Seat Belt Problems of Toyota Highlander - part 1

Driver side airbags (curtain and left seat) spontaneously deployed while I was parking the car. I did not hit anything. I was not injured but my safety was put at risk because I likely would have crashed if it had happened while I was driving. I contacted Toyota and they sent an investigator to inspect the car. He found no issues in the data he collected and could not give a reason for the airbags deployment. I received a letter saying they were not going to help in any way. There were no warnings lights or indicators that could have warned me of the airbags deploying prior to the incident.

See all problems of the 2013 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Currently having issues for my active recall with no remedy available.

See all problems of the 2020 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Passenger seat belt won't extend half of the time. We have tried with engine on or off, put it in park and in gear, door open or closed and every other trick. We have pulled the belt straight up and down and every other angle. We have adjusted the height for tall or short riders. We took to the auto dealership, and they said it would not work for them at first then it started to work. We have had riders in the passenger front seat ride with no seat belt on because they couldn't extend it and gave up. It should work every time there because it is a safety issue that should be fixed.

Driver side seat belt is difficult to pull out and often does not retract properly. This is a safety issue for the driver. Issue has been seen by local Toyota dealer who can confirm the problem. Stated that it will require a $500 repair, replacing the entire retractable unit of the driver side seatbelt system.

See all problems of the 2018 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

The contact's wife owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v865000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the audible seat belt chime sounded after the front passenger's side seat occupant had buckled the seat belt. The seat belt warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the failure was related to the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,080. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Subject: urgent safety concern - recurring issues with Toyota Highlander hybrid models dear national highway traffic safety administration, we owned the car since almost new, after repeated attempts with Toyota, like others 300k customers from their own site, I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding persistent safety issues with Toyota Highlander hybrid models, specifically between the years 2004 and 2007. Despite previous reports and numerous attempts to seek assistance from Toyota, the response has been unsatisfactory, with the company deflecting responsibility rather than providing a resolution. **vehicle information:** - make: Toyota - model: Highlander hybrid - year: 2007 - VIN: jtehw21a570043517 **description of the issue:** 1) the primary concerns involve the hybrid a) brake actuators failing/loosing braking power 2) the electrical inverters, which have shown a pattern of failure across many vehicles, including my own. 3) leaky blow back from engine into intake. 4) seat belts are not properly retracting, these failures could compromise the safety of the vehicle but also risk to the driver, passengers, and others on the road. **previous reports:** I have previously reported these issues to Toyota, but the attempts to resolve the matter have been met with deflection of blame. It is imperative to note that these issues are not isolated incidents but are widely reported by other owners of the same model. **impact on safety:** the malfunctioning of critical components such as the braking system has led to near-miss incidents that could have resulted in severe injuries or fatalities. It is unacceptable for such critical safety issues to remain unaddressed. **request for action:** I urge the NHTSA to investigate these reports thoroughly and take appropriate action to hold Toyota and its ceo accountable. The safety of countless drivers and the integrity of our transportation system depend on your prompt attention to this matter.

See all problems of the 2007 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

The ecu requires a reflash or replacement. The hybrid batteries over heat and regen braking randomly shuts off during braking or before/after due to overheating becuswe the cooling fans do not engage past level 1 or 2. The fans in fact never go full speed unless commanded by a Toyota service tech via the software during fan testing. Upon testing I noticed they not once went high enough to be audible and thus overheated. Manu forms indicate this is a common issue and requires 180-$300 for a reflash and/or replacement of the compu) ecu to alleviate this issue. Second issue I've found is the 3rd row seat belts just like some other my Highlanders have their restraints cut at the shackle holding them to the body of the vehicle. I have seen several sheered this way including my own vehicle.

See all problems of the 2008 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

I was in a car accident yesterday two cars hit me from behind my daughter was in the third row and my other kids in the second row. The air bags didn't deploy and my daughters seatbelt in the third row didn't lock when the cars impacted my vehicle her seat belt kept going forward with her. Also my seat belt unlocked and came off upon impact of car.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while her grandkids were attempting to latch the rear seat belts, the seat belts independently unlatched. The seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 19v877000 (seat belts). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

See all problems of the 2019 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

The 3rd row seat belt buckle is imbedded too deep in the seat. This makes it very difficult for a child to buckle themselves and in several attempts the parent or another adult was required to insert the seat belt into the locking device. What is more concerning is the difficulty a child has when trying to release the seat belt. While this may be an annoyance that requires adult intervention it is of particular concern when a child, in an emergency is required to release the seat belt.

See all problems of the 2022 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Seat belt refused to retract and was pressing on our son's belly 911 was called and notified of the issue, policeman had to cut off the seat belt for my son's safety insurance was notified and we were informed that insurance will cover the repair cost but we have a $ 500 deductible Toyota gave us a quote for $ 470. 12 plus sales tax 19. 29 for a total of $545. 73.

I was involved in a rear collision that then pushed me into a front end collision. The airbags and seat belts did not deploy or lock.

I took delivery of the new vehicle without testing all the seatbelts. The third row passenger side seat belt is fully retracted as it should be, but it's locked in that position. It came from the dealer that way, and it cannot be used. If I hadn't noticed while testing out the seats, I might incorrectly assume that it is functioning while inviting 6 passengers into my vehicle. This could lead to somebody taking a ride without a seatbelt. Third rows of these mid-size SUV's aren't commonly used, so I imagine it could be a long time (years) before somebody notices that their seat belt doesn't work, unless they happened to check them all. I have a service appointment in 2 days at my local dealer to have the seatbelt inspected and fixed or replaced.

See all problems of the 2023 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Driver's seatbelt doesn't latch well and when latched it is very difficult to unlatch making you feel trapped in vehicle.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated the 2nd row passenger side the seat belt began to fray through at the top as well as near the buckle approximately half way through. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who stated the seat belts needed to be replaced however the vehicle had not been repaired as of yet. The manufacturer was made aware and was informed the repair was not covered under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

The 2022 Toyota hybrid Highlander is advertised as a family vehicle that safely fits 7 passengers with the captain chairs. We purchased a brand new 2022 Toyota Highlander hybrid for our family of 5. However, you cannot safely install a booster car seat in the third row as advertised in any position. In every position of the third row the booster car seat covers the buckle not allowing you to secure the seat belt/booster seat. The car manual show on page 58-59 to install the booster seat on the passenger side of the third row but there is not enough space. The second picture shows a car seat in the middle using an anchor bracket that does not work for a booster seat and thus would also obsure other seat buckles thus not allowing the two other seats to be used. The seatbelts are deep in the seat and cannot be brought up to be safely buckled. Now 2 of the 3 seatbelts in the back stopped working. I’ve been upset about not being able to properly use the seatbelts since I purchased the vehicle. I had to buy a device you put around the buckle in order to lift it a little so that my children can buckle their seatbelts. This is a huge safety concern. The third row seat is useless.

Rear passenger seatbelt has torn in multiple places. I believe something inside may be cutting it when it retracts. The buckle is now stuck in a tear and the seatbelt will not fully retract. Toyota refuses to fix it under warranty because it’s “not usual wear and tear” and there’s no recall. I believe this is a significant safety risk.

See all problems of the 2021 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

We had to cut a seatbelt because it was cutting into a child’s stomach. The child was screaming and complaining and it left a scar on his stomach. If we would have taken into the dealer which was 20 min away it would have done more damage to the child. We tried using the steps in the book to release it, didn’t work. As an emergency we had to cut the seat belt to release it.

Ever since I bought this car I have been having an issue where the srs airbag malfunction light comes on and my airbags are off seatbelts don't get recognized as buckled in. I have taken this car to the dealership numerous times to get it checked out but they cant seem to find a problem or solution. This is a major safety issue and I would really like someone to get involved in this issue and help me figure out my next steps because of what they tell me is that they just reset the modue and it never comes back on until 2-3 months from after they chekc it out and reset it. Please help me.

The Toyota Highlander was advertised as a family vehicle that safely fits 7 passengers with the captain chairs. We purchased a brand new 2022 Toyota Highlander for our family of 5. However, you cannot safely install a booster car seat in the third flow as advertised in any position. In every position of the third row the booster car seat covers the buckle not allowing you to secure the seat belt/booster seat. The car manual show on page 58-59 to install the booster seat on the passenger side of the third row but there is not enough space. The second picture shows a car seat in the middle using an anchor bracket that does not work for a booster seat and thus would also obsure other seat buckles thus not allowing the two other seats to be used. Toyota told us to bring the vehicle to a fire station to have the car seats installed. . Read more...

Driver's seat belt locked up so I was unable to wear it, I hit a deer tried to swerve to miss it, and my car was shaking uncontrollably.

See all problems of the 2005 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

2017 Toyota Highlander. Consumer writes in regards to defective seatbelts.

See all problems of the 2017 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

I was going about 40 mph on the taconic pkwy over the amvet bridge in the far left lane of the highway. Traffic was heavy and slowing down. It had st finished raining. I was hit on the rear right rear side by a f150 truck that caused me to slide into the guard rail on the left side of the road. The car spun out of control and slid three lanes and hit the guard rail on the right side of the road. Both front sides over the tail lights and the entire front were badly damaged. The side airbags activated but the front airbags failed to activate. Because of this failure I was badly injured. My head hit the steering wheel. I was not protected by the seat belt. My passenger and I had to be cut out of the vehicle. My neck sustained a dislocated disk and I still have pain going from my left shoulder, down my arm, into my hand. I suffered a permanent loss of vision in my right eye, a concussion and lacerations to my left hand and rear scalp. My iris in the right eye was severely damaged and still needs to be surgically repaired. I have suffered both physical and mental damages because of the failure of the seat belts to restrain me and the failure of the airbags to inflate.

See all problems of the 2011 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Srs light stays on. Have seen many comp;aints on this with 2008 Highlander. Many say its a wiring problem in steering column.

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Highlander, the contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph and swerved to avoid a cat, it resulted in crashing into a metal telephone pole. The air bags did not deploy. Additionally, the seat belt failed to retract. The vehicle was taken to larry h. Miller Lexus spokane1030 w 3rd Ave, spokane, wa 99201: (509) 293-6074 but was not diagnosed or repaired. The driver struck the steering wheel with her chest and medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 148,000.

Passenger front seat belt will not retract, when I got out of vehicle today. Dinging sound coming from somewhere when we drove it last night.

See all problems of the 2014 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Was hit in the rear end on the highway, I was moving probably 8-10 mph through a debris field from an accident. The car did not slow and hit me probably around 35-40 mph. My airbags did not fire since in a rear end impact they should not trigger. I did not impact the car in front of me. My head hit the headrest in my first motion then it hit the steering wheel leaving me with a concussion. My issue shouldn't the seat belt have locked and restrained me in that secondary impact motion?.

Occupancy sensor for driver seat, 2nd row bench, and 3rd row bench malfunction. Vehicle display shows seats are occupied and seat belts not engaged when seats are not occupied. Error message displays until vehicle is in motion.

Vehicle is equipped with seat belt sensors and alerts for all seats, yet fails to accurately report which seats are buckled or not when occupied. This alert is supposed to occur when turning on the vehicle and before shifting out of park. Many times, with just the driver sitting and no passengers in the car, it reports that there are people seated with an unbuckled seat belt. Other times when there are people seated and unbuckled the system does not recognize it and no alert appears. This is a safety feature that is advertised for sales but does not work. Ensuring that these advertised safety features function correctly should be of high importance especially when people like I do, depend on them for the safety of their children.

The right rear seatbelt (2nd row seat in vehicle with 3 rows) ripped from basic use from a child and had to be replaced by Toyota. We brought the vehicle new from Toyota sudbury, MA and owned approximately 1-year. In late December 2019, my child noticed the rear seatbelt was ripped. We took the vehicle to Toyota wellesley, MA for warranty repair. Toyota refused to repair and stated the seatbelt was intentionally cut by us. Now why would we intentionally cut a seatbelt used by our children just to pay and have it repaired? since Toyota refused to fix, and we required a seatbelt to transport our children immediately, we had to fix and pay Toyota $429. Clearly we did not cut the seatbelt and the pictures clearly indicate it was not cut but it was ripped and frayed from use or defect. We want to report this defect matter as I believe it is a significant safety issue and one in which Toyota did not even want to investigate. Needless to say, we will never buy another Toyota vehicle since this is how they view significant safety issues. I kept the old seatbelt in case it is needed for testing.

Does not have any side air bag mounted passenger driver seat air bag of the front passenger driver all the row filter in the guide does not have air bag and the seat belts do not work.

See all problems of the 2016 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

Tl- the contact complained about a 2011 Toyota Highlander. . The contact stated that while the driver was driving about 60 mph, the vehicle crashed into the vehicle in front which stopped abbruptly. The air bags did not deploy. And the seat belt did not lock in place (stayed loose). There was no warning. The driver sustained injuries that required medical attention. A police repirt was filed. The contact who was an independent mechanic stated that the vehicle was totaled . The vehicle was towed toa body shop. The dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the faiure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000. Fe.

Unable to buckle 3rd row passenger side seat belt buckle. Safety of my children were put at risk as I didn’t realize this until recently since our family grew. No warning indicating lights are on.

The incident involves a 2018 Toyota Highlander v6 awd that was purchased new on June 1, 2018. As my 12 year old son was buckling himself into the 2nd row driver-side seat today, the seat belt ripped apart in his hands. The sudden-motion locking mechanism never engaged, and no undue force (except for what one would expect from a normal 12 year old) was applied when pulling the seatbelt from its stowed position. When I personally inspected the remaining seven (7) seatbelts, both the 3rd row driver-side and passenger-side seatbelts failed under minimal stress (far less than my full body weight or strength).

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.