The 2014 Highlander has some major safety concerns that were often addressed before the vehicles ever left the lot in 2014. And most other issues are little more than minor inconveniences.
Key Points
- The three recalls placed on the Highlander’s seats were done so soon after production that most drivers shouldn’t have to worry about them unless their SUV was one of the first off the lot in 2014.
- There are minor electrical problems that take away from some of the finer features that came with the Highlander, like rear power doors and a Bluetooth infotainment system.
- The headbolts of Highlander engines can sometimes strip the threads on the engine block, causing a telltale oil leak and rough running conditions.
- Overall satisfaction with the 2014 Highlander is extremely high, and most drivers will be unaffected by the minor or major problems the Toyota SUV might have before it reaches 300,000 miles.
Among the Highlander’s Five Recalls are Three Recalls Covering Defective Seats and Seatbelts in All Three Rows
The 2014 Toyota Highlander is Toyota’s family SUV. Equipped with three rows of passenger seating that can fit up to seven people, most Highlanders can be expected to last for 20 years.
That’s over 300,000 miles of back-and-forth trips to soccer practice, family vacations, and school drop-off lines. This is what makes the 2014 Highlander’s five recalls so concerning.
Shortly after the 2014 Highlander’s release, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued three recalls on Toyota Highlander seats and seatbelts—one for each row of seats.
Though it affected only a small number of vehicles, the middle seatbelt in the third row was found to be improperly secured to the floor anchorage.
Also, the seat in the middle row sometimes did not lock into the inboard seat track and could move in the event of a crash.
A third recall was issued over glitches in the seat belt restraint software. In the front row, seatbelt software meant to lock into place during a collision could improperly judge the passenger’s weight.
This means that seatbelts would lock in place as if a small child were sitting in the vehicle instead of a full-grown adult. Seatbelts then would not properly restrain occupants during a crash.
The saving grace for the 2014 Highlander is that all of these recalls were issued before the vehicle had been out even a year, meaning many of the 56,000 affected vehicles were still sitting on Toyota lots and never endangered customers before the issues were corrected.
Two Additional Recalls Address Faulty Fuel Delivery Pipe and a Serious Windshield Issue that can Lead to Engine Stall
Another serious issue is reflected in a 2014 recall that addressed a faulty fuel delivery pipe that leaked before reaching the fuel pump and increased the risk for a fire in the engine bay. This issue was not limited to the 2014 Highlander, with four other Toyota models experiencing the same issue.
The final recall for the 2014 Highlander is a waterproofing issue in which the windshield is prone to allowing water to penetrate all the way to the windshield wiring harness.
Issued in 2018, the recall found that in the event of this leakage, a short could occur and stall the vehicle in inclement weather conditions or after having washed the SUV.
Over 100 Customer Complaints Mostly Center around Electrical Issues with Power Door and Trunk Locks as well as the Infotainment System
When it comes to consumer complaints registered with the NHTSA, there are over a hundred, which isn’t that high of a number considering the age of this vehicle. From the current 112 complaints, one-quarter of them relate to the electrical system. The biggest complaints are about the automatic door and trunk locks not working properly and/or making an unusual noise.
The chief complaint drivers have with the 2014 Toyota Highlander is a faulty rear power door that will not open by electronic means. Owners have complained that the key fob will not open the door, and that buttons inside the car will not get the door to open either.
Further complaints describe Bluetooth that will not pair to a device, rendering hands-free driving impossible.
There have been several other problems reported with Toyota’s infotainment center: touch screens that stop working, the display suddenly powering off, or buttons that will not respond to touch.
The most concerning issues reported, though fewer in number, are rough running conditions and white or blue smoke coming from the exhaust of the Highlander.
Blueish, white smoke in the exhaust means oil is being burned, and the Toyota Highlander’s headbolts are known to sometimes pull the threads out of the engine block. When this happens the head will lift free of the engine, often tearing gaskets and causing an oil leak.
The repair, while simple, can be costly due to the amount of work that goes into it. But this problem is fairly easy to spot when purchasing a used Highlander. Telltale signs are the white/blue smoke coming from the exhaust, burned oil on the exterior of the engine, and a rough-running vehicle.
2014 Highlander’s Problems are Relatively Minor and were Caught Before it was too Late
Overall satisfaction with the 2014 Highlander among drivers is exceptionally high. And why wouldn’t reviews be good? The Toyota can deliver over 300,000 miles of life to its owners and is by all accounts an excellent ride.
Further, the problems that it does have, though annoying, are often little more than minor inconveniences–having to open the rear hatch by hand, for example.
All but one of the recalls issued on the 2014 Toyota Highlander were done before the vehicle was a year old, giving the Japanese manufacturer ample time to address the shortcomings, often before units were even off the lot. As a result, most customers have thankfully never experienced the problems that led to the recalls.
Overall, the 2014 Highlander is still a great family SUV that will last nearly an eternity. Its problems are minor and have had the better part of a decade to be addressed. If the Highlander isn’t billowing smoke, then it should be good to take prospective owners and their families over a quarter of a million miles.
Photos: Toyota
