2014 Toyota Highlander Problems

The radio keeps freezing up all the time along with the back tail light area going in and out. I keep smelling like burnt wire smell. Engine sound really rough.

I noticed the smell of wires burning, a billow of smoke started emitting from the two levers used to heat the seats near the gear shift area. I was on the freeway and immediately pulled to the side of the road, turned off the car and called 911 before any flames were seen. There were no warning signs, lamps or other symptoms until the smell of burning wires and the smoke.

The driver’s-side rear spoiler on my 2014 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD has melted, bubbled, and warped. The vehicle has been stored 100% of the time in a fully enclosed garage with no windows since new. It has only 65,000 miles and has received all service exclusively at authorized Toyota dealerships. There has been no direct sun exposure, accident, or misuse. Toyota dealer and Corporate attributed this to “solar convergence” and denied any repair assistance or goodwill coverage. This explanation does not match the facts given the garage setup and minimal outdoor time. This appears to be a materials/design defect in the black plastic spoiler. Similar melting/warping issues are reported by other owners on Highlanders and RAV4s, even on low-mileage garaged vehicles. Dealer replacement quotes are typically $2,700+. I request NHTSA investigate this recurring plastic failure as a potential defect in materials and workmanship. Attachments (upload with form): • Photos of the melted spoiler (multiple angles) I am available for any additional information. 05 May 2026

Was driving 70 mph on nj 287 when all sudden I hear something that sounded like implosion and air was coming from sunroof. Ended up being sun roof glass flew out of car sunroof frame. Toyota knew it was a defect as they did inspection but did not want to cover it because they said it’s out of warranty. Thankfully no one was driving behind me at that time

The radio keeps freezing up all the time along with the back tail light area going in and out. I keep smelling like burnt wire smell. Engine sound really rough.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that a hybrid system warning alert was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the windshield wiring system had failed and that the windshield needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The mechanic informed the contact that the windshield failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 18E107000 (Electrical System, Visibility). The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The windshield manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.

SHARDS OF METAL INSIDE TRANSMISSION PAN AT 74K MILES. WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT MPH, THE VEHICLES FEELS LIKE IT'S SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL. *TR

WITHIN THE PAST MONTH OR SO THERE WERE A FEW SEPARATE/SPORADIC OCCASIONS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION OF MY 2014 HIGHLANDER WITH 82,344 GENTLE MILES ON IT SEEMED TO SLIP/NOT ENGAGE FOR A MOMENT WHEN FIRST STARTING TO TRAVEL AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DID ENGAGE DURING THESE EPISODES IT WAS ABRUPT AND NOTICEABLE CREATING AN AUDIBLE NOISE AND JERKED THE VEHICLE. THIS PAST WEEKEND THE SAME THING HAPPENED EXCEPT THAT THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE MESSAGES "TRAC OFF" AND "CHECK AWD SYSTEM" WERE DISPLAYED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THAT HAS PERFORMED ALL THE SERVICE AND AFTER THEY INSPECTED IT AND RAN THE CODES I WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH IT'S, AND I QUOTE, "EXTREMELY RARE FOR A TOYOTA WITH SUCH LOW MILES TO NEED IT, THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED." THIS FRUSTRATING NOT ONLY BECAUSE ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PERFORMED, AND THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF, BUT I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT A VIBRATION AND RATTLING NOISE WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM OR WHAT WAS MAKING THIS OCCUR WHEN IT WAS OBVIOUS IT WAS ORIGINATING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER/PASSENGER AREA AT THE FRONT OF THE TRANSMISSION.

MY COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE SAFETY OF THE WELLBEING OF MYSELF AND PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE. THE REAR AUTOMATUC DOOR LOCK ON MY PASSENGER SIDE OF MY HIGHLANDER WENT OUT FIRST. THEN THE DRIVER DOOR AT ANY GIVEN TIME MAY OR MAY NOT OPEN. NOT EVEN WITH THE KEY. I HAVE TO GO TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CLIMB OVER AND UNLOCK THE DOOR AND GO BACK AROUND TO GET IN. MY CONCERN IS BEING IN A WRECK AND THE DOOR NOT OPENING. NOT BEING ABLE TO GET A CHILD OUT OF THE CARSEAT IN THE BACK BECAUSE THE DOOR WON'T OPEN. YES. IT MAY BE THE ACTUATORS AND I HAVE READ THE EXPENSIVE REVIEWS OF GETTING THOSE FIXED ONLY TO FIND IT HAPPENS AGAIN OVER AND OVER. MY OTHER COMPLAINT IS THE BLUETOOTH PHONE SYSTEM WILL FREEZE UP AND YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR TO UNFREEZE IT. THE SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN CONTINUOUSLY. I HAVE READ REVIEWS ON THIS ALSO AND TOYOTA IS AWARE OF BOTH OF THESE COMPLAINTS BUT HAVE HAD NO RECALLS TO DATE. PLEASE HELP!

ON CITY STREET DRIVING ABOUT 37 MPH. ADAPTIVE SPEED CONTROL ENGAGED. I APPROACH A CAR GOING THE SAME DIRECTION SLIGHTLY SLOWER, ABOUT 35 MPH. THAT SLOWER CAR IS FOLLOWING ANOTHER CAR ABOUT 2 CAR LENGTHS IN FRONT. MY CAR GENTLY BREAKS TO BRING MY SPEED BACK TO 35 MPH. MY 35 MPH IS BEING MAINTAINED AT A FIXED DISTANCE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME CHANGES LANE OPENING UP A GAP OF ABOUT 3-4 CAR LENGTHS TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR NOW SPEEDS UP AGGRESSIVELY BECAUSE THERE IS NO CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. INSTEAD OF BREAKING WHEN MY CAR GETS CLOSER TO THE REAR END OF THE CAR NOW THAT I AM APPROACHING, MY CAR CONTINUES AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION TOWARD THE REAR OF THAT CAR. MY CAR WOULD SURELY SMASH INTO THE REAR OF THAT CAR IF I DON'T BRAKE SIGNIFICANTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGH THE YEARS ALTHOUGH NOT FREQUENTLY GIVEN THE CONDITIONS NEEDED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAULT. I BELIEVE IT IS REPEATABLE AND SUGGESTIVE OF A SOFTWARE ISSUE. ALL THE HARDWARE ELEMENTS SEEM TO BE WORKING JUST FINE.

PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, WHEN I GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TODAY. DINGING SOUND COMING FROM SOMEWHERE WHEN WE DROVE IT LAST NIGHT.

I WAS T BONED ON PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS PUSHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN HEAD ON COLLISION. SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN- I INITIALLY HIT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, WHEN T-BONED, THEN WITH FRONT IMPACT HIT STEERING WHEEL, ROOF AND CENTER CONSOLE. *TT *TR

Installed (4) Firestone Destination Le3 tires in March 2022. All four tires became dry rot in just over 2 years, failed inspection at 2 1/2 years. 70,000 mile tires with roughly 28,000 miles left of the warranty.

The tires have worn down to needing replacing after only 27,308 miles on them, these tires are rating and warrantied for 60,000 miles. Reviews online show other owners complaining about the same issue with premature wear and safety issues. When it rains, the vehicle will slip when attempting to drive, slide when stopping, and hydroplaning at less than normal road speeds.

Steering column locked on several occasions while driving. Electrical systems blink on and off. Exactly as described in NHTSA recall #15V144000 and as far I can tell the exact same part number.

MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2014 HAS A HUGE SECURITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. ITS STEERING WHEEL JAMMED AND IT BECOME COMPLETELY DISABLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE WONT START AGAIN. IT HAS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES IN THE DASHBOARD. 1- 'EPS FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL IS HARDER TO TURN'. 2- 'THE ENGINE HAS STOPPED. PLEASE PUT THE SHIFT LEVER TO P'. 3- 'TRAC OFF' 4- 'BRAKE OVERRIDE SYSTEM FAILURE'. MY CAR HAD SAME ISSUE BACK AUG 2017 BUT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT THEY DIDN'T SEE SUCH ISSUE AND THE CAR STARTED NORMAL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF DIAGNOSTICS THEY PERFORMED BECAUSE I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WHICH HAS SIMILAR SYMPTOM AS THE RECALL ISSUE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 15V14000) FOR TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2015 MODELS. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SECURITY FAULT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS IDOL WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL JAMMED. ON BOTH OCCASION THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

GPS/RADIO OFTEN TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. SCREEN COMPLETELY GOES BLANK AND KEEPS TRYING TO RESET ITSELF. VOICE COMMANDS OFTEN DON'T WORK WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY. BLUE TOOTH OFTEN DOESN'T CONNECT WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY. TAILGATE OFTEN DOESN'T CLOSE AND TAKES MULTIPLE TRIES TO GET TO WORKING AGAIN WHEN STATIONARY. SPONGY/BROKEN SPRING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR AS I DROVE OVER UNEVEN ROAD. REAR LEFT TAIL LIGHT ALWAYS FOGGY AND CONTAINS MOISTURE EVEN AFTER REPLACING IT. CHIRPING SOUND COMING FROM RIGHT SIDE OF CAR WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON WINDY DAYS. WHEEL AND CAR SHAKING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT SPEED OVER 60 MPH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE MAKING TURNS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DAMAGED REAR SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. *TT

While driving car started singing and message came on dashboard about idling will cause the engine to turn off then the car turned off while I was driving it has happened multiple other times even after taking it to the dealership twice and then doing an update on it

NEAR THE END OF A 180 MILE TRIP, VEHICLE WAS ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN LIGHT CAME ON SAYING ENGINE HAD STOPPED. ENGINE WAS SMOKING AND WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL DESPITE IT BEING FULL AT THE START OF THE TRIP. MECHANIC FOUND THAT ENGINE HAD SEIZED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FULL. UPPER MANIFOLD ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO PRESENCE OF METAL SHAVINGS. TRANSMISSION WAS LATER FOUND TO BE LEAKING OIL AND AT THIS TIME APPEARS UNFIXABLE. CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES AND THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF ANY ISSUES - CAR RAN SMOOTHLY UNTIL THE ENGINE SEIZED.

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE RIGHT ONLY LANE AND SEE THE RED LIGHT ON THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL. IT IS NOT A BUSY STREET. AND THERE IS A CAR IN FRONT OF MINE. I APPLIED BRAKES AND THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CAR DID NOT STOP AND TRIED BY PUSHING THE BRAKES IN FULL THROTTLE. IT DID NOT WORK AND MY CAR BUMPED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TOWED MY CAR AND HAD MY CAR INSPECTED AT DEALERSHIP. THE REPORT WAS GREEN AND SO NO ISSUES. AND FILED A CASE WITH TOYOTA TO HAVE THE BLACK BOX REVIEWED. TOYOTA REPORTED NO ISSUES. AT THIS TIME I AM HELPLESS AND HAVE A SERIOUS CONCERN OF RUNNING INTO THE SAME ISSUE PUTTING MY AND OTHERS LIFE AT RISK.

POPPING NOISE FROM REAR BREAK FREQUENTLY WHEN I DISENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LEVER. WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND NOT BEEN USED FOR 3 HOURS ON; TOOK TO DEALERSHIP STATING COULD FIND PROBLEM, BUT DEALER SAYS IT DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING ABNORMAL. DEALER'S MECHANIC SUGGESTED RELEASING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE RELEASING PRESSURE FROM BRAKE PEDAL AS A RECOMMENDATION. I TOLD THEM THIS IS NOT THE ORDER OF STEPS RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURER (TOYOTA) IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THEY CONTESTED MY STATEMENT TELLING THTA THEIR MECHANICS ARE SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL PERSONNEL WHICH THEY TRUST.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the tailgate failed to open and close properly or as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

WE PURCHASED A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED ON AUG 9, 2014. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 150 MILES THE PERSON IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EXPERIENCES SEVERE BACK AND DISCOMFORT IN THE AREA OF THE TAILBONE. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY HARD TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE SEAT. I COMPLAINED TO THE SELLING DEALER AND THEY RECOMMENDED COMING BACK WHEN THE ZONE REP WAS IN AREA. I RETURNED A WEEK LATER AND MET WITH THE ZONE REP. SHE HAD ME SIT IN ANOTHER HIGHLANDER LIMITED AND ASKED IF IT FELT DIFFERENT, IT DID FEEL THE SAME. HER REPLY WAS "DIDN'T YOU SIT IN THE CAR BEFORE YOU BOUGHT IT?" I TOLD HER MY WIFE SAT IN THE BACK SEAT AND I DROVE, SALESMAN SAT IN RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTOMOTIVE UPHOLSTERY SHOP WHERE THE REMOVED THE LEATHER SEAT COVER AND DISCOVERED THE METAL SEAT HEATER MODULE AND WIRING DIRECTLY UNDER THE LEATHER AND ON TOP OF THE FOAM. THE SHOP CUT ABOUT 1/2 INCH INTO THE FOAM AND BURIED THE MODULE AND PLACED THE CUT OUT FOAM ON TOP OF IT. THEY ALSO DID THE SAME FOR THE SEAT BACK. I REQUESTED DEALER TO REIMBURSE ME THE $200.00 IT COST TO HAVE THE ABOVE MENTIONED WORK DONE; THEIR RESPONSE WAS THEY WOULD REQUEST TOYOTA TO COVER THE COST. A WEEK LATER I LEARNED THAT TOYOTA REFUSED TO PAY FOR A MODIFICATION THEY DID NOT APPROVE AND THEY FELT THE PLACEMENT OF THE MODULE WAS NOT A DEFECT. I THEN ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO REIMBURSE ME AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID TOYOTA WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE EXPENSE. I TOLD HIM I WORKED FOR A GM DEALERSHIP AND SAW MANY MODIFICATIONS THAT WERE APPROVED BY GM. HIS RESPONSE WAS "CHEVROLET HAS TO ACCOMMODATE CUSTOMERS IN ORDER TO SELL CARS AND TOYOTA DOESN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY SELL CARS AS FAST AS THEY ARE MADE. AND, WHEN TOYOTA SELLS TWO MILLION CARS AND ONLY A FEW HUNDRED CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN ABOUT AN ISSUE SUCH AS MINE TOYOTA ISN'T CONCERNED ENOUGH TO MAKE OR REIMBURSE A MODIFICATION;" UPON LEARNING THIS IS THE ATTITUDE OF TOYOTA, I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A TOYOTA AGAIN. *TR

The radio keeps freezing up all the time along with the back tail light area going in and out. I keep smelling like burnt wire smell. Engine sound really rough.

2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WHEELS LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE TRANSMISSION STOPS, PULLS, THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS STATING 'CHECK ALL WHEEL DRIVE TRACK OFF'. THE SOLENOID FAILED. *JS

Rear lights located both on the tailgate and body of the vehicle. The lights covers failed to remain adhered to the lights themselves and fell off and are partially adhered as a result of what appears to be a failure of the adhesion material . Two light covers may have been lost while driving. Unknown if their loss resulted in damage(s) to others. Without the outer cover results in the exposure of the lights to weather and potential failure. Review with Toyota of Orange service manager confirm the failure of adhesive/ manufacturing process of the lights

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE MELTING THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. BOTH SIDES ARE MELTING FROM THE HEAT OF THE LOW BEAM LIGHT BULBS. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED AT 37,000 MILES, AT 3 YEARS OLD. FACTORY INSTALLED PARTS, NO MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS ARE ONLY OPERATING AT NIGHT, ABOUT 25% OF THE DRIVING TIME ON THE VEHICLE, SO THE MELTING OCCURRED WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES OF DRIVING TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN IT WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA, BUT THIS MELTING HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE DAY ONE. THIS DEFECT WILL AFFECT THE SAFETY OF NIGHTTIME DRIVING IN THE VEHICLE. WORKED FOR MONTHS WITH DEALERSHIP, UNSATISFACTORY RESOLUTION.

I WAS T BONED ON PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS PUSHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN HEAD ON COLLISION. SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN- I INITIALLY HIT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, WHEN T-BONED, THEN WITH FRONT IMPACT HIT STEERING WHEEL, ROOF AND CENTER CONSOLE. *TT *TR

TO AVOID TWO DEER CROSSING ROAD (BULL BRIDGE ROAD, SOUTH KENT, CT) ON CURVE, LOST CONTROL ON RIGHT SHOULDER, HIT STRAIGHT ON THE UTILITY WOOD POLE. MY SPEED WAS IN BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH. DURING THE ACCIDENT, ALL AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK ME UP. THE IMPACT CAUSED MY CHEST, BACK, NECK AND HEAD INJURIES.