Toyota Highlander door locks problems

Filed Aug 30, 2026 · Locks · WA

Component: Latches/Locks — Power Door Lock Actuator I am the original owner of a 2014 Toyota Highlander AWD, currently with 88,000 miles on it. I have experienced six power door lock actuator failures on this vehicle. All replacements were OEM Toyota parts, and all repairs were paid out of pocket. Failure history: - 01/12/2019 — driver rear (original part) - 02/27/2019 — driver front (original part) - 12/07/2019 — passenger rear (original part) - 06/09/2023 — passenger front (original part) - 08/08/2025 — driver rear (OEM replacement, 6 yr 7 mo service life) - 08/30/2026 — driver front currently failing (OEM replacement, 7 yr 6 mo service life) All four original actuators failed between years 5 and 9 of the vehicle's life. Two OEM replacements have since failed on a comparable schedule. This is a consistent wear-out pattern across every door on the vehicle, not isolated part failure. The higher-cycle driver-side doors have now failed twice each. Current condition: the driver front door intermittently does not lock when commanded by the key fob or by the interior lock switch. The failure is silent — there is no chime, warning, or indication that the door did not secure. The driver has no way to know the door is unlatched without physically checking it. Safety concern: an unsecured door can open during vehicle operation, and reduces occupant protection in a side impact or rollover because the latch is not engaged. Because the failure is intermittent and gives no warning, a driver can reasonably believe the vehicle is locked when it is not. This affects occupants including children in rear seating positions. Toyota has issued no recall, technical service bulletin, or warranty extension for this component. Complaints describing the same repeated actuator failures have been reported by owners of Highlanders and other Toyota models across multiple model years. I am submitting this record so the failure pattern is documented.

Filed May 6, 2026 · Electrical · LA

Door lock actuators, yes it is available for inspection. Doors cannot be locked or unlocked with a remote key fob or the interior power door locks. Lock defect poses a significant safety hazard in that a single or multiple doors may not lock at any time, whether the vehicle is on or off and despite actions or commands by the driver. The alleged defect is dangerous to passengers as it can cause unintentional door openings while a vehicle is in use, result in inoperable doors during emergency situations, and leave a vehicle and any contents therein more vulnerable to theft. This poses serious safety concerns, for example when vehicles are involved in vehicular accidents because the occupants may become entrapped when the Door Actuator Defect prevents an occupant from unlocking the doors. Furthermore, this defect jeopardizes the safety of vehicle occupants given that not all doors are capable of being manually unlocked from the exterior. Since owning my highlander I've taken it to the dealership several times for this issue. The front door driver and passenger were replaced and a lock switch however dealership claimed they could not recreate the issue for all doors yet the issue continued and is noted several times in service history. Even when under warranty they refused to change the parts despite multiple service notes and verbal compilations due to their claim of not being able to recreate the issue. There were no warning lights or messages or other symptoms prior to failure. I've had this car since 2019 and it's been an issue notably since 2021. I fear the safety of myself, my family and other passengers are compromised every time we enter the vehicle.

Filed Mar 2, 2026 · Body, Electrical · OK

Both of the front door lock actuators went out, so the vehicle won’t lock at all & I can’t use my Toyota app that I pay for. The left back door/hatch rail that lifts up the door is making a loud sound upon opening & getting stuck when opening. Have to push the open button several times or open it manually to get it to open at all. Have taken it to the Toyota dealer to inspect both & both are costly to repair. Can’t find either of the parts anywhere, so I’m guessing a lot of others are having these issues as well.

Filed Feb 22, 2026 · Locks · TN

I purchase a 2018 Toyota Highlander in 2021. The vehicle had just over 8000 miles when purchased. The vehicle had manufacturers warranty but I purchased additional extended warranty in addition. I can review and find the dates but I don’t have it at the time I’m filling out this form. In any case, there was an issue with the passenger side door lock actuator not properly functioning. The door would not lock when using the key fob. Since the vehicle was under warranty, they replaced the actuator. In February or March of 2025, the passenger side rear door lock began with the same issues. The dealership diagnosed as another door lock actuator. The vehicle was still under warranty so the actuator was replaced. The actuator was ordered but not replaced until after the vehicle extended warranty had expired. Shortly before the second actuator was replaced, the front driver side lock began to give issues. It will not unlock or lock at all. The only way to get the lock engaged is to manually lock the door. In addition, the driver’s side rear door lock has quit functioning as well. I have reported the issue to the dealership but they have claimed they cannot repair since the warranty expired. The tech at the dealership (Rusty Wallace Toyota in Morristown, TN) told me that he has saw this issue in several highlanders. The safety issues is that the locks do not function unless manually engaged. If a child is in the rear seat, the door can be opened. When exiting the vehicle, the doors can be left unlocked inadvertently and unauthorized access can be gained to the vehicle leaving property at risk. I am in the process of getting these two no. Functioning actuators replaced but have been quoted a price in excess of $500 for the parts and labor. I have done some research and it appears this may be an issues on Highlander models 2009-2024. I can provide work orders to the actuators that have been replaced.

Filed Jan 13, 2026 · Electrical · CA

The entire head unit in the center of the front console went crazy and started going blank, glitching out, and basically made it impossible to use any of the features associated with that screen unit. The 2022 Toyota Highlander's head unit controls infotainment (radio, streaming, navigation, phone) and integrates with vehicle settings for climate (auto AC, seat heaters/ventilators), lighting, door locks, and driver-assist features like Road Sign Assist and Parking Support Brake, with over-the-air updates available for connected models. It manages multimedia, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi, and vehicle alerts, offering deep customization for audio, display, and connectivity. We promptly took the car into the Toyota Dealer and they determined it was a bad head unit and I had to pick up the car and they made us drive the car for about 1 1/2 weeks broken, while the part was in transit. After the part arrived, we scheduled visit for that part replacement. They later called and said that it was causing the same issues and had to do a further diagnostic and determined that the integragation control sub assembly computer (the cpu for the head unit?) was actually the bad part. The 2nd part was ordered and installed, and ultimately repaired the issue. We had limited control over the heater and keeping the ice off the windows and other issues with no navigation and other systems during this 1 1/2 week period. This is also the same screen that gives us the backup camera, and the 360 degrees camera views. Wow, not happy that such a major part failed with the car being so new. We bought the car brand new with just a few miles on it, and have bought every service and insurance package that Toyota offered when we purchased the car and have kept and maintained the car in excellent shape doing all maintenance exactly on schedule.

Filed Dec 14, 2025 · Body, Electrical · TX

The rear hatch door will not close or open and just sit there.And dings, you have to manually close it and open it most times and it never fully sucks up and latches fully and it doesnt notify you on the hood display of the car , so when we were driving down the road, we heard loud hissing and road noise coming from the rear and come to find out the rear hatch had never fully closed or latched itself fully.And it hangs up constantly.

Filed Oct 19, 2025 · Body · SC

We own a 2020 Toyota Highlander, and both of the exterior door handles for the backseat have broken. The first in Jan 2025 and the second a few days ago. When the first was repaired (a different door) I was told this happens often on Toyota doors and is to be expected. If this is true why are stronger components not being used in manufacturing? The first doorhandle was replaced totaling $370 and now we are going to have to replace the second. It is disheartening to know that you can purchase a car that is supposed to be so safe, but if something were to happen I might not have a way to open the door to get to my children in the back seat.

Filed Oct 11, 2025 · Electrical · IN

Door locks do not lock or unlock with the car fob, now only the driver's side door does not unlock with the fob, you have to unlock from the passenger side

Filed Aug 26, 2025 · Body · PA

My driver side rear door handle comes off when I open the door. I am having the dealership look into this on 8/28/2025.

Filed Jul 22, 2025 · Locks · TX

3 of the 4 door lock actuators do not work properly. Some don't lock and some don't unlock. The only door that currently works is the driver's door. If I don't realize that a door did not lock someone can break into my vehicle.