Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Toyota Highlander body problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Toyota Highlander have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 17,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Highlander | 25 |
| 2012 Highlander | 21 |
| 2013 Highlander | 13 |
| 2014 Highlander | 27 |
| 2015 Highlander (this page) | 19 |
| 2016 Highlander | 4 |
| 2017 Highlander | 6 |
| 2018 Highlander | 8 |
| 2019 Highlander | 11 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation and corrosive action also occur more rapidly on dark colored cars as direct sun heat increases. It
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles such as rail dust during rail transportation or extended storage near industrial ar
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report multiple body-system failures on 2015 Highlanders, with door actuators emerging as the most consistent complaint. At mileage as low as 9,000 miles, front driver and passenger door actuators fail, trapping occupants or preventing entry even when the vehicle is unlocked via keyfob. Several owners describe having to access the vehicle through rear doors or use the hidden manual key as a workaround. One owner at 65,000 miles had to replace the front driver actuator, then the passenger actuator within days, with a third door beginning to fail.
Hatch and liftgate problems are widespread. Some owners report the power rear hatch stops closing 8 inches short and requires manual effort to shut; others describe complete liftgate failure to open. One critical complaint details the power liftgate's inadequate safety design—it lacks an immediate-stop or easy-reverse function like modern garage doors, posing serious crush-injury risk if a person is in the closing path.
Paint defects appear in multiple reports: blizzard pearl paint peels off the roof, leading to rust and structural damage. Toyota has a recall for this paint defect on other models but excludes the Highlander, and dealers refuse repair. Water leakage through front door molding occurs in wet weather despite dealer claims the vehicle meets specifications. One owner reports a sunroof that exploded without impact while driving at highway speed, and another describes interior headliner material burning and melting without warning.
Same Toyota Highlander body reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Power Liftgate Safety Hazard
Power liftgate lacks adequate reverse or immediate-stop function. When lowering, requires significant force to reverse contact with an object; inadequate for preventing injury if a person is in the closing path. Owner states the feature does not match safety standards of automatic garage-door closers.
Symptoms owners cite: Power liftgate closes without readily reversing when contacted; Requires excessive force to activate reverse mechanism; Operator must precisely locate and activate stop control by feel or sight
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner reported issue to Toyota with file number [redacted]
Door Lock Actuator Failure
Door lock actuators fail and prevent doors from opening from the outside, even when unlocked via keyfob or manual key. Multiple instances reported; owner had to replace actuators on driver-side front door and passenger-side front door. A third door experienced the same failure but was not yet repaired.
When: Around 65,000 miles; front driver-side actuator failure in second week of February 2018; front passenger-side actuator failure in late February 2018
Symptoms owners cite: Rear driver-side door would not open, child could not be accessed from that door; Front driver-side door did not open; Front passenger-side door did not open; Driver-side door fails to unlock from outside when activated via keyfob or manual key; opens fine from inside; Driver and passenger doors failed to unlock without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Lugoff Toyota diagnosed door lock actuator failure; owner replaced front driver-side and passenger-side actuators; third instance not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failures by dealer
Water Leakage Through Door Molding
Water leaks inside the vehicle through the molding on the front driver and passenger doors during inclement weather. Molding is not sealed properly to prevent infiltration.
When: Approximately 700 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaks through front door molding during rain; Failure recurs on numerous occasions
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer technician stated vehicle was working to specifications; manufacturer notified
Tailgate/Hatch Open Failure
Tailgate fails to open when prompted. One report indicates the tailgate will not lift up; another notes constant beeping from driver-side panel when hatch malfunctions.
When: Around 17,000 miles; another at 71,933 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate fails to open without warning; Hatch will not lift up when prompted; Constant beeping noise from driver-side panel during malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: One owner took vehicle to Truck Farm of Easley; cause undetermined, vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer provided case number 1810172395; owner referred to NHTSA
Automatic Rear Hatch Closing Malfunction
Automatic rear hatch begins to close but stops approximately 8 inches from fully closed. Manual closure then required, which demands effort. Occurs both in garage and outside, on level surfaces and inclines.
Symptoms owners cite: Automatic rear hatch stops closing before fully shut; Hatch stalls about 8 inches from fully closed position; Requires manual closure with significant effort
Blizzard Pearl Paint Peeling and Corrosion
Blizzard pearl paint peels off the roof and possibly vehicle sides, exposing bare metal and leading to rust and compromised structural integrity. Toyota has an open recall for blizzard pearl paint on other models, but Highlander is excluded from this recall despite documented paint failures.
Symptoms owners cite: Paint peeling from roof; Paint possibly peeling from vehicle sides; Rust forming beneath peeled paint; Structural integrity compromised
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers inspected but refused repair; owners cite paint defect and noted expiration of Toyota Consumer Support program
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota inspected vehicles and declined repair; stated Highlander not included in blizzard pearl paint recall despite known defect
Door Check Stop Failure
Driver-side door check stop fails during normal use of opening and closing the door. Part has failed at least twice, which owner states is unusual for this component.
When: First failure in February 2017
Symptoms owners cite: Door check stop fails during normal operation; Door check stop fails a second time
Sunroof Glass Shattering
Sunroof glass spontaneously shatters or explodes while vehicle is in operation. Two separate incidents reported: one with loud explosion while driving on highway at 85 degrees with no external impact; another at 70 mph on freeway with no object contact.
Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof glass explodes with loud noise while driving; Sunroof glass shatters on highway; Glass fails without external impact or strike; Visor shut during incident provided minimal protection
Interior Headliner Burning and Melting
Interior headliner material burns and melts without warning while vehicle is in use.
Symptoms owners cite: Headliner burns without warning; Headliner melts without warning
Water Intrusion in Rear Stop Light
Water enters the rear brake light assembly during rain or wet conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: Rainwater enters rear brake light housing
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Paint is peeling off my car, This is confirmed by Toyota it was covered by the Consumer Support program which expired in July however the paint did not start peeling off until last week.Toyota said that there wasn't anything they could do. this is clearly a manufacture defect and should be repair by Toyota at no charge to me.
Unknown-tailgate failure keeps beeping will not automatically go up or down not sure why?
Had body trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Toyota Highlander?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 19 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 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 14,600 and 70,000 miles, with the median around 17,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,600; a quarter make it past 70,000. 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/2015/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.