2017 Toyota Highlander Body & structure Problems

The paint on the hood is flaking off. There is no reason other than the paint being defective for this to happen in this manner. We just noticed it today. 11/14/25

NHTSA ID

11699455

Incident

Nov 14, 2025

This 2017 Highlander Blizzard Pearl White paint is defective on the drivers side door. Paint started to bubble in 2021 then peeled off with rust stains underneath due to water damage. It appears that there is no sealant on the door for the paint to adhere so it continues to peel and rust. A defective paint job on this vehicle when manufactured. Please have Toyota take responsibility for their irresponsible paint job on this door. The vehicle has never been in an accident or hit with anything on the drivers side of the door. They need to correct their incomplete and incompetent painting. There seems to be no sealant underneath for the paint to adhere to. Please address this error.

NHTSA ID

11559801

Incident

Dec 12, 2021

Paint delaminating, corrosion risk, could lead to failure of hinges if progressed.

NHTSA ID

11427535

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 60 MPH, MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME. NOTHING HIT ME. JUST A LOAD EXPLOSION. I PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT WAS BULGING UPWARD, WITH A BIG HOLE IN IT.

NHTSA ID

11399445

Incident

Mar 5, 2021

Mileage

35,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH I HAD MY WINDOW WIPERS ON DUE TO SOME POLLEN ON MY WINDSHIELD. WHILE WINDOW WIPERS WERE ENGAGED I APPROACH A DOWNWARD HILL AND HIT NOTING BUT SUN GLARE BLINDING ME I PUT MY BRAKES ON BUT BY THAT TIME MY SUV SLAMMED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE

NHTSA ID

11318183

Incident

Mar 12, 2020

Mileage

58,000 mi

IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, THE REAR LIGHT COVERS STICK OUT ABOUT 3 INCHES, THE EDGES ARE AS SHARP AS A KEEN KNIFE (PHOTOS ATTACHED). WHEN I UNLOAD STUFF FROM THE TRUNK, IT OFTEN HURTS ME. I HAVE TRIED TO BE VERY CAREFUL. I ALSO REMINDED MY TEENAGE SON WITH CAUTION. HOWEVER, IT STICKS OUT TOO MUCH AND IS TOO SHARP. IT IS HARD TO AVOID. IT KEEPS HURTING. FOR EXAMPLE, THREE MONTHS AGO, ON AN EVENING IT WAS DARK AND RAINING, AT A COSTCO PARKING LOT, WHEN I UPLOADED GROCERIES ONTO THE CAR, MY RIGHT ARM AND JOINT WERE SUDDENLY HIT BY THIS SHARP CUTTING EDGE OF THE REAR LIGHT COVER. THE KEEN EDGE CUT MY ARM, AND THE STICK OUT PART BADLY HURT MY JOINT (PHOTOS ATTACHED). I COULD NOT RAISE MY ARM. THREE MONTHS HAVE PASSED; HOWEVER, MY JOINT IS STILL PAINING. I WENT TO JIM COLEMAN DEALER AND POINTED OUT THE DANGER PART IN THE REAR. I HAD THEIR MANAGERS AND STAFF TO FEEL BY PUTTING THEIR HANDS ON THE KEEN EDGE. THEY ALL ADMITTED IT IS BAD DESIGN AND EASY TO INJURE PEOPLE. BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I ASKED IF THEY COULD REPORT INCIDENTS/CASES TO MANUFACTURERS, AND HAVE IT IMPROVED. THEY SAID THEY SELL CARS ONLY. I RANDOMLY TOOK PHOTOS OF OTHER MADE OF CARS (PHOTOS ATTACHED). NONE OF THEM STICK OUT A KNIFE LIKES HIGHLANDER. IT IS A NIGHTMARE WHEN USING THIS HIGHLANDER DAILY.

NHTSA ID

11246740

Incident

May 10, 2019

Mileage

20,380 mi

I STOPPED AT MY NEIGHBORS HOUSE TO GIVE HER SOMETHING,I LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN I WENT IN TO HER HOUSE AS SOON AS I WENT INTO HER HOUSE I HEARD A NOISE LOOKED OUT AND COULDN'T SEE THE CAR,I WENT OUT SIDE AND THE CAR HAD JUMPED IN TO GEAR AND WENT INTO HER GARAGE ( THE DOOR WAS OPEN) THE CAR HIT HER BIKE,GOLF CLUBS THERE WAS A 2X4 ON A CHAIR THE CAR HIT THE 2X4 AND THEN THE OTHER END OF THE 2X4 HIT HER WASHING MACHINE WITCH STOPPED THE CAR.THE DOOR WAS LOCKED SO I WENT HOME (3 HOUSES FROM HER HOUSE) TO GET THE OTHER SET OF KEYS THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T UNLOCK SO I USED THE THE KEY THAT IS IN THE REMOTE CONTROL TO UNLOCK IT AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF.I CAN'T BELIEVE THE CAR LOCKED BECAUSE THE KEYS WERE IN MY PURSE THAT WAS IN THE CAR.THE 2X4 WENT INTO THE ENGINE AND A TOW TRUCK HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE GARAGE.I CAN'T BELIEVE THE CAR JUMPED INTO GEAR AND MOVED ON ITS OWN. AT ONE TIME WHEN WE HAD AND OIL CHANGE MY HUSBAND TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT WHEN WE PUT THE CAR IN GEAR THE CAR WOULD MAKE A CLUNK NOISE AND HE SAID THEY ALL DO THAT. MAYBE THEY DO BUT I WOULDN'T THINK SO AFTER WHAT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11176510

Incident

Feb 9, 2018

Mileage

20,000 mi

VEHICLE DESIGN DOES NOT INCLUDE FRONT RECOVERY HOOK(S) NOR ANY SECURE LATCH POINT TO TOW THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE (?) SUGGESTED USING THE FLAT BED TIGHT DOWN HOOKS AT MID-VEHICLE, HOWEVER THIS APPROACH WOULD NOT BE SAFE NOR REASONABLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE (?) IS CURRENTLY UNABLE TO SAFELY ADDRESS THIS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11083137

Incident

Apr 3, 2017