2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Complaints

ON AUGUST 18TH 2007 I SENT A LETTER TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES WRITING CONCERNING A PROBLEM WITH MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHICH HAD SURGED IN A PARALLEL PARKING SITUATION HITTING THE CAR BEHIND AND DAMAGING IT AND MY VEHICLE. . HER HEADLIGHT AND BUMPER WERE DAMAGED. . THE REPAIR ON THE OTHER CAR CAME TO $1800.00. AND MORE. I REPORTED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN SPIRIT LAKE, IA. AND ALSO TO THE TOYOTA MOTOR SALES IN TOLEDO , OHIO 43699-0024. THE SPIRIT LAKE DEALER TOLD ME IT MUST HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY BAD GAS. *TR

I JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW, LAST YEAR MY GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK. I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN I INVESTIGATED IT, I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC PANEL TO THE RIGHT OF THE PEDAL HAD BROKEN LOOSE CAUSING THE PANEL TO LIFT UP SO THAT THE PEDAL COULD GET STUCK UNDER IT. THE PLASTIC SCREW HAD COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF. I WENT TO TOYOTA HERE IN BOULDER AND THEY REPLACE THE SCREW. WHY MANUFACTURERS USE PLASTIC SCREWS IS BEYOND ME. I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA WOULD HAVE USED PLASTIC SCREWS FOR WHAT IS APPARENTLY A STRESSED AREA. I'M JUST GLAD I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS PRETTY SCARY! *TR

UNLOADING ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK OF THE 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AT THE BACK (BASEMENT) OF A NEW RESIDENCE. DROVE FROM THE BACK OF THE HOUSE TO THE FRONT WITH INTENTIONS OF BACKING UP TO THE GARAGE TO UNLOAD THE REMAINDER OF THE BOXES. I ENDED UP CROSSING THE ROAD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVEWAY HITTING A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON; SMASHING MY HEAD AGAINST AND BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE INCURRED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MEDICAL BILLS, APPROXIMATELY $7,000 IN DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND A WEEK OFF OF WORK. *TR

COOLANT LOSS DUE TO STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. ENGINE OVER HEATED. *TR

LENS PLATE COVERS OVER FOG LIGHTS ARE MELTING. THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE PLASTIC ON THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE PEELED, SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO APPEAR VERY DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT BUFFING WOULD REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51400, UPDATED 10/19/09 *CN UPDATED 10/19/09

2004 HIGHLANDER, HAVING SAME PROBLEMS AS ALL OTHER REPORTED PROBLEMS FOR THIS VEHICLE. HESITATION, STEERING SHAFT REPLACEMENT, 2 WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENTS, LOUSY ORIGINAL TIRES, BAD SODERING OF HEAT/AIR BOARD LEADING TO NOT WORKING PROPERLY, CAN NOT HAVE BACK WINDOWS DOWN DUE TO NOISE AND VEHICLE SHAKING, HAD REAR WIPER MOTOR REPLACED WITHIN 1ST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. WHILE I DID PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH DID COVER THE COST OF THE WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT, IT DID NOT COVER THE COST OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE TIRES DAMAGED BY THE BAD BEARING - AND TOYOTA DOES NOT CARE. IN THEIR RACE TO BECOME THE NUMBER ONE CAR MAKER, THEY HAVE GIVEN UP ON BEING THE SAFEST, MOST RELIABLE CAR MAKER - AND THEY HAVE CERTAINLY GIVEN UP ON BEING CUSTOMER FRIENDLY. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO, SINCE THEY CONTINUE TO BE POPULAR SELLING VEHICLES. I AM GETTING NERVOUS AS THE TIME FOR MY WARRANTY COMES DUE TO EXPIRE - AND FOR THE FIRST TIME AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TRADING IT IN BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, BUT AFTER READING ALL THE PEOPLE HAVING ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS, I AM VERY CONCERNED. *TR

STEERING. LOOSENESS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER REPLACED PART (45220-48150 SHAFT ASSY) @ A COST OF $387.93 (THIS WITH A 15% DISCOUNT). IN READING YOUR COMPLAINTS FILED, I NOTE THIS WASN'T T/1ST TIME THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED & AS STATED, THERE IS A DEALER SERVICE ADVISORY ON IT. I ALSO TOOK NOTE THAT THERE APPARENTLY HASN'T BEEN ANY ACTION 2 RESOLVE THE MATTER (IE, THE OWNER CONTINUES 2 PAY 4 REPAIRS). SHOULD NOT TOYOTA B REQUIRED 2 COVER THIS TYPE OF REPAIR ? LIKE WE'RE TALKING STEERING HERE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE WHO JUST LET'S THE PROBLEM GO TO THE POINT WHERE HE/SHE LOOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE & THERE IS PHYSICAL INJURY OR DEATH? I WAS HESITANT TO WRITE THIS UP BECAUSE I DON'T SEE WHERE N INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CONDUCTED (DID I JUST MISS IT?). MY VEHICLE HAS JUST UNDER 55K MILES ON IT (ALL OF THEM ONROAD) &S BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER. TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE A $$$ MAKER 4 THE DEALER & A CALCULATED DECISION BY TOYOTA THAT ENOUGH OF THOSE REQUIRING THE REPAIR WOULDN'T COMPLAIN; LOOKS LIKE TOYOTA WINS. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2WD. THIS VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, LOW MILEAGE (ABOUT 40,000) AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. ON APRIL 19, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL/ANTI-SLIP BUZZER SOUNDED. THE ICON LIT ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO BREAK AS IF THE CAR WAS SLIPPING. THE ROAD WAS DRY, OUR SPEED WAS EXTREMELY LOW (ABOUT 15MPH), AND THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THANKFULLY, WE WERE JUST OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND COULD TURN SAFELY AROUND THOUGH THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ON APRIL 20TH, WE PHONED TOYOTA OF KEENE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IN OUR VEHICLE. WE WEREN'T THRILLED WITH THE PROSPECT OF DRIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, BUT FIGURED IF WE KEPT TO LOW SPEEDS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT SAFELY. WE TOOK DOWN THE TOW COMPANY'S NUMBER JUST IN CASE. ON APRIL 21ST, MY HUSBAND SET OUT FOR THE APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIR IN KEENE. ABOUT 10 MILES FROM HOME, THE PROBLEM SUDDENLY WENT AWAY. THE SKID WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED BREAKING AUTOMATICALLY. MY HUSBAND MADE IT THE REST OF THE WAY TO TOYOTA OF KEENE WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. AFTER A TEST DRIVE, THE TECHNICIAN STATED, 'THAT WAS THE SCARIEST TEST I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED,' AS THE PROBLEM HAD RETURNED WHILE HE WAS ON THE ROAD. BUT BY THE TIME HE RETURNED TO THE SHOP AND HOOKED UP THE CAR TO DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTERS, THE PROBLEM HAD AGAIN CEASED. TOYOTA OF KEENE HAS HAD MY VEHICLE SINCE APRIL 21ST, AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR IT OR OFFER ANY SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE. THEY CLAIM THAT THEY CAN'T REPAIR IT IF THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE THE VEHICLE IS HOOKED UP TO COMPUTERS. THOUGH I UNDERSTAND THIS EXPLANATION, IT DOES NOTHING FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, AS WELL AS ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA COMPLAINT CENTER AND THEY OPENED UP A CASE NUMBER BUT WERE ESSENTIALLY USELESS IN ASSISTING ME. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AS WELL AS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE. *TR

WIFE WAS DRIVING ON CLEAN DRY ROAD. SUDDENLY, THE VCS LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE ALARM SOUNDING CAME ON AS WELL. CAR SUDDENLY BRAKED, BRAKES MADE A GRINDING SOUND, AND CAR JERKED TO THE RIGHT. TRIED TO DRIVE FORWARD AND IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 10MPH. IF THE CAR DID, THE ABOVE HAPPENED AGAIN. CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE SITUATION WAS VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR, NOT CONTROLLED BY MY WIFE, THE DRIVER, COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. TURNS OUT, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WENT ON THE CAR. FIRST...THE CAR ONLY HAS 53K MILES ON IT. THIS IS NOT A 'WEAR AND TEAR' PART. THIS PART SHOULD NEVER GO WITH ONLY THIS MANY MILES ON IT. GARBAGE. SECOND, THE FAILURE OF THIS PART CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE ROAD, AS ONCE IT GOES, THE DRIVER BASICALLY HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR UNTIL IT SLOWS DOWN TO UNDER 10 MILES AN HOUR. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, FOCUS ON THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC, AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS AND DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING ON TOYOTA VEHICLES. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PART FOR $700. RIP OFF. *TR