2010 Toyota Highlander Visibility Problems

SUN ROOF GLASS EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 TO 65 MILES PER HOUR. WE HAD THE SUN SHADE CLOSED SO WE DID NOT KNOW THE SUN ROOF GLASS HAD EXPLODED. PULLED OFF THE ROAD, NO OTHER CAR OR TRUCK WAS NEAR US, AND DISCOVERED THE SUN ROOF GLASS HAD EXPLODED AND GLASS WAS PREVENTED FROM ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAUSE THE SHADE WAS CLOSED. WENT TO A TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY AND THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY A ROCK. I SAID NO ONE WAS NEAR US, FRONT OR BACK, AND THEY SAID WE MIGHT HAVE HAD A CHIP IN THE SUN ROOF GLASS FROM BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. IT WAS A NICE DAY, NO RAIN, NOT TOO HOT, AROUND 65 DEGREES, COMFORTABLE, SUN WAS OUT. THEY TAPED THE GLASS THAT WAS STILL TOGETHER SO WE COULD DRIVE HOME AND HAVE IT REPAIRED. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE GLASS AND WOULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS. THIS HAPPENED IN JULY, 2012.

NHTSA ID

11035198

Incident

Jul 27, 2012

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RELATED RECALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE NHTSA HOTLINE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER 1705112724. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,300. UPDATED 06/29/17*LJ THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO DISMISS THIS CASE AS IT HAS BEEN RESOLVED BY THE MANUFACTURER. UPDATED 07/11/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10985981

Incident

May 10, 2017

Mileage

137,300 mi

THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO BROKEN WINDOW MOUNTING TAB. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE POWER TO THE WINDOW MOTOR SO IT CAN'T BE USED. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE IF OPERATED WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDOW COMES OFF TRACK AND GETS COCKEYED.

NHTSA ID

10966383

Incident

Aug 13, 2014

Mileage

56,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP FLUSH WITH THE CEILING OF THE VEHICLE. THE VISOR HANGS AT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND BLOCKS VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. MY HUSBAND IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY AND IS AN AVERAGE HEIGHT MAN OF ABOUT 6 FEET TALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10948671

Incident

Dec 9, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS FAILED TO CLOSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V689000 (VISIBILITY) AFTER THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN AREAS WERE LUBRICATED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT OR REPLACE THE PWM CIRCUIT BOARD; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY DID NOT PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10808185

Incident

Feb 10, 2015

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WON'T STAY IN UP POSITION. HANGS DOWN IN VISION LINE OF DRIVER TALLER THAN 5'. THE REPAIR WILL COST CLOSE TO $200!

NHTSA ID

10721225

Incident

Jan 10, 2015

THE VISOR IS DEFECTIVE AND GETS STUCK IN A 45 DEGREE ANGLE POSITION. A WARRANTY REPAIR WAS MADE, BUT IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR DEVELOPED THE SAME PROBLEM, ALSO OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. BASED ON THE POSITION OF THE VISOR AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE, IF THERE'S AN ACCIDENT THE HEAD OF THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER WILL GO RIGHT INTO THE BRIM OF THE VISOR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. I BELIEVE TOYOTA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701878

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

30,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR FAILS TO STAY UP AND DROPS TO BLOCK DRIVER'S VIEW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676740

Incident

Jan 20, 2015

Mileage

65,462 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM RESULTED IN THEM SAYING THAT IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VISOR COULD FALL ENOUGH TO BLOCK THE DRIVER'S VISION. ALSO, IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE DRIVER'S FOREHEAD WOULD BE PROPELLED INTO THE EDGE OF A SUN VISOR THAT IS PARTIALLY DOWN CAUSING A POSSIBLE SERIOUS HEAD INJURY. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676702

Incident

Jun 1, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER NEW. AT 45,000 MILES, THE DRIVER-SIDE SUN VISOR FAILED TO REMAIN IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. IT CONTINUES TO FALL AND BLOCK THE DRIVER'S VIEW WHEN DRIVING. EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN THE 50,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE SUN VISOR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I NEW VISOR IS OVER $200. I USED TO WORK FOR THE TOYOTA AT THE HEADQUARTERS LOCATED IN TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS SUN VISOR AS A CUSTOMER HAZARD AND FAILURE OF THE PART. THIS FAILURE SHOULD BE REPAIRED/REPLACED AT TOYOTA'S EXPENSE BEFORE IT CAUSES SERIOUS HARM TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10669848

Incident

Jan 18, 2013

Mileage

45,000 mi

VISOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE DROPPED DOWN AND WILL NOT STAY UP. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668429

Incident

Dec 25, 2014

Mileage

40,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR SPRING SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE AND THE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN (DOES NOT STAY IN UP POSITION) BLOCKING THE VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662449

Incident

Nov 11, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR TENSION COMPLETELY BROKE UNDER NORMAL USE. VISOR HANGS STRAIGHT DOWN AND WON'T RETURN TO THE UP POSITION, OR ANY OTHER POSITION. BLOCKS MUCH OF THE FIELD OF VIEW FOR ANY DRIVER (LIKE ME) TALLER THAN 5'5". *TR

NHTSA ID

10654206

Incident

Nov 9, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER'S WINDOW WILL COME OFF TRACK AND NOT ALLOW TO ROLL UP THE WINDOW. THIS REALLY IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE HOWEVER ONE TIME THE WINDOW DID NOT COME OFF TRACK HOWEVER THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. WE HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS WAS VERY SCARY SINCE MY WIFE DRIVES THE VEHICLE AND TRANSPORTS OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDSON. I WAS AFRAID IF SHE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE POWER WINDOW DID NOT WORK SHE WOULD HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY, WE FOUND ANOTHER PLACE TO FIX THE ISSUE. WE STILL HAVE ISSUES AT TIMES WITH THE WINDOW. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THAT THE REAR DOOR SENSOR CONSTANTLY INDICATES THE DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IT IS NOT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE REAR DISPLAY STOPS WORKING AND SAYS REAR DOOR OPEN, THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS FLASH, AND THE DOOR CHIME SOUNDS. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT CAUSES A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. WITH THE DOOR CHIMING, LIGHTS FLASHING, AND THE REAR DISPLAY SHOWING A MESSAGE, IT TAKES OUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649182

Incident

Oct 11, 2010

Mileage

3,000 mi

ALMOST HAD A CAR ACCIDENT WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DROPPED DURING A TURN ON A 5-WAY INTERSECTION. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT RETAIN ITS CLOSED POSITION. IT KEEPS FALLING DOWN WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS. THE SUN VISOR HINDERS VISIBILITY AND SCOPE / RANGE OF THE DRIVER?S VIEW. PROPER VISIBILITY WAS COMPROMISED BY THIS DEFECTIVE VISOR AND THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN FOR VEHICLE OPERATORS. THIS GRAVELY PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD TO INCLUDE BYSTANDERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AND CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND PRESENTS IMMEDIATE DANGER AND RECALL ACTION. PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BECOME FATALITY STATISTICS DUE TO A SMALL RECALL AND CORRECTION! *TR

NHTSA ID

10633780

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

49,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. KEEPS FALLING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10614869

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

35,000 mi

THE DRIVERS SUN VISOR HAS 2 STOP POINTS. ONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE FULLY UPRIGHT IN THE RECESS OF THE HEAD LINER. THE STOP POINT HAS MOVED SO THAT THE UPPER MOST POINT THE VISOR WILL GO IS ABOUT 10% BELOW LEVEL AND RIGHT IN THE LINE OF SIGHT OF THE DRIVER. THIS CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION IN THAT THE DRIVER CAN NOT SEE THE ROAD OR STOP LIGHTS. I HAVE RUN A RED LIGHT BECAUSE I CAN NOT SEE IT. I HAVE LOOKED ON ALL THE WEBSITES AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA. NOT ONLY ON THE HIGHLANDER BUT ON SEVERAL OTHER MODELS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR WHAT EVER IS CAUSING THAT STOP POINT TO "DROOP". THE VISOR CAN NOT BE TAKEN APART AND TOYOTA WANTS $200 TO REPLACE THE THING. IT IS A RIP OFF AS THEY KNOW THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610104

Incident

May 28, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S VISOR BROKE. I PUT IT DOWN TO BLOCK THE BRIGHT SUN HERE IN THE DESERT AND HEARD A LOUD SNAP. THE VISOR NO LONGER HAS THE ABILITY TO STAY UP OR ALL THE WAY FORWARD. RESULTING PROBLEM: 1. IN THE UP POSITION IT WILL NOT FULLY RETRACT INTO THE ROOF VISOR POCKET AND HANGS DOWN ABOUT 2.5 INCHES FROM THE CAR ROOF. CONCERNED THE SMALL EDGE WOULD SMACK ME RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREHEAD IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND FELL FORWARD. IF YOU WERE TALL YOU COULD POTENTIALLY BE IMPACTED DIRECTLY IN THE EYES IF YOU FELL FORWARD FROM A READ END COLLISION. 2. IN THE DOWN POSITION, WHICH THE VISOR IS MOST FREQUENTLY HERE IN THE DESERT REGION, IT NO LONGER CAN BE PUSHED FORWARD TO THE WINDSHIELD, SO IT HANGS DOWN LOW, AND PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTS YOUR ABILITY TO READ SIGNS ABOVE YOUR LINE OF VISION OVER THE HOOD. DEALER DID NOT THINK IT WAS COVERED UNDER MY 100,000 MILE / 5 YEAR WARRANTY AND TOLD ME TO CALL TOYOTA CARE, DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST ME $150 TO $160 TO FIX. I CALLED TOYOTA CARE THEY SAID IT IS COVERED BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULDN'T FAIL IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MOST OF THE TIME IT IS SITTING FORWARD AGAINST THE WINDOW AND NOT MOVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584734

Incident

Apr 21, 2014

Mileage

62,734 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON M HWY INTO SEDALIA MO ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 4/5/14, WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP LIKE A GUNSHOT, AND I LOOKED UP & SAW THAT MY MOONROOF SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES, BUT IT STAYED TOGETHER LIKE SAFETY GLASS IS SUPPOSED TO. TINY SHARDS STARTED TO FILTER DOWN BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP & CLOSE THE SUN VISOR TO PREVENT OTHER GLASS FROM FALLING DOWN. THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME THAT COULD HAVE KICKED UP A ROCK, NO EXPLANATION FOR THE MOONROOF TO SUDDENLY SHATTER. WE JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY, & BOUGHT A CERTIFIED TOYOTA PLATINUM WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP CALLED FOR WARRANTY APPROVAL & THEY WERE TOLD TOYOTA DOES NOT COVER GLASS AND WE WOULD HAVE TO FILE WITH OUR INSURANCE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THANKFULLY I ONLY HAVE $50 DEDUCTIBLE, BUT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED, UNLESS IT WAS A DEFECT THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578348

Incident

Apr 5, 2014

Mileage

50,225 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION. IF FALLS DOWN DIRECTLY INTO THE LINE OF VISION AND PARTIALLY OBSTRUCT VISION. IT MIGHT NOT BE AN ISSUE FOR DRIVER 5'2 TALL OR LESS BUT FOR 6 FT OR ABOVE IT'S AN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10575026

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

22,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PULLING THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR DOWN TO BLOCK THE SUN, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REPOSITION THE VISOR WHICH CAUSED A VISIBILITY HAZARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VISOR BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ID

10562052

Incident

Jan 28, 2014

Mileage

43,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR HAS DROPPED, BLOCKING THE LINE OF VISION. IT DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO PUSH IT UP TO BE COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WAY. I HAVE READ THAT THE CAMRYS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE CAMRYS BUT HAS NOT FOR THE HIGHLANDER. TOYOTA NEEDS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE . *TR

NHTSA ID

10561452

Incident

Dec 3, 2012

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FELL DOWN AND OBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE ROAD. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUSH VISOR BACK UP OUT OF MY LINE OF SIGHT, IT WOULD NOT STAY IN THE PROPER POSITION TO BLOCK SUN AND TO WHERE IT DID NOT OBSTRUCT VIEW OF THE ROAD. THE VISOR WILL EITHER STAY ALL THE WAY UP AGAINST THE CEILING OR ALL THE WAY DOWN ALMOST PARALLEL WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME TYPE OF SPRING OR PIECE OF MATERIAL BROKEN INSIDE VISOR CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AND VERY UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552170

Incident

Oct 28, 2013

Mileage

51,808 mi

DRIVERS SIDE SUNVISOR DROPS DOWN INTO VIEW AND WILL NOT STAY UP, SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH ALL THESE CARS FROM WHAT I SEE ON ALL THE FORUMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550332

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

VISOR ON DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT GO UP. IT IS CONSTANTLY IN THE WAY OF MY VISION AS I DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10549615

Incident

Oct 23, 2013

Mileage

56,000 mi