There are 5 owner-reported tires & wheels complaints for the 2013 Toyota Highlanderin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S Tire 245/55R19 While driving on the freeway at 70 mph, the tire below and tread separated causing significant damage to vehicle. The tread appears to have separated from the tire, which caused the tire to hit the sidewall and rear of vehicle, which tore off the rear bumper and damaged rear quarter panel. It appears that both steel belts and polyester carcass piles failed The tire separation occurred, unprovoked as there was no impact from debris and the vehicle had been in operation/ driving for over 30 minutes. Incident was witnessed by Highway Patrol, who appeared very surprised to see such an event occur. Costco tire, flagged the issue as it appeared out of the ordinary and shipped the tire for review to Michelin.
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WHEELS HYDOPLANNED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSS CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A CENTER CONCRETE WALL. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST. THE CONTACT DID GO TO THE HOSPITAL COUPLE OF HOURS LATER TO TREAT INJURIES TO THE RIBS WHICH WERE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DID NOT STAY OVERNIGHT. NO POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVEABLE THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOT WHERE AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS SITTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. NO INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.CK *BF THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS.
MY PROBLEM IS WITH THE LOW TIRE WARNING SYSTEM. MY ISSUE IS THAT YOU CANNOT MANUALLY RESET THIS WARNING LIGHT AS WITH OTHER CARS. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS FOR THEM TO PROPERLY INFLATE/RESET THE SYSTEM. ALL MY TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED EXCEPT FOR THE SPARE. MYSELF AND FIRESTONE AUTO CARE COULD NOT GET THE WARNING LIGHT TO GO AWAY. FINALLY, AFTER MONTHS OF HAVING THE WARNING LIGHT ON, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY PROPERLY RESET ALL THE TIRES INCLUDING THE SPARE AND THE WARNING LIGHT FINALLY WENT OFF. SEEMS LIKE A PLOY TO GET YOU TO GO TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF THOSE ISSUES DUE TO THE CHANGES IN THE TEMPERATURE. IF ALL THE TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED, THE WARNING LIGHT CAN STILL GO OFF IF BECAUSE YOUR SPARE TIRE MAY BE LOW. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME AS YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT YOU REALLY HAVE A LOW TIRE THAT COULD AFFECT DRIVING. IF THE LIGHT IS ALREADY ON DUE TO A LOW SPARE TIRE, AND A REGULAR TIRE GOES LOW, ONE WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING AS THE LIGHT IS ALREADY ON. *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. 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
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026