Power passenger seat question

Asked by GuruX4NP7 Sep 27, 2018 at 05:44 PM about the 2018 Toyota Highlander Limited

Question type: General

I would like to know if the new highlander passanger seat has power
adjustments like the drivers seat.  I am researching the highlander but if the
passanger seat will not have height adjustment I will look elsewhere.

17 Answers

340

There is no height adjustment on the front passenger seat for height variation. If you are 5' 10" or more, you ride very high, and may have a little contact with your head / shoulders upon entering the car. My wife and I each drive a 2018, and the driver's seat adjust appropriately, but the front passenger height is my main complaint with this car.

34 people found this helpful.
430

Passenger seat is very high indeed. Just purchased this vehicle and it is a very big problem

24 people found this helpful.
440

Just bought a 2019 Highlander Limited today. Stupid me... test drove but didnt sit in the passenger side. This evening my husband drove and when I had to ride in the HORRIBLY uncomfortable passenger seat I cried the whole way home in remorse of my over $40k purchase. Its awful!! So uncomfortable. I kept sliding out forward, because it slopes downward, there is zero lumbar support, and its sitting at an awkward height so my feet kept swelling from the angle of my legs. I could never take a road trip in this which was the whole reason we bought it. SO disappointed #toyota!!

44 people found this helpful.
320

I have the same issue. I wonder if I could have them place a drivers seat on the passenger's side and if so, would it change or is the structure where the seat is placed the issue?

32 people found this helpful.
160

Hopefully some one will get SMART an address the issues with the passenger seat in a Highlander. Power all the way would be a good start.

16 people found this helpful.
160

This a problem for me too. I want my highlander seats to raise and lower. This is important so I can sit high and see well over the front of the vehicle. I may have to switch to a different maker Toyota doesn't get better designers.

16 people found this helpful.
130

So I have been told there may be an aftermarket bracket replacement that may help with this situation. Says it has several different settings. I think you would have to choose one height and stick with it when you mount it. I would be fine with that if I could get it now enough I did not give myself whiplash trying to get in. New car so I'm not used to it and have give myself whiplash this evening. Not leaving a very good taste in my mouth after signing the loan note we did yesterday. I completely agree with Bluffton1 as we bought ours for trips. I have problems with my legs going numb and was impressed with the softness and comfort of the drivers seat and even the back seat! If anyone has any knowledge of such an adapter to lower the seat please post on this thread. Thank you.

13 people found this helpful.
150

I got my new 2019 highlander xle and love it. EXCEPT...the passenger seat is so uncomfortable and my bottom is numb. I got this as my main everyday car and for our family trips. I’ve been sitting in this passenger seat since 7am headed from NC to OH. My legs and feet and body is so stiff. I even put a blanket under me and in still suffering. So disappointed. The drivers seat is so comfortable.and just don’t understand why the same features for front two seats. Im definitely going to dealership when I return to inquire of a solution. And I am going to be the driver as much as I can the rest of this vacay.

15 people found this helpful.
130

So glad I rode in the passenger seat when we tried out a new Highlander 2019 last week. We were ready to buy it until I realized there was no height adjustment in the passenger seat. We are looking elsewhere now.

13 people found this helpful.
110

2020 same issue have to go Lexus to get vertical adjusting seat on passenger side

11 people found this helpful.
40

The seat height is a huge plus for visibility and safety. You are better able to see around of vehicles. I am 5' 11' and have not problem at all, do not think I I ever hit my head or very rarely.

4 people found this helpful.
60

I just wonder if they use a larger battery in the right passenger seat as I have this same issue in a 21 Sienna. I am only 5’10 but bump my head getting in as a front seat passenger. Comfort I am ok with just too high. Maybe as other pointed out I can get a bracket to just drop it 1 or 1.5”. Very annoying.

6 people found this helpful.
50

We have the Highlander 2020 and the passenger seat is a huge problem for me getting in, every time I do I hit my head and have to contort my body to get in. A big problem indeed.

5 people found this helpful.
20

I have a 2018 Highlander, same problem with hitting my head because the passenger seat is too high and no up/down adjustment power or manual. Did not realize it is a common complaint with the Highlander. I just test-drove a new 2023 Nisson Pathfinder plenty of head room for the passenger with the power seat in the down position.

2 people found this helpful.
30

This is beyond stupid design. This is some sort of a flout? How is it even possible that in 2022/23 the driver gets the whole comfort but the passenger is some kind of useless rider that deserves to be stuck to the roof of the car or just to have their legs numbed or even triggering sciatica pain? Nissan Pathfinder has the same issue as Toyota. And I keep asking myself, there is not a single quality control person in the entire Toyota company who could raise this problem from an end-user usability perspective? For god sake just put yourself in the passenger seat, are you truly enjoying sitting there in a stuck position/posture while the driver has no problem adjusting itself in every possible direction? What the heck is this? If you suffer from a shortage of chips to have it installed on the passenger seat then at least leave the manual option like in the old days. This is a deal breaker, yes, this tiny little feature is a big deal breaker. And as long as those companies who do that to their customers won't get that, they won't see a penny.

3 people found this helpful.

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