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2014 Toyota Highlander

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2014 Toyota Highlander do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 186.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Compare all Highlander years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

93 reports with mileage · 42 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Structure complaints

32 reports
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35,000 miles · Sep 24, 2019
Electrical SystemStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR POWER DOORS AND TRUNK MADE A BUZZING NOISE AND WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: SB0023-16 AND NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10134306 (STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). SPARKS TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 4855 HIGHWAY 501, MYRTLE BEACH, SC 2952…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR POWER DOORS AND TRUNK MADE A BUZZING NOISE AND WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: SB0023-16 AND NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10134306 (STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). SPARKS TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 4855 HIGHWAY 501, MYRTLE BEACH, SC 29526, 888-847-7870) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #11257627

54,790 miles · Jul 13, 2019
Structure

THE REAR HATCH BEEPS AND DOES NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. I TRIED THE FACTORY RESETTING IT WITH NO LUCK. SAW ONLINE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT TOYOTA IS STATING ITS NOT DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE BY OWNERS AND ALSO SITE SHOWING TOYOTA WILL FIX AND REPLACE THE REAR STRUTS

NHTSA ODI #11231586

65,000 miles · Jun 6, 2019
Structure

ISSUES WITH THE FRONT AND BACK DOORS NOT UNLOCKING. THE ISSUES HAVE RANGED FROM ALL DOORS UNLOCKED, BUT STICKING AND NOT DISENGAGING. I JUST HAD THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR REPLACED IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK DOOR THIS WEEK. THE NEXT DAY THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON OFF AND ON FOR THE P…

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ISSUES WITH THE FRONT AND BACK DOORS NOT UNLOCKING. THE ISSUES HAVE RANGED FROM ALL DOORS UNLOCKED, BUT STICKING AND NOT DISENGAGING. I JUST HAD THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR REPLACED IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK DOOR THIS WEEK. THE NEXT DAY THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST 3-4 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #11218321

58,000 miles · Jun 3, 2019
Electrical SystemStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR LIFTGATE, IT OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE HAD TO BE CLOSED MANUALLY OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHUCK PATTERSON TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 200 EAST AVE, CHICO, CA 95926) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MULTI L…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR LIFTGATE, IT OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE HAD TO BE CLOSED MANUALLY OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHUCK PATTERSON TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 200 EAST AVE, CHICO, CA 95926) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MULTI LIFTGATE CONNECTOR OR THE POWER UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #11217631

136,000 miles · Mar 26, 2019
Electrical SystemStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR GATE, IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE. THE CONTACT MANUALLY HAD TO PUSH IT UP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GATE HAD BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS. THE GATE WOULD SOMETIMES OPEN OR NOT OPEN, AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY BECAUSE GET STUCK IN T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR GATE, IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE. THE CONTACT MANUALLY HAD TO PUSH IT UP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GATE HAD BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS. THE GATE WOULD SOMETIMES OPEN OR NOT OPEN, AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY BECAUSE GET STUCK IN THE PROCESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RONNIE WARD TOYOTA OF RUSTON (1001 NORTH SERVICE RD E, RUSTON, LA 71270), BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ODI #11191568

59,000 miles · Feb 26, 2019
Structure

REAR LIFT GATE MALFUNCTIONED WHEN TRYING TO LOAD GROCERIES. LONG BEEP AND WOULDN'T WORK. UNABLE TO MAKE IT WORK AGAIN EVEN AFTER RESETTING AND TURNING OFF AND ON VIA BUTTON IN GLOVEBOX. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY ANYMORE. PAID $1000 FOR TOYOTA AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. BROUGHT HOME AND IT WORKED FOR A FEW DA…

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REAR LIFT GATE MALFUNCTIONED WHEN TRYING TO LOAD GROCERIES. LONG BEEP AND WOULDN'T WORK. UNABLE TO MAKE IT WORK AGAIN EVEN AFTER RESETTING AND TURNING OFF AND ON VIA BUTTON IN GLOVEBOX. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY ANYMORE. PAID $1000 FOR TOYOTA AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. BROUGHT HOME AND IT WORKED FOR A FEW DAYS THEN STARTED DOING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11182468

49,000 miles · Feb 21, 2019
Structure

POWER REAR LIFTGATE INOPERABLE. POWER REAR LIFT GATE TRAVELS A COUPLE INCHES, EITHER OPENING OR CLOSING, AND FREEZES. NO LONGER RESPONDS WITH THE POWER BUTTON AND HAS TO BE CLOSED MANUALLY. DISENGAGING THE POWER BUTTON AND USING ONLY AS MANUAL OPEN AND CLOSE, THE DOOR IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OPEN OR CLOSE.

NHTSA ODI #11181724

59,000 miles · Jul 13, 2018
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS OBSCURED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR FAILED TO RETRACT. IN ADDITION, THE LIFTGATE AUTOMATIC RELEASE BUTTON WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER TOYOTA (8566 SUDLEY RD, MANASSAS, VA 20110, (866) 352-4910) WHERE IT WAS DIA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS OBSCURED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR FAILED TO RETRACT. IN ADDITION, THE LIFTGATE AUTOMATIC RELEASE BUTTON WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER TOYOTA (8566 SUDLEY RD, MANASSAS, VA 20110, (866) 352-4910) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.

NHTSA ODI #11111161

15,586 miles · May 6, 2018
Structure

LIFT GATE GET STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. I LIVE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, SO IT'S NOT DUE TO COLD TEMPS. SOMETIME IT TAKE 10 TRIED TO CLOSE THE GATE. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE TIME LATELY, SO I TRY NOT TO USE THE GATE. PUTTING IT IN A TURNING OFF THE SWITCH IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOES NOT HELP.

NHTSA ODI #11092136

47,000 miles · Apr 14, 2018
Air BagsSeat BeltsStructureCrashInjury

I WAS T BONED ON PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS PUSHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN HEAD ON COLLISION. SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN- I INITIALLY HIT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, WHEN T-BONED, THEN WITH FRONT IMPACT HIT STEERING WHEEL, ROOF AND CENTER CONSOLE. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI #11085042

Official recalls

4

14V576000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 19, 2014

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Sienna, and Highlander and model year 2015 Lexus RX350 vehicles. Fuel may leak from the one of the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace any of the suspect fuel delivery pipes free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

14V272000 · Electrical System:software; Seat Belts

May 22, 2014

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles may have improper software installed in the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) for the operation of the front passenger seat belt force limiter, and as a result, the force limiter may use the restraint setting designed for small occupants, such as those that weigh approximately 110 pounds, for all occupants regardless of their size. As such, some of these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, a larger front passenger seat occupant may not be properly restrained and be at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update in the air bag electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles may have improper software installed in the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) for the operation of the front passenger seat belt force limiter, and as a result, the force limiter may use the restraint setting designed for small occupants, such as those that weigh approximately 110 pounds, for all occupants regardless of their size. As such, some of these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: In the event of a crash, a larger front passenger seat occupant may not be properly restrained and be at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update in the air bag electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Seat Belts

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles may have improper software installed in the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) for the operation of the front passenger seat belt force limiter, and as a result, the force limiter may use the restraint setting designed for small occupants, such as those that weigh approximately 110 pounds, for all occupants regardless of their size. As such, some of these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: In the event of a crash, a larger front passenger seat occupant may not be properly restrained and be at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update in the air bag electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

14V274000 · Seats:mid/rear Assembly

May 22, 2014

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander vehicles manufactured April 23, 2014, through April 29, 2014. The affected vehicles may have a second row right-hand seat assembly that does not fully lock into the inboard seat track in the forward first, second and third adjusting positions. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the seat does not fully lock into the inboard seat track, the seat could move, increasing the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the second row right-hand seat, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

14V051000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Feb 7, 2014

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander vehicles manufactured November 20, 2013, through January 18, 2014. The third row middle seat belt assembly might not have been properly secured to the vehicle floor anchorage during vehicle assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A seat belt that is not properly secured to its anchorage could increase the risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row middle seat belt anchor, and, if necessary, properly secure it to the vehicle floor anchorage, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in March 2014. Owners may 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.