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Toyota Highlander windshield crack problems

14 of the 5,810 owner complaints about the Toyota Highlander describe windshield cracks, most of them for the 2017 model year.

owner complaints
14
worst model year
2017
typical mileage
42,350
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2022
    2
  • 2020
    1
  • 2019
    1
  • 2018
    1
  • 2017
    4
  • 2016
    1
  • 2015
    1
  • 2010
    1
  • 2008
    1
  • 2006
    1

What owners say

Filed Jul 15, 2023 · Visibility · CA

A rock hit my windshield and it got a crack in it several feet long. A few days later a rock hit the other side of my windshield and it cracked there about six inches.

Filed Aug 10, 2022 · Visibility · 10,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, an acorn fell from a tree impacting the front glass windshield causing the glass windshield to become cracked. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the incident but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 10,000.

Filed Jun 20, 2022 · Visibility · NC

On the driver side windshield, there is an inside crack/defect that keeps spreading causing glare while driving. The Toyota dealer has been notified and they are working on paperwork to fix it. It appears to be in between the glass windshield. Pictures cannot show because of the glare from the reflection.

Filed Dec 17, 2021 · FL

Front windshield cracked in 2 location due to stress. No impact of any kind. West Kendall Toyota in Kendall, Miami wants me to file Insurance and have repairs done by Safelite Autoglass. This is a Toyota Manufacturers problem. The new windshield should be OEM and needs quality front camera calibration. Kendall Toyota’s phone : 305 536 3255

Filed Oct 28, 2021 · Visibility · 48,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that upon purchase of the vehicle, she discovered a vertical crack on the bottom driver’s side of the windshield. The contact stated that the crack obstructed her vision while driving. The vehicle was returned to the dealer and the windshield was replaced. A year later while driving 60 MPH, a small pebble struck the windshield which cause another vertical crack on the bottom driver side of the windshield. Upon further investigation, the contact discovered two additional cracks in the same area as the original crack. The dealer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000

Filed Jul 5, 2021 · Visibility · IL

Repeated cracking of the windshield from even trivial impact from highway rocks/stones. Windshield replaced once by the Dealer service station with OEM glass at a cost of 1600 dollars out of pocket expense by the owner. Cracked again with another small rock hitting the windshield, directly in the line of sight. Inspected by the same dealer service center, advised to replace again at owners expense as Toyota does not cover glass damage. Multiple Toyota Highlanders and Sienna minivans all across the USA have had this issue of windshield cracking in the last few years . Suspect there is a design/manufacturing/ Quality control issue. the federal safety agency needs to look into this as it affects the safe operation of the vehicle.

Filed Aug 31, 2020 · Visibility · 38,000 miles · IL

The windshield cracked spontaneously at two years old. The vehicle was not even moving and never got struck with a stone or a vehicle debris. The crack is very clean and linea without any dent and starts from the bottom of the windshield all the way to one-fourth of the height of the windshield on the passenger front side. Numerous complaint about this problem is logged in a toyota customer complaint website about the toyota highlander from 2016-2018 having the same problem. Please tell toyota to fix this problem.

Filed Jun 15, 2020 · Visibility · 9,000 miles · MI

While washing the vehicle the cold water from the hose caused the windshield to crack from the base of the windshield to the roof. Vehicle had been parked in the sun prior to this. Vehicle had just spend to the dealer for service sign and no mention was made of a prior crack or chip in the windshield.

Filed Mar 18, 2019 · Visibility · 42,350 miles · IL

The windshield cracked by the defroster. From the center of the windshield. The break is on the inside going down to the defroster and then across the drivers side of the windshield. The vehicle was parked, the when it was started, the defroster was put on high fan. After a few minutes the crack appeared in the center going down towards the defroster and then across the lower portion of the windshield on the drivers side.

Filed Oct 27, 2018 · Visibility · 27,000 miles · CO

Bought this 2017 toyota highlander new from dealer in denver. 400 miles on vehicle. The windshield was cracked severely in the first 1000 miles from minor stones hitting the base of the windshield, requiring replacement- oem with camera, heat, radar sensors for $1800. Now, that second windshield has cracked again, requiring a 3rd windshield installed at 27,000 miles. Toyota slanted the angle of the front hood on this vehicle to reduce drag and improve gas mileage. As a result, minor stones on the road are thrown violently into the base of the windshield leading to cracks which start from the base of the glass and quickly crawl up and across the windshield requiring replacements. This is not safe. I have had 3 brand new highlanders in denver over 12 years- a 2009 highlander hybrid limited, a 2015 highlander limited and this 2017 highlander limited- and this is the first vehicle where the windshield barely lasts a few thousand miles before cracking and requiring a new windshield. These windshields are heated, with camera and radar sensors and oem only so replacing these is not cheap- $1800 per windshield from toyota. This is a design defect in the vehicle and should be addressed. Protection for the base of the windshield needs to be added. The cracks always happen in the same spot.

Related recalls

Visibility: power window devices and controlsReported October 22, 2015 · 1,814,284 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Risk
If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.

Recall number 15V689000 · Recall details

Visibility: power window devices and controlsReported October 10, 2012 · 2,519,424 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.
Risk
If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
Remedy
Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1‑800‑331‑4331. General Motors will contact the Pontiac Vibe owners affected by this recall and GM dealers will inspect and repair switches as necessary. Those owners may contact Pontiac Customer Care at 1‑800‑762‑2737.

Recall number 12V491000 · Recall details

Questions about the Toyota Highlander windshield crack

Which Toyota Highlander years have windshield cracks problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2017 (4 complaints), 2022 (2 complaints) and 2006 (1 complaints).

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