Skip to content
Body and structurePart report

2014 Toyota Highlander Body and structure Problems

Complaints
32about this part
Share
24%of 136 total for the year
Median mileage
48,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 32 complaints about the body and structure of the 2014 Toyota Highlander, 24% of the 136 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 48,000 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.

“Lift gate will not open or close in cold temperatures. We have taken it to our local dealer in battle creek, michigan several times but the issue has not been resolved. Each time the problem has occurred the vehicle was parked. We do not wish to injure ourselves trying to open our back door. This vehicle is used in our delivery business and it is necessary to frequently use our back door.”

NHTSA complaint #11060733, filed 2018-01, 75,770 miles

“I was t boned on passenger side, side impact air bag did not deploy. I was pushed into oncoming traffic, front airbags did not deploy in head on collision. Seat belt did not tighten- I initially hit drivers side window, when t-boned, then with front impact hit steering wheel, roof and center console.”

NHTSA complaint #11085042, filed 2018-04, 47,000 miles

“Lift gate get stuck in the open position. I live in the virgin islands, so it's not due to cold temps. Sometime it take 10 tried to close the gate. It has been happening more time lately, so I try not to use the gate. Putting it in a turning off the switch in the glove compartment does not help.”

NHTSA complaint #11092136, filed 2018-05, 15,586 miles

“After numerous electric issues with my 2014 Highlander now the rear electric lift gate cylinders are bad. Took it to my local Toyota dealer this am and for $1550 they will replace them with a technical service bulletin updated part number and cylinder. As I have read I'm not the only person having this problem and if they have an updated new cylinder why don't they the right thing and replace the bad design....uhgg I want my old chevrolet back....”

NHTSA complaint #11003581, filed 2017-07, 55,000 miles

“The rear door locks do not lock all the time making it possible for the kids in the back seat to open the doors while driving down the road on my 2014 Highlander. It also makes it pretty easy for people to steal stuff from your car. This is a huge safety issue. It is a know issue and the internet forums are full of people with the same issue with zero help from the dealer. New lock mechanisms are 300 dollars. I have already had to replace one at 75k miles,. Now I have to do the other. The vehicle now has 100k.”

NHTSA complaint #11321275, filed 2020-04, 75,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Body and structure: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202449%
20233217%
20224316%
20215210%
2020309%
2019122%
2018124%
201783%
201644%
20153217%
20143224%
2013189%
20122011%
20112715%
2010146%
20091511%
2008113%
200754%
200641%
200584%
200483%
2003187%
2002248%
2001139%

Other parts of the 2014 Toyota Highlander

Electrical system
35 complaints
Other or unknown
33 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
9 complaints
Seat belts
5 complaints
Vehicle speed control
5 complaints
Steering
4 complaints
Suspension
4 complaints
Tires
4 complaints
Brakes
3 complaints
Engine
3 complaints
Wheels
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2014 Toyota Highlander

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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