nhtsa hearing toyota grand highlander heat exchangers are problematicFederal auto safety regulators are considering a formal investigation into model-year 2024 through 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander crossovers following reports that the vehicle's front grille design leaves critical cooling components vulnerable to road debris, potentially causing severe engine damage and sudden power loss.The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), a division of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened a Defect Petition after receiving a formal complaint from a vehicle owner. The petition alleges that the Grand Highlander's front fascia features wide, open grille apertures without adequate mesh or protective screening to shield the heat exchangers positioned directly behind it.nhtsa hearing toyota grand highlander heat exchangers are problematicAccording to the petition, rocks and highway debris easily pass through the front grille openings during everyday driving, puncturing the heat exchangers. The resulting physical damage can trigger rapid coolant leaks, engine overheating, and a sudden loss of forward propulsion while traveling at speed.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe petitioner cited 13 additional NHTSA complaints from owners detailing identical failures, bringing the total number of reports under consideration to 14.The evaluation, logged under ODI petition number 11754975, will conduct a technical review of whether road debris damage poses an unreasonable safety risk due to unexpected power loss in traffic. Federal investigators are reviewing the submitted complaints and engineering data under 49 CFR Part 552 to determine whether to formally grant the petition-which would launch a full safety recall investigation-or deny it.If granted, the probe could force Toyota to implement a secondary protective mesh or redesign the front bumper assembly for three model years of its three-row family crossover.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
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