2017 Toyota Highlander Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 1%of 271 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 12,190miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2017 Toyota Highlander, 1% of the 271 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 12,190 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11246740, filed 2019-08, 20,380 miles“The headlight projection is sharply cut off at the top. When entering a dip in the road there is no illumination at the far side uphill. The dealer adjusted them, now there is a lack of acceptable light immediately in front on flat roads”
NHTSA complaint #11018717, filed 2017-08, 4,000 miles“The low beams began to get dim after ~60K miles until it began to be difficult to see the right shoulder of the road. After a number of visits, the Toyota dealer said there was some kind of cloudiness on the internal surfaces of the low beam and that the only solution was to replace both headlight assemblies. By then I had also failed state inspection (because of the lights.) I paid the ~$1400 for the replacements and the lights work now. BUT, I can see inside the sealed low beam portion a few areas with a bit of cloudiness. …”
NHTSA complaint #11514813, filed 2023-03“I purchased a Toyota Highlander in april 2017 from the jim coleman dealer in bethesda, maryland. Since then, this terrible designed car is hurting me and my family. 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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11251810, filed 2019-08Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 12 | 5% |
| 2021 | 8 | 2% |
| 2019 | 4 | 1% |
| 2018 | 5 | 2% |
| 2017 | 4 | 1% |
| 2016 | 9 | 8% |
| 2015 | 10 | 5% |
| 2014 | 2 | 1% |
| 2013 | 5 | 2% |
| 2012 | 2 | 1% |
| 2011 | 5 | 3% |
| 2010 | 12 | 6% |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% |
| 2008 | 3 | 1% |
| 2006 | 7 | 3% |
| 2005 | 9 | 4% |
| 2004 | 14 | 5% |
| 2003 | 15 | 6% |
| 2002 | 12 | 4% |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2017 Toyota Highlander
77 complaintsOther or unknown
55 complaintsEngine
47 complaintsElectrical system
46 complaintsFuel system
37 complaintsBrakes
29 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
15 complaintsVehicle speed control
13 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsWheels
6 complaintsForward collision avoidance
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2017 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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