2001 Toyota Highlander Visibility Problems

DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. IT DROOPS APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGREES WHEN LOWER TO BLOCK SUN.

NHTSA ID

10871176

Incident

Sep 9, 2014

Mileage

122,000 mi

SUNVISOR DROPS DOWN ABOUT 30 DEGREES FROM THE UP POSITION OR JUST DON'T STAY ALL THE WAY DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595289

Incident

May 31, 2014

Mileage

105,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 HIGHLANDER. THE LEFT VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN FROM THE WEIGHT OF THE VISOR. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN THE VISOR FELL IN FRONT OF MY EYES,CAUSING ME TO SWERVE . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE VISOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10549588

Incident

Oct 25, 2013

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4X4 LIMITED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT OPENED BOTH REAR WINDOWS BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE POWER WINDOW REGULATORS FOR BOTH REAR WINDOWS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,839.

NHTSA ID

10484655

Incident

Apr 13, 2011

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN INTO MY FIELD OF VIEW WHEN I HIT A BUMP ON A THREE LANE 40 MPH PAVED ROAD AT RUSH HOUR. I NEARLY REAR-ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DURING THE SHORT TIME (MAYBE TWO SECONDS) REQUIRED TO REACT AND RAISE THE VISOR. AN ONLINE SEARCH REVEALED THAT A REPLACEMENT VISOR COSTS A SHOCKING $791.00, AND THAT MANY DOZENS OF OTHERS WERE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM IN 2001 - 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS. SOLUTIONS RANGED FROM JURY-RIGGING THE VISOR IN THE UP POSITION TO SIMPLY REMOVING THE VISOR AND USING ONE'S HAND TO BLOCK THE SUN WHEN NEEDED. SOME OF THESE "SOLUTIONS" ARE OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE, AND COULD EASILY BE AVOIDED IF TOYOTA CHARGED A MORE REASONABLE PRICE FOR THE REPLACEMENT VISOR. REPLACEMENT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY ALMOST ANYONE WITH A SCREWDRIVER IN ABOUT 12 MINUTES. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459600

Incident

May 24, 2012

Mileage

130,221 mi

THIS VISIBILITY ISSUE IS CAUSED BY THE SUNVISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE, DROPPING DOWN FROM THE STOWED POSITION UNEXPECTEDLY AND REPEATEDLY BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VISION. DEALER INDICATED NOT A TOYOTA PROBLEM AND PRICING IT AT $700 + DOLLARS TO REPLACE. WHEN DRIVING, THE SUNVISOR HAD TO BE MOVED TO THE SIDE AT ALL TIMES AND BACK TO FORWARD POSITION JUST TO GET IT OUT OF WAY TO EXIT VEHICLE. ENDED UP BUYING FROM THE DEALER A REGULAR VISOR (NOT THE LIMITED MODEL VISOR). THE NEW VISOR COST $80 + DOLLARS. VEHICLE SOLD AS A LIMITED MODEL, SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY HAZARDOUS/DANGEROUS PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS, NOT ADDRESSED WITHOUT A NATIONAL RECALL. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE TOYOTA CORP. FOR NOT ACCEPTING THESE COMPLAINTS AND DENYING THAT PROBLEM EVEN EXISTS. NHTSA PLEASE TAKE NOTE, AND ADD UP ALL THESE SAME VISIBILITY ISSUES AS SHOWING ON YOUR SITE. NOT JUST THIS MODEL I BET MANY SAME VISOR ISSUES SHOW UP FOR OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID

10442552

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

83,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FLOPS DOWNWARD WHEN IN USE, INSTEAD OF REMAINING TILTED FORWARD (TOWARD WINDSHIELD), THUS PARTIALLY BLOCKING VISION. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON A NUMBER OF TOYOTA VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10392496

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

NOTED RECENT COMPLAINT RE:SUN VISORS ON 2001 HIGHLANDER- I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM HOWEVER JUST PASSENGER SIDE VISOR INVOLVED SO FAR. PART COST IS $214.00 ! I THINK IT IS A RIDICULOUS ITEM TO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343239

Incident

Jun 13, 2010

Mileage

89,000 mi

2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE, AND FALLS DOWN INTO DRIVERS FIELD OF VISION UNEXPECTEDLY PASSENGER SIDE VISOR DOES THE SAME THING, BUT TO A LESSER DEGREE. THIS BEGAN AFTER WE OWNED THE CAR FOR FIVE YEARS(OUT OF WARRANTY) AND IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM, AND I FEEL THE DEALER SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER(S) SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO PAY UPWARDS OF $800 TO FIX SUCH A SIMPLE PROBLEM, ONE THAT SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE OWNED MORE THAN TWELVE VEHICLES, AND EVEN THE CHEAPEST OF THOSE NEVER HAD SUCH A PROBLEM. SEVERAL HIGHLANDER OWNERS HAVE TOLD OF THE SAME COMPLAINT, AND IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341369

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

THE DRIVER SIDE SUNVISOR OF MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED WOULD NOT STAY UP SINCE 2006, WHICH HAS BEEN A SAFETY HAZARD. AN ESTIMATION OF REPLACING THE VISOR AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS $700.00 IN MAY 2007, WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR FREE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10326609

Incident

Apr 15, 2007

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE AIR CONDITIONER ONLY WORKS WHEN YOU MOVE THE DIAL AROUND. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL AND ONLY THE HEAT COMES ON EVEN WHEN YOU JUST HAVE THE FAN ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10305687

Incident

Oct 31, 2008

ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND WAS NO LONGER USABLE. AN $800 REPAIR WAS REQUIRED. FLASH FORWARD 6 MONTHS, NOW THE REAR DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT ANOTHER $800. WE RARELY EVEN USE THE REAR WINDOWS. SO THIS IS FROM LESS-THAN-NORMAL WEAR. AND IT HAPPENED TO BOTH REAR WINDOWS WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10300419

Incident

Jan 5, 2010

A DESIGN DEFECT CAN CAUSE THE SUN VISORS TO RANDOMLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DROP DOWN OBSCURING THE DRIVER'S VISION POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. THIS INCIDENT OCCURS IN A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. HOWEVER, I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY INTERNET POSTINGS OF OTHER TOYOTA YEARS AND MODELS WITH THE SAME DESIGN DEFECT AND SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA'S AND THEIR DEALERS RESPONSE HAS BEEN TO TELL THE CUSTOMER TO SPEND APPROXIMATELY $750 TO REPLACE THE VISOR WHICH IS LIKELY TO FAIL LIKE THE FIRST ONE AFTER A GIVEN AMOUNT OF TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297995

Incident

Dec 27, 2009

Mileage

159,000 mi

SUN VISOR ON MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FALLS DOWN ALL THE TIME. PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX IT SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. HAVE A SITE TO PROVE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE - SUN VISOR DRIVER SIDE FALLS DOWN WHEN DRIVING - CAUSES A SECURITY ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10201858

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ROLL UP THE TWO REAR WINDOWS. SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND WAS UNABLE TO ROLL UP THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 53,000 ,AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10189492

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT STAY UP WHEN PLACED IN THE POSITION TO BLOCK THE SUN COMING INTO THE WINDSHIELD. IT DROPS DOWN INTO THE STRAIGHT DOWN POSITION WHICH BLOCKS MOST OF THE VIEW THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. WE CAN'T USE THE VISOR TO BLOCK THE SUN, SO WE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH IT SHINING INTO OUR EYES. IT ISN'T SAFE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173807

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WON'T STAY UP. DROPS DOWN, BLOCKING VIEW WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. OTHER THAN REGULAR USE, NO OTHER ROOT CAUSE IDENTIFIED FOR FAILURE. *JB REPLACEMENT VISOR IS AVAILABLE FOR $600

NHTSA ID

10161223

Incident

May 1, 2006

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER CHATTERS ACROSS REAR WINDOW. IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAN WINDOW. DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. (ENTIRE ARM ASSEMBLY). *AK

NHTSA ID

10093716

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

25,000 mi

SUN ROOF LEAKING EVEN WITH SUNROOF COMPLETELY CLOSED. SEEMS TO BE NO DRAIN LINES FROM DRAIN HOLES IN SUNROOF COMPARTMENT. WATER DRAINS INTO CAR WELL ON PASSENGER WELL IN FRONT OF CAR. ALSO HAVE HAD WIND NOISE COMING FROM LEFT AREA OF CAR- THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE ROOF RACK. DEALERSHIP CHECK OUT & COULD NOT FIND NOISE. THEY ALSO REMOVED LEFT PANEL OF CAR AROUND WINDSHIELD AND WHEEL WELL TO LOOK FOR NOISE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10068142

Incident

Apr 28, 2004

I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VEHICLE. AT TIMES, WHEN SPEEDS EXCEED 65 MPH THE REARVIEW SIDE MIRRORS CREATE A WHISTLING SOUND. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE AND TOLD ME HE COULD NOT TEST THE VEHICLE AT THAT SPEED, BUT SEVERAL HIGHWAYS AROUND MEMPHIS, TN PERMIT SPEEDS OF 65 AND 70 MPH. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10049099

Incident

Jun 6, 2002

Mileage

20,000 mi

REAR PASSENGER'S WINDOW IS INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10022002

Incident

Mar 1, 2003

Mileage

2,000 mi

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH OR HIGHER, AND THE REAR WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN ABOUT 3-4 INCHES, ITS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE IT MAKES A LOUD AIR NOISE. IT FEELS LIKE YOUR EARS ARE GOING TO BLOW UP. THE CONSUMER HAS THREE KIDS AND IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *NLM *SCC

NHTSA ID

8018615

Incident

Aug 20, 2002

THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER, CLAIM# 113849935 NLM

NHTSA ID

6900685

Incident

Sep 12, 2000

WHEN THE REAR WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN THE CAR CREATE VARYING PRESSURE IN THE CAR CAUSING IF NOT CAREFUL THE EAR DRUM RUPTURE. ONE CAN NOT DRIVE THIS CAR WITH REAR WINOW ROLLED DOWN.

NHTSA ID

753353

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH WITH REAR WINDOW DOWN WILL MAKE A LOT OF VIBRATION AND A LOUD NOISE THAT COULD NOT BE TAKEN BY CONSUMER. DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

886385

Incident

Apr 18, 2001