Toyota / Highlander / 2014

2014 Toyota Highlander problems

Owners have filed 161 complaints about the 2014 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 22.4% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of structure at 21.1%. A further 20.5% were filed without a specific system named.

Complaints161

Crashes8

Fires1

Injuries9

Deaths1

What owners report breaking

Electrical system 22.4% · 36

Structure 21.1% · 34

Unknown or other 20.5% · 33

Power train 5.0% · 8

Visibility/wiper 3.7% · 6

Seat belts 3.1% · 5

Vehicle speed control 3.1% · 5

Tires 2.5% · 4

Severity

Of those complaints, 8 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire, 9 report an injury and 1 report a death.

Reading the numbers

Across the 23 model years of the Toyota Highlander in this data, 2014 sits 20th by complaint volume. 2019 draws the most.

Filings have fallen off, 13 in the last three years against 23 in the three before. The issues here may already have been addressed.

The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 38,500 miles.

In owners' own words

Bluetooth stopped working. When my phone would be plugged in, the car will randomly disconnect from itself from the phone. Touchscreen would zap in and out until it would finally shut off. Got suspended from work for two weeks because my car would not start (I had no other transportation to get to work). Took car to dealer and they found nothing wrong with battery. It has to be something with the software. Electrical system

I noticed the smell of wires burning, a billow of smoke started emitting from the two levers used to heat the seats near the gear shift area. I was on the freeway and immediately pulled to the side of the road, turned off the car and called 911 before any flames were seen. There were no warning signs, lamps or other symptoms until the smell of burning wires and the smoke. Electrical system

Every single door lock actuator has failed in the vehicle causing remote locking and unlocking to not work. Doors, after failing, required to be manually locked or unlocked. The driver front and rear failed about 39 months after owning the vehicle, then 3 months later the right rear one failed, and now the fourth and final one has failed. Electrical system · reported at 48,000 miles

Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Safety recalls

Checking NHTSA for open recalls…

Other Toyota Highlander years

2011 229 complaints · 14.8% steering 2012 228 complaints · 20.2% steering 2013 281 complaints · 16.4% steering 2015 250 complaints · 20.4% electrical system 2016 137 complaints · 13.9% service brakes 2017 367 complaints · 19.1% power train

Compare all 23 model years →