2005 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

My 2025 Acura MDX (under 10,000 miles) has failed to restart after the automatic idle stop engaged at stoplights and drive-thru lines at least 7 separate times. When I release the brake, the engine often remains off and the vehicle will not move, leaving me stopped in traffic. I have not yet required a jump start, but on several occasions the vehicle came very close to not restarting at all. This most recently occurred at a sandwich shop drive-thru. These incidents occurred in normal drive mode and in normal weather conditions. No abnormal driving conditions were present when the failures happened. Other owners online report the same problem, with some needing to carry jumper cables. I believe this is a serious safety risk because the vehicle can stall unexpectedly in intersections and traffic when the auto stop-start system activates. I am now concerned about relying on this vehicle in traffic because I cannot trust it to restart when stopped.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Toyota Highlander. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase of the vehicle. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 123,000. It was later discovered upon checking Carfax that the mileage was 254,000.

All at once the windows, moon roof, blinkers, reverse lights, running lights and brake lights stopped working - also the automatic headlight function stopped working and we must turn on and off the headlights or risk draining the battery. It's interesting to note that the flashers work, but the blinkers do not. The wipers, radio, cruise control, etc. are all fine. It appears all fuses associated with these items are intact - I don't know how to check the viability of the relays, but have been told it could be a relay and or a ground wire. I've purchased a new multifunction blinker headlight replacement switch AND a master window replacement switch to see if this will resolve the issue - but the fact that it happened all at the same time concerns me that it could be electrical or wiring. All the wires under the dash are intact.

Passager seat burnt up from the heated seats

Driver's seat belt locked up so I was unable to wear it, I hit a deer tried to swerve to miss it, and my car was shaking uncontrollably.

I was driving home and a deer ran infront of me. I tried to put my seat belt on before but it locked, so I tried to get home to my 3yr old safely without it.

The contact owns a Mifold Original Grab-and-Go Booster Seat, Model Number: MF01/US, Manufactured Date: May 3, 2019. The contact stated that her daughter had unbuckled the seat belt but was unable to unlatch the seat belt from the buckle. The seat belt was extremely tight and would not loosen from the child restraint. Since her daughter remained stuck in the child restraint, the contact had to cut the seat belt to remove her child from the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The seat belt was not replaced. The failure mileage was unknown.

MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER LOOKS TO BE LEAKING NEAR THE BRAKE BOOSTER. I KNOW THAT IT WAS REPLACED BY TOYOTA DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V499000. HOWEVER I DO NOT REMEMBER THE YEAR. I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE NEXT TIME I TRIED TO STEP ON THE PEDAL IT WAS WORKING OK. BUT THEN THE 3RD TIME I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WAS GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AGAIN. THIS WAS A SHOCKED SINCE IT GOT ME TO WORK 9 HOURS EARLIER WITH NO ISSUE. I GOT HOME AND CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND LOOKED TO BE AT THE CORRECT LEVEL. I DID NOT DRIVE UNTIL NEXT DAY TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK INSIDE THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. IT STILL IS IN THE SHOP, HOWEVER I REMEMBERED THAT IT WAS "SWAPPED OUT" WITH A NEW ONE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V499000. COULD IT BE POSSIBLE THAT THE RECALLED FOR THE NEW PART IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN GET REPLACED AGAIN UNDER THE RECALL, OR HAVE TO PAY THE $550 FOR NEW PART AND LABOR. THANK YOU

The contact owned a 2005 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a fence. The air bags did not deploy. At the time of the crash, the vehicle was 20 MPH. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact sustained a face injury where he lost several teeth and also had back pain. Medical treatment was needed for the injury, went to the hospital and got an x-ray and some dental work done A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,435.

SHORT IN MASTER WINDOW SWITCH

REAR BREAK LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT WITH FUSE BLOWING. NO REAR LIGHTS AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I KEEP REPLACING THE 10A FUSE BUT CAN'T FIND CAUSE OF FAILURE. VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. CAUSE OF LIGHTS SUDDENLY GOING OUT IS UNKNOWN.

BRAKE FLUID HAS TO BE REFILLED EVERY 500 MILES. THERE MUST BE A LEAK SOMEWHERE IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. ONCE WE ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKE NEARLY FAILED DUE TO ABSENCE OF BRAKE FLUID

ENGINE SLUDGE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROVE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CARMAN FORD LINCOLN (193 S DUPONT HWY, NEW CASTLE, DE 19720 AT (302) 323-2300) WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS REPAIRED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE STABILITY CONTROL AND PARKING BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, AND THE RADIO AND CLOCK STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRICE TOYOTA (168 N DUPONT HWY, NEW CASTLE, DE 19720 (302) 322-8600) WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT OTHER FAILURES MAY OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,271.

TRANSAXLE VENT IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO EXHAUST, POTENTIAL OF CATASTRAPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO TOTAL SUDDEN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLIUD. LEAK IS CAUSE BY A DEFECTIVE SEAL

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL.

MY HIGHLANDER HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY GAVE OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT STARTED BY DOWNSHIFTING SUDDENLY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THEN I LOST ALL FORWARD POWER AND HAD TO COAST TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. I AM NOW STUCK PAYING A $3500+ REPAIR BILL DESPITE KEEPING UP ON REGULAR MAINTENANCE ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS MAINTENANCE GUIDE. AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS, I FOUND OUT THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE TRANSMISSIONS USED BY THE RAV4S AND HIGHLANDERS, BUT TOYOTA HAS ONLY ISSUED RECALLS FOR THE RAV4S? VERY DISAPPOINTING. *TR

ANTI-SKID COMPUTER HAS GONE BAD, ACTIVATING SKID CONTROL CONSTANTLY ( CUTTING POWER AND APPLYING BRAKES ) ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING IN WARM DRY WEATHER. MANY TIMES YOU CAN NOT EVEN PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC SAFELY, IT CUTS POWER ONCE YOU START TO MOVE. VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING BY BOTH INDEPENDENTS AND THE DEALER, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE COMPUTER (ANTI-SKID ECU) HAS A DEFECT. KNOWN ISSUE. KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUES THE CAR AT $8500 (PRIVATE SALE) AND THIS REPAIR WILL BE OVER $2500. VEHICLE HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT. BELONGS TO MY ELDERLY MOTHER, WHO IS ON A FIXED INCOME. DRIVING THE CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. COME TO A STOP (LIGHT, CROSS ROADS,ETC). THEN GO, IT ACTIVATES AND CUTS ALL POWER TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. YOU ARE JUST SITTING THERE, AND CAN NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. IF YOU ARE MERGING, OR CROSSING TRAFFIC, YOU ARE NOW IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING WHERE I WORK, BACKING UP, THE ENGINE IDDLE WENT EXTREMELY HIGH AND I TRIED TO STOP, BUT I COULD NOT DO IT BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED. I TRIED TO PUT THE GEAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT INSTEAD, IT WENT STRAIGH TO DRIVE, SO IT CAUSES MAJOR DAMAGES TO 2 VEHICLES BEHIND MINE, AND OTHER 3 IN FRONT OF MINE TOO. ALSO MY VEHICLE DESTROYED A MAIL BOX AND A TREE, BUT I COULD NOT STOP UNTIL MY HIGHLANDER STOPPED BY ITSELF TOTALLY DESTROYED. I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH SOME TRAUMA.

BOUGHT THE CAR AND NOT EVEN A WEEK AFTER OWNING IT I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY REPLACED THE TRANS AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST, THERE IS A HUGE HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SLOWING TO AN ALMOST STOP AND RE ACCELERATING. THE RPM'S REV UP BUT THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND SOMETIMES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE A NEW TRANS IN MY CAR, FLUID LEVELS ARE PERFECT THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN UPDATED AND STILL HAVING HUGE ISSUES WITH MY TRANS. THIS IS DANGEROUS VERY DANGEROUS.

NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND STEERING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME WE MADE A TURN TO EITHER THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. WE THEN TOOK OUR 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE ADVISED US THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FLEX COUPLING WAS LOSE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO POTENTIAL BALL BARRIERING LOSE. CLICKING SOUND WENT AWAY ONCE STEERING WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS ALSO A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE STEERING.

UNABLE TO STEER CAR PROPERLY ESP WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE CAR, ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS, HAD THE TENDENCY TO GO STRAIGHT (DIFFICULT TO STEER) WHEN MAKING TURNS AND THEN GOES AWAY MOST TIMES. 2ND INCIDENT, WRITER ATTEMPTED TO MERGE TO THE MAIN STREET. LAST INCIDENT TODAY.

WHEN DRIVING ON THE COUNTRY SIDE, WE USED THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS AND NOTICED WHEN WE STOP SMOKE FROM THE HEAD LAMPS. IT WAS SO HOT THAT MELTED THE LENS COVERS. THIS REPRESENT A HAZARD AND LIABILITY. IT CAN CAUSE A SEVERE BURN SKIN DAMAGE TO A PERSON AND PROBABLY IF LEFT MORE TIME A FIRE. TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE TECHNICAL BULLETIN T-SB-0036-08 (NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10024893) THAT ADDRESS A "DISCOLORATION ON THE LENS". MY VIN NUMBER IS INCLUDED ON THE LIST. TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MATERIAL USED, IT ABSORBS TO MUCH HEAT. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FOR FIRE AND FOR A SEVERE BURN. TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THEM. PICTURES ATTACHED AS WELL AS SERVICE TECHNICAL BULLETIN T-SB-0036-08. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT A FIRE, THE PRESENCE OF THE SMOKE INDICATE A POTENTIAL FOR FIRE IF WE HAD USE IT LONGER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL OFF, VSC, TIRE PRESSURE, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. ...UPDATED 09/28/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE STEERING CONTROL AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO LOSE POWER. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WOULD HAPPEN ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. UPDATED 10/06/15*JB

WHEN I STARTED MY CAR I NOTICED THE ABS,BRAKE,TIRE,TRAC OFF&VSC LITES WERE ALL LIT. I COULDN'T GET A DIAGNOSIS FROM MECHANIC.THESE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO STAY LIT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS SAFE. I HAVE READ AT LEAST A HUNDRED OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON BLOGS.

HAVE DOCUMENTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED TOYOTA WITH MY CONCERNS, NO HELP WAS PROVIDED. TRANSMISSION FAILED. PROVIDED TOYOTA WITH COMPLAINT ON OCT.14,2015. AND MANY TIMES BEFORE THEN. AFRAID FOR MY LIFE TO DRIVE IT. TURNING, JERKING, HESITATION IN TAKE OFF. ETC.

I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND WAS GOING TO ENTER A ROAD. I WAS COASTING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 10 MPH BECAUSE I HAD TO STOP BEFORE ENTERING THE CROSS ROAD. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP, THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE HARD AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM KICKED IN WHILE THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND KEPT PUSHING THE CAR. THE ACCELERATION PUSHED ME INTO THE CROSS ROAD WHILE THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS MAKING LOTS OF NOISE,. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THE CROSS ROAD AT THAT TIME. I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BREAK, AND THE ENGINE RPM'S DROPPED DOWN TO IDLE. I THEN PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE ( BECAUSE CARS WERE NOW COMING ON THE ROAD I WANTED TO ENTER). AND I BACKED UP NORMALLY ( NO MORE ENGINE REVVING) . I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND EVERYTHING ACTED NORMAL. IT WAS VERY SCARY, BECAUSE IF CARS WERE CROSSING IN FRONT OF ME WHEN IT HAPPENED, I WOULD HAVE GONE INTO THE ROADWAY UNABLE TO STOP AND I WOULD HAVE HIT SOME ONE.

ON SATURDAY, MAY 30TH AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 I WAS MOVING OUR 2005 HIGHLANDER FROM THE STREET INTO OUR RESERVED PARKING SPACE WITHIN OUR COMPLEX. AS I WAS STARTING MY RIGHT HAND TURN INTO THE COMPLEX THE CAR ACCELERATOR STUCK. I HIT THE CURB ON THE DRIVER'S/LEFT SIDE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE I HIT A TREE AND KNOCKED OVER ONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S POSTED SIGNAGE. THE IMPACT MADE THE CAR BOUNCE BACKWARD PARTIALLY INTO THE DRIVE, DAMAGING THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE, DRIVE SHAFT BROKE, FRONT END PART FLEW ALL OVER AND A SMALL FIRE OCCURRED. POLICE WERE CALL AND REPORT TAKEN. THEY ESTIMATED THE SPEED AT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR. THE REPORT TAKEN WAS NOT FILED SINCE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STARTED THE VEHICLE TO GET IT ON THE TRUCK. HE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FOR HE COULD NOT GET THE WHEELS TO TURN. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 2, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A RECALL REPAIR DONE ON MAY 21, 2011, AFTER WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO INSTALL THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR CARPET COVER. WE WERE ADVISED THAT IF IT WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY, THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION. AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL TEMPORARILY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A FAILURE OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL LOCKED UP. HAD TO CUT ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE. THE WHEEL STILL TOTALLY LOCKED WHEN IT HAD TO BE DRAGGED ONTO A FLAT BED. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO INJURIES. STILL NOT 100% SURE OR WHAT'S WRONG BUT GUESSING IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRACTION/ABS CONTROL SYSTEM. THEY REALLY SHOULD LOOK INTO A RECALL BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO PROPERLY FUNCTION FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW INTERMITTENTLY AND THE REAR WINDOWS FAILED TO ELECTRONICALLY CLOSE AND OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (TEXAS TOYOTA OF GRAPEVINE, 701 E STATE HWY 114, GRAPEVINE, TX 76051, (817) 329-5949) FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. IN ADDITION, THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN THE DEALER MAY PROVIDE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM AN ELECTRICAL RECALL TO SERVICE THE POWER MASTER WINDOW SWITCH FAILURE FOR THE WINDOWS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENTIRE SUNROOF SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AREA WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING STOP WORKING. VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO PARK IN SAFE PLACE. CAR RUNS BUT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS BECAME ABNORMALLY BENT AND ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED FOR THE WHEELS TO BE ROTATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,915.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE DETERIORATING. THERE WAS A PRESENCE OF A SPOT THAT WAS SPREADING ACROSS THE PLASTIC, WHICH MAY BE INTERMITTENTLY MELTING. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SPOT WAS INCREASING ON THE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENSE AND COULD IMPACT THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY UPON THE USE OF THE LOW OR HIGH BEAMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

AIR CONDITIONER, CAN BE ON THE COLDEST SEATING AND THEN TURN EXTREMELY HOT. SEEMS LIKE WHEN A BUMP IS HIT, IT EFFECTS WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

HEWLLO MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR.IT WONT STAY UP AND HASNT FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I HAVE READ THAT A LOT OF HIGHLANDER OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO SEE.A NEW COSTS ABOUT 175.00!

BACKING UP OUT OF DRIVEWAY PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE WENT FROM BRAKE PEDAL TO GAS PEDAL TAPING THE GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY TO INCH OUT OF DRIVEWAY SLOWLY. AFTER ONE TAP ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CHAIN LINK FENCE WHICH IN TURN CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. *TR

SEAT BELT ON FRONT DRIVERS SEAT CONTINUES TO FOLD OVER, AND WILL NOT RETRACT. *TR

MY CAR WAS DECELERATING IN THE FAR RIGHT TURN LANE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE BRAKE HAD BEEN APPLIED APPROXIMATELY 1000 FT FROM THE INTERSECTION AS THERE WERE 3 VEHICLES STOPPED AHEAD OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING AT 10 MPH AND I INCREASED THE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THE CAR APPROACHED A STOPPED VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AHEAD OF MY VEHICLE. THE ENGINE REVVED TO THE HIGHEST RPM READING AND LURCHED FORWARD AS I CONTINUED TO APPLY FULL PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BY ADDING MY LEFT FOOT TO THE ALREADY STATIONARY RIGHT FOOT. I STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND DROVE ON THE SIDEWALK AND GRASS BETWEEN A BURGER KING AND AUTOZONE PARKING LOTS TO AVOID HITTING THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT DISENGAGE. I WAS NEARLY STANDING ON BRAKE AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH THE ENGINE SCREAMING FROM THE HIGH RPMS. I STRAIGHTENED THE CAR'S PATH TO AVOID A PARKED VEHICLE IN THE AUTOZONE PARKING LOT. I JUMPED A CURB ONTO GRASS AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL CRASHING THROUGH A CINDER BLOCK WALL SUPPORTING THE AUTOZONE SIGN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT WHICH ENGAGED THE ENGINE KILL SWITCH. WHILE STILL STANDING ON THE BRAKES, MY CAR TRAVELED ANOTHER 25-30 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE DRIVER BEHIND ME CAN CONFIRM THAT I WAS DECELERATING AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON AS THE CAR "TOOK OFF" ON ITS PATH TOWARD THE AUTOZONE SIGN. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I RECEIVED NECK, SHOULDER AND CHEST INJURIES FROM THE IMPACT. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR ON MY OWN. *TR

THERE ARE 2 MALFUNCTIONS HAPPENING ON THIS VEHICLE:1) THE DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE STOP WORKING WITH KEYLESS ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO, IT WORKS IF YOU DO IT MANUALLY. 2) BOTH VISORS-DRIVER'S AND PASSENGERS VISOR HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY LOOSER, THERE ARE NO ADJUSTMENT SCREWS, WHAT MAKES THIS SUCH A HAZARD, IF YOU HIT A BUMP AND YOU'RE IN SPEEDING TRAFFIC SOMETIMES THE VISOR JUST DROPS DOWN AND BLOCKS YOUR LINE OF SIGHT. *TR

POWER STEERING LINE CORRODED WITH FLUID LEAK. REPLACED BY MEINEKE. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN, WON'T STAY UP, AND OBSTRUCTS VIEW WHILE DRIVING. *TR

AS NOTED ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES FROM USERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS I AM, THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE; THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKELIGHT IS FAULTY. IT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN PRESSED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. DEALER HAS BEEN NO HELP UNLESS I GIVE THEM EVERY PENNY I HAVE TO MY NAME OF COURSE. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I AM NOT EXPERIENCING ALONE. PUBLIC OUTCRY FOR ASSISTANCE NEEDED ON PULLING A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE AND THANK YOU. *TR

BOTH POWER REAR WINDOWS CAME OUT OF THEIR PWR WINDOW TRACKS. THIS ALLOWS THE WINDOW TO FALL TO THE FULLY OPEN POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT CAUSED SEVERE AIR BUFFETING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT'S SO SEVERE THAT IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS VIBRATING APART. THIS EXTREMELY LOUD PAINFUL SOUND CAUSES PANIC AS TO WHAT HAPPENED AND SEVER EAR PAIN. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE BUFFETING IS TO QUICKLY PULL OFF THE ROAD AND STOP. THE OPEN WINDOW ALSO EXPOSED OCCUPANTS AND PETS IN THE REAR SEAT AREA TO FALLING OUT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT AS THE TRACK ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW THAT CONNECTS TO THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR ARM MIGRATES SLOWLY ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW EACH TIME THE WINDOW IS OPERATED UNTIL THE MOTOR ARM FALLS OUT OF THE TRACK. THEN THE WINDOW IS FREE TO FALL DOWN AND CANNOT BE CLOSED UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THERE IS NO SERVICE BULLETIN COVERING THIS. I RECEIVED A CHUCKLE FROM THE DEALER AS HE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS COMMON $250 PER WINDOW FIX. *TR

MY TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ON MY TOYOTA 2005 HIGHLANDER AFTER 96,000 MILES. I HAVE READ OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND I AM CONVINCED THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE TO TOYOTA AND THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WOULD COST $5060,00 TO REPLACE. TOYOTA OFFERED ME .10% OFF THE COST OF REPAIRS. I WAS SHOCKED AS I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 15 MONTHS AND HAVE A 4 YEAR NOTE. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT HAVE A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT AS I WAS COMING DOWN A VERY STEEP INCLINE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL. I AM FORCED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AS I AM NOT IN THE POSITION TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE FURTHER. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 TOYOTA WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE FRONT ENGINE HOOD AREA. THERE WERE NO TROUBLE LIGHTS SHOWING FOR THE ENGINE AT THE TIME, NOR WAS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWING A HIGH TEMPERATURE. SHE PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE GRILL AREA AND FRONT ENGINE HOOD WERE MELTING AND SCORTCHED. SHE CALLED POLICE / FIRE TO RESPOND TO THE SCENE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT HOOD, SINCE IT APPEARED THAT THE RELEASE CABLE HAD MELTED FROM THE EXTREME HEAT. THEY BENT THE HOOD UP TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE FIRE, AND THEN EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. *TR

INVOLVED IN THEE CAR T-BONE COLLISION THAT CAUSED SEVERAL INJURIES TO UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES. THE AIR-BAG FAILED TO INFLATE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION ON A RURAL ROAD AND TURNING LEFT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR UPON ENGAGING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRUISES AND MINOR PAIN TO THE CHEST AS A RESULT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAULTY WEBBING. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD NOT FUNCTION DURING THE CRASH. THE FRONT HOOD AND BUMPER WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,804.

DRIVERS SIDE SUNVISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, IT JUST FALLS DOWN AND BLOCKS DRIVERS VIEW ANY TIME AND AT THE WORST TIME! NOW IT WILL NOT STAY UP! *TR

WHEN I RETURNED FROM WORK ON 08/28/2013 I NOTICED A LEAK UNDER MY VEHICLE. I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTO MECHANIC ON 8/30/2023 AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE POWER STEERING LINE WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 74296 IN MILEAGE. I HAD THE POWER STEERING LINE REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS. *JB