RoadVitals

2013 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.
8
Latest Feb 7, 2022
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.
4%
of 205 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 2013 Toyota Highlander submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Feb 7, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, there was an abnormal boom and wind detected on top of the vehicle. Upon opening the sunroof, the contact noticed that the sunroof had shattered. The sunroof was bubbling upwards. There were no reported injuries. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11450769
Incident
Feb 5, 2022
Visibility
Filed Jan 25, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while his wife was driving 60 MPH, she heard an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. The driver veered to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle but found no issue with the vehicle. She re-entered the vehicle and opened the sunroof and shards of broken glass fell inside the vehicle from the sunroof. The driver stated that no object had struck the sunroof glass to cause the sunroof glass to shatter. The vehicle was restarted and driven to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000.

NHTSA ID
11448883
Incident
Jan 25, 2022
Mileage
186,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalVisibility
Filed Apr 13, 2015

WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE SOAKING CARPET AND ELECTRONICS. CAN BE A DAMAGED WINDSHIELD. WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY ON ROADS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10705503
Incident
Apr 8, 2015
Mileage
26,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 19, 2014

RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 03/15/14. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY, I SUBSEQUENTLY NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IMPAIRS / BLURRED VISION OF THE DRIVER AS WELL AS ANY OTHER OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WHILE LOOKING OUT OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. IT ACTUALLY MAKES YOU DIZZY AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD TO ALL ON THE ROAD. SEARCHED FOR RECALL/DEFECTS WITH TOYOTA AND DID FIND ANOTHER COMPLAINT OF THE SAME INCIDENT/VEHICLE/PART/SYMPTOMS WITH A VEHICLE OWNER. HIS COMPLAINT WAS CONFIRMED BY A TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER AND WAS SET UP FOR A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE OWNER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND TOLD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS THE WINDSHIELD THAT ALL TOYOTA HIGHLANDER'S ARE ASSEMBLED WITH. PERSONAL OPINION: DEFECT MAY BE DUE TO THE INTEGRATION OF THE "FRONT WINDSHIELD HEATER SYSTEM." *TR

NHTSA ID
10573413
Incident
Mar 16, 2014
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Jan 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE SECOND ROW SEATS MOVED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID WOULD NOT DISPENSE WHEN SHE APPLIED THE SWITCH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FLUID HAD FROZEN. THE CONTACT ADDED DE-ICER TO THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO WORK BRIEFLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

NHTSA ID
10561749
Incident
Apr 10, 2013
Mileage
100 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Oct 18, 2013

I PURCHASED THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN DECEMBER OF 2012. IMMEDIATELY WE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THEY ARE FOCUSED DOWN TOWARD THE ROAD AND HAVE A LINE OF "SHADE" ABOVE. THE HIGHLANDER LIGHTS ARE SO DIM, WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE WORKING. WE ARE "OVERDRIVING" OUR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT AND WE CANNOT SEE ANY ROAD SIGNS BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE FOCUSED TO FAR DOWN THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE SIGNS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, IN HILLY AREAS, THEY ONLY ILLUMINATE THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL (AND THE SHADED PART IS ABOVE) SO YOU CANNOT SEE WHERE YOU ARE HEADED.THE TOPS OF THE HILLS ARE COMPLETELY BLOCKED BY THE "SHADED" PART. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! ALSO, THEY DO NOT GET WARM, SO THE SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATES ON THESE LIGHTS AND OBSCURES VISIBILITY EVEN FURTHER! I HAVE OWNED MANY MANY CARS, INCLUDING SEVERAL TOYOTA'S AND HAVE NEVER HAD A HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS CAR AS I CANNOT DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10548358
Incident
Dec 4, 2012
Visibility
Filed Aug 2, 2013

I TOOK DELIVERY OF A BRAND NEW TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED, WITH A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS A DISTORTION IN THE GLASS WHICH CAUSED GREAT EYE STRAIN TO THE DRIVER. TOYOTA CORPORATE CLAIMED NOT TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS HIS 3RD ON A HIGHLANDER. IT CREATED AN EFFECT SIMILAR TO WEARING THE WRONG PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10533233
Incident
Jul 29, 2013
Mileage
57 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 12, 2013

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY SON OPENED THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW, WHEN HE OPENED THE WINDOW THE NOISE AND PRESSURE ON OUR EARS WAS UNBEARABLE, IT WAS LIKE AN EXTREMELY LOUD HELICOPTER NOISE. WE EVEN TRIED OPENING OTHER WINDOWS IN THE CAR TO REDUCE THE PRESSURE AND NOISE, WHILE THE NOISE AND PRESSURE WERE REDUCED IT WAS STILL VERY LOUD AND DISTRACTING. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND HE SAID ALL CARS DO THAT AND TO JUST OPEN ANOTHER WINDOW TO RELIEVE PRESSURE. WHEN I TOLD HIM WE TRIED THAT AND IT DID NOT WORK HE DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER ANSWERS. THE DEALER GAVE ME A PHONE NUMBER TO TOYOTA SERVICE, I CALLED THEM AND THE REP SAID SHE HAD CHECKED AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT. AFTER CHECKING ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE, THE NOISE IS SO LOUD IT ACTUALLY HURTS YOUR EARS DRUMS. IF WE WERE TOLD ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHEN WE WERE PURCHASING THE CAR I DOUBT THAT WE WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT. THE NOISE AND PRESSURE START AT APPROX. 35 MPH AND GETS WORSE THE FASTER YOU GO AND ONLY WHEN 1 OR BOTH OF THE REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN. TOYOTA GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO DEALER SO THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE ISSUE BUT THE DEALER WAS/IS ALREADY AWARE OF THE ISSUE. WE FEEL THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE AND OFFER A REPAIR OPTION, OTHER THAN NOT USING THE BACK WINDOWS AS THAT IS OUR ONLY OPTION AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10519569
Incident
May 31, 2013
Mileage
800 mi

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 .