9.3
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$6,000.00
Average Mileage:
91,593 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints
Most common solutions:
- Rebuild engine or trade for Honda (2 reports)
- not sure (1 reports)
engine problem
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2008Jan 02
Highlander 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 80,778 miles
The engine started using oil after checking it on a holiday. Oil changes were regular (every 3,000 miles). I haven't had any oil leaks. We changed the air filter, the PVC valve and checked the compression pressure at Toyota. Everything was normal according to them. (Thank you Moose Jaw Toyota! sarcastic comment) It only seemed to use oil on long trips (2 hours or more.) Okay so then we kept driving it and the consumption just got worse. I was travelling to a wedding in August of 2008 and the catalytic converter became plugged solid with oil soot. Had that replaced and thought that the exhaust back pressure forced oil consumption in the motor. Nope. Just getting worse now.
I've finally had enough as it got to the point where I would have to add a liter of oil every two hours of driving. So, I decided to get engine rebuilt at a reputable local garage and machine shop (Thanks Expert Auto and MAX Machine!...NOT TOYOTA; If one got it done there you may as well remortgage your house!! $10,000 was the quote!!) The machine shop said there was sludge buildup and piston rings were worn out. So we are at 185,000 kilometers now and are hoping we can drive the vehicle for another 5 years. Other than this, the car has been flawless.
My advice is don't buy a Toyota. They hum and haw until YOU have to pay to get it fixed.
2007Jul 20
Highlander 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 65,000 miles
Soon after the warranty ran out on the engine my check oil light came on while driving immediately checked oil bone dry!! This vehicle has had the oil changed regularly and more often than recommended. Finally took it to local Toyota dealer to check for "sludge" was told none noted unless took engine apart (costly) continued to drive and add oil before and after long trip approx. 150 r/t. When started up in mornings lots and lots of white smoke came out sort of like a locomotive ha!.. Still continued to drive and add oil. The other morning on way to work was running very sluggish chalked it up to being very cold out. On way home from work still doing the slug thing then the check engine light came on (1st time for this). Drove straight home took to local Toyota dealer sucked me out of $400.00 changed plugs and tuned it up wooo hoooo. Still can't drive it. They said they would have to check the valve seals and see if there were any more damage. Estimated cost min. $1600.00. Found a mechanic used to work for toyoya he is in process of looking at it. Never, Never, Never will I take my vehicle to Toyota of Somerset. $300.00 labor is quite high especially when I'm sure those mechanics probably make very little. I guess they have to pay for that new showroom just built. Any back to complaint. I really love my Highlander and everything about it except it only has 81,000 miles on it I thought Toyota's go for about 200,000 miles. We have a 1997 Camry and it has 130,000 no complaints or problems love it too. To say the least I will never ever own another Toyota Sorry Toyota you lost me. I even live in Kentucky where they make Toyota's
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2012Jan 23
Highlander Limited V6
Started in 2009 silver exhaust coming out. Took to Toyota they said it was the timing and fixed it. This problem happened 1 or 2 times after that. In Jan 2012 upon start up horrible noise from engine. Took it in and Toyota not able to duplicate it. They did nothing. 2 months later upon start up horrible noise from engine. I video the sound from engine. They said they could not diagnose from that and kept car couple of days. Told them again about noise but still could not duplicate noise. They called me back and they suspected it to be valves but wanted $2300 just to take engine apart to confirm problem but not fix it. They wanted $8000 to install rebuilt engine. Advisor said the problem started back in 2009 when I originally took it in. Toyota will obviously not do anything. Had to buy another car but not a Toyota. I trusted them. This car should of lasted as another person said at least to 200,000 miles. I alway serviced my car and had oil changes. The advisor said I burned 4 and 1/2 quarts of oil in 2 months. I never had any oil drips. Probably only drove it 1000 miles in the 2 months. So disappointed.
V V.
San Jose, CA, USA
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