TSB: The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. Follow the procedures outlined in this service bulletin to aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2022 Toyota Highlander visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2022 Toyota Highlander have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the visibility at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Highlander | 5 |
| 2019 Highlander | 5 |
| 2020 Highlander | 5 |
| 2021 Highlander | 13 |
| 2022 Highlander (this page) | 14 |
| 2023 Highlander | 4 |
What stands out
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility 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.
TSB: Some 2020 ? 2022 model year Highlander and RAV4 vehicles, and 2022 model year Tundra vehicles equipped with a start/stop switch may exhibit water entry to the vehicle from the HVAC drain hose being disconnected from the air conditioning radiator assembly and/or a grease/oil odor emitting from the vents. This condition may be caused by paraffin wax leaking from the evaporator. Follow the repair procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2020 ? 2022 model year Highlander and RAV4 vehicles, and 2022 model year Tundra vehicles equipped with a start/stop switch may exhibit water entry to the vehicle from the HVAC drain hose being disconnected from the air conditioning radiator assembly and/or a grease/oil odor emitting from the vents. This condition may be caused by paraffin wax leaking from the evaporator.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: When used in conjunction with the Repair Manual, these Blind Spot Monitor, Forward Recognition Camera, and Front Millimeter Wave Radar tips leverage SSTs and readily available tools to support target placement in varying shop environments.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Cold-weather fogging ranks as the most consistent complaint. In temperatures 20–25°F and below, all windows and the windshield fog heavily even with the defroster on maximum. Frost accumulates at the top of the glass where heat does not blow directly. Owners report needing to pull over repeatedly to wipe or scrape the windshield to maintain visibility. One owner found technical bulletins (T-SB-0020-19 and T-SB-0024-22) that described the exact problem, self-repaired, and resolved it—but the 2022 Highlander is not listed in those bulletins. Dealers have offered only generic advice or replaced components like the thermostat with no improvement.
Driver side mirror vibration at speeds above 20 MPH is the second major pattern. The glass shakes noticeably, worse at highway speeds and over road bumps. At night, oncoming headlights reflect off the vibrating glass, creating a flickering distraction. Multiple owners report that Toyota and dealerships acknowledge this as a known issue affecting all 2022 Highlanders but state they cannot fix it. Similar repair bulletins exist for the RAV4 and Lexus models.
Windshield quality concerns round out the cluster: glass that chips easily, develops cracks without impact, exploded at low mileage (sunroof), and shows milky obscuring patterns or interior defects that create glare. One mirror cover detached mid-drive without any prior damage. Wipers also quit without warning in one case.
Same Toyota Highlander visibility reports on nearby years: 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive windshield and window fogging in cold weather
Windows and windshield fog excessively in temperatures below 25°F even with front defroster on high. Frost accumulates at top of windshield and side windows. Multiple defroster adjustments do not resolve the issue. Owners report needing to pull over and manually wipe or scrape glass repeatedly. One owner identified and repaired defect per TSBs T-SB-0020-19 and T-SB-0024-22.
When: In temperatures 20-25°F and below; onset within 10-30 minutes of driving
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive fogging on all windows and windshield; Frost formation at top of windshield and side windows; Fogging persists despite defroster on high; Side windows (driver and passenger) do not always clear; Rear passenger windows do not clear
Repairs/costs cited: One owner self-repaired using TSB instructions and resolved the issue; dealer replaced thermostat on another vehicle with no resolution; another dealer stated no mechanical problem found despite repeated complaints
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB T-SB-0020-19 and T-SB-0024-22 address this issue but 2022 Highlander is not listed in applicable TSBs
Driver side mirror vibration at highway speeds
Driver side mirror glass vibrates when driving, especially at speeds exceeding 20 MPH and at highway speeds. Vibration worsens with speed and becomes more pronounced when struck by oncoming vehicle headlights at night, creating flickering reflections that distract the driver. Vibration also occurs over small bumps or road imperfections. Owners report Toyota and dealers acknowledge this as a known issue affecting all 2022 Highlanders but state they cannot correct it. Similar TSBs exist for RAV4 and Lexus models.
When: At speeds above 20 MPH; worse at highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Mirror glass vibrates during operation; Vibration worsens at highway speeds; Visibility blurred during mirror vibration; Hazardous during lane changes; Oncoming headlights cause flickering reflection that distracts driver at night; Vibration occurs over road bumps and imperfections
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers state they are aware of the problem but unable to correct it
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Known issue acknowledged by Toyota and dealerships; similar TSBs exist for RAV4 and Lexus models but not applied to Highlander
Driver side mirror cover detachment
Driver side mirror cover (plastic) detached and flew off vehicle while driving on highway. No prior impact or damage to the part. The entire mirror cover can only be replaced by purchasing complete $1500 mirror assembly.
When: During highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Mirror cover flew off vehicle unexpectedly; No prior impact or damage to part
Repairs/costs cited: Entire $1500 side mirror assembly replacement required; plastic cover not sold separately
Sunroof glass explosion
Sunroof glass exploded unexpectedly while driving. No impact caused the failure. No injuries sustained. Vehicle was repaired and covered under warranty.
When: At approximately 2,050 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof glass exploded without impact
Repairs/costs cited: Covered under warranty; vehicle repaired by dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Covered under warranty
Windshield obscuring milky pattern and glare
Windshield develops obscuring milky pattern under certain weather conditions that significantly reduces visibility. On driver side, an inside crack or defect spreads and causes glare while driving. Defect appears to be between glass layers and not visible in photographs.
When: At approximately 3,000 miles; driver side defect develops and spreads
Symptoms owners cite: Obscuring milky pattern on windshield; Significantly reduced visibility; Inside crack/defect on driver side spreading; Glare from defect while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer notified but vehicle not diagnosed or repaired in one case; another owner's dealer working on warranty paperwork
Windshield glass brittleness and cracking
Windshield chips extremely easily and develops long crack lines with no extreme weather or impact. One owner reported windshield cracked from low-speed acorn impact at 25 MPH.
When: At 10,000 miles for acorn impact case; spontaneous cracking without clear cause in another case
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield chips easily; Long crack lines develop; Glass cracks from minor impact (acorn at 25 MPH)
Repairs/costs cited: No assistance offered by manufacturer or dealer in acorn impact case
Windshield wipers failure
Windshield wipers quit working without warning during rain. No warning messages or warning lamps illuminated. Occurred in rainy weather with temperature slightly above freezing.
When: During rainy weather operation at temperature slightly above freezing
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers quit working without warning; No warning messages or lamps; Unable to see road in rain
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle available for inspection but wipers have not been inspected
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Wipers quit working. Available for inspection. Unable to see road because it was raining. Wipers haven’t been inspected. No messages or warning lamps. I was driving in rainy weather with the temperature slightly above the freeze point..
Had visibility trouble with your 2022 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 visibility problem on the 2022 Toyota Highlander?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 5,017 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 $350 for visibility 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 visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility 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/2022/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.