2008 Toyota Highlander Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the front end of the vehicle was making an abnormal clunking sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the entire subframe was severely corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

NHTSA ID

11565781

Incident

Jan 2, 2024

Mileage

175,000 mi

While driving the vehicle the back door and glass back panel sometimes release and open unexpectedly . I saw that a "service bulletin" was issued for a problem with the rear door, (T-SB-0091-12), but a dealership told me my vehicle wasn't "covered".

NHTSA ID

11489912

Incident

Oct 16, 2022

2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER INVOLVED IN A REAR/SIDE CRASH SITTING STILL; HIT BY OTHER VEHICLE AT 60 MPH; 3 OCCUPANTS INSIDE VEHICLE ALL INJURED; NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN VEHICLE AT TIME OF CRASH; IF AIRBAGS ONLY ARE TO DEPLOY ON A FRONTAL IMPACT CRASH WHAT GOOD R THEY IN OTHER CRASHES TO HELP THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE?

NHTSA ID

10767464

Incident

Sep 12, 2015

Mileage

144,000 mi

I HAVE THE SUN VISOR ON MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT HAS FALLEN DOWN AND IT DOESN'T STAY UP AT ALL ANYMORE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH THREE CHILDREN AND FIND THIS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE IT OBSTRUCTS MY VISION ALSO WHEN I LOOK TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT I CONSTANTLY HIT MY FOREHEAD ON THE VISOR THAT IS CONSTANTLY ON THE WAY. IT IS A HAZARD TO ME AND MY 3 CHILDREN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714240

Incident

May 13, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

A FEW MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE NEW, MY HUSBAND NOTICED A MILDEW SMELL IN MY VEHICLE THAT WOULD COME AND GO. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST FROM LIVING IN A HUMID PLACE. WHEN THE SMELL BECAME CONSTANT, MY HUSBAND LIFTED UP THE FLOOR MAT IN THE BACK SEAT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CARPET WAS SOAKING WET. WE THEN CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO TAKE THE HIGHLANDER IN TO BE LOOKED AT AND TO SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE WATER LEAK. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 18, 2014 AND WE WERE LATER INFORMED THAT FOUR RUBBER STOPPERS (WHICH WERE AT THE TIME LOSE INSIDE THE BUMPERS, BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSERTED INTO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE) THAT WERE MEANT TO KEEP WATER OUT OF THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR HAD FALLEN OUT AND THE TECH WOULD NEED TO RE-INSERT THE STOPPERS, AND FOR GOOD MEASURE, GLUE THEM INTO PLACE IN ORDER TO STOP WATER FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10703435

Incident

Jun 18, 2014

Mileage

58,381 mi

ATTEMPTING TO PARK CAR IN A SHOPPING CENTER. SUDDENLY ENGINE ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY. HIT CURB & TREE. DAMAGE TO CAR APPROXIMATELY $6000 TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628611

Incident

Jul 12, 2013

Mileage

71,869 mi

I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON A DIVIDED ONE WAY STREET. A 2006 MINIVAN WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DIVIDED STREET. HE MADE A LEFT HAND TURN, RAN THROUGH THE YIELD SIGN AND BROADSIDED ME ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I SAW HE WAS NOT GOING TO STOP AND TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, NOT IN TIME. TOOK OUT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHLANDER FROM THE FRONT WHEEL TO THE REAR PANEL. HIS FRONT AIRBAG DID DEPLOY. MY SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I KNOW MY HEAD BOUNCED AGAINST THE SIDE WINDOW TWICE. I ASKED THE BODY SHOP TO LOOK AT THE AIRBAG AND THEY SAID THAT IT APPEARED OK AND APPARENTLY THE STRIKE DID NOT WARRANT AIRBAG INFLATION. THE HIGHLANDER IS 4 WHEEL DRIVE, 20" WHEELS. BOTH LEFT DOORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND DAMAGE WAS LOW ON DOORS. WHEELS ALSO REPLACED. I THINK THE SIDE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10598789

Incident

May 29, 2012

Mileage

55,000 mi

DRIVER DOOR LOCK MECHANISM HAS STOPPED WORKING WITH THE REMOTE, THAT IS A NUISANCE, NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT, RECENTLY I HAD DIFFICULTY MANUALLY UNLOCKING THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND FOR 1 - 2 MINUTES WAS NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. I WAS TRYING TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR (THE POWER LOCK MECHANISM QUIT WORKING) BUT THE DOOR LOCK WAS JAMMED SUCH THAT I COULD NOT GET THE DOOR UNLOCKED. I TRIED PUSHING THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK BUTTON TO TRY TO UNJAM THE MECHANISM AND EVENTUALLY THAT WORKED AND I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT. A BRIEF SEARCH ONLINE SHOWED THAT THIS IS A VERY PREVALENT ISSUE WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES. TOYOTA SHOULD BE FORCED TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AND A RECALL SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO MAKE TOYOTA FIX THE FLAWED VEHICLES THEY HAVE SOLD. I WILL GO SEE A DEALER IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO TO GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE BUT I IMAGINE THAT WILL ONLY GET ME AN INCREASED BLOOD PRESSURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548644

Incident

Oct 15, 2013

Mileage

89,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR HATCH WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE HINGES AND THE MOTOR ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,917.

NHTSA ID

10427216

Incident

Dec 26, 2009

Mileage

29,917 mi

EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: I FIRST NOTICED THAT MY LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON WHEN I STARTED OUT THIS MORNING. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO CHECK THE TIRES AND NOTICED A LARGE SCREW STUCK IN MY FRONT LEFT TIRE. MY TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE REGISTERED LESS THAN 5PSI. I FILLED THE TIRE TO AT LEAST 25PSI AND HEADED BACK HOME, FIGURING I COULD PUT THE SPARE ON IN MY GARAGE AND TAKE THE FLAT TO BE REPAIRED. I WAS GLAD TO GET BACK AS THE BIGGEST SNOWSTORM OF THE SEASON WAS AN HOUR AWAY. THE FAILURE: I WAS ABLE TO GET THE JACK AND OTHER EQUIPMENT OUT OF THE BACK AND SUCCESSFULLY LOWERED THE SPARE TIRE ONTO THE GROUND. MY PROBLEM IS THAT I CANNOT REMOVE THE SPARE TIRE FROM THE CARRIER CABLE. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SALT SPRAYED ON THE ROADS RECENTLY AND ALL THE PARTS WERE WHITE. I SPRAYED WITH WD40, BUT NO LUCK. THE MANUAL IS NO HELP AS IT ONLY SHOWS A PICTURE OF THE SPARE AND A ROTATING ARROW. I CAME INSIDE TO LOOK ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A SOLUTION.. NONE. I THEN SAW A RECALL LISTED FOR THE 2008-2010 SIENNA (ID# 8250). BECAUSE OF A SAFETY ISSUE WITH SPARE TIRE CARRIER CABLE, IT COULD POSSIBLY BECOME CORRODED AND CAUSE THE SPARE TO FALL OFF FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL SAYS TO SEE AN AMENDED RECALL FOR JULY 19, 2010. I CAN'T FIND IT. OWNERS WERE TO RECEIVE A LETTER "WHEN A PERMANENT REMEDY WAS AVAILABLE." REPAIRS WERE EXPECTED TO START IN OCTOBER 2010. I'M THANKFUL I WASN'T OUT TRYING TO UNSUCCESSFULLY REMOVE THE SPARE TIRE IN A SNOWSTORM, BUT A USELESS OWNERS MANUAL, A DEFECTIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, AND ESPECIALLY A RECALL FOR THE SAME PIECE OF EQUIPMENT ON ANOTHER MODEL WITH NO AMENDED REPAIR INFORMATION IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME. WHY WEREN'T HIGHLANDER OWNERS LIKE ME NOTIFIED AS WELL? HAVE SIENNA VEHICLES BEEN REPAIRED? NOW I HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH A FLAT FRONT TIRE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO GET THE SPARE TIRE TAKEN OFF THE VEHICLE SO I CAN TAKE THE FLAT OFF AND GET IT REPAIRED. I CONSIDER THIS ANOTHER BALL DROPPED BY TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10383392

Incident

Feb 20, 2011

Mileage

27,957 mi

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2008 LIMITED CAN BE PUT IN REVERSE WITH NO VISIBLE OR AUDIBLE WARNING THAT A DOOR IS OPEN. RESULTED IN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE AND CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR HIGHLANDER HAS LCD SCREEN TO DISPLAY WARNINGS AND OTHER MESSAGES TO THE DRIVER. SAME SCREEN IS USED TO SHOW REAR CAMERA IMAGE IN REVERSE. WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE, REAR CAMERA IMAGE SUPERSEDES WARNING MESSAGE GIVING THE DRIVER THE IMPRESSION THAT ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO AND IT IS OK TO BACK-UP. TOYOTA NEEDS TO REPROGRAM ONBOARD COMPUTER SO THAT IF ANY DOOR IS OPEN, OR IF ANY OTHER WARNINGS (PERHAPS SEATBELTS) ARE ENGAGED THE REAR CAMERA VIEW DOES NOT SHOW ON THE LCD SCREEN SO THAT THE WARNINGS CAR BE DISPLAYED. GIVEN THE LCD SCREEN AND AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR ONLY TWO MONTHS, IT IS CLEAR THAT DRIVERS WILL LOOK TO THAT SCREEN FOR INFORMATION AND NOT SO MUCH USE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

10210048

Incident

Nov 25, 2007

Mileage

6,000 mi