The rear hatch in my 2009 toyota highlander stopped working - without misuse or handling on my part. After pushing the automatic close button, there was a loud clunk sound. There was nothing obstructing the back area. The back door/hatch would not open, nor could I close it. I immediately drove it to the dealership - on a saturday. I was afraid my back door was going to fly open. They were able to close the hatch but it cannot be opened. The technician confirmed that they had seen a lot of these and said toyota would take care of it. He said the problem is the hinges were bending and therefore causing the door not to shut. I was asked to return on monday. After a diagnostic test, the service manager confirmed that the hinges were bent and I would need a whole new door. The total cost of the problem could be close to $3,000 (depends on whether the motor can be salvaged). I was also told this is my responsibility since I am out of the 3yr/36k mile warranty (59k miles). There has been a tsb issued for this same problem, but as he pointed out, it is for malfunction within the timeframe. I have not been successful with toyota USA, but will continue to pursue this. This is a know defect and should be a recall issue or at the very least, an extension on the time associated with the tsb. Toyota is replacing the subpar hinges with better ones. An issue is an issue - even if it doesn't happen within a timeframe. I have done nothing to cause this issue. And now because toyota used subpar hinges, I have to pay $3k!
2009 Toyota Highlander body complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 15 of 15, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota highlander. The contact stated that the lift gate failed to open or close automatically. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the hatch panel was deformed causing the power door motor to work harder than designed. As a result the power hatch motor, hatch door, lid hinges, lid hinge stays, and rear bumper assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 22,000 and current mileage was 113,000.
Rear door/hatch electric motor and latch/lock assembly failed. Several incidences of the rear electric hatch failing to seat/close occurred prior to the failure. The door would start down but would not close/latch. Toyota service department (dothan, al) said the door needed to be adjusted and did so. About one month later the door closed with a loud noise and would not open afterwards. Upon outside inspection, I saw the door was offset about a quarter of an inch toward the passenger side and seated about the same (1/4 inch) further in than normal. The door would not open at all at that point. The same service department initially accused me of damaging the car in an accident (untrue). They pried the door open, and recommended I disable the electric door motor and only operate the door manually. Later the same service personnel admitted there was a design problem with the door hinges that caused the failure.
As my wife came how with my daughter, she proceeded to reverse the car into our driveway to park the car in our garage as she normally does everyday. In the driveway was also my car where it is parked everyday. As she was proceeding to go back, the car all of a sudden accelerated on its own and took off. She tried to press the brake but to no avail. She continued to press the brake, however the car would not stop. She proceeded to hit my car and damaged both cars from front to back. Her car on the passenger side, and mine on the driver side. After hitting both cars, her car proceeded to go further back and crash into the house causing major damage. That is when the car actually stopped. It was at this time that she was able to put the car in park and turn the car off. Both cars and the house now need major repairs. My daughter was sitting in the back at the time of the incident.
The power arm broke off of the rear power lift gate when closing. The driver side hinge on the rear power liftgate is bowed.
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