The glass on the driver side window is off the rails and would come off the window at an angle when its being raised. Currently we cannot roll the window glass up and down. Similar symptons are being seen on the passenger side window now . I have owned cars in the past and this is the first time I am seeing this kind of an issue and Toyota refuses to consider this as a quality issue. When I go…
2011 Toyota Highlander body problems
moderate 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 25 body complaints filed for the 2011 Toyota Highlander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 25 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
I pressed the rear hatch button to close it from driver's seat, hatch arm broke and spewed plastic and metal parts while parked, onto mall parking lot. Toyota states "rod has fallen off of motor connect...t-sb-0038-15 power back door does not close properly...big gap on driver side hinge for back hatch."Toyota sold me $2299 service contract w/portfolio elite protection plan which says will not…
The auto liftgate for the rear door would not go up and down. Toyota has refused to fix this problem even though a service bulletin has gone out for this defect! *tr
The automatic latch of the liftgate started to fail. The liftgate not longer opens automatically. I was told it is probably the motor and the parts cost alone is over $1,200. I cannot afford this and am doing without that feature, but annoyed! *tr
Rear lift gate stopped opening and closing with button on dash. Hydraulic arm popped off. Was able to reattach, but Toyota dealer said it would keep happening because the hinges of the door were separating from the door and to get that repaired I would need to send it to the body shop. The arm has since snapped in half and the door can only be opened/closed manually, but Toyota warned me that…
The open rear automatic door failed, immediately closing on my wife's back as she was removing a bag from the rear cargo area. The failure happened without warning and came down hard. As the vehicle is out of warranty, Toyota would not replace at their cost. *tr
Had body trouble with your 2011 Toyota Highlander?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2011 Toyota Highlander?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 25 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 30,000 and 57,225 miles, with the median around 46,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 57,225. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Toyota/Highlander.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.