2012 Toyota Highlander Body & Structure Problems

Water has leaked into your vehicle through the sunroof and soaked the front and rear driver's side carpets and rear passenger's side carpet. A mechanic determined that the sunroof's drain tube is improperly designed, allowing water to enter the cabin. You're concerned about water damage near electrical connectors on the driver's side floorboard and the potential for mold, corrosion, and rust. Fixing this will likely require replacing or repositioning the sunroof drain tube and drying/replacing the affected carpeting and floor materials.

Your sun visors have detached while driving. The driver's side visor fell on you while you were driving 65 mph, and later both the driver's and passenger's side visors detached again. The dealership confirmed both visors need to be replaced. Fixing this will involve replacing the visor assemblies on both sides of your vehicle.

Your 2012 Toyota Highlander is subject to a paint recall that needs to be completed by November 2024. The dealer told you that you need to contact Toyota dealers to schedule an appointment for the repainting work. You had to make multiple calls to get an appointment scheduled, and you're concerned about the tight deadline and the responsibility being placed on you to arrange the service.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 75 MPH I HEARD A VERY LOUD POPPING NOISE IN THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I PULLED OFF ON A SIDE ROAD AT 45 MPH, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED, SOUNDING LIKE A SHOTGUN WAS FIRED OVER MY HEAD. THE COVER TO THE SUNROOF WAS OPEN AND TINY SHARDS OF GLASS FELL INTO THE CAR AND I WAS PICKING THEM OUT OF MY HAIR ALL DAY. IT WAS VERY DISTRESSING AS I DIDN'T KNOW IF SOMEONE WAS SHOOTING AT ME SO I KEPT DRIVING UNTIL I WAS OUT OF THE AREA. WHEN I FELT SAFE, I STOPPED THE CAR TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE AND THAT'S WHEN I SAW THE SUNROOF GLASS PROTRUDING UPWARDS. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME AND NOTHING OVERHEAD. IN THE ATTACHED PICTURE YOU CAN SEE THE GLASS OF THE SUNROOF PROTRUDING UPWARDS, WHICH COULD NOT BE THE RESULT OF AN IMPACT FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE'D HEARD OF IT HAPPENING BEFORE AND ADMITTED IT WAS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT, YET TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER IT. HE SUGGESTED I SUBMIT A CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE, WHICH I DID. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECTIFY.

THE SEAL COATING ON THE ROOF PAINT CLEAR COAT IS UNDER CURRENT WARRANTEE AND THE DEALER WANTS NOT TO COVER IT. INSTEAD THEY WANT TO NOT USE THE POLICY ,BUT CHARGE ME $1000 FOR THEM TO PAINT IT.THIS I CONSUMER FRAUD.

ON MARCH 19, 2019 AROUND 9:30PM (DRY ROAD CONDITION ' NO RAIN), MY HUSBAND AND I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION OUTSIDE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY (I-70) GOING APPROX. 70 MPH. IT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE BLEW OUT OR A GUN SHOT. MY HUSBAND DIDN'T FEEL THE CAR WAS WOBBLY SO WE ASSUMED THE TIRES ON OUR CAR ARE OK. WE WERE DRIVING ON LEFT LANE AND THERE WAS A SEMI-TRUCK NEXT TO US BUT WE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THE TRUCK AND IT WAS MOVING NORMAL TOO. HOWEVER, AFTER THAT LOUD EXPLOSION, WE BOTH NOTICED THE NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR (NOISE SIMILAR TO WHEN THE CAR WINDOW IS OPEN). I THEN OPENED THE COVER (SHADE) OF THE SUNROOF AND SAW THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED SO QUICKLY CLOSED THE COVER (SHADE) BACK UP. FORTUNATELY, THE COVER WAS CLOSED WHEN THE SUNROOF SHATTERED SO WE DIDN'T GET HURT FROM BROKEN GLASSES. WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT HAPPENED AS WE DIDN'T SEE ANY OBJECTS WERE FLYING TOWARDS US.

VEHICLE POWER UNLOCKING MECHANISM IS UNRELIABLE, AND SHOWS SIGNIFICANT DEFECT IN THE UNLOCKING CAPABILITIES OF ALL BUT THE DRIVERS DOOR. AFTER SEVERAL LOCK ACTUATOR REPLACEMENTS, THE VEHICLE STILL EXHIBITS IMPROPER OPERATION. DEALERSHIP AGREES THAT THERE IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND IT'S LOCK OPERATION. BIGGEST ISSUE I SEE IS HAVING TO LEAVE MY CHILDREN UNATTENDED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK DOORS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS EXTENSIVELY, AND FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE, IN MANY FORUMS ETC - TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE LOCK MECHANISMS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR OVER 2 YEARS NOW, AND SHOULD BE EXAMINED FOR THE SAFETY IMPACT AT A GREATER SCALE.

SUNROOF LEAKING UNDERCARRIAGE RUST

LIFTGATE OPERATES ERRATICALLY, NOT STAYING OPEN WHEN BUTTON IS PUSHED. SOMETIMES IT OPENS ALL THE WAY, ONLY TO CLOSE IMMEDIATELY. MOST TIMES IT STARTS TO OPEN PARTIALLY THEN CLOSES. TWICE IT OPENED WHILE DRIVING. MOST TROUBLING IS ONCE IT STARTED TO CLOSE DOWN ON ME WHILE I WAS GETTING THINGS OUT OF THE TRUNK AREA. I WOULD THINK, FOR SAFETY REASONS, THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF SENSOR. IS THAT NOT THE CASE WITH MY HIGHLANDER? THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING PERIODICALLY FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AUTOMATIC DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE OF THE FOUR DOORS. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. COLONIAL TOYOTA (2600 W PIKE RD, INDIANA, PA 15701, (724) 349-9100) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

REAR LIFT GATE OPENED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. DANGEROUS. NOW THE DOOR DOES NOT WORK AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. I WAS TOLD DIRECTLY BY ANOTHER OWNER THAT THE DOOR DOES NOT ALWAYS LOCK WHEN CLOSED. WHAT ABOUT GRANDCHILDREN AND PETS. I CANNOT USE MY CAR AS INTENDED. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS I HAVE NO IDEA IF OR WHEN IT WILL REPEAT.

POWER LIFTGATE ON 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FAILS TO FULL CLOSE AND LATCH. 4 YEARS OLD NOW, PROBLEM BEGAN 2 YEARS AGO AT 12,000 MILES, AND NOW 1 YEAR PAST 3/36 WARRANTY AND 47,000 MILES. LIFTGATE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY MANUAL FOR LAST 1-1/2 YEARS. USING BUTTONS TO CLOSE POWER LIFTGATE RESULTS IN LEFT SIDE WHERE MOTOR IS TO BE CLOSE TO CLOSED, WHILE RIGHT SIDE HAS AN INCH GAP TO D-PILLAR. NO OTHER REASON FOR ME TO GO TO DEALERSHIP, SO I HAVEN'T SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. FINALLY TOOK IT IN JUNE 6, 2016. OVER PAST 2 YEARS DEALER SERVICE DESCRIBED SOLUTION AS SIMPLE ADJUSTMENT. HAVE ASKED AT LEAST TWICE "ARE THERE ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS FOR MY HIGHLANDER?" ANSWER IS ALWAYS NO, INCLUDING DAY I TOOK IT FOR "SIMPLE ADJUSTMENT". HOWEVER RECENT RESEARCH FINDS TWO RECALLS AND MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS FOR 2008-2012 HIGHLANDERS. IF THEY HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH POWER LIFTGATES SINCE 2008, WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS? POTENTIAL CAUSE IS POWERFUL MOTOR PULLS TOO HARD AND BENDS HINGES. NEW DESIGN USES PAIR OF POWER STRUTS TO PULL EVENLY. ESTIMATE APPROACHES $600 FOR NEW HINGES AND OTHER PARTS ($253+TAX), PAINT, AND LABOR. ALREADY PAID $100+TAX TO DIAGNOSE THIS ISSUE, WHICH TOOK ALL OF 15 MINUTES, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THEY ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND LIED ABOUT RECALLS AND BULLETINS. MY WIFE'S 2014 RAV4 HAD 1 OF 2 STRUTS REPLACED, AND OTHER ISSUES REPORTED ON NEWER HIGHLANDERS. WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO FIX THIS KNOWN ISSUE WITHOUT FURTHER COST.

REAR LIFTGATE ARM DETACHED FROM DOOR. THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE LIFTGATE ARM TO THE DOOR STRIPPED. THE PIECES SHOT OFF FROM THE VEHICLE WILE THE ARM WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE GATE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HATCH LIFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART DO TO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,700.

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS CROSSING INTERSECTION WITH GREEN LIGHT AND WAS STRUCK ON THE MIDDLE SIDE BY ONCOMING VEHICLE RUNNING A RED LIGHT. TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ROLLED 1.25 TIMES. TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAD SECOND ROW SET UP IN BENCH CONFIGURATION WITH CENTER CONSOLE UNIT STOWED AS MANUAL INDICATED UNDER CENTER SEAT. CENTER CONSOLE UNIT DISLODGED DURING IMPACT AND/OR ROLL AND FLEW THROUGH REAR PASSENGER AREA, STRIKING TWO CHILDREN ON THE HEAD AND CAUSING HEAD/BRAIN INJURY (CONCUSSION AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS). *TR

SEVERAL SMALL PAINT BUBBLES ON REAR HATCH. ONE HAD BURST AT SEAM OF TRIM AND IS RUSTING. SCREWS HOLDING THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT AND ASSEMBLY ARE RUSTED. UNDERSIDE OF "HIGHLANDER" EMBLEM TRIM WHERE REAR CAMERA IS LOCATED IS CORRODED AND RUSTED. *TR

I OPENED THE POWER REAR DOOR BY DEPRESSING THE SWITCH NEXT TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DOOR BEGAN TO OPEN, MADE A CLUNKING NOISE, AND CLOSED ITSELF. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND MANUALLY OPENED THE REAR DOOR AT WHICH TIME I NOTICED THE LIFTGATE ARM (WITH THE SCREW AND WASHER STILL ATTACHED TO THE EXPOSED END) HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE DOOR. DESPITE HAVING 55K+ MILES, MY HIGHLANDER IS JUST OVER 2 YEARS OLD AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN EXCESSIVE USAGE OF THE POWER DOOR. I'LL BE TAKING IT TO THE NEAREST DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT. *TR

AFTER DRIVING APROX 1200 MILES FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO FLORIDA NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR MATS UNDER THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE SOPPING WET. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO ARLINGTON TOYOTA IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA ON 12/27/2012 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED INTO. SINCE I DID NOT HAVE A "REPAIR APPOINTMENT" IT WAS NECESSARY TO RETURN ON A LATER DATE. RETURNED ON 01/23/2013 AND SUBMITTED THE CAR FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS FOREIGN DEBRIS HAD ENTERED THE A/C SYSTEM AND CLOGGED THE DRAIN. THIS PROBLEM HAS REPEATED ITSELF THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES SINCE THE INITIAL REPAIR WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF SPIDERS BLOCKING THE DRAIN TUBE. THE WET FLOORS IN THE CAR AND THE RESULTING MOLD HAS TRIGGERED AN ALLERGIC REACTION AND CAUSED A SINUS INFECTION. THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM. *TR

OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW WEEKS WE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT SMELL IN OUR CAR. WE HAVE RUBBER FLOORMATS, SO DID NOT NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A DRAINAGE PROBLEM IN OUR A/C CONDENSER. THE BLOCKAGE CAUSED DRAINAGE TO BACK UP INTO THE BODY OF OUR VEHICLE AND MOLD STARTED TO GROW ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE CARPET UNDERNEATH THE RUBBER FLOORMATS. WE LATER LEARNED THAT THE BLOCKAGE WAS CAUSED BY A SPIDER WEB IN THE A/C CONDENSER DRAINAGE TUBE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY CALLED TOYOTA AND LEARNED IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED TOYOTA CARE WARRANTY AND ANY COSTS WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID OUT OF POCKET. I JUST LEARNED THAT SIMILAR MODEL YEAR TOYOTA VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE AVALON AND CAMRY, ARE UNDER RECALL DUE TO PROBLEMS THAT RESULT FROM SPIDER WEBS BLOCKING THE A/C CONDENSER DRAINAGE TUBE. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT THAT COVERS MORE THAN JUST THE AVALON AND CAMRY MODELS, BUT THE RECALL DID NOT COVER MY HIGHLANDER. WE HAVE AN INFANT SON AND THE GROWTH OF MOLD COULD HAVE SEVERELY IMPACTED HIS HEALTH AND BREATHING. *TR

THIS EVENT HAPPENED WHEN MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2012 (SE V6 4WD) WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. I PRESSED THE REMOTE CONTROL BUTTON TO AUTOMATICALLY OPEN THE CAR HATCH DOOR. THE DOOR WAS OPEN AND STAY UP. HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS PUTTING SOME GROCERY BAGS INSIDE THE CAR, THE DOOR CAME DOWN WITHOUT ANY ANNOUNCEMENT AND HITTING MY HEAD. I HAD HEAD ACHE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, THE BACK DOOR DOES NOT STAY UP. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWO DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. I AM STILL WAITING FOR A DECISION FROM TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AND WITHOUT MY CAR (3 WEEKS AND COUNTING). I AM CLAIMING A CAR REPLACEMENT FROM TOYOTA. THIS IS THE FIFTH INCIDENT WITH THIS CAR (FIVE CAR REPAIRS BY THE DEALERSHIP UNDER TOYOTA GUARANTY) DURING ITS FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP (A BRAND NEW CAR). REALLY DISAPPOINTED FROM TOYOTA CAR QUALITY. I AM AFRAID THAT NEXT TIME WOULD BE A FATALITY OR ANOTHER SERIOUS INJURY WITH IRREVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCES. *TR

Your car's paint is peeling or failing in areas. This is a cosmetic issue with the paint finish that you can have inspected by a technician. A repair would likely involve repainting the affected areas.