The midsize SUV segment has grown to become one of the most crowded markets and the major reason for it is the kind of practicality these vehicles offer at a rather affordable pricing. The Toyota Highlander manages to make a massive impact in this segment by offering great reliability and the users have been very happy with the overall offering this car brings. Toyota has sold a total of 101,252 units of the car. The NHTSA reports fall in favor of the car as despite having sold in large numbers, the car only carries a total of 174 complaints with just 5 recalls that address various concerns that the users have faced. Even though Toyota has managed to deliver a strong product, the market contains other strong players such as the Nissan Murano, the Mazda CX-9, and the Buick Enclave.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Door lock motor – The users found the rear door lock warning to blink with the chime notification while driving even while the door was closed. It was said that this error affected the rear door locking ability using the key fob. Dealer suspected the rear door strike plate which was found to be in perfect condition but it was later found that the rear door lock motor was faulty and needed to be replaced. Online research stated that Toyota settled for a cheap part and that is what causes it to fail frequently.
- Alternator – The user was unable to start the car after it was parked for a couple of days and they had to rely on jump-starting the car. The dealers found no electrical power is supplied from the battery but on inspection, the battery health was said to be good. The dealers then found the alternator to be failing and this was said to need a replacement.
- Liftgate motor – It was found that the automatic liftgate stopped working and users had to manually open the latch. This was diagnosed at a dealer and was found that the automatic motor had failed and needed that needed to be replaced.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – The users found the vehicle to be performing with a missing while accelerating. It was also said that the power was lost by a noticeable amount. The user drove to the dealers where the issue was assessed to be an engine oil leak that was fixed by replacing one of the hoses. The dealers also mentioned this to be a common issue with multiple models.
- Transmission – It was reported that the car would hesitate to accelerate with the gearbox taking additional time to shift. The dealers ran a diagnosis that revealed that the transmission solenoids had a fault and that it required a replacement.
- Brakes – The brake pads were said to wear out sooner than promised and this in most cases ended up damaging the rotors. Users had to replace both the brake pads as well as the rotors.
- Steering – The users when making a right-hand turn noticed a thump, causing the steering wheel to vibrate. This was said to happen due to a design flaw in the steering sector shaft which the manufacturer never acknowledged and the users had to get the part replaced.
Safety Problems
- Seatbelt – It was said that the front passenger seatbelt failed to release, making it impossible for the occupant to get out without cutting the belt. The vehicle was inspected and it was found that the belt latch was faulty and needed a replacement.
Exterior Problems
- Headlights – The low beam from the headlights was said to be projecting low to no visibility and it was found that the headlight design was the cause for the poor visibility. Dealers had no fix to this and users had to live with the issue.
2011 Toyota Highlander recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
2nd June 2016 |
16V396000 |
Seat heater electrical wiring. |
Vehicle equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heater wires may get damaged when the seat is compressed. |
Dealers will disconnect the seat heater and refund the purchase amount. |
|
2. |
22nd October 2015 |
15V689000 |
Power window master switch may melt. |
During the manufacturing of the power window master switch, grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts. This may lead to debris and water entering the module, resulting in an electrical short which may overheat the switch assembly and melt. |
Dealers will either apply lubrication to the switch assembly or replace the master switch circuit board. |
|
3. |
19th November 2014 |
14V743000 |
Seat heater electrical wiring. |
Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning. |
Dealers will disconnect the heaters and refund the purchase price of the seat heaters. |
|
4. |
9th April 2013 |
13V123000 |
Inaccurate load carrying capacity labels. |
Ai inaccurate label may lead the owners to overload the vehicle which can lead the vehicle to lose control. |
A corrected label will be provided. |
|
5. |
16th January 2013 |
13V014000 |
Occupant sensing system calibration. |
If the front passenger occupant sensor is out of calibration, the airbags may be disabled. |
The sensitivity of the sensor will be tested and recalibrated accordingly. |
Should you buy the 2011 Toyota Highlander?
Users of the 2011 Toyota Highlander are extremely satisfied with the vehicle and the reliability that it offers. This particular segment carries users that majorly drive the car on a regular basis and the fact that the Toyota Highlander carries a very limited number of complaints suggests that this vehicle will be able to take some abuse even in the long run. The Highlander sure does carry a door latch issue which was reported by multiple users but the issue was limited to only certain batches of the vehicle. It still is advisable to get the door locks and tailgate inspected before driving the Highlander home along with a check on whether the engine has an oil leak. This definitely is our ideal pick and there are very slim chances of this vehicle leaving its users disappointed.
