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 ↗2019 Toyota Highlander body problems
severe Owners of the 2019 Toyota Highlander have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the body 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 →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Highlander | 19 |
| 2016 Highlander | 4 |
| 2017 Highlander | 6 |
| 2018 Highlander | 8 |
| 2019 Highlander (this page) | 11 |
| 2020 Highlander | 27 |
| 2021 Highlander | 40 |
| 2022 Highlander | 38 |
| 2023 Highlander | 29 |
3crashes
1injury
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 three main categories of body defects. Sunroof glass spontaneously shatters, cracks, or implodes without any external impact—at speeds ranging from parked to 65 mph, in temperatures as low as 47°F and on hot afternoons. The glass is not safety glass; one owner notes the sunshade was the only thing preventing occupants from being covered in glass. Toyota refuses warranty coverage, claiming no responsibility.
Excessive wind noise entering the cabin at speeds above 30 mph is a persistent complaint. Multiple owners confirm Toyota's own dealers acknowledge this as a documented design flaw. Toyota has tried adding minute triangular pieces to problem areas without success, and dealers refuse further repair attempts.
Additional body failures include a front bumper clip that repeatedly fails and pops out—dealers won't repair it under warranty and suggest pushing it back in manually. One owner reported all doors unlocking when the tailgate is opened, though the dealership could not replicate the issue at 4,800 miles. Water is leaking into the interior from electrical component areas after multiple dealer visits without resolution.
Same Toyota Highlander body reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Sunroof glass spontaneous failure
Sunroof glass shatters, cracks, or implodes without external impact while vehicle is in motion or stationary. Owners report the glass exploding outward or inward, leaving large holes or total failure of the panel. The glass is not safety glass, posing a hazard to occupants.
When: While driving at various speeds (30 mph, 55 mph, 65 mph); also reported while parked. Temperatures noted as low as 47°F and hot afternoons.
Symptoms owners cite: Spontaneous shattering of sunroof glass; Loud explosive or firecracker-like sound; Large hole or total failure in glass panel; Glass appears to explode outward; No external impact or debris involved; Interior sunshade sometimes kept glass contained
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota has refused to cover under warranty, claiming no responsibility. Dealerships have not attempted repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota corporation will not cover the issue or take responsibility, per dealership communication. Treated as non-warranty item.
Excessive wind noise at highway speeds
Wind noise enters the cabin at highway speeds, causing distraction and annoyance. Owners report the issue is a documented ergonomic design flaw. Toyota has attempted various minute triangular additions at points of concern without success.
When: Persistent issue at speeds over 30 mph.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud wind noise in cabin; Excessive noise at highway speeds; Distracting and annoying; Confirmed as design flaw by dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer service manager acknowledged it was a design flaw. Toyota attempted repairs with minute triangular additions without success. Dealer refused to attempt further repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota acknowledged design flaw; attempted fixes with minute triangular additions did not resolve issue.
Front bumper clip failure and detachment
Front bumper pops out repeatedly due to clip failure. When pushed back into place, the bumper does not remain secured and will pop out again. The bumper itself is not damaged.
When: Recurring issue; owner returned to dealer 3 times.
Symptoms owners cite: Front bumper pops out; Will not stay in place after being pushed back; No physical damage to bumper itself
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer identified clip replacement as needed. Clip replacement is not covered under extended warranty. Dealer told owner to push bumper back in when it pops out rather than repair the clip.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No coverage under extended warranty for clip replacement.
Door lock malfunction on tailgate operation
Opening the tailgate causes all other doors to unlock unexpectedly. Owner expressed safety concerns. Failure occurred at low mileage.
When: At 4,800 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: All other doors unlock when tailgate is opened; Unexpected door unlock event
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to replicate the failure during diagnosis and testing.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware and scheduled appointment; dealership could not replicate failure so no repair performed.
Water intrusion into interior and electrical components
Vehicle leaks water into the interior, specifically from electrical component areas. Owner is concerned water may have infiltrated airbag systems, potentially causing malfunction.
When: Ongoing issue; owner took vehicle to dealership 3 times.
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaking into interior; Water coming from electrical component areas; Potential airbag system exposure to moisture
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership visits have not resolved the issue.
Unexpected vehicle motion and uncontrolled acceleration
Vehicle rolled backward while parked on what owner believed was level ground, and in a separate report, vehicle accelerated suddenly and struck another vehicle multiple times at low speed.
When: Parked in parking lot (first incident); during low-speed turn into Starbucks (second incident).
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolled backward while parked; Audible beep from steering wheel area before rolling; Vehicle accelerated suddenly and struck another vehicle three times; Owner believes accelerator was stuck
Repairs/costs cited: First incident: Toyota brought vehicle to dealership, investigated for 4 weeks, and reported finding nothing wrong. Second incident: no repair information provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota investigation concluded vehicle had no problem despite incident resulting in injury and property damage.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2019 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 2019 Toyota Highlander?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 12,003 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2019/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.