2015 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AN ABNORMAL ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEADACHES AND SORE THROATS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT AN UNDERCOATING WAS APPLIED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DURING PRODUCTION THAT EMITTED A CHEMICAL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. UPDATED 08/30/16*LJ *CN

MANY TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS ARE EFFECTED BY A CONSISTENT BUZZING NOISE IN THE CABIN. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED TO A FAULTY AIR SERVO MOTOR. AT FIRST GLANCE, YOU MIGHT SAY THIS BUZZING NOISE ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE, HOWEVER I BEG TO DISAGREE AS MANY HAVE ATTESTED THAT IT IS A DISTRACTION TO THEIR DRIVING. SOME HAVE GONE SO FAR AS TO SELL THEIR VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. WHAT IS THE BURDEN OF PROOF FOR THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE? A DISTRACTED DRIVER HAVING AN ACCIDENT AND ATTRIBUTING IT? TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO DATE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/333-3RD-GENERATION-2014/1077937-WEIRD-VIBRATING-BUZZING-NOISE-15.HTML

MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I HIT MY CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 AT 10:00 AM ON HIGHWAY 95, THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 65. A MAN HYDROPLANED IN FRONT OF ME, I HAD TO BE GOING AT LEAST 40......UPDATED 10/19/15 *BF.. ...UPDATED 12/29/15 *BF *JS *JS

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO DRIVER ERROR AND WAS DOCUMENTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ON THE VEHICLES BLACK BOX. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE. SCHEDULED SERVICE ON VEHICLE FOR SATURDAY THE 22ND OF SEPTEMBER 2015, 0930. DOCUMENTATION INDICATED THE RECALL WOULD TAKE A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS TO COMPLETE. RECALL WAS FOR EPS ECU, URGENT SAFETY RECALL. AT ABOUT 1445, RECEIVED CALL FROM DEALER THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PART AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE READY UNTIL THE PART WAS IN ON TUESDAY THE 25TH AND REPAIRS COMPLETED. WHY DID THEY NOT HAVE THE PART ON HAND AT THE DEALER IF THIS WAS AN URGENT RECALL? CALLED TOYOTA, REF # 1508221403 AND THEY INDICATED THEY ONLY SEND THE PART WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING THE REPAIR. THIS IS NOT "WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME" FOR AN URGENT SAFETY RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED AND SET AT 55 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE SET SPEED WHEN GOING DOWNHILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE FUNCTION WAS NORMAL WHEN TRAVERSING A HILL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,999. UPDATED 01/27/16*LJ UPDATED 02/04

WHILE TRAVELLING ON INTERSTATE 25 NEAR FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, OUR TOYOTA HIGHLANDER'S CLOSED PANORAMIC SUNROOF SHATTERED. WE WERE TRAVELLING AT A SPEED OF 75 MPH ON A CLOUDY DAY WITH NO OBSTACLES OR FLYING DEBRIS NOTICED. THIS IS A NEW 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT WE HAVE ONLY BEEN DRIVING 4 MONTHS. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME AND THE DEBRIS WAS LUCKILY TRAPPED BY THE ROOF LINING. WE QUICKLY EXITED TO A NEARBY GAS STATION WHERE A LARIMER COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY WAS STOPPED. HE LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE AND WROTE A REPORT.

I PURCHASED THIS CAR 7-31-2015, BY 8-3-2015 I NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS LOOKED BADLY PITTED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND ON 8-7-2015 TOOK IT IN. THEY SAID IT WAS PITCH FROM A TREE AND AGREED TO DETAIL IT TO REMOVE THE SAP. I PICKED IT UP THE SAME DAY. THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AS THE WINDOWS ARE STILL SHOWING PRISMS WHEN LIGHT COMES THROUGH. WHEN I CAME BACK ABOUT IT AGAIN 8-28-25015 THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T SEE IT AT ALL BUT DID PULL ANOTHER HIGHLANDER OUT THAT WAS JUST TAKEN OFF THE TRUCK, IT TOO HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE PITTING, THE DEALER HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD BUT NOT THE PASSENGER WINDOWS. I'M NOT HAPPY THAT I WAS SOLD A CAR WITH DEFECTIVE WINDOWS. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR NIGHT DRIVING OR WHEN THE SUN IS LOW. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS?

POPPING SOUND COMING FROM RIGHT FRONT SIDE WHEN BREAKING TO A STOP AT ALL SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED AT AROUND 2500 MILES AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT AROUND 2900 MILES. DEALER INSPECTED IT AND COULDN'T FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEN AS INSTRUCTED BY TOYOTA REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY BUT THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME AND I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO SAFETY CONCERNS AND THAT TOYOTA WAS SENDING ONE OF THEIR TECHS TO TROUBLESHOOT, BUT THAT MAY TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS. IN THE MEAN TIME THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.

WE RECENTLY TEST DROVE SEVERAL NEW CARS. AFTER BEING IN EACH OF THE CARS FOR LESS THAN AN HOUR, WE HAD VERY STRONG HEADACHES. AS A RULE, WE DON'T GET HEADACHES, SO THESE WERE VERY OBVIOUSLY THE RESULT OF BREATHING THE AIR IN THESE NEW CARS. CAR INTERIORS ARE MADE USING PLASTICS, ADHESIVES, FIRE-RETARDANTS AND OTHER MATERIALS, MANY OF WHICH OFF-GAS HIGHLY TOXIC FUMES. I FOUND NO AGENCY WHICH CURRENTLY TESTS VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THESE TOXICS. WE TEST DROVE A USED TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND WE DID NOT GET A HEADACHE IN THAT VEHICLE, BUT WE COULD NOT FIND A USED ONE THAT WAS EQUIPPED THE WAY WE WANTED. SO WE ORDERED A NEW ONE. AFTER WE TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CAR, I DROVE IT HOME, WITH ALL THE WINDOWS DOWN, THE MOON ROOF OPEN AND THE VENTILATION FAN RUNNING AT FULL SPEED. I THEN PARKED THE CAR IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND LEFT IT IN THE SUN ALL DAY, EVERY DAY FOR A MONTH. I HAD THE WINDOWS DOWN JUST SLIGHTLY AND A SMALL FAN IN THE CAR WHICH STIRRED THE AIR. I ALSO PUT A LARGE TRAY OF ACTIVATED CARBON IN THE CAR, CHANGING THAT MATERIAL EVERY FEW DAYS. AT NIGHT, I MOVED THE CAR INTO OUR GARAGE, ROLLED DOWN ALL THE WINDOWS AND HAD AN EXHAUST FAN RUNNING, WHICH CHANGED THE AIR IN THE GARAGE SEVERAL TIMES AN HOUR. AFTER A MONTH OF THAT ROUTINE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT GETTING A HEADACHE. ALTHOUGH I CAN STILL FEEL THE EFFECT OF THAT POLLUTED INTERIOR AIR, IT IS TOLERABLE AND IMPROVING WITH TIME. WE NOW KNOW THAT THIS OUT-GASSING PROCESS NEVER ENDS; IT ONLY LESSENS OVER TIME; AND, CONTRARY TO WHAT MANY STILL BELIEVE, IT IS ALSO KNOWN THAT LONG EXPOSURES TO EXTREMELY SMALL DOSES OF TOXIC MATERIALS CAN BE MORE DAMAGING TO HUMAN HEALTH THAN A LARGE, SHORT EXPOSURE. GIVEN THESE FACTS, I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT OUR GOVERNMENT ADD PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AIR QUALITY TO ITS SAFETY RATING PROTOCOL. THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS CERTAINLY AREN'T GOING TO DO THIS OF THEIR OWN ACCORD.

THE PRE COLLISION SYSTEM APPLIED BRAKES ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF A COLLISION. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH APPROACHING A CONCRETE PAVED LOW BRIDGE/OVERPASS; THE EVENTS OCCURRED AT THE SAME SPOT AT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. THE EVENTS WERE FRIGHTENING SINCE THE DASH FLASHED RED AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED VERY HARD FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

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.

I have replaced several day light running lights /low beam bulbs. Approximately every 6-9 months since I purchased the vehicle in December of 2014.

I TOOK MY 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TO FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA IN RALEIGH FOR A RECALL ON THE CIRUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THEY FOUND THAT MY CAR CONTAINED THE DEFECCTIVE PART AND WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ME AN ETA ON THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE DEALERSHIIP PROVIDED A CAMRY RENTAL CAR, NOT A COMPARABLE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE REASON I PURCHASED THE HIGHLANDER WAS BECUASE MY FAMILY NEED A LARGE SUV. I TRADED IN A CAR FOR AN SUV AND HAVE RECEIVED A CAR BACK FROM THEM. I HAVE LEFT MESSAGES FOR THE RENTAL CAR MANAGER AND HE HAS NOT RETURNED MY CALLS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATES THATT SEVERAL HIGHLANDERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS PART FOR OVER A MONTH NOW, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT COULD BE OVER A MONTH BEFORE I GET MY BRAND NEW VEHICLE BACK (NO ONE CAN TELL ME), AND I'M STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT MEET MY FAMILIES DAILY NEEDS. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY HAVE OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. THE EPS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,040.

A SAFETY RECALL ON A POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN IS THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

I RECEIVED MY RECALL LETTER FOR THE EPS ECU UNIT 5/13. INSPECTION WOULD TAKE 1.5 HOURS, REPLACEMENT 2.5 HOURS OR LONGER DEPENDING ON THE DEALER'S WORK SCHEDULE. THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPT AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS 5/20. ON 5/20 I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A MORNING APPOINTMENT AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART, WOULD KEEP MY VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD PROVIDE A LOANER. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON 5/27 FOR AN UPDATE. WAS TOLD THE PART DID NOT ARRIVE BUT IT WAS EXPECTED THE NEXT DAY. THEY WOULD CALL WITH AN UPDATE ON 5/28. NO CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON 5/28 SO I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER (CEC) AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. ON 6/1, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE PART STILL HAD NOT ARRIVED BUT HAD BEEN SHIPPED. I CALLED MY CEC REP AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DELAY. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR PARTS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER SINCE LAST MONTH AND THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ARRIVING SOMETIME DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE. I ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THE INFORMATION DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE LETTER, TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THE DEALERSHIP ON THE PART AVAILABILITY FOR THIS RECALL . I ALSO ASKED WHAT TOYOTA'S DEFINITION OF A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WAS FOR ADDRESSING THIS RECALL AND MY REP WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER SUGGESTING THAT THE TIME VARIED BY STATE. DAY 13 HAS PASSED AND NEITHER MY DEALERSHIP NOR TOYOTA SEEM HAVE A CLUE WHEN THIS WILL BE RESOLVED. IN ADDITION, BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA WERE INFORMED DURING OUR INITAL CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAVE A CROSS-COUNTRY RELOCATION SCHEDULED FOR 6/8. MY REP SAID SHE WOULD CALL ME ON JUNE 4 TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE PROGRESSING. WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE IN THE RECALL LETTER THIS WAS LESS THAN A ONE DAY PROJECT WHEN INDEED THERE IS AND HAS BEEN A SERIOUS SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEM. HONESTY FROM TOYOTA ON DAY ONE WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000(STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL ON MAY 12 ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER ON MAY 13, AND WAS TOLD LATER THAT DAY THAT MY CAR DID INDEED HAVE ONE OF THE UNITS DEEMED DEFECTIVE. I WAS GIVEN A LOANER CAR AT NO CHARGE. EVERYTHING SEEMED OK, BUT NOW IT IS 10 DAYS LATER, AND NO REPLACEMENT PART HAS ARRIVED. NOT ONLY THAT BUT BOTH THE DEALER AND THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER ARE COMPLETELY UNABLE TO PREDICT WHEN ANY REPLACEMENT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. IS THERE ANY WAY TO MAKE TOYOTA MORE RESPONSIVE? IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET TOYOTA TO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD IN QUESTION? WHAT CONSTITUTES A "REASONABLE TIME" FOR TOYOTA TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT?

PICKED UP 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM THE DEALER DROVE IT HOME. OPERATED THE CAR FOR ONE DAY, PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE AND LATER HAD A FIRE IN THE GARAGE THAT DESTROYED THE HOUSE AND 2 OTHER VEHICLES . AS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS STILL "UNDETERMINED" SEVERAL FIRE INSPECTOR 'S I SPOKE WITH "SUSPECT" THE VEHICLE AS A "SUSPECTED ORIGIN"... AS THE FIRE WAS SO HOT THAT NOT MUCH WAS LEFT OF THE TOYOTA TO REVIEW BASED ON HISTORY THIS INCIDENT SHOULD BE NOTED.... THIS HIGHLANDER HAD LESS THEN 80 TOTAL MILES OF OPERATION AND OPERATED FOR LESS THE 3 DAY'S... NOTHING OUT OF THE NORMAL NOTED ABOUT THE CAR THE DAY OF THE FIRE.. LOOKING OVER ISSUES WITH THE 2014 MODEL YEAR HAVING FIRE ISSUES I WOULD AGREE WITH THE INSPECTOR'S OPINION THAT WOULD BE A HIGHLY SUSPECT CAUSE..

THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS A HAZARD.. WHEN YOU FINALLY GET THE VOICE COMMAND TO WORK IT ONLY GIVES YOU ABOUT 15 SECONDS TO MAKE A DECISION WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND ALSO THE NAVIGATION DOES NOT WORK WELL.. IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 1/2 OF THE TOWNS IN EACH STATE IF THAT! IT DOES NOT ALWAYS TAKE YOU THE SAFEST WAY.. I HAVE HAD IT UPDATED AND CHECKED OUT.. I ENDED UP HAVING TO GO BACK TO USING MY GARMIN AND MY PHONE FOR DIRECTIONS.. IT IS A VERY CHEAP SYSTEM AND NOT WORTH THE EXTRA COST OF HAVING IT IN MY HIGHLANDER. MISSING ADDRESSES: TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, THIS PROBABLY ISNT MY LAST COMPLAINT. IVE BEEN ANNOYED BY THE INABILITY OF THE TOYOTA NAV SYSTEM TO FIND CERTAIN ADDRESSES WHICH IS NEEDED FOR MY TRAVELS.. THERE HAVE BEEN (AT LEAST) A DOZEN CASES IN RECENT MONTHS WHERE IVE TRIED TO PROGRAM IN AN ADDRESS, BUT WASNT ABLE TO DO SO. THE SYSTEM USES A PREDICTIVE TEXT INTERFACE THAT RESTRICTS THE AVAILABLE KEYBOARD ENTRIES TO MAKE TYPING EASIER. AND THIS IS JUST HERE IN MY LITTLE DELAWARE CO. NY IVE HAD INSTANCES WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, I NEEDED TO ENTER A FOUR DIGIT ADDRESS AND THE SYSTEM ONLY ALLOWED ME TO ENTER THREE DIGITS. ITS AS IF THE NAV MAPS DIDNT INCLUDE THE FULL RANGE OF ADDRESSES ALONG THE ROAD IN QUESTION. AND THIS INCLUDES SEVERAL STATE I HAVE BEEN INTO AND HAVE TRIED TO ENTER ADDRESSES.. AND THIS A DISTRACTION IN MY DRIVING ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM TRYING TO FIND A MOTEL.. FOR EXAMPLE I WAS ON RT 90 IN NY AND WANTED A HOTEL AND ASKED PLEASE FIND ME A MOTEL ALONG MY ROUTE AND IT INSISTED NO MOTELS ALONG MY ROUTE.. I WAS HEADED TOWARD SYRACUSE, NY.. DOES THAT MAKE SINCE? I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS SITE. HTTP://WWW.LANDERFAN.COM/ARCHIVES/COMPLAINTS-ABOUT-THE-TOYOTA-HIGHLANDER-NAVIGATION-SYSTEM/ YOU WILL FIND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SYSTEM..

CLUNKING NOISE FROM REAR END OF VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING, DEALER WAS AUTHORIZED TO CHANGE REAR AWAY BARS AND SHOCKS, NO FIX, NOW TOYOTA CORP., SAYS THIS IS NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE ? I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING VEHICLE WITH NOISE, AND AS BRAKES FEEL SOFT ALSO.

THIS VEHICLE HAS SEVERE TORQUE STEER WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE VEHICLE PULLS HARD LEFT AND YOU HAVE TO FIGHT THE WHEEL TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS , ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALERSHIP WERE WAVED ASIDE - ONE TECH TOLD ME "ALL OUR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CARS DO IT"

HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO GET NHTSA'S HELP BECAUSE TOYOTA WON'T PROVIDE ANY REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. ON 4/17/2015, I BOUGHT A TOYOTA 2015 HIGHLANDER LE PLUS FROM TOYOTA NORTH BRUNSWICK (NJ) AND NOTICED BUZZING SOUND AFTER DRIVING ONLY ~30 MINUTES. BUZZING SOUND COMES FROM DASHBOARD AREA CONSTANTLY, ~ONCE EVERY MINUTE (IN THE BEGINNING OF DRIVING) TO ~EVERY SECOND (AFTER DRIVING AN HOUR). THE NOISE IS FROM THE AIR BLEND SERVO (RELATED TO AC) AS ACKNOWLEDGED BY LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DPT, BUT TOYOTA KEEPS SAYING THAT THE NOISE IS NORMAL NO MATTER HOW OFTEN IT HAPPENS BECAUSE THE REGIONAL TOYOTA FIELD TECHNICAL SPECIALIST (FTS) [XXX] SAID SO, I.E. TOYOTA CAN'T HELP YOU. (NOTE: HE HASN'T EVEN CHECKED MY VEHICLE IN PERSON.) I THINK THE NOISE ITSELF CAN HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT THE PROBLEM IS FREQUENCY, JUST LIKE SNEEZING EVERY SECOND IS NOT NORMAL EVEN THOUGH SNEEZING ITSELF IS NORMAL TO HUMAN. A TOYOTA TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY THAT REPLACING AIR BLEND SERVO IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THE WHOLE DASHBOARD NEEDS TO BE TAKEN APART. I SUSPECT TOYOTA WON'T FIX THIS UNDER ITS WARRANTY UNLESS THIS PROBLEM BECOMES LIFE THREATENING, I.E. TOO EXPENSIVE FOR TOYOTA. MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ASK "HOW CAN YOU DRIVE WITH THIS CRAZY NOISE?". THE NOISE IS ALMOST LIKE SLEEPING W/ 100 GNATS IN THE SAME ROOM. I AM A DRIVE WITH OVER 20 YEARS' EXPERIENCE AND HAVE ALWAYS USED NEW VEHICLES, BUT NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WITH NEW VEHICLES FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. P.S. I ALSO FOUND MORE PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM AND FRUSTRATION: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/333-3RD-GENERATION-2014/1077937-WEIRD-VIBRATING-BUZZING-NOISE.HTML. *TR

THE DASH READOUT FOR MPH BEGAN SHOWING VERY ERRATIC NMBERS. GOING FROM 24.4 MPG TO 29.7 MPG AND DOWN TO 13.1 MPG ALL IN A SPAN OF ABOUT 4 MILES. THIS MPG OF 24.4 WAS FOR THE PRIOR 3000 MILES. THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THIS HAPPENING. THEY ALSO SAID THAT TOYOTA HAD NO BULLETINS FOR THIS MATTER EITHER. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THAT I MUST HAVE ACCIDENTALLY RESET THE UNIT AND BY DOING SO IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL FOR THESE LARGE SWINGS IN MPG. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. I HAD OVER 100 MILES ON SINCE MY LAST FILL UP AND UNTIL THIS HAPPENING THE MPG NUMBER WAS QUITE STEADY. THE ONLY THAT I INDEED MAY HAVE DONE THIS WAS THAT LAST FILL UP BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY TIME THAT I EVER DO A RESET AND I DID NOT DO IT AT THAT TIME. PREVIOUSLY I HAD SEEN SOME STRANGE SWINGS IN MPG BUT NOT AS LARGE OF A SWING AND NOT LASTING FOR AS LONG OF TIME AND THOSE INSTANCES THE READING DID SELF CORRECT.

THE VEHICLE'S SIDE MIRRORS ARE PLACED SO THAT THEY BLOCK VISIBILITY FOR A SHORT PERSON. I AM JUST UNDER 5'4" AND WHEN AT A FOUR WAY INTERSECTION, THE MIRRORS DIRECTLY BLOCK THE VIEW OF WHERE A CAR WOULD BE STOPPED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. I ACTUALLY WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR COLLISION WHERE I DID NOT SEE THE OTHER CAR STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN TO MY LEFT ALTHOUGH THEY CLAIMED TO BE. NOW I ALWAYS NEED TO MOVE MY HEAD TO GET A CLEAR VIEW OF THE ROAD AREA NEXT TO THE THE STOP SIGNS TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT.

BOUGHT THIS 2015 HIGHLANDER BRAND-NEW IN JANUARY 2015 FROM THE DEALER. IT HAD 476 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES, A STONE CHIPPED THE WINDSHIELD AND WITHIN DAYS THE WINDSHIELD WAS A SPIDER'S NEST OF SPREADING CRACKS ALL ACROSS UP AND DOWN THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD THIS SAME ISSUE WITH A BRAND NEW 2017 HIGHLANDER PURCHASED FROM THE SAME DEALER. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SLANTED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE DOWN FOR BETTER AIRFLOW AND RESULTING MPG INCREASE AND IN SO DOING, ALL ROAD DEBRIS SUCH AS STONES, ARE PROPELLED UP RIGHT ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND THE STONES SMASH THE WINDSHIELD. WHAT ARE THE RANDOM ODDS THAT A BRAND-NEW, DEALER-BOUGHT 2015 AND 2017 HIGHLANDER WOULD BOTH GET A STONE CHIP THAT DESTROYS THE WINDSHIELD WITHIN THE FIRST FEW THOUSAND MILES OF DRIVING? THESE WINDSHIELD AREN'T CHEAP TO REPLACE- ABOUT $1400. THE DATE OF OCCURRENCE AND MILEAGE I HAVE STATED FOR THIS COMPLAINT ARE TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION AS THIS ISSUE OCCURRED IN 2015 AND I DID NOT FILE THIS COMPLAINT UNTIL 6-9-2017 WHEN I HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE OCCUR ON THE BRAND NEW PURCHASED 2017 HIGHLANDER, WHICH I FILED COMPLAINT # 10994221 ON. THESE TWO COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE CROSS-REFERENCED. I BELIEVE THE 2015+ MODEL YEAR HIGHLANDERS WILL DEMONSTRATE A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT HIGHER RATE OF OCCURRENCE OF WINDSHIELD FAILURES OWING TO THEIR SLANTING THE HOOD ANGLE DOWN TOWARDS THE PAVEMENT TO ACHIEVE A LOWER WIND PROFILE AND HIGHER MPG. THE EFFECT OF THIS IS THAT ALL ROCKS AND DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD ARE THROWN UP ONTO THE WINDSHIELD VIOLENTLY RESULTING IN WINDSCREEN DAMAGE. I HAD A 2009 HIGHLANDER, ALSO PURCHASED BRAND NEW, THAT HAD NO SUCH ISSUES AS THE HOOD ANGLE WAS HIGHER AND MORE TRUCK LIKE.

THIS HIGHLANDER HAS A POWER LIFTGATE. IF A CHILD OR ADULT GETS IN THE WAY OF THE LIFTGATE WHEN IT IS LOWERING, THE CHILD OR ADULT CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED, CRUSHED OR KILLED BECAUSE THE LIFTGATE HAS NO EASY REVERSING FEATURE. IT DOES REVERSE WHEN IT HITS AN OBJECT BUT THE FORCE REQUIRED TO MAKE IT REVERSE IS TOO GREAT AND WILL HURT OR KILL A HUMAN WHO GETS IN THE WAY. PEOPLE OFTEN REACH IN THE TRUNK TO FETCH SOMETHING AFTER THE OPERATOR DECIDES TO CLOSE THE TRUNK. IF THIS HAPPENS WITH THE POWER CLOSER, THE OPERATOR MUST KNOW THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE STOP CONTROL EITHER BY FEEL OR BY SIGHT TO STOP THE OPERATION OF THE LIFTGATE IN ORDER TO PREVENT INJURY. THIS IS ASKING TOO MUCH OF THE OPERATOR. THE LIFT GATE SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO REVERSE OR STOP IMMEDIATELY JUST LIKE THE SAFETY FEATURES ON AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR CLOSERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOME GETS HURT OR KILLED. I HAVE ALREADY POINTED THIS OUT TO TOYOTA AND THE FILE NUMBER IS #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE TRANSMISSION HAS A FLUTTER WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT UP OR DOWN TO DIFFERENT GEARS. IT CAUSES A HESITANCY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY THE CALDWELL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CONWAY, AR USA AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS IN OTHER HIGHLANDERS. I REQUEST A RECALL TO HAVE THIS FIXED. THANK YOU *TR

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING, SAY AT A STOP SIGN, ONE LOOSES CONTROL OF STEERING. THE CAR IS ALSO DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEN GOING INTO PASSING GEAR. I FEAR THAT LOSING CONTROL IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY, EVEN THOUGH I DRIVE CONSERVATIVELY AND HAS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2014.

I PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AND SEVERAL HOURS LATER I HAPPENED TO NEED SOMETHING OUT THERE. WHEN I ENTERED I HEARD AN ELECTRIC MOTOR RUNNING EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAD BEEN TURNED OFF FOR SEVERAL HOURS. CRAWLING UNDER THE CAR I FOUND THAT THE SOUND WAS COMMING FROM A MOTOR NEAR THE REAR AXLE. I REPORTED IT TO MY TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS A MOTOR THAT MAY RUN HOURS AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF TO PURGE THE CARBON CANISTER. THEY ADVISED THAT THEY FOUND THAT INFORMATION IN THEIR SERVICE MANUAL, BUT NOT THE OWNERS MANUAL. ONE TIME OUR LAWN MOWER DECIDED TO LEAK DURING THE NIGHT RESULTING IN HEAVY GASOLINE FUMES IN THE GARAGE. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT SHOULD HAPPEN AGAIN I DO NOT THINK ANY ELECTRIC MOTOR ON THE CAR SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNILATERALLY DECIDE WHEN TO RUN AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, WATER LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE MOLDING ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOLDING WAS NOT SEALED PROPERLY TO PREVENT WATER FROM LEAKING IN. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING UP TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700. ....UPDATED 07/22/15 *BF UPDATED 9/21/2015 *JS

APRIL 24, 2015 [XXX] TO AN APPROPRIATE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION: IN NOVEMBER 2014, I PURCHASED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED MODEL ID# [XXX]:. DURING FREEZING WEATHER THIS WINTER I DISCOVERED A DANGEROUS DESIGN FAULT RELATING TO THE VEHICLE. MUCH OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN BE ENTRAPPED AND EMBEDDED IN ICE, AND THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT MELT ICE IN THAT AREA. THE WIPERS ARE INCAPACITATED. THE DEFROSTER CLEARS THE WINDSHIELD BUT DOES NOTHING TO FREE THE WIPERS FROM ICE. THAT WAS THE CASE FOR ME DURING FOUR DAYS OF FREEZING WEATHER. THERE IS AN AUXILIARY FUNCTION IN THE VEHICLE THAT ADDRESSES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. BUT THAT ONLY "BUMPS" THE ICE, IT DOES NOTHING TO MELT THE ICE. APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR APPROPRIATELY ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR