2005 Toyota Highlander Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 28about this part
- Share
- 13%of 224 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 77,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 28 complaints about the visibility of the 2005 Toyota Highlander, 13% of the 224 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 77,500 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“02/28/11, I own a 2005 Toyota Highlander and the sun visor (with lighted mirror) on the driver's side will not stay up. When I drive it causes a visibility issue. This definitely creates a dangerous driving condition on the road because part of the visibility is blocked. I cannot believe that my car is barely 6 years and I am already having issues. I have never had these kinds of problems with other vehicles.”
NHTSA complaint #10384701, filed 2011-02, 73,000 miles“The driver's side sunvisor does not stay up in my 2005 Toyota Highlander. It flips down frequently blocking driver's view while driving and creates dangerous situations. I went online and discovered many many same complaints on message boards - only on driver's side. This needs to be looked into.”
NHTSA complaint #10307125, filed 2010-02, 75,000 miles“The driver side visor is drooping more and more. Now it is partly in my line of sight (I'm 6'3 ) and when I hit a bump it drops down even further and blocks about half of my vision out the windshield. Very dangerous. Before I start driving, I can gently raise it and slowly let it drop to where it stops where it only partially blocks my vision. As long as I can avoid bumps/potholes, it will stay but it doesn't take much of a bump to knock it loose to where it drops down further and becomes a safety hazard by blocking too much of my vision. …”
NHTSA complaint #10824640, filed 2016-02, 100,000 miles“On 11/9/2011, while driving on interstate 80 near auburn, ca., the rear window on my 2005 Toyota Highlander spontaneously exploded/shattered. I took it to a Toyota dealer/bodyshop where they replaced the tempered glass at my expense ($468). They claimed they had never seen anything like it. Two weeks later on 11/28/2011, while driving on interstate 80 near rocklin, ca., the right rear passenger door window spontaneously exploded/shattered sending shards of glass into the vehicle and out. The car is getting repaired at my expense ($408). …”
NHTSA complaint #10437688, filed 2011-11, 100,500 miles“2005 Toyota Highlander hybrid. Driving to work in a blizzard on 12/11/09 all dash board lights went on. Dealership found that the sunroof housing failed causing $3,977.16 worth of damage. Being out of warranty the dealer agreed to pay 2,000.00. Toyota customer service another 1,500 and we paid 477.16. We picked up the car on 12/24/09. On 2/2/10 we returned it after noticing a burn spot on each of the plastic head light covers. The dealer found both highbeam bulbs melted,and suggested I had overused them causing the intense heat that did the damage. …”
NHTSA complaint #10312516, filed 2010-02, 52,991 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10131993Dec 19, 2013This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0185-13.
- 10131988Dec 19, 2013The following procedures are recommended during routine maintenance or in the event of a customer concern for wiper performance.
- 10132136Oct 23, 2013The appearance of spots in tempered glass (when viewed at certain angles) is the result of the heat treating and quick quenching process during manufacturing.
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 10% |
| 2024 | 1 | 2% |
| 2023 | 5 | 3% |
| 2022 | 17 | 6% |
| 2021 | 17 | 3% |
| 2020 | 5 | 2% |
| 2019 | 6 | 1% |
| 2018 | 6 | 2% |
| 2017 | 15 | 6% |
| 2016 | 9 | 8% |
| 2015 | 13 | 7% |
| 2014 | 10 | 7% |
| 2013 | 8 | 4% |
| 2012 | 19 | 10% |
| 2011 | 35 | 19% |
| 2010 | 42 | 19% |
| 2009 | 7 | 5% |
| 2008 | 16 | 4% |
| 2007 | 15 | 12% |
| 2006 | 24 | 9% |
| 2005 | 28 | 13% |
| 2004 | 29 | 10% |
| 2003 | 34 | 13% |
| 2002 | 139 | 46% |
| 2001 | 26 | 19% |
Other parts of the 2005 Toyota Highlander
51 complaintsVehicle speed control
39 complaintsSteering
26 complaintsElectrical system
25 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsExterior lighting
9 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsEquipment
8 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsTires
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology