2015 Toyota Highlander
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 192 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 17 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 16 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
Steering, electric power assist systemMar 13, 2015
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.
An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 15V144000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
52 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Jan 14, 2020
THE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE REAR GATE REMAINS IN THE LOCKED POSITION WHICH KEEPS THE HATCH UNABLE TO ENGAGE ALLOWING THE GATE TO FLY OPEN WHEN DRIVING. THIS CAUSES A DANGER TO PETS AND MATERIAL STORED IN THE REAR OF THE 2015 HIGHLANDER ON A CITY STREET WHILE MOVING IN A STRAGHT LINE..
Electrical system, Aug 21, 2019
VEHICLE'S RADIO, MAPS, ENTUNES, WILL FREEZE. AS WELL AS THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM. IT WILL THEN RESET ITSELF AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF BEING FROZEN AND UNABLE TO USE ANY FEATURES. THIS OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES A WEEK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 12, 2019
WHILE DRIVING, THE RADIO AND MAPPING SYSTEM WILL SUDDENLY STOP WORKING. THERE THEN IS NO WAY TO RESET THE MAP AND/OR RADIO, OTHER THAN TO STOP THE VEHICLE, TURN IT OFF AND THEN RESTART IT. SOMETIMES, IT TAKES MORE THAN ONE RESTART TO HAVE THE SYSTEM BACK TO RUNNING NORMAL. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND ON VARIOUS TYPES OF ROADWAYS OR HIGHWAYS. IT HAS HAPPENED ON VARIOUS DATES, BUT THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS ON AUG. 10, 2019.
Electrical system, Jul 28, 2019
DRIVER-SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WHEN USING THE KEY FOB, DOOR HANDLE, OR THE SWITCH INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ISSUE WAS SPORADIC AT FIRST BUT NOW OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME WE (TRY TO) LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOORS. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE TO BE THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR, WHICH I INTEND ON REPLACING.
Electrical system, Jul 14, 2019
THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM WILL GO HAYWIRE THEN REBOOT ITSELF WHILE DRIVING. YOU CAN NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THE SCREEN WHILE IT IS GOING HAYWIRE. I HAVE A VIDEO BUT COULD NOT UPLOAD IT. THIS HAPPENS A LOT.
Electrical system, Structure, Apr 23, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR POWER HATCHBACK DOOR MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN BEING OPENED. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR ONLY OPENED HALFWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NALLEY TOYOTA OF ROSWELL (11130 ALPHARETTA HWY, ROSWELL, GA 30076, (404) 994-5422) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,800.
Electrical system, Apr 7, 2019
AFTER DRIVING A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THE NAV UNIT WILL RESET ITSELF, SHORT OR LONG TRIPS MAY RESULT IN MULTIPLE OCCURANCESES
Electrical system, Mar 6, 2019
DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT BEGAN HEATING TO A HIGH LEVEL WHILE CONTROL WAS IN 'OFF' POSITION. DRIVER'S LUMBAR SUPPORT PRESSURE BEGAN INCREASING ON ITS OWN WITHOUT USE OF THE PRESSURE CONTROL BUTTON.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 6, 2019
FOR TWO YEARS NOW, MY VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY HAVE AN ENGINE STALL WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WHILE GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD OR TURNING. THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND NAVIGATION SCREENS SHUTS OFF AND TURNS BACK ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO TOYOTA TWICE AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG OR GET THE THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION AGAIN. TODAY, THE ENGINE DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY COME BACK ON AFTER STALLING, AND I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 33000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY CONCERN AT THIS POINT AND IT SEEMS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE ACCORDING TO THOSE REPORTED TO THE NHTSA.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 30, 2018
SOON AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT THE LIFT GATE TO THE TRUNK HATCH BEGAN LEAKING LUBRICATION AND INTERMITTANLY WOULD NOT OPEN ALL THE WAY, CLOSE ALL THE WAY, OR OPEN OR CLOSE AT ALL. MANY TIMES, I WOULD NEED TO MANUALLY PUSH THE HATCH DOWN TO CLOSE, WHICH REQUIRED EXTREME FORCE. THE SAME FORCE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO OPEN THE HATCH AT TIMES. ESENTIALLY, THE LIFT GATE IS UNRELIABLE TO LIFT OR CLOSE MOST OF THE TIME.THE COST ESTIMATE FROM THE DEALER EXCEEDED $1,800 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH STRUTS.
Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Sep 24, 2018
LIGHT ON CRUISE CONTROL LEVER ON STEERING COLUMN FLICKERS OFF AND ON IF VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND STEERING COLUMN IS IN USE. ALTERNATOR IN CAR ALREADY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT 73,000. DEALERSHIP WAS ADVISED OF ISSUE AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LEVER.
Electrical system, Jun 11, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON AND/OR KEY FAILED TO OPEN THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORTHRIDGE TOYOTA (9550 NORDHOFF ST, NORTHRIDGE, CA 91324, (818) 734-5600). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR
Electrical system, Service brakes, Feb 27, 2018
WHEN THE CAR HAD 20K MILES THE BRAKES WOULD SHAKE WHEN GOING DOWN HILL, TOOK IT IN BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE ROTARS TURNED BRAKES REPLACED AND WHEN BRAKING THE BRAKES SHAKE REALLY BAD ITS SCARY. I HAVE ALSO HAD TOO MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LOCKS ONE GOES OUT THEN NEXT WEEK ANOTHER, THE OUTLETS HAVE NEVER WORKED AND NOW THE STEREO IS GOING TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT BLACKS OUT AND RESTARTS CONSTANTLY.
Electrical system, Feb 18, 2018
DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN 12 MONTHS ON THE VEHICLE, TWICE ON THE SAME DOOR. THE INTERNET HAS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECT. THE FAILURE RATE IS FAR TOO HIGH FOR THIS ACTUATOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE, DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE HIGHLANDER, IF YOU EXIT THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING THE 3 PASSENGER DOORS DO NOT RESPOND TO THE KEY FOB OR THE EXTERIOR MANUAL UNLOCKING MECHANISM. IF THE DRIVER DOOR ACTUATOR FAILS DURING THIS SCENARIO YOU ARE EFFECTIVELY BARRED FROM THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Electrical system, Structure, Dec 28, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR FAILED TO PROPERLY OPEN AND CLOSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE OR THE DOOR WOULD REMAIN OPEN. THE VEHILCE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (FURIEL TOYOTA PONCE, INDUSTRIAL SAN RAFAEL, 00731, CALLE NAVARRA, PONCE, PUERTO RICO, 1-787-284-2020) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON NOVEMBER 1, 2017. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,400. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Electrical system, Dec 1, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. A POLICE OFFICER HELPED THE CONTACT COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER IT WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DARCARS TOYOTA FREDERICK (5293 BUCKEYSTOWN PIKE, FREDERICK, MD 21704, (301) 696-6300), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 4, 2017
THE POWER LIFTGATE CLOSED ON MY HEAD WHEN I WAS PUTTING STUFF IN THE TRUNK. IT WAS OPEN LIKE NORMAL, BUT THEN IT SUDDENLY DROPPED WITHOUT WARNING. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS CLOSING COMPLETELY. IT IS STILL HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET FIXED AND THEY "RESET" THE SYSTEM BUT THAT DIDNT FIX ANYTHING. IT IS STILL NOT CLOSING COMPLETELY SOMETIMES. IT WILL SEEMINGLY OPEN FINE (ALTHOUGH IM AFRAID IT WILL FALL ON MY HEAD) BUT WHEN I HAVE TO CLOSE IT WILL SOMETIMES CLOSE AND IT WILL SOMETIMES CLOSE ALMOST ALL THE WAY AND THEN IT WILL BEEP TWICE AND OPEN A BIT AGAIN AND SIT THERE. I WILL HAVE TO HIT IT TO OPEN AND CLOSE AGAIN AND HOPE THAT IT WORKS. SOMETIMES I GET IT IN 2 TRIES AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES 4 OR 5 TIMES TO GET IT TO CLOSE.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 11, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WORKED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARTFORD TOYOTA SUPERSTORE IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN EVALUATOR TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING TO MANUFACTURER STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 16001120892. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
Electrical system, May 15, 2017
THE FRONT MAIN CONSOLE OF THE GPS, RADIO, AND ENTIRE RADIO HEAD WILL SUDDENLY GETS FROZEN AND/ REQUIRING REBOOT. THE VOICE ACTIVATION/RECOGNITION HAS HARD TIME RECOGNIZING VOICE, COMMANDS, AND 90% OF THE TIME IT IS A USELESS DEVICE, WHICH DRIVERS MUST USE THE PHONE MANUALLY INSTEAD. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR A DRIVER SINCE WE ARE RELYING ON THE MODERN DEVICES. A CONSUMER LIKE ME IS EXPECTING >$36,000 TO HAVE HANDS FREE AND EFFICIENT VOICE RECOGNITION AS PART OF SAFETY FEATURES .
Electrical system, May 14, 2017
THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AND REBOOTS. THE FRONT USB PLUG WORKS INCONSISTENTLY. THE DOOR LOCKS WORK INCONSISTENTLY. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA IN SLIDELL, LA AND THEY CHARGED ME $600 AND SAID IT WAS MY BATTERY. MY CAR IS STILL DOING THE ABOVE AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA. :-(
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 5, 2017, fire
I WAS DRIVING 80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A "CHECK AWD" DISPLAY APPEARED. AT THAT SAME MOMENT I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER AND TO ACCELERATE. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. I DID NOT SEE ANY SMOKE, OR SMELL ANYTHING AND THE ENGINE TEMP GAUGE SHOWED MID COOL SO I DECIDED TO START THE CAR AGAIN. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE "CHECK AWD" DISPLAY CAME ON AGAIN, AND THEN SECONDS LATER A TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A LOUD ALARM. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE FRONT LEFT HOOD. I SHOUTED FOR MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I GRABBED MY PHONE AND RAN TO HER DOOR TO HELP HER AND HER FRIEND GET OUT. BY THE TIME WE WERE RUNNING AWAY, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. WITHIN MINUTES MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
Electrical system, Feb 10, 2017
BRAKES LIGHTS TO DO NOT ALWAYS LIGHT UP. TOOK TO AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. MY WIFE DRIVES CAR HOME AND I CAN SEE THAT LEFT SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WORK BUT RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) DOES NOT LIGHT UP. TURN SIGNALS ARE OK. BRAKES LIGHT WORK SOMETIMES. NOT BULB PROBLEM.
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 8, 2016
TWO OR THREE TIMES NOW, WHILE PAUSED IN TRAFFIC, I LOOK AT THE RADIO INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IT HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND REBOOTS, IT THEN CAUSES ALL PREVIOUSLY PROGRAMMED INFORMATION IN THE SYSTEM TO BE CHANGED. IN ADDITION AT THE SAME TIME, THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT "PAUSES". I CHECKED MY VIN IT IS NOT IN THE RECALL BUT I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ONCE THE ELECTRICAL RADIO/ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM REBOOTED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, I ONLY NOTICED IT BECAUSE THE RADIO SHUT OFF. I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING AT THAT TIME WITH THE STEERING AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE, BUT NOW AFTER THREE TIMES, I AM BRINGING TO THE DEALER
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 2, 2015
TAKATA RECALL-THIS PAST SUNDAY MY CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY FOR A FEW DAYS AND WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE MY CAR AND THERE WAS A STRANGE NOISE UNDER THE HOOD, I BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY AND WHEN THE CAR SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND IT JURKED AND WAS NOT SMOOTH SO I PARKED THE CAR. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THERE WERE MOUSE DROPPING ON THE ENGINE. I CALLED TOYOTA ON MONDAY MORNING AND THEY SAID TO HAVE IT TOWED SO I DID MONDAY NIGHT. TODAY WEDNESDAY THEY CALLED AND SAID THERE WERE A LOT OF WIRE DAMAGE AND SOMETHING ELSE BUT THEY STILL NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID AT THIS POINT IT WAS GOING TO BE $500 MAYBE MORE. AND NOT UNDER MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WARRANTY. WHICH I THINK IF THEY ARE GOING TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE WIRE CASING THAT RODENTS LOVE THEN THEY SHOULD CORRECT ANY PROBLEMS AS A RESULTS OF THE PRODUCT USED AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. MY CAR IS A $45,000 CAR AND I HAVE ONLY HAD IT A FEW MONTHS. THIS IS BULL.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 30, 2015
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE POWER CUT OUT AND A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH STATING THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR WERE BEING DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY -- BUT THEY WERE NOT. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN A ROW. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWARD TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG AND ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO "DRIVER ERROR." THE DEALER'S MECHANIC PRODUCED A REPORT INDICATING THAT SIMILAR MALFUNCTIONS HAD OCCURRED IN THE PRIOR TWO MONTHS WITH NO NOTICE TO THE DRIVER. TOYOTA COULD PROVIDE NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS. TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT NOTHING IS WRONG AND REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE.