2014 Toyota Highlander

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Electrical system is the leading concern among 136 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 19th highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 136

Of the 2014 reports, 5 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 6 people were injured and 1 person died.

Primary concernElectrical system35 reports · 26% of complaints
Owner complaints136Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system35
  2. Other or unspecified33
  3. Structure32
  4. Power train9
  5. Visibility/wiper6
  6. Seat belts5
  7. Vehicle speed control5
  8. Steering4

Recalls and investigations

  1. Electrical systemNov 27, 2018

    Fujian Wanda Automobile Glass Industry (Wanda) is recalling certain aftermarket Replacement Windshields sold for use in 2014-2018 Toyota Highlander vehicles. The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM).

    The ECM damage may result in the engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Wanda will notify owners, and service centers will replace the windshields, and inspect the ECM for damage, having it replaced, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2019. Owners may contact Wanda customer service at 1-864-281-2760.

    Campaign 18E107000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsSep 19, 2014

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Sienna, and Highlander and model year 2015 Lexus RX350 vehicles. Fuel may leak from the one of the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment.

    A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace any of the suspect fuel delivery pipes free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

    Campaign 14V576000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Seats, mid/rear assemblyMay 22, 2014

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander vehicles manufactured April 23, 2014, through April 29, 2014. The affected vehicles may have a second row right-hand seat assembly that does not fully lock into the inboard seat track in the forward first, second and third adjusting positions. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."

    If the seat does not fully lock into the inboard seat track, the seat could move, increasing the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.

    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the second row right-hand seat, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

    Campaign 14V274000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. Electrical system, softwareMay 22, 2014

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles may have improper software installed in the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) for the operation of the front passenger seat belt force limiter, and as a result, the force limiter may use the restraint setting designed for small occupants, such as those that weigh approximately 110 pounds, for all occupants regardless of their size. As such, some of these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    In the event of a crash, a larger front passenger seat occupant may not be properly restrained and be at an increased risk of injury.

    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update in the air bag electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

    Campaign 14V272000 on NHTSA.gov

  5. Seat belts, rear/otherFeb 7, 2014

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander vehicles manufactured November 20, 2013, through January 18, 2014. The third row middle seat belt assembly might not have been properly secured to the vehicle floor anchorage during vehicle assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

    A seat belt that is not properly secured to its anchorage could increase the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.

    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row middle seat belt anchor, and, if necessary, properly secure it to the vehicle floor anchorage, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in March 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

    Campaign 14V051000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: seat belts

5 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Seat belts, Dec 28, 2020

    PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, WHEN I GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TODAY. DINGING SOUND COMING FROM SOMEWHERE WHEN WE DROVE IT LAST NIGHT.

  2. Air bags, Seat belts, Structure, Apr 14, 2018, crash

    I WAS T BONED ON PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS PUSHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN HEAD ON COLLISION. SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN- I INITIALLY HIT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, WHEN T-BONED, THEN WITH FRONT IMPACT HIT STEERING WHEEL, ROOF AND CENTER CONSOLE. *TT *TR

  3. Seat belts, Jul 26, 2016

    2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT THREADING DETERIORATED AT THE STITCHING WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. IT WAS FIXED BOTH TIMES AT IRA TOYOTA IN DANVERS, MA., ONCE ON JUNE 21, 2016 AND AGAIN ON JULY 26, 2016. THE FIRST TIME THE SEAT BELT BROKE, I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. I PUSHED OFF MY SEAT WITH MY ARMS TO ADJUST HOW I WAS SITTING, TO BE MORE COMFORTABLE, AND THE BELT BROKE. SEE IMAGE ATTACHED. THE SECOND TIME THE BELT BROKE WAS ALMOST IN THE SAME MATTER, EXCEPT I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT.

  4. Air bags, Seat belts, Jun 30, 2016, crash

    TO AVOID TWO DEER CROSSING ROAD (BULL BRIDGE ROAD, SOUTH KENT, CT) ON CURVE, LOST CONTROL ON RIGHT SHOULDER, HIT STRAIGHT ON THE UTILITY WOOD POLE. MY SPEED WAS IN BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH. DURING THE ACCIDENT, ALL AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK ME UP. THE IMPACT CAUSED MY CHEST, BACK, NECK AND HEAD INJURIES.

  5. Seat belts, May 22, 2014

    THE FLOOR ANCHOR OF THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE IS LOCATED BEHIND THE SEAT AND CAN BE STEPPED ON BY THE REAR PASSENGERS. STEPPING ON THE FLOOR ANCHOR AND BELT BY THE REAR PASSENGERS, OFTEN CHILDREN, IS A CONSTANT SOURCE OF DISTRACTION FOR THE DRIVER. *TR