2005 Toyota Highlander Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was on a lift at the independent mechanic, it was discovered that the rear subframe was rusted. The contact was informed that the subframe needed to be replaced. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11679953

Incident

Apr 11, 2003

Mileage

150,000 mi

ON 7/23/2011 I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP IN MY VEHICLE. I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR TRAVELING 70MPH+ AND PUSHED INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OFF, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID

11039870

Incident

Jul 23, 2011

Mileage

84,000 mi

ON SATURDAY, MAY 30TH AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 I WAS MOVING OUR 2005 HIGHLANDER FROM THE STREET INTO OUR RESERVED PARKING SPACE WITHIN OUR COMPLEX. AS I WAS STARTING MY RIGHT HAND TURN INTO THE COMPLEX THE CAR ACCELERATOR STUCK. I HIT THE CURB ON THE DRIVER'S/LEFT SIDE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE I HIT A TREE AND KNOCKED OVER ONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S POSTED SIGNAGE. THE IMPACT MADE THE CAR BOUNCE BACKWARD PARTIALLY INTO THE DRIVE, DAMAGING THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE, DRIVE SHAFT BROKE, FRONT END PART FLEW ALL OVER AND A SMALL FIRE OCCURRED. POLICE WERE CALL AND REPORT TAKEN. THEY ESTIMATED THE SPEED AT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR. THE REPORT TAKEN WAS NOT FILED SINCE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STARTED THE VEHICLE TO GET IT ON THE TRUCK. HE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FOR HE COULD NOT GET THE WHEELS TO TURN. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 2, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A RECALL REPAIR DONE ON MAY 21, 2011, AFTER WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO INSTALL THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR CARPET COVER. WE WERE ADVISED THAT IF IT WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY, THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION. AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL TEMPORARILY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A FAILURE OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10726359

Incident

May 30, 2015

Mileage

104,493 mi

BOTH POWER REAR WINDOWS CAME OUT OF THEIR PWR WINDOW TRACKS. THIS ALLOWS THE WINDOW TO FALL TO THE FULLY OPEN POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT CAUSED SEVERE AIR BUFFETING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT'S SO SEVERE THAT IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS VIBRATING APART. THIS EXTREMELY LOUD PAINFUL SOUND CAUSES PANIC AS TO WHAT HAPPENED AND SEVER EAR PAIN. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE BUFFETING IS TO QUICKLY PULL OFF THE ROAD AND STOP. THE OPEN WINDOW ALSO EXPOSED OCCUPANTS AND PETS IN THE REAR SEAT AREA TO FALLING OUT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT AS THE TRACK ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW THAT CONNECTS TO THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR ARM MIGRATES SLOWLY ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW EACH TIME THE WINDOW IS OPERATED UNTIL THE MOTOR ARM FALLS OUT OF THE TRACK. THEN THE WINDOW IS FREE TO FALL DOWN AND CANNOT BE CLOSED UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THERE IS NO SERVICE BULLETIN COVERING THIS. I RECEIVED A CHUCKLE FROM THE DEALER AS HE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS COMMON $250 PER WINDOW FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584071

Incident

Feb 12, 2014

Mileage

110,113 mi

MY 2005 LIMITED EDITION TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS MULTIPLE ISSUES. THE RIGHT CALIBER IS STICKING, WHICH HAS CAUSED HEAT AND WARPING IN THE HUB SYSTEM AND AFFECTED THE ABS SENSOR. THESE WILL BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $1000. THE FRONT STRUTS ARE LEAKING. THE LARGEST PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHICH HAS SOME TYPE OF INTERIOR PROBLEM. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS, BASED ON WHAT THE TOYOTA SHOP SAID WAS $3400-$4600. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 94,000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE CALIBER, ROTERS, AND HUB SYSTEM WILL GET REPLACED NEXT WEEK. THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR WILL NOT BE REPAIRED AT THIS TIME UNLESS THE TOYOTA GOODWILL PETITION GOES THROUGH. THE COST IS TOO GREAT. *TT

NHTSA ID

10421658

Incident

Aug 26, 2011

Mileage

94,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE REAR WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 4/19/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10154297

Incident

Mar 31, 2006

Mileage

7,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE THE DASHBOARD PANEL WAS BLACK DURING THE DAY. SHINING A FLASH LIGHT ON THE DASH IS THE ONLY WAY THE DASHBOARD GAUGES CAN BE SEEN. THE GAUGES ARE NOT DIGITAL. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DASHBOARD PANEL WAS NOT ABLE TO BE READ BUT THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MADE. THE DASHBOARD WORKED PROPERLY AT NIGHT.*AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147061

Incident

Jan 6, 2006

Mileage

5 mi

I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED. I FIND THAT IN THE BRIGHT FLORIDA SUNSHINE, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (SPEEDOMETER ETC.) IS SO DEEPLY RECESSED INTO THE DASH, THEY ARE DARK AND IMPOSSIBLE TO READ -- ESPECIALLY WITH SUN GLASSES. THIS IS RATHER DISCONCERTING WHEN I CANNOT SEE/READ THE SPEEDOMETER! I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO DATE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10108379

Incident

Feb 1, 2005