2007 Toyota Highlander
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 123 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 22nd highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.
Of the 2007 reports, 11 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Seats, front assembly, seat heater/coolerJun 2, 2016
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
Campaign 16V396000 on NHTSA.gov
Seats, front assembly, seat heater/coolerNov 19, 2014
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
Campaign 14V743000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsFeb 3, 2010
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
Campaign 10V036000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsFeb 3, 2010
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
Campaign 10V035000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
8 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Other or unspecified, Apr 28, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, LEFT REAR AXLE SNAPPED OFF AND FELL OFF VEHICLE. THE TRANSFER ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THERE IS NO EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THIS HAPPENED AND IF THERE ARE OTHER DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE DRIVE TRAIN.
Power train, Aug 24, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE THE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE TRANSMISSION INITIALLY DID NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Power train, Jan 28, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH UPHILL WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO THE CONTACTS ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AT A LOWER SPEED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOT A FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING UPHILL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Power train, Feb 26, 2010
MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2007 (7 SEATS) STALLS SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL BUT IT IS BECOMING VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT STALLS FOR A SEC OR 2 EVERYTIME YOU SLOW AND TRY TO ACCELERATE AFTERWARD. IT STALL MAINLY AT YIELD SIGN, WHEN SLOWLY TRYING TO CRUISE INTERSECTIONS AND WHEN YOU TRY TO PASS ON HIGHWAYS. I READ MANY STORY ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Feb 15, 2010
I CANNOT BELIEVE TOYOTA IS FINALLY BEING HELD TO TASK. IN 2007 I SENT YOU A COMPLAINT ABOUT TRANSMISSION HESITATION PROBLEMS IN THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. IT WAS SO SEVERE, MY WIFE REFUSED TO DRIVE IT, FEARING A COLLISION ON HIGHWAY ENTRY AS THE CAR HELD BACK AND THEN LURCHED FORWARD. DESPITE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET UNDER TRANSMISSION HESITATION FOR TOYOTA, TOYOTA REFUSED TO ADMIT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND STILL DOES! WITH OTHER PROBLEMS NOW COMING TO LIGHT, I HOPE YOU WILL RE-LOOK AT THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED BECAUSE OF IT, SINCE THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY THING THAT GENERATES THESE INVESTIGATIONS AS ARE NOW GOING ON. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AND THEY ARE ALL EXACTLY THE SAME- NOT LIKELY IF THE PROBLEM ISN'T REAL. *TR
Power train, Feb 5, 2010
MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED [2007] HAS A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. IT IS NOT IN THE CURRENT RECALL. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM 6/5/08. WHEN I AM IN CRUISE CONTROL, THEN BRAKE, THEN PRESS THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM TO RETURN TO CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR SOMETIMES SURGES AHEAD AT SPEEDS MUCH FASTER THAN THE SET CRUISE CONTROL SPEED. I DO NOT TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. HAS HAPPENED 10 - 15 TIMES. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 19,500 MILES. THE TOYOTA DEALER WENT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH ME IN JUNE 2008 BUT THE SURGING DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE TEST DRIVE. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN BUT SINCE IT WAS NOT HAPPENING AT THE TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, I WAS NOT WRITTEN UP. HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I USE CRUISE CONTROL TO RESUME SPEED. ALL INSTANCES HAVE BEEN IN HIGHWAY DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT SEEMS ELECTRONIC TO ME. |OCCURRENCE IS ERRATIC. *TR
Power train, Jan 13, 2008
TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SHIFT AT RANDOM TIMES. AT A STOP IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY AND THE HIGHLANDER WILL COAST TO SPEED, AT OTHER TIMES I TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR LAUNCH OFF LIKE A RACE CAR. WHEN COASTING IT SEEMS TO SHIFT AT RANDOM TIMES AND SOME TIMES SPEED UP WHEN I WANT TO SLOW DOWN BY HITTING BRAKES. THIS SEEMS TO RISK A COLLISION. *TR
Power train, Dec 13, 2006
2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER - UNCONTROLLED TRANSMISSION SURGES CAUSE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. TRANSMISSION ALWAYS SHIFTING DOWN TO 5TH GEAR AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, PUSHING CAR FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN NOT DESIRED. TAKING FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, CAR MAINTAINS SPEED (LIKE ON CRUISE CONTROL). CAR WILL DRIVE AND MAINTAIN SPEEDS WITHOUT GAS PEDAL INPUT. DRIVER MUST FIGHT TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. SLOWING DOWN, COMING TO A STOP SIGN, CAR STILL ALWAYS WANTS TO SHIFT DOWN INTO 5TH GEAR, PUSHING CAR FORWARD FASTER JUST BEFORE FULL STOP, RISKING REAR END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. FIGHTING WITH CAR TO SLOW DOWN. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS CAR IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. *JB