander is less than one year old and has just 15,445 miles on it. I paid $48,000 for this vehicle and they are not going to cover this part. Granted this part is part of the emission system, which my state does not even require, but I still think this is a faulty part and should be covered under warranty.

Repair issues (the repairs resulted in additional damage) - I own a 2005 Toyota Highlander, which has an issue with a loose feeling steering wheel that is also off balance. Over the summer, I brought it in to Wilde Toyota to get an alignment, after speaking to a service adviser who recommended it after hearing my issue. I also purchased 4 brand new tires from Wilde at the same time. The problem went away for a little while, but then it returned and I had the same issue. I did some research on my own and found that there was a TSB that could correct the issue. I called Wilde and spoke to a service adviser, who told me that I should bring it in and they can diagnose it for free. I felt like the adviser really didn't want to speak to me since he wasn't listening and he rushed me off of the phone.

After leaving our family vacation in Wisconsin to travel back to New York, the engine of my 2011 Highlander stopped in rush hour traffic in Chicago, IL. I called the Toyota customer care and explained the serious health issues of all who were in the car including our family dog. Carefully exiting the highway with an engine stopping is harrowing. This was on August 8th 2012. The dealer and closest repair shop was Grossingers in Lincolnwood, IL. The service was horrendous. We spent 3 days in Chicago at a hotel. It was determined that the engine needed to be replaced and that it would take 7 days. We rented a car from the dealer and headed to NY.

We bought a used 2008 Toyota Highlander 2.5 years ago. Three weeks ago, it started smoking and we brought it back to the Toyota dealership but they didn't find anything wrong. One week later, it went haywire and nearly died on the interstate. They told us it was oil sludge build up and needed a new engine for $5,000. They cited lack of maintenance because we didn't have it serviced through them. Although, we did get routine oil changes and have never had this problem with any other car we have owned. It only has 80k+ miles and we expected much more from our Toyota. Numerous calls to Toyota have gone nowhere.

I just was told that there is sludge in my engine and that it needs to be replaced. I could not believe that a 2002 Toyota Highlander with 70k miles on, it needs a new engine! I found online the terms of a settlement about sludge build up but that was many years ago and now my car is too old to qualify. Toyota never sent me a letter stating the problems with sludge buildup or a solution. It is no wonder that they settled this so quickly and quietly for 3.5 million – as that is only 1,000 ruined engines, burned by Toyota!

I purchased a new Highlander in June 2003. I took it in Aug. 2003. When I put on the brakes, it sped up. I was told it was because I had driven a straight shift all my life (50+) and didn't understand an automatic. I wrote the company and told me to take it to the dealer. Finally, when the caliper had cut a groove in the brake, they admitted a small problem. Then, it kept feeling weird in the front right. On the rack, I discovered a bolt missing in the brake caliper. They had to replace the whole right front brake system, I think they did?

I needed service for my brand new Toyota Highlander, and I called Toyota Roadside Assistance (supposed to be included in my new car purchase). After several calls, I was told that they could not find me in the system. I would have to pay for a tow truck to take my car in for service. I gave them my debit card number, but then they gave me a higher price than what was quoted, and told me they could not guarantee a tow truck would come on that day. I told them to forget it; I called a tow truck, and paid both for the tow and the new tire. Toyota Roadside then charged my debit card the amount of $129.95 for towing service that they never provided to me. I have repeatedly called Toyota Customer Experience, and have faxed them all of the receipts. This has been more than a month. I want reimbursement for the charge on my debit card and for the charges I incurred in getting service for my car. I have called repeatedly, and sent at least four emails. I am getting really fed up with Toyota

I bought my 2002 Toyota Highlander new. I always had Toyota, or the representative do all the service needed, and on time. After traveling 120,000 miles, I have no problems. The first oil change was when after the oil goes in the top and gone 1 quart one tank of gas.

I am an owner of a 2001 Toyota Highlander. Despite having only 88,000 miles on the vehicle it burns oil despite oil changes at intervals not exceeding 4050 miles. The vehicle is no longer operable and I have been advised by Don Jacobs Toyota that the engine needs to be replaced at a cost of approximately $7,500.

Our 2006 Toyota Highlander suddenly overheated after driving only half mile at a speed of 35 mph. We had our vehicle towed to Crown Toyota to have it diagnosed. They kept the vehicle for 15 days. They tore down the engine and told us we would have to replace the engine due to a warped block leaking water pump and leaking head gasket. Our car had 68970 miles and was no longer under warranty. They wanted $5400 to replace it with a used engine. We paid $654 just for the diagnosis and our car was returned without them reassembling the engine.

The window glass in my 2005 Toyota Highlander is falling repeatedly. Two years ago, the first rear window glass fell into the door pocket, and I had to pay roughly $200 to fix it. Now, another rear window glass fell into the door pocket, and I had to pay another $250 to fix it.

We purchased a "certified" 2002 Highlander in May of 2004. We financed it through Toyota and also purchased a Platinum Extended Warranty. Remember, this is after Toyota announced they were "aware of a tendency for certain engines to sludge”. They had the gall to sell it as "certified”. We spent (arguably) at least $2,000 over market for the "extra assurance" the "certified" designation gave us.

I had my ‘02 Toyota Highlander sludge problem. The service manager accused me of not changing my oil on a regular basis. It was not their fault that the oil was 3 -1/2 quarts low after a recent oil change performed by their service department. I would like to know if I can get my engine replaced free of charge and how do I make that happen? I purchased the vehicle end of January 2003.

We own a 2002 Toyota Highlander. We just got it out of a repair shop for oil sludge which damaged the engine. We were unsuccessful in trying different things on our own to fix the problem. It just got worse in using a quart of oil in less than 200 miles it was being driven. Our repair bill came to $3,103.79 and we just picked it up on 5-4-2011. It was in the repair shop three weeks to this day. We would like to see Toyota cover this engine repair.

Oil was blowing blue smoke out the exhaust on a 2001 Highlander with the 3.0 v-6 motor. It has excessive oil consumption. Vale seals and guides determined to be bad. Also, oil sludge in valve covers all at 55,000 miles. We don't put on many miles. I have never heard of these things going bad at that mileage before in any Toyota. I paid $1,155 to have this repaired. I don't think this should have happened. I have the oil gel glove box and notice from the oil gel problem.