2013 Toyota Highlander
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 212 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 26 involved a crash. 12 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
SeatsMar 27, 2014
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2013 Highlander vehicles manufactured March 13, 2013, through August 6, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the second row left hand seat may not lock in place when positioned in the forward front or second adjusting position. As such, the vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."
If the seat does not lock into the seat track, there may be an increased risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will modify the second row left hand seat so that it will lock into the seat track, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 14V148000 on NHTSA.gov
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
212 reports, newest first.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 10, 2021
My car will stall with no warning. I have taken my car multiple times to the dealership and the problem has not been able to be repaired. There have been other years of Toyota recalled for this exact same problem however, mine has not been. This is a serious safety concern!
Steering, Jul 3, 2021
- The car was purchased in 2015 used and the steering wheel has made a clunking sound when turning a hard sharp left or right since the day of purchase -While on a road trip of approximately 3,000 miles round trip in June 2021 the steering wheel was adjusted to accommodate my husband's height. It became very loose, with it finally dropping into my husband's lap on the last day of our trip-it was difficult to steer the car -We brought the car in to our dealership the following day where they confirmed we needed a new steering column-the car has not been involved in any accidents nor have the air bags employed -Other than the "clunking" sound there has never been any previous warning that the steering wheel would disengage while driving.
Air bags, Seat belts, Apr 23, 2021, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND SWERVED TO AVOID A CAT, IT RESULTED IN CRASHING INTO A METAL TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LARRY H. MILLER LEXUS SPOKANE1030 W 3RD AVE, SPOKANE, WA 99201: (509) 293-6074 BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DRIVER STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER CHEST AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE WAS NO REPORTED FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
Seats, Apr 12, 2021
THE RIGHT MIDDLE SEAT DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE WHEN IT IS AT THE FURTHEST FRONT POSITION,
Steering, Mar 24, 2021
THERE ARE SOUNDS WHEN SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING, INCLUDING POPING OR SOMETIMES LIKE A WHIRLING SOUND. THE STEERING IS A BIT STIFF SOMETIMES AND NOT EASY TO TURN THE WHEELS, THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AT ANY SPECIFIC SPEED. I DO NOT HAVE ANY PICTURE OR OTHER DOCUMENT I CAN UPLOAD AS THIS IS NOT PHYSICAL DAMAGE THAT CAN BE PHOTOGRAPHED.
Wheels, Feb 5, 2021, crash
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WHEELS HYDOPLANNED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSS CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A CENTER CONCRETE WALL. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST. THE CONTACT DID GO TO THE HOSPITAL COUPLE OF HOURS LATER TO TREAT INJURIES TO THE RIBS WHICH WERE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DID NOT STAY OVERNIGHT. NO POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVEABLE THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOT WHERE AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS SITTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. NO INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.CK *BF THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 22, 2020
AS I BEGIN DRIVING AND COME TO STOP IT TENDS TO REV UP AND THEN DROPS BACK TO NORMAL. IT FEELS LIKE VEHICLE REVS UP A LITTLE WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO STOP IT BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL.IT FEELS LIKE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO STOP AND YOU HAVE THE FEELINGS TO PRESS THE BRAKE EVEN HARDER.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 13, 2020
CHECKED OIL LAST WEEK ALSO DEALER SUPPOSEDLY CHANGED OIL COUPLE DAYS AGO YELLOW TRIANGLE LIGHT CAME ON IT WAS JUST BOUGHT SO UNFAMILIAR WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS TRIED TO LOOK UP TOLD ME NOTHING. TODAY I LEFT A FRIENDS HOUSE (3MILES ) SHE CALLED AND SAID I LEFT MASSIVE OIL LEAK LEFT ON HER DRIVEWAY. SURE ENOUGH I LOOKED ON MY DRIVEWAY AND I ALSO HAD HUGE OIL LEAK LUCKY SHE CALLED ME I COULD HAVE BLOWN THE ENGINE OR IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE IF I HAD DRIVEN IT ANY FARTHER OR SHE DIDN'T TELL ME PROCEEDED TO LOOK UP COMMON TOYOTA HIGHLANDER PROBLEMS. AND THERE IT WAS SAYING MASSIVE OIL LEAKS FROM THE LINE EXPLODING ALSO SAID THAT THE REPAIR TOYOTA GIVES TO FIX THE PROBLEM HAS PROBLEMS TOO I'M ASSUMING THIS IS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS I'M LUCKY I WAS NOT OUT ON HIGHWAY HAVING IT TOWED TOMMOROW THE PICTURE IS AT HER HOUSE SHE SENT AFTER I LEFT. MY DRIVEWAY OIL LEAK IS TWICE THAT SIZE
Air bags, Oct 26, 2020
MY PASSENGER AIRBAG KEEPS TURNING OFF DUE TO A SENSOR. I HAVE HAD IT FIXED, AND A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES LATER, IT WAS BACK ON!
Seats, Oct 9, 2020
BACK SEAT IS STUCK IN FOLDING POSITION. RAIL IS STUCK
Seat belts, Sep 30, 2020, crash
WAS HIT IN THE REAR END ON THE HIGHWAY, I WAS MOVING PROBABLY 8-10 MPH THROUGH A DEBRIS FIELD FROM AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW AND HIT ME PROBABLY AROUND 35-40 MPH. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT FIRE SINCE IN A REAR END IMPACT THEY SHOULD NOT TRIGGER. I DID NOT IMPACT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY HEAD HIT THE HEADREST IN MY FIRST MOTION THEN IT HIT THE STEERING WHEEL LEAVING ME WITH A CONCUSSION. MY ISSUE SHOULDN'T THE SEAT BELT HAVE LOCKED AND RESTRAINED ME IN THAT SECONDARY IMPACT MOTION?
Seats, Sep 18, 2020
A FEW YEARS AGO ONE OF THE 3RD ROW SEATS GOT STUCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AFTER PUTTING IT FROM DOWN TO UP. I HAVE NEVER HAD IT FIXED AS IT HASN'T BEEN A HUGE INCONVENIENCE. I SAW TODAY THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE MIDDLE ROW SEAT FOR SOMETHING (WHICH I DO NOT BELIEVE AFFECTS MY CAR) AND THOUGHT I WOULD DOCUMENT MY ISSUE IN CASE THERE ARE OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THANK YOU.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Sep 1, 2020
POWER SUNROOF DRAINS INTO FLOORBOARDS. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH HIGHLANDERS AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR A WEEK AGO. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THE LINES WERE CLOGGED AND BLEW THEM OUT. A WEEK LATER THE FLOORBARDS ARE FULL OF WATER AGAIN.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 24, 2020
THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND DRIVER DOOR LOCK/ACTUATOR DOES NOT WORK. THE PASSENGER DOOR FIRST HAPPENED 1 TO 1.5 YEARS AGO. I HAVE NOT FIXED IT BECAUSE OF THE OUTRAGEOUS COST. NOW, THE DRIVER DOOR ACTUATOR/DOOR LOCK IS EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND WILL SOON CEASE TO WORK. TOYOTA HAS NO WARRANTY PROGRAM OR RECALL ON THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. I THINK HAVING YOUR DOOR LOCKS NOT WORK IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND REQUEST THAT THIS BE FOUND TO BE AN ISSUE TOYOTA MUST COVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 24, 2020
THE POWER HATCH BACK DOES NOT WORK. IT IS SO FREQUENT PROBLEM AND SO MANY COMPLAINTS BUT NO SOLUTION OFFERED BY THE TOYOTA COMPANY. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 17, 2020
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR DOES NOT WORK, MAKING LOCK INEFFECTIVE AND NOT WORKABLE. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. UNSURE HOW INEFFECTIVE LOCKS ARE NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY ON A CAR THAT IS NOT THAT OLD. *TR
Service brakes, Apr 1, 2020, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE PARKING SPACE, TRAVELING DOWN A HILL ABOUT 40 FEET DOWN LANDING ON THE FRONT GRILLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000.
Engine, Jan 31, 2020
HEAD GASKET CRACKED, LEAKING COOLANT INTO 5TH CYLINDER. THE REASON FOR A PO305 MISFIRE CODE ON READER. AUTO SHOP REMOVED HEAD GASKET AND SAW THAT THE FINISH ON THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS HORRIBLE. THEY CALLED TOYOTA THEMSELVES TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND HAVE THEM REPLACE THAT SIDE OF THE BLOCK. AUTO SHOP DOESN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE REPLACING HEAD GASKET WITHOUT TOYOTA FIXING THE FINISH. IF THE FINISH IS AS IS, HEAD GASKET WILL EVENTUALLY CRACK AGAIN. HIGHLANDER WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND ONLY HAS 73K MILES.
Steering, Jan 15, 2020
INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT - NOISE BEGAN AROUND 60K MILES AND HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, NOW AT 104K. IF TOYOTA KNOWINGLY MADE A DESIGN CHANGE AND ISSUED A NEW REPLACEMENT PART, RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.
Electrical system, Dec 11, 2019
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND HAS TWICE HAD RATS CHEWING ON THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE CENSOR WIRING. THESE ARE THE ONLY WIRES THEY'VE CHEWED ON SO FAR. I FEEL THE SOY BASED WIRING THAT TOYOTA USES IS TO BLAME SINCE MY NEIGHBORS ARE NOT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES THAT ARE PARKED OUTDOORS. A CLAIM WITH USAA HAS BEEN FILED.
Steering, Dec 3, 2019
'THUNK'/POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, AND LEARNED THAT A NEW ONE WAS DEVELOPED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN 2013 BUT NO RECALL OR SAFETY NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS.
Structure, Nov 25, 2019
DRIVER DOOR STARTED POPPING AFTER 100,000 MILES WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING. RESEARCHED AND IT'S THE DOOR CHECK. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A FAMILIAR PROBLEM THAT NO ONE IS RECALLING.
Steering, Sep 11, 2019
WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL GOING VERY SLOW OR STATIONARY MY STEERING WHEEL MAKES A POPPING SOUNDS AND MY MECHANIC SAYS IT'S THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. ITS GETTING WORSE AS I'M PUTTING MILES ON IT. SINCE IT'S A STEERING COMPONENT, IT'S A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE SINCE IF IT FAILS I WILL LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY CAR.
Air bags, Sep 4, 2019, crash
I HAD A FRONT END ACCIDENT ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I CAUSED REAR END DAMAGE TO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. ON SEPT. 2, I HAD ANOTHER FRONT END COLLISION. I RAN INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER THAT HOLDS LIGHT POSTS IN PARKING LOTS. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED ME CHEST, BACK, AND NECK PAIN. THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I AM STILL IN PAIN DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT.THE FRAME WAS BENT IN FROM THIS COLLISION.
Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Aug 11, 2019
THE DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY TO REPAIR THEM AFTER OWNING CAR FOR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. THE POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO OPERATE AT RANDOM TIMES. THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 TOYOTA YARIS WINDOW PANEL. THE CAR JUMPS OR SKIPS WHILE ACCELERATING.