Is the rear suspension on my Highlander weak or is it just me?

Hi everyone,

I’ve got a 2022 Highlander non-hybrid V6 FWD, and I’ve noticed something strange. When I put over 100 lbs of stuff in the back—like luggage or my toolbox—the rear sags so much that other drivers keep flashing their high beams at me. Does anyone else think the suspension is weak, or could mine already be wearing out? It feels too early for that.

I’m thinking about adding suspension air bags to the springs, but I’m not sure what’s affordable or works best. I also tow a utility trailer sometimes, which has about a 200 lb tongue weight when empty. Any advice?

Are you sure it’s the back sagging? Sometimes headlights come misaligned from the factory and sit too high, so you might just need to adjust them. I had to replace the front struts on my 2020 because they got super bouncy, but the rears are fine, even after hauling stuff around.

The springs are made soft for a smoother ride. That might explain it.

You might want to check these out—they’ve worked great for my 2020:

https://a.co/d/8Wwe1IA

Just a heads-up: air bags don’t seem to work on Highlanders for some reason.

Same here with my ’21 XSE. When I load the trunk with gear, I still get flashed, even after lowering the headlight aim.

Has the vehicle been used for towing a lot? That can mess up the rear suspension if it’s been overloaded.

Bao said:
Has the vehicle been used for towing a lot? That can mess up the rear suspension if it’s been overloaded.

Nope, it was a rental car, and it didn’t even have a hitch installed.

@Milan
Still, someone could’ve overloaded it in the past. That might explain why the suspension is acting up so early.

Highlanders are known for having soft suspension straight from the factory. Unfortunately, aftermarket options are pretty limited. I think Toyota didn’t tune this part well enough.

It’s worth checking if your headlights were aimed properly from the start. A small shift in aim can make a big difference, especially with modern, focused headlights.

As a side note, I’ve noticed my 2017 Highlander rides stiff like a truck. When I bought it, I test-drove a Honda Pilot, and it felt more like a minivan—but I stuck with Toyota for reliability.

@brad
Good idea, I’ll test my headlight aim. That might actually solve it.

My 2022 seems fine. It’s a soft ride, but I haven’t noticed sagging or people flashing me, though I mostly drive during the day. If the headlight issue bothers you, try adjusting them slightly downward. Just keep in mind that tweaking suspension with things like helper springs or airbags might fix one issue but create others.

@Evans
Same here with my 2021. The headlights came aimed a bit too high from the factory. I get flashed even with no weight in the back. Aiming them down is probably your best bet.