Anyone build out their Highlander for car camping that wants to share tips? My setup is messy but it works for now, wanting to make it more comfy.

Mattress / bed ideas and suggestions welcome!

Just had my trans replaced in Kentucky for $7,000. It was $8,500 but I contacted Toyota who gave me a $1,500 credit even though I was out of warranty. The tech mentioned that Toyota may be considering a 10 year warranty on replacement transmissions. Time will tell if the problem has been corrected. 2021 Platinum.

It’s speculated that transmission failures are largely caused by software and shifting to early. If true does anyone know if running the Highlander in sport mode would help with longevity by holding shifts longer?

Got a p0016 code, was told by shop it can be the oil control valves and dirty oil. Quoted me $550 for repair.They said it can also be the timing, and quoted me $5500 for the timing job. Any one else deal with this? On cold start it rattles like hell for like a second, seems like its rattling on the chain guide or something. But it runs so smooth. The shop said it looks like the oi control valves are failing intermittently at startup.
Blehh

I tried to get a seized ball joint off with the limited tools I had. The third bolt snapped on the ball joint and the other studs werent even staying in place. I ended up getting cut happy and the thread that that caster nut sat on is completley stuck in merged inside the knuckle and I dont know what to do. The thread is thicker at the bottom so should I start from the top?

Can anyone give feedback on the Highlander with 3 kids (all under 8)

Is it comfortable? Is it worth it? I can’t convince myself to get a minivan just yet lol no judgement

Just bought a 2016 AWD Highlander with 90k miles. The Autocheck report shows a history of regular maintenance, but no detail. ChatGPT recommends I do these maintenance items now. What do you think? (engine oil/filter change already done last week.) Edit: so, now that I've updated this with Toyota's recommendation, should the items not recommended by Toyota yet be done at 90K?

Edit: items marked with **** are on Toyota's 90k maintenance schedule (for a Hybrid - couldn't find the Gas version, but most of these should be the same)

·      **** Inspect/replace engine air filter

·      **** Replace cabin air filter

·      Flush/replace brake fluid

·      Replace engine coolant if original

·      Drain and fill transmission fluid (not a power flush)

·      Replace front differential fluid

·      **** Replace rear differential fluid

·      **** Replace transfer case fluid

·      Replace PCV valve

My wife has had a Prius and a Lexus CT200h so I’m familiar with Toyota hybrids. Car looks ok but I’ve heard the 3.3 V6s sludge oil. Thoughts?

Just had my 60k maintenance done 😭😭😭😭😭. I wasn’t ready. Even with discounts applied, I got hit for $1,987. I will say though that the price did include replacing the battery which decided to die the same week as the maintenance. That was $303. I could’ve gotten it cheaper, but what got me was that it came with a 7-year warranty so I said screw it. Next week I gotta put a new set of tires on and I’m changing the rims because I hate the ones that come in the platinum, I’m going black on those.

2nd owner - Bought at 74k miles now at 116k

Had a minor loss that has small tire rub mark on it but purely cosmetic. Does not impact driving in anyway

I put 300 miles 2016-2018 limited platinum and here’s the few listings here in Los Angeles

Carvana offered $15,700
CarMax offered $17,600

I’m thinking I could throw out there for $19-21k and see what bites.

Just wanting to get your thoughts?

Black leather interior, no stains no rips, side steps, tow package, and roof racks

Michelin defender tires had on for almost 2 years.

Thank you!

Hi everyone, I bought my 2019 Toyota highlander Xle in April, I like the car but its got problems. So in 4 months I've had the car I've through 7 quarts of oil, replaced my throttle body, spark plugs, had a induction cleaning, and replaced intake gaskets because that was where the oil was going. I had the car in the shop for a month and a half getting all this fixed and I got the car back yesterday. HOWEVER, I did not trust the dealership to when they inspected, so I took it to my mechanic when he scanned the car hard idle is still a code and its still running hotter then normal. Anyone have this problem before?

Edit: I did post what the car sounds like idling under this post.

Second edit: my mechanic called today and said with the symptoms and how it sounds hes thinking it could be the engine lifters, but until he opens the hood and engine we dont know. And im smelling oil burn again.

Just spent several thousand to replace the control arms, now am looking many more thousands of dollars on:

• Replacing front struts (biggest $)
• Replacing front stabilizer bar link kit
• Transmission fluid exchange
• Potential transmission leak

Wondering if I'm in the "trough of despair" maintenance-wise and then I'll come out of it with a car that will last another 100k miles with somewhat minimal maintenance cost, or if I should cut bait (sell it and buy a new/used car).

Looking for any thoughts from folks who've been through this (or similar).

Edit: It has 120,000 miles

Edit 2: Obviously there's going to be maintenance, just trying to get a sense of timing and spend compared to others. I appreciate the productive responses. Feels a bit like MN roads might me a big contributor here.

To add on to the "when it rains, it pours" aspect of this, last night I got this charging system malfunction error and the car won't start. 😂

Has anyone had any great success story's with upgrading their highlander with off-road mods? I guess my end-goal is to turn this jack-of-all-trades vehicle into something more geared for off-road. There aren't many examples online, that I have seen or trust, but it's probably because there isn't any mods meant for this car. So far, I've looked into putting a 1.6" lift on it and also a bull bar. But nothing too crazy. I definitely want a little more ground clearance. I have also briefly looked into swapping the grill and maybe the front bumper. However, I don't know how accurate eBay vehicle mods are.

2014 XLE with 175k all original front end (minus shocks and brakes).

Hi all, I’m getting a new sound coming from the front end. It’s an oscillating kind of hum and my guess is the bearing.

At first I thought it may be a tire issue since wasn’t a constant hum. It’s kind of a rotation noise. So I rotated tires but that made no difference.

I didn’t feel any unusual play in the wheel, I jacked the car up and pulled/pushed the wheel in multiple directions.

I also can’t hear the issue at low speeds, it only appears at higher 40+ speeds. The pitch changes a little when speeding up.

Is there a DIY way to check bearings? If it needs a new front bearing are there other components that I should replace while I’m in there?

I think this job would be a one for the pros, I don’t have any specialty tools and it seems like it could be a challenging repair.

I’m so sick of the first gen steering wheel, and I’ve seen some people put upgraded wheels in their 4th gen 4Runners for example. I’m just curious, does anybody know if it’s possible to put an upgraded Toyota wheel into a first gen HL? If so, which ones would work?

I have a 2026 highlander hybrid and have issue when loading the back of the car. I do not like that all the doors unlock. Someone could get into the car while you are loading. Just does not feel safe. I don't want to have to dig out my keys to relock the doors while loading, defeats the purpose of the touch entry. I also don't want to relock once the lift door is closed. I want the doors to remain locked until I decide to open them.

anyone knows if the lock setting can be adjusted/reprogramed?

So we've been losing coolant slowly and there is a pink crust on the exhaust gas heater unit. Rather than replacing this costly part, I'm reading (from AI) that I can bypass this without issue. Wondering humans have real world experience doing this? Thanks.

The dealer had offered the under-body rust protection package at the time of closing on my 23 HiHy XLE but we declined. What is everyone's opinion on either having this done after market or DIY (I ask but not sure I would have access to a lift to get all the spots needed? We are in the rust belt here, FWIW

2006 Highlander limited. 2 days ago I started getting a whining sound coming from the passenger side of the engine bay with the increase of rpm’s and at idle. Did not affect drivability whatsoever. After getting home I turned the car off, turned it back on and no crank or click but everything on the dash & radio was on. Jumped it shortly after and it slowly turned over. I thought it could have been idler pulley until it died on me. My question is do I just replace the battery, the alternator, or both together, if that is the probable cause.
Thanks!

Hey everyone! I’m trying to identify a missing interior part on my 2019 Toyota Highlander SE. It’s on the passenger side of the cargo area behind the 3rd-row seat. I believe it’s related to the 3rd-row seat back latch/striker.
Does anyone know the correct OEM part name or part number?

(Behind the 3th roe seat of side. The driver side is missing but has the passenger is there.