Used 2021 Toyota Highlander SUV Consumer Reviews
Used Highlander for sale
BEWARE!!! Mud inside all the doors. Do not buy.
Highlander is a Downer, 10/04/2021
2021 Toyota Highlander Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
22 of 24 people found this review helpful
DO NO BUY THIS CAR.If you ever drive on dirty, muddy roads or slushy winter roads, A design flaw lets mud and slush get inside the door seals in every door, especially the rear doors. In our brand new car the first time we drove on a wet gravel Forest service road, not through deep mud at all, just on road with a somewhat muddy surface layer. When we got home we had as much as a half inch of mud on the INSIDE of the doors, all along where the "seals" contacted the doors. It's a real pain and a mess to clean out but will otherwise get mud on your clothes when you get in and out. Plus, it has to reduce the life span of the car because mud and water are getting in between the inner panels and the door. For over $50,000 you should not have to wipe off the inside of all four doors every time you drive on a muddy road, especially for a car the includes a "trail" feature. The reason this happens is obvious when you look at the design, especially on the back doors. Unlike almost every other car, there is no frame fully separating the wheel well from the doors, meaning the soft rubber seal on the door goes straight to and is actually part of the wheel well. The same is true of the bottom of the doors, they don't close into a frame, it's just a soft rubber rubber seal between the metal part of the door and the undercarriage, meaning all the mud, snow and spray can seep up and inside the seal to the inside of all the doors. Unbelievable. There's no way a rubber seal is going to keep out mud and rain when your door seal is just inches away from your tires or the ground if you are traveling at any speed at all. BTW, our speed on the muddy road never exceeded 20 mph as it was a narrow forest service trail access road. We're not alone. While we were at the dealer to have this looked at another new 2021 Highlander owner came to us and said she has the same problem. She lives down a farming road and said, "Every time it rains, which is a lot here in WA state, I have to take a rag and wipe mud out of every single door." This has never happened in any other car I've driven or to anyone else's car I know and believe me, as an avid skier and backpacker I've driven in a lot of cars on a lot of muddy roads. I'm very sorry we bought this car and hugely disappointed in Toyota. What a shame and what a huge waste of money. Toyota should be ashamed of themselves, this is not Kai Zen for sure.
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Whistling noise
TYC, 06/10/2021
2021 Toyota Highlander Platinum 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
34 of 38 people found this review helpful
2021 Platinum. Soon after purchasing the car, started to notice a high-pitched whistling sound at highway speeds. Been to the dealership three times without a permanent fix. Replaced front hood molding, placed weatherstripping under the hood molding and whistling noise continues intermittently. I think there is a design flaw to this vehicle. Dealership is unable to locate the flaw. In addition, adhesive on the front windshield panel is starting to peel off. $50K bust. Don’t buy. Toyota never again.
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2021 Toyota Highlander for sale near you
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Happy Highlander Owner
Ed B, 12/28/2020
2021 Toyota Highlander Platinum 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
51 of 58 people found this review helpful
I test drove the Kia Telluride and Palisade extensively. I must admit, impressive SUVs and they have set a new standard in the 7/8 passenger SUV segment. However, they don’t make a hybrid and Toyota Highlander shines there. I purchased a 2021 Platinum hybrid. Yes, they missed a few things which are puzzling (power folding mirrors, 3rd row USB ports, no power passenger set or thigh extension for the driver). Those weren’t deal-breakers but at that price point you expect them to match Telluride-type specs. The hybrid engine is a bit loud at low rpms but smooths out. The tech is good and the JBL 11 speaker system is superior to the Telluride and Palisade. Given Toyota’s reliability record and reputation, it was an easy choice for me.
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Whistling noise and Peeling adhesive
TYC, 06/10/2021
2021 Toyota Highlander Platinum 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
50 of 57 people found this review helpful
Bought a new 2021 Platinum. Been back to the dealer X3 already due to whistling noise stemming from front hood molding. Replaced the molding, inserted weather stripping under the molding and still the noise continues off and on. Adhesive on the side windshield panel peeling. I’m so sick of dealing with the dealership and Toyota corporate. $50k bust. There is a design flaw to this vehicle. Never buying another Toyota again.
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Car vibrating when driving uphill
Marakkar, 05/04/2021
2021 Toyota Highlander XLE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
70 of 81 people found this review helpful
Very comfort to drive but uphill driving around 90-95km/hr the car is vibrating. It happens only driving uphill. After car sitting for while when the gear changes from first to second can hear a knocking sound from underneath. It doesn’t happens every time, once the car is stopped completely and then start driving feels that knocking sound. At 1-2km/hr at that time only the gear shift to first gear. At that time when accelerating its downshifting very hard. Something hunting for gear. For a $50k it’s not worth buying. Anyone planning to buy this kind of car especially 8spd do a research before buying.
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