Everything NHTSA's vPIC database knows about this exact vehicle:
Decoding from NHTSA…
Vehicle history — accidents, title & owners
The decode above is what this vehicle is. For what it's been through — accidents, title brands, odometer, theft/total-loss and previous owners — pull a full history report.
NHTSA publishes the first 11 characters of the VIN with every complaint — that identifies the plant, model year, body and engine. So these are reports from cars built exactly like this one, not an average across the whole model.
5TDBK3EH5CS••••••2012 Toyota HIGHLANDER
This build draws 4.1× more complaints than the average 2012 Toyota HIGHLANDER build (11 vs 3).
11on this build
163on the model
61builds in total
1involved a crash
1injuries
Most reportedVehicle Speed Control 4Engine 3Steering 3Structure 2
What owners of this build wrote
Vehicle Speed ControlcrashNov 2011
While pulling into parking space in private shopping mall at slow rate of speed the vehicle suddenly and without warning rapidly accelerated forward into vehicle parked directly in front of my vehicle. My vehicle went up and over parked vehicle causing damage to both vehicles.…
Electrical SystemOct 2022
When turning on the defrost button, the engine shuts off while driving
SteeringJan 2019
Hearing a noise when turning left or right at low speed. Started around when it was around 45000 miles but toyota dealership was unable to recognise it or reproduce it. Now at 63000 miles vehicle is out of warranty and service charge for replacing steering shaft is about $1000,…
StructureJun 2017
The contact owns a 2012 toyota highlander. The contact stated that the front passenger automatic door actuator failed to unlock the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure recurred on three of the four doors. The driver and passenger rear door lock actuators were replaced.…
SteeringDec 2018
The contact owns a 2012 toyota highlander. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing steering failure. Freedom toyota of harrisburg (6060 allentown blvd, harrisburg, pa 17112, (717) 545-4726) was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. While driving…
Read all 11 complaints on this exact buildFull text, search by keyword, and the systems that fail most on cars built like yours.Unlock with Pro →
Owner complaints…
Now the whole model — all 61 builds of it, not just this build. Same NHTSA reports, wider net:
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Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
The original window sticker and factory options
Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
Decoded via NHTSA vPIC. Recalls, complaints and safety from NHTSA; MPG from EPA fueleconomy.gov. Full history reports from our partner. VIN 5TDBK3EH5CS139691 · decoded Aug 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.