2001 Toyota Highlander complaints

UNEXPECTED TIRE FAILURE OF A BRIDGESTONE H/T P225/70R16.*JB

THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. REGAINING CONTROL, THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HE/SHE PULLED OVER, THEY SAW TWO HOLES, ONE WITH A 3" AND THE OTHER 1" IN SIZE (THE SIDEWALL). THE TWO RIGHT SIDE LIGHT METAL WHEELS WERE DAMAGED AS WELL. SCC

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH OR HIGHER, AND THE REAR WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN ABOUT 3-4 INCHES, ITS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE IT MAKES A LOUD AIR NOISE. IT FEELS LIKE YOUR EARS ARE GOING TO BLOW UP. THE CONSUMER HAS THREE KIDS AND IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *NLM *SCC

WHILE DRIVING ON COBBLESTONE ROAD ALL YOU HEAR IS METAL CLATTERING BENEATH THE BODY BUT ONCE YOU TAP THE BRAKES IT BECOMES SILENT. AND I HAVE WENT TO THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT HAVEN'T THREE TIMES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SOME ROAD DEBRIS PUNCTURED THE DRIVERS GAS TANK RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE, THE PLASTIC SHIELD AROUND THE TANK WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TANK, THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT PLASTIC IS NOT A SUFFICIENT MATERIAL TO USE FOR A TANK SHIELD AND IS REQUESTING THAT TOYOTA REPLACE THE SHIELD WITH A METAL ONE. NLM

FRONT TIRES CAUSE CAR TO VIBRATE ABOVE 60 MPH; SOMETIMES ENOUGH TO CAUSE ME TO DECCELERATE; VIBRATION PROBLEM STARTED LAST YEAR; TIRES CONTINUALLY GO OUT OF BALANCE; FIRESTONE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM; GOODYEAR DEALER SAID THE TIRES WOBBLE ON THEIR BALANCING MACHINE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED; FIRESTONE SAYS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME AND SAY THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK

BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 01V-228 RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT THE DEALER DENIED ANY BRAKE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, A FEW WEEKS LATER THE DEALER CALLED THE CONSUMER TO BRIN THE VEHICLE BACK TO REPAIR THE BRAKES. NLM

BRAKES FEEL SPONGY WHENEVER THEY ARE APPLIED, NO EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE HAS BEEN NOTICED.*AK *YH

THE CENTER CUPHOLDERS ARE POORLY DESIGNED AND ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN YOU ARE REMOVING A DRINK FROM THE CUPHOLDER, IT HITS THE GEARSHIFT LEVER KNOCKING THE DRINK OUT OF YOUR HAND AND CAUSING IT AND ITS CONTENTS TO GO ALL OVER THE PLACE. ON OCCASION, IT KNOCKS THE GEARSHIFT LEVER OUT OF GEAR CAUSING A RAPID DEACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE.E

SEAT BELTS IN REAR OF VEHICLE LOCK WHEN INSTALLING A CAR SEAT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 20 MPH DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CONSUMER PRESSED AGAIN AND VEHICLE STOPPED. DRIVER TURNED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VHEICLE. THIS CAUSED AN AIR RELEASE NOISE AND FEEL BEFORE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. *JG *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER FOR RECALL 01V228000 REMEDY, VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, CONSUMER STATED REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

HARMONIC NOISE FROM BENEATH CAR AT 30 MPH WITH POWER APPLIED, SIMILAR NOISE, OF LESSENED MAGITUDE AT 60 MPH. DEALER REPLACED REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND THEN TRANSMISSION. NOISE REMAINS. DEALER SAYS LEXUS RX300, WITH SAME TRANSMISSION, HAS HAD SAME PROBLEM. UNKNOWN CAUSE AS YET. *AK

WHILE AT A STOP ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH, HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IN THE REAR. IMPACT FORCED CONSUMER INTO A DITCH. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES.*AK

01 V 228 000/BRAKE SYSTEM: RECALL REPAIRS WAS DONE AT(OURISMAN FAIRFAX TOYOTA; FAIRFAX, VA; PHONE# 703/359-1010). AFTER REPAIRS WAS MADE, PROBLEM WITH SOFT PEDAL AND APPLYED TO CLOSE TO THE FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING; DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS CONCERNING THIS MATTER.

THE RECALL WORK SUBJECT TO CAMPAIGN 01V228000 WAS NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS EXCESS PEDAL TRAVEL, AND THE PEDAL FEEL IS 'MUSHY,' LIKE THE BRAKES NEED TO BE BLED, AS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DURING THE RECALL WORK. THE INCREASED PEDAL STROKE LENGTHENS THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE RECALL WORK TOOK 20 MINUTES - TOYOTA SAYS IT SHOULD TAKE ABOUT 1 HOUR. BLEEDING THE BRAKES, ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SERVICE MANUAL, CONSISTS OF THREE PARTS - THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE ABS/VSC ACTUATOR, AND THE BRAKE LINES. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE ACTUATOR OR THE MASTER CYLINDER WERE BLED. THE DEALER HAS SINCE TRIED TO CONVINCE ME THAT THEY'RE ALL LIKE THAT, AND THIS IS NORMAL BRAKE OPERATION. THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTS TO THE EDMUNDS HIGHLANDER DISCUSSION GROUP ABOUT MUSHY HIGHLANDER BRAKES, WITH SOME SAYING THE RECALL WORK IMPROVED THEIR BRAKE FEEL, OTHERS SAYING IT DIDN'T. I FEAR THAT MANY OF THE RECALL CORRECTION ATTEMPTS HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL.*AK

THIS IS A GREAT VEHICLE; BUT TRYING TO READ OR SEE THE GAUGES OR INSTRUMENTS IN THE DASH CLUSTER IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. THESE INCLUDE THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, TEMPERATURE, GAS AND CLOCK GAUGES. IN FACT ALL GAUGES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE ON A BRIGHT DAY. NOTE: THE D TO INDICATE DRIVE FOR THE SHIFT LEVER IS A BRIGHT GREEN WHICH READS EASY; IF ONLY THE OTHERS WERE THAT GOOD. THE NIGHT VIEWING OF THE DASH CLUSTER IS GREAT. DRIVING REQUIRES FULL ATTENTION TO THE ROAD AND YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE CONCENTRATE ON THE DASH TO GET INFORMATION. TRYING TO READ THIS DASH CAN PLACE THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS ANDOTHER DRIVERS IN JEPRODY. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY DEFECT IN AN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT VEHICLE. IF I CAN PULL THIS FORM OFF THE COMPUTER I WIIL SEND A COPY TO TOYOTA AND ASK FOR THEIR COMMENT. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE TOYOTA CORPORATION REGARDING THIS MATTER IN THE PAST AND AS LATE AS 12/18/01 WHEN I SPOKE TO JAMES AT 1800 331 4331 WHO SAID THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FROM CUSTOMERS TO WARRANT TOYOTA DOING ANYTHIG ABOUT IT.TEMPERATURE, GAS AND CLOCK GAUGES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH SOMEBODY WILL OPEN REAR WINDOW, AND IT WILL MAKE A TREMENDOUS NOISE, WICH WILL HURT PASSENGERS' EARS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW, AND CONSUMER WAS PUSHED INTO CIGARETTE LIGHTER JUST TO TEST. IT. CIGARETTE LIGHTER POPPED OUT WITH FORCE , LANDING ON FLOOR ONCE IT WAS HEATED. CONSUMER STATED IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM OR A FIRE. *AK

THE DESIGN OF THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER PLACES IT ALMOST DIRECTLY OVER THE CUP HOLDERS OF THE CENTER CONSOLE. USING THE CUPHOLDERS MAKES ACCIDENTIAL CONTACT WITH THE SHIFT LEVER VERY LIKELY, AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE SHIFTER CAN BE EASILY KNOCKED OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO NEUTRAL. THERE IS NO DETENT OR OTHER RESTRICTION TO KEEP A SLIGHT BRUSH WITH THE SHIFTER FROM ALLOWING THE LEVER TO MOVE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THIS HAS HAPPEND TO ME THREE TIMES, EVEN THOUGH I AM TRYING TO AVOID THIS ACCIDENTAL CONTACT.*AK

THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH MAKES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ESPECIALLY THE SPEEDOMETER UNREADABLE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE TIME WHEN THE DRIVER IS WEARING SUNGLASSES. I CANT'T DRIVE WITHOUT SUNGLASSES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH LIGHT INCIDENT ON THE RECESSED INSTRUMENTS TO MAKE THEM READABLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. THIS VEHICLE LIKE ALL IN THE SOUTHEAST U.S AND LOTS OF OTHER AREAS HAS THE TINTED "PRIVACY GLASS" INSTALLED ON THE REAR WINDOWS WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO LESS LIGHT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT I DEPEND ON THE SPEEDOMETER TO KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING WHEN ENTERING CURVES, ON-RAMPS, ETC. THE VEHICLE IS TOO SMOOTH AND QUIET TO JUDGE SPEED ANY OTHER WAY. THIS COULD BE INEXPENSIVELY FIXED JUST BY HAVING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME.

TINNY SOUND FROM DASHBOARD (LIKE DEFECTIVE SPEAKER) EVEN AT LOW VOLUME. LOOSE COMPONENT OR POORLY INSTALLED DASH IS CONSIDERED NORMAL BY TOYOTA. EXTRA $595.00 FOR "PREMIUM" SOUND SYSTEM IS A QUESTIONABLE INVESTMENT.

DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. IT TOOK TOYOTA 2 MONTHS TO FINALLY FIX IT. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE FROM TOYOTA. *AK

DEFECTIVE COMPUTER AT DATE OF PURCHASE. IT TOOK TOYOTA 2 MONTHS TO FIX IT. I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH TOYOTA SERVICE. ARBITRATION WAS A WASTE OF TIME. *AK

HARD GEAR CHANGE, DRAG WHEN COASTING (LIKE GEAR DOWN), POOR ACCELERATION. TOYOTA IGNORES THE PROBLEM; THEY SAY IT IS ACCEPTABLE. *AK

AIR NOISE (COKE BOTTLE EFFECT) AT HIGH SPEED AND CROSS WIND. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO TOYOTA IGNORED. TOYOTA CONSIDERS THIS DEFECT ACCEPTABLE. *AK

FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING OUT. VEHICLE IS ALL WHEEL DRIVE, NOT 4 WHEEL, AS ADVERTISED. ALIGNMENT MAY BE COMPUTER CONTROLLED. COMPUTER MAY BE DEFECTIVE, AS THIS IS THE SECOND ONE SINCE PURCHASED IN 02/01.*AK

SPEEDOMETER STOPPED (WENT TO ZERO) WHILE CAR OPERATING AT 65 MPH. REGISTERED COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA, WHO ADVISED IT WAS ACCEPTABLE DEFECT, AND WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

WHEN THE REAR WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN THE CAR CREATE VARYING PRESSURE IN THE CAR CAUSING IF NOT CAREFUL THE EAR DRUM RUPTURE. ONE CAN NOT DRIVE THIS CAR WITH REAR WINOW ROLLED DOWN.

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 01V-228 THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN BRAKING HARD THE CAR WOULD SHUDDERS ALONG WITH A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AS WELL AS IT SHOULD. NLM

RECALL# 01V228000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SSC10G; CONSUMER GOT RECALL NOTICE ON JUL 30, 2001 AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR AUG 1, 2001. TOOK VEHICLE IN, AND DEALER DIDNOT HAVE PARTS. GAVE DEALER PHONE # TO CALL WHEN PARTS COME IN. ALSO, CONSUMER CALLED DEALER ON AUG 16 ABOUT PARTS, AND DEALER STATED HAD PARTS, AND DID NOT KNOW WHETHER THEY HAVE ANYMORE. *AK

WHEN DRVING 30 MPH AND OVER, THE RIGHT BACK WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS THE ONLY WINDOW OPEN, DRIVER WAS SUBJECT TO A VERY PAINFUL VACUUM SOUND AND PRESSURE TO LEFT EAR, WHICH WAS ALLEVIATED WHEN WINDOW WAS ROLLED UP OR WHEN THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WAS ALSO OPEN.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A U-TURN ON DRY HOT ROAD CONDITIONS ORGINAL EQUIPMENT BRIDGESTONE, DUELER HT TIRE WITH ONE THOUSAND MILES ON IT, SIZE P225/70R16 FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. BRIDGESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK *JB

A/C WORKS HIGH SPEED ON RECIRCULATING ONLY. DEFECTIVE COMPUTER?*AK

WHEN OPENING THE BACK WINDOW THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE WILDLY AND THERE WAS TERRIBLE PRESSURE IN THE DRIVERS EARS ALONG WITH A LOUD NOISE, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND AFTER SOME TRIAL AND ERROR THE DRIVER DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE ALLEVIATED BY OPENING THE FRONT WINDOWS FIRST, THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT ALL HIGHLANDERS EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE AERODYNAMICS. NLM *SLC

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH WITH REAR WINDOW DOWN WILL MAKE A LOT OF VIBRATION AND A LOUD NOISE THAT COULD NOT BE TAKEN BY CONSUMER. DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK *SLC

REAR WINDOW REFLECTED SOUND. IF HAD ONE REAR WINDOW ALL WAY DOWN IT CREATED WIND VACCUM THAT HURT EAR DRUMS. CAN CRACK RIGHT REAR WINDOW. *AK