2011 Toyota Highlander Body & structure Problems

I NOTICED IN NOVEMBER 2016 THAT THE PAINT ON MY 2011 TOYOTA ROOF WAS PEELING OFF. I TOOK IT TO A TRUSTED BODY SHOP AND THE OWNER ADVISED MY TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AS IT APPEARED TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I DID AS HE SUGGESTED AND I WAS SUBJECTED TO MONTHS OF UNRESPONSIVE BEHAVIOR BEFORE I WAS FINALLY TOLD MY CAR WAS BEYOND THE 3YEAR WARRANTY THEREFORE NOT THEIR PROBLEM IN OCTOBER OF 2017. SINCE THIS TIME, THE PAINT FAILURE HAS PROGRESSED TO INCLUDE NEARLY EVERY PANEL ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT TOYOTA IS RECALLING BLIZZARD PEARL VEHICLES DUE TO THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT MY VIN IN NOT INCLUDED. I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED IMMEDIATELY AS THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT GREATLY IMPACTS THE VALUE OF MY INVESTMENT. **I AM UNABLE TO ATTACH MORE THAN ONE PICTURE TO MY COMPLAINT. HOWEVER, I HAVE MULTIPLE PHOTOS AND SOME DAMAGE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DOCUMENT BUBBLING PAINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

11321084

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR ARM DETACHED FROM THE UPPER PORTION OF THE REAR DOOR. UPON REPEATED USE AND TIGHTENING IT BECOMES STRIPPED. FORUMS REPORTS THIS IS COMMON FOR SEVERAL MODEL YEARS - NO RECALL. HOLE TO SCREW BECOMES STRIPPED OVER TIME. NO ACCESS TO THE BACK END TO APPLY NUT. DEALER RECOMMENDS TAKING IT TO A BODY SHOP FOR DOOR REPLACEMENT AT $3200 - $3900 DOLLARS. EXTREMELY BAD DESIGN FLAW. IF LIFTGATE SEEMS WEAK IN OPENING NAND CLOSING, THIS COULD BE PART OF THE PROBLEM. SHOWED WEAKNESS FOR WEEKS UNTIL I HEARD THE POP AND REALIZED THE POWER ROD CAME OUT. WHEN I WENT TO SCREW IT BACK IN - IT'S STRIPPED. OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD. NO SOLUTION FOUND OTHER THAN REPLACING THE REAR LIFTGATE.

NHTSA ID

10971817

Incident

Apr 5, 2017

Mileage

73,000 mi

WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH FROM THE INSIDE, THE BEEPING SOUND WOULD NOT TURN OFFICE AND WHEN I WENT TO INVESTIGATE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE HATCH THE HYDRAULIC ARM HAD BROKEN AND THE MOLDING POPPED OFF PREVENTING IT FROM WORKING. I TOOK IT INTO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE WHOLE MOTOR/ARM ON THE HATCH. THIS WAS COVERED THROUGH MY WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

10904653

Incident

Aug 8, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

ISSUE WITH THE GLASS DOOR BACK (HATCH) DOES NOT CLOSE OR OPEN PROPERLY. I DID MAKE SURE THE DOOR ARE CLOSED BEFORE STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ONCE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE GLASS DOOR (HATCH) OPENS AND I HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND CLOSE IT, WHICH IS VEERY INCONVENIENCE AND SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10889293

Incident

Feb 14, 2011

6MONTH AFTER I HAD BOUGHT MY VEHICLE I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE CHECK MY MOON ROOF LEAKING,AND WORKING OUT OF CONTROL AFTER RAINING,THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING, AND BETWEEN OIL CHANGE ASK TO RE-CHECK MOON ROOF AND NOTHING WRONG THEY ONLY KEPT ONE TIME "CHECK" FOR THE ISSUE THEN LAST YEAR FOR THE BAD WINTER WE HAD I FOUND MY CAR FLOOR TOO WET AND THOUGH IT WAS THE SNOW NOT THE MOON ROOF, SO I BROUGHT IT LAST APRIL AND THE SAID THEY WILL TRY TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG BUT THAT MY GUARANTEE WAS EXPIRED AND THEY DID FIND OUT FROM WHERE WAS THE LEAK, CAUSE MY CAR WILL BE PARK OVERNIGHT RAINING AND WILL BE IN THE MORNING SOAK N WET, SO I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC HE FOUND LIKE ITS FROM FACTORY DEFECT NOT A HOLE FOR A ONE HOSE TO THROW OUT THE WATER FROM MOON ROOF. SO MY CAR HAS MOLD, MY DAUGHTER AND I SUFFER FROM RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, AND SHE IS A CHILD, I AM VERY DISTRESS AND EMOTIONAL VERY WORRY CAUSE THAT PROBLEM IS MAKING US SEE K MOST OF THE TIME, I WANT THIS PROBLEM TO BE SOLVE.IM A SINGLE MOM WHO PAYS THIS VEHICLE WITH A LOT OF EFFORTS AND DON'T KNOW WHO COULD HELP ME I'M VERY DEPRESSED I NEED HELP CAN SOME BODY HELP US? THANK YOU. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE CAUSE MY FEET ARE GETTING SLEEPER I.E. DUE TO THE MOLD AS I DRIVE AROUND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10870451

Incident

Dec 18, 2015

THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS OFF THE TRACK AND UNABLE TO ROLL UP. PRIOR TO THE WINDOW FALLING OFF THE TRACK, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WOULD MAKE A POPPING NOISE AND WOULD RATTLE WHEN GOING UP OR DOWN. THE ISSUE IS EXACTLY LIKE THE 2010 NHTSA REFERENCE #10037962 AND TSB REFERENCE #T-SB-0010-11.

NHTSA ID

10852757

Incident

Mar 28, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

REAR LIFTGATE WILL NOT STAY OPEN AND HAS FALLEN ON MY WIFE. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT WILL NOT FIX THERE PROBLEM EST. COST TO REPAIR $3000. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT. PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 10 MONTHS AGO WITH 46000 MILES VEHICLE NOW HAS 56000.

NHTSA ID

10822783

Incident

Feb 1, 2015

Mileage

46,000 mi

THE GLASS ON THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS OFF THE RAILS AND WOULD COME OFF THE WINDOW AT AN ANGLE WHEN ITS BEING RAISED. CURRENTLY WE CANNOT ROLL THE WINDOW GLASS UP AND DOWN. SIMILAR SYMPTONS ARE BEING SEEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW NOW . I HAVE OWNED CARS IN THE PAST AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I AM SEEING THIS KIND OF AN ISSUE AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO CONSIDER THIS AS A QUALITY ISSUE. WHEN I GO ONLINE, I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE USERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUE WITH TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND IT SURPRISES ME THAT A COMPANY LIKE TOYOTA WONT DO ANYTHING TO HELP THE CUSTOMER.

NHTSA ID

10817273

Incident

Sep 4, 2015

Mileage

25,000 mi

I PRESSED THE REAR HATCH BUTTON TO CLOSE IT FROM DRIVER'S SEAT, HATCH ARM BROKE AND SPEWED PLASTIC AND METAL PARTS WHILE PARKED, ONTO MALL PARKING LOT. TOYOTA STATES "ROD HAS FALLEN OFF OF MOTOR CONNECT...T-SB-0038-15 POWER BACK DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY...BIG GAP ON DRIVER SIDE HINGE FOR BACK HATCH."TOYOTA SOLD ME $2299 SERVICE CONTRACT W/PORTFOLIO ELITE PROTECTION PLAN WHICH SAYS WILL NOT COVER IT. DIAGNOSIS FROM TOYOTA IN UPLOADED FILE.

NHTSA ID

10816623

Incident

Dec 26, 2015

Mileage

57,225 mi

REAR LIFT GATE STOPPED OPENING AND CLOSING WITH BUTTON ON DASH. HYDRAULIC ARM POPPED OFF. WAS ABLE TO REATTACH, BUT TOYOTA DEALER SAID IT WOULD KEEP HAPPENING BECAUSE THE HINGES OF THE DOOR WERE SEPARATING FROM THE DOOR AND TO GET THAT REPAIRED I WOULD NEED TO SEND IT TO THE BODY SHOP. THE ARM HAS SINCE SNAPPED IN HALF AND THE DOOR CAN ONLY BE OPENED/CLOSED MANUALLY, BUT TOYOTA WARNED ME THAT THE HINGES WILL CONTINUE TO BEND. I AM FEARFUL AS I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND DO NOT TRUST THE DOOR TO BE SAFE. TOYOTA DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR AT THEIR EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN LAWSUITS AND ARE SO MANY DOCUMENTED CASES.

NHTSA ID

10810610

Incident

Sep 14, 2014

Mileage

17,000 mi

THE POWER FUNCTION LIFT ARM BROKE OFF FROM WHERE IT CONNECTS INTO THE REA DOOR ON MY 2011 HIGHLANDER. TOYOTA DIDN'T MENTIONED ABOUT THE DOOR HINGES RELATED ISSUES AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE HINGES. THIS, OF COURSE DIDN'T PREVENTED NOR RESOLVED THE ISSUE WITH THE POWER FUNCTION LIFT ARM THAT NOW IS BEYOND REPAIR; THE BOLT AND SCREW HOLE ARE NOW STRIPPED.

NHTSA ID

10781482

Incident

Mar 20, 2013

Mileage

43,002 mi

I HAVE A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN FROM ITS INTERNAL GUIDE ON THE VISOR, MAKING IT UNSAFELY AND UNCONTROLLABLY FLIP & FLOP AROUND. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET A REPLACEMENT, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE ARE MORE THAN 200 ON BACKORDER, AND IT COULD TAKE ONE OR MORE MONTHS TO GET A REPLACEMENT. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWS PREVIOUS RECALLS ON TOYOTA SUN VISORS. SO, WITH MORE THAN 200 ALREADY NEEDING REPLACEMENTS ON WHAT SHOULD BE A STRONG PART, IT SUGGESTS A LARGER PROBLEM WORTHY OF YOUR ATTENTION AND A POSSIBLE RECALL. THANKS.

NHTSA ID

10677145

Incident

Jan 16, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE POWER LIFT-GATE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY, BROKE ABOUT 50000 MILES AFTER THE 36 MONTHS OR 36,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS TOYOTA CERTIFIED. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED AS A RECALL INSTEAD OF TSB BECAUSE IT WAS A DESIGNED ISSUES REASON TOYOTA UPGRADED WITH BETTER DESIGNED HINGES. ALSO, IT WILL BE NICE IF TOYOTA INFORMED US ABOUT THE TSB BY WRITING SO OWNER CAN DOUBLE CHECK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671816

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE AUTO LIFTGATE FOR THE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT GO UP AND DOWN. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS GONE OUT FOR THIS DEFECT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10668027

Incident

Sep 30, 2014

Mileage

37,500 mi

THE AUTOMATIC LATCH OF THE LIFTGATE STARTED TO FAIL. THE LIFTGATE NOT LONGER OPENS AUTOMATICALLY. I WAS TOLD IT IS PROBABLY THE MOTOR AND THE PARTS COST ALONE IS OVER $1,200. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS AND AM DOING WITHOUT THAT FEATURE, BUT ANNOYED! *TR

NHTSA ID

10667182

Incident

Oct 24, 2013

Mileage

55,000 mi

THE OPEN REAR AUTOMATIC DOOR FAILED, IMMEDIATELY CLOSING ON MY WIFE'S BACK AS SHE WAS REMOVING A BAG FROM THE REAR CARGO AREA. THE FAILURE HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAME DOWN HARD. AS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPLACE AT THEIR COST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664397

Incident

Nov 24, 2014

Mileage

49,000 mi

POWER BACK DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, BROKEN AT 43,326 MILES AFTER THE 36 MONTHS OR 36,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662366

Incident

Oct 30, 2014

Mileage

43,326 mi

THE AUTOMATIC LATCH OF THE LIFTGATE STARTED TO FAIL. THE LIFTGATE NOT LONGER OPENS AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REJECTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651651

Incident

Aug 8, 2014

Mileage

56,000 mi

I OWN A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT I BOUGHT NEW. AT APPROXIMATELY 7-9 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE PIVOT OR LINK ARM OF THE AUTOMATIC LIFT GATE DETACHED FROM THE BODY FRAME. I RE-ATTACHED IT AS IT LOOKS IT BECAME LOOSE. AFTER A FEW OTHER INSTANCES IN WHICH IT GOT LOOSE AGAIN AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS, I DECIDED TO BRING THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. I MENTIONED THE ISSUE TO THE SERVICES REP WHO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN (SB) LINKED TO THE LIFTGATE. HE MENTIONED ABOUT THE SB SINCE IT SEEMS THAT THE ISSUE WAS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE HINGE DOORS PROBLEM THAT WAS BEING ADDRESSED THROUGH THE SB. THE JOB WAS MADE (REPLACING THE HINGE). I WAS ASKED TO PAY FOR IT SINCE THE SB WAS DUE WITH THE CAR 36 MO. /36K MI. WARRANTY. I INITIALLY OBJECTED TO THIS BUT ENDED PAYING THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR HAD 43,000 MILES AT THE TIME. THE ISSUE WAS APPARENTLY CORRECTED. WELL, IT WAS NOT. THE SCREW NUT AT THE END OF THE ARM THAT ATTACHES THE ARM TO THE CAR FRAME WAS STRIPPED AND ALSO DAMAGING THE THREAD ON THE CAR FRAME. THIS ARM WAS NEVER CHANGED BY TOYOTA. RECENTLY, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER THAT OPENED NEAR MY HOME AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT HE HEARD ABOUT OR SEES A CAR WITH THIS ISSUE. THROUGH DIFFERENT SEARCHES LOOKING ON HOW TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE PROPERLY AND AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION THROUGH THE WEB, HAVE NOTICED THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS FILED OVER THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650086

Incident

Feb 17, 2012

Mileage

20,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE VISOR HANGS DOWN AND WILL NOT RETURN TO UP POSITION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CONCERNS OF THIS TYPE NOTED A ON THIS DATABASE AND THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE SINCE IT OBSTRUCTS DRIVER VISIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596866

Incident

Jun 4, 2014

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH DOOR GATE AND WINDOW SUDDENLY OPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR GATE DOOR HINGE WAS BENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10582979

Incident

Dec 4, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

I HAVE A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE ARM OF THE AUTOMATIC LIFT GATE DETACHED FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. ON FEB 5, THE TOYOTA DEALER INFORMED ME THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE END OF THE ARM STRIPPED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT THAT THE MOTOR HAD BURNED OUT AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. I RARELY USE THE AUTO LIFT GATE, SO I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THIS.OF COURSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY BY 3,000 MILES. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THERE ARE NO KNOWN PROBLEMS BUT AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATING, THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS FILED OVER THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563142

Incident

Jan 25, 2014

Mileage

39,000 mi

I PURCHASE MY CAR FROM CARMAX ON NOVEMBER 20, 2010. APPROXIMATELY FOURTEEN MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE, I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE REAR LIFTGATE DOOR NOT COMPLETELY CLOSING PROPERLY. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER ON TO HAVE THIS CORRECTED BUT TO DATE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DO SO. THUS FAR, MY TRUCKS? AUTOMATIC LIFTGATE DOOR HAS BEEN INOPERABLE FOR OVER 120 DAYS AND THE DEALER SHIP HAS REVIEWED THE ISSUE, TOOK PICTURES OF THE AFFECTED AREA AND FILED A REPORT TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP ALSO ADVISED ME TO CONTACT A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AND FILE A COMPLAINT. ON JUNE 15, 2012, I CALLED YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND SPOKE WITH A TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT HE SUBMITTED MY COMPLAINT (CASE # 1206150405) AND THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND IS WORKING ON A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AND AS SOON AS THEY WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE FIX, THEY WOULD CONTACT ME. IT HAS BEEN OVER 2 MONTHS SINCE I LAST SPOKE WITH SOMEONE FROM YOUR COMPANY AND I HAVEN?T RECEIVED ANY RESOLUTION. ATTACHED ARE COPIES OF THE REPAIR ORDER THAT DOCUMENT THE DEALERSHIP?S ATTEMPT TO REPAIR MY CAR. ...UPDATED 09/12/12 *BF UPDATED 09/19/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10474621

Incident

Apr 11, 2012

Mileage

26,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF HIS HATCHBACK WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS INFORMED OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN UNDER NHTSA ITEM NUMBER : 10041651 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID

10473216

Incident

Aug 10, 2012

Mileage

15,000 mi

TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB FOR WARPING HINGES FOR THE POWER REAR HATCH. THE HATCH EVENTUALLY WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY OR AT ALL. THIS IS MAINLY DUE TO THE MOTOR PUTTING TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HINGE. THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL HIGHLANDER RIGHT NOW WITH POWER OPEN CLOSE FEATURES. EVEN THE ONES WITH THE NEW DESIGN HINGES. TOYOTA IS ALSO SAYING THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THESE HINGES OUT OF WARRANTY. MINE ARE BEING REPLACED RIGHT NOW. BUT THE 2012 HIGHLANDER RENTAL I HAVE RIGHT NOW HAS THE SAME ISSUE. AND THIS ONE WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE TSB SINCE IT HAS THE NEW HINGES. I AM WORRIED THAT DOWN THE ROAD THIS HATCH WILL OPEN AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY OR ANYWHERE.. HOW WOULD YOU KNOW SOMETIMES THAT THE HATCH DID NOT CLOSE? I HAD TO PUT A ACCIDENT DATE ABOVE TO FILE. THERE IS NO ACCIDENT, I AM TRYING TO PREVENT ONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465482

Incident

Jul 12, 2012