Hi there, I'm new to actually posting on this forum (been a long time lurker) and decided I'd create a new thread to see if anyone has been having the same issues that I have with their 2010 Highlanders.
A little bit of background info... in May of 2010 we purchased a black Highlander Limited. We bought it brand new with 14km on the odometer when we picked it up. This is the first "import" we've ever had in our family after coming from a long line of GM and Ford vehicles.
Anyways, the Highlander has been GREAT except for one minor issue that is causing a really big headache.... the bumper and the front fenders do not line up perfectly, and the bumper sticks out quite a bit on the passenger side of the vehicle. We figured it was a minor fit and finish issue and that the dealer would be able to correct it no problem.
In early July we brought the truck in to the dealer for its first oil change and showed them the bumper...they ordered a clip, said the clip should be in really soon and that it should correct our problem. A week went by and we hadn't heard anything from the dealer, so I decided to call them up. They mention that the clip has been in for a while now (nice of them to call and let us know...) and that we can bring the truck in the next day and they will install it.
They install the clip, and tell us the trucks ready for pick up. I go to look and the bumper looks NO different at all. So I march back into the service deparment, which calls out the mechanic to look at the bumper. They photograph the fitment, and tell us they are going to contact Toyota and get back to us, and that they suspect we might need a new bumper.
A month goes by without any communication until we get a phone call from the dealer on Monday, August 23rd saying that the new bumper is painted and ready to go, and that they can install the bumper tomorrow. So early Tuesday morning we drop off the truck with service. They tell us the truck will be taken in at 10, and that it should be done by mid afternoon. We're thinking no problem, and we're glad the issue will finally be solved, but of course when we get there the bumpers fitment looks no different, and now I have paint runs and bubbles in my bumper. I march into service, show them whats wrong with the truck now, and tell them that the original problem still hasnt been corrected. The dealer calls up the bodyshop, who corrects all but one paint run, and of course the bumper still doesnt fit.
Service then tells me that Highlanders are like that...after a month and a half and all of their "effort" he turns around and tells me Highlanders are like that...
I didn't accept that, I told him that I've looked at every single Highlander I've seen lately looking for that exact issue, and I've seen them fit perfectly. The dealership had two on the lot that had the same issue as mine, and one in the showroom that was perfect. I showed them that.
He then called up the bodyshop and asked if I would be willing to talk to them about the issue. I agreed, and proceeded to the bodyshop. The manager of the bodyshop said that Toyota has been having a couple of problems with bumper fitment lately, and that he knew how the fix my truck, but that it was a much bigger job than just changing the bumper. He explained the whole front (grille, headlights, radiator, etc) had to be re-positioned in order to fit properly. He said that he was going to contact my Toyota dealer and it would be taken from there.
Today I heard back from the service manager, who said that a Toyota rep will be in the dealership on September 8th. They are going to look into the issue.
Needless to say I'm unhappy about having a new re-painted bumper on my brand new fully loaded vehicle. This whole thing has really made it hard to enjoy the truck, and being that I've never had an issue like this with a previously owned domestic it really makes me wonder if we made the right call in buying a Toyota. We love the truck, but this whole ordeal has been a huge headache.
I was wondering if anyone else has had similar issues? From all my Highlander stalking I've noticed it's more common among 2010's (without the Toyota/V6 badging on the rear), the 08's and 09's all seem to be perfect.
These are a couple of crappy pics taken from my cell phone, but they show the bumper fitment. This is the drivers side, you can see a slight overhang but nothing major, this I could live with:
Matt, I think you're going to have to use a file hosting service like Photobucket in order to be able to link to them and have them viewable on the forum. Photobucket is free and very easy to use. Check out the How To Post Pictures sticky at the top of the Highlander forum page.
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2008 Highlander Base 4WD
2002 Avalon XL
1987 Suzuki Samurai 4X4 - Treading where no Jeep can follow....
Poor fit and finish - it is as simple as that. Toyota build quality has fallen a long way from where it was just a few years ago, while domestic makers have made dramatic improvements.
Poor fit and finish - it is as simple as that. Toyota build quality has fallen a long way from where it was just a few years ago, while domestic makers have made dramatic improvements.
Take it up with Toyota Corporate.
I completely agree with you on the aspect of build quality of Toyota. It has fallen down to extent that even loyal customers like me are tempted towards the domestic brands who have markedly improved in many aspects.
Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota, recently mentioned that not listening to customers was one of the reasons they've failed so badly over the recent scandal. IMO, any company that doesn't seriously consider customer feedback is begging for eventual trouble, even disaster at worst.
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2008 Highlander Base 4WD
2002 Avalon XL
1987 Suzuki Samurai 4X4 - Treading where no Jeep can follow....
Wow, no such issue with my 2010. I can see why you are pissed.
x2. If it had only been yours with the problem, I would have suspected it was damaged before you bought it (it happens and they get them repaired). But that fact that you found others on the lot like that, I'm inclined to agree that it's just poor build quality.
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Originally Posted by Chalkie
That's why he be a moderator and we be the peons... cleverness!
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