Toyota Highlander

rugby65 · February 2004

Could be air in system.
could be low brake fluid.
could be defective master cylinder,

Defiantly not right. My 03 has 7000 miles on it and has the best brake system of any vehicle I'v ever owned.

Im not happy with the steering. when I purchased it, It pulled to the right so I took it back and they checked the front end alignment and changed something. It doesn't pull to the right now, but in a curve on the highway It trys to hard to bring the steering wheel back to the center.

junepug · February 2004

In defense of the Highlander. I have a 2003 V6 non limited FWD model with 15,000 miles and have not experienced the vibration that has been discussed. The engine is very quiet and the road noise is much less than the two Jeep Cherokees or Ford Broncos. The ride is also much smoother than the previous listed vehicles. Granted, we are not talking a Camry ride since we are dealing with a sightly different type of vehicle.

bdyment · February 2004

My 04 V6 AWD Limited is excellent in all the above concerned areas. I test drove an 04 Murano over the same route as our Highlander. The Highlander was much smoother. Not Lexus car quality, but very smooth for a SUV.

Very very small amount of vibration with air on. No more tha the last V6 Camry I owned.

Yes the brakes have a rather long pedal travel, but they are very easy to modulate with no grabing. Overall excellent. I do not believe the brakes are too small for the vehicle.

Keep after your dealer re: the vibration problem. Get Toyota involved if necessary.

lmacmil · February 2004

My wife and I drove all 3 today in the span of two hours over the same route. The HL definitely had the best ride with the Pilot a close second. Power was fine on all 3. Did not notice the HL brakes being mushy but the Murano had a better pedal feel. We're going to go for the HL. It's snazzier inside than the Pilot which is too wide and doesn't have a sunroof. The Murano is nice but the deep dash, rear blind spot and harsher ride are negatives.

jbollt · February 2004

"Apparently, the brakes are too small for the size of the car." NOT!!!! And..IF they were, which they are not, it wouldn't manifest itself in a soft low pedal. I have an 03 Camry SE (with f&R discs) and an 03 Highlander also f & R disc. Highlander has better brake feel than Camry

fvp · February 2004

Do you honestly think that a company, with the reputation that Toyota enjoys for quality, safety and customer satisfaction, install "brakes that are too small for the size of the car?"
That's as absurd as a Dodge Durango having a better ride than a Highlander.

2004hl · February 2004

do just a few minutes searching on the Murano and you will find all sorts of problems reported - far, far more than anything on the Highlander. I started thinking about the Murano a few weeks ago but the stuff I was reading quickly turned me back towards the Highlander. There are some people out there who are very sorry that they bought a Murano - one guy has a web site devoted to his complaints which resulted in his being bought back under Florida's Lemon Law.

lmacmil · February 2004

The #1 criteria for brake design is making the system meet various legal requirements (e.g., FMVSS 135). Once that is accomplished (a fairly straightforward task), the attention is devoted to pedal feel, minimizing NVH (noise, vibration, harshness), and achieving acceptable lining wear. Unfortunately these attributes work against each other in many cases, making the design a compromise.

At any rate, there is no such thing as "undersized brakes" on vehicles sold in the US. Pedal feel is very subjective and is decided upon by the brake engineers and their management.

A mushy pedal is often a sign of air in the system. Unlikely to come that way from the factory (the assembly line evac and fill process is automated and thorough) but if you've had work on the brake system done, a distinct possibility.

roadrunner70 · February 2004

brakes are a little soft. its part of the car, but they are plenty strong.

my murano has not had one problem, and although people have problems, i know of at least two people who had all sorts of problems with their highlanders, radio problems, alignment problems,
etc. since i have both vehicles, my perference is to drive the murano. its much sportier, quicker, and has a much better radio (and we have the ltd.).

also, the highlander does not have dual stage airbags, and if we knew that when we were shopping, it would have gone off the list immediately. i don't know if the 2004 has it, but hte 2002 and 2003 (tmk) did not. this is a huge issue.

however, there is no excuse for any vibration from a running engine in a $30,000 vehicle.

it will be interesting to see over the next few years which one has any significant problems. rr70

bamacar · February 2004

Agree that the brakes are not too small, but they have a mushy feel just like the Camry. My mom has the Highlander, and we have both an Accord and Pilot. When I drive the Highlander, I definitely have to adjust to the feel. I feel like I have to press much further to get it to stop. Both Hondas have a solid feel.

lmacmil · February 2004

Yes,the 2004 HL has multi-stage airbags.

ohmygosh · February 2004

Does the Highlander 6 Cyl AWD use regular gas or is premium recommended ??
Also, can I get this vehicle without a 3rd seat ??

lmacmil · February 2004

The 6 can use regular but premium is recommended. Depending on your region you may or may not be able to get the 6 w/o a 3rd row seat. Go to Toyota.com, put in your zip, and then go to Highlander and it will show you what models are available in your area.

thoon · February 2004

Here is the link to the site where I read the brakes are too small for the size of the car. http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/results.cfm

Do a search for the highlander and brakes. Here is a quote from one of the complaints -

"BRAKES ON NEW 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLINDER ARE INCOSISTENT AND PROVIDE LIMITED STOPPING POWER. DEALER SAYS BRAKES ARE SMALL FOR THE SIZE OF THE VEHICLE, THEY OVERHEAT EASILY AND THEY HAVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM CUSTOMERS. RETURNED VEHICLE 3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING IT AND REQUEST ATTENTION. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS AND COMMUNICATIOS TO THE DEALER AND TOYOTA, I WAS TOLD THE BRAKES DON'T WORK WELL, BUT THAT IS HOW THEY WERE DESIGNED. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO LEARN TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AS THE BRAKES ARE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON DOWNHILLS.IT IS SO DANGEROUS THAT WE AVOID DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNLESS NECESSARY. IF WE ARE TAKING THE FAMILY ON TRIP THROUGH HILLS OR THE MOUNTAINS WE RENT ANOTHER VEHICLE AS I VALUE THE LIFE OF MY FAMILY.*AK"

I don't have a problem with the brakes on my Highlander. I think they are fine. I just have a problem with the vibration. I tried turning the AC on at stoplights and guess what, the vibration goes away. The closest Toyota dealer is an hour away, so I won't be able to take it in for a while. Do any of you guys have any idea what could be causing the vibration? Shouldn't the car vibrate more when the AC is turned off? Not when it's turned on? It's a slight vibration, but you can definitely feel it in the steering wheel and in the seat sometimes.

bikeman3 · February 2004

with regard to small brake problem, this is impossible! I am sure that no Toyota service manager would or could say that! My HL has 12000 miles and not a problem with brakes and I live in hilly western PA. As a matter of fact, I had an independent service tech examine everything on my HL because he is in the market and all he coud say is everything underneath the car was perfect including pads rotors etc. My suggestion is to move the seat up a little bit and practice
braking until it feels right and then take it to another dealer or independent mechanic for their opinion.

rhouser2 · February 2004

went to the omaha,ne. auto show in january. we went to look at suvs and during the process i got to talking to a gentleman from the toyota order processing office. this is the office that compiles the orders from the dealers in that area and sends them to the factory. i asked him if i could order a highlander limited without leather interior. he said sure if you want to wait 3 or so months to have it built. he said they can build it about anyway you want within the structural limits of the model. he said all limiteds will have the 3rd seat/V6 but everything else us up to the buyer. no option packages. for the price of the car be sure and get only what you want.

gpolt · February 2004

Wondering if there are any 2004 V6 Front Wheel Drive owners out there who would comment on their gas mileage? Curious to know if the 5 speed automatic significantly improves mpg. Thanks.

jackmick656 · February 2004

For those HL owners who have a pertfect vehicle I am happy for you but not all of us are so lucky. There are several long standing problems that plague many HL owners:

Brake pedal requires way too much pressure to stop the vehicle.

Too much outside wind noise.

Vehicle vibrates when at a stop and tranny is in drive.

Buzzing vibration from glove box and dash.

Smooth ride only on a smooth road, other wise rough ride.

These are the problems that I have on my 2003 V6 HL. Where has the famous Toyota quality control gone?

junepug · February 2004

Take all these problems to a higher authority at either Toyota or the government.

jackmick656 · February 2004

What branch of the government do you suggest that I take my Highlander problems to, CIA or FBI?

wwest · February 2004

They seem to be best wiyth phantom problems.....

petl · February 2004

Where are the many owners? I hope you are not referring to the individuals who have written a complaint with the NHTS. That site concerns me a little bit. It allows anyone (owners and/or non-owners) to file complaints with or without justification. Like many other vehicles, the Highlander has problems. It appears to me that you should take up your concerns with the dealer. If the Dealer is unable to assist you, speak with the Company. If they refuse to help, trade it in for a vehicle you might be happier with. I'm sure you will get a pretty good dollar for it (if it has been well maintained or if it hasn't been in an accident.). Good Luck.

landdriver · February 2004

I've been lucky with mine -- '01 V6 AWD Limited -- only problems I've encountered: glovebox rattle (fixed via dealer TSB but rattle came back after a year (dealer-installed felt pads migrated over time)); a rattle in the rear seat area; a very minor whine in the right rear wheel area when going 10-20 mph that I don't notice anymore or may have gone away; mushy brake pedal feel when vehicle was new but either went away or got used to it (bleeding and replacing brake fluid (while painting calipers) didn't affect brake feel) -- despite the mushy characteristic have always felt entirely secure in its braking ability; and front doors A-piller side wind noise endemic in '01s that was fixed by dealer under warranty via TSB by replacing front door weatherstripping. Obviously not 100% trouble-free but problems minor enough that I'm pretty much happy with the vehicle. Now, if the dealer hadn't been able to address the wind noise issue then my opinion of the HL may have gone down a notch or two. Maybe if the owners whose dealers are not able to fix the problems were to park their Highlanders in front of the aftermentioned dealerships with a large sign affixed to the inside of the windshield that stated something like "Don't buy the Highlander -- vibrates while idling -- dealer admits this is normal" might make them try a little harder to fix the problem (or at least give future buyers more bargaining leverage ("Sign outside says Highlander vibrates -- why should I pay MSRP for a car that vibrates?")).

jackmick656 · February 2004

I want to thank everyone for their input regarding the problems I am having with my 03 HL.
You guys must have a different breed of dealer than in my area. If the vehicle is not leaking oil or being towed into the dealership then all of the problems are brushed off by saying, " we cant duplicate the problem " or "vibration is within factory tolerences ". If you read back through the Highlander message boards from 2001 to the present, you will see the problems I mentioned repeated over and over. Rather than waste time and loose the use of my vehicle for days at a time I accept the deficiencies of the HL and go on with life. For those HL owners who do have a perfect vehicle, good for you. For those of us who do have nagging problems, it will be Toyota's loss when new vehicle time rolls around.

sarto · February 2004

I have a 4 cylinder '01 manufactured April 2001 ( part of 1st batch for US) with more than 63,000 city, freeway and mountain miles. I did a good engine break-in period job. I faithfully do my own oil changes between 3k and 5k miles using synthetic oil. Rotate my tires regularly (still original tires). Torque the lug nuts so my brake discs never warped. Once had the dealer change the tranny fluid (recommended by my toyota mechanic friend). Just had a new set of brake pads all around. Except for the dealer sending me letters that they had to replace the brake fluid reservoir cap, turn around the gas tank hose and upgrade my computer for the emissions control, I never had "nagging problems". But I have a different view of "nagging problems". They would be e.g. door handle falling off, window off track, water leak from windows, radio not working, car veers to the side, pulls to the side, steering wheel shimmy, wipers falling off, door not aligned, hood not aligned, starter won't turn, paint peeling, etc.etc. Yep! Toyota quality compared to the nagging problems I had just mentioned with my past cars. As for vibration while engine idling and in gear, consider a total tranny fluid change. Ask some trustworthy mechanics about this since the manual says that we don't have to change the tranny fluid.......ever (yeaaa riiiiight).

aldan93 · February 2004

Looking at this board, tells me one thing, most SUV's have issues Foreign or Domestic, yikes this board rates up to the Trailblazer, Envoy board. The brake issue is very weird, I think most people going from a passenger car to SUV have this growing period, like wow its actually a 4000LB truck I'm driving not a 1500 LB ESCORT adjustment period. I love my Inline 6- 275HP 19-21MPG TB!

scottgb · February 2004

Had my 2002 Highlander v-6 AWD for 2 years and 20,000 miles and haven't had one issue yet. This is the best vehicle I've ever owned.

ahlin · February 2004

2001 Highlander Limited AWD V6 Like to add my two cents for what it is worth--- absolutely no problems with the vehicle. Oil changes at 3 to 4 thousand mile intervals. We did replace the original Bridgestone tires for Michelin LTX MS-much better in the snow. Would highly recommend this vehicle to others who are considering purchasing a mid-size SUV.

junepug · February 2004

Refer to the the "Owners Warranty Rights Notification" book that was included with the vehicle. Most states have a Lemon Law that is covered by the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney Generals office.

Who knows, since it is a foreign vehicle, the office of Homeland Security may be able to help. <grin>

junepug · February 2004

I must admit that the Highlander is not the best vehicle I have ever had. That award goes to the 1969 Volvo P1800 2 seater sports car that I bought new and had totaled by a Chevy step van in 1973. That car had no problems or rattles.

sarto · February 2004

Well said.

jackmick656 · February 2004

Had an appointment with the dealer on 02-13-04 concerning my vehicle's vibration problem. Service mgr. took my car and 15 minutes later came into the lounge and asked me to step out side. He asked me to get behind the wheel of a customers 03 HL that was in for service. He asked me to start the engine and put the tranny in drive. I did so and he asked "is that the same vibration that you have on your HL"? I replied yes and he said that it was normal, they all have it. I then slipped the tranny into neutral and the vibration disappeared. I then said I believe the motor mounts are loose or the HL has a tranny flaw.
I went back into the lounge and waited. After one hour mgr gave me my keys and said that the motor mounts were tight and the vibration is minor and that I still have 4 years of warranty left. If the vibration becomes worse I am to bring the HL back. I drove the HL home.
Every week I plan to take the HL back to the dealer for the next problem on my list. Next week will be the windshield wind noise, they cant say that is normal.

pcz3 · February 2004

Is it possible for a dealer to install a power driver seat in a non-leather 2004 FWD Highlander without side and curtain airbags?

lmacmil · February 2004

Took delivery of our new Highlander Limited today. I haven't driven it (other than the test drive) but my wife, who will be driving it daily, said it rode "like buttah." She also enjoyed the pickup. Both were major improvements over our 1996 Explorer (which rode like the truck it is and could barely get out of its own way.) One pleasant surprise is that it has Michelin Energy LX4 tires on it. I'm going out to the garage every few minutes to inhale the new car smell. It's our first brand new car since 1989.

jackmick656 · February 2004

I cannot find any mention of fuel filter replacement in the HL scheduled maintenance booklet. Has anyone replaced a fuel filter yet?

mcdawgg · February 2004

None of the newer Toyotas require fuel filter changes.

phrosut · February 2004

How can that be? With only 20,000 miles on our '03 I hadn't even looked that far ahead in the maintenance procedures, but would have started wondering eventually.

herzogtum71 · February 2004

I have been looking for a wagon or small SUV with more cargo room than my '94 Corolla and have not been enthused by the choices. So I'm thinking about the base FWD Highlander with 4-cylinder engine and without the 3rd seat. On paper the gas mileage is as good as most wagons. What kind of mileage are people actually getting with this vehicle? Also, I wouldn't want a roof rack if the cargo space is big enough and the right shape. For example, can you fit a sheet of drywall inside, or mostly inside with not too much sticking out the rear? Thanks.

landdriver · February 2004

Can't speak to the gas mileage as I have a 4WD V6 but I did try hauling a 4'x8' sheet of particle board in the vehicle once and it was quite cumbersome -- it fit with maybe a couple of feet sticking out the back, but by resting about halfway up the curved rear door opening (rear window on highlander doesn't open) and scratched the plastic molding (and perhaps the weatherstripping) in the opening. Also there was no ready means of tying the door down -- I did it in a makeshift way but the door was bobbling up and down a bit as it wasn't secured firmly enough. I'm sure with a little ingenuity you could rig up a platform to rest the material on and a way of securing the door, but the Highlander wouldn't be my first choice for this. I considered tossing the particle board on the roofrack but I was alone and there wasn't an easy way to get it up there without scratching the paint. Also, the roof rack cross members are curved and rated at 150 lbs if memory serves me correctly thus not ideal for sheet material; an aftermarket roof rack may alleviate this. Its a really nice vehicle otherwise. For 8' or less 2x4's, or smaller-sized sheet material it will do just fine. I once fit in a 6' step ladder plus perhaps a dozen boxes or so; its quite spacious. (My 4WD V6 gets 19 mpg combination city and highway.) Hope this helps.

lmacmil · February 2004

When we took delivery of our HL Ltd this week, our salesman stressed that the V6 needed only regular gas and that we shouldn't even put anything above midgrade in it. The manual just says the engine will make slightly more power with premium. Anyone done a mileage comparison between reg and prem to see if the higher octane improves mileage?

herzogtum71 · February 2004

I once hauled a 4' x 8' piece of blueboard on the Corolla roof rack, and it wasn't pleasant. On the mile and a half drive home I didn't go over 25 mph and still had to stop once to readjust the thing. If I ever have to do this again I would prefer fitting it inside. When I look at the vehicle I'll try to figure out how easy it would be to come up with a platform and tie-down solution.

lmacmil · February 2004

It will have to sit on the wheel wells if you want it to lay flat and you'll have almost 3 feet hanging out the back.

kybill · February 2004

I live in KY, across the river from Cincinnati and I drive about 17,000 miles per year. Most of my driving is in our area's fairly hilly country and my '03 HL LTD AWD does fine on 87 octane, even though we have that goofy reformulated gas down here. One concession I do make, when we travel to FL with the kids, is to use 93 octane from Cinci to the first fuel stop past Atlanta. With a fully loaded vehicle and the serious hills we need to climb from So. KY to No. GA, the extra octane greatly improves performance and acceleration. Other than that, paying a premium for premium(>: seems to be wasteful. Hope this helps.

motownusa · February 2004

If I can pay 30 big ones for a car/SUV I can pay the extra 20 cents on a gallon of gas. Regular unleaded is for regular Joe's. Premium all the way baby.

wwest · February 2004

a regular Joe.

rugby65 · February 2004

Me too----------a regular Joe--------

It doesn't make any sense what so ever to make the oil company's any richer. Right now where I live Reg unleaded is $1.45 a gal and Super unleaded is $1.68.
My 03 v6 runs just as fast on the cheap and it will not harm the engine...............

brupop · February 2004

Let's let our friend in Detroit pay extra for his gas. It might help subsidize us regular Joes.

kybill · February 2004

for the vote of confidence for a KY elected official, who is a fiscal conservative and tight with a buck - yours, mine, or anyone's!

jbollt · February 2004

It just hit $2.13 for regular unleaded at our local independant dealer, and $2.16 to $2.19 at the majors, in San Diego County! They are GOUGING us. Oh well! I guess it is better than waiting in line and the Odd/even license plate # thing of the 70's? BTW.. I agree that using premium fuel is just an extra expense. I have a 2003 V6 2WD,and get 20-22 mpg on almost every tank full...mixed fwy and city...LOVE the car..one of the best I have owned, and I have owned over 50. Enjoy your Highlanders, everyone!

thoon · February 2004

Recently I've noticed that if I pull up on the drivers window switches when the windows are closed, the switches for the window make a clicking noise. For example, if I pull up on the passenger's window switch with the drivers switch, there's a click from the passenger's door. Is this normal? I also noticed that if I pull up on all of the drivers switches at the same time, my HL starts to vibrate and I can really feel it in the seat and steering wheel. If I do it at night, the headlights kind of dim. Is it a bad alternator or is this normal too? Do your HL's do the same thing?

Toyota Highlander

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