2016 Toyota HIGHLANDER: complaints, problems and recalls

WHEN I PURCHASED THIS 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LE IN MID DECEMBER, I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL I GOT IT HOME, THERE WAS NO INTERIOR REAR DOOR RELEASE. NO RELEASE BUTTON ON THE DASH AND NO INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, FOUND MY SALESMAN AND ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS AN INTERIOR DOOR RELEASE. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOT AND "THAT'S WHY THEY OFFER THE LE PLUS MODEL WHICH HAS A POWER REAR DOOR WITH INSIDE RELEASE". EVERY VEHICLE I'VE OWNED SINCE 1998 HAS HAD AN INSIDE TRUNK OR REAR DOOR RELEASE. IT SEEMS LIKE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE TO ME, H…

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10816603 at NHTSA ↗

WE SPECIAL ORDERED THE 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED PLATINUM MODEL. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN A TOWN APPROX 180 MILES AWAY. I WAS THE DRIVER BACK HOME. I AM 6' 1" AND WIFE IS 5' 3". WE ORDERED THE ADJUSTABLE MEMORY SEATS WHICH ARE GOOD. THE SAFETY PROBLEM WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IS THE HEADRESTS. FOR SHORTER PEOPLE THEY ARE TILTED FORWARD IN A AWKWARD POSITION. OTHER THAN AND UP AND DOWN POSITION THERE IS NO WAY TO PROPERLY ADJUST THEM. MY WIFE HAS COMPLAINED THAT SHE CANNOT BE SAFELY POSITIONED OR COMFORTABLE DRIVING WITH THE HEADREST IN THE T…

Owner-reported narrative. 68 miles reported. Look up ODI 10824560 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED THE TOP OF THE LINE LIMITED PLATINUM MODEL IN ORDER TO GET SAFETY FEATURES. HOWEVER, THE WARNING CHINES FOR LANE DEPARTURE, BACK UP CROSS TRAFFIC PROTECTION ETC. ARE VERY FAINT WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER CARS THAT HAVE THESE FEATURES. WHEN THE RADIO PLAYS MUSIC THEY CAN NOT BE HEARD AT ALL RENDERING THESE PROTECTION FEATURES USELESS. FURTHERMORE, THE VOLUME OF THE WARNING CHIMES CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND TOYOTA.

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10837845 at NHTSA ↗

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE 2016 HIGHLANDER HIT THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT THAT HAD SLOWED FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON 1-25-16 AND THE CAR WAS TRANSPORTED TO A TOYOTA AUTO BODY SHOP ON THE 26TH. SINCE THEN HIGHLANDER HAS BEEN TOTALLY REPAIRED EXCEPT FOR THE SIDE AIRBAGS. TOYOTA MOTOR IN CA HAS NO IDEA WHEN AIRBAGS WILL BE RELEASED FOR USE IN PARTS ON 2016 MODEL. IT IS NOW 3/21/16.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,384 miles reported. Look up ODI 10850747 at NHTSA ↗

BRAND NEW CAR IN THE SHOP TWICE DURING FIRST WEEK. FOLLOWING REFUELING (NOT TOPPED OFF - STOPPED AT FIRST CLICK) THE CAR STARTS STALLING AT RED LIGHTS OR AT LOW SPEEDS. HAS DONE THIS A DOZEN TIMES. ON THE HIGHWAY CAR STUTTERS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND TRACTION CONTROL BECOMES DISABLED. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS DUE TO OVERFILLING THE GAS TANK AND CHANGED THE CARBON CARTRIDGE FOR THE EVAC THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE. A SECOND REFILL AFTER THE REPAIR CONFIRMED THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS EVEN WHEN FILLING UP VERY CAREFULLY. IF GASOLINE I…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10859987 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN SEATED ON FRONT PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE THE SEAT DOES RETURN TO NORMAL SHAPE. CONTACTED TOYOTA THEY REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM

Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10875960 at NHTSA ↗

WE RELIED ON CONSUMER REPORTS GLOWING REPORTS OF TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS WHEN PURCHASING OUR NEW, 2016 MODEL LE HIGHLANDER. HOWEVER, WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE DRIVER FRONT VISIBILITY TO THE SIDES IS OBSCURED BY THE OVERLARGE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS AND THE WINDOW FRAMES; AND BACKUP VISIBILITY IS EXTREMELY POOR BECAUSE THE REAR WINDOW DESIGN WITH TURNED UP BOTTOM CORNERS, LOW PLACEMENT OF REAR WIPER, AND SMALL WINDOW SIZE SEVERELY REDUCES WHAT THE DRIVER CAN SEE WHEN BACKING UP. THE BACKUP CAMERA DOES NOT CLEARLY SHOW REAR OBSTRUCTION…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10881624 at NHTSA ↗

JULY 3, 2016: WE BOUGHT THE CAR. JULY 23 5PM I FILLED UP WITH GAS AT THE CHEVRON. DROVE TO WEST LA FOR 15 MILES ON THE 10 FWY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR, NO PROBLEM TO VISIT MY MOM. 8:30PM WE LEFT HER HOUSE TO GO HOME. WE DROVE ON THE STREET FOR TWO MINUTES AND WE CAME TO A STOP LIGHT I BRAKED TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND THE CAR DIED. THE DASH BOARD SCREEN SAID PUT YOUR CAR IN PARK AND START THE CAR. IT WAS DARK AND MANY CARS WERE BEHIND ME, WAITING FOR ME TO START MY CAR. WE WERE AFRAID THE CAR BEHIND US WOULD HIT US. MY DAUGHTERS WERE SITT…

Owner-reported narrative. 834 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893721 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-06-09 (June 9, 2016)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2015-2016 Toyota Tundra, Scion FR-S, and tC vehicles. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."

Consequence: An incorrect label may lead an owner to overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Reported: 2016-10-24 (October 24, 2016)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Highlander vehicles manufactured May 26, 2016, to September 16, 2016. The brake fluid level sensor may not be connected to the wire harness, preventing the sensor from detecting the brake fluid level. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Consequence: If the brake fluid level is low and is not detected, the braking performance may be decreased, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, connect the wire harness to the sensor, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this G03.