TSB: TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID (2008–2013)

Bulletin T-SB-0034-13 — February 21, 2013

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDT-SB-0034-13
ManufacturerTOYOTA
ModelsHIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID
Model Years2008–2013
Date IssuedFebruary 21, 2013
Date Added to NHTSAJuly 2, 2018
ComponentSTEERING
Vehicles Affected30 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

Some 2008 ? 2013 model year Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles may exhibit a clunk, pop, or knock-type noise when turning the steering wheel left or right. A new intermediate shaft has been developed to address this condition. Use the fo

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2013 014100 STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2013 011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2013 011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2013 010000 STEERING
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2013 010000 STEERING
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2012 014100 STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2012 011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2012 010000 STEERING
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2012 011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2012 010000 STEERING
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2011 011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2011 014100 STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2011 011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2011 010000 STEERING
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2011 010000 STEERING
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2010 011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2010 010000 STEERING
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2010 014100 STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2010 011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2010 010000 STEERING
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2009 014100 STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2009 010000 STEERING
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2009 011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2009 011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2009 010000 STEERING
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2008 014100 STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2008 011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2008 011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2008 010000 STEERING
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2008 010000 STEERING

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What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized TOYOTA dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (T-SB-0034-13) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.