2021 Toyota Highlander Pop Noise over bump Body Flex

Lewis

Lewis

Moderator
Staff member
2021 Highlander AWD w/ 14K miles, dull knock/pop type noise coming from the rear/center of the vehicle while turning and going over a bump (body roll). The fix is to remove this body brace (located behind the 2nd row seat, remove 3rd row seats to access) and re-torque the 6 bolts and noise should be gone

i-MmSRbhw-M.jpg



 
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Jon M

Guest
After leaving a negative review of a dealership near me the GM reached out to me and I took my car back and emailed them the link to this article. Long story short, they fixed the problem. So grateful for this article.
 
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K W

Guest
Wow! Did a dealer find out the problem? Cause thats exactly the sound Im getting and no one can figure it out. 2022 Highlander with 20K miles. Only makes the noise sometimes. But its annoying AF.
 
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Lisa Barron

Guest
2022 Highlander SE with 21K miles. The popping has driven me BATTY searching for the cause. Dealership couldn’t find it and before tearing it apart checked with Toyota Headquarters. They gave the technician this info(I had already read this to my service person and ge blew me off.) After getting warranty work approved, work was done and popping stopping. Could be a future recall if enough people take their “popping” in. I saw the charges to Toyota for repair. It was about $300.
 
L

Lisa Barron

Guest
K W said:
Wow! Did a dealer find out the problem? Cause thats exactly the sound Im getting and no one can figure it out. 2022 Highlander with 20K miles. Only makes the noise sometimes. But its annoying AF.
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Take it in! Mine is gone..so far!
 
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Steve Miller

Guest
2022 Hylander 10,000 miles; local Toyota Service Manager fixed the problem under warrantee after reviewing the video.
 
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Alex D

Guest
Lewis said:
2021 Highlander AWD w/ 14K miles, dull knock/pop type noise coming from the rear/center of the vehicle while turning and going over a bump (body roll). The fix is to remove this body brace (located behind the 2nd row seat, remove 3rd row seats to access) and re-torque the 6 bolts and noise should be gone

i-MmSRbhw-M.jpg



Click to expand...
 
A

Alex D

Guest
Lewis said:
2021 Highlander AWD w/ 14K miles, dull knock/pop type noise coming from the rear/center of the vehicle while turning and going over a bump (body roll). The fix is to remove this body brace (located behind the 2nd row seat, remove 3rd row seats to access) and re-torque the 6 bolts and noise should be gone

i-MmSRbhw-M.jpg



Click to expand...
So are we supposed to put the brace back on? Or should it be removed and the bolts just needs to be re-torque so basically deleting that brace.
 
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Gage T

Guest
Lewis said:
2021 Highlander AWD w/ 14K miles, dull knock/pop type noise coming from the rear/center of the vehicle while turning and going over a bump (body roll). The fix is to remove this body brace (located behind the 2nd row seat, remove 3rd row seats to access) and re-torque the 6 bolts and noise should be gone

i-MmSRbhw-M.jpg



Click to expand...

I work at a Toyota dealership as a technician and wanted to confirm this works. I removed the 3rd row seats and located the 6 bolts. I just tightened them down with an impact gun and pooping noise was gone! Note: Make sure all electrical connectors are run correctly.
 
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Gage T

Guest
Gage T said:
I work at a Toyota dealership as a technician and wanted to confirm this works. I removed the 3rd row seats and located the 6 bolts. I just tightened them down with an impact gun and poping noise was gone! Note: Make sure all electrical connectors are run correctly.
Click to expand...
 
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Garrett

Guest
I have a 2020 Highlander XLE and just now started a popping noise. Car has been at dealership for a week and they cannot track it down. It is definitely related to body roll or flex. It sounds like between rear tires, and is a metal pop noise like the metal is under pressure then slips past something making the pop noise. How did people escalate this? Did they need to go beyond the dealership and contact Toyota? Any help greatly appreciated.
 
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Unknown

Guest
K W said:
Wow! Did a dealer find out the problem? Cause thats exactly the sound Im getting and no one can figure it out. 2022 Highlander with 20K miles. Only makes the noise sometimes. But its annoying AF.
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For my 2022 it was a factory defect of a twisted bushing in the rear rod. We had to take in multiple times before they found it
 
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Guest

Guest
Is there a Technical Service bullet that I can share with the dealership. They seem reluctant to take my word for it.
 
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Ike

Guest
Lewis said:
2021 Highlander AWD w/ 14K miles, dull knock/pop type noise coming from the rear/center of the vehicle while turning and going over a bump (body roll). The fix is to remove this body brace (located behind the 2nd row seat, remove 3rd row seats to access) and re-torque the 6 bolts and noise should be gone

i-MmSRbhw-M.jpg



Click to expand...
I have taken my car in with a copy of this review and after spending $500 for the technician to check it out, he found that these bolts were not as tight as he believed they should be, he retightened by hand. Since that was accomplished, I have not heard the popping sound. Too bad Toyota is not willing to accept the poor production control for their products
 
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