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2008 Toyota Highlander Wipers & Visibility Problems

13 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data

13
Complaints
2
Recalls
Jan 2013Dec 2019
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Wipers & Visibility Recalls (2)

RECALLCampaign #15V689000

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.

RECALLCampaign #12V491000

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.

Fix: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. General Motors will contact the Pontiac Vibe owners affected by this recall and GM dealers will inspect and repair switches as necessary. Those owners may contact Pontiac Customer Care at 1-800-762-2737.

Owner Complaints (13)

mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Feb 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE'S CABIN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAUSING THE RUGS TO BECOME DRENCHED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DRAINING SYSTEM FOR THE SUNROOF WAS CLOGGED THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HER SHOES GETTING WET AND APPLYING THE WRONG PEDAL WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT THE CONTACT OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND NOTICED THAT THE CARPET WAS DRENCHED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2020. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT DETERMINED THAT THE WATER WAS ENTERING THE CABIN THROUGH THE SUNROOF. THE CHANNEL THAT DRAINED THE SUNROOF WAS CLEARED, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,450.

NHTSA #: 11308585
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Dec 2019

THE DRIVER SIDE SUNVISOR WILL NOT STAY UP OUT OF PLACE WHEN NOT NEEDED. WHEN DRIVER IS DRIVING ESPECIALLY IF BRAKES ARE USED THE VISOR FALLS BLOCKING VIEW AND IS QUITE DANGEROUS. VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP.

NHTSA #: 11288651
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: May 2017

SUN VISOR DOE NOT STAY UP.

NHTSA #: 10983396
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jul 2016

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY LOCKED IN THE UP POSITION AND THEREFORE PARTIALLY BLOCKS THE DRIVERS VISION WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA #: 10882489
mediumVISIBILITY,STRUCTURE
Filed: May 2015

I HAVE THE SUN VISOR ON MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT HAS FALLEN DOWN AND IT DOESN'T STAY UP AT ALL ANYMORE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH THREE CHILDREN AND FIND THIS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE IT OBSTRUCTS MY VISION ALSO WHEN I LOOK TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT I CONSTANTLY HIT MY FOREHEAD ON THE VISOR THAT IS CONSTANTLY ON THE WAY. IT IS A HAZARD TO ME AND MY 3 CHILDREN. *TR

NHTSA #: 10714240
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jul 2013

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DEFECTIVE - IT DOES NOT STAY IN UP POSITION, DROPS DOWN SUDDENLY & BLOCKING THE VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD; DEALER SAID IT IS A COMMON ISSUE BUT NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINS FOR A RECALL. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT PRONE ISSUE THAT WILL CUT OFF THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY SUDDENLY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10523585
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Mar 2013

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN. IT DOES NOT STAY UP AND IMPAIRS DRIVER VISION. *TR

NHTSA #: 10504773
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jan 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHITE PARTICLES WERE EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHILE THE CLIMATE CONTROL WAS ACTIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC OR THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000.

NHTSA #: 10494941
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Mar 2012

THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY UP -- WHEN EITHER PULLED BACK OR PUSHED FORWARD -- AND FALLS IN THE DRIVER'S LINE OF VISION. THIS LEADS TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT MEANS THE DRIVER LOSES HIS FIELD OF VISION FOR A FEW SECONDS AT VERY UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. *TR

NHTSA #: 10451991
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Feb 2011

ON 6/9/2010 ASKED DEALER TO CK. VEHICLE B/C AIR VENTS WERE THROWING OUT WHITE SUBSTANCE. DEALER SAID THE CABIN FILTER WAS CONTAMINATED AND REPLACED AT 27,180 MILES. ON 12/9/2010 31,109 MILES RETURNED TO DEALER WITH SAME COMPLAINT WHITE SUBSTANCE THROUGH VENTS. SAME RESPONSE, CABIN FILTER. I SAID HOW COULD FILTER BE THE PROBLEM AFTER JUST 3929 MILES, 6 MO SERVICE. DEALER CHECKED WITH TOYOTA NO RECORD OF ISSUES HERE. WE ALSO OWN A 2007 LEXUS AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ON 1/14/2011 LEXUS SERVICE REPLACED THE EVAPORATER CORE WITH UPDATED PART AS PER TSB 0032-28. LEXUS SAID TOYOTA DEALER SHOULD DO THE SAME. TOYOTA DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE. MY CONCERN, WARRANTY EXPIRES IN MARCH 2011 AND STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. CANNOT CONTINUE TO REPLACE COSTLY CABIN FILTER. WHAT SHOULD I DO TO GET THE REPAIR COMPLETED? *TR

NHTSA #: 10379953
mediumVISIBILITY,SEAT BELTS
Filed: Mar 2010

WE HAVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (2008) WHICH IS HAVING SAFETY ISSUES. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT KEEPS GOING OFF. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE SEAT BUT THE BELL KEEPS GOING OFF. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT IT DOES IT OFTEN ENOUGH THAT IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. MY SECOND COMPLAINT IS THE WINDOW. THE WINDSHIELD KEEPS CHIPPING WHEN ANYTHING HITS IT. THERE ARE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I HAD TO REPLACE THIS WINDOW. THERE COULD BE NO OTHER CARS AROUND BUT IF SOMETHING HITS IT WILL SPIDER. MY THIRD ISSUE IS THERE IS A NOISE THAT HAPPENS WHEN WE START THE CAR. ITS IN THE ENGINE AND WE CANT FIND IT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO TOYOTA BUT OF COURSE THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT EXPENSIVE ISSUES WITH THIS UNSAFE CAR. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THESE ISSUES? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 10320768
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Mar 2008

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE SUNROOF EXPLODED AND SENT GLASS FRAGMENT EVERYWHERE. FORTUNATELY THE SHADE WAS PULLED CLOSED OTHERWISE GLASS WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOWN INTO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AT 55 MPH. GLASS WAS COMPLETELY DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE HEADLINER AND IT HAD TO BE REMOVED TO ENSURE GLASS WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH AIR BAG OPERATION OR BECOME A PROJECTILE IF THE AIR BAG ACTUATED. THE SUNROOF IS MADE OF TEMPERED GLASS AND NOT SAFETY GLASS. WHEN IT EXPLODED, THE GLASS WAS NOT HELD CAPTIVE BY THE SAFETY FILM. ONLY A TWO INCH BORDER OF GLASS REMAINED IN THE SUN ROOF FRAME. THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY OVERSIGHT. IF THE SUN ROOF SHADE HAD BEEN OPEN, THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT WITH GLASS AND AN ACCIDENT WOULD LIKELY HAVE OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10221208
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Feb 2008

HAD A ROCK CHIP THAT GREW ACROSS WINDSHIELD WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACED TWO DAYS LATER VERY SMALL ROCK CHIPPED IT. HAD CHIP FIXED NOW 3WKS LATER LINES ARE APPEARING OUT OF THE FIXED CHIP. ALL REPAIRS WERE DONE BY SAFELIGHT AND IS REPORTED TO INSURANCE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10218253

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