2018 Toyota Highlander

On July 27, I was driving on a major multi-lane road going approximately 35 miles going to the World Toyota for an oil change. All of a sudden, the vehicle decelerated to almost a stop. I gingerly navigated the vehicle to the side of the road. There was no warning that there was something wrong with the vehicle. After navigating to the side of the road a warning light appeared that said traction control is off. I called World Toyota, told them what happened and they suggested that I get the vehicle towed if I felt I couldn’t drive it. I was about 1/4 mile away from the dealer. The vehicle was a safety hazard, therefore, I had the vehicle towed to the dealer. On July 28, the World Toyota service advisor informed me that 2 of the 6 fuel injectors had failed—#s1 and 4. He advised me the best route would be to replace all 6 at a cost of $3500. He agreed with me that it is odd for fuel injectors to fail on a vehicle with only 48K. We have driven this car very little since purchasing shortly before the COVID lock down in early 2020. I spoke with customer relations at Toyota and they have offered to pay to replace the 2 failed injectors, but have refused to pay the installation costs. I am concerned that the failure the injectors is a huge safely issue for Toyota Highlander owners. I saw where the injector issue has been discussed for 2019 model Highlanders. Here is the information in the inspection report from dealer [“ CUSTOMER STATES THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO DECELEARATE AND THEN STARTED JERKING. VEHICLE TOWED IN. 1HR DIAGNOSTIC APPROVED. remove intake manifold OBSERVATIONS: MULTIPLE CODES FOR OPEN CIRCUIT TO DIRECT INJECTION.NEED TO REMOVE INTAKE MANIFOLD TO INSPECT FUEL INJECTORS”] The information about which injectors failed was given to me by phone by my service advisor, Matthew Bailey. I uploaded the picture sent of mechanic working on vehicle.

Driving on the FWY at 67 MPH.I received “Braking Power Low, stop at a safe place” I pulled over and went to a Toyota dealership and they told me it is not covered and considered as a recall for my vehicle. EVEN though the same problems have been identified for the same make and vehicle under recall #18V211000 Please help. I don’t think it’s right that Toyota can say it is not covered simply because they haven’t identified it with my specific vin and or the manufacturer they used.

Toyota issued a service bulletin for my vehicle in 2020 to address surging front brakes. In April, 2020 my vehicle experienced surging that caused severe shimmy of the front of the entire vehicle in downhill braking at highway speed. Kendall Toyota, Bend, OR replaced the entire front brake system under the bulletin. The mileage was approx. 26,500. That problem recurred about June 13, 2021 in the same circumstances. The mileage was approximately 36,500. Kendall indicates that Toyota has not issued a new service bulletin covering this condition. Kendall found all brake system parts to be in good condition, but noted that "front rotors severely glazed. ... typically be (sic) due to heat caused by repeat high speed/downhill braking, or longer periods of brake applications while driving." Prior service records (every 5K miles) show no unusual brake wear/rotor glazing -- ever.

Upon turning on the vehicle the brake peddle locked and the steering wheel. Message prompted "braking power low, stop in safe place". After that all electronic features failed and vehicle did not turn on at all. Vehicle wouldn't even lock. Mine and my families safety was at risk due to the fact that this could have happened while the vehicle was in motion and all steering and braking abilities are lost. The vehicle is scheduled to be seen. No warning signs/lampsor other symptoms where present prior to the incident.

Accordingly to Toyota vehicle Maintenance Schedule, the vacuum pump for the brake booster needs to be replaced as a regular maintenance or "wear" item every 120,000 miles. This is a very expensive maintenance item (>$600 in parts, ~$1000 including labor and shop materials), that needs to be performed by a Toyota certified technician. In addition to being very expensive, what will discourage many vehicle owners from performing this service, one may expect that many owners who perform their own vehicle maintenance or use independent mechanic shops will simply miss this service altogether. Being a safety critical item, the vacuum pump should be designed to last the entire lifespan of the vehicle (just like other brake system components: ABS pump, vacuum booster, master cylinder, etc.). The short lifespan of the vacuum pump and the requirement to replace it on a regular basis is indicative of a defective or deficient design. Making the replacement of the vacuum pump a scheduled maintenance item is a just way for Toyota to avoid liability due to premature failures of a substandard safety component, especially in light that other brake system components are designed to last for the entire life of the vehicle, and are not considered wear items in the maintenance schedule (except for brake pads, of course). Toyota should redesign the vacuum pump to increase its lifespan in-line with the rest of the brake system components, and perform the replacement under a safety recall or service campaign, at no cost to vehicle owners.

Car is not properly wired to tow a trailer equipped with electric brakes. Toyota advertises the Highlander as having 5000 lb towing capacity. On the other hand, trailers weighing 3000 lb or more are required by law to be equipped with trailers brakes in most states. However, the Highlander's towing wire harness does not include the necessary wiring and 7-pin connector to power trailer brakes. Highlander OEM wiring harness only includes a 4-pin connector (which does not have output for a car-mounted brake controller nor 12V output to charge trailer's breakaway battery or power a trailer-mounted brake controller). Toyota's claim that the Highlander is capable of towing 5000 lb, but not equipping the car with essential safety equipment to do so is an unsafe condition (and false advertising). It could lead the car owners / operators to believe that it is acceptable to tow a 3000 lb or more trailer with the Highlander using the OEM 4-pin connector only, creating a serious safety hazard to themselves and other road users. Toyota should either equip the Highlander with proper wiring harness and 7-pin connector that allows the use of an on-board brake controller, or withdraw the towing capacity claim.

2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN PARKING LOT UNTOUCHED ( WARM SUNNY DAY) . VEHICLE WAS PARKED . OWNER USED THE REMOTE HATCH OPENING BUTTON ON THE KEY REMOTE. WHEN THE HATCH/ LIFT GATE STARTED OPENING A LOUD CRACKING / BUSTING SOUND WAS MADE. THE SPOILER WAS SEPARATING ON THE SIDES FROM THE HATCH AS WELL. UPON INSPECTION, THE INSIDE PLASTIC HATCH COMPONENT HOLDING THE GLASS WINDOW WAS CRACKED IN 2 PLACES AND THE METAL PIECE INSIDE HATCH WAS BENT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE HATCH / LIFT GATE IS SUPPOSE TO SEPARATE HOWEVER HATCH WAS RUBBING UP AGAINST THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RISK , THE SPOILER LOCATED ON THE BACK OF VEHICLE ATTACHED TO THE HATCH , BECAME DETACHED FROM ITS MOUNTED POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE SPOILER TO SEPARATE AND OBSTRUCT THE HATCH LIFT GATE. SPOILER LOCATED ON BACK IS CAUSING THE LIFT GATE TO NOT OPEN AND WHEN OWNER OPENS THE HATCH THE DETACHED SPOILER WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO HATCH /LIFT GATE.

1) BIGGEST ISSUE: I BOUGHT MY SUV NEW. IT WAS ADVERTISED 30/28 MPG. MY AVERAGE MPG SINCE I BOUGHT IT IS 22-23. 2) IT SLIDES WITH BARELY ANY ICE OR RAIN. IT IS AWFUL. IT SLIDE BACKWARD DOWN A SMALL HILL LAST YEAR & CAUSED ME TO CRASH. POLICE RESPONDED BUT WERE TOO BUSY WITH OTHER INCIDENTS TO WRITE A REPORT. I HAD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES & RENTAL CAR FEES FOR THE 5-6 WEEKS IT TOOK TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I LIVE IN THE PNW AND HAVE DRIVEN IN SNOW 35 YEARS. I'VE NEVER HAD SUCH BAD PERFORMANCE. I HAD TO BY MICHELIN ICE TIRES THIS YEAR BC OUR SUV IS SO BAD IN SNOW & ICE. 3) I WAS IN A MINOR COLLISION IN A PARKING LOT BC I DIDN'T SEE ANOTHER CAR BACKING OUT AT THE SAME TIME AND THE COLLISION SENSOR DIDN'T GO OFF. MY SENSORS WERE CLEAN 4) WHEN THE SENSORS HAVE EVEN THE SMALLEST LAYER OF SNOW THEY STOP WORKING. THAT MAKES THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM STOP WORKING TOO. VERY FRUSTRATING. THE RESULT OF THESE ISSUES IS AN INCREASE BY $800/MO OF MY AUTO INSURANCE. BEFORE THIS SUV I HADN'T EVEN HAD A SPEEDING TICKET IN 14 YEARS. DATE OF ACCIDENT LISTED IS APPROXIMATION. NOW I HAVE 2 COLLISIONS. WISH I HAD PURCHASED SOMETHING ELSE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT 50 MPH CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE 5 INJURED REPORTED AND 3 NEEDED MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO POLICE LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.