2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Complaints

SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED. MY FAMILY AND I WERE GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE, NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND US AND WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING ALL AFTERNOON WITH NOT TEMPERATURE VARIANCE. RIGHT WHEN WE HIT 80 MPH WE HEARD A VERY LOAD BANG LIKE A GUN HAD GONE OFF IN THE CAR. THEN WE HEARD THE WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE SUNROOF. THE COVER WAS CLOSED SO WE COULDN'T SEE WHAT HAPPENED. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE SUNROOF IT WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THE GLASS THAT WAS STILL IN PLACE AROUND THE RIM OF THE SUNROOF WAS PROTRUDING UP AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE SO I KNEW NOTHING HIT IT TO BREAK IT. THE BANG WAS REALLY LOAD AS WELL SO I AM EXTREMELY DOUBTFUL THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY ANY KIND OF EXTERIOR OBJECT. VERY LUCKY THE COVER WAS CLOSED OR WE WOULD HAVE HAD GLASS ALL OVER US.

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

THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AND DROPS DOWN OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW OF THE ROAD COMPLETELY(IF TALLER THAN 5'9'). WHEN SWUNG TO THE SIDE IT OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW OUT THE LEFT WINDOW, AND DISTRACTS THE DRIVER BY SWINGING INTO THE LEFT SIDE OF THEIR FACE WHILE TURNING/CHANGING LANES WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES DUE TO A POOR DESIGN FRICTION MECHANISM THAT SHOULD HOLD THE VISOR AT ANY ANGLE OUT OF THE DRIVERS WAY. REPLACEMENT IS $300 DISCOURAGING PROPER REPLACEMENT AND CAUSING DRIVERS TO ENDURE THE SAFETY HAZARD. TOYOTA HAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED VISORS UNDER A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON OLDER VEHICLES. DUE TO THE COST THERE ARE DOZENS OF REPAIR PROCEDURES AND REMOVAL PROCESSES RECORDED ON YOUTUBE TO ILLUSTRATE HOW WIDESPREAD 'TOYOTA VISOR WON'T STAY UP' JUST SEARCH ON YOUTUBE. REMOVED THE VISOR DOES NOT BLOCK THE DRIVERS VIEW BUT REMOVES SAFETY WARNINGS FOR THE AIRBAG AND SAFE OPERATION ROLLOVER WARNING. TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE ANOTHER TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR THIS SUPPOSEDLY IMPROVED VISOR MECHANISM AND REPAIR FOR OWNERS.

AN INTERMITTENT SQUEAKING NOISE OCCURS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. I HAVE NOTICED THIS WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AS WELL AS ON LOCAL ROADS

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A SITUATION WITH MY 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (VIN# 5TDJKRFHXFS1[XXX]) THAT HAS BECOME QUITE CONCERNING. WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL FROM A DEAD STOP POSITION, I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INITIAL ACCELERATION AND THEN A HESITATION FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A RESUMPTION OF ACCELERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES. AT FIRST I THOUGHT MY FOOT WAS SLIPPING OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AFTER EXAMINATION I REALIZED THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED (APRIL 16, 2018) I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PROCEED FROM A STOP LIGHT ACROSS 3 LANES OF HIGHWAY TO THE FOURTH LANE. AS I STEPPED ON THE GAS THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD AND THEN HESITATED. I PURPOSELY LEFT MY FOOT RIGHT WHERE IT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND WITHIN ONE OR TWO SECONDS IT RESUMED AND AGAIN ACCELERATED FORWARD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THERE IS NO SPUTTERING OR BACKFIRING, JUST A TOTAL VOID OF ANYTHING HAPPENING UNTIL IT AGAIN RESUMES FORWARD MOTION. I JUST HAD THE CAR SERVICED ON APRIL 25, 2018 AT MY TOYOTA DEALER AND MENTIONED THE PROBLEM. THEY DROVE THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO RAN A DIAGNOSIS OF THE SYSTEM AND FOUND NO ABNORMALITIES. MY QUESTION IS, HAS THIS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS AS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE OR IS THIS A ONE OFF AND OTHERS ARE NOT EXPERIENCING OR NOT AWARE OF THIS QUIRK IN THE SYSTEM.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

AT 2000 MILES WE NOTICED OUR WHEELS PITTING. WE THOUGHT THIS WAS UNUSUAL AS OUR WHEELS WERE PLASTIC COATED CALLED 'CROMETECH'. WE WERE AT THE DEALERS AND MENTIONED THAT OUR CAR HAD ONLY 2000 MILES AND SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. OUR CAR NOW HAS 7070MILES YES SEVEN THOUSAND MILES AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR US. MY WIFE AND I ARE IN OUR 80'S AND THEY ARE ARE TAKEING ADVANTAGE OF US BECAUSE WE'RE OLD. THEY WANT US TO PAY FOR NEW WHEELS $750.. EACH.

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT I BELIEVE WAS CAUSED BY SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA). I WAS PULLING INTO A DIAGONAL PARKING SPACE ON A CITY STREET, PROCEEDING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED, WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN SURGE IN ACCELERATION ACCOMPANIED BY A GRINDING SOUND. I HIT THE BRAKE TO NO EFFECT, AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT A POLE (NOT CONNECTED TO ANYTHING). THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND WE WERE SHAKEN UP BUT NOT INJURED. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR TO REMOVE HIS DAUGHTER FROM THE CAR SEAT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT HAD TO GO AROUND AND OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR IN ORDER TO GET THE INFANT OUT OF THE SEAT. ADDITIONALLY, DURING THE SECOND WEEK OF FEBRUARY OF 2018, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ACTUATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT DID NOT OPEN. AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR ACTUATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD DOOR THAT EXPERIENCED ACTUATOR FAILURE. THE DEALER (LUGOFF TOYOTA IN LUGOFF, NORTH CAROLINA) DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE OWNER THE FIRST TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED A THIRD TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

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.

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.