2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Complaints

I PURCHASED A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM CABE TOYOTA, A TOYOTA DEALER IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ON MARCH, 2013. I ALWAYS USE CABE TOYOTA FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO CABE TOYOTA ON JULY 5TH, 2014 FOR 20,000 MILES SERVICE AND REPLACED THE CABIN FILTER AS PER THEIR RECOMMENDATION. I REALIZED THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WERE SLOWER WHEN ENTERING THE FREEWAYS AFTER THE SERVICE. THE PERFORMANCE WAS EVEN WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE GOING UPHILL AND THE TOP SPEED STAYS ON 40 MPH EVEN WHEN THE ACCELERATION PADDLE WAS FULLY ENGAGE. WHEN I WAS VACUUMED THE VEHICLE YESTERDAY, SEPT 26TH, 2014. I NOTICED SOME ELECTRIC WIRES WERE UNPLUGGED, AND ONE SET OF THEM WAS CUT OFF COMPLETELY. I AM NOT SURE THIS IS THE RESULT OF MANUFACTURE FAILURE OR MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FOR INDEPENDENT INSPECTION CENTER IN MY AREA FROM YOU, SO THAT I CAN BRING MY CAR TO HAVE COMPLETE DIAGNOSES. THANK YOU. *TR

ON SEPTEMBER 12 2014 MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT HER DOCTOR'S OFFICE. THE SPACE INCLUDE A STOP CURB AND IT FACED A FOUR LANE STREET. AS SHE PULLED INTO THE SPACE, SHE BRAKED TO AVOID CONTACTING THE CURB AND WAS ABOUT TO SHIFT INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR JUMPED THE PARKING CURB AND THEN ANOTHER CURB AND ENTERED A GRASSY AREA (APPROXIMATELY 10 FT WIDE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND JUMPED ANOTHER CURB AND LANDED IN A 4 LANE STREET. SHE CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ACROSS THE STREET. SHE WAS HEADED TOWARD ANOTHER CURB AND GRASSY AREA AND A DOWNHILL SLOPE FOLLOWED BY A MEINEKE REPAIR BUSINESS. NOT WANTING TO GO DOWN THE HILL AND INTO THE BUILDING, SHE TURNED THE CAR TO THE RIGHT BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID ENTERING THE SECOND GRASSY AREA. SHE WAS NOW TRAVELING PARALLEL TO THE MEINEKE BUILDING AND SIDE SWIPED TWO SMALL TREES, AND WAS HEADED TOWARD A VERY BUSY RUSH HOUR STREET. TO AVOID ACCELERATING INTO THIS STREET, SHE DECIDED TO TRY SHIFTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. SHE LOOKED DOWN TO FIND THE NEUTRAL GEAR, AND JUST AS SHE LOOKED UP, SHE CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO ANOTHER TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE SEAT BELTS SAVED HER. THE CAR WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHERE SHE HIT THE TREE AND TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR WHERE SHE SIDE SWIPED THE TWO TREES. THE MEINEKE EMPLOYEES CALLED 911 AND A DETECTIVE TOOK HER TO HER DOCTOR'S OFFICE FOR TREATMENT. SHE INJURED HER RIBS AND BACK AND CONTINUES TO RECEIVE TREATMENT. I'M CONVINCED THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND I AM ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THIS WITH TOYOTA BUT HOLD OUT LITTLE HOPE. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL INJURIES OR LOSS OF LIFE. MY WIFE COULD HAVE DIED IF THE CAR HAD MADE IT TO THE VERY BUSY STREET.

BURNT SMELL COMING FROM THE AC VENTS, WHICH HAPPENS MOST OF THE TIME THE AFTER THE NOTED FIRST TIME OF INCIDENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN I TAKE MAJOR FREEWAYS, LAST TIME NOTED THIS AFTERNOON 8/31/2014 WHILE TAKING I-75 IN FLORIDA. WHEN I ACCELERATE TO 70-80MPH, ME AND MY WIFE/ PASSENGER ALWAYS SMELL BURNT ODOR COMING FROM THE AC VENTS WHICH IS REALLY ANNOYING AND SCARY BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW IF SOMETHING IS BURNING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR ELSEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. SO I NEED TO SLOW DOWN AFTER THAT, OPEN THE WINDOWS TO LET THE ODOR OUT. I HAVE LET THE TOYOTA CHECK IT BUT CANNOT DUPLICATE IT MAY BE BECAUSE DURING THE PLACE OF TESTING IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE IN MY OPINION, THE DEALERSHIP IS LOCATED NEAR A FREEWAY WHERE SPEED LIMIT IS ONLY AT 60MPH, THE TECH ACCELERATED IT ONCE AT 70MPH BUT I TOLD HIM HE CANNOT DUPLICATE IT WITH NOT CONSISTENTLY HITTING AT 70 OR HIGHER.MAY BE NEXT TIME OF SERVICE I WILL CHOOSE A DEALERSHIP NEAR THE FREEWAY I DRIVE AND DRIVE IT MYSELF. *TR

PURCHASED 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 11/24/12; TRANSMISSION HAS MALFUNCTIONED APPROXIMATELY 16 TIMES SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. WHEN REDUCING SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 30 TO10 M.P.H. AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO GO INTO NEUTRAL; THE DRIVE STICK REMAINS IN DRIVE! WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I SHIFT DRIVE STICK TO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE AND THEN TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO WORK FINE. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO EXTEND YOUR IMAGINATION TOO FAR TO REALIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH WHEN MAKING A TURN OR TRYING TO PASS SOMEONE! DEALER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. THE INITIAL RESPONSE FROM DEALER WAS THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO ADJUST TO MY DRIVING HABITS? IF YOU CHECK CARCOMPLAINTS.COM OR EDMONDS.COM, YOU WILL SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE 2004. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO REVIEW PAST HEAD ON COLLISIONS AND TURN ACCIDENTS TO CONSIDER IF IT WAS "DRIVER ERROR" VS "TRANSMISSION FAILURE" I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONTACTED TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU *TR UPDATED 02/20/2015 *JS

I PURCHASED A NEW 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED IN NOVEMBER 2013. A FEW DAYS LATER, UPON ACCELERATING FROM A STOP INTO A LEFT TURN, THE ENGINE CUT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE MORE TIMES BEFORE THE FIRST CHECKUP, AT WHICH TIME I INFORMED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, PROBLEM WAS NOTED ON SERVICE SHEET, BUT WHEN SERVICE WAS COMPLETED, THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. THE HESITATION CONTINUED, QUITE RANDOMLY, AND SEEMED TO HAPPEN IN LEFT TURN, ACCELERATING SITUATIONS. AT NEXT SERVICE AND CHECKUP (DIFFERENT DEALER) I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS WRITTEN UP AGAIN WITH SAME RESULT, NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES, NO RESULTS, NO ACTION TAKEN, NO PROBLEM FOUND. I CONSIDER THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. BASED ON INFORMATION I HAVE SEEN, IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM ASAP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NUMEROS ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO HAVE HER VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V148000 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V014000 (AIR BAGS , SEATS) HOWEVER, BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT RETURN THE CONTACT'S PHONE CALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXHIBITED THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V148000 (SEATS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

DEAR SIR, I PURCHASED A NEW 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE SPARE TIRE IS MOUNTED UNDER THE VEHICLE & HELD IN PLACE BY A CABLE. THE SPARE TIRE BECOMES LOOSE AND IT DROPS DOWN WHEN DRIVING. I JUST RECENTLY HAD RIVERHEAD TOYOTA (WHERE I PURCHASED THE HIGHLANDER) REPAIR THE MECHANICAL CRANK, IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 8 DAYS. THE SERVICE MANAGER MIKE HAMMER TOLD ME HE PERSONALLY REPAIRED IT. I HAD IT 2 DAYS AND ABOUT 300 MILES AND THE SPARE TIRE DROPPED DOWN AGAIN. IT IS CURRENTLY BACK AT RIVERHEAD TOYOTA. I ASKED FOR THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE NOV 2013. I CALLED TOYOTA TO COMPLAIN, ABOUT 15 TIMES. I HAVE A CASE WORKER BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT FIXED. MY SPARE TIRE GETS DAMAGED WHEN IT DROPS DOWN, TOYOTA HAS REPLACED 2 MAG WHEELS AND IS REFUSING TO REPLACE 2 MORE DAMAGED MAG WHEELS. THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE SPARE TIRE HANGING BY A CABLE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE (IT HAS DROPPED DOWN AS MUCH 8IN OFF THE ROAD) AND IT SWINGS. MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH A TRAILER HITCH WHICH CONTAINS THE SWINGING OF TIRE. WHEN THE TIRE DROPS BELOW THE TRAILER HITCH IT MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. CAN YOU PLEASE CHECK IF THIS IS ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS & WHAT IS WAS DONE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I'M AFRAID ONE DAY THE TIRE WILL BECOME SEPARATED FROM MY VEHICLE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I'M NOT SURE TOYOTA WANTS TO FIX THE DEFECT AND I FEEL MY VEHICLE IS BEING HELD HOSTAGE. *TR

DEAR SIR, I PURCHASED A NEW 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE SPARE TIRE IS MOUNTED UNDER THE VEHICLE & HELD IN PLACE BY A CABLE. THE SPARE TIRE BECOMES LOOSE AND IT DROPS DOWN WHEN DRIVING. I JUST RECENTLY HAD RIVERHEAD TOYOTA (WHERE I PURCHASED THE HIGHLANDER) REPAIR THE MECHANICAL CRANK, IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 8 DAYS. THE SERVICE MANAGER MIKE HAMMER TOLD ME HE PERSONALLY REPAIRED IT. I HAD IT 2 DAYS AND ABOUT 300 MILES AND THE SPARE TIRE DROPPED DOWN AGAIN. IT IS CURRENTLY BACK AT RIVERHEAD TOYOTA. I ASKED FOR THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE NOV 2013. I CALLED TOYOTA TO COMPLAIN, ABOUT 15 TIMES. I HAVE A CASE WORKER BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT FIXED. MY SPARE TIRE GETS DAMAGED WHEN IT DROPS DOWN, TOYOTA HAS REPLACED 2 MAG WHEELS AND IS REFUSING TO REPLACE 2 MORE DAMAGED MAG WHEELS. THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE SPARE TIRE HANGING BY A CABLE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE (IT HAS DROPPED DOWN AS MUCH 8IN OFF THE ROAD) AND IT SWINGS. MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH A TRAILER HITCH WHICH CONTAINS THE SWINGING OF TIRE. WHEN THE TIRE DROPS BELOW THE TRAILER HITCH IT MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. CAN YOU PLEASE CHECK IF THIS IS ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS & WHAT IS WAS DONE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I'M AFRAID ONE DAY THE TIRE WILL BECOME SEPARATED FROM MY VEHICLE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I HAVE A NEW 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. DURING A HEAVY RAIN OR CAR WASH WATER ENTERS THE CABIN AROUND FROM THE CENTER POST WHERE THE SEATBELT RETRACTS. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE IS BAD WELD AT ONE OF THE ROOF SEAMS AND THE WATER IS LEAKING DOWN THROUGH THE CENTER POST. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WHILE THEY TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE REPAIR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS DEFECT MAY ALSO AFFECT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT SMALL TRACES OF WATER ARE STILL ENTERING THE VEHICLE BUT AREN'T VISIBLE AS IT MAY BE HIDDEN BY INTERIOR TRIM. OVER TIME THIS MAY CAUSE RUST. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DEFECT? *TR