2013 Toyota Highlander Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about a clunking or popping noise from the steering when turning, and about a hesitation-then-surge feel from a stop or during slow rolling acceleration that many dealers could not reproduce. A separate and frequent theme is repeated door lock actuator failures on individual doors. Complaints cluster at low mileage for the acceleration reports and at moderate mileage (roughly 45,000-70,000 miles) for the steering noise.

1. 1
   Steering

   Clunk or pop in steering when turning

   • 44 complaints (21%)
   • median 54,853 mi at 5.8 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $507 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2024

   Complaints describe a knocking, popping or clunking sound felt through the wheel or heard near the pedals when turning, often at low speed and sometimes in both directions. Several owners say a shop identified the intermediate steering shaft and quoted a repair; some note the noise returned or worsened over time, and a few were told at first it might be the rack and pinion. Dealers sometimes described it as only a noise, and the repair is frequently reported as not covered once the vehicle is out of warranty. Usually reported between about 30,000 and 70,000 miles, with some owners noting it got louder with continued driving.

   What to check: Turn the wheel slowly while parked and again at low speed in a lot and listen for a knock or pop; ask for service records showing whether the intermediate steering shaft was ever replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There are sounds when sometimes when turning, including poping or sometimes like a whirling sound. The steering is a bit stiff sometimes and not easy to turn the wheels, this does not happen at any specific speed. I do not have any picture or other document I can upload as this is not physical damage that can be photographed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11404623, filed 2021-03, 45,500 miles

   “Started hearing a loud popping noise underneath the steering wheel or pedals. Noise became louder as time went on especially when I made turns. Toyota recent diagnosed the problem as an intermediate steering shaft. Was originall told it might be a rack and pinion problem. Hopefully that this doesn't now turn into something else. This is not covered under my powertrain warranty. Very upset.”

   NHTSA complaint #11145364, filed 2018-11, 45,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Hesitation then sudden acceleration from a stop

   • 38 complaints (18%)
   • median 4,600 mi at 1.2 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2024

   Owners report pressing the accelerator from a stop or after slowing and getting little or no response, followed by a sudden surge of power, sometimes with the tires spinning. Complaints describe it repeatedly at low speeds, including while pulling out into traffic or making a turn, and say dealers were often unable to duplicate the condition or offered no repair. A few mention similar behavior with cruise control engaged. Mostly reported under about 15,000 miles, often within the first year of ownership.

   What to check: During a test drive, try several slow starts and rolling accelerations from a stop and note any delay or surge; ask the seller whether the throttle body or pedal sensors have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On thursday, april 3, 2013. I stopped at an intersection and when I tried to accelerate there was no response. I thought the engine had died. There were no lights on instrument panel. I pressed accelerator again and it jerked and took off. I have experienced hesitations several times (10-12). I bought the Highlander 2013 in july 2013.”

   NHTSA complaint #10578436, filed 2014-04, 12,500 miles

   “When turning left out of my neighborhood I slowed down and then tried to return to speed but the vehicle hesitated then suddenly jerked up to the desired speed. One other time on an interstate I had to slow down behind a truck and then when I tried to accelerate back to speed in the passing lane the car hesitated for several seconds and again accelerated rapidly (cars in the passing lane had to brake quickly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10544226, filed 2013-09, 1,146 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag warning or sensor issues, and no deployment in some

   • 22 complaints (11%)
   • median 37,000 mi at 4.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Several complaints involve the passenger-side airbag status turning off or a sensor requiring recalibration, sometimes more than once. Other owners describe collisions in which the airbags did not deploy, and one reports curtain airbags deploying without an impact in very cold weather. Dealers in some accounts said the system checked out or simply recalibrated it. Reported across a wide range, from about 49,000 to 148,000 miles.

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light behaves normally on startup and that the passenger airbag indicator reads correctly with an adult in the seat; ask whether any sensor or module work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Tl-the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle wheels hydoplanned causing the contact to loss control and crash into a center concrete wall. No airbag deployed. The contact sustained injuries to the chest. The contact did go to the hospital couple of hours later to treat injuries to the ribs which were fractured. The contact did not stay overnight. No police report was made. No medical attention was contacted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11394784, filed 2021-02, 35,000 miles

   “The passenger side front airbag sensor has failed on 4 occasions. The dealership has claimed that the airbag system is fine, but it needs to be recalibrated each time. None of the other airbags are affected.”

   NHTSA complaint #11184890, filed 2019-03, 125,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Door lock actuators fail one door at a time

   • 9 complaints (4%)
   • median 59,750 mi at 4.5 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2019

   Complaints describe doors that stop locking or unlocking with the key fob or the interior switch, one door failing after another over months or years. Owners report paying to replace the actuator each time, and some say a dealer described the pattern as a known characteristic of the vehicle. In a few accounts the lock failure meant a door could not be opened from either side. Typically reported between about 40,000 and 100,000 miles, sometimes within the first few years of ownership.

   What to check: Lock and unlock every door with the fob and the interior button, and ask which actuators, if any, have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had to replace every automatic opener door locks on every door and some twice (early 2014 to present). They can't tell me why the keep failing. Now that the car is out of warranty I now have 2 more automatic door locks that have failed. I have another friend who owns a Highlander and he is having the automatic door openers fail. This must be a defect in the design of these locks.”

   NHTSA complaint #10970787, filed 2017-04, 83,000 miles

   “The door locks are failing one by one. It seems to be bad actuators. First, one door wasn't locking automatically when pressing lock on the key fob. Now, I have 2 doors not locking automatically when I hit lock on the key fob. I feel this poses a safety hazard for myself and my belongings because if I ever needed to enter my car quickly with my 2 kids, I cannot. This occurs while vehicle is parked.”

   NHTSA complaint #10958750, filed 2017-03, 40,000 miles

Buying note. Check the steering for a clunk on turns and the door locks for failures during the test drive, since both are commonly reported and repairs are usually out of warranty on this model year. Also confirm the sunroof drains flow freely and look under the mats for water.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.