2017 Toyota Highlander Visibility Problems

Driver side interior visor has failed and does not secure in place causing obstruction of view while driving.

NHTSA ID

11656682

Incident

Apr 4, 2025

Side mirror (glass) shakes/rattles at speeds over 45mph. This affects the visibility of things in the mirror as well as becomes distracting to the driver. When on the interstate with smooth pavement it's impossible to ignore... It's just more noticeable then. Tried moving the mirror to verify and yes, it's loose. Just reporting it now that I became aware of this website but car has had this issue for at least 2 years.

NHTSA ID

11627860

Incident

Nov 28, 2024

There is a splotchy glare that appears on my windshield that makes it EXTREMELY difficult to see out the windshield in the rain. It is not fog, I have cleaned the inside and outside of the windshield, changed the wiper blades, tried the heated windshield feature, defrost, and seriously done everything and it does not go away unless direct sunlight is on it. Forget driving in the rain at night, I was unable to see the lines in the road and it's worse when headlights are facing your direction. I ran off the road and had to park my car until the rain passed. This is absolutely dangerous. The guys at the dealership were stumped as well. It happened to be raining as I was leaving after service and I showed him and he had no idea. It is across my entire windshield. Sometimes it depends on how light is shining on it. This needs to be a recall before someone is seriously hurt.

NHTSA ID

11482315

Incident

Aug 29, 2022

While driving in the rain, the visibility through my windshield is reduced significantly which has caused me to have to pull over due to not being able to see other cars or lines on the roadway and gets worse if lights are shining toward me while it's raining. It almost looks like a waxy coating over the entire windshield. I took it to the dealer and they didn't know what it could be. Windshield is clean, wipers have been changed, and nothing has been applied to the car. Even passengers in the 2nd row pointed out how difficult it was to see out. This happens in all types of rain heavy or light and is not visible in dry conditions. I thought I was the only one with this problem until I was reading through the other 149 reports for a different issue and realized others are having the same issue. I hope that with multiple reports we can get the issue resolved. I am afraid to drive in the rain and do not wish to risk my safety. This isn't normal.

NHTSA ID

11478117

Incident

May 31, 2022

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that upon purchase of the vehicle, she discovered a vertical crack on the bottom driver’s side of the windshield. The contact stated that the crack obstructed her vision while driving. The vehicle was returned to the dealer and the windshield was replaced. A year later while driving 60 MPH, a small pebble struck the windshield which cause another vertical crack on the bottom driver side of the windshield. Upon further investigation, the contact discovered two additional cracks in the same area as the original crack. The dealer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000

NHTSA ID

11438515

Incident

Nov 23, 2020

Mileage

48,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND HEAR A LOUD EXPLODING SOUND FROM MY VEHICLE. I THOUGHT SOMETHING EXTREMELY HEAVY WAS THROWN OR FELL ON MY CAR. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME, I FOUND A GAPING HOLE ON MY SUNROOF. THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED BUT THE OBJECT THAT "HIT" IT WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. AFTER CLOSELY EXAMINING IT, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THAT AN OBJECT HIT IT BASED OFF THE ANGLE THE SUNROOF METAL. THE METAL LOOKS LIKE THE EXPLOSION CAME FROM INWARD NOT OUTWARD.

NHTSA ID

11291182

Incident

Dec 24, 2019

Mileage

24,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AT NIGHT, A CRACKING NOISE WAS HEARD ON THE ROOF FOLLOWED BY A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS SHATTERED, BUT DID NOT COLLAPSE UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF PHARR (956-815-2285, LOCATED AT 1625 W EXPY 83, PHARR, TX 78577) WHERE THE DEALER INSISTED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FALLING OBJECT. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,800. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

11164551

Incident

Dec 27, 2018

Mileage

24,800 mi

BOUGHT THIS 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER NEW FROM DEALER IN DENVER. 400 MILES ON VEHICLE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED SEVERELY IN THE FIRST 1000 MILES FROM MINOR STONES HITTING THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT- OEM WITH CAMERA, HEAT, RADAR SENSORS FOR $1800. NOW, THAT SECOND WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED AGAIN, REQUIRING A 3RD WINDSHIELD INSTALLED AT 27,000 MILES. TOYOTA SLANTED THE ANGLE OF THE FRONT HOOD ON THIS VEHICLE TO REDUCE DRAG AND IMPROVE GAS MILEAGE. AS A RESULT, MINOR STONES ON THE ROAD ARE THROWN VIOLENTLY INTO THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD LEADING TO CRACKS WHICH START FROM THE BASE OF THE GLASS AND QUICKLY CRAWL UP AND ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD REQUIRING REPLACEMENTS. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE HAD 3 BRAND NEW HIGHLANDERS IN DENVER OVER 12 YEARS- A 2009 HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED, A 2015 HIGHLANDER LIMITED AND THIS 2017 HIGHLANDER LIMITED- AND THIS IS THE FIRST VEHICLE WHERE THE WINDSHIELD BARELY LASTS A FEW THOUSAND MILES BEFORE CRACKING AND REQUIRING A NEW WINDSHIELD. THESE WINDSHIELDS ARE HEATED, WITH CAMERA AND RADAR SENSORS AND OEM ONLY SO REPLACING THESE IS NOT CHEAP- $1800 PER WINDSHIELD FROM TOYOTA. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. PROTECTION FOR THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD NEEDS TO BE ADDED. THE CRACKS ALWAYS HAPPEN IN THE SAME SPOT.

NHTSA ID

11143389

Incident

Oct 20, 2018

Mileage

27,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATING, A PATTERN, FOR A LACK OF A BETTER TERM, APPEARS AS PER THE INCLUDED PHOTO TAKEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT THAT TIME. THIS PATTERN OR MARKINGS WHEN VISIBLE RUN VERTICALLY IN THE FORM OF WAVY LINES FROM ONE END OF THE WINDSHIELD TO THE OTHER. THIS CONDITION IS NOT THE RESULT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, A DIRTY WINDSHIELD, INSIDE OR OUT, OR ANY SUBSTANCE OF ANY KIND INTENTIONALLY APPLIED OR NOT AND IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND APPEARS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN THE RAIN. WHEN FIRST NOTICED, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL HOURS IN HEAVY AND LIGHT RAIN AND A PERIOD OF TIME IN DAYLIGHT AND EVENING HOURS WITH THE WIPERS BEING OPERATED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THESE MARKINGS ARE A SUBSTANTIAL DISTRACTION ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENING WHERE ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS EXACERBATE THE CONDITION. THESE MARKINGS WHEN VISIBLE NEVER CHANGE OR STREAK AS THE WIPERS MOVE BACK AND FORTH AS IN THE CASE WHEN, FOR EXAMPLE, AN INSECT STRIKES THE WINDSHIELD. TO THIS END, AND JUST BY CHANCE ON THE DAY THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN, A STREAK IS VISIBLE AGAIN PROBABLY DUE TO AN INSECT HITTING THE WINDSHIELD OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF DEBRIS, HOWEVER, THE MARKINGS IN QUESTION CLEARLY STAND OUT FROM THE STREAK. IT IS NOTED IN THE CASE OF THE STREAK, AS WOULD BE EXPECTED, IT FOLLOWS THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER. THE MARKINGS WHEN APPLICABLE ARE VISIBLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STATIONARY AND CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN BY THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF ROADWAY. AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, THESE MARKINGS ARE NOT VISIBLE IN THE ABSENCE OF RAIN OR WATER BEING APPLIED MANUALLY FROM A GARDEN HOSE.

NHTSA ID

11112429

Incident

Oct 25, 2017

Mileage

1,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPLACE. I WAS IN CHICAGO ON 12/26-31/2017 AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 20 DEGREES. THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FROZE AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GROSSINGER TOYOTA, LINCOLNWOOD, IL ON 12/27 AND 12/29. THEY DID NOTHING ON 12/27 OTHER THAN PARK THE VEHICLE INSIDE WHERE THE PUMP THAWED AND WORKED. THE NEXT TWO DAYS IT FROZE AGAIN. ON 12/29 I DROVE TO WI AND PLACED MY FAMILY IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION WITH SALT ON THE WINDSHIELD AND NO WORKING WASHER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO GROSSINGER AND THEY CHANGED FLUID TO A COLDER TEMPERATURE AND USED AIR TO BLOW OUT THE LINES. THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS AGAIN BELOW 10 DEGREES WHEN I LEFT CHICAGO. THE WASHER AGAIN DID NOT WORK AND IT PLACED MY FAMILY IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION WITH SALT AND DIRT ON THE WINDSHIELD. IN HANNIBAL, MO I SAT IN A FAST FOOD DRIVE THRU FOR 15 MINUTES AND THE WASHER STARTED WORKING. SOON AS I WAS BACK ON THE ROAD IT AGAIN FROZE UP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TEXAS TOYOTA, GRAPEVINE, TX ON 1/4/2018 AND THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE PROBLEM COULD BE DUPLICATED. I REFUSED TO DRIVE BACK TO CHICAGO TO DUPLICATE THE FROZEN WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP. IT IS OBVIOUS THE CULTURE OF NOT CARING ABOUT SAFETY HAZARDS ON THEIR VEHICLES CONTINUES AT TOYOTA. I BELIEVE THE DIAPHRAGM INSIDE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP IS DEFECTIVE AND FREEZES WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 20 DEGREES. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP.

NHTSA ID

11061292

Incident

Dec 29, 2017

Mileage

6,500 mi

THE BULKY SIDE MIRROR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN BECAUSE OF A LARGE BLIND SPOT. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THAT VERY REASON. I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. I CHECKED FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES AND TURNED WHEN I SAW TRAFFIC WAS CLEAR. I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BECAUSE MY VISIBILITY WAS BLOCKED BY THE MIRROR AND THE ONCOMING VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN.

NHTSA ID

11054889

Incident

Dec 12, 2017

Mileage

2,000 mi

VEHICLE SUSTAINED A CRACK FROM TWO SMALL STONES HITTING THE WINDSHIELD WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. CRACK SPREAD SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT SITE. WEATHER DID NOT HAVE A FACTOR IN THIS AS IT WAS SUMMER. CRACK CONTINUED TO SPREAD EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE. CRACK SPREAD WITH VERY LITTLE PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE WINDSHIELD. BELIEVE THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO SUSTAIN A LIGHT IMPACT.

NHTSA ID

11019128

Incident

Aug 23, 2017

Mileage

6,000 mi

I AM EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF GLARE FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MAY OF 2017. I INITIALLY HAD TINT APPLIED TO THE WINDSHIELD FOR MEDICAL REASONS AND THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS CAUSING AN INTERACTION WITH THE GLASS ITSELF. AFTER HAVING THE TINT REMOVED, I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THIS EXCESSIVE GLARE.

NHTSA ID

11013576

Incident

May 12, 2017

Mileage

250 mi

INTERSTATE DRIVE- 70MPH. NO TRAFFIC WITHIN AT LEAST 0.5 MILE AHEAD. MULTIPLE VEHICLES BEHIND. NO OVERPASSES OR OVERHANGING SIGNS OR STRUCTURES. SUDDEN, EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY WIND NOISE. EXITED FIRST OPPORTUNITY. PANORAMIC SUNROOF SHATTERED WITH LARGE SECTION MISSING ABOVE PASSENGER SEAT. MINIMAL GLASS ABOVE SUNROOF SCREEN. NO FOREIGN OBJECTS UNDER GLASS ATOP THE SCREEN. AT THE TIME OF EXPLOSION CARS BEHIND SUDDENLY SLOWED AND SWERVED, PRESUMABLY FROM FLYING GLASS.

NHTSA ID

11004940

Incident

Jul 5, 2017

Mileage

5,889 mi

BOUGHT THIS 2017 HIGHLANDER BRAND-NEW FROM THE DEALER. IT HAD 67 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES, A STONE CHIPPED THE WINDSHIELD AND WITHIN DAYS THE WINDSHIELD WAS A SPIDER'S NEST OF SPREADING CRACKS ALL ACROSS UP AND DOWN THE WINDSHIELD. I BOUGHT A NEW 2015 HIGHLANDER FROM THE SAME DEALER AND HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AFTER JUST A FEW THOUSAND MILES. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SLANTED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE DOWN FOR BETTER AIRFLOW AND RESULTING MPG INCREASE AND IN SO DOING, ALL ROAD DEBRIS SUCH AS STONES, ARE PROPELLED UP RIGHT ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND THE STONES SMASH THE WINDSHIELD. WHAT ARE THE RANDOM ODDS THAT A BRAND-NEW, DEALER-BOUGHT 2015 AND 2017 HIGHLANDER WOULD BOTH GET A STONE CHIP THAT DESTROYS THE WINDSHIELD WITHIN THE FIRST FEW THOUSAND MILES OF DRIVING? THESE WINDSHIELD AREN'T CHEAP TO REPLACE- ABOUT $1400.

NHTSA ID

10994221

Incident

May 28, 2017

Mileage

6,200 mi