2012 Toyota Highlander
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 191 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 16 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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: steering
47 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Dec 21, 2018
MAKING POPPING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAVE IT SERVICED AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY. WHICH COST $273 DOLLARS BEFORE LABOR. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE 2008 TO 2013 MODELS. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA.
Steering, Dec 19, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE NOISE OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS AND WAS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER (MCGEORGE TOYOTA, 9319 W BROAD STREET, HENRICO, VA 23294) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,987. *TT CONSUMER STATED NOISE WAS DIAGNOSED AS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.*JB
Steering, Oct 3, 2018
WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING TURNED, SPECIFICALLY TO THE RIGHT, THERE IS A POPPING AND CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO ALLOW EXTRA TRAVEL PLAY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THERE IS AN EXISTING TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN T-SB-0034-13 WHICH OUTLINES A REPLACEMENT STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT.
Steering, Aug 5, 2018
WHEN DRIVING, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT WHILE TURNING. HEARD A KNOCK SOUND AT VARIOUS TIMES. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED. THE COST CAME TO $540. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES. BASED ON OTHER COMPLAINTS I SEE ONLINE, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A TREND AND SHOULD BE A RECALL VOLUNTEERED BY TOYOTA.
Steering, Jun 11, 2018
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CLUNK OR KNOCK TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. IT OCCURRED AT SLOW SPEEDS SUCH AS TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION. THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THIS IS A KNOWN , REPORTED DEFECT ON HIGHLANDERS FROM 2008 - 2013. IT NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED TO THE LEVEL OF A RECALL.
Steering, May 12, 2018
CLUNKING WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL
Steering, Feb 26, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A POPPING NOISE WAS PRESENT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (SEEGER TOYOTA, 12833 OLIVE ST, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141). WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 13, 2018
2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILURE AND HORN CABLE FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE FAILURES AND TO BE REIMBURSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JS
Steering, Suspension, Seats, Feb 1, 2018
THIS VEHICLE PRESENTS A HIGH NOISE BUMP WHEN STEERING. THE SUSPENSION FRONT & BACK IS TERRIBLE, CAUSING INTERIOR RATTLES FRONT AND BACK.
Steering, Apr 12, 2017
VERY SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IT WAS IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THERE WAS DIFFICULTLY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE ON ACCELERATION. LATER IT APPEARED AS IF THERE WAS A HIGH POINT IN THE STEERING. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CHANGED AT 32K MILES AND NOW THERE IS A DISTINCT CLUNK IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING OR ACCELERATING. THE CAR WAS CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT WHEN THE TIRES WERE CHANGED. I RECEIVED NO REPORT OF SUSPENSION OR TIE ROD PROBLEMS. CLUNK BECAME MORE AUDIBLE. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW AND A PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT VERY EARLY. CURRENT MILEAGE LESS THAN 33K.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 10, 2017
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND EXITING A HIGHWAY, APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, DASHBOARD FLICKERED, AND ENGINE DIED. THE RED STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY, BUT THE WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PERIOD OF A FEW MINUTES. BATTERY & ALTERNATOR WERE TESTED - NO MALFUNCTION.
Steering, Mar 8, 2017, crash
WIFE WAS IN PARKING LOT AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY. WENT TO TURN CAR OUT OF PARKING SPOT, WAS NOT ABLE TO AND HIT A POLE. STEERING WHEEL TURNED BUT WHEELS DID NOT. TOWED VEHICLE TO ANDY MOHR TOYOTA AVON. ADVISED THAT RACK WAS SHEERED. NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT THE TWO YEARS SERVICE WRITER HAD BEEN WORKING THERE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT PRIOR THAT WOULD OF CAUSED PROBLEM. ALSO DEALER INDICATES STEERING WIRE IS ALSO DAMAGED. LUCKY WIFE WAS NOT ON INTERSTATE OR OTHER HIGHWAY, ACCIDENT COULD OF BEEN CATASTROPHIC.
Steering, Nov 11, 2016
REPEATED POPPING NOISE FROM INTERMEDIA SHAFT. STAR TOYOTA SERVICE REPLACED THE INTERMEDIA SHAFT UNDER THE WARRANTY WITH OLD DESIGN PART#45220-48170 BACK IN OCT. 2013. THE PROBLEM RESURFACED AFTER 3 YEAR, OCT. 2016. THERE WAS A NEW DESIGN FROM TOYOTA, PART#45220-48171 IN 2013. TOYOTA REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS WITH WARRANTY. TOYOTA ISSUED T-SB-0034-13. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THE INTERMEDIA SHAFT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSS CONTROL.
Steering, Nov 11, 2016
POPPING NOISE FROM THE INTERMEDIA SHAFT.
Steering, Jul 12, 2016
INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT 45220-48171 HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED I HAD TO BRAKE HARD, THEN THE ABS INTERMITTENTLY PUSHED THE PADS AGAINST THE DISCS CREATING VIBRATION THAT WAS FELT AT THE STEERING WHEEL VERY NOISY AND SHAKE LIKE LOOKED LIKE MY HIGHLANDER FRONT WHEELS CAME APART .THEN I KNEW THE VEHICLE MUST BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY DUE SAFETY PROBLEM.
Steering, May 5, 2016
CLUNKING IN STEERING AT SLOW SPEED WHEN MAKING SHARP LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS. DIAGNOSED AS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDING REPLACEMENT. REPAIRED AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP.
Steering, Feb 11, 2016
AT 40,000 MILES I NOTICED FOR THE FIRST TIME A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE AT A SLOW SPEED. OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IT WORSENED. I LOOKED UP THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND DOZEN OF SIMILAR OCCURRENCES IN THIS SAME MODEL WITH VEHICLE OWNERS REPORTING HAVING TO REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT. SOMETIMES IF LEFT LONG ENOUGH, I READ THAT THIS HAS LEAD TO STEERING FAILURE. I TOOK THE HIGHLANDER TO MY DEALER TODAY WHO DETERMINED THE STEERING SHAFT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT WHICH WILL COST AROUND $600. THIS TO ME IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD LET THIS GO. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR EXACTLY AS RECOMMENDED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE OWNED OVER A DOZEN VEHICLES IN THE LAST 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SHAFT. I AM CURIOUS WITH SO MANY OTHER OCCURRENCES OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE BY OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS WHY THIS HASN'T RESULTED IN A RECALL TO REPAIR ALL HIGHLANDERS OF THIS VINTAGE WITH THIS STEERING SHAFT.
Steering, Nov 7, 2015
KLUNK SOUND AND FEELING IN STEERING WHEEL STARTED AROUND 48000 MILE AT 51000 TOLD BY DEALER THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED REPLACING. THIS SEEMS TO BE AND ON GOING PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA CARS
Steering, Feb 5, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Steering, Aug 23, 2014
OUR CAR MAKES A CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN U TURN TO THE RIGHT . IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE AND LOUD. THIS CONCERNS ME AS THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS VERY IMPORTANT. *TR
Steering, May 25, 2014
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CLICKING FEEL IN THE STEERING SYSTEM ABOUT A YEAR AND 9 MONTHS FROM MANUFACTURE DATE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A FAILED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND RECOMMEND INDICATE REPLACEMENT . I CONTACTED TOYOTA AS I FEEL REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY COMPANY DUE TO NATURE OF FAILURE AND AGE OF VEHICLE. THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED ANYTHING IN WAY IF ASSISTANCE AND HAVE NO RECALL PENDING EVEN THOUGH THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM ACROSS THE WHOLE TOYOTA VEHICLE LINE UP. *TR
Steering, Jun 12, 2013, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWAYING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO A BILLBOARD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. *TR