Flaky electronics

[MichelleO]

Really unhappy with my 2025 and missing 2019 traded in Highlander due to annoying flaky electronics problems. I have not taken it to the dealer yet because I can’t consistently demonstrate any of these. Wondering if anyone was able to have these fixed:
1. Main screen going black with gages and most indicators as well as HUD disappearing. Frequency: once
2. Infotainment dropping Apple play, sometimes while trying to pick up a phone call or when you start the car. Sometimes can go to the Devices menu and re-enabling Apple play for the already connected device but sometimes getting “Apple play error.” Frequency: frequent
3. The driver seat not moving forward when starting the car. Just sits in the retract/exit position. Frequency: once.
4. Center differential locking itself and refusing to unlock. Frequency: once.
5. Rear windshield wiper stoping in the vertical position when just turned on. Frequency: always.

 

[Code54]

I have not had the other problems but the - "Infotainment dropping Apple play" -I have not had the other problems, but the - "Infotainment dropping Apple Play" - yep, happens all the time. Sometimes just randomly reboots.

 

[JordanJ]

Whoa! Yea, the CarPlay thing, MANY folks have had that issue, including myself. For me, and I think many others, it was solved or at least greatly improved with the latest update of the IOS. But I would take it in right away. I think somebody on here mentioned the main screen going black, but I haven’t heard anybody saying their diff locked on its own or the wiper blade or the seat. Those are all pretty concerning and I’d say you’ve definitely got some gremlins in yours. Sorry that’s happening right out of the gate, that sucks.

 

[Doggman1525]

Just FYI,
After opening the glass hatch on the back I've found you usually need to cycle the wiper for the little pin which drives the blade to catch and push the wiper through its full range of motion. I believe this is due to the design which has the motor for the wiper built into the hatch but the blade and its pivot being attached to the glass. I don't know if it happens because it doesn't catch right away or maybe its purpose built to protect the mechanism from over-rotating but not an electronic bug per se, rather an artifact of the design. The other stuff sounds annoying - unintended consequences of the evermore complicated systems that are built into modern cars. ... as a great engineer once said "the more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain."

 

[NJB3]

The main screen going black might be caused by a reboot after an OTA (Over the Air) update being performed. I had that happen on my 2023 Toyota Tundra a few times.

 

[MichelleO]

Just FYI,
After opening the glass hatch on the back I've found you usually need to cycle the wiper for the little pin which drives the blade to catch and push the wiper through its full range of motion. I believe this is due to the design which has the motor for the wiper built into the hatch but the blade and its pivot being attached to the glass. I don't know if it happens because it doesn't catch right away or maybe its purpose built to protect the mechanism from over-rotating but not an electronic bug per se, rather an artifact of the design. The other stuff sounds annoying - unintended consequences of the evermore complicated systems that are built into modern cars. ... as a great engineer once said "the more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain."

Thank you for figuring this one out! While this is not wiper being “broken”, it’s clearly a design flaw. Which goes along with my impression of this car: overdesigned and underfunctional.

 

[misfits9095]

For the center diff not locking the transmission needs to be at operating temperature or it may not engage properly. I believe It’s in the owners manual and I wasn’t aware of this during the winter. I had a ton of issues engaging the locker, but it’s been smooth sailing since the weather has warmed up. The other thing you can try is putting the car in reverse and then drive forward slowly while engaging.

The final tip I learned on the rear locker is that it engages easier when the steering wheel is being turned left to right slightly. I believe this is also in the owners manual. This has helped every single time it failed to lock or unlock.

 

[MichelleO]

For the center diff not locking the transmission needs to be at operating temperature or it may not engage properly. I believe It’s in the owners manual and I wasn’t aware of this during the winter. I had a ton of issues engaging the locker, but it’s been smooth sailing since the weather has warmed up. The other thing you can try is putting the car in reverse and then drive forward slowly while engaging.

The final tip I learned on the rear locker is that it engages easier when the steering wheel is being turned left to right slightly. I believe this is also in the owners manual. This has helped every single time it failed to lock or unlock.

For the center diff not locking the transmission needs to be at operating temperature or it may not engage properly. I believe It’s in the owners manual and I wasn’t aware of this during the winter. I had a ton of issues engaging the locker, but it’s been smooth sailing since the weather has warmed up. The other thing you can try is putting the car in reverse and then drive forward slowly while engaging.

The final tip I learned on the rear locker is that it engages easier when the steering wheel is being turned left to right slightly. I believe this is also in the owners manual. This has helped every single time it failed to lock or unlock.

Thank you for your response. It’s helpful to know about temperature feature. but you misunderstood the issue I think. The center differential engaged by itself and would not disengage.