2012 Toyota Highlander Visibility Problems

THE REAR WIPER QUITS WORKING. INITIALLY THE DEALERSHIP TOOK IT APART, CLEANED IT AND IT WORKED TEMPORARILY. BUT THEN THE WIPER QUIT WORKING AGAIN. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE MECHANISM AND/OR REAR WINDOW ALLOWING IN MOISTURE FOR THIS TO CONTINUE OCCURRING, REQUIRING THE NEED TO KEEP GOING IN AND CLEANING IT OR HAVING TO REPLACE IT AS SOME HAVE REPORTED WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE POINT I AM AT THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN.

NHTSA ID

11130384

Incident

Jan 16, 2017

Mileage

69,000 mi

REAR WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR WAS WARMED PRIOR TO DRIVING AND FONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WERE ON DEFROST PRIOR TO THE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODING.

NHTSA ID

11097916

Incident

May 25, 2018

Mileage

54,000 mi

2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY ELECTRIC WINDOW MOTOR WHICH RESULTED IN A VEHICLE FIRE. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID

10971376

Incident

Sep 12, 2016

THE EYEGLASSES HOLDER IN OUR 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS A MALFUNCTION OF DROPPING DOWN IN FRONT OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR DUE TO THE LOSS OF A SMALL RETAINING PIN. THE ISSUE CAUSES A DISRUPTIVE AND VERY ANNOYING SAFETY HAZARD. ATTEMPTS TO GET THE PROBLEM REPAIRED HAVE MET WITH NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES AS THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP MECHANICS AND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI HAVE CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION, NOT REPAIRABLE. WE HAVE TRIED TO TAPE UP THE EYEGLASSES HOLDER, BUT THE TAPE WILL NOT STICK DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE MATERIEL. THE SITUATION BECOMES EMBARRASSING WHEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE IN THE VEHICLE AND TRY TO ASSIST IN KEEPING THE HOLDER UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HOWEVER, WITHOUT FAVORABLE RESULTS AND CONTINUED NAGGING OR COMPLAINING. WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS INCIDENT INFORMATION WILL BE SUFFICIENT IN FINDING A POSITIVE SOLUTION. THE TIMELINE IS APPROXIMATE AND COULD HAVE BEEN LONGER THAN MARKED BECAUSE OF BEING IN PLAUSIBLE DENIAL.

NHTSA ID

10967665

Incident

Aug 19, 2016

THE SUN VISORS ARE BOTH BROKEN AND ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. THE DRIVERS VISOR HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE FOR TIME. THE PASSENGER VISOR JUST BROKE RECENTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND AM SURPRISED I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. I HAVE WORN OUT LOTS OF VEHICLES, BUT NEVER THE SUN VISORS. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AS THE SITUATION IS WORSENING. SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10966152

Incident

Sep 13, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS FAILED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DOOR LOCKS WERE REPLACED PER AN UNKNOWN NHTSA CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WINDOW FAILED TO ALIGN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ROLL IT UP OR DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V689000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,109.

NHTSA ID

10948988

Incident

Feb 22, 2016

Mileage

58,109 mi

2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WINDSHIELD ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED THE START OF PITTING IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT GAVE OFF A DARK LOOK. THE CONDITION BECAME WORSE, SO HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NOVEMBER 20, 2014. THE DEALER DID NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN THE CONSUMERS CONCERN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PITTING WAS THE RESULT OF DETERIORATION OF THE GLASS DUE TO EITHER INCLUSIONS OR CHEMICAL INTERACTION WITH NORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10682287

Incident

Nov 20, 2014

DRIVING VISIBILITY IS AFFECTED AS THE PART HANGS DOWN OBSCURING THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

10749682

Incident

Aug 4, 2014

Mileage

18,250 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10749412

Incident

Aug 15, 2015

Mileage

53,000 mi

THE SUN GLASS HOLDER DOES NOT STAY LATCHED. IT WILL FALL AND PARTIALLY OBSCURES THE REAR VIEW MIRROR

NHTSA ID

10747987

Incident

Jul 13, 2015

Mileage

25,000 mi

MY PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE INTERNALLY AND THE INTERNAL SPRING FORCED IT TO POINT STRAIGHT DOWN. IT BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM A SIDE STREET ON THE RIGHT . I HAVE FIDDLED WITH IT AND GOT IT TO STAY UP ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM THE ROOF , BUT IT KEEPS CREEPING BACK DOWN . I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT SUN VISOR FROM TOYOTA THROUGH MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY . THE ORDER WAS "BACK ORDERED" AND HAS YET TO BE SHIPPED FROM ( I PRESUME ) SOUTH EAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS . *TR

NHTSA ID

10715302

Incident

Jan 15, 2015

Mileage

58,000 mi

SUN VISOR, DRIVER'S SIDE: HANGS DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREE ANGLE TOWARD DRIVER IN THE STOWED POSITION AND BUMPS HEAD ON THE BOTTOM EDGE WHEN EXITING OR LEANING FORWARD. WHEN IN THE USED POSITION IT GOES AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD GIVING LITTLE BENEFIT AS IT IS TOO HIGH TO BLOCK SUN AT SUNSET OR SUNRISE. IT WILL NOT STAY IN A FULL DOWN POSITION. THE INTERNAL SPRING HOLDS THE SUN VISOR IN THESE 2 POSITIONS ONLY. IN AN ACCIDENT IT MAY POSE A CUTTING PROBLEM ON FOREHEAD IN THE RETRACTED/STOWED POSITION. THE SUN VISOR?S SPRING MECHANISM APPEARED TO ROTATE OUT OF POSITION UPON NORMAL USE. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS TO MANY POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. DEALER CONTACTED ABOUT ISSUE AND CLAIMED IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701692

Incident

Dec 8, 2014

Mileage

38,620 mi

2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATED THE SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10660665

Incident

Jun 1, 2014

THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NO LONGER STAYS UP, SO IT EITHER HAS TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE THUS BLOCKING THE SIDE VIEW, OR LEFT AS IS BLOCKS THE AHEAD VIEW, OR MUST BE HELD WITH ONE ARM WHILE DRIVING ONE-ARMED (NOT IDEAL DRIVING CONDITIONS). MY GARAGE IS ORDERING A NEW VISOR BUT WAS TOLD THESE VISORS ARE ON BACKORDER - THERE ARE 1000 ALREADY ON BACKORDER! SEEMS THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM HERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667698

Incident

Nov 17, 2014

THE OVERHEAD SUNGLASSES HOLDER SUDDENLY FOLDED DOWN AND WOULD NOT SLIDE BACK INTO PLACE. THERE WAS NO FORCE USED AND IT APPEARED TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THE HOLDER BLOCKS THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SAFELY OPERATE A VEHICLE. A QUICK INTERNET SHOWS THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641311

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

28,500 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR IS MALFUNCTIONING CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE WITH CLEARLY VIEWING THE ROADWAY. WITHOUT BEING MANIPULATED BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT, THE SUN VISOR--UNPROMPTED--HANGS DOWN PARTIALLY IN THE VISION OF THE VEHICLE DRIVER. ATTEMPTS TO PUSH THE VISOR BACK TO ITS CLOSED POSITION ARE UNSUCCESSFUL. KOONS TYSONS CORNER TOYOTA HAS BEEN INFORMED ON 08/25/2014. VEHICLE OWNER SEEKING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628163

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

51,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS LATCHED TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOLTS WERE LOOSE DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ID

10559305

Incident

Dec 29, 2013

Mileage

23,000 mi

I WAS ABOUT TO START THE CAR. MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SHE LOWERED THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR AND THEN TRIED TO PUT IT BACK UP. WE HEARD A CLICK, AND FOUND THAT THE SUN VISOR WILL NOT GO BACK INTO THE "UP" POSITION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT AFFECTS MY VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552494

Incident

Nov 3, 2013

Mileage

44,120 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND STEERING TO THE RIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN POWERING OFF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DEFROSTER FOR THE REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO REMAIN FOGGY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,300. UPDATED 1/29/13 *CN

NHTSA ID

10489150

Incident

Aug 3, 2012

Mileage

1,000 mi