Passenger window gets stuck sometimes

Asked by JnTX Jun 17, 2014 at 11:36 AM about the 2004 Toyota Highlander FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My passenger side window gets stuck periodically. It will roll down, but gets stuck sometimes. The driver's main control panel can't control it when it happens either. I found that if I turn my key off, then turn it back on and try it again, it will roll up about 1/2 inch at a time (same thing using driver's main panel too). I keep turning my key off and on until it's all the way up. I'm assuming if it were the switch, then the driver's control panel should be able to control it. Some days it rolls up and down just fine and I don't notice any strange motor noise. Any assistance would be appreciated.

33 Answers

120

sounds just like the problem we are having with our 05 Highlander. Too bad no one's given a solution. If you have heard the solution please share :-)

12 people found this helpful.
50

Same problem with 2005 Highlander. Was told by dealer that motor needs to be replaced at $800 per motor and three windows are the problem. Defective motor or defective sensor?

5 people found this helpful.
50

Our 2001 Highlander has the same problem with right-side windows. I won't be buying a Toyota auto again.

5 people found this helpful.
130

iT'S GOTTA' BE IN THE CHILD PROOF SWITCH IF IT'S OTHER THAN THE DRIVER'S WINDOW. PSGR PUT THE WINDOW DOWN, THEN THE WINDOW DIDN'T WANT TO GO UP. I GOT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND TAPPED THE BUTTONS MADLY AND IT WENT UP PIECE BY PIECE. IT IS NOT THE MOTOR. IF IT WERE THE MOTOR IT WOULD NEITHER GO UP NOR DOWN. I WILL ASK MY DLR SVC REP WHO'S THE MOST HONEST I`VE EVER DEALT WITH, IF WE CAN WIRE AROUND THE CHILD SWITCH SINCE WE HAVE NO CHILDREN.

13 people found this helpful.
140

Has anyone found the fix for this window problem? I am having the same problem with my 2004 Highlander

14 people found this helpful.
330

I ordered a replacement part for the passenger side of 2005 Highlander on eBay and installed it watching a Youtube video. $ 54 part was not very difficult to install but took my time to think it out. I took 2 hours but job job could have been done much faster. Part was stated to have a 10 year warranty. I could have purchased only the motor as the mechanism was just fine. I used the original mechanical after relubrication and only changed the motor. Cleaned the window guides before installing. The window worked perfectly. Link below https://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Window-Regulator-Motor-Front-RH-Right-Passenger- Side-for-Highlander/372073734744? ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

33 people found this helpful.
80

Window Regular works fine on my 2002 Toyota Highlander but Toyota Dealer told me they must remove and replace the window switch. Evidently my grandson got some pop down in there at one time. Estimate is $239.13. Each window has a switch so they work independently of each other. I'm wondering what is the actual cost of a switch and with the door panel already off, just how long it takes to replace. I feel the quoted price is a bit greedy.

8 people found this helpful.
30

A-1 Auto (internet mail order) for part. You Tube for instructions.

3 people found this helpful.
80

My windows were stuck too, in my 05 Highlander which I love. It turns out that the window safety lock was on. Now they all work!

8 people found this helpful.
180

nope I have The same Problem, 04, and I Think With as Many of Us Having the same PROBLEM, there should be a recall!

18 people found this helpful.
160

I see this as well - it seems like the longer i wait ( after the window is stuck ) the farther it will travel - for example, wait 30 seconds it will move 1/4 of an inch, wait 10 minutes 8 inches. has anyone found a fix?

16 people found this helpful.
110

I have had exactly the same problem as all of u on my 04 highlander for 5 years. I guess I will take Jim's route. replace the motor.

3 people found this helpful.
270

I have had the same problem with all the windows on my 2005 Highlander. Because I live in Arizona, I attributed the problem to a relay switch being overly exposed to high heat. This problem usually occurs when the car has been parked for a while with either side directly exposed to the sun for a long period of time, like when I leave it at the airport to go to work. However it has happened recently without the car being in the sun for a long time. I found that once the car door became cooler the window would become partially functional. It would allow me to move it up a little at a time. I don't think it is a problem with the motor since it works to raise the window. I think the problem must be in the power to the motor. Jim's solution might be the best option since I don't see any other choice.

3 people found this helpful.
30

Same problem with my 2003 Highlander, driver and passenger windows only. So would I need the motor, regulator or both?

3 people found this helpful.

I have an 04 Highlander. The passenger front window has been doing that..getting stuck. I have noticed that it happens when the car has been sitting in the sun and gets hot. I think it is a wiring problem because the window doesnt make a funny noise...it just inches up after waiting and trying the button little by little.

270

This a continuation of my answer/post abot two weeks ago. I just replaced the Master control switch in the drivers side door. It did not work. I still have the same problem. Windows will go down but not back up. I can raise the window incrementally by turning the ignition on and off and waiting a couple of minutes in between. I purchased a used master control switch from a salvage yard. It is possible both the original and replacement switches are both bad. However, I am going to replace the window motor and regulator on the passenger side. I will create another post when it is replaced. Amazon_Jim posted the replacement of the window motor about a year ago. The replacement of the master control switch seemed a lot easier so I thought I would try it first. I watched multiple videos on YouTube with about this problem. Because the Highlander has a circuit board it almost impossible to to troubleshoot with "hotwire"--bridging the circuit with a paperclip to see which part is not working.

6 people found this helpful.
70

I have the same problem with my 2006 Highlander. @ John - I will be interested to hear if replacing the passenger side window motor works. Due to the nature of the problem, it seems more like a switch or relay issue rather than the motor.

2 people found this helpful.
70

Some additional information to my post above. The problem is worst for me if the window is opened all the way. The trick of turning the key off and on and advancing the window small increments works for me. The window advances very small increments when near the open position but the increments get bigger (but erratic) as the window approaches the closed position. So perhaps it is motor (brushes?) related. The problem occurs intermittently and does not appear to be temperature dependent, i.e. sometimes it happens when parked in the garage. Pulling on the the window to help advance it has no effect. It does not appear to be binding or a lubrication problem. Again, it will be interesting to see if the motor unit replacement works.

5 people found this helpful.
270

This a continuation of my post 6 days ago. I received the power window motor and regulator part I ordered from Ebay. I replaced the whole mechanism. I did not attempt to rebuild any part of the original assembly. I seemed easier since I was receiving everything assembled together. The passenger window now works--both directions up and down. This was the same suggestion and comment from Amazon_Jim. The job took me about two hours while watching the instruction on YouTube. Here is the same link for the replacement part found on Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Window-Regulator- Motor-Front-RH-Right-Passenger-Side-for-Highlander/372073734744?. The cost is about $55.00 shipping included. In addition here is the instructional video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWs-ltNz2Mo. The video is actually for the drivers side of the Highlander but it the same information and how-to for the passenger side. I was hoping there would be an easier fix but it looks like I will be doing this same thing for both the rear windows. Maybe I am just overly aware but I can now hear a difference in how much the window motor works when raising the window as opposed to lowering it. I going to use some silicone spray in the rubber tracks for less resistance and to hopefully make it easier on the motor.

11 people found this helpful.
270

In addition to the passenger side window, I just changed the motor regulator on the right rear window, too. It also fixed the problem. It was not as big of a job as the right front passenger side because I did not remove the window. I was able to position the motor and supporting window mechanism to where I could remove them and leave the widow in place. I used a bungee cord at the bottom of the window and the top of the door/window frame to hold it in place. Once it was out, I replaced the window motor regulator with a part from eBay, here is the link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Window-Motor-Driver- Passenger-Side-for-01-07-Toyota-Highlander-RAV4-xA/233684781301? I watched the instructional video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lPtJKvNFpA. In the video he shows how to remove the window but, again, I did not do that. I was able to access the motor and window mechanism to remove them through the hole in the door. The only hang-up was getting the door handle interior trim to lay flush against the interior panel. I have it hooked in correctly as I can see the two parts are attached to each other. A pretty minor cosmetic problem. But the window goes up and down with no problem. I took apart the old motor but I could not see any obvious signs of damage or wear.

7 people found this helpful.
70

2007 highlander passenger window got stuck on the bottom 2 times in the last 2 years and today again. the 2 previous times I disassembled the entire assembly took the motor out. it tested ok and I installed it again and it worked again. I couldn't see any wear and tear at all the gears. it just was like jammed in on the end. got to take it apart again . however this by far the best quality built car I ever had in more than 50 years,

7 people found this helpful.
30

Same problem. 2004 Highlander. Back RH passenger window. Goes down but trouble going up. Have to try over and over at the window. Won’t work at drivers buttons going up. ( only down). Where’s the recall!!

3 people found this helpful.
20

Hi John, Your information is very helpful, I just had a question on the part you havd listed for the Rear Passenger Window. The link you put there said it is actually for the Driver Passenger side so wasn't sure if that was the correct part of the Rear Window on the Passenger side. I found this one. Did yours look like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Passenger-Rear-Power-Window-Regulator-Motor-Assembly-for- 01-07-Toyota-Highlander/392739909282?hash=item5b711f6ea2:g:tsUAAOSwqdNefLUu Thank you, Sally

2 people found this helpful.
10

2007 Highlander. Found it this morning with the rear window (driver's side) down! It seems to have failed spontaneously overnight. Can't get it to move at all. Changed the fuse to no avail. I guess from what I've read above, I need to replace the switch...but why would it have gone down by itself? Bob

1 people found this helpful.
30

Another 2007 Highlander here. Today, I went out to my vehicle, got it and noticed the rear passenger side window was all the way down. I tried to raise it using the driver door control and the rear passenger door control with no luck. Checked the fuse, which was fine. Tried starting and restarting the car serval times with no luck. I could hear a slight clicking sound when attempting to raise the window, which would stop after a few tries. When I went out a couple of hours later the window was back up! Very strange... Gremlins perhaps?

3 people found this helpful.

I have the same issue and have already replaced the motor a couple of years ago only to have it break again !!!! I have claim into Toyota .

20

2005 6 cyl here. My passenger side window will do this occasionally, usually when it is really humid out and I am able to get it back up (from the driver's controls) by waiting and trying again. Over and Over sometimes. Both rear windows will go down but not up with driver's control but work fine from their own specific controllers. I also have times - high humidity usually, when the radio and other electronics not necessary for actually driving don't work upon starting the engine but spring back to life a few minutes later.

2 people found this helpful.

My 2001 Highlander has the rear window problem, will not go up from drivers side button, but will go up from the rear buttons.

Most of you have described my problem to a tee. In my case, it has occurred at one time or another in all four windows, hot or cold, summer or winter. Where is Toyota in all this— sitting back and enjoying the discussion?

20

Had the same issue. The days have hit 100+ degrees F so I think it was a heat issue. Window would stop going up in the middle of the day and wouldn't start working again until the next day. Fixed it by changing both the motor and regulator on my driver side window. T

2 people found this helpful.

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