Toyota Highlander reviews?

[OutHouse]

It sounds like an issue with his make and model. I have a 15 Tacoma that's done nothing but beat my expectations. It is very difficult to get stuck especially with the rear dif lock. And it fits 31.6 inch tires stock no rubs. Pretty much everyone I know who owns any kind of Toyota recommends them.

[HAGEMANIAC]

Wife has a 2014.  Other than regular upkeep, has been bulletproof. Great little rig.

[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.

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.

What vehicles do you drive now?

[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.

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?

Do you know what a recall is?
Sorry OP but I promised Toyota when they blatantly screwed me on the reimbursement with a full set receipts that I would tell this story and they basically said ‘There are so so many Koolaid Fanboys we’ll still sell this crap’.

[Jason]

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?

Do you know what a recall is?
Sorry OP but I promised Toyota when they blatantly screwed me on the reimbursement with a full set receipts that I would tell this story and they basically said ‘There are so so many Koolaid Fanboys we’ll still sell this crap’.

Thinkingman, you’re probably not changing any minds here.

[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?

Do you know what a recall is?
Sorry OP but I promised Toyota when they blatantly screwed me on the reimbursement with a full set receipts that I would tell this story and they basically said ‘There are so so many Koolaid Fanboys we’ll still sell this crap’.

Thinkingman, you’re probably not changing any minds here.

I don't know.  Maybe he can tell us what recall is.  Bonus points if he can explain how only Toyota has them.

[Alchase]

It sounds like an issue with his make and model. I have a 15 Tacoma that's done nothing but beat my expectations. It is very difficult to get stuck especially with the rear dif lock. And it fits 31.6 inch tires stock no rubs. Pretty much everyone I know who owns any kind of Toyota recommends them.

My next door neighbor's brand new 2016 Tacoma TRD had his leaf springs go completely flat on him, carrying the same sized load of gravel, my 2007 Dodge Dakota had carried 14 times with no issues. Not even close to a large load.
I am by no means comparing the two trucks, just the leafs.
He had it towed back to the dealer. They put the same stock leaf springs on.
The following weekend, he loaded up one of his 36 inch tires from his 95 Tacoma Rock crawler. Backup out of his driveway, we heard a "whoomp!"
His nose was pointing up, his Leafs were toast again.
Toyota Dealer, would not pay for a third set.
I helped him put some heavy duty after market Leafs, no problem since.

[Skyvalhunter]

Did you help him put them on?

[Alchase]

Did you help him put them on?

Help is subjective and used loosely, more I walked over handed him and his buddy a beer.

[Skyvalhunter]

Helped them get drunk then

[Alchase]

Helped them get drunk then

Anything to help, LOL.
I did give him crap about why his Rock Crawler was up his lift in the garage, and they were doing the Leaf springs in his driveway. 

[NW SURVEYOR]

We bought a new 2020 Highlander Platinum in November for my wife.
It has 2000 miles on it and still runs great!!!
So far, so good.

Kidding aside, this is our third new Toyota, the others were a Camry and a 4 Runner.
They were both great rigs and I would buy another in a heartbeat.
I drive a Plane Jane white F-250 (Third one in 20 years).

Everything I've heard about the Highlander has been great.

Good Luck.

[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.

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?

Do you know what a recall is?
Sorry OP but I promised Toyota when they blatantly screwed me on the reimbursement with a full set receipts that I would tell this story and they basically said ‘There are so so many Koolaid Fanboys we’ll still sell this crap’.

Thinkingman, you’re probably not changing any minds here.

I don't know.  Maybe he can tell us what recall is.  Bonus points if he can explain how only Toyota has them.

A recall is one guy in Washington that realizes Toyota Tacomas are pathetic excuses for trucks then the NHTSA somehow hears about it and forces Toyota to offer a replacement for all vehicles within a certain range of production, while everyone else talks about how amazing they are.
Same for the FRAMES THAT LITERALLY RUST IN TWO WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING.
Amazing trucks as long as you don't need leaf springs that actually do their job or a frame that actually does it's job.
Floundr--What color is that Koolaid?

My 2015 F150 has 110k miles, drives like new.
has twice the power and more than twice the capacity of the Tacoma it replaced, has needed nothing other than maintenance and wear parts.
Same mileage as the Toy it replaced.
Every single part is higher quality in the Ford...Better upholstery and carpet, better electrical components, better execution and engineering.
Modern execution instead of barely warmed over crap that the Koolaid Fanboys will still buy.
Recall notice for rear door locks freezing, not frame rusting in two or leaf springs that fail spectacularly.

[Jason]

Here’s a recall for Thinkingmans rig, no big deal, nobody cares about steering linkages coming loose causing loss of steering control. Funny he didn’t mention this one, only door locks freezing. What about the seatbelts?


Recall Number
15V279000
Recall Date
05/12/2015
Component
STEERING
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford F-150 trucks manufactured March 19, 2015, to March 30, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been built with a steering upper intermediate shaft that was improperly riveted.

Consequence
If the intermediate shaft was improperly riveted, it could separate from the intermediate shaft flex coupling, resulting in a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

What Owners Should Do
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the intermediate shaft and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 22, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S17.

See more here.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwid2LDUpqvvAhWFsp4KHRHODAMQFjAAegQIARAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cars.com%2Fresearch%2Fford-f_150-2015%2Frecalls%2F&usg=AOvVaw1TivmRPCm7C96UDTaoZC-0

Sorry to OP that this thread has gone sideways. You will love the Highlander, it’s reliability and it’s resale value if you ever want a newer one down the road.

[rainshadow1]

I've owned many many Toyotas... I own three right now. They are very well made, tight, and last a long time.

I haven't had a highlander, but I'm planning to upgrade my wife's rig end of this summer and I'm very curious about them.

I used to be a one man dealer, I mostly rebuilt insurance salvage. I owned dozens and dozens of Toyotas then, mostly 4x4's (pre-tundra) and 4runners. Being a rebuilder, I got intimately familiar with them. I loved them, and they sold like hotcakes. The tacoma and its predecessors were the side by sides of their day. (My 97 4runner is exactly that to me today! Then I can drive it home, and across the state, and etc!)

Lemons happen, but nobody with any toyota experience will say they're not well made vehicles. They're one of the best out there, plain and simple.


Tagging and interested to hear what you find out about the highlander, especially if anyone has cranked 200k plus onto theirs.