Rattle Trap

Yep, I have a new HL with 800 miles and my mirror is also causing rattles in cold weather--like today all the way home. If you close the door while pushing in on the mirror the rattle goes away. I to am very disapppointed with this car. I smell a recall if this keeps up.

 

A previous post stated that the dealer just re-tightened the screws that hold the mirror on the door and the rattle went away.

Might give it a try

 

I had mine 1 month...

Too many issues. Squeeks, rattles, vision problems with the front pillars and mirrors, speckles in the windshield. So I traded for a 2008 Benz Ml 350. Could not be happier, what a car. It's flawless, but you get what you pay for. I hope your Highlander works out for you, mine did not meet my expectations.

 

As I said in another thread, I tried to trade my '08 HL in due to several issues, but it lost so much value in the 5 or so months that I have owned it that it was simply not worth it. Toyota essentially told me that so few people are buying these cars that they would have real trouble selling mine as a trade in. That is bizzare, as this is a current model year Limited vehicle in mint condition with less than 4000 km on it. I am happy enough to keep it for now - if I blast the radio I cannot hear the symphony of rattles and drones, but I honestly expected much more from Toyota. I have been loyal to Toyota for 25 + years, but this will definitely be my last.

 

Mine was 1 month

Money was not an issue, I took a minor hit but well worth it.

 

I guess money really was not an issue considering that an ML 350 with Leather MSRP's at roughly 48k! Clearly a different category of vehicle, which is not to say it is OK for the HL to have all the problems you describe. I am curious as to why you chose HL in the first place. Did you consider the MB before buying the HL?

 

What's going on here??

I have to say that as a relatively satisfied owner of an 08 HL Sport I am surprised by the posters here who have traded their HL's or claim they will.

I have personally owned new cars fro Honda, VW and Subaru and Toyota. Ironically, every single car I have owned, with the exception of Toyota did have initial problems. Honda could never figure out how to keep my Drivers side window on it's tracks, it would get stuck in the down position. Not fun in the rain!

VW had so many problems I can't even remember them all, but they were way more significant than a rattle.

Forget about Subaru - never would buy again.

I have a 2002 RAV 4 which has (knock on wood) never been in the shop for more than an oil change. I am looking forward to the same in our 08 HL.

I have a rattle in my dash which should not exist in any car, albeit a 37k car.
I will have it addressed at next service. If service cannot address the issue, I will escalate it to management. It's amazing what happens when you go to management.

Anyway - I guess my point is this: All manufacturers, yes even MB have issues. I will take a rattle any day over more serious electrical/powertrain issues.

Take a look at other forums on CarSpace and see what issues owners of other makes have. It may surprise you.

On a side note: I work for a company that sells electronic equipment that costs upward of a million dollars. Even at those prices stuff still breaks or shows up with a scratch or even a rattle.

 

I am in Canada and considering I paid close to $54,000 for my HL + tax = $63,000 and I stood to lose $12,000+, money became an issue with me. I was more than willing to take a minor hit, but a 12G loss on a 5 month old car isn't minor in my books.

 

I'll pick myself up of the floor now. I really had no idea. Honestly, at the price you paid I would accept nothing short of perfection.

 

Yeah, just for kicks go to the Toyota Canada website (Toyota.ca) and confugure a vehicle to see how much cars cost up in the Great White North. Check out the prices of the extended warranties too - incredible. Keep in mind that most Toyota dealers in Western Canada do not discount at all. Not one penny, and there are no add ins. No free mats or acessories, no protection package discount, nada. The price you pay is full MSRP + taxes. Not good.

 

Keep in mind that most Toyota dealers in Western Canada do not discount at all. Not one penny, and there are no add ins. No free mats or acessories, no protection package discount, nada. The price you pay is full MSRP + taxes. Not good.

There was this one Member from the Siennaclub from Vancouver BC, he went to Regency Toyota [Without Trade In] and well they offered him $750 in accessories for the Sienna but he went to import instead.

At least not all dealers are cold hearted XD

ktmd, did you have a trade in?

I'd bet 100% that you can negotiate with far more power if you had a trade in vehicle to work with.

Now i wonder what our local Toyota BC dealership would offer us [With trade-in] on a brand new 2008 Highlander or Sienna...

 

yikes - had no idea. I completely understand. I thought the New York Metro area was bad!

My dealer had soda and popcorn

 

Ptg.....

To answer your question, I had a 2002 HL and loved it so I thought the 2008 HL was a no brainer. I originally went trade the HL on a Lexus [ I have a 2007 Lexus LS460 ] but I didn't really like the RX, too girly and I didn't want anything much bigger. While talking to the Lexus salesman I found out he previously worked for MB. This guy raved about the ML 350 to the point where I was wondering why he was working for Lexus. So I went to MB and after driving the ML for about 30 seconds I knew I was getting it.
The HL I traded only had 1000 miles on it and the demand for the Limited here in SoCal is very high so the timing was good. I was a General Sales Manager so I know how to work deals. I got a good deal on the HL originally and a very good deal on the Benz. As near as I can figure I lost about $ 2,500 , the best $ 2,500 I've ever lost.

 

To answer your question, I had a 2002 HL and loved it so I thought the 2008 HL was a no brainer. I originally went trade the HL on a Lexus [ I have a 2007 Lexus LS460 ] but I didn't really like the RX, too girly and I didn't want anything much bigger. While talking to the Lexus salesman I found out he previously worked for MB. This guy raved about the ML 350 to the point where I was wondering why he was working for Lexus. So I went to MB and after driving the ML for about 30 seconds I knew I was getting it.
The HL I traded only had 1000 miles on it and the demand for the Limited here in SoCal is very high so the timing was good. I was a General Sales Manager so I know how to work deals. I got a good deal on the HL originally and a very good deal on the Benz. As near as I can figure I lost about $ 2,500 , the best $ 2,500 I've ever lost.

I find the MB resale values even worse. One of my family members has a 2007 S550, black on black with the panoramic roof & distronic, beautiful car. It has almost 170,000 KM's on it and when she went to trade it in the dealer offered her 33K for it.. thats a depreciation of over 100k in 2 years.. not good.

 

Lift gate squeak/creak in cold

IN cold the plastic on back door is squeaking/creaking. I found the pieces rubbing together under both sides where the gas struts attach to the door. Now I just have to pull it apart and isolate plastic pieces with felt, etc. Every day a new rattle with this truck... Now I need to find the loud cracking popping noise from passenger dash in cold over bumps and the constant ticking from driver dash by window. Any help appreciated.

 

we've got the same rattle in our 08 Sport. we only heard it once, but it drove my wife nuts for the entire 2 hr ride we were on. oh well, it's new and for me the benefits outweight the rattle. i had an 02 Acura TL-S, had so many problems with that car I'm in heaven even with a rattle....

 

I've been posting in the other thread with dash rattles. I have the same plastic popping sounds in the dash by the speaker areas on pass and driver sides. First visit to service they thought they fixed it, but a few days after the noises came back. It was 47 in NJ yesterday and the popping sounds were still there so my idea of cold weather is out. Its back at service today, I hope they can find it and I can be done with these annoying noises.

 

Just wait till your my age "80" and you will be thrilled to hear any noise,spray it with silicon.

 

High winds & cold = Rattles

I had a very rattlely ride in today due to cold and very high winds. The HL was rattling on smooth pavement which it never did before. Same rattle as before--outside mirror?? I can assume it was from the high winds. Into service on the way home for me. :thumbdown:thumbdown

 

Took the HL to dealer on the way home so they could hear the mirror rattle. It appears it is the mirror case--when you tap the top with your fingers you can reproduce the rattle. They tightening the screw on the bottom but the rattle was still there. They ordered a new mirror as they said maybe the factory fixed the problem. While I waited, a salesperson & I tested 8 HLs they had on the lot. It was cold (20 F) and windy. Bad news folks--6 out of the 8 we tapped rattled exactly like mine. Tapping the passenger side mirror did not produce the rattle. Salesperson believes there is a QC or design problem with the driver side mirror since so many rattled. So, if you have this rattle, note it next time you are in for service and maybe if they get enough compliants they will issue a fix (TSB).

 

I had the same issue about a week ago, but by tightening the screw under the mirror it had fixed the problem...for a good week. The rattles came back today, louder than ever ! We got freezing rain this morning and the temperature dropped suddenly at -10 degrees. Stopped by the dealer this afternoon, he too believed it might be the mirror "casing" but is not sure. I will call the dealer tomorrow to inform him on OldStyle's discovery. Surely hope this can be fixed soon...

Thanks,

 

The dealer addressed my front passenger and driver door/window rattles claiming they found loose wires in the door, a loose window regulator, and a loose scuff plate on driver side. So far in the city all is quiet, no chance to test at highway speeds where the noises were worse. They have ordered a new scuff plate. Extremely cold in Winnipeg, MB.

 

HL loves warmth--no noises at all

This morning it was above 50 F with a thunderstorm, which uncommon for this time of year in NE Ohio. The HL made no noises during my 53 mile commute, none, zero, zippo. Far as I can tell, the rattles are caused by cold and appear the worst below 20 F; moderate from 20-35; slight from 35-43; and nonexistent above 50. Could it be this car was never properly tested in cold weather? I am going to forego installing the new mirror as a bad install may make matters worst. It appears all the posts are from owners in the north, so I guess our friends to the south are not experiencing any rattles due warmer winters.

 

What you say is true. Since it's 'warmed' up here (mid 20s), the dash noise is barely discernible and I know it's just the speaker grille against the side pillar molding. It's not an issue for me and I don't have mirror problems.

 

Weather in Dallas has been very warm and I have had no real rattles. As the warmer weather comes, I bet more will experience the same.

The dash is hugh and its hard plastic with a tight fit seems sensitive in the cold as its plastic will be less "flexable".

 

My service dept seems to have fixed my rattles. It didnt matter in mine if it was 10, 30 or 50 degrees out, my plastic popping sounds happened on both sides of dash. I spoke with service and they had removed my dash to determine the noise. I also sent an email to Toyota who contacted me and also had a customer relations manager speak to me about my concerns. Toyota has documented what took place with my HL. Anyway...here is some info, hope this can help some other folks...Here is what the ticket says: as per tech noise is from dash panel contact at base of firewall. attachment clips, etc R&I dash assembly. Insulate clips at windshield base. Noise kit 08231-00801 installed.

 

What dealer in NJ are you using?

 

Most of my noises subside when it gets warmer out. If anyone is experiencing squeaking noises from back door i have successfully isolated them using sticky felt where the plastic pieces join. I can take pictures if there is any interest.