2009 Toyota Highlander owner complaints

Noticed large oil puddle in driveway. Had car towed as oil loss could have caused fatal damage to the engine. The oil line was diagnosed as dry rotted and needed to be replaced. The replacement oil line was vastly different than that of the original line indicating a problem with the previous design. The leak began while driving and we were able to trace the oil for miles leading home. The oil indicator light did not come on to warn of low oil. Toyota did recall other vehicles for the same problem however not this particular make and model. After talking to Toyota's recall department I was told if I had had the repairs taken care of at a Toyota dealership I may have been able to be reimbursed slightly (a percentage of the bill) however since I used the shop of my choice there is no

2009 highlander, purchased new, had 105000 miles on 3.5l v6 engine. Oil changed every 7000 miles, fully synthetic. No warning lights or engine noises prior to incident. Car started after work, drove .6 mile. Started running very rough, pulled over to shoulder thinking I had a flat tire. Car died before finishing maneuver, coasted to shoulder. Engine would not start. Towed to repair shop, they diagnosed "engine fully seized up". Contacted Toyota, they offered no satisfaction as " car not being repaired by dealer, not under warranty". I find this answer to be wrong, due to low mileage, history of maintenance, no reason for catastrophic failure of engine. Mechanic stated theory of "oil ports clogging up", since heard theory of "oil pump failure".

When starting it would make grinding noise,sounds like metallic noise until the engine oil starts circulating.Dealer said that its normal due to cold starts but this can happen even when the engine is up to temperature.Toyota refuse to remedy the issue.

I was traveling 50 -60 miles per hour on the new jersey garden state parkway. While driving all of a sudden a huge vibration occurred through out the vehicle. While it vibrated a loud noise occurred. It was so loud my dog began to bark and my ears could not take the noise of the vehicle. I tried to brake and the noise continued as well as the vibration. I continued to try and get in the right lane however the noise and vibration continued. The vibration felt like when you go across speed bumps that gives a rumble sound. The road was smooth and there were no speed bumps however it felt as if I was going over speed bumps. On 10/25/12 I took the vehicle to Toyota of hackensack nj where the vehicle was purchased on. I informed the service guy about the situation. They did a multi-po

2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid; mileage 97,849. While driving a red BRAKE alert showed up along with an ABS light, traction symbol and an encircled exclamation mark. This malfunction (which I now see is a known safety issue) shut down my regular braking system and I had to use the emergency brake to stop. A message appeared telling me to pull over to a safe spot and contact my dealer. A shrill high pitched sound also went off. How can a faulty designed ABS module that blocks the braking system from working when it fails not be under a safety recall - just an expired Safety Bulletin? I was fortunate to think to use my emergency brake to stop to avoid an accident and injury to myself and/or others. Vehicle was towed to Gates Toyota, South Bend, IN. if you wish to contact them regardi

2009 vehicle (manufactured 9/2008) only has 83k miles on it. Croaking sound for week or so and then one morning ABS failure warning on display. Codes are c1241 and c1391. Same problem as others. Needs new ABS pump and actuator. The parts are #44050-48320 and #44070-48020and cost over $3k for parts alone. Very disappointed in Toyota, I thought Toyota quality was better than this.

The vehicle suddenly lost power on the highway. The car was still running, but there was no power to the wheels. The front differential had failed due to a leak in the front of the transfer case. This failure caused the transmission to fail as well. *tr

I purchased a 2009 Toyota highlander, in february 2009. On june 1, 2009, I was northeast of rockville, indiana on highway 47 in this Toyota highlander. I approached a slow moving vehicle on a straight section of roadway and passed the vehicle. As I was passing I felt like the car was going faster than I was accelerating. When I pulled back into the right lane the car was going even faster and I realized that the car was accelerating on its own. Luckily, I was still on a long straight section of the road and had some time. I first tried to brake but the car kept going even faster. I put the car in neutral and started braking and luckily found a place to pull off the road. I was completely shocked that the engine was racing uncontrollably. I looked down at the accelerator and nothing w

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota highlander. The contact stated that the driver's window intermittently ceased to function. The failure occurred without warning. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 103,659. The VIN was not provided.

The sun visor repeatedly flops down obscuring the driver's view. The visor will not stay in the "up" position. Also when entering the vehicle, if the visor is in the vertical position, I.e. Not up where it should be, the driver will hit his/her head on the edge of the visor. This issue is not new to this vehicle, there has been a recall for earlier year models as well as other Toyota models as well.

3 times over the last month, while I was driving my vehicle, the car suddenly lost power while I was driving on the highway. All the dashboard lights flashed on, check engine light and warning lights illuminated. The vehicle lost power, the accelerator was not working, and I was just barely able to pull the car over to the side of the road. Car turned off and was able to turn back on, now with illuminated check engine light and check hybrid system warning light illuminated. This is a big safety issue as the car is losing power in the middle of the road while my foot is on the accelerator. The first time this happened I was able to pull a couple codes from the code reader. Codes were: u0001 & u0100 the second and 3rd time this happened there were no codes coming up on the code reader.

Liftgate will not close or open when automatic button is pushed either on the dash or the button on the liftgate itself. Stays open and have to force the liftgate down manually. At times liftgate will open by itself while stationary or vehicle is moving. Closing or opening the liftgate automatically problem has be ongoing for about 6 months. Brought to dealership and they could not repair, but I could take to body shop for repair. Currently a service bulletin has been issued, but should be a safety recall.

I have not had an accident with this vehicle, however I was told by Toyota to check this website to see if my particular year and model is one of the ones affected by the airbag malfunction. If so, I want to get it in to be repaired as soon as possible in case there is an accident and someone in my vehicle is killed or injured. I am a sports mom so at times I have 6 children in my vehicle and 2 are my grandchildren. *tr

Without prejudice my vehicle was rear -ended by another vehicle at speed of approximately 75, and got crashed on to the car in front at speed of 40 to 50. Air bags failed to deploy and dash board indicator light came on and it does not go off. I strongly believe this is a manufacturer defect. This SUV consists with six air bags. Non of them responded. I purchase with confidence that air bags are in working order. Manufacturer risk our life for nearly two years. I deserve compensation for risking 6 lives. *tr

Sunshine kids radian xtsl latch loosens itself. Two times I've gone to put my 2 year old into her seat and the latch has had at least 2 inches of slack!! Please fix this!! (related vehicle information: model year=2009, make=Toyota, model=highlander). *tr

Door lock on front driver door does not lock when remote or door button inside car pressed. Gives impression door is locking when it is not. *tr

The power arm broke off of the rear power lift gate when closing. The driver side hinge on the rear power liftgate is bowed. *tr

Our car has 17,000. Miles and turns out the tires are bare in spots and the car hydroplaned and skidded and would not hold the road in a light snowstorm. We often skidded right into oncoming traffic. We have driven many suvs over the years -we are 69- and never had a problem. Toyota emailed to us that the toyo a20 p245/55r19 open country tires the car came with are not meant for driving in snow. We live in vt and the car was sold to us as an all wheel drive car for driving in snow. I have looked at the internet and others have had the same problem with these tires. I feel there should be a recall on them before someone is killed. My son just purchase a new highlander and I worry his tires are the same. *tr

Accelerator stuck all the way to floor on 2009 Toyota highlander while vacationing in tennessee on i40. Had to weave thru traffic to shoulder while traveling towards 100 MPH, mashing full force to the floor all the time during incident. Very frightening. Car is presently returned to dealership, but no action has been taken & they can't find "anything wrong." I am afraid to drive the vehicle now. This was a life threatening event, but I don't feel Toyota is treating as such. I am trying to find some help as to what to do. It has only happened once, but there could have been serious consequences to both my husband and I and for other vehicles on the road. *tr the consumer has since traded the vehicle. Updated 04/05/10*jb