Model year record

2001 Toyota Highlander

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 158 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V181000

Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch

Component: Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 366,572
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-04-15
Owners notified: 2004-05-07

Defect description

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A CHILD PROTECTION LOCK (CPL) SYSTEM ON BOTH OF THE REAR SIDE DOORS. WHEN AN OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CLOSES THE DOOR VERY HARD WITH THE CPL LEVER SET TO THE LOCK POSITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LEVER MAY CONTACT THE BODY PANEL, CAUSING THE CPL LEVER TO MOVE INTO THE UNLOCK POSITION.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE OPENED WITH THE INSIDE WHILE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES THAT THE CPL WAS ACTIVATED. IF THE DOOR WERE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AN OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT AND BE INJURED.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V208000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting

Component: Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 154,593
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-07-30
Owners notified: 2002-08-23

Defect description

ON SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A BREATHER HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE NOZZLE OF THE ON-BOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) VALVE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE BREATHER HOSE IS ATTACHED WITH A CLAMP, WHOSE "TABS" FACE IN THE UPWARD DIRECTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED UNDER THE NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TEST (I.E., 35 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER CRASH), THE CLAMP "TABS" CONTACTED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING THE NOZZLE TO BREAK.

Safety risk

IN THE WORST CASE, NOZZLE BREAKAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE VEHICLE ROLLS-OVER AFTER A HIGH SPEED FRONTAL CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL ROTATE THE SPECIFIED CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Recall campaignNHTSA 01V228000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder

Component: Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 41,169
Reported to NHTSA: 2001-07-05
Owners notified: 2001-07-30

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTIITY VEHICLES. THE RESERVOIR FILLER CAP OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY INDUCE A VACUUM, INTRODUCING SOME AIR INTO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. THIS COULD CAUSE ABNORMAL BRAKE NOISE AND INCREASED PEDAL STROKE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

Safety risk

THE INCREASED PEDAL STROKE WILL LENGTHEN THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL BLEED THE AIR FROM THE BRAKE LINES AND REPLACE THE RESERVOIR FILLER CAP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Vehicle speed control	14	56,600 mi
Visibility	12	89,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	10	50,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	9	32,000 mi
Structure: body	9	105,000 mi
Air bags	6	96,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	6	40,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder	6	2,000 mi
Tires	6	4,500 mi
Power train	5	151,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	4	10,000 mi
Unknown or other	4	95,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	4	—
Seat belts	3	80,000 mi
Service brakes	3	72,071 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	3	200 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	3	24,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components	3	—
Visibility/wiper	3	85,000 mi
Electrical system	2	81,150 mi
Engine	2	90,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	2	42,000 mi
Exterior lighting	2	126,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	2	20,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly	2	32,000 mi
Structure	2	—
Structure: body: door	2	2,000 mi
Tires: sidewall	2	10,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	2	2,000 mi
Child seat	1	40,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: module	1	—
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood	1	48,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash	1	—
Equipment	1	52,000 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility	1	—
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	—
Equipment: electrical	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	52,980 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	1	85,000 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit	1	—
Seat belts: front	1	—
Service brakes, electric	1	101,531 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	1	2,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	1	2,000 mi
Steering	1	—
Suspension	1	—
Tires: tread/belt	1	108,300 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	1	25,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	1	—
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer	1	25,000 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior	1	20,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	1	—
Visibility: windshield	1	—

The 2002 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.