2012 Toyota Highlander Other or unknown Problems
- Complaints
- 24about this part
- Share
- 13%of 182 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 63,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the other or unknown of the 2012 Toyota Highlander, 13% of the 182 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 63,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The front driver window was making a clicking noise as if it were coming off the track. Eventually, the arm motor stopped all together and I had to replace the arm. Now the front passenger window is making the same noise and I'm afraid to open it. The leather interior is cracking badly on all seats. I rarely have passengers and condition the leather. I've had to use an adhesive to prevent additional cracking”
NHTSA complaint #11286771, filed 2019-12, 131,500 miles“The door ajar lights on the dash and dinger come on aug 4, 2019, when I started the vehicle. I checked all doors, nothing was open. This has been a continuous problem ever since. These indicators come on when the doors are not ajar. They come on every day, the dinging noise as well as the little icons of the various doors. I have checked the doors repeatedly and they were not open. After researching, I have found out this is a Toyota problem with this vehicle. This problem can occur when the vehicle is in park and stationary and also when driving the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #11258345, filed 2019-09, 145,000 miles“1. My car has only 30000 miles and yesterday brake malfunction showed up. My wife had hard time stopping this vehicle. 2. Since I am reporting brake issue. It is important to share our speed gage is counting 2 -3 miles/hour higher than actual speed. We had a kind of sense for this. Now I purchased a very high efficacy GPS. Which confirmed. When ever we are passing by speed detector on any given street. My speed meter is 2 -3 miles higher as compared shows on speeding detector on street . I do not want to pay to the dealer but I wanted to report for sure.”
NHTSA complaint #10990716, filed 2017-05, 30,101 miles“On march 19, 2019 around 9:30pm (dry road condition ' no rain), my husband and I heard a loud explosion outside while we were driving on highway (I-70) going approx. 70 MPH. It sounded like a tire blew out or a gun shot. My husband didn't feel the car was wobbly so we assumed the tires on our car are ok. We were driving on left lane and there was a semi-truck next to us but we didn't see anything happened to the truck and it was moving normal too. However, after that loud explosion, we both noticed the noise coming from the top of the car (noise similar to when the car window is open). …”
NHTSA complaint #11192394, filed 2019-03, 91,000 miles“While stopped on an incline with brake being pressed vehicle started rolling backwards and skid light came on. Put vehicle in 'park' and vehicle stopped. Placed vehicle in 'drive', accelerated and drove away without further incident. Took vehicle to dealership for inspection and was told no problem identified.”
NHTSA complaint #11124217, filed 2018-09, 45,800 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11028712Jan 7, 2026Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate…
Other or unknown: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 20% |
| 2024 | 14 | 33% |
| 2023 | 40 | 21% |
| 2022 | 42 | 16% |
| 2021 | 70 | 13% |
| 2020 | 45 | 14% |
| 2019 | 83 | 16% |
| 2018 | 46 | 17% |
| 2017 | 55 | 20% |
| 2016 | 21 | 19% |
| 2015 | 43 | 22% |
| 2014 | 33 | 24% |
| 2013 | 23 | 11% |
| 2012 | 24 | 13% |
| 2011 | 14 | 8% |
| 2010 | 16 | 7% |
| 2009 | 7 | 5% |
| 2008 | 18 | 4% |
| 2007 | 10 | 8% |
| 2006 | 10 | 4% |
| 2005 | 8 | 4% |
| 2004 | 6 | 2% |
| 2003 | 11 | 4% |
| 2002 | 14 | 5% |
| 2001 | 5 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2012 Toyota Highlander
46 complaintsElectrical system
29 complaintsBody and structure
20 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
19 complaintsEngine
17 complaintsBrakes
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsAir bags
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
7 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
5 complaintsTires
4 complaintsFuel system
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 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