I'm looking to buy a used 2017 or newer Toyota Highlander. I've found two good candidates sold by dealerships - a 2017 Highlander AWD (89k miles, 1 open fuel pump recall, VIN 5TDDZRFH7HS479972), and a 2017 Highlander FWD (79k miles, no recalls, VIN 5TDYZRFH6HS204966). I was surprised to find that these two 2017 models had different results when it came to Toyota's fuel pump recall, but after more research I've concluded that perhaps the one without the recall was built before July 2017, which I think was the cut-off for the recalled vehicles.
I recognize that these are not quite equal vehicles in that one is AWD and the other is FWD (I prefer FWD based on Scotty's advice), but my question is: assuming all things equal between the two cars, should I select one that's included in the recall and have the repair completed by Toyota (and possibly risk the work being done incorrectly or maybe other problems popping up as a result), or the car that has not been included in the recall (and possibly risk the fuel pump problem showing up anyway and then being on the hook for it)? I am aware that Toyota has expanded the fuel pump recall at least once - is there a chance they'll do it again to include the subject car?
Big thanks to Scotty and CarKiller members for all their help! 🙂
It doesn't really matter. If you buy a car with an open recall you just take it in and have the work performed for free.
thanks for the reply
would you think there is necessarily a risk in buying a car not included in the recall but close to the build-date cut-off for that recall? If you go with the car that's not included in the recall, but the problem arises anyway, you're on the hook for it.
There are much worse things that could happen then fuel pump failure. I wouldn't worry.
It could also be that between those dates they changed suppliers.
From the carfax reports, the one without the recall looks like it was built 6 months before the one with the open recall. I wouldn't worry about it, there's other things I'd worry about when buying a used Highlander.
thanks for the reply toyotagrl 🙂 glad to see a fellow lady gear-head. I'm a reformed, former Mercedes driver. Scotty (and experience) has taught me they're just big money-pits, lol. You say there are other things you'd worry about with a used Highlander - is there something specific you think I should be on the lookout for? or were you just pointing out that a fuel pump is NBD in the grand scheme of things? (which I would agree, it is) My main concern with all the fuel pump nonsense is that I intend to use the vehicle for cross-country trips - I'd hate to be stranded by a sudden pump failure as the recall campaign seems to suggest.
Yeah, both are to the point that the transmission fluid should have been replaced, but didn't see it noted in either Carfax. You've seen Scotty call out the "lifetime" trans fluid as bs. I agree there's no such thing as lifetime fluid for anything. The AWD has what I call the forgotten fluids, transfer case and rear differential gear oils. These are usually overlooked and "forgotten" about.
What I've always done; if there's something I'm interested in, I go on a Sunday because dealers are usually closed here, so I can check out the vehicle without any sales people lurking, and I check out the exterior to make sure it's all good, and check underneath thoroughly for leaks (engine, coolant, transmission) suspension and steering, exhaust, etc....and take lot's of pictures with my cell phone and view the photos on my laptop later; there's a story every vehicle can tell from the undercarriage. Then if it passes my initial inspection, I go and test drive when open, so I can then check out the condition of the interior, how it drives, sounds, etc...
Thanks for the tip about going on Sunday for a good look without getting hassled by the salesman. Agreed, the undercarriage speaks volumes and is my favorite place to check when looking at cars - this will be my first SUV so a bit more ground clearance will make it a bit easier to look around :D.
I too had thought about the transmission fluid change, having just had that work done on my little old C230 that I'm too attached to to get rid of. I'm sure taking a closer look at the condition of the existing transmission fluid on the Highlander will help to determine whether or not to proceed with a fluid change, but do you think that 80k-90k miles is too late for a first fluid change on a Toyota transmission assuming the former owners never completed that work? (I can't remember Scotty's general recommendation on transmission fluid change intervals) I've been doing transmission fluid roughly every 60k miles on my MBs.
Good point about the transfer case and rear diff fluids for AWD - yet another reason to go for the FWD (even though the purist in me wants a RWD 😆 )
I wish it was easy to check trans fluid on newer vehicles, but all the manufacturers don't make it easy anymore. There's no more trans fluid pan, the whole transmission configuration is different than earlier model highlanders. At the very least, I, would check to see what color the fluid is.
Check out this YT video. Good to see how the newer HL transmissions are setup and how to check it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30ERTZ5_3jQ
You have more important things to worry about, I'd get the one that passes the mechanical inspection the best.
Thanks for your feedback Kerem. And thanks for the links, I'll check em out.