2011 Toyota Highlander

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Steering is the leading concern among 186 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 17th highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 186

Of the 2011 reports, 14 involved a crash. 8 people were injured.

Primary concernSteering34 reports · 18% of complaints
Owner complaints186Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Steering34
  2. Structure27
  3. Visibility/wiper25
  4. Electrical system23
  5. Engine18
  6. Service brakes18
  7. Power train16
  8. Other or unspecified15

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. Visibility, power window devices and controlsOct 22, 2015

    Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.

    If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.

    Campaign 15V689000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. 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

  4. Equipment, other, labelsApr 9, 2013

    Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

    Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

    Campaign 13V123000 on NHTSA.gov

  5. Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveJan 16, 2013

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

    If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

    Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

    Campaign 13V014000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints

186 reports, newest first.

  1. Service brakes, Jun 19, 2015, crash

    WHILE GOING INTO A PARKING SPACE, I ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED ENTIRELY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. AS THE RESULT, MY VEHICLE DROPPED APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET OVER A RETAINING WALL TO A LOWER PARKING LOT LANDING NOSE FIRST ONTO THE PAVEMENT OF THE PARKING AREA BELOW. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE ULTIMATELY LANDED ON ALL FOUR TIRES, ROLLING FORWARD UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.

  2. Visibility/wiper, Jun 16, 2015

    THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR IS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THIS IS CREATING DIFFICULTY SEEING AND I HAVE HIT MY HEAD ON THE VISOR A FEW TIMES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA EXPECTING IT TO BE COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE COST WAS ROUGHLY $230 FOR THE PART AND AN ADDITIONAL $30 TO INSTALL. CLEARLY WITH THIS CREATING A VISIBILITY HAZARD AND THE SHEER NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THIS SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL. ...UPDATED08/20/15 *BF UPDATED 11/27/15*JS

  3. Steering, May 27, 2015

    WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE STEERING SYSTEM HAS A SIGNIFICANT "BUMP" OF "THUMP". THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A PART OF THE STEERING SECTOR SHAFT THAT TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF BUT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH DESIGN. TOYOTA WILL ONLY CORRECT PROBLEM IF CUSTOMER IS WILLING TO PAY COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1200. NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF CORRECTION IS NOT MADE, BUT I BELIEVE IT COULD LEAD TO FAILURE OF THE STEERING SYSTEM TO FUNCTION APPROPRIATELY.

  4. Electrical system, May 14, 2015

    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 BEGAN HAPPENING WHEN I WOULD TURN LEFT. WHEN THE WEATHER IS REALLY HOT OUTSIDE (90S AND ABOVE) IT IS WORSE. THIS ISSUE CAUSES A BIGGER PROBLEM, WITH THE VEHICLE THINKING THAT THE REAR DOOR IS NOT CLOSED IT DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO LOCK/ALARM MY VEHICLE WHEN OUT IN PUBLIC. I AM ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND CURRENTLY LIVE OVERSEAS, SO KEEPING MY VEHICLE LOCKED/ALARMED IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

  5. Other or unspecified, May 13, 2015

    THE SUN VISOR IN THE DRIVER SIDE IS STUCK IN HALF WAY DOWN POSITION, HIT MY FOREHEAD TWICE ALREADY ON THIS.

  6. Visibility/wiper, Apr 29, 2015

    THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILED AND FLIPPED DOWN, IT HAS SINCE REMAINED IN THE DOWN POSITION AND NO LONGER LOCKS IN PLACE. I AM TALLER THAN MY WIFE SO IT IS A PROBLEM FOR ME WHEN I DRIVE HER CAR. I JUST CHECKED THE FORUMS AND THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN ORDER REPLACEMENT SUN VISORS SINCE THEY SELLOUT VERY QUICKLY. *TR

  7. Visibility, Mar 3, 2015

    FOR NO REASON AT ALL MY SUNVISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT STAY UP. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING TRYING TO DRIVE WITH IT HALF WAY DOWN AND OBSTRUCTS MY VISION. I HAVE NOT YET PUT IT IN THE SHOP YET SO DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO FIX IT, BUT IT HAS TO BE FIXED. IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY! *TR

  8. Visibility, Structure, Jan 20, 2015

    I HAVE A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN FROM ITS INTERNAL GUIDE ON THE VISOR, MAKING IT UNSAFELY AND UNCONTROLLABLY FLIP & FLOP AROUND. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET A REPLACEMENT, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE ARE MORE THAN 200 ON BACKORDER, AND IT COULD TAKE ONE OR MORE MONTHS TO GET A REPLACEMENT. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWS PREVIOUS RECALLS ON TOYOTA SUN VISORS. SO, WITH MORE THAN 200 ALREADY NEEDING REPLACEMENTS ON WHAT SHOULD BE A STRONG PART, IT SUGGESTS A LARGER PROBLEM WORTHY OF YOUR ATTENTION AND A POSSIBLE RECALL. THANKS.

  9. Other or unspecified, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Visibility/wiper, Jan 14, 2015

    THE SUN VISOR POPPED WHEN I WAS PULLING IT DOWN TO SHEILD MY EYES AND NOW IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ORIGINAL POSITION. CONCERN AS IT GETS IN MY WAY WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR WHICH I TEND TO HIT MY HEAD ON AND HAVE TO MOVE MY SEAT LOWER IN ORDER TO SEE PROPERLY. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $300 TO FIX. THAT IS RIDICULOUS AS I FEEL THIS IS A FAULTY PART THAT COULD BE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF. RECAL MAY BE IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE.

  10. Structure, Jan 12, 2015

    THE POWER LIFT-GATE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY, BROKE ABOUT 50000 MILES AFTER THE 36 MONTHS OR 36,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS TOYOTA CERTIFIED. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED AS A RECALL INSTEAD OF TSB BECAUSE IT WAS A DESIGNED ISSUES REASON TOYOTA UPGRADED WITH BETTER DESIGNED HINGES. ALSO, IT WILL BE NICE IF TOYOTA INFORMED US ABOUT THE TSB BY WRITING SO OWNER CAN DOUBLE CHECK. *TR

  11. Power train, Engine, Jan 5, 2015

    T-SB-0201-11 FROM TOYOTA STATES "SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2GR-FE/FXE TOWING PACKAGE ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT AN OIL SEEP FROM THE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPES." THIS TSB AFFECTS TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES GOING BACK TO AT LEAST 2008-PRESENT. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE, AND I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED AS A RECALL INSTEAD OF A TSB DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ISSUE IF/WHEN THE PIPE BREAKS. I RECENTLY ELECTED TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED ON MY OWN JUST SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS ISSUE HAPPENING TO ME OR MY WIFE, AND THUS BLOWING UP MY HIGHLANDER'S ENGINE CAUSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES. SEEMS PRETTY BAD THAT A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED FOR FLOOR MATS AND ACCELERATOR ISSUES, BUT NO RECALL IS ISSUED FOR THIS ISSUE WHICH CAN DRAIN THE OIL FROM YOUR ENGINE IN A MINUTE, BLOW UP YOUR ENGINE, AND THEN POSSIBLY WRECK YOUR VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S ENGINES ARE NOW BEING DESTROYED, AND THIS IS SHOWING UP IN DIFFERENT ONLINE FORUMS. I FEEL THAT THE NHTSA NEEDS TO FORCE TOYOTA TO REPLACE ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPES WITH THE NEWER METAL ONES THAT THE TSB ADDRESSES. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE FORCED TO REIMBURSE ALL COSTS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT EITHER NEEDED TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE, OR DECIDED TO PREVENTATIVELY HAVE THE REPAIR DONE ON THEIR OWN BEFORE THOSE PIPES BURST ON THEIR OWN. *TR

  12. Structure, Dec 23, 2014

    THE AUTO LIFTGATE FOR THE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT GO UP AND DOWN. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS GONE OUT FOR THIS DEFECT! *TR

  13. Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Dec 18, 2014

    THE AUTOMATIC LATCH OF THE LIFTGATE STARTED TO FAIL. THE LIFTGATE NOT LONGER OPENS AUTOMATICALLY. I WAS TOLD IT IS PROBABLY THE MOTOR AND THE PARTS COST ALONE IS OVER $1,200. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS AND AM DOING WITHOUT THAT FEATURE, BUT ANNOYED! *TR

  14. Visibility/wiper, Dec 17, 2014

    THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR SPRING BROKE PREVENTING THE VISOR FROM EITHER FOLDING BACK UP OR COMING DOWN COMPLETELY, CAUSING A VISIBILITY PROBLEM AND A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

  15. Service brakes, Dec 17, 2014

    I WAS DRIVING IN THE SIERRA NEVADA WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING SEVERELY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON DOWNWARD SLOPES. I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE BRAKE DISCS OVERHEATING. FOR THE REMAINED OF THE TRIP I USED THE GEARSHIFT TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR WHEN DRIVING ALONG DOWNWARD SLOPING ROADS BY SELECTING 2ND GEAR IN THE AUTOMATIC GEARSHIFT. BY AVOIDING USE OF THE BRAKES, I AVOIDED THE VIBRATION AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME SAFELY. I SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE. THE TECHNICAL STAFF CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE DISCS SHOWED SIGNS OF OVERHEATING AND REPLACED THEM UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT SOLVE THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM: UNDERSIZED DISCS, UNABLE TO DISSIPATE THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE BRAKES WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS PRESENTED ITSELF AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 19,000 MILES, DURING ANOTHER TRIP IN THE COASTAL HILLS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA. PLEASE, CONSIDER THIS A SEVERE PROBLEM, POTENTIALLY REQUIRING A RECALL: THE SEVERE VIBRATIONS CAUSED BY THE BRAKES ON A DOWNWARD SLOPING MOUNTAIN ROAD, ESPECIALLY WITH WET OR SNOWY ROADS, COULD EASILY MAKE THE VEHICLE TO SLIP OUT OF CONTROL AND CAUSE A CRASH. *TR

  16. Service brakes, Dec 17, 2014

    I WAS DRIVING IN THE COASTAL HILLS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING SEVERELY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON DOWNWARD SLOPES. I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE BRAKE DISCS OVERHEATING. FOR THE REMAINED OF THE TRIP I USED THE GEARSHIFT TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR WHEN DRIVING ALONG DOWNWARD SLOPING ROADS BY SELECTING 2ND GEAR IN THE AUTOMATIC GEARSHIFT. BY AVOIDING USE OF THE BRAKES, I AVOIDED THE VIBRATION AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME SAFELY. I SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE. THE TECHNICAL STAFF CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE DISCS SHOWED SIGNS OF OVERHEATING BUT DID NOT REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SAME PROBLEM PRESENTED ITSELF EARLIER, TOO, AT APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES, DURING A TRIP IN THE SIERRA NEVADA. ON THIS PREVIOUS INCIDENT, WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE BRAKE DISKS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM WAS NOT ADDRESSED: THE UNDERSIZED DISCS BEING UNABLE TO DISSIPATE THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE BRAKES WHEN DRIVING DOWNHILL. PLEASE, CONSIDER THIS A SEVERE PROBLEM, POTENTIALLY REQUIRING A RECALL: THE SEVERE VIBRATIONS CAUSED BY THE BRAKES ON A DOWNWARD SLOPING MOUNTAIN ROAD, ESPECIALLY WITH WET OR SNOWY ROADS, COULD EASILY MAKE THE VEHICLE TO SLIP OUT OF CONTROL AND CAUSE A CRASH. *TR

  17. Structure, Dec 15, 2014

    THE OPEN REAR AUTOMATIC DOOR FAILED, IMMEDIATELY CLOSING ON MY WIFE'S BACK AS SHE WAS REMOVING A BAG FROM THE REAR CARGO AREA. THE FAILURE HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAME DOWN HARD. AS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPLACE AT THEIR COST. *TR

  18. Structure, Dec 5, 2014

    POWER BACK DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, BROKEN AT 43,326 MILES AFTER THE 36 MONTHS OR 36,000 MILES. *TR

  19. Visibility/wiper, Nov 28, 2014

    THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR SPRING IS BROKE SO THAT VISOR BLOCKS DRIVER'S VISION CAUSING POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. STAYS IN PARTIALLY DOWN POSITION. CONTACTED DEALER AND TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE. THERE WERE OVER 300 SUN VISORS ON BACK ORDER WITH NO DELIVERY PROMISE DATE AS PRODUCTION OF VISOR HAS BEEN HALTED. THERE ARE NO REPAIRS. INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT 17 OF THE 66 COMPLAINTS IN DATA BASE FOR HIGHLANDER ARE SUN VISOR ISSUES. TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE SAYS NO RECALLS, SERVICE BULLETINS. DEALER WANTS OVER $300 TO REPAIR, IF HE COULD GET A VISOR. THIS CLEARLY A GENERIC ISSUE WITH SAFETY IMPLICATIONS! *TR

  20. Service brakes, Nov 17, 2014

    BOTH FRONT INNER BRAKESPADS COMPLETELY WARNED OUT DAMAGING BOTH ROTORS BADLY, SOME METAL PIECES FOUND ON FLOOR BROKE LOOSE FROM BOTH FRONT ROTORS. OUTSIDE PADS HAS 60% THICKNESS LEFT ON IT. ENDED UP CHANGING BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND PADS COSTING $375. MECHANIC SAID THIS MAY BE A RESULT OF A FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM. TALK TO TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE WITHOUT ANY SOLUTION OR RESPONSE. *TR

  21. Structure, Oct 31, 2014

    THE AUTOMATIC LATCH OF THE LIFTGATE STARTED TO FAIL. THE LIFTGATE NOT LONGER OPENS AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REJECTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

  22. Seat belts, Oct 28, 2014

    WOW! IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER!! %&*@* HIGHLANDER HAS MORE SAFETY PROBLEMS.... 24,988 MILES; SUNDAY, OCT 26, 2014 OUR YOUNGEST SONS SEATBELT (2ND ROW PASSENGER BEHIND DRIVER SEAT) WOULD NOT RELEASE; CAUSING HIM TO PANIC AND NEARLY CHOKE HIMSELF TO GET OUT. I HAD TO YANK, PULL AND TUG TO GET THE BELT TO RELEASE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED INCLUDING NOT BEING ABLE TO GET IT TO CLICK AND STAY BUCKLED. SO, BESIDES A VEHICLE WE CAN'T DRIVE FAR TO NOT RISK GETTING STRANDED BECAUSE OF REPORTED ENGINE MALFUNCTION ISSUES (TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. EXPRESSED CLEARLY: 'OH WELL, TOO BAD, YOUR SCREWED, GOOD LUCK!), THE LIE OF A COVER UP EXTENDED WARRANTY NEVER RECEIVED AND NOW WE CAN'T USE THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER SEAT BEHIND DRIVER DUE TO SEAT BELT NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHAT'S NEXT?? I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WITH ALL THE RECENT TOYOTA RECALLS. *TR

  23. Structure, Oct 26, 2014

    I OWN A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT I BOUGHT NEW. AT APPROXIMATELY 7-9 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE PIVOT OR LINK ARM OF THE AUTOMATIC LIFT GATE DETACHED FROM THE BODY FRAME. I RE-ATTACHED IT AS IT LOOKS IT BECAME LOOSE. AFTER A FEW OTHER INSTANCES IN WHICH IT GOT LOOSE AGAIN AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS, I DECIDED TO BRING THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. I MENTIONED THE ISSUE TO THE SERVICES REP WHO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN (SB) LINKED TO THE LIFTGATE. HE MENTIONED ABOUT THE SB SINCE IT SEEMS THAT THE ISSUE WAS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE HINGE DOORS PROBLEM THAT WAS BEING ADDRESSED THROUGH THE SB. THE JOB WAS MADE (REPLACING THE HINGE). I WAS ASKED TO PAY FOR IT SINCE THE SB WAS DUE WITH THE CAR 36 MO. /36K MI. WARRANTY. I INITIALLY OBJECTED TO THIS BUT ENDED PAYING THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR HAD 43,000 MILES AT THE TIME. THE ISSUE WAS APPARENTLY CORRECTED. WELL, IT WAS NOT. THE SCREW NUT AT THE END OF THE ARM THAT ATTACHES THE ARM TO THE CAR FRAME WAS STRIPPED AND ALSO DAMAGING THE THREAD ON THE CAR FRAME. THIS ARM WAS NEVER CHANGED BY TOYOTA. RECENTLY, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER THAT OPENED NEAR MY HOME AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT HE HEARD ABOUT OR SEES A CAR WITH THIS ISSUE. THROUGH DIFFERENT SEARCHES LOOKING ON HOW TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE PROPERLY AND AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION THROUGH THE WEB, HAVE NOTICED THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS FILED OVER THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

  24. Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 5, 2014

    I HAD MY CAR IN FOR IT'S 60,000 MILE SERVICE ON FRIDAY, OCT 3RD, 2014 AT CHEROKEE TOYOTA, CANTON, GA. MY WIFE DROVE IT FOR ONLY THE THIRD TIME SINCE THE SERVICE AND ENCOUNTERED A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE HIGHLANDER STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. MY WIFE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THEN THE ENGINE CUTOFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I MEET UP WITH HER AND TRIED TO START THE CAR. THE ENGINE TACHOMETER RAPIDLY INCREASED THEN THE ENGINE SHUTOFF. TOWED TO CHEROKEE TOYOTA FOR EVALUATION. *TR

  25. Visibility/wiper, Oct 1, 2014

    DRIVER-SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND FAILED TO STAY IN UP POSITION, BLOCKING DRIVER'S VIEW OF ROAD AND CREATING A DISTRACTION. CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS ON 16 AUGUST BUT SERVICE PERSONNEL INDICATED THAT THEY HAD NO VISORS IN STOCK. ORDERED ONE THAT DAY BUT COULD NOT GET THE PART UNTIL MID SEPT. PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE PART BECAUSE THIS WAS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM AND SUPPLIER COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH DEMAND. *TR