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: visibility/wiper
15 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Sep 20, 2018
THE REAR WIPER QUITS WORKING. INITIALLY THE DEALERSHIP TOOK IT APART, CLEANED IT AND IT WORKED TEMPORARILY. BUT THEN THE WIPER QUIT WORKING AGAIN. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE MECHANISM AND/OR REAR WINDOW ALLOWING IN MOISTURE FOR THIS TO CONTINUE OCCURRING, REQUIRING THE NEED TO KEEP GOING IN AND CLEANING IT OR HAVING TO REPLACE IT AS SOME HAVE REPORTED WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE POINT I AM AT THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Mar 1, 2018
THE SUNROOF EXPLODED AND SHUTTERED WITH A LOAD EXPLOSION NOISE WHILE I WAS DRIVING 55MPH ON A HIGHWAY 17 IN CALIFORNIA WITH MY CHILDREN.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 22, 2017
THE EYEGLASSES HOLDER IN OUR 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS A MALFUNCTION OF DROPPING DOWN IN FRONT OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR DUE TO THE LOSS OF A SMALL RETAINING PIN. THE ISSUE CAUSES A DISRUPTIVE AND VERY ANNOYING SAFETY HAZARD. ATTEMPTS TO GET THE PROBLEM REPAIRED HAVE MET WITH NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES AS THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP MECHANICS AND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI HAVE CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION, NOT REPAIRABLE. WE HAVE TRIED TO TAPE UP THE EYEGLASSES HOLDER, BUT THE TAPE WILL NOT STICK DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE MATERIEL. THE SITUATION BECOMES EMBARRASSING WHEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE IN THE VEHICLE AND TRY TO ASSIST IN KEEPING THE HOLDER UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HOWEVER, WITHOUT FAVORABLE RESULTS AND CONTINUED NAGGING OR COMPLAINING. WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS INCIDENT INFORMATION WILL BE SUFFICIENT IN FINDING A POSITIVE SOLUTION. THE TIMELINE IS APPROXIMATE AND COULD HAVE BEEN LONGER THAN MARKED BECAUSE OF BEING IN PLAUSIBLE DENIAL.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 15, 2017
THE SUN VISORS ARE BOTH BROKEN AND ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. THE DRIVERS VISOR HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE FOR TIME. THE PASSENGER VISOR JUST BROKE RECENTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND AM SURPRISED I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. I HAVE WORN OUT LOTS OF VEHICLES, BUT NEVER THE SUN VISORS. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AS THE SITUATION IS WORSENING. SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Visibility/wiper, Feb 2, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS FAILED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DOOR LOCKS WERE REPLACED PER AN UNKNOWN NHTSA CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW FAILED TO ALIGN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ROLL IT UP OR DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V689000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,109.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 19, 2015
DRIVING VISIBILITY IS AFFECTED AS THE PART HANGS DOWN OBSCURING THE ROAD.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 11, 2015
THE SUN GLASS HOLDER DOES NOT STAY LATCHED. IT WILL FALL AND PARTIALLY OBSCURES THE REAR VIEW MIRROR
Visibility/wiper, May 8, 2015
MY PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE INTERNALLY AND THE INTERNAL SPRING FORCED IT TO POINT STRAIGHT DOWN. IT BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM A SIDE STREET ON THE RIGHT . I HAVE FIDDLED WITH IT AND GOT IT TO STAY UP ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM THE ROOF , BUT IT KEEPS CREEPING BACK DOWN . I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT SUN VISOR FROM TOYOTA THROUGH MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY . THE ORDER WAS "BACK ORDERED" AND HAS YET TO BE SHIPPED FROM ( I PRESUME ) SOUTH EAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS . *TR
Visibility/wiper, Mar 25, 2015
SUN VISOR, DRIVER'S SIDE: HANGS DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREE ANGLE TOWARD DRIVER IN THE STOWED POSITION AND BUMPS HEAD ON THE BOTTOM EDGE WHEN EXITING OR LEANING FORWARD. WHEN IN THE USED POSITION IT GOES AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD GIVING LITTLE BENEFIT AS IT IS TOO HIGH TO BLOCK SUN AT SUNSET OR SUNRISE. IT WILL NOT STAY IN A FULL DOWN POSITION. THE INTERNAL SPRING HOLDS THE SUN VISOR IN THESE 2 POSITIONS ONLY. IN AN ACCIDENT IT MAY POSE A CUTTING PROBLEM ON FOREHEAD IN THE RETRACTED/STOWED POSITION. THE SUN VISOR?S SPRING MECHANISM APPEARED TO ROTATE OUT OF POSITION UPON NORMAL USE. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS TO MANY POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. DEALER CONTACTED ABOUT ISSUE AND CLAIMED IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Dec 22, 2014
THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NO LONGER STAYS UP, SO IT EITHER HAS TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE THUS BLOCKING THE SIDE VIEW, OR LEFT AS IS BLOCKS THE AHEAD VIEW, OR MUST BE HELD WITH ONE ARM WHILE DRIVING ONE-ARMED (NOT IDEAL DRIVING CONDITIONS). MY GARAGE IS ORDERING A NEW VISOR BUT WAS TOLD THESE VISORS ARE ON BACKORDER - THERE ARE 1000 ALREADY ON BACKORDER! SEEMS THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM HERE. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Oct 3, 2014
THE OVERHEAD SUNGLASSES HOLDER SUDDENLY FOLDED DOWN AND WOULD NOT SLIDE BACK INTO PLACE. THERE WAS NO FORCE USED AND IT APPEARED TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THE HOLDER BLOCKS THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SAFELY OPERATE A VEHICLE. A QUICK INTERNET SHOWS THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Aug 25, 2014
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR IS MALFUNCTIONING CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE WITH CLEARLY VIEWING THE ROADWAY. WITHOUT BEING MANIPULATED BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT, THE SUN VISOR--UNPROMPTED--HANGS DOWN PARTIALLY IN THE VISION OF THE VEHICLE DRIVER. ATTEMPTS TO PUSH THE VISOR BACK TO ITS CLOSED POSITION ARE UNSUCCESSFUL. KOONS TYSONS CORNER TOYOTA HAS BEEN INFORMED ON 08/25/2014. VEHICLE OWNER SEEKING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jan 10, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS LATCHED TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOLTS WERE LOOSE DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 15, 2013
I WAS ABOUT TO START THE CAR. MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SHE LOWERED THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR AND THEN TRIED TO PUT IT BACK UP. WE HEARD A CLICK, AND FOUND THAT THE SUN VISOR WILL NOT GO BACK INTO THE "UP" POSITION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT AFFECTS MY VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Visibility/wiper, Dec 18, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND STEERING TO THE RIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN POWERING OFF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DEFROSTER FOR THE REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO REMAIN FOGGY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,300. UPDATED 1/29/13 *CN