2013 Toyota Highlander Electrical System

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR DOES NOT WORK, MAKING LOCK INEFFECTIVE AND NOT WORKABLE. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. UNSURE HOW INEFFECTIVE LOCKS ARE NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY ON A CAR THAT IS NOT THAT OLD. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND HAS TWICE HAD RATS CHEWING ON THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE CENSOR WIRING. THESE ARE THE ONLY WIRES THEY'VE CHEWED ON SO FAR. I FEEL THE SOY BASED WIRING THAT TOYOTA USES IS TO BLAME SINCE MY NEIGHBORS ARE NOT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES THAT ARE PARKED OUTDOORS. A CLAIM WITH USAA HAS BEEN FILED.

OUR 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS HAD 3 OF THE 4 DOOR ACTUATORS FAIL IN A 26 MONTH PERIOD. THE FIRST ACTUATOR FAILED IN IN MARCH 2017 (CAR WAS ONLY 3 YEARS, 8 MONTHS OLD), THE SECOND ACTUATOR FAILED IN FEBRUARY 2018 (CAR WAS 4 YEARS, 7 MONTHS OLD) AND THE THIRD ACTUATOR FAILED IN MAY 2019 (CAR WAS ONLY 5 YEARS 10 MONTHS OLD). BECAUSE THE DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED, THE DOOR DID NOT LOCK WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN DRIVE WHICH INCREASED THE CHANCES THE DOOR WOULD OPEN IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH; THEREBY, REDUCING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE IN A CRASH. SINCE THE ACTUATORS ALSO FAILED TO AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED IN PARK, THE ACTUATORS WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT; THEREBY, POSSIBLY IMPEDING THE ABILITY TO ENTER/EXIT THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. A COMPLAINT WAS LODGED WITH TOYOTA AND A CASE NUMBER WAS ESTABLISHED. HOWEVER, TOYOTA INDICATED THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL RELATED TO DOOR ACTUATORS AT THIS TIME AND THERE IS NOTHING THE COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

DOOR ACTUATORS HAVE GONE OUT FOR BOTH DOORS. I CONTACTED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY REFUSED TO FIXED THEM.

POWER TRAIN FAILED WHILE DRIVING ALONG A CITY STREET AT 30MPH- CAR HAD NO POWER- CHECK HYBRID COMPONENTS AND CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE CENTER CONSOLE- I BELIEVE IT FAILED DUE TO THE HYBRID ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS IDENTICAL TO DESCRIPTIONS OF EARLIER HYBRID INVERTER FAILURES IN 2006-2010 MODELS OF HIGHLANDER AND LEXUS THAT WERE RECALLED BY TOYOTA-

DOOR LOCKS REPLACED ON PASSENGER FRONT DOOR AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (YOKEM TOYOTA) LESS THAN 6 MONTHS LATER DOING THE SAME THING . NOW PASSENGER REAR DOOR DOING THE SAME THING. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS

EACH OF THE FOUR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED SUCH THAT THE DOOR CANNOT BE UNLOCKED/OPENED FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THIS HAS OCCURRED DURING THE PAST 18 MONTHS. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN CASE OF A WRECK/FIRE WHERE SOMEONE COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR EMERGENTLY OR SECURITY THREAT IF THE DRIVER/PASSENGER EMERGENTLY NEEDED TO ENTER THE CAR TO AVOID HARM. I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL REPAIRS AT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY A TOYOTA DEALER SHIP REPRESENTATIVE THIS IS A RECOGNIZED ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE.

THE DOOR LOCKS ARE FAILING ONE BY ONE. IT SEEMS TO BE BAD ACTUATORS. FIRST, ONE DOOR WASN'T LOCKING AUTOMATICALLY WHEN PRESSING LOCK ON THE KEY FOB. NOW, I HAVE 2 DOORS NOT LOCKING AUTOMATICALLY WHEN I HIT LOCK ON THE KEY FOB. I FEEL THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND MY BELONGINGS BECAUSE IF I EVER NEEDED TO ENTER MY CAR QUICKLY WITH MY 2 KIDS, I CANNOT. THIS OCCURS WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED.

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EVERY AUTOMATIC OPENER DOOR LOCKS ON EVERY DOOR AND SOME TWICE (EARLY 2014 TO PRESENT). THEY CAN'T TELL ME WHY THE KEEP FAILING. NOW THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY I NOW HAVE 2 MORE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS THAT HAVE FAILED. I HAVE ANOTHER FRIEND WHO OWNS A HIGHLANDER AND HE IS HAVING THE AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENERS FAIL. THIS MUST BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THESE LOCKS.

ABOUT A WEEK AGO MY RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK STARTED TO FAIL. THE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THIS IS THE DOOR MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER USES. I TOOK IT TOO A DEALER AND WAS CHARGED $638 TOTAL TO REPLACE THE ACTUATOR. THE SERVICE TECH ACTUALLY MISQUOTED ME, I WOULD NEVER PAY THIS MUCH TO FIX THIS PART. UPON READING NOW I SEE THAT MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR IS STILL UNDER 3 YEARS OLD. THE ACTUATORS SHOULD NOT FAIL. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM IN ANY OTHER CAR. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE IF THE CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED. I WILL BE CONTACTING TOYOTA TOO.

BLACK SHREDDED MATERIAL BLEW OUT OF THE AIR VENTS UPON STARTING THE CAR. IF I HAD NOT HAD THE A/C ON AND, RATHER, CHOSE TO TURN IT ON WHILE DRIVING, I MIGHT HAVE BEEN BLINDED BY THE LARGE AMOUNT OF SHREDDED MATERIAL THAT FLEW INTO MY FACE AND EYES. - THAT IS A LIABILITY AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. HAD I BEEN DRIVING, I CAN SEE THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME BEING ABLE CONTROL SOMETHING I COULD NOT SEE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I MAY HAVE A RODENT ISSUE - I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND HAVE LEARNED THAT TOYOTA, AMONG OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS, IS CONSTRUCTING VEHICLE PARTS OUT OF BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS, INCLUDING SOY, CANE HUSKS, ETC., MAKING MY CAR A TASTY TREAT FOR NASTY ANIMALS. FURTHERMORE, THERE IS NOTHING THAT PREVENTS SOMETHING FROM CRAWLING FROM THE OUTSIDE INTO THE CABIN THROUGH THE ENGINE AND I BELIEVE THAT TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM LOOKING FOR TOYOTA TO COVER THE COST OF FIXING THIS ISSUE.

I PURCHASED A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM CABE TOYOTA, A TOYOTA DEALER IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ON MARCH, 2013. I ALWAYS USE CABE TOYOTA FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO CABE TOYOTA ON JULY 5TH, 2014 FOR 20,000 MILES SERVICE AND REPLACED THE CABIN FILTER AS PER THEIR RECOMMENDATION. I REALIZED THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WERE SLOWER WHEN ENTERING THE FREEWAYS AFTER THE SERVICE. THE PERFORMANCE WAS EVEN WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE GOING UPHILL AND THE TOP SPEED STAYS ON 40 MPH EVEN WHEN THE ACCELERATION PADDLE WAS FULLY ENGAGE. WHEN I WAS VACUUMED THE VEHICLE YESTERDAY, SEPT 26TH, 2014. I NOTICED SOME ELECTRIC WIRES WERE UNPLUGGED, AND ONE SET OF THEM WAS CUT OFF COMPLETELY. I AM NOT SURE THIS IS THE RESULT OF MANUFACTURE FAILURE OR MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FOR INDEPENDENT INSPECTION CENTER IN MY AREA FROM YOU, SO THAT I CAN BRING MY CAR TO HAVE COMPLETE DIAGNOSES. THANK YOU. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2013 BRAND NEW 9/27/12. SHORTLY AFTER I RECEIVED IT I NOTICED SONGS WOULD SKIP OR START OVER ON THE IPOD AS WELL AS THE CD. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE RADIO STATION WOULD CHANGED CHANNELS FOR NO REASON. THESE THINGS HAPPENED IF I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, GOING OVER A SLIGHT BUMP OR JUST DRIVING NORMALLY ON A REGULAR ROAD OR A FREEWAY. I'VE GONE TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM AND BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS ARE INTERMITTENT THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE IT. I'VE HAD TWO CASEWORKERS AT TOYOTA OF AMERICA AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IN THE PAST MONTH WHEN I PULLED IN THE GARAGE THE HEADLIGHT "SOMETIMES" TURN OFF WHEN I TURN OFF THE IGNITION. OTHER TIMES THEY STAY ON THE NORMAL 30 SECONDS. I'VE ALSO HAD A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS MENTIONED ON YOUR WEBSITE MAINLY WHEN I'M AT A STOP AND THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS THE CAR ENGINE REVS A FEW SECONDS THEN LURCHES FORWARD. ALSO RECENTLY THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DIM OR BRIGHTEN FOR NO REASON AT ALL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT SEEMS PROBLEMS ARE INCREASING AND I JUST DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT STEPS TO TAKE NEXT. *TR