One problem related to tailgate has been reported for the 2012 Toyota Highlander. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2012 Toyota Highlander based on all problems reported for the 2012 Highlander.
Rear tailgate no longer works. Started not closing off and on in Jan. 2015. Finally stopped working all together in August 2015. Took to my local dealership to see why it was not working they diagnosed it as a broken motor. I would be responsible for the cost to fix it. Since it is now out of warranty. Contacted the Toyota corporation they went over my complaint and said they would not cover it under warranty even though there is a Toyota service bulletin on it in 2012 and many class action law suits filed on it.