2014 Toyota Highlander Other Problems

Your moonroof's rear glass pane suddenly shattered into small pieces while driving. Fortunately, the soft cover underneath prevented glass from falling into the cabin, but this poses a serious safety hazard. You may want to have the moonroof assembly inspected and replaced to prevent glass fragments from injuring occupants.

Your power liftgate (rear door) is having trouble opening and closing, and it's stopped working properly. You've noticed that Toyota isn't offering to help unless you pay around $4,000 for repairs. Similar problems have affected other 2014 Highlanders and other model years (2010-2023), some of which resulted in recalls, but your year hasn't been recalled yet.

Your power rear hatch may stop working or fail to open and close properly in cold weather. If this happens, the door becomes difficult to open or close manually and could create a safety hazard since it requires significant strength to operate by hand. Toyota issued a service bulletin acknowledging this issue but has not issued a recall. Fixing this typically involves replacing the power door struts that assist with opening and closing the hatch.

Your liftgate barely works—it only opens and closes about 5% of the time. This makes it very difficult to access your cargo area. The issue likely involves the liftgate motor, latch mechanism, or electrical control system that needs diagnosis and repair.

Passenger door and rear left and right door doesn't lock or unlock with key fob, but can be locked and unlocked manually but if in a car crash and you have a child in the back seat it may creating a safety hazard if the doors are locked manually and you can't get your child out in a timely manner. I was told at the service center in Waldorf Maryland Toyota that it is a common problems, and there always changed on this make and model.

BLUETOOTH FOR PHONE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY IN THOUSANDS OF TOYOTAS OVER MANY YEARS RENDERING HANDSFREE INOPERABLE. THERE IS A WELL DOCUMENTED LOUD ECHO IN THE PHONE HELD BY THE PERSON OUTSIDE THE CAR CALLING OR RECEIVING A CALL FROM THE CAR. THE CALL MUST BE TERMINATED AND THE DRIVER MUST USE THEIR HANDSET TO RECEIVE OR MAKE THE CALL. THIS IS WELL KNOWN BY TOYOTA AND IS A HUGE DISTRACTED DRIVING SAFETY PROBLEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY AND A RECALL ISSUED TO DO SO. THIS PROBLEM HAS GONE ON TOO LONG. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OUR 2014 HIGHLANDER FROM INCEPTION AND LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS WE'VE GIVEN UP WAITING FOR THE FIX. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS.

MY POWERED REAR TAILGATE DOOR MALFUNCTIONS WHEN I ATTEMPT TO OPEN IT. ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME WHEN I PRESS THE BUTTON TO HAVE IT OPEN, IT CRACKS OPEN AND THEN STARTS BEEPING. THEN TO OPEN IT, I HAVE TO MANUALLY OPEN IT BY HAND.

THE REAR LIFT GATE POWER STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 38000 MILES ON A 2014 VEHICLE. HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS OTHERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON TOYOTA FORUMS.

TAILGATE DOES NOT OPEN SOMETIMES. IT WILL DO A LONG BEEP. SOMETIMES IT WILL OPEN BUT NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY. SOMETIMES IT WILL OPEN LESS THEN HALF WAY AND THEN DO A LONG BEEP.

AROUND 55,000 MILES DRIVEN, MY PANORAMIC ROOF STARTED LEAKING INTO PILLARS. IT CAUSED BOTH REAR DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WET AND CARPETS WET. MY ROOF LEAKS WHENEVER THERE IS RAIN. ROOF DOES NOT LEAK WHEN MY CAR IS PARKED DOWN HILL, BUT IT LEAKS WHENEVER CAR IS PARKED UPHILL. ROOF ALSO LEAKS DRIVING IN HIGHWAY IN HEAVY RAIN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA, BUT THEY SAID I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LEAK SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY SAID I HAVE TO REPLACE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING INCLUDE SUNROOF.

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AT 60 MPH, SOUTH BOUND ON RTE 495 SOUTH IN FOXBORO, MA AT 2:35 ON DEC 29, 2019. DRIVER HEARD A THUD ON THE ROOF, PULLED OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE, OPENED THE MOONROOF SHADE AND DISCOVERED THAT MOONROOF GLASS WAS GONE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF SHATTERED GLASS. DRIVER DID NOT SEE ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR PERSON THAT WAS DAMAGED OR INJURED. DRIVER WAS TRAVELING ALONE. ON INSPECTION REPAIR SHOP DID NOT SEE ANY DAMAGE TO ROOF OR WINDOW FRAME AND NO GLASS SHARDS.

THERE HAS BEEN A LEAK COMING FROM THE ROOF IN TO THE C PILLAR, CAUSING WATER TO GO IN TO THE CABIN UNDER THE CARPET. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED.

POWER BACK DOOR JUST BEEPS WILL NOT OPEN IN COLD WEATHER. MANUALLY OPENS,HOWEVER, IT'S A STRUGGLE TO OPEN.

SPEEDOMETER NUMBERS ARE NOT VISIBLE TO THE DRIVER. THE NUMBERS INDICATING THE KILOMETER SPEED ARE TOO SMALL AND THE NUMBERS ARE NOT LIGHTED BRIGHTLY ENOUGH TO SEE. THE NUMBERS ARE NOT VISIBLE IN DAYLIGHT OR AT NIGHT. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN I AM DRIVING IN CANADA. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS NO SOLUTION TO THIS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. PLEASE NOT THAT I HAVE EXCELLENT EYESIGHT.

MY HIGHLANDER HAS HAD A TOTAL OF 14 (INCLUDING THE 4 ORIGINAL) DOOR ACTUATORS IN THE 4 PASSENGER DOORS. THE 1ST FAILED AT ABOUT 13K MILES. I HAVE ABOUT 75K MILES NOW. AS SOON AS (OR SHORTLY AFTER) A FAILED ONE HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE ISSUE TRAVELS TO ANOTHER DOOR. THAT PATTERN HAS CONTINUED TO REACH THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ACTUATORS SO FAR. THE 15TH ACTUATOR WILL SOON BE INSTALLED. TOYOTA WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, EVEN THOUGH IT ORIGINATED LONG BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. I DON'T BELIEVE THE ACTUATORS ARE ACTUALLY THE PROBLEM, BUT POSSIBLY WHATEVER COMPUTER OR DEVICE IS SENDING THE SIGNAL TO THE DOORS TO LOCK/UNLOCK. IT HAPPENS WITH EITHER THE REMOTE OR THE LOCKING CONTROLS ON THE DOORS ITSELF. I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY AND INCONVENIENCE ISSUE WHEN YOU CANNOT RELY ON THE DOORS TO LOCK OR UNLOCK UPON COMMAND. UPON LEAVING THE CAR, YOU'RE NEVER QUITE SURE IF THE CAR IS SAFELY SECURED. BEING THE PRIMARY DRIVER, I'M NOT CERTAIN IF THE AFFECTED DOOR DU JOUR IS LOCKING UPON PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE, WHICH COULD BE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THE "BAD ACTUATOR" WILL ALSO NOT OPEN FREQUENTLY, WHICH IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE IF RAIN IS POURING AND YOU HAVE YOUR HANDS FULL. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

ONE DAY I FIND A WATER UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT AND UNDER THE PASSENGER SEATTLE AND THE BACK SEAT TOO SO I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT DRAIN CLOGGED DUE TO A LOT OF RAIN AND DEBRIS AND THEY ASK ME TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE A LOT OF CARS PARK THERE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND I TOLD THEM I HAVE A WARRANTY ON THE CAR AND THEY SAID IT DOESN'T MATTER AND THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX IT WITH THE FACTORY WARRANTY AND THAT FLOOD CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR FIRE BECOUSE ALL THE WIRE THERE

THE BACK HATCH NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU CAN'T ESCAPE OUT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. CAR IS PARKED WHEN WE TRY TO OPERATE THE HATCH.

SUNROOF EXPLODED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING ON STATE HIGHWAY 19 IN FLORIDA. THE TOYOTA COMPANY DENIED DEFECT AND I HAD TO HAVE REPAIR DONE USING MY INSURANCE. IF THE SUNROOF COVER HAD NOT BEEN CLOSED, PASSENGER COMPARTMENT COULD HAVE HAD LOTS OF GLASS CAUSING INJURY OR AN ACCIDENT

THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM HAS SO MANY ISSUES IT HARD TO LIST THEM IN THIS SMALL SPACE. IT WILL REBOOT MANY TIMES A DAY, SOMETIMES JUST TURNS IT SELF OFF AND HAVE TO PULL TO THE SIDE TURN OFF ENGINE AND IT WILL COME BACK ON. COMMUNICATION IS EXTREMELY POOR, IT LAGS BEING WHERE I AM, IT POOR AT FINDING ADDRESSES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TOTALLY REDO THE SOFTWARE AND OFFER IT FOR FREE ITS SO BAD

REAR LIFT DOOR (HATCHBACK) DOES NOT STOP IF AN ARM OR BODY PART IS IN THE WAY ONCE THE BUTTON TO CLOSE IS PUSHED. MY HAIR GOT CAUGHT IN THE LOCK AND THE DOOR WAS CLOSING SO I TRIED TO STOP IT WITH MY ARM AND IT KEPT CLOSING ON MY ARM WITH MY HAIR CAUGHT AND MY ARM IS SEVERELY BRUISED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND SHUT OFF IN MY DRIVEWAY

WHEN THE A/C OR HEATER IS ON, THERE IS A VERY FOUL ALMOST ROTTEN TYPE OF SMELL COMING INTO THE CABIN. I NOTICE IT AS SOON AS I START THE CAR. IT USED TO GO AWAY AFTER DRIVING IT SEVERAL MILES, BUT LATELY IT SEEMS TO CONTINUE WITH THE BAD SMELL FOR A LONGER TIME. WE HAVE NOTICED IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. IT HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT AS OF 4-25-16.

NAVIGATION SYSTEM. WILL NOT SET TO GO TO SPECIFIC ADDRESSES, WILL NOT OPERATE MUCH LIKE A NAVIGATION SYSTEM SHOULD.

THE HVAC SYSTEM DOES NOT DRAIN COMPLETELY IN HOT CLIMATES, CAUSING A BUILD UP OF MOLD/MILDEW IN THE AC SYSTEM, BLOWING IT INTO THE CAR. THE ODOR IS FOUL AND DAMAGING TO CUSTOMERS RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS. THIS OCCURS IN THE SUMMER, IN HOT MONTHS WITH THE AC IS USED ON A DAILY BASIS. IT DOES NOT OCCUR IN THE WINTER.

I NOTICED A BAD SMELL FOR MONTHS AND COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. RECENTLY I NOTICED WATER COMING IN FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SEATBELT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD ME BRING IT IN IMMEDIATELY. THEY FOUND MOLD AND SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE MOON ROOF LEAKING. THE CARPETING WAS REPLACED BY PROFESSIONALS SINCE THEIR EMPLOYEES COULD NOT BE EXPOSED TO THE MOLD. I HAD THE CAR FOR OVER A YEAR AND DROVE IT WITH MY ASTHMATIC CHILD DAILY. NO ONE HAS YET TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH HAZARD THIS IS. NOT TO MENTION THE MOLDING AROUND THE DOORS AND SEVERAL GUARDS AND PIECES NO LONGER FIT PROPERLY AND ARE SLIDING ALL OVER THE FLOOR AS I DRIVE.

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THERE IS LOUD WIND NOISE WITH WINDOW SHUT. ALSO IF ONE WINDOW IS DOWN THERE IS A AWFUL NOISE THAT HURTS THE EARS.

WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER IS ON THERE IS A HORRIBLE SMELL THAT COMES OUT. MOLD OR BODY ODOR TYPE OF SMELL.

PURCHASED NEW 2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN MAY 2014, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP A FOUL ODOR BEGAN TO EMIT FROM A/C UNIT WHENEVER VEHICLE WAS STARTED. AFTER 3 TRIPS TO SELLING DEALER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I WAS GIVEN TOYOTA T-SB-0142-13 WHICH INFORMS ME THAT THERE ARE 23 TOYOTA VEHICLES WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED TO PLACE BLAME ON VARIOUS ITEMS BUT, SINCE TOYOYA PUBLISHED A TSB IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT WANTING IT TO BECOME KNOWN AS IT MIGHT IMPACT THEIR SELLING VEHICLES. MY A/C EXPERIENCE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY AN IMPROPERRLY DESIGNED A/C SYSTEM WHICH IS FAILING TO DRAIN ALL THE MOISTURE FROM THE A/C SYSTEM THEREBY ALLOWING MOLD, MILDEW, ALGAE TO GROWN IN THE UNDRAINED LEFT OVER WATER IN A/C SYSTEM.

Your Toyota Highlander's radio sound keeps cutting out intermittently. The stereo will work fine when you start the car in the morning, but the sound may disappear when you turn off the car or change the radio station, then reappear after the vehicle sits for 3-4 hours and you restart it. This is affecting your original factory stereo system. The fix will likely involve diagnosing the radio's power connection or internal circuitry, which may require a stereo replacement or repair.