2017 Toyota Highlander Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that upon purchasing the vehicle, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the front passenger’s side tire. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where it was purchased, Norm Reeves Honda Superstore Huntington Beach (19131 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach, CA 92648), and the contact was informed that no fault was found with the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while attempting to make a U-turn with an unknown message on the instrument panel. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V682000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was purchased; however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 67,500.

When the vehicle was ~1.5 years old following its 10,000 mile maintenance, substantial thumping generated from the rear of the vehicle. Each time, the dealership attempted to resolve the problem finding issues with struts; however, it only went away in late March after having the vehicle in the shop for weeks at a time on 5 different occasions Nov 2018 - Mar 2019. I engaged Toyota HQ (800-331-4331) - filing report #1901092572 - requesting an exchange of the vehicle. This was denied and I was offered a 8 year warranty. *Due to COVID, I rarely drove this vehicle through 2020 and most of 2021, where to date, I have only ~34,000 miles on the vehicle. -On 21 Oct 2021, my wife was stopped at a gas station and attempted to start the vehicle. The vehicle would not start and the following lights came on without previous warning: 1)Braking Power Low, 2)Maintenance needed soon, & 3)Orange yellow triangle lit up with exclamation mark. My wife was stranded for 3 hours and the vehicle had to be towed. The dealership informed me that Toyota installed a generic battery into the vehicle (when being sold) that was only to have 4-5 years of life; however, my concern was that this vehicle had just completed maintenance and there was no warning of this upcoming issue. When repaired, I had to pay for the name brand (True Start) battery. -On 16 Jan 2022, after having driven the Highlander for 25 minutes, I started the engine while in a parking lot. While moving forward and the engine still going, the brakes and power steering went out. On the dashboard, the same lights that came on in Oct 2021, did so again. I had to let the vehicle coast (having no control) with my wife and child in the car through the parking lot. It came to a stop at the concrete parking curb stop at a store front. Toyota stated that since there was no check engine light that there was no code and they could not duplicate the problem. The vehicle was sent back to me with no resolution or explanation.

IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, THE REAR LIGHT COVERS STICK OUT ABOUT 3 INCHES, THE EDGES ARE AS SHARP AS A KEEN KNIFE (PHOTOS ATTACHED). WHEN I UNLOAD STUFF FROM THE TRUNK, IT OFTEN HURTS ME. I HAVE TRIED TO BE VERY CAREFUL. I ALSO REMINDED MY TEENAGE SON WITH CAUTION. HOWEVER, IT STICKS OUT TOO MUCH AND IS TOO SHARP. IT IS HARD TO AVOID. IT KEEPS HURTING. FOR EXAMPLE, THREE MONTHS AGO, ON AN EVENING IT WAS DARK AND RAINING, AT A COSTCO PARKING LOT, WHEN I UPLOADED GROCERIES ONTO THE CAR, MY RIGHT ARM AND JOINT WERE SUDDENLY HIT BY THIS SHARP CUTTING EDGE OF THE REAR LIGHT COVER. THE KEEN EDGE CUT MY ARM, AND THE STICK OUT PART BADLY HURT MY JOINT (PHOTOS ATTACHED). I COULD NOT RAISE MY ARM. THREE MONTHS HAVE PASSED; HOWEVER, MY JOINT IS STILL PAINING. I WENT TO JIM COLEMAN DEALER AND POINTED OUT THE DANGER PART IN THE REAR. I HAD THEIR MANAGERS AND STAFF TO FEEL BY PUTTING THEIR HANDS ON THE KEEN EDGE. THEY ALL ADMITTED IT IS BAD DESIGN AND EASY TO INJURE PEOPLE. BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I ASKED IF THEY COULD REPORT INCIDENTS/CASES TO MANUFACTURERS, AND HAVE IT IMPROVED. THEY SAID THEY SELL CARS ONLY. I RANDOMLY TOOK PHOTOS OF OTHER MADE OF CARS (PHOTOS ATTACHED). NONE OF THEM STICK OUT A KNIFE LIKES HIGHLANDER. IT IS A NIGHTMARE WHEN USING THIS HIGHLANDER DAILY.