Print this page

3.2

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,082 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Toyota Highlander body / paint problems

body / paint problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Toyota Highlander:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2011 Toyota Highlander Owner Comments

problem #15

Nov 012016

Highlander 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I noticed in November 2016 that the paint on my 2011 Toyota roof was peeling off. I took it to a trusted body shop and the owner advised my to take it to the dealership as it appeared to be a manufacturer defect. I did as he suggested and I was subjected to months of unresponsive behavior before I was finally told my car was beyond the 3year warranty therefore not their problem in October of 2017. Since this time, the paint failure has progressed to include nearly every panel on my vehicle. I have also learned that Toyota is recalling blizzard pearl vehicles due to this exact problem but my VIN in not included. I feel this needs to be remedied immediately as this manufacturer defect greatly impacts the value of my investment. * am unable to attach more than one picture to my complaint. However, I have multiple photos and some damage is impossible to successfully document bubbling paint.

- Milton, FL, USA

problem #14

Apr 052017

Highlander

  • 73,000 miles
Power liftgate motor arm detached from the upper portion of the rear door. Upon repeated use and tightening it becomes stripped. Forums reports this is common for several model years - no recall. Hole to screw becomes stripped over time. No access to the back end to apply nut. Dealer recommends taking it to a body shop for door replacement at $3200 - $3900 dollars. Extremely bad design flaw. If liftgate seems weak in opening nand closing, this could be part of the problem. Showed weakness for weeks until I heard the pop and realized the power rod came out. When I went to screw it back in - it's stripped. Out of warranty period. No solution found other than replacing the rear liftgate.

- Wilsonville, OR, USA

problem #13

Aug 082016

Highlander

  • 70,000 miles
When trying to open the rear hatch from the inside, the beeping sound would not turn office and when I went to investigate what was wrong with the hatch the hydraulic arm had broken and the molding popped off preventing it from working. I took it into Toyota dealership and they replaced the whole motor/arm on the hatch. This was covered through my warranty.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #12

Feb 142011

Highlander

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Issue with the glass door back (hatch) does not close or open properly. I did make sure the door are closed before starting the vehicle and once vehicle is in motion the glass door (hatch) opens and I had to stop the vehicle and close it, which is veery inconvenience and safety issue.

- Garnet Valley, PA, USA

problem #11

Mar 282016

Highlander

  • 40,000 miles
The driver side window is off the track and unable to roll up. Prior to the window falling off the track, the driver side window would make a popping noise and would rattle when going up or down. The issue is exactly like the 2010 NHTSA reference #10037962 and tsb reference #T-sb-0010-11.

- Portland, OR, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #10

Feb 012015

Highlander

  • 46,000 miles
Rear liftgate will not stay open and has fallen on my wife. Toyota has issued a service bulletin but will not fix there problem est. Cost to repair $3000. Vehicle has never been in accident. Problem started about 10 months ago with 46000 miles vehicle now has 56000.

- Eustis, FL, USA

problem #9

Sep 042015

Highlander

  • 25,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The glass on the driver side window is off the rails and would come off the window at an angle when its being raised. Currently we cannot roll the window glass up and down. Similar symptons are being seen on the passenger side window now. I have owned cars in the past and this is the first time I am seeing this kind of an issue and Toyota refuses to consider this as a quality issue. When I go online, I have seen multiple users having similar issue with Toyota Highlander and it surprises me that a company like Toyota wont do anything to help the customer.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #8

Dec 262015

Highlander

  • 57,225 miles
I pressed the rear hatch button to close it from driver's seat, hatch arm broke and spewed plastic and metal parts while parked, onto mall parking lot. Toyota states "rod has fallen off of motor connect...T-sb-0038-15 power back door does not close properly...big gap on driver side hinge for back hatch."Toyota sold me $2299 service contract w/portfolio elite protection plan which says will not cover it. Diagnosis from Toyota in uploaded file.

- Cupertino, CA, USA

problem #7

Sep 142014

Highlander

  • 17,000 miles
Rear lift gate stopped opening and closing with button on dash. Hydraulic arm popped off. Was able to reattach, but Toyota dealer said it would keep happening because the hinges of the door were separating from the door and to get that repaired I would need to send it to the body shop. The arm has since snapped in half and the door can only be opened/closed manually, but Toyota warned me that the hinges will continue to bend. I am fearful as I have two small children and do not trust the door to be safe. Toyota dealer will not repair at their expense even though there have been lawsuits and are so many documented cases.

- University Park, MD, USA

problem #6

Mar 202013

Highlander

  • 43,002 miles
The power function lift arm broke off from where it connects into the rea door on my 2011 Highlander. Toyota didn't mentioned about the door hinges related issues and I had to pay for the repair/replacement of the hinges. This, of course didn't prevented nor resolved the issue with the power function lift arm that now is beyond repair; the bolt and screw hole are now stripped.

- Santa Isabel, PR, USA

problem #5

Jan 162015

Highlander

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2011 Toyota Highlander. The drivers side sun visor has broken from its internal guide on the visor, making it unsafely and uncontrollably flip & flop around. I have been trying to get a replacement, but the dealer told me there are more than 200 on backorder, and it could take one or more months to get a replacement. Further research shows previous recalls on Toyota sun visors. So, with more than 200 already needing replacements on what should be a strong part, it suggests a larger problem worthy of your attention and a possible recall. Thanks.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #4

Jun 042014

Highlander 6-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
Driver side visor hangs down and will not return to up position. There have been several concerns of this type noted a on this database and this should be addressed as a safety recall issue since it obstructs driver visibility.

- South Weymouth, MA, USA

problem #3

Dec 042013

Highlander

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the rear hatch door gate and window suddenly opened while the vehicle was in motion. The contact indicated that the failure was recurring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the rear gate door hinge was bent and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Gary , IN, USA

problem #2

Aug 102012

Highlander

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the hinges on the driver side of his hatchback was bent. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was informed of technical service bulletin under NHTSA item number : 10041651 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 15,000.

- Aliso Viejo, CA, USA

problem #1

Jul 122012

Highlander 6-cyl

  • miles
Toyota has issued a tsb for warping hinges for the power rear hatch. The hatch eventually will not close properly or at all. This is mainly due to the motor putting too much pressure on the drivers side hinge. This is happening to all Highlander right now with power open close features. Even the ones with the new design hinges. Toyota is also saying that they will not cover these hinges out of warranty. Mine are being replaced right now. But the 2012 Highlander rental I have right now has the same issue. And this one would not be included in the tsb since it has the new hinges. I am worried that down the road this hatch will open at high speeds on the highway or anywhere.. how would you know sometimes that the hatch did not close? I had to put a accident date above to file. There is no accident, I am trying to prevent one.

- Saint Charles, IL, USA

Not what you are looking for?