RoadVitals

2011 Toyota Highlander Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
35
Latest Dec 1, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
19%
of 181 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Toyota Highlander submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words

SteeringVisibility
Filed Dec 1, 2021

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the intermediate steering shaft was making an abnormal knocking noise while turning to the left or the right. Additionally, the driver’s side window failed to roll up or down because it was off track. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ID
11442274
Incident
Feb 1, 2016
Mileage
80,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 20, 2019

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR STUCK IN DOWN POSITION, AND WILL NOT MOVE UPWARD OUT OF THE WAY, OBSTRUCTING DRIVER'S VIEW. IT CAN BE MOVED TO THE SIDE WINDOW, BUT THEN THE SIDE VIEW IS OBSTRUCTED. I HESITATE TO TRY AND FORCE IT UP, BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE IT WOULD BREAK AND JUST FLOP AROUND. RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE LEARNED OF MANY OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR-VINTAGE TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TOYOTA DEALER QUOTED OVER $300 TO REPLACE WITH A NEW PART. THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID
11190287
Incident
Feb 1, 2019
Mileage
96,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 1, 2019

THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS (2010 - 2013) SUN VISORS. THE VISOR NO LONGER STAYS IN EITHER THE UPRIGHT OR DOWNWARD POSITION. IT IS EITHER AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE WHEN PLACED IN THE "UP" POSITION OR IS IN A POSITION TO SLIGHTLY OBSCURE VISIBILITY IN THE "DOWN" POSITION. TOYOTA OFFERED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT (LETTER ZF1) HOWEVER I AM NOW PAST THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS IS A HAZARD IN DRIVING AND WOULD BE HAZARDOUS TO THE DRIVER SHOULD THERE BE AN ACCIDENT - THE VISOR WOULD HIT THE DRIVER IN THE FOREHEAD OR FACE SHOULD THERE BE AN IMPACT.

NHTSA ID
11183508
Incident
Feb 18, 2019
Mileage
130,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 27, 2018

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR NO LONGER STAYS UP AND BLOCKS THE DRIVERS VISION WHILE DRIVING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A ON GOING PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA SUN VISORS.

NHTSA ID
11090434
Incident
Apr 18, 2018
Mileage
61,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Nov 10, 2016

MY DRIVER SIDE VISOR LOST ALL TENSION. I HAD TO EITHER HOLD IT UP OR TIE IT OUT OF THE WAY. I HAD IT REPLACED AT LOWE TOYOTA IN WARNER ROBINS, GA FOR $199.87. I WOULD NOT EXPECT A VISOR TO TEAR UP EVEN FOR A 2011 MODEL. IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE VISORS AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACING THEM. THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10925378
Incident
Oct 21, 2016
Mileage
70,772 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Mar 31, 2016

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
Visibility
Filed Sep 5, 2015

DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR IS BROKEN AND STUCK AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE, AND WILL NOT STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, OBSTRUCTING VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN ISSUE OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, AS THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONCE DOING A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH.

NHTSA ID
10761805
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Mileage
40,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 24, 2015

DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WON'T STAY CLOSE TO THE CEILING .

NHTSA ID
10743427
Incident
Jul 24, 2015
Mileage
39,530 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 10, 2015

AS I ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE VISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THE MECHANISM BROKE AND IT WOULD NEITHER STAY OR OR DOWN - BLOCKING VISIBILITY. I KNOW A COUPLE OF MY FRIENDS WHO OWN HIGHLANDERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIP I WENT TO SAID THAT TOYOTA WAS GOING TO DO SOME TYPE OF "EXTENDED WARRANTY" TO COVER THE COST. HOW DO I APPLY FOR THAT?

NHTSA ID
10733100
Incident
Apr 11, 2015
Mileage
69,125 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 16, 2015

THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR IS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THIS IS CREATING DIFFICULTY SEEING AND I HAVE HIT MY HEAD ON THE VISOR A FEW TIMES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA EXPECTING IT TO BE COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE COST WAS ROUGHLY $230 FOR THE PART AND AN ADDITIONAL $30 TO INSTALL. CLEARLY WITH THIS CREATING A VISIBILITY HAZARD AND THE SHEER NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THIS SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL. ...UPDATED08/20/15 *BF UPDATED 11/27/15*JS

NHTSA ID
10725477
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Mileage
55,603 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 29, 2015

THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILED AND FLIPPED DOWN, IT HAS SINCE REMAINED IN THE DOWN POSITION AND NO LONGER LOCKS IN PLACE. I AM TALLER THAN MY WIFE SO IT IS A PROBLEM FOR ME WHEN I DRIVE HER CAR. I JUST CHECKED THE FORUMS AND THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN ORDER REPLACEMENT SUN VISORS SINCE THEY SELLOUT VERY QUICKLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10713589
Incident
Feb 10, 2015
Mileage
63,454 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 3, 2015

FOR NO REASON AT ALL MY SUNVISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT STAY UP. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING TRYING TO DRIVE WITH IT HALF WAY DOWN AND OBSTRUCTS MY VISION. I HAVE NOT YET PUT IT IN THE SHOP YET SO DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO FIX IT, BUT IT HAS TO BE FIXED. IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY! *TR

NHTSA ID
10691756
Incident
Jan 5, 2015
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jan 20, 2015

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
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Jan 14, 2015

THE SUN VISOR POPPED WHEN I WAS PULLING IT DOWN TO SHEILD MY EYES AND NOW IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ORIGINAL POSITION. CONCERN AS IT GETS IN MY WAY WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR WHICH I TEND TO HIT MY HEAD ON AND HAVE TO MOVE MY SEAT LOWER IN ORDER TO SEE PROPERLY. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $300 TO FIX. THAT IS RIDICULOUS AS I FEEL THIS IS A FAULTY PART THAT COULD BE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF. RECAL MAY BE IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10672554
Incident
Oct 6, 2014
Mileage
70,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 17, 2014

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR SPRING BROKE PREVENTING THE VISOR FROM EITHER FOLDING BACK UP OR COMING DOWN COMPLETELY, CAUSING A VISIBILITY PROBLEM AND A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10667014
Incident
Dec 13, 2014
Mileage
20,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 28, 2014

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR SPRING IS BROKE SO THAT VISOR BLOCKS DRIVER'S VISION CAUSING POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. STAYS IN PARTIALLY DOWN POSITION. CONTACTED DEALER AND TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE. THERE WERE OVER 300 SUN VISORS ON BACK ORDER WITH NO DELIVERY PROMISE DATE AS PRODUCTION OF VISOR HAS BEEN HALTED. THERE ARE NO REPAIRS. INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT 17 OF THE 66 COMPLAINTS IN DATA BASE FOR HIGHLANDER ARE SUN VISOR ISSUES. TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE SAYS NO RECALLS, SERVICE BULLETINS. DEALER WANTS OVER $300 TO REPAIR, IF HE COULD GET A VISOR. THIS CLEARLY A GENERIC ISSUE WITH SAFETY IMPLICATIONS! *TR

NHTSA ID
10661202
Incident
Nov 3, 2014
Mileage
35,200 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 1, 2014

DRIVER-SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND FAILED TO STAY IN UP POSITION, BLOCKING DRIVER'S VIEW OF ROAD AND CREATING A DISTRACTION. CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS ON 16 AUGUST BUT SERVICE PERSONNEL INDICATED THAT THEY HAD NO VISORS IN STOCK. ORDERED ONE THAT DAY BUT COULD NOT GET THE PART UNTIL MID SEPT. PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE PART BECAUSE THIS WAS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM AND SUPPLIER COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH DEMAND. *TR

NHTSA ID
10640662
Incident
Aug 10, 2014
Mileage
63,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 26, 2014

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY DROPS BLOCKING VIEW ALMOST HITTING A DEER ON THE ROAD. SUN VISOR (NOT USE OFTEN) IS NOW LOOSE AND WILL NOT GO BACK IN PLACE. SUN VISOR NOW BLOCKS VIEW WHICH DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE PROBABILITY OF AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD BE FATAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10639482
Incident
Sep 28, 2013
Mileage
32,800 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 30, 2014

2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR NO LONGER STAYS IN PLACE. *SMD

NHTSA ID
10606298
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jun 24, 2014

THE REAR HATCH DOOR SENSOR GOES OFF WHEN THE CAR MAKES A TURN OR IS DRIVEN OVER BUMP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE DOOR SENSOR SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF MORE THAN $700. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR DOES NOT STAY UP. COST TO REPLACE, $300. *TR

NHTSA ID
10605602
Incident
Mar 31, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jun 7, 2014

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
Visibility
Filed Apr 19, 2014

THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP FLOPS AROUND BLOCKING FULL VISION . THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HIGHLANDERS AND SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE ON A PART WITH LIMITED USE AND A VEHICLE THIS NEW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10583680
Incident
Nov 4, 2013
Mileage
45,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 22, 2014

DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. BLOCKS DRIVERS VISION. APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD FAILURE SINCE 2002. TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER OUT OF WARRANT, WANTS $650 FOR REPLACEMENT PART!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10565431
Incident
Dec 25, 2013
Mileage
52,211 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 21, 2014

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NO LONGER GO UP ALL THE WAY. IT IS STUCK PARTIALLY UP AND HAS RESISTANCE. IT IS NOW ONLY DOWN AND BLOCKING MY VIEW OF DRIVING. THIS IS SAFETY ISSUES AND A RECALL ORDERED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10560801
Incident
Jan 15, 2014
Visibility
Filed Jan 21, 2014

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NO LONGER GO UP ALL THE WAY. IT IS STUCK PARTIALLY UP AND HAS RESISTANCE. IT IS NOW ONLY DOWN AND BLOCKING MY VIEW OF DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEED TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10560778
Incident
Jan 16, 2014

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .