Toyota Highlander reviews?

[Pnwrider]

Bought my wife’s highlander new in 2015. We would do it again and will likely replace it with another when the time comes. It’s been a great family car for us. When we were shopping, resale was so good that it made more sense to buy new.

[dr.derek]

We love our 2010.

[thinkingman]

I'm actually looking for a family member that is completely vehicle influent.  No hunting or offroad of any kind is going to be happening.  Worst case is snowy winter interstate driving.

Then you can't go wrong with the highlander.  AWD will suit them great and it is a toyota.  A coworker has one and loves it but she also does nothing more than road driving.   

I always laugh when you post this.
Toyota is the most overrated brand on the road.

OP- Here is a bit of light reading...6 pages of owner issues.

I wouldn't buy a vehicle with a known fuel pump issue that will leave you stranded or an exploding sunroof, nor would I say 'You can't go wrong with the Highlander'.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/TOYOTA/HIGHLANDER/SUV/AWD

[Stein]

I have no marbles in the game, but 30 complaints total seems pretty low.  I love my truck, it has 883 complaints.  If there is a vehicle with 0 complaints, I would certainly be looking at that one!

[thinkingman]

I have no marbles in the game, but 30 complaints total seems pretty low.  I love my truck, it has 883 complaints.  If there is a vehicle with 0 complaints, I would certainly be looking at that one!

I know.
I just laugh when people say 'You can't go wrong with LeOpold Toyota'.

My Tacoma was an exercise in poor engineering, lowest-cost crap by vendors, and insane arrogance by Toyota when I pointed it out.

There is a reason Toyota is getting left behind in sales and reviewers are using polite terms for cheap, poor engineering, and lack of execution.

[fowl smacker]

I have no marbles in the game, but 30 complaints total seems pretty low.  I love my truck, it has 883 complaints.  If there is a vehicle with 0 complaints, I would certainly be looking at that one!

I know.
I just laugh when people say 'You can't go wrong with LeOpold Toyota'.

My Tacoma was an exercise in poor engineering, lowest-cost crap by vendors, and insane arrogance by Toyota when I pointed it out.

There is a reason Toyota is getting left behind in sales and reviewers are using polite terms for cheap, poor engineering, and lack of execution.

Curious what issues you had with your Tacoma?  I've had 2 in the past, one which I had 280k on and didn'thave an issue with either.  Dad drives a 2020 Tacoma now and it appears to have better features and is more advanced than my old 07'.  I drive a 2017 Tundra now and my wife drives the 2016 Highlander.  No issues whatsoever with either of those.  Between my parents and myself and wife, we've driven Toyotas approximately 1.3 million miles and literally the only issue was my dad's 91' 4wd extra cab v6 that had a head gasket recall when new.  He drove that til he bought his 2020 Taco yep 29 years, had over 300k on it and that is considered their crappiest motor.  My cousin is still driving it.  So in my experienced opinion.  You really can't go wrong with Toyota.  I really would love to hear your personal experiences though.

[thinkingman]

I have no marbles in the game, but 30 complaints total seems pretty low.  I love my truck, it has 883 complaints.  If there is a vehicle with 0 complaints, I would certainly be looking at that one!

I know.
I just laugh when people say 'You can't go wrong with LeOpold Toyota'.

My Tacoma was an exercise in poor engineering, lowest-cost crap by vendors, and insane arrogance by Toyota when I pointed it out.

There is a reason Toyota is getting left behind in sales and reviewers are using polite terms for cheap, poor engineering, and lack of execution.

Curious what issues you had with your Tacoma?  I've had 2 in the past, one which I had 280k on and didn'thave an issue with either.  Dad drives a 2020 Tacoma now and it appears to have better features and is more advanced than my old 07'.  I drive a 2017 Tundra now and my wife drives the 2016 Highlander.  No issues whatsoever with either of those.  Between my parents and myself and wife, we've driven Toyotas approximately 1.3 million miles and literally the only issue was my dad's 91' 4wd extra cab v6 that had a head gasket recall when new.  He drove that til he bought his 2020 Taco yep 29 years, had over 300k on it and that is considered their crappiest motor.  My cousin is still driving it.  So in my experienced opinion.  You really can't go wrong with Toyota.  I really would love to hear your personal experiences though.

My Toyota experience was posted in another thread. 
Google search Toyota leaf spring recall for my first issue then frame rust recall for another.
The fact that you’re not aware of these concerns me.
There are too many junk Toyota stories for me to post right now.

[fowl smacker]

I have no marbles in the game, but 30 complaints total seems pretty low.  I love my truck, it has 883 complaints.  If there is a vehicle with 0 complaints, I would certainly be looking at that one!

I know.
I just laugh when people say 'You can't go wrong with LeOpold Toyota'.

My Tacoma was an exercise in poor engineering, lowest-cost crap by vendors, and insane arrogance by Toyota when I pointed it out.

There is a reason Toyota is getting left behind in sales and reviewers are using polite terms for cheap, poor engineering, and lack of execution.

Curious what issues you had with your Tacoma?  I've had 2 in the past, one which I had 280k on and didn'thave an issue with either.  Dad drives a 2020 Tacoma now and it appears to have better features and is more advanced than my old 07'.  I drive a 2017 Tundra now and my wife drives the 2016 Highlander.  No issues whatsoever with either of those.  Between my parents and myself and wife, we've driven Toyotas approximately 1.3 million miles and literally the only issue was my dad's 91' 4wd extra cab v6 that had a head gasket recall when new.  He drove that til he bought his 2020 Taco yep 29 years, had over 300k on it and that is considered their crappiest motor.  My cousin is still driving it.  So in my experienced opinion.  You really can't go wrong with Toyota.  I really would love to hear your personal experiences though.

My Toyota experience was posted in another thread. 
Google search Toyota leaf spring recall for my first issue then frame rust recall for another.
The fact that you’re not aware of these concerns me.
There are too many junk Toyota stories for me to post right now.

If you wanted to Google search vehicle problems all day for any manufacturer you probably wouldn't be driving anything.  Yes all vehicles have issues.  I feel in my vast experience with Toyota and a few other manufacturers that Toyota has far less issues than the others.  Nice answer by the way, I was asking for your PERSONAL experience, but it seems you took a page from Jen Psaki.  Whatever your experience was, it must have been bad for you to have so much hate for Toyotas.  Like I said over 1.3 million miles without a hiccup.

[Jason]

I have no marbles in the game, but 30 complaints total seems pretty low.  I love my truck, it has 883 complaints.  If there is a vehicle with 0 complaints, I would certainly be looking at that one!

I know.
I just laugh when people say 'You can't go wrong with LeOpold Toyota'.

My Tacoma was an exercise in poor engineering, lowest-cost crap by vendors, and insane arrogance by Toyota when I pointed it out.

There is a reason Toyota is getting left behind in sales and reviewers are using polite terms for cheap, poor engineering, and lack of execution.

Curious what issues you had with your Tacoma?  I've had 2 in the past, one which I had 280k on and didn'thave an issue with either.  Dad drives a 2020 Tacoma now and it appears to have better features and is more advanced than my old 07'.  I drive a 2017 Tundra now and my wife drives the 2016 Highlander.  No issues whatsoever with either of those.  Between my parents and myself and wife, we've driven Toyotas approximately 1.3 million miles and literally the only issue was my dad's 91' 4wd extra cab v6 that had a head gasket recall when new.  He drove that til he bought his 2020 Taco yep 29 years, had over 300k on it and that is considered their crappiest motor.  My cousin is still driving it.  So in my experienced opinion.  You really can't go wrong with Toyota.  I really would love to hear your personal experiences though.

My Toyota experience was posted in another thread. 
Google search Toyota leaf spring recall for my first issue then frame rust recall for another.
The fact that you’re not aware of these concerns me.
There are too many junk Toyota stories for me to post right now.

If you wanted to Google search vehicle problems all day for any manufacturer you probably wouldn't be driving anything.  Yes all vehicles have issues.  I feel in my vast experience with Toyota and a few other manufacturers that Toyota has far less issues than the others.  Nice answer by the way, I was asking for your PERSONAL experience, but it seems you took a page from Jen Psaki.  Whatever your experience was, it must have been bad for you to have so much hate for Toyotas.  Like I said over 1.3 million miles without a hiccup.

Haters going to hate! Been listening to these few guys on here for years bash Toyota’s, they never post any pictures to their claims. Always the same couple of guys. I’ve owned 4 Toyota’s in the last 26 years and wouldn’t trade for anything.

[Fl0und3rz]

Guy gets a lemon or a Co. falls down on the job once in a while. It's the difference between statistics and anecdotes.  I am fine if a guy wants to deprive himself of one of the best-made, highest-resale vehicles on the road.  It's a free country.

[dutchmanaz]

My next truck will likely be a Toyota.  I have a 2011 F150 that I'll drive tell she croaks first, hopefully it'll go for another 5 - 10 years (~120K miles on it now).

OP - good luck with your search!

[thinkingman]

I have no marbles in the game, but 30 complaints total seems pretty low.  I love my truck, it has 883 complaints.  If there is a vehicle with 0 complaints, I would certainly be looking at that one!

I know.
I just laugh when people say 'You can't go wrong with LeOpold Toyota'.

My Tacoma was an exercise in poor engineering, lowest-cost crap by vendors, and insane arrogance by Toyota when I pointed it out.

There is a reason Toyota is getting left behind in sales and reviewers are using polite terms for cheap, poor engineering, and lack of execution.

Curious what issues you had with your Tacoma?  I've had 2 in the past, one which I had 280k on and didn'thave an issue with either.  Dad drives a 2020 Tacoma now and it appears to have better features and is more advanced than my old 07'.  I drive a 2017 Tundra now and my wife drives the 2016 Highlander.  No issues whatsoever with either of those.  Between my parents and myself and wife, we've driven Toyotas approximately 1.3 million miles and literally the only issue was my dad's 91' 4wd extra cab v6 that had a head gasket recall when new.  He drove that til he bought his 2020 Taco yep 29 years, had over 300k on it and that is considered their crappiest motor.  My cousin is still driving it.  So in my experienced opinion.  You really can't go wrong with Toyota.  I really would love to hear your personal experiences though.

My Toyota experience was posted in another thread. 
Google search Toyota leaf spring recall for my first issue then frame rust recall for another.
The fact that you’re not aware of these concerns me.
There are too many junk Toyota stories for me to post right now.

If you wanted to Google search vehicle problems all day for any manufacturer you probably wouldn't be driving anything.  Yes all vehicles have issues.  I feel in my vast experience with Toyota and a few other manufacturers that Toyota has far less issues than the others.  Nice answer by the way, I was asking for your PERSONAL experience, but it seems you took a page from Jen Psaki.  Whatever your experience was, it must have been bad for you to have so much hate for Toyotas.  Like I said over 1.3 million miles without a hiccup.

My post from 2/21/19:
You might want to research some of my other post on Toyota quality and engineering.
When Toyota makes good on the leaf springs I HAD to replace, and a dozen other fixes I’ve never had to do on any other car...
Yeah right.

Actually let’s make a list:

2006 TRD Sport crewcab 6sp manual, every available option.

Rear leaf springs flat before 3 years old. Not from being a truck, from being cheap garbage. Recall came out 6 years after I called Toyota corporate and they called me crazy.
Frame rust recall. Do you have any idea what holds your burley, manly Toy together?  The cheapest steel they could find. A truck that LITERALLY falls apart at 5 years?  Are you kidding!!!?
Wheels corroded so badly at 3 years old, it was embarrassing.
Rear window rattled loose while driving down out of Colokum (the rear glasscame loose!  Unbelievable)
Gas door hinges rusted out and actually separated from the body. Worse design and execution of ever seen. China does better.
Radio and clock are the cheapest, lowest quality pieces of garbage. Worse than any other car I’ve owned in the last 30 years.
Rear tailgate that bends with a motorcycle in the bed. Permanent bent tailgate. Yep, your amazing Toy can’t load and transport a motorcycle.
The transmission gearing on the 6 speed manual I had was a joke. 2400rpm at 70mph cruise, reverse was so long, you would roast the clutch if you ever tried to back a trailer up any kind of grade. Horrible engineering.
Rear drum brakes. Really?! What is this, 1978?
I’ll think of more
These are all documented by other owners besides myself on Tacomaworld.com.
Spend a couple of hours on Tacomaworld and come back and tell me how great they are

[thinkingman]

Guy gets a lemon or a Co. falls down on the job once in a while. It's the difference between statistics and anecdotes.  I am fine if a guy wants to deprive himself of one of the best-made, highest-resale vehicles on the road.  It's a free country.

My post from 7/27/18:

Right now I''m pushing Toyota to reimburse me for the rear suspension I had to replace on my 'incredible, amazing, can't go wrong' Tacoma.
5 years after I told them the rear springs lost arch and were garbage, they issued a recall(Do they issue recalls for amazing vehicles?)and now they don't want to reimburse me for fixing their problem.
That's what I'm pushing right now.
Thankfully, I didn't have to deal with the frame rust replacement recall, my frame didn't have a full 10cm perforation, which would have meant a total frame replacement.
I could list all the POS Toyota issues with that vehicle if you'd like.
I'd be concerned about the Tundra bed rust recall right now, if I were you.

[thinkingman]

I have no marbles in the game, but 30 complaints total seems pretty low.  I love my truck, it has 883 complaints.  If there is a vehicle with 0 complaints, I would certainly be looking at that one!

I know.
I just laugh when people say 'You can't go wrong with LeOpold Toyota'.

My Tacoma was an exercise in poor engineering, lowest-cost crap by vendors, and insane arrogance by Toyota when I pointed it out.

There is a reason Toyota is getting left behind in sales and reviewers are using polite terms for cheap, poor engineering, and lack of execution.

Curious what issues you had with your Tacoma?  I've had 2 in the past, one which I had 280k on and didn'thave an issue with either.  Dad drives a 2020 Tacoma now and it appears to have better features and is more advanced than my old 07'.  I drive a 2017 Tundra now and my wife drives the 2016 Highlander.  No issues whatsoever with either of those.  Between my parents and myself and wife, we've driven Toyotas approximately 1.3 million miles and literally the only issue was my dad's 91' 4wd extra cab v6 that had a head gasket recall when new.  He drove that til he bought his 2020 Taco yep 29 years, had over 300k on it and that is considered their crappiest motor.  My cousin is still driving it.  So in my experienced opinion.  You really can't go wrong with Toyota.  I really would love to hear your personal experiences though.

My Toyota experience was posted in another thread. 
Google search Toyota leaf spring recall for my first issue then frame rust recall for another.
The fact that you’re not aware of these concerns me.
There are too many junk Toyota stories for me to post right now.

If you wanted to Google search vehicle problems all day for any manufacturer you probably wouldn't be driving anything.  Yes all vehicles have issues.  I feel in my vast experience with Toyota and a few other manufacturers that Toyota has far less issues than the others.  Nice answer by the way, I was asking for your PERSONAL experience, but it seems you took a page from Jen Psaki.  Whatever your experience was, it must have been bad for you to have so much hate for Toyotas.  Like I said over 1.3 million miles without a hiccup.

Found another....
April 2016-
Toyota is off my list forever after my conversation with their 'Customer Care' last week.

6 years after I pointed out the leaf springs on the 2006+ Tacomas were underengineered and sagging to the point the truck rode on the frame rails (Toyota: no, you're wrong, we make perfect vehicles), a TSB came out for the problem they told me didn't exist (no, you're screwed because you're out of warranty) then a full recall for the problem they told me didn't exist (No, you replaced those perfect springs yourself, we're not refunding anything but the cost of the springs and hardware kit.  We couldn't care less about your experience, cost or frustration).
I politely promised them I would tell anyone and everyone about their arrogance and substandard engineering.
Unless you're a 19yr old wanting to lift it and put a 'FOX MX' sticker on the rear window, I'd go in a different direction.
The Ford Ranger TD conversion in the classifieds would be WAYYYYYYY more appealing to me than a Toyota.
Only benefit of buying Toyota is the number of Koolaid drinkers and above-said 19yr olds willing to pay silly money for them on the used market.
I've been getting the 'You told us there was a problem in 2010 and we told you Toyota doesn't make defective products so you replaced them yourself and now we will find every new and creative reason to deny your reimbursement claim even though you included receipts and have detailed records going back to 2010' letter.
Un-frickin-believable.

[Fl0und3rz]

Guy gets a lemon or a Co. falls down on the job once in a while. It's the difference between statistics and anecdotes.  I am fine if a guy wants to deprive himself of one of the best-made, highest-resale vehicles on the road.  It's a free country.

My post from 7/27/18:

Right now I''m pushing Toyota to reimburse me for the rear suspension I had to replace on my 'incredible, amazing, can't go wrong' Tacoma.
5 years after I told them the rear springs lost arch and were garbage, they issued a recall(Do they issue recalls for amazing vehicles?)and now they don't want to reimburse me for fixing their problem.
That's what I'm pushing right now.
Thankfully, I didn't have to deal with the frame rust replacement recall, my frame didn't have a full 10cm perforation, which would have meant a total frame replacement.
I could list all the POS Toyota issues with that vehicle if you'd like.
I'd be concerned about the Tundra bed rust recall right now, if I were you.

My post from today.

Guy gets a lemon or a Co. falls down on the job once in a while. It's the difference between statistics and anecdotes.  I am fine if a guy wants to deprive himself of one of the best-made, highest-resale vehicles on the road.  It's a free country.

To be clear, you should let everyone know whether this was just one car/truck, or a number of different ones.  And what year, make, model, and if purchased new, if you have not already. Because it sounds like you had a missed opportunity to invoke WA lemon law.

https://www.atg.wa.gov/lemon-law-0


Oh, and do you have any personal experience with the Highlander you would like to share with the OP?