2012 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

WITH 1000 MILES LEFT ON AN OIL CHANGE OR SO OUR CAR WOULD RANDOMLY STALL WHEN YOU MAKE CERTAIN TURNS. OCCAISIOANLLY THE OIL LIGHT WOULD POP ONE WHEN IT WOULD STALL. I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK AND YOU COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING ON IT. I ADDED OIL AND TOOK IT INTO DEALER. THEY ARE DOING A CONSUMPTION TEST TO SEE HOW MUCH WE LOSE IN 1000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE NO LEAKS AND NO VISIBLE SMOKE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST. THIS HAS ME WORRIED OF SIMILIAR PROBLEMS THEY HAD WITH ONE OF THERE OTHER 4CYL ENGINES.

ON MARCH 19, 2019 AROUND 9:30PM (DRY ROAD CONDITION ' NO RAIN), MY HUSBAND AND I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION OUTSIDE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY (I-70) GOING APPROX. 70 MPH. IT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE BLEW OUT OR A GUN SHOT. MY HUSBAND DIDN'T FEEL THE CAR WAS WOBBLY SO WE ASSUMED THE TIRES ON OUR CAR ARE OK. WE WERE DRIVING ON LEFT LANE AND THERE WAS A SEMI-TRUCK NEXT TO US BUT WE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THE TRUCK AND IT WAS MOVING NORMAL TOO. HOWEVER, AFTER THAT LOUD EXPLOSION, WE BOTH NOTICED THE NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR (NOISE SIMILAR TO WHEN THE CAR WINDOW IS OPEN). I THEN OPENED THE COVER (SHADE) OF THE SUNROOF AND SAW THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED SO QUICKLY CLOSED THE COVER (SHADE) BACK UP. FORTUNATELY, THE COVER WAS CLOSED WHEN THE SUNROOF SHATTERED SO WE DIDN'T GET HURT FROM BROKEN GLASSES. WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT HAPPENED AS WE DIDN'T SEE ANY OBJECTS WERE FLYING TOWARDS US.

STEERING SHAFT- AFTER EXPERIENCING CLUNKING AND POPPING WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY. THIS WILL COST APPROXIMATELY 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX. THIS CAN CAUSE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES IF NOT FIXED!

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER I EXPERIENCE A "POP" IN THE STEERING WHEEL. MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BUT IS NOT WARRANTED BY TOYOTA NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT IT IS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR VEHICLE. IF LEFT UNREPAIRED IT COULD CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM.

THE SEAL COATING ON THE ROOF PAINT CLEAR COAT IS UNDER CURRENT WARRANTEE AND THE DEALER WANTS NOT TO COVER IT. INSTEAD THEY WANT TO NOT USE THE POLICY ,BUT CHARGE ME $1000 FOR THEM TO PAINT IT.THIS I CONSUMER FRAUD.

STEERING MAKES NOISE (CLANKS) UNDER TURNING AND ACCELERATION. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THERE IS A TSB FOR THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH HAS SEVERAL REPORTED FAILURES AND MANY COMPLAINS. THERE IS AN ONGOING NHTSA ENGINEERING INVESTIGATION. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WANTS AROUND $1000 TO REPAIR.

MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND IN PARK IN A PARKING LOT, WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. SUDDENLY, I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD BANG, AND THE REAR TAILGATE WINDOW HAD COMPLETELY EXPLODED INTO PIECES. ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS THE REAR WINDOW WIPER. MOST OF THE GLASS EXPLODED OUT, WITH ONLY SOME GLASS LANDED IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS THROWN AT IT, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO IT, AND ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED.

HEARING A NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEED. STARTED AROUND WHEN IT WAS AROUND 45000 MILES BUT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO RECOGNISE IT OR REPRODUCE IT. NOW AT 63000 MILES VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND SERVICE CHARGE FOR REPLACING STEERING SHAFT IS ABOUT $1000, WHICH HAS TO BE SERVICED UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THE ISSUE ARISED. THIS IS A BIG SEVERE FAILURE ON TOYOTA SAFTEY CHECK AND HAS TO BE RECALLED AS MORE AND MORE CUSTOMERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.

STEERING WHEEL IS CLUNKING WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. SEE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS ON THE INTERNET. NOISE DEFINITELY COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING STEERING FAILURE. FREEDOM TOYOTA OF HARRISBURG (6060 ALLENTOWN BLVD, HARRISBURG, PA 17112, (717) 545-4726) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. *DT*JB

MAKING POPPING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAVE IT SERVICED AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY. WHICH COST $273 DOLLARS BEFORE LABOR. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE 2008 TO 2013 MODELS. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE NOISE OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS AND WAS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER (MCGEORGE TOYOTA, 9319 W BROAD STREET, HENRICO, VA 23294) TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,987. *TT CONSUMER STATED NOISE WAS DIAGNOSED AS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.*JB

WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPOT WITH FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND UNANTICIPATED ACCELERATION RESULTING IN THE CAR CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE WALL AND BEING TOTALED. WITNESS CORROBORATED THE SOUND OF A THE ENGINE AT HIGH RPM IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE CRASH.

VEHICLE POWER UNLOCKING MECHANISM IS UNRELIABLE, AND SHOWS SIGNIFICANT DEFECT IN THE UNLOCKING CAPABILITIES OF ALL BUT THE DRIVERS DOOR. AFTER SEVERAL LOCK ACTUATOR REPLACEMENTS, THE VEHICLE STILL EXHIBITS IMPROPER OPERATION. DEALERSHIP AGREES THAT THERE IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND IT'S LOCK OPERATION. BIGGEST ISSUE I SEE IS HAVING TO LEAVE MY CHILDREN UNATTENDED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK DOORS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS EXTENSIVELY, AND FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE, IN MANY FORUMS ETC - TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE LOCK MECHANISMS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR OVER 2 YEARS NOW, AND SHOULD BE EXAMINED FOR THE SAFETY IMPACT AT A GREATER SCALE.

SUNROOF LEAKING UNDERCARRIAGE RUST

I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I HEARD A NOISE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW SMOKR A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO HAPPENED TO BE PASSING BY PULLED OVER AND SURE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD HE PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER I CALLED NINE-ONE-ONE FOUR FIRE TRUCKS TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED MY MECHANIC SAYS A ROD POPPED AND PUNCTURED THE OIL TANK WHICH CAUSED ALL THE OIL TO LEAK OUT ONTO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY THE FIREMEN ACTUALLY SPREAD SAND OVER IT MY INSURANCE COMPANY HE'S REFUSING TO REPAIR THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAY THERE WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR WHEN THEY LOOKED AT IT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR BECAUSE IT ALL LEAKED OUT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I HAD JUST PUT OIL IN THE CAR THE PREVIOUS DAY THIS HAPPENED ON NOVEMBER 26TH 20186

THE "MAINTENANCE REQUIRED " LIGHT CAME ON AND I STARTED NOTICING A STRANGE NOISE AS I STARTED THE CAR EVERY MORNING AND AGAIN AS I ACCELERATED. I CALLED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE ATTENDANT REPORTED TO ME THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS BARELY VISIBLE ON THE DIP STICK. THE DEALER SHIP CONDUCTED AN "OIL PRESSURE TEST" AND DID NOT DISCOVER ANY LEAKS. SO THEY ARE CONDUCTING AN "OIL CONSUMPTION" TEST AND I AM TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER 1100 MILE TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF OIL CONSUMED ON MY VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 75 MPH I HEARD A VERY LOUD POPPING NOISE IN THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I PULLED OFF ON A SIDE ROAD AT 45 MPH, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED, SOUNDING LIKE A SHOTGUN WAS FIRED OVER MY HEAD. THE COVER TO THE SUNROOF WAS OPEN AND TINY SHARDS OF GLASS FELL INTO THE CAR AND I WAS PICKING THEM OUT OF MY HAIR ALL DAY. IT WAS VERY DISTRESSING AS I DIDN'T KNOW IF SOMEONE WAS SHOOTING AT ME SO I KEPT DRIVING UNTIL I WAS OUT OF THE AREA. WHEN I FELT SAFE, I STOPPED THE CAR TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE AND THAT'S WHEN I SAW THE SUNROOF GLASS PROTRUDING UPWARDS. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME AND NOTHING OVERHEAD. IN THE ATTACHED PICTURE YOU CAN SEE THE GLASS OF THE SUNROOF PROTRUDING UPWARDS, WHICH COULD NOT BE THE RESULT OF AN IMPACT FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE'D HEARD OF IT HAPPENING BEFORE AND ADMITTED IT WAS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT, YET TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER IT. HE SUGGESTED I SUBMIT A CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE, WHICH I DID. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECTIFY.

BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP/ABS ACTUATOR C1391/C1256 WERE CODES GIVEN IN ATTACHED REPORT FROM TOYOTA. THIS IS APPARENTLY BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER MODELS OF TOYOTAS AND ARE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT, HOWEVER THE 2012 IS NOT COVERED. NOTHING SEEMS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THEY CANNOT REALLY TELL ME WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG OR IF IT IS A BAD SENSOR, HOWEVER THEY WANT $4,200 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX FROM PREVIOUS MODELS AND WOULD LIKE IT COVERED DUE TO POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK.

CRUNCH NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING TURNS.

WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING TURNED, SPECIFICALLY TO THE RIGHT, THERE IS A POPPING AND CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO ALLOW EXTRA TRAVEL PLAY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THERE IS AN EXISTING TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN T-SB-0034-13 WHICH OUTLINES A REPLACEMENT STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT.

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY TOAD. THE DISPLAY ALSO NOTIFIED ME AND READ, PLEASE TAKE THIS TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE HORN ON THE CAR ALSO STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE NO HORN AND A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG. ARE THEY CONNECTED?

WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE WITH BRAKE BEING PRESSED VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS AND SKID LIGHT CAME ON. PUT VEHICLE IN 'PARK' AND VEHICLE STOPPED. PLACED VEHICLE IN 'DRIVE', ACCELERATED AND DROVE AWAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM IDENTIFIED.

WHEN LOCKING THE DOORS, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERIES HAVE BEEN CHANGED THE DOORS HAVE TO BE LOCKED MANUEL. THE TRUNK OPENS ON IT OWN. I CAN BE IN THE HOUSE AND WHEN I GO OUTSIDE THE TRUNK IS OPEN.

In July 2018, I was rear ended and had to have the Toyota of Greenville repair and repaint the rear of my car. Prior to that I had had no issues with chipping paint anywhere on my car. After that I began to have small bubbles of chipping paint on the front end of my car. I questioned the process and what may have caused it. I got nowhere with the Toyota of Greenville repair shop. I returned to Toyota of Greenville because that is where I bought my Highlander which is a 2012 and felt that service would be superior. That was in 2018 and as of today March 2, 2022 the front end of my Highlander has more chips and dings of paint. The rear end also had to be redone two times because of poor quality if the paint shop did not use adequate materials and protect the rest of my car the change in the temperature etc. could have aggravated the paint and caused it to chip and bubble. I requested that Toyota consider this a recall issue or service repair issue and repaint my Highlander. I purchased the Highlander because I was assured that it would maintain its exterior for many years. I have noted several recalls on paint colors that are metallic and my car has a metallic gray which could be an issue.

TAKATA RECALL - DRIVER AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE FULLY DURING THE FRONTAL ACCIDENT ON 05/26/2018. PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE AT ALL DURING THE FRONTAL ACCIDENT ON 05/26/2018. SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE AT ALL DURING THE FRONTAL ACCIDENT ON 05/26/2018. VEHICLE WAS MOVING ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER AND ON

REAR WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR WAS WARMED PRIOR TO DRIVING AND FONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WERE ON DEFROST PRIOR TO THE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODING.

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CLUNK OR KNOCK TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. IT OCCURRED AT SLOW SPEEDS SUCH AS TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION. THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THIS IS A KNOWN , REPORTED DEFECT ON HIGHLANDERS FROM 2008 - 2013. IT NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED TO THE LEVEL OF A RECALL.

CLUNKING WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL

UPON TURNING STEERING WHEEL, EVEN SLIGHTLY, AN OBVIOUS "CLUNKING" NOISE IS HEARD AND FELT THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY 62K. AT 70K I AM HAVING IT REPAIRED ALTHOUGH I WAS TOLD THERE WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. THE SOUND SEEMS TO HAVE INCREASED IN THE LAST 8K MILES.

WHEN DRIVING, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT WHILE TURNING. HEARD A KNOCK SOUND AT VARIOUS TIMES. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED. THE COST CAME TO $540. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES. BASED ON OTHER COMPLAINTS I SEE ONLINE, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A TREND AND SHOULD BE A RECALL VOLUNTEERED BY TOYOTA.

THE SUNROOF EXPLODED AND SHUTTERED WITH A LOAD EXPLOSION NOISE WHILE I WAS DRIVING 55MPH ON A HIGHWAY 17 IN CALIFORNIA WITH MY CHILDREN.

LIFTGATE OPERATES ERRATICALLY, NOT STAYING OPEN WHEN BUTTON IS PUSHED. SOMETIMES IT OPENS ALL THE WAY, ONLY TO CLOSE IMMEDIATELY. MOST TIMES IT STARTS TO OPEN PARTIALLY THEN CLOSES. TWICE IT OPENED WHILE DRIVING. MOST TROUBLING IS ONCE IT STARTED TO CLOSE DOWN ON ME WHILE I WAS GETTING THINGS OUT OF THE TRUNK AREA. I WOULD THINK, FOR SAFETY REASONS, THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF SENSOR. IS THAT NOT THE CASE WITH MY HIGHLANDER? THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING PERIODICALLY FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

AS I WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON A SIDE STREET WITH MY HUSBAND SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (WITH HIS SEATBELT ON) AND THE EMERGENCY LIGHT WENT ON AND A MESSAGE SAYING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF CAME ON. IF WOULD NOT RESET AND TOLD US TO CALL OUR LOCAL DEALER TO FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY, WHERE WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR WHAT HAPPENED!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A POPPING NOISE WAS PRESENT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (SEEGER TOYOTA, 12833 OLIVE ST, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141). WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

REAR LIFT GATE OPENED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. DANGEROUS. NOW THE DOOR DOES NOT WORK AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. I WAS TOLD DIRECTLY BY ANOTHER OWNER THAT THE DOOR DOES NOT ALWAYS LOCK WHEN CLOSED. WHAT ABOUT GRANDCHILDREN AND PETS. I CANNOT USE MY CAR AS INTENDED. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS I HAVE NO IDEA IF OR WHEN IT WILL REPEAT.

WHEN I DRIVE THE VEHICLE YOU CAN HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAPPENS AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. WHEN MAKE A TURN RIGHT, OR LEFT YOU HEAR CLUNKING IS THE STEERING COLUMN. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WANTS TO COME OFF, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATE TO FIX IT WILL COST OVER 1000$. I HEAD THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT, BUT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AUTOMATIC DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE OF THE FOUR DOORS. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. COLONIAL TOYOTA (2600 W PIKE RD, INDIANA, PA 15701, (724) 349-9100) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

6/21/17 DRIVERS DOOR FAILED TO LOCK, 7/24/17 PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO LOCK, 8/4/17 PASSENGER REAR DOOR FAILED TO LOCK. CAR WAS STATIONARY

HAVE NOISE IN STEERING SHAFT AT LOW SPEED WHEN TURNING AND BACKING UP AND PULLING FORWARD . TOYOTA DEALER CHECKED AT 50,000 MILE WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE NOISE . WHEN HAVING OIL CHANGE AT 62000 MILES MENTIONED IT AGAIN TO SERVICE MAN AND WAS TOLD IT PROBABLY IS THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT THEY ALWAYS GO BAD IN THAT YEAR AND TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH TOYOTA DIRECTLY AND THEY HAD THE DEALER CALKL ME TWICE TO SET UP APPOINTMENT TO LOOK AT THE CAR. WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS ,I DECLINED ,WAS TOLD THEN THEY WERE GOING TO GET BACK TO TOYOTA FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE , THIS WAS THE WEEK OF 12/10 2018

POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR ARM DETACHED FROM THE UPPER PORTION OF THE REAR DOOR. UPON REPEATED USE AND TIGHTENING IT BECOMES STRIPPED. FORUMS REPORTS THIS IS COMMON FOR SEVERAL MODEL YEARS - NO RECALL. HOLE TO SCREW BECOMES STRIPPED OVER TIME. NO ACCESS TO THE BACK END TO APPLY NUT. DEALER RECOMMENDS TAKING IT TO A BODY SHOP FOR DOOR REPLACEMENT AT $3200 - $3900 DOLLARS. EXTREMELY BAD DESIGN FLAW. NO SOLUTION FOUND OTHER THAN REPLACING THE REAR LIFTGATE.

1. MY CAR HAS ONLY 30000 MILES AND YESTERDAY BRAKE MALFUNCTION SHOWED UP. MY WIFE HAD HARD TIME STOPPING THIS VEHICLE. 2. SINCE I AM REPORTING BRAKE ISSUE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHARE OUR SPEED GAGE IS COUNTING 2 -3 MILES/HOUR HIGHER THAN ACTUAL SPEED. WE HAD A KIND OF SENSE FOR THIS. NOW I PURCHASED A VERY HIGH EFFICACY GPS. WHICH CONFIRMED. WHEN EVER WE ARE PASSING BY SPEED DETECTOR ON ANY GIVEN STREET. MY SPEED METER IS 2 -3 MILES HIGHER AS COMPARED SHOWS ON SPEEDING DETECTOR ON STREET . I DO NOT WANT TO PAY TO THE DEALER BUT I WANTED TO REPORT FOR SURE.

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, CLUNKING AND POPPING NOISES ARE HEARD. VIBRATION AND PULSING FELT THROUGH STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING. INFORMED DEALER. THEY CHECKED IT AND SAID IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT ANY SPEED.

VERY SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IT WAS IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THERE WAS DIFFICULTLY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE ON ACCELERATION. LATER IT APPEARED AS IF THERE WAS A HIGH POINT IN THE STEERING. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CHANGED AT 32K MILES AND NOW THERE IS A DISTINCT CLUNK IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING OR ACCELERATING. THE CAR WAS CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT WHEN THE TIRES WERE CHANGED. I RECEIVED NO REPORT OF SUSPENSION OR TIE ROD PROBLEMS. CLUNK BECAME MORE AUDIBLE. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW AND A PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT VERY EARLY. CURRENT MILEAGE LESS THAN 33K.

LUG NUTS ARE 2-PIECE: STEEL NUTS WITH CHROMED COVERS CRIMPED ON. THE NUTS RUST INSIDE THE CHROME COVERS AND SWELL SO THAT THE LUG WRENCH THAT COMES WITH THE VEHICLE (NOR SOCKETS OR TYPICAL 4-WAY LUG WRENCHES) WILL NOT FIT THE NUT. ONE CAN BE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNABLE TO REMOVE A FLAT TIRE. BESIDES THE WHEEL LOCKS, ALL 16 OF THE REMAINING NUTS WERE AFFECTED. I HAVE ORDERED REPLACEMENT NUTS, ON ADVICE FROM MY LOCAL TIRE SHOP, THAT ARE CHROME PLATED AND NOT 2-PIECE. I INFORMED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT BUTOFFERED NO SOLUTION OR COMPENSATION. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I NEEDED TO REMOVE A TIRE, BUT THANKFULLY IT WAS STILL DRIVEABLE. MY LOCAL TIRE SHOP WAS ABLE TO HAMMER-ON A SOCKET TO REMOVE THE SWOLLEN NUTS, AND I WILL HAVE TO RETURN TO THEM TO HAVE THEM INSTALL THE REPLACEMENT NUTS. I AM RETAINING THE ORIGINAL NUTS IN CASE THEY ARE NEEDED BY NHTSA OR TOYOTA FOR EXAMINATION. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE ONLINE, AS WELL AS MENTIONS IN PRODUCT QUESTIONS ABOUT REPLACEMENT NUTS ON AMAZON.COM (EG, ARE THESE NUTS ONE-PIECE OR NOT, AND REPORTS OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH MANY VEHICLES). INTERESTINGLY, IT TURNS OUT THAT TOOL MANUFACTURER SNAP-ON MAKES AN 18.5MM AND 19.5MM OVERSIZED SOCKETS TO REMOVE THESE SWOLLEN NUTS. THE PROBLEM IS COMMON ENOUGH FOR SPECIALIZED TOOLS. PLEASE ACT ON THIS TO PREVENT SOME POOR INDIVIDUAL FROM BEING STRANDED!

HAD TO INSTALL A NEW STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY AT THE 5TH YR INSPECTION. THE WARRANTY WAS UP, HAD TO PAY $451.82 MYSELF. PROBLEM AND NOISE FROM DAY ONE. TOLD I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT FROM IT. THIS WAS ON 3/29/2017 AT DIEHL AUTOMOTIVE IN BUTLER, PA. ALWAYS CLANKED WHEN TURNING WHEEL, LOUD NOISE. 1ST TIME IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. MANY OTHERS OUT THERE SAME WAY.

THIS VEHICLE PRESENTS A HIGH NOISE BUMP WHEN STEERING. THE SUSPENSION FRONT & BACK IS TERRIBLE, CAUSING INTERIOR RATTLES FRONT AND BACK.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND EXITING A HIGHWAY, APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, DASHBOARD FLICKERED, AND ENGINE DIED. THE RED STEERING WHEEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY, BUT THE WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE PERIOD OF A FEW MINUTES. BATTERY & ALTERNATOR WERE TESTED - NO MALFUNCTION.

WIFE WAS IN PARKING LOT AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY. WENT TO TURN CAR OUT OF PARKING SPOT, WAS NOT ABLE TO AND HIT A POLE. STEERING WHEEL TURNED BUT WHEELS DID NOT. TOWED VEHICLE TO ANDY MOHR TOYOTA AVON. ADVISED THAT RACK WAS SHEERED. NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT THE TWO YEARS SERVICE WRITER HAD BEEN WORKING THERE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT PRIOR THAT WOULD OF CAUSED PROBLEM. ALSO DEALER INDICATES STEERING WIRE IS ALSO DAMAGED. LUCKY WIFE WAS NOT ON INTERSTATE OR OTHER HIGHWAY, ACCIDENT COULD OF BEEN CATASTROPHIC.

PURCHASED USED 2012 HIGHLANDER LTD FROM COLLEGE PARK HYUNDAI/HONDA, COLLEGE PARK MD 20720 IN FEB 2017. THE FRONT PASSENGER AUTOMATIC DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE OF THE FOUR DOORS. THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER.. VEHICLE HAD 48,000 MILES.