YearToAvoid

2011 Toyota Highlander Visibility & Wipers Problems

NHTSA lists 35 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2011 Toyota Highlander, 19% of all complaints filed for that year, with a median failure mileage of 50,050. No crashes, fires, or injuries were reported, and the related recall (15V689000) covers a different switch issue, not the sun visor.

Visibility & Wipers complaints
35
19% of 181
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
50,050 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

  • Driver's side sun visor drops or hangs partway down and blocks the driver's forward view.
  • Visor loses its ability to lock in the upright position and instead rests with resistance in a partially lowered spot.
  • Failure is reported repeatedly around the median mileage of 50,050, with some owners noting it well before or after that point.
  • Owners describe the visor as sagging or falling during regular driving rather than after any impact or accident.
  • Some owners state dealers offered replacement parts rather than a free fix, and no crash, fire, or injury was tied to these reports.

When 2011 Toyota Highlander visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 26, 2011, latest Dec 1, 2021.

2011 Toyota Highlander visibility & wipers complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2011Sep 2013Feb 2014Oct 2014Mar 2015Sep 2015Mar 2019
35 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2011 to Dec 2021; peak Dec 2013 (3).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2011 Toyota Highlander

  1. NHTSA 15V689000Oct 22, 2015Visibility & Wipers1,814,284 vehicles

    Visibility:power window devices and controls

    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.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by Highlander model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201040 (19%)
  2. 201135 (19%)
  3. 201219 (10%)
  4. 20138 (4%)
  5. 201410 (7%)
  6. 201513 (7%)
  7. 20169 (8%)
  8. 201715 (6%)
  9. 20186 (2%)
  10. 20196 (1%)
  11. 20205 (2%)
  12. 202114 (3%)
  13. 202216 (6%)
  14. 20235 (3%)
  15. 20241 (2%)
  16. 20251 (10%)

Frequently asked questions

What visibility problem is most common on the 2011 Toyota Highlander?
The dominant pattern in NHTSA complaints is the driver's side sun visor failing to stay upright and sagging down into the driver's line of sight.
How many complaints does NHTSA have for this area on the 2011 Highlander?
NHTSA lists 35 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2011 model year, which is 19% of all complaints filed for that year.
Is there a recall for the sun visor issue?
There is a related recall, campaign 15V689000, but its summary describes a switch inspection issue across several Toyota models, not the sun visor sagging problem owners describe.
At what mileage does the visor problem usually appear?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 50,050 for complaints in this area.
Did this issue cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records show 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries linked to these Visibility & Wipers complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.