2011 Toyota HIGHLANDER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Toyota HIGHLANDER has 229 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: front windshield sealer bead not adhered to the glass. toyota tacoma. *tr.

3 crash reports 2 injuries

229

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

35 complaints

15%

• FRONT WINDSHIELD SEALER BEAD NOT ADHERED TO THE GLASS. TOYOTA TACOMA. *TR
• LEFT SIDE SUN VISOR FAILED, VISOR DROPS DOWN IN FRONT OF DRIVER. *TR
• SUN VISOR DOES NOT RETURN TO UPRIGHT POSITION. IT HANGS AND OBSTRUCTS DRIVER'S VISION. I HAVE READ ONLINE THE EXCESSIVELY HIGH NUMBER OF TOYOTA OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS SO DANGEROUS AND A FIX IS COST PROHIBITIVE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MANUFACTURING A DEFECTIVE PART.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“FRONT WINDSHIELD SEALER BEAD NOT ADHERED TO THE GLASS. TOYOTA TACOMA. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

34 complaints

15%

• PURCHASED MY 2011 HIGHLANDER IN MARCH, & IT HAD 7000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I STARTED THE VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY, PUT IT IN DRIVE, AND STARTED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES AND SEEMED NOT TO HAVE POWER STEERING. THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH CAME ON,
• WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE ON A SLIGHT CURVE TO THE RIGHT IN THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNING, BUT THE WHEELS WERE NOT RESPONDING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MUCH HARDER TO TURN. SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY EASY TO TURN AND THE C
• I ONLY HAVE 7K MILES IN MY CAR I OWN THE CAR FOR ONLY 1 YEAR. I NOTICE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT BALANCE AT ALL. AT LEAST 5-10 DEGREE TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE MY CAR SERVICE EVERY 6 MONTHS WITH TOYOTA IT SHOULD BE BALANCED AND DONE THE TIRE ROTATION??? ALSO THE TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY STALL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“PURCHASED MY 2011 HIGHLANDER IN MARCH, & IT HAD 7000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I STARTED THE VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY, PUT IT IN DRIVE, AND STARTED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES AND SEEMED NOT TO HAVE POWER STEERING. THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH CAME ON, ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

28 complaints

12%

• FRONT WINDSHIELD SEALER BEAD NOT ADHERED TO THE GLASS. TOYOTA TACOMA. *TR
• TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB FOR WARPING HINGES FOR THE POWER REAR HATCH. THE HATCH EVENTUALLY WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY OR AT ALL. THIS IS MAINLY DUE TO THE MOTOR PUTTING TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HINGE. THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL HIGHLANDER RIGHT NOW WITH POWER OPEN CLOSE FEATURES. EVEN THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF HIS HATCHBACK WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS INFORMED OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN UNDER NHTSA ITEM NUMBER : 10041651 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE). THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“FRONT WINDSHIELD SEALER BEAD NOT ADHERED TO THE GLASS. TOYOTA TACOMA. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

23 complaints

10%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN. THE GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN PARK IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON SINCE IT WAS TURNED OFF BY PRESSING A BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECH
• CAR HAS BEEN IN USE FOR 3 WEEKS. AFTER NOT BEING DRIVEN FOR 4 DAYS, NO ELECTRICAL POWER IS RECEIVED FROM THE BATTERY. JUMP-STARTING THE CAR WAS ATTEMPTED, BUT THE CAR REMAINED IMMOBILIZED. FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 800. *TR
• 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4WD: SYSTEM CHECK PANEL I INDICATING THE REAR DOOR IS OPEN, WHEN IT'S NOT. BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES. CAR HAS 10000 MILES ON IT. THE REAR DOOR OPEN INDICATOR EFFECTS DOOR LOCKING ABILITY WITH KEY FOB AS WELL AS CONTINUAL CHIME INDICATING REAR DOOR IS OPEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH TURN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN. THE GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN PARK IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON SINCE IT WAS TURNED OFF BY PRESSING A BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

22 complaints

10%

• FORD F150 SUPERCREW 4X4 - FUEL TANK STRAP BROKE. TANK JUST HANGING. LUCKILY NOTICED IT AND HAVE ORDERED NEW STRAPS. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR
• VEHICLE MAKES A VERY NOTICEABLE, IRRITATING WHINE OR WHISTLE NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING AT 40MPH. STOPS WHEN GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED. VERY CONSTANT AND ANNOYING. DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN CAR WAS FIRST PURCHASED. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH THEY REPLACED. DID NOT FIX THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“FORD F150 SUPERCREW 4X4 - FUEL TANK STRAP BROKE. TANK JUST HANGING. LUCKILY NOTICED IT AND HAVE ORDERED NEW STRAPS. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 229 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: FRONT WINDSHIELD SEALER BEAD NOT ADHERED TO THE GLASS. TOYOTA TACOMA. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: PURCHASED MY 2011 HIGHLANDER IN MARCH, & IT HAD 7000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I STARTED THE VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY, PUT IT IN DRIVE, AND STARTED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES AND SEEMED NOT TO HAVE POWER STEERING. THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH CAME ON,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: FRONT WINDSHIELD SEALER BEAD NOT ADHERED TO THE GLASS. TOYOTA TACOMA. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN. THE GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN PARK IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON SINCE IT WAS TURNED OFF BY PRESSING A BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)