2015 Toyota Highlander

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR TO REMOVE HIS DAUGHTER FROM THE CAR SEAT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT HAD TO GO AROUND AND OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR IN ORDER TO GET THE INFANT OUT OF THE SEAT. ADDITIONALLY, DURING THE SECOND WEEK OF FEBRUARY OF 2018, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ACTUATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT DID NOT OPEN. AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR ACTUATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD DOOR THAT EXPERIENCED ACTUATOR FAILURE. THE DEALER (LUGOFF TOYOTA IN LUGOFF, NORTH CAROLINA) DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE OWNER THE FIRST TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED A THIRD TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR FAILED TO PROPERLY OPEN AND CLOSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE OR THE DOOR WOULD REMAIN OPEN. THE VEHILCE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (FURIEL TOYOTA PONCE, INDUSTRIAL SAN RAFAEL, 00731, CALLE NAVARRA, PONCE, PUERTO RICO, 1-787-284-2020) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON NOVEMBER 1, 2017. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,400. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (ATLANTA TOYOTA LOCATED AT 2345 PLEASANT HILL RD, DULUTH, GA 30096; (770) 872-0087) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE REAR HATCH MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT LIFT UP WHEN PROMPTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD A CONSTANT BEEPING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE PANEL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

INTERMITTENT CLOSING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC REAR HATCH. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THE REAR HATCH WILL BEGIN TO CLOSE BUT STOP ABOUT 8 INCHES FROM FULLY CLOSING. THE DOOR MUST THEN BE CLOSED MANUALLY WHICH REQUIRES EFFORT. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS BOTH INSIDE OUR GARAGE AND OUTSIDE IN NUMEROUS LOCATIONS. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON A LEVEL SURFACE AS WELL AS AN INCLINE.

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STRAIGHT GOING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT WHEN A VEHICLE TRAVELING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ATTEMPTED TO MAKE LEFT-HAND TURN AND STRUCK THE FRONT OF THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2015. BOTH CARS WERE IN MOTION WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. WHEN THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2015 WAS BROUGHT TO THE BODY SHOP TO BE REPAIRED THE APPRAISER INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND THEY NEEDED TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR DEFECTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED DUE TO THE REAR BOLTS ON THE FRAME BEING TOO TIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BOLTS WERE NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY ASSOCIATED WITH THE TORQUE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE SUBFRAME AND STATED THAT IT DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR HYBRID DRIVE MOTOR, REAR DIFFERENTIAL, THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM THE MOTOR TO THE MUFFLER, AND THE DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE FURTHER INSPECTED AND REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO WAITED LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS FOR THE PARTS TO RECEIVE THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FRAME. THE SECOND DEALER, A MANUFACTURER'S TECHNICIAN, FURTHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CRACKED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CONTACT HAD THE OPTION OF RECEIVING A REPAIR OF THE FRAME BEING WELDED OR VARIOUS PARTS WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME, WHICH WAS AN EXTENSIVE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION TO PERMANENTLY REPAIR THE CONDITION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,562. UPDATED 06/14/16*LJ *TR

THIS HIGHLANDER HAS A POWER LIFTGATE. IF A CHILD OR ADULT GETS IN THE WAY OF THE LIFTGATE WHEN IT IS LOWERING, THE CHILD OR ADULT CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED, CRUSHED OR KILLED BECAUSE THE LIFTGATE HAS NO EASY REVERSING FEATURE. IT DOES REVERSE WHEN IT HITS AN OBJECT BUT THE FORCE REQUIRED TO MAKE IT REVERSE IS TOO GREAT AND WILL HURT OR KILL A HUMAN WHO GETS IN THE WAY. PEOPLE OFTEN REACH IN THE TRUNK TO FETCH SOMETHING AFTER THE OPERATOR DECIDES TO CLOSE THE TRUNK. IF THIS HAPPENS WITH THE POWER CLOSER, THE OPERATOR MUST KNOW THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE STOP CONTROL EITHER BY FEEL OR BY SIGHT TO STOP THE OPERATION OF THE LIFTGATE IN ORDER TO PREVENT INJURY. THIS IS ASKING TOO MUCH OF THE OPERATOR. THE LIFT GATE SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO REVERSE OR STOP IMMEDIATELY JUST LIKE THE SAFETY FEATURES ON AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR CLOSERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOME GETS HURT OR KILLED. I HAVE ALREADY POINTED THIS OUT TO TOYOTA AND THE FILE NUMBER IS #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR