Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
160–25K
1625–50K
1150–75K
1675–100K
15100–150K
6150K+
80 reports with mileage · 57 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Visibility. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
19 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
137 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2001
Power Train
THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH MAKES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ESPECIALLY THE SPEEDOMETER UNREADABLE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE TIME WHEN THE DRIVER IS WEARING SUNGLASSES. I CANT'T DRIVE WITHOUT SUNGLASSES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH LIGHT INCIDENT ON THE RECESSED INSTRUMENTS TO MAKE THEM READABLE…
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THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH MAKES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ESPECIALLY THE SPEEDOMETER UNREADABLE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE TIME WHEN THE DRIVER IS WEARING SUNGLASSES. I CANT'T DRIVE WITHOUT SUNGLASSES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH LIGHT INCIDENT ON THE RECESSED INSTRUMENTS TO MAKE THEM READABLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. THIS VEHICLE LIKE ALL IN THE SOUTHEAST U.S AND LOTS OF OTHER AREAS HAS THE TINTED "PRIVACY GLASS" INSTALLED ON THE REAR WINDOWS WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO LESS LIGHT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT I DEPEND ON THE SPEEDOMETER TO KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING WHEN ENTERING CURVES, ON-RAMPS, ETC. THE VEHICLE IS TOO SMOOTH AND QUIET TO JUDGE SPEED ANY OTHER WAY. THIS COULD BE INEXPENSIVELY FIXED JUST BY HAVING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA ODI #753665
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2001
Power Train
SPEEDOMETER STOPPED (WENT TO ZERO) WHILE CAR OPERATING AT 65 MPH. REGISTERED COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA, WHO ADVISED IT WAS ACCEPTABLE DEFECT, AND WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #753586
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2001
Tires
FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING OUT. VEHICLE IS ALL WHEEL DRIVE, NOT 4 WHEEL, AS ADVERTISED. ALIGNMENT MAY BE COMPUTER CONTROLLED. COMPUTER MAY BE DEFECTIVE, AS THIS IS THE SECOND ONE SINCE PURCHASED IN 02/01.*AK
NHTSA ODI #753585
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2001
Structure
AIR NOISE (COKE BOTTLE EFFECT) AT HIGH SPEED AND CROSS WIND. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO TOYOTA IGNORED. TOYOTA CONSIDERS THIS DEFECT ACCEPTABLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #753582
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2001
Power Train
HARD GEAR CHANGE, DRAG WHEN COASTING (LIKE GEAR DOWN), POOR ACCELERATION. TOYOTA IGNORES THE PROBLEM; THEY SAY IT IS ACCEPTABLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #753581
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2001
Electrical System
DEFECTIVE COMPUTER AT DATE OF PURCHASE. IT TOOK TOYOTA 2 MONTHS TO FIX IT. I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH TOYOTA SERVICE. ARBITRATION WAS A WASTE OF TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #753580
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2001
Power Train
DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. IT TOOK TOYOTA 2 MONTHS TO FINALLY FIX IT. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE FROM TOYOTA. *AK
NHTSA ODI #753579
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2001
Visibility
WHEN THE REAR WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN THE CAR CREATE VARYING PRESSURE IN THE CAR CAUSING IF NOT CAREFUL THE EAR DRUM RUPTURE. ONE CAN NOT DRIVE THIS CAR WITH REAR WINOW ROLLED DOWN.
NHTSA ODI #753353
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 01V-228 THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN BRAKING HARD THE CAR WOULD SHUDDERS ALONG WITH A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AS WELL AS IT SHOULD. NLM
NHTSA ODI #563510
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
RECALL# 01V228000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SSC10G; CONSUMER GOT RECALL NOTICE ON JUL 30, 2001 AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR AUG 1, 2001. TOOK VEHICLE IN, AND DEALER DIDNOT HAVE PARTS. GAVE DEALER PHONE # TO CALL WHEN PARTS COME IN. ALSO, CONSUMER CALLED DEALER ON AUG 16 ABOUT PARTS, AND DEALER STATED HAD PARTS, AND DID NOT KNOW…
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RECALL# 01V228000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SSC10G; CONSUMER GOT RECALL NOTICE ON JUL 30, 2001 AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR AUG 1, 2001. TOOK VEHICLE IN, AND DEALER DIDNOT HAVE PARTS. GAVE DEALER PHONE # TO CALL WHEN PARTS COME IN. ALSO, CONSUMER CALLED DEALER ON AUG 16 ABOUT PARTS, AND DEALER STATED HAD PARTS, AND DID NOT KNOW WHETHER THEY HAVE ANYMORE. *AK
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A CHILD PROTECTION LOCK (CPL) SYSTEM ON BOTH OF THE REAR SIDE DOORS. WHEN AN OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CLOSES THE DOOR VERY HARD WITH THE CPL LEVER SET TO THE LOCK POSITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LEVER MAY CONTACT THE BODY PANEL, CAUSING THE CPL LEVER TO MOVE INTO THE UNLOCK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE OPENED WITH THE INSIDE WHILE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES THAT THE CPL WAS ACTIVATED. IF THE DOOR WERE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AN OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT AND BE INJURED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
ON SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A BREATHER HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE NOZZLE OF THE ON-BOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) VALVE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE BREATHER HOSE IS ATTACHED WITH A CLAMP, WHOSE "TABS" FACE IN THE UPWARD DIRECTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED UNDER THE NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TEST (I.E., 35 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER CRASH), THE CLAMP "TABS" CONTACTED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING THE NOZZLE TO BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE WORST CASE, NOZZLE BREAKAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE VEHICLE ROLLS-OVER AFTER A HIGH SPEED FRONTAL CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ROTATE THE SPECIFIED CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTIITY VEHICLES. THE RESERVOIR FILLER CAP OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY INDUCE A VACUUM, INTRODUCING SOME AIR INTO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. THIS COULD CAUSE ABNORMAL BRAKE NOISE AND INCREASED PEDAL STROKE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE INCREASED PEDAL STROKE WILL LENGTHEN THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL BLEED THE AIR FROM THE BRAKE LINES AND REPLACE THE RESERVOIR FILLER CAP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2001 Toyota Highlander Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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