2003 Toyota Highlander Visibility Problems

THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE COMPLETELY FOGGED AND IMPAIRS DRIVING AFTER DUSK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED

NHTSA ID

11081973

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi

CLARIFICATION FROM PREVIOUS SUBMISSION (10/21/14)....... HEATING SYSTEM BLOWS COLD AIR INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE HEAT IS ON. THE SYSTEM WAS CLEANED, WORKED WELL TO A SHORT TIME. WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE MECHANIC NOTED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE HEATING CONTROL PANELS OF THE EARLY MODEL TOYOTA'S. SAFETY FACTOR: THIS IS HAZARDOUS IN THE WINTER, AS THE WINDOWS BECOME FOGGY RESULTING IN THE LIMITED VISIBILITY ESPECIALLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ? ? *TR

NHTSA ID

10649560

Incident

Feb 24, 2014

Mileage

94,000 mi

THE SUN VISOR (DRIVER SIDE) SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN AND OBSCURED MY VISION OF A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION I WAS APPROACHING AND MY VISION WAS IMPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584350

Incident

Apr 20, 2014

Mileage

127,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FLOPS DOWN, BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VISION. IT WILL NOT STAY IN THE "UP" POSITION. WHEN IT FALLS DOWN, THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10574220

Incident

Mar 6, 2014

Mileage

94,920 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SUN VISOR FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PUT THE VISOR UP BUT IT FELL SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ID

10515525

Incident

Jun 13, 2008

Mileage

102,000 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY UP, IT HANGS DOWN INTERFERING WITH VISION AND FALLS DOWN AS I DRIVE. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARD TO VISION WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10466575

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP ALL OF THE WAY, IT HANGS DOWN AND AS I DRIVE IT FALLS ALL OF THE WAY DOWN. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARD AS IT INTERFERES WITH VISION WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10466570

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND BLOCKED HER VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VISOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 05/24/12*LJ

NHTSA ID

10456365

Incident

Feb 6, 2008

Mileage

42,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WON'T STAY AGAINST WINDSHIELD - IT IS BLOCKING VIEW OF THE ROAD - A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10428184

Incident

Jun 18, 2011

Mileage

104,000 mi

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VISOR DEFECT. FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND BLOCKS VIEW, REPLACEMENT COST IS $700. SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO DANGEROUS VISION OBSTRUCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10420140

Incident

May 11, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR DROOPS AND WILL NOT STAY UP. BLOCKS VISION AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. SYSTEMIC PROBLEM ON ALL HIGHLANDERS. HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON MY CAR SINCE ABOUT 2007. REPLACEMENT COST OF $750 IS RIDICULOUS AND PROHIBITORY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10404116

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

50,000 mi

RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOW AUTOMATICALLY ROLLED ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS FOR THE WINDOW FAILED TO WORK. WE WERE UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOW. THIS OCCURRED DURING A WIND AND RAIN STORM RESULTING IN RAIN GETTING IN THE CAR AND A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. LUCKILY, THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR AND REPLACED IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10392933

Incident

Mar 19, 2011

Mileage

101,143 mi

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VISOR DEFECT. FALLS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND BLOCKS VIEW. REPLACED ONCE, BUT REPLACEMENT IS DEFECTIVE AS WELL. REPLACEMENT COST IS $700. SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO DANGEROUS VISION OBSTRUCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378252

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

30,000 mi

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4.0 HEATER HAS GONE OUT IN THIS VEHICLE AND ONLY THE A/C NOW WORKS THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE COST TO FIX THIS IS VERY HIGH AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH PER TOYOTA SINCE IT SEEMS ALOT OF OTHERS ARE ALSO HAVING THE PROBLEM DUE TO A FAULTY KNOB BECOMING LOOSE AND BREAKING A TINY WIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369768

Incident

Apr 4, 2006

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4.0 SUN VISOR ON DRIVERS SIDE FALLS DOWN ON ITS OWN AND WILL NOT STAY WHERE YOU PUT IT, WHEN I ATTEMPT TO PUSH IS MORE TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD IT FALLS BACK DOWN WHEN I ATTEMPT TO PUT IT UP IN ITS NORMAL POSITION IT FALLS BACK DOWN AND HAS A TENDENCY TO OBSCURE ONES VISION WHILE DRIVING AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS MANY HERE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS AND ALL THE THINGS I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369767

Incident

Apr 4, 2006

SUNDAY 8/1/10 THE DRIVERS' SIDE VISOR IN OUR 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS FINE. MONDAY 8/2/10 WHEN ATTEMPTING TO POSITION THE VISOR IT WOULD FLOP DOWN AND HANG IN A VERTICAL POSITION OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW OF THE ROAD, YOU COULD NOT BEND IT BACK AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. IT BLOCKS THE DRIVER'S VIEW MAKING IT UNUSABLE AND UNSAFE. I WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND THAT A REPLACEMENT WOULD COST OVER $700 DOLLARS. THE ATTACHMENT IS WHERE THE PROBLEM IS. THEY CLAIMED THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE AND I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347424

Incident

Aug 2, 2010

Mileage

95,200 mi

HAVE AN 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT I BOUGHT NEW. HAVE USED SUN VISORS ON A REGULAR BASIS, AS THEY WERE INTENDED TO BE USED. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN AND BLOCKING MY VIEW. THIS PARTICULARLY HAPPENS WHEN ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD IS RUN OVER. THIS CREATES A HAZARD DUE TO LIMITING MY SIGHT. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX BY TIGHTENING THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE VISOR TO THE CEILING AND BY USING VELCRO TO HOLD THE VISOR TO THE ROOF. NEITHER OF THESE WORKED...THE VELCRO WILL NOT STICK TO THE CEILING ROOF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341659

Incident

Jul 6, 2010

Mileage

141,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. FLOPS DOWN TO OBSCURE VISION.

NHTSA ID

10322882

Incident

Dec 15, 2009

Mileage

46,000 mi

FOR THE LAST YEAR, THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR ON MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED HAS BEEN LOOSE AND DOES NOT STAY UP - IT IS ESPECIALLY LOOSE DURING WARMER WEATHER. THE VISOR WILL FALL DOWN IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S FACE, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR ROUGH ROADS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH COULD LEASE TO A SERIOUS INCIDENT. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TWICE WHILE BRINGING MY VEHICLE FOR MAINTENANCE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW VISOR. LAST WEEK I SPOKE WITH THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THIS IS COMMON AND A NEW VISOR COST MORE THAN $700 BECAUSE IT HAS THE HOMELINK. IT WAS SUGGESTED I GET A VISOR WITHOUT HOMELINK FOR AROUND $70. WHILE THIS IS AFFORDABLE, I WOULD THEN LOSE THE HOMELINK FEATURE, WHICH WAS PART OF MY DECISION-MAKING TO BUY THE HIGHLANDER. MY GUESS IS THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR IS HAVING THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT CAUSED BY THE HOMELINK. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE VISOR, AND BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE OR REPAIR AT THEIR COST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311327

Incident

Aug 17, 2009

Mileage

152,000 mi

MY 2003 HIGHLANDER HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SUNVISOR. DURING MOVEMENT OF THE CAR IT'S CONSTANTLY FALLING DOWN INTO MY LINE OF VISION DURING DRIVING. IT STARTED FALLING DOWN ONLY OCASSIONALLY OVER SPEED BUMPS AND NOW IT JUST FALLS DOWN ALMOST EVER FEW MINUTES WHILE DRIVING. I TRIED TO GET THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO REPACE THE VISOR UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY IT. AFTER READING MANY POSTINGS ON THE WEB IT SEEMS THAT MANY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. MY VISOR HAS BUILT IN ELECTRICAL PARTS ON IT THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO CONTROL A GARAGE DOOR, HOUSE LIGHTS, ETC. IN WHICH TOYOTA SAY IS A "HOME CENTER CONTROL" - I HAVE NOT PUT ANYTHING ON THE VISOR TO MAKE IT ANY HEAVIER THAN HOW THE FACTORY PRODUCED IT. THE VISOR IS TOO HEAVY AND IT CAN NOT BE SUPPORTED BY THE METAL PART THAT CONNECTS IT TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP GAVE NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN TO REPLACE THE VISOR AT MY COST BUT I HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLES POSTS SAYING THAT THE ISSUE WILL ONLY HAPPEN AGAIN. THEY INFORMED ME THE PART ALONE IS $800 WITHOUT INSTALLATION. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE VELCRO WOULD WORK SO I TRIED TO VELCRO THE VISOR TO THE ROOF OF MY CAR BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE VELCOR IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE VISOR TO THE ROOF AND DURING THE SUMMER THE GLUE MELTS AND DOESN'T ALLOW THE VELCRO TO STICK TO THE ROOF THUS I CAN NOT KEEP THE VISOR UP. THIS ISSUE STARTED ABOUT 2007 AND PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AND NOW THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP MORE THAN A COUPLE OF MINUTES - ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER. FIRSTLY THE VISOR ITSELF IS DISTRACTION, SECONDLY ONCE IT'S DOWN IT BLOCKS A PORTION OF THE DRIVER'S VIEW, AND THIRDLY IT'S A DISTRACTION TO HAVE TO USE ONE HAND TO PUT THE VISOR BACK UP. YOU CAN NOT EVEN TRY TO MOVE IT TO THE SIDE AS IT'S STILL TOO LOW TO SEE OUT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND ALSO THER ARE NO ACCESSIBLE SCREWS TO REMOVE THE VISOR MYSELF. ALL IN ALL THIS ISSUE IS A HUGE HAZARD AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY TOYOTA.

NHTSA ID

10307555

Incident

Mar 17, 2007

Mileage

45,000 mi

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2003 SUN VISOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE SUN VISOR OF MY VEHICLE HAS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAD IT REPLACED FOR A NEW ONE, AND THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AGAIN. THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE WITH HOMELINKED/LIGHTED ON IT. IT DOES NOT STAY UP AND IT BLOCKS MY VIEW WHEN I AM DRIVING. I NOTICED ON THE INTERNET THAT MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH THIS SUN VISOR. THE TOYOTA REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. *TR ANDY NGUYEN

NHTSA ID

10283853

Incident

Nov 20, 2006

Mileage

30,000 mi

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN. SAFETY CONCERNS AS IT BLOCKS VIEW WHILE DRIVING. RIDICULOUS COST TO REPLACE WITH NEW NOT ASSURED IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN SOON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10281735

Incident

Aug 18, 2009

ON THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM AT LEAST 2002 THROUGH CURRENT MODELS THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FAILS TO STAY IN THE FORWARD DETENT POSITION. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, THE VISOR FALLS TO THE VERTICAL POSITION, BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS CAUSES CONFUSION AND DISTRACTION WHICH POTENTIALLY COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH DAMAGE AND INJURY OR DEATH RESULTING. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO TOYOTA BY ME AND ACCORDING TO GOOGLE SEARCHES BY NUMEROUS PERSONS. TOYOTA DENIES ANY PROBLEM EXISTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276235

Incident

Jun 10, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR OF MY 2003 HIGHLANDER DOES NOT STAY IN ITS PROPER PLACE. IN INTERNET FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A PREVAILING SAFETY ISSUE. SOME SAY THE VISOR FLAPS DOWN WHEN THE HIGHLANDER HITS A BUMP. THIS CAN BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. IT HAS STARTLED SOME DRIVERS AND IS DISCONCERTING TO OTHERS. A NEW VISOR WOULD COST OVER $625 TO REPLACE, WHICH SOME HAVE DONE ONLY TO FIND THAT IN 3 TO 4 MONTHS, THE SAME THING OCCURS. TOYOTA DOES NOT WARRANT THE VISOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267420

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

12,000 mi

TEMP (HOT/COLD) DIAL ELECTRICAL SHORT. TEMP SETTING CONTINUOUSLY FAILS TO HOLD SET TEMP & BLOWS OPPOSITE OF SETTING. FEAR OF ELECTRICAL FIRE PLUS UNABLE TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD FOR GOOD VISIBILITY. FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR SOME HELP ON THIS ITEM AS AFTER INVESTIGATING I FOUND THAT ONE DEALERSHIP REPLACED 1,100 LAST YEAR AND HAS REPLACE SEVERAL ALREADY THIS YEAR. I WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM EXCEPT THE FAILED SWITCH CAN NOT BE REPLACE THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT PART COST $669.00 PLUS LABOR TO INSTALL. BEING A SINGLE MOM I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY AND TRULY FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DEFROST PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256854

Incident

May 1, 2007

Mileage

120,000 mi