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2001 Toyota Highlander Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 137 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Toyota Highlander, most often about the visibility and wipers (19% of complaints, typically around 84,000 miles). It is 19th of 26 Highlander model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2001 Toyota Highlander problems
Visibility and wipers
26 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: glass, side/rear, power window devices and controls, windshield, rearview mirrors/devices.
This visibility issue is caused by the sunvisor on the driver side, dropping down from the stowed position unexpectedly and repeatedly blocking the driver's vision. Dealer indicated not a Toyota problem and pricing it at $700 + dollars to replace. When driving, the sunvisor had to be moved to the side at all times and…
I have a 2001 Highlander. The left visor keeps falling down from the weight of the visor. I was traveling on the highway at 65 MPH when the visor fell in front of my eyes,causing me to swerve . This is a safety issue. There should be a recall on the visor.
Engine
19 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Purchased the vehicle used at about 42,000 miles. It burned oil (1 quart per 1,000 miles) from the first day I had it. The Toyota dealership has been monitoring the oil every 1,000 miles for about 6 months and agreed it has a problem but it will cost me $2,600 for them to tear down the engine to see if they can find…
Oxygen sensor failed (caused check engine light to go on), within 24 hours of having it replaced check engine light went on again and a second oxygen sensor had failed,which also had to be replaced. Check engine light is on again.
Brakes
18 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 38,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Consumer stated that when attempting to apply the anti lock brakes, the vehicle experienced heavy vibration and caused a distraction to the consumer. The dealer was notified. At 55 MPH when braking, the steering wheel shook, but the consumer was able to the control the vehicle. However at 75-80 MPH, when braking (no…
The car accident in which I was involved in had suspicious activities that followed, for example, finance company repossessed my vehicle although my payments were current. Recently, while researching vehicle recalls, I found that my 2001 Toyota Highlander had a hydraulic brake recall. The accident caused injuries as…
Speed control
15 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 56,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
I was backing out of the garage when the car accelerated. I kept hitting the brake and it finally stopped. I put the car back into drive and it accelerated again. I tried hitting the brake and it wouldn't stop until it hit the garage door. I don't know how fast it was going, but it seemed like it was going at an…
I was starting to slowly drive off the ferry boat as the ferryman was opening the gate. My Toyota Highlander 2001 sped up out of control. If the man had not jumped aside, he would have been run over. I had no control. My foot was not on the gas. Reported to local Toyota dealer. "mat problem". I replaced the mat with a…
Body and structure
13 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 77,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The front mudflaps are broken on both sides. I did nothit anything to cause them to fail. As I drive around, I notice that almost all hl's have broken front mudflaps. This is a design defect and they should be replaced at no cost, even if out of warranty.
On 11/17/2015 I hit a parking island in an unlit parking lot. When I tried to stop, my brakes failed. This caused me to lose control of the vehicle and it hit 2 parked cars and a tree. I have lost wages and live in pain every day due to injuries from this accident.
Transmission
13 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
I own a 2001 Toyota Highlander, 85000 miles. 3 weeks ago the transmission failed. I called the Toyota dealership and was told they could not help me. I had a transmission shop rebuild the transmission and when taking it apart, they found 4 planetary gears that had sustained random breaking and chipping. This appears…
I was backing out of the garage when the car accelerated. I kept hitting the brake and it finally stopped. I put the car back into drive and it accelerated again. I tried hitting the brake and it wouldn't stop until it hit the garage door. I don't know how fast it was going, but it seemed like it was going at an…
Air bags
10 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 96,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Anytime car is kept outside in temperature below freezing, the airbag light illuminates and stays on after car is started. It continues to stay on until temperature warms up and car is subsequently restarted. There are reports of a tsb on this known problem stating the airbag is non-operable while light flashes, but…
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the spiral cable needed to be replaced; however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate…
Wheels and tires
9 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles. Parts named most often: sidewall, tread/belt.
The consumer was traveling on the highway when the front tire blew out. Regaining control, the consumer stated that when he/she pulled over, they saw two holes, one with a 3" and the other 1" in size (the sidewall). The two right side light metal wheels were damaged as well. Scc
My front tires, (from a set of four), have parts of the tread separating from the tire body. The rubber under the missing pieces of tread has a texture like popcorn. The inner surface of the rubber is shiny and smooth. It is not from gouging, force, or abuse to the tires. It is as if the manufacturing process used two…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Toyota Highlander recalls
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: This condition could allow the door to be opened with the inside while the operator believes that the cpl was activated. If the door were opened from the inside while the vehicle was in motion, an occupant could fall out and be injured.
Fix: Dealers will shorten the cpl lever. Owner notification began may 7, 2004. Owners should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Certain sport utility vehicles have a child protection lock (cpl) system on both of the rear side doors. When an operator of the vehicle closes the door very hard with the cpl lever set to the lock position, there is a possibility that the lever may contact the body panel, causing the cpl lever to move into the unlock position.
Fuel system: mounting
Risk: In the worst case, nozzle breakage could result in fuel leakage if the vehicle rolls-over after a high speed frontal crash.
Fix: Dealers will rotate the specified clamp. Owner notification began september 23, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
On sport utility vehicles, there is a breather hose that attaches to the nozzle of the on-board refueling vapor recovery (orvr) valve, which is located on the topside of the fuel tank. The breather hose is attached with a clamp, whose "tabs" face in the upward direction. When the vehicle was crashed under the new car assessment program (ncap) test (I.e., 35 MPH frontal barrier crash), the clamp "tabs" contacted the underside of the body due to movement of the fuel tank, causing the nozzle to break.
Brakes: master cylinder
Risk: The increased pedal stroke will lengthen the stopping distance of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will bleed the air from the brake lines and replace the reservoir filler cap. Owner notification began july 30, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: sport utiity vehicles. The reservoir filler cap of the brake master cylinder may induce a vacuum, introducing some air into the brake master cylinder reservoir. This could cause abnormal brake noise and increased pedal stroke when the brakes are applied.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2001 Toyota Highlander
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Toyota Highlander?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: visibility and wipers (26 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles); engine (19 complaints, typically around 42,000 miles); brakes (18 complaints, typically around 38,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Toyota Highlander have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 15, 2004 (doors and locks). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Toyota Highlander?
- It is 19th of 26 Highlander model years by number of complaints, with 137 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.