2010 Toyota Highlander VISIBILITY/WIPER
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
SUN ROOF GLASS EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 TO 65 MILES PER HOUR. WE HAD THE SUN SHADE CLOSED SO WE DID NOT KNOW THE SUN ROOF GLASS HAD EXPLODED. PULLED OFF THE ROAD, NO OTHER CAR OR TRUCK WAS NEAR US, AND DISCOVERED THE SUN ROOF GLASS HAD EXPLODED AND GLASS WAS PREVENTED FROM ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAUSE THE SHADE WAS CLOSED. WENT TO A TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY AND THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY A ROCK. I SAID NO ONE WAS NEAR US, FRONT OR BACK, AND THEY SAID WE MIGHT HAVE HAD A CHIP IN THE SUN ROOF GLASS FROM BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. IT WAS A NICE DAY, NO RAIN, NOT TOO HOT, AROUND 65 DEGREES, COMFORTABLE, SUN WAS OUT. THEY TAPED THE GLASS THAT WAS STILL TOGETHER SO WE COULD DRIVE HOME AND HAVE IT REPAIRED. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE GLASS AND WOULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS. THIS HAPPENED IN JULY, 2012.
THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO BROKEN WINDOW MOUNTING TAB. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE POWER TO THE WINDOW MOTOR SO IT CAN'T BE USED. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE IF OPERATED WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDOW COMES OFF TRACK AND GETS COCKEYED.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP FLUSH WITH THE CEILING OF THE VEHICLE. THE VISOR HANGS AT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND BLOCKS VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. MY HUSBAND IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY AND IS AN AVERAGE HEIGHT MAN OF ABOUT 6 FEET TALL. *TR
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WON'T STAY IN UP POSITION. HANGS DOWN IN VISION LINE OF DRIVER TALLER THAN 5'. THE REPAIR WILL COST CLOSE TO $200!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS FAILED TO CLOSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V689000 (VISIBILITY) AFTER THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN AREAS WERE LUBRICATED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT OR REPLACE THE PWM CIRCUIT BOARD; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY DID NOT PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I PURCHASED THIS 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER NEW. AT 45,000 MILES, THE DRIVER-SIDE SUN VISOR FAILED TO REMAIN IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. IT CONTINUES TO FALL AND BLOCK THE DRIVER'S VIEW WHEN DRIVING. EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN THE 50,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE SUN VISOR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I NEW VISOR IS OVER $200. I USED TO WORK FOR THE TOYOTA AT THE HEADQUARTERS LOCATED IN TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS SUN VISOR AS A CUSTOMER HAZARD AND FAILURE OF THE PART. THIS FAILURE SHOULD BE REPAIRED/REPLACED AT TOYOTA'S EXPENSE BEFORE IT CAUSES SERIOUS HARM TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR FAILS TO STAY UP AND DROPS TO BLOCK DRIVER'S VIEW. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM RESULTED IN THEM SAYING THAT IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VISOR COULD FALL ENOUGH TO BLOCK THE DRIVER'S VISION. ALSO, IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE DRIVER'S FOREHEAD WOULD BE PROPELLED INTO THE EDGE OF A SUN VISOR THAT IS PARTIALLY DOWN CAUSING A POSSIBLE SERIOUS HEAD INJURY. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR TENSION COMPLETELY BROKE UNDER NORMAL USE. VISOR HANGS STRAIGHT DOWN AND WON'T RETURN TO THE UP POSITION, OR ANY OTHER POSITION. BLOCKS MUCH OF THE FIELD OF VIEW FOR ANY DRIVER (LIKE ME) TALLER THAN 5'5". *TR
ALMOST HAD A CAR ACCIDENT WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DROPPED DURING A TURN ON A 5-WAY INTERSECTION. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT RETAIN ITS CLOSED POSITION. IT KEEPS FALLING DOWN WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS. THE SUN VISOR HINDERS VISIBILITY AND SCOPE / RANGE OF THE DRIVER?S VIEW. PROPER VISIBILITY WAS COMPROMISED BY THIS DEFECTIVE VISOR AND THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN FOR VEHICLE OPERATORS. THIS GRAVELY PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD TO INCLUDE BYSTANDERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AND CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND PRESENTS IMMEDIATE DANGER AND RECALL ACTION. PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BECOME FATALITY STATISTICS DUE TO A SMALL RECALL AND CORRECTION! *TR
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. KEEPS FALLING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. *TR
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR SPRING SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE AND THE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN (DOES NOT STAY IN UP POSITION) BLOCKING THE VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD. *TR
THE DRIVER'S VISOR BROKE. I PUT IT DOWN TO BLOCK THE BRIGHT SUN HERE IN THE DESERT AND HEARD A LOUD SNAP. THE VISOR NO LONGER HAS THE ABILITY TO STAY UP OR ALL THE WAY FORWARD. RESULTING PROBLEM: 1. IN THE UP POSITION IT WILL NOT FULLY RETRACT INTO THE ROOF VISOR POCKET AND HANGS DOWN ABOUT 2.5 INCHES FROM THE CAR ROOF. CONCERNED THE SMALL EDGE WOULD SMACK ME RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREHEAD IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND FELL FORWARD. IF YOU WERE TALL YOU COULD POTENTIALLY BE IMPACTED DIRECTLY IN THE EYES IF YOU FELL FORWARD FROM A READ END COLLISION. 2. IN THE DOWN POSITION, WHICH THE VISOR IS MOST FREQUENTLY HERE IN THE DESERT REGION, IT NO LONGER CAN BE PUSHED FORWARD TO THE WINDSHIELD, SO IT HANGS DOWN LOW, AND PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTS YOUR ABILITY TO READ SIGNS ABOVE YOUR LINE OF VISION OVER THE HOOD. DEALER DID NOT THINK IT WAS COVERED UNDER MY 100,000 MILE / 5 YEAR WARRANTY AND TOLD ME TO CALL TOYOTA CARE, DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST ME $150 TO $160 TO FIX. I CALLED TOYOTA CARE THEY SAID IT IS COVERED BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULDN'T FAIL IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MOST OF THE TIME IT IS SITTING FORWARD AGAINST THE WINDOW AND NOT MOVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PULLING THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR DOWN TO BLOCK THE SUN, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REPOSITION THE VISOR WHICH CAUSED A VISIBILITY HAZARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VISOR BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR HAS DROPPED, BLOCKING THE LINE OF VISION. IT DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO PUSH IT UP TO BE COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WAY. I HAVE READ THAT THE CAMRYS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE CAMRYS BUT HAS NOT FOR THE HIGHLANDER. TOYOTA NEEDS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE . *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FELL DOWN AND OBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE ROAD. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUSH VISOR BACK UP OUT OF MY LINE OF SIGHT, IT WOULD NOT STAY IN THE PROPER POSITION TO BLOCK SUN AND TO WHERE IT DID NOT OBSTRUCT VIEW OF THE ROAD. THE VISOR WILL EITHER STAY ALL THE WAY UP AGAINST THE CEILING OR ALL THE WAY DOWN ALMOST PARALLEL WITH THE WINDSHIELD. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME TYPE OF SPRING OR PIECE OF MATERIAL BROKEN INSIDE VISOR CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AND VERY UNSAFE. *TR
DRIVERS SIDE SUNVISOR DROPS DOWN INTO VIEW AND WILL NOT STAY UP, SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH ALL THESE CARS FROM WHAT I SEE ON ALL THE FORUMS. *TR
VISOR ON DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT GO UP. IT IS CONSTANTLY IN THE WAY OF MY VISION AS I DRIVE. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FELL DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND NOW WON'T STAY UP. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS MY VISIBILITY WAS CUT OFF. NOW I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE UNLESS I SOMEHOW PROP IT UP. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR MANY HIGHLANDERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
AS I AM DRIVING THE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN INTO MY DRIVING SIGHT. THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY DOWN OR UP. IT JUST REMAINS IN MY LINE OF VISION. IT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE IT LIMITS MY VISIBILITY AND THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR HAS BEEN USED INFREQUENTLY, AND IS TYPICALLY IN TACT. HOWEVER, TODAY WHEN USING THE VISOR TO BLOCK THE SUNLIGHT THE VISOR WOULD NOT RETREAT BACK INTO POSITION AND KEPT FALLING DOWN IN AN UNSECURED MANNER BLOCKING MY DRIVING VISION BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT STAY INTO PLACE. PROPER VISIBILITY WAS COMPROMISED BY THIS DEFECTIVE VISOR AND THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN FOR VEHICLE OPERATORS. *TR
THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT RETAIN ITS CLOSED POSITION. IT FALLS DOWN DURING DRIVING AND HINDERS VISTO ABILITY OF DRIVER TO SEE. CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND A DANGER DURING DRIVING TIME TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLES CLOSE TO THE DRIVER. *TR
THE OTHER DAY I LOWERED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR ON MY 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN I TRIED TO MOVE THE VISOR BACK TO THE UP POSITION I HEARD SOMETHING POP OR SNAP. AS A RESULT, THE VISOR WILL NO LONGER STAY IN THE UP POSITION, UNNECESSARILY OBSTRUCTING MY VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE SERVICE REP AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE HINGE WAS BROKEN AND THAT IT WILL COST $300 (PARTS AND LABOR) TO REPLACE THE VISOR. WHEN I CHECKED THE INTERNET I LEARNED THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME SUCH PROBLEM. *TR
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR SPRING SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE AND THE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN (DOES NOT STAY IN UP POSITION) BLOCKING THE VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD. I CALLED THE DEALER TO VERIFY IF THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR A RECALL. THE COST OF REPLACING IS AN ABSURD!!! *TR
THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN POSITION AND FALLS DOWN OBSTRUCTING DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED. BASED ON AN INTERNET SEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH OTHER TOYOTAS AS WELL. *TR
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2010 Toyota Highlander has 28 VISIBILITY/WIPER complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.