ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; SEAT BELTS
2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, most frequently naming the electrical and visibility categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 182 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 2 months of data.
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical150.0%
- Visibility150.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSafety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
CAR WAS DRIVEN FROM HOME LOCATION AT APPROXIMATELY 3 PM ON FEBRUARY 4, 2015. AFTER A QUARTER OF A MILE AN AUDIBLE WARNING SOUNDED AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW. A FLASHING WARNING TO THE EFFECT OF "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE, STOP CAR IMMEDIATELY" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. CAR CONTINUED TO SLOW TO ABOUT 1 MPH. PULLED CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TURNED IT OFF. CONSULTED OWNERS MANUAL WHICH SUGGESTED TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR. RESTARTED. THE SAME WARNING REAPPEARED. TRIED ONE MORE CYCLE WITH NO SUCCESS. TOWED TO DEALER NEXT DAY. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE CONDITION. THIS UNEXPECTED CONDITION HAS GRAVE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. CONSIDER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN DENSE TRAFFIC AND HAVING THE VEHICLE EFFECTIVELY SHUT OFF. *JS
- NHTSA ID
- 10681857
- Incident
- Feb 4, 2015
- Mileage
- 17,200 mi
MIRRORS ARE WAY TO BIG AND CAUSE A MASSIVE BLIND SPOT. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10637810
- Incident
- Jul 12, 2012
- Mileage
- 10 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE
OBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0009-26.
ENGINE
This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing a rescue charge. The GRX-5100 should be used wherever the Repair Manual references the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) charger.
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manual and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage and result in visible depressions in the paint surface. The following are the three major categories of acid rain damage: •Minor damage: requires only buffing to repair. •Moderate damage: usually requires neutralizing, color sanding, and buffing. •Severe damage: extending beyond 1/2 mil of clearcoat on a pearl, metallic, or solid color, requires neutralization, sanding, and repainting. In cases where acid rain damage is minor, neutralization and buffing with a liquid-type paint finessing product may provide an adequate repair. Only specially formulated products outlined in this bulletin should be used for that purpose. Unfortunately, other than minor damage, there is no simple method of determining the actual extent (depth) of acid penetration other than color sanding a representative affected area until there is no visible etching or depressions, followed by measuring the amount of paint removed with either a magnetic or digital-type film thickness gauge. The procedures in this bulletin are intended for use by qualified body/paint technicians and should not be attempted by inexperienced personnel. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. Perform frequent vehicle washing, as often as daily, during high heat and humidity periods to minimize the potential for paint damage due to acid rain exposure. This is especially important in geographical areas known for high frequency and concentration of acid rain and industrial fallout.
STRUCTURE:BODY
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 9 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 6 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 2021 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 51.9 |
| 2020 | 9 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2017 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2014Viewing | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | 3 | — |
| 2012 | 9 | 0 | 3 | — |
| 2011 | 5 | 1 | 3 | — |
| 2010 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 52.6 |
| 2009 | 40 | 4 | 3 | 57.9 |
| 2008 | 197 | 8 | 5 | 59.8 |
| 2007 | 110 | 2 | 2 | 56.9 |
| 2006 | 370 | 6 | 3 | 62.1 |
| 2005 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.