2014 Toyota HIGHLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
135 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
36,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 93 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 135 complaints (25.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 5.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 5.2% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 5.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 35 |
| Unknown Or Other | 33 |
| Structure:Body | 23 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 5 |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
Electrical System: 35; Unknown Or Other: 33; Structure:Body: 23; Power Train: 8; Visibility/Wiper: 6; Seat Belts: 5; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 31 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 31 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 42 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 24 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2014: 12; 2015: 14; 2016: 12; 2017: 12; 2018: 24; 2019: 20; 2020: 9; 2021: 9; 2022: 4; 2023: 8; 2024: 1; 2025: 4; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10715184 · 2015-05-07 (May 7, 2015)
WE PURCHASED A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED ON AUG 9, 2014. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 150 MILES THE PERSON IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EXPERIENCES SEVERE BACK AND DISCOMFORT IN THE AREA OF THE TAILBONE. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY HARD TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE SEAT. I COMPLAINED TO THE SELLING DEALER AND THEY RECOMMENDED COMING BACK WHEN THE ZONE REP WAS IN AREA. I RETURNED A WEEK LATER AND MET WITH THE ZONE REP. SHE HAD ME SIT IN ANOTHER HIGHLANDER LIMITED AND ASKED IF IT FELT DIFFERENT, IT DID FEEL THE SAME. HER REPLY …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10715184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10874448 · 2016-06-15 (June 15, 2016)
VEHICLE SHUT OFF DURING DRIVING, CAUSING ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO FAIL INCLUDING THE ELECTRONIC STEERING, WHICH SINCE VEHICLE ALSO TURNED OFF, CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK UP. SINCE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT SPEED AND INFACT WHILE MAKING A TURN, A NEAR COLLISION OCCURED. THE PROBLEM OCCURED MULTIPLE TIMES IN SUCCESSION AND WAS ALSO INTERMITTENT WITH MUCH TIME ELAPSING BETWEEN EPISODES. TWO OTHER TYPES OF RELATED OCCURRENCES DURING THIS TIMEFRAME WERE THE (1) VEHICLE ALSO CYCLING OFF AND ON AND (2) WOULD ALSO TURN ON ITSELF IF THE KEY WAS I…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10874448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679731 · 2015-01-29 (January 29, 2015)
THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO TRANSMISSION SHIFT SEQUENCES. WHEN STARTING OUT, THE TRANSMISSION IS IN FOURTH GEAR. IF YOU ARE AT SAY A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ARE MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND THEN NEED TO MAKE A RAPID ACCELERATION, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS DOWN TO A LOWER GEAR, PROBABLY 1ST GEAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT TORQUE STEER THAT AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER WOULD FIND VERY DISTURBING. ALSO, WHEN TRAVELING 60 - 70 MILES PER HOUR AND YOU SHIFT FROM "DRIVE" TO "S" POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO FOURTH GEAR WITH A RESULTANT SIGNIFI…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10763788 · 2015-09-15 (September 15, 2015)
THE TRANSMISSION HAS A FLUTTER WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT UP OR DOWN TO DIFFERENT GEARS. IT CAUSES A HESITANCY. IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY THE CALDWELL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CONWAY, AR USA AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT IS IN OTHER HIGHLANDERS. I REQUEST A RECALL TO HAVE THIS FIXED. THANK YOU *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10763788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10691620 · 2015-03-02 (March 2, 2015)
A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS PURCHASED IN 2/2014.THE CUSTOMER NOTICED WATER COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE SEAT BELT A-FRAME PANEL CAUSING THE INTERIOR FLOOR TO BECOME WET WITH STANDING WATER.UPON DEALERSHIP INSPECTION IN 2/2015, BLACK MOLD WAS FOUND FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE EXTENDING TO THE TRUNK.THE BLACK MOLD FOUND WAS EXTENSIVE PENTRATING THE CARPETS, THE SOUND BARRIER FOAM INTO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE.DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE MOLD FOUND, THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED THE CUSTOMER THAT CORPORATE WOULD NEED TO BE INVOLVED, AS THIS WAS NOT S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10691620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10785091 · 2015-10-21 (October 21, 2015)
POPPING NOISE FROM REAR BREAK FREQUENTLY WHEN I DISENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LEVER. WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND NOT BEEN USED FOR 3 HOURS ON; TOOK TO DEALERSHIP STATING COULD FIND PROBLEM, BUT DEALER SAYS IT DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING ABNORMAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10785091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10632873 · 2014-09-12 (September 12, 2014)
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE JERK. THEN A WARNING SIGN APPEAR ON THE DASH THAT SAID EPS FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. I BEGAN TO STRUGGLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AT THAT POINT IT WAS LOCK. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS; I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO AN EMPTY PARKING SPACE, PARKED THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO DICK DYER IN COLUMBIA SC. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHAT WAS ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME, THEY THINK THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN STATED HE HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH A PROBL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10632873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10789322 · 2015-11-09 (November 9, 2015)
REAR DOOR HATCH STALLS UPON OPENING AND CLOSING. FREQUENTLY REPORTED PROBLEM ON TOYOTA WEBSITES. WHEN DOOR SWITCH IS ACTIVATED EITHER AT THE DOOR, REMOTE FOB OR DASH SWITCH, THE DOOR OPENS A FEW INCHES THEN STOPS. PRESSING AGAIN MOVES IT BACK THEN STOPS. YOU MUST MANUALLY OPEN OR CLOSE THE DOOR. NOT CERTAIN THE DOOR LOCKS COMPLETELY WHEN CLOSING. ONGOING ISSUE SINCE JULY 2014
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10789322 at NHTSA ↗