2014 -19 Toyota Highlander Power Door Lock Actuator Replacement 

Content is still helping people!! You detailed video helped me replace my failed lock actuator. Saved hundreds!!

After doing some routine maintenance at Toyota, which cost me $1800, they told me that it would be another $600 per door to fix my actuators. I had two that weren’t working, with the driver’s door being the most aggravating. Toyota service also told me that l “have a third one going out.“ I have no idea which door that might be. Anyway, I watched your video, ordered my first actuator as a test, and installed it successfully. I’ll be ordering the second actuator now. Thank you for the assist. I have a 2015 Highlander. I love the Highlander - Toyota service, not so much.

Thank you for making this video - I ordered the part and started doing the swap and noticed that the reason my actuator wasn't working was simply because the connection got dislodged, perhaps to hard slamming of the door but all I had to do was reconnect the connection of the door actuator to the door again and everything worked fine. The door no longer did the crazy 7-8 beeping sounds when you opened the door. So to everyone out there perhaps check the connection before you go order yourself the part, the removal of the panel is 3 screws and should only take about 10-15mins and it all snapped back together pretty easily.

I just posted a thank you note for video, and some tips... but I forgot to indicated where I got my part. AISIN DLT-119 OE Replacement Door Latch/Lock Assembly with Actuator (Left Front Driver Side) is the part I purchased from Amazon - $85 / and I read other posts saying this is the exact same part and manufacturer as was supplied to Toyota.

2015 Toyota Highlander Limited. Thank you for the great and detailed video. As others have commented don’t forget to seat the key lock mechanism into the actuator not shown on the video. I did miss it at first but I was able to go back and correctly seat it with little wasted time since I knew what I was doing thanks to the video on all of the other steps. Greatly detailed and good camera work in the tight spots. Glad I tackled this project myself thanks to your video. 01/01/23 Happy New Year!

Thank you. Repaired my 2016 Highlander in under 2 hours using a $50 part. Dealer wanted $800 for the repair. I think 2 hours of my time was worth $750. Very thorough.

Procedure works good for a 2015 Highlander Limited Platinum. Our door lock system works correctly 95% of the time, but more and more often the drivers door would not unlock with key fob and we would have to enter from passenger seat and unlock drivers door from inside. While most small electric actuator motors suddenly stop working 100%, ours was gradually going bad. I have no idea why anyone would give this video a thumbs down - it was very helpful to me. I am in my mid 60's and have done 99% of my own repair work for 45 years. It's great to have videos to show you specific steps and tips, and I sincerely appreciate tgill taking the time to shoot and post this. A couple of comments / suggestions: The video "perhaps" is a bit too detailed in that if you don't know which direction to tighten / loosen bolts, that probably means your experience level and ownership of necessary tools will not be enough for you to do this repair yourself. I found the most difficult part was getting that metal rod down into the actuator. I paid close attention how it was inserted before I removed my old actuator, but still a bit of a challenge when reassembling. You will need to push that bracket out of the way towards the front of the door, and slide the actuator in behind the bracket. Lower the actuator and inch or so from where the 3 bolt holds line up, insert the rod, raise the actutator up an 1" to get the bolt holes lined up, and start one or two bolts into the hole. Then, take a look and feel inside to make sure that rod is still inserted. I had to do this step 3 times to keep the rod inserted and get the bolt holes lined up. I also found the first little plastic tab you have to pop open, that is hinged, has a very small gap and I had to use a small blade screwdriver instead of one of my plastic door panel tools to get it open. Also, while mentioned in text in the video, take the courtesy light out of the panel bottom early on before popping the panel off. Once again, narrow gap, small screwdriver to get the plastic lens to pop out so you can disconnect connections.

Omg, thank you so much, great detail from start to finish. So easy to follow. I couldn't have done it myself. So glad I watched your video

PS - the people that gave this video the 'thumbs down/dislike'..... must be Dealership Service Department Managers upset that they are losing repair opportunities.... LOL. Step-by-step, this video gets the job done, accurately and without issue.

Thank you so much for posting this! My dealer quotes me $450 for this repair. I found this video and did it myself with absolutely NO problem and I am NOT a handy guy. You made it really easy to understand. Thanks again!

One of the best detailed videos on doing this procedure I've seen. Thank you very much!!

I’m late to this video by years but just want to say thank you sir! You saved me a pretty penny (avoiding the stealership) and made me look like a rockstar to my wife.

Replaced mine today and went step by step on this video and it was perfect! Thank you and you saved me $1100 that Toyota quoted me!!! Yikes!!! I replaced it in a little over an hour. Completely worth the time…thank you!

Outstanding video! Extremely helpful. Add another $500+ and several hours you saved someone. Mine was a 2015 Highlander with a broken door latch cable that snapped within the actuator housing. This removal and replacement process works for that issue as well. Thank you for filming and posting!

You're awesome man thank you so much! Saved me $650 at the dealership, paid $100 for the actuator on amazon, $15 for the panel removal plastic kit, $5 for the bit. Thanks again!

Thank you so much for the step by step! Worked like a charm sir! You're a hero to many of us who refuse to pay outrageous prices for something that is this easy! Thank you for taking the time to do this step by step! 👍👍

Very thorough video with articulate and comprehensive instructions. The time and effort you put in to making this is greatly appreciated!

This video was very clear and articulate and easy to follow for someone like me with limited auto knowledge. This video saved me $1500 from the dealership as I had 3 doors that needed the actuators replaced. I was able to follow these instructions and complete the task easily. Thank you for posting this! 🙏

Excellent video. This helped my wife out tremendously. Now in the line to pick up the kids from school she no longer has to reach over and unlock the door. Thanks for taking the time to help us do it right the first time.

Thank you! Your methodical approach gives me the confidence to try this myself next week!

Great video. Just completed the drivers side going step by step with this video. Passenger side tomorrow. Thanks again!

Thank you. Followed this for the driver rear door. Thanks to your tips and overview of the process, took me about 25 minutes on my 2015 highlander.

Absolutely spectacular. Excellent step-by-step instructions. My son and I just finished the front passenger-side door and it works perfectly. Thank you for this video and for saving me a bunch of money!

Thanks for the video. The passenger door lock went out on my 2017 Highlander. I found the part on Amazon for $80 and installed in around 45 minutes. The dealer wanted $800 to replace it not kidding. The part I took out is exactly the same manufacture on Amazon. The dealer wanted $300 for the same part.

Thanks for this video! I just replaced this today following the instructions on the video. Awesome! Ironically, the HARDEST part was reconnecting the small lamp in the bottom of the door. Excellent job, thanks again!👍

This worked out great. 😊 Thank you very much for this video. Very easy to follow.

Yes no joke this video is super helpful and it makes it changing the actuator easy. Literally quoted over 500 for the dealership to do it. The part alone was 330. I bought the Aisin DLT part and it worked wonderfully. 130 on amazon. Saved soooo much. Very helpful video

Great video! It made the process very simple on my 2014 Highlander! THANK YOU!!!

You are Awesome! I just followed your steps and took my time and successful installation! It barely took me 45 minutes taking my time! Thank you so much!!!

Excellent video, very thorough! You appear to be the first to show on the 3rd gen Highlander and this door lock issue seems to be a very common problem. I just got a 2015 and looks like I have to do this already, so this helps a bunch. Again, great job!

I'd like to add an important note if replacing the DRIVER'S side actuator that was not discussed, and this is VERY important: There is a relatively short horizontal upper post or rod for lack of a better term that comes out from the lock tumbler in the door handle and mates up with the actuator. So, when installing the new actuator you have to ensure the vertical rod is properly inserted into the actuator (as discussed at 21:00 ). That you have to do first. Then, as you continue to raise the actuator into place, you have to guide the horizontal rod from the tumbler into the proper mating area on the actuator. There is a rounded raised lip around the mating area that will help you guide the rod into place. You have to do all of this by feel. The trick though is that you have to verify that the vertical rod remains properly inserted in the lower part of the actuator while you're guiding the upper horizontal rod into place. It's kind of tricky. The lower vertical one came out like 3 or 4 times on me while I was wrestling with the upper one. It's not hard, just tricky and requires a little trial and error. If you don't get that rod properly in place (like mine was when I took ownership of the vehicle), the door key will NOT unlock the vehicle at all. So, if your remote control battery dies, the only way you'd be able to get into your truck would be by using your key in the back hatch. But, great video! Thank you for your effort. You saved me a lot of trial and error.

This worked very well. Following the instructions took about 45 minutes for me. Thanks!

Awesome instructions! You saved me about $400. I found the part on line for about $75 and your video and detailed instructions got the job done in about 30 minutes. Would have been quicker if that bottom light wasn't such a pain to deal with. Thank you!

Thank Man!!! You saved me over 600 bucks! Only thing different on my 2014 Sequoia is there are two 10 mm blots to remove in the door frame.

Thank you my man, excellent detailed video, just replaced a 2015 passenger side actuator with this video

Thanks for showing how to do this. I did get Toyota to pay for one door out of warranty but now both door locks on other side are going on my 2015 Highlander. This should have been a recall but thanks again for posting!

Brother, thank you. Most useful video I have ever watched on RU-vid and I got to keep about 500 bucks that would have otherwise went to the dealer.

Phenomenal video. Pay attention to notes when it says to disassemble the light on the underside of door before pulling panel off. Could break the housing. You can shove the light through the front of panel and disassemble before removing whole panel

Thanks -- just replaced the front passenger actuator on my 2016 Highlander. Super easy thanks to your video. This problem is definitely frustrating, and a real security risk if you have your garage door remote programmed into the car. You have to pay really close attention that the doors actually locked, especially when you are in the house and using your key fob to lock your car parked in the driveway. This problem seems like a cash cow for the dealership service departments, glad I could deprive them of that opportunity (at least one time anyway...)

Thank you for creating this video. I just replaced the actuator on my 2015 highlander limited right rear passenger door and your instructions were fantastic! A couple of modifications are necessary for the rear door as there was a pink mechanism instead of the rod that needed to be connected to the actuator to get the door handle to work - but this only took a few minutes to figure out. My driver side door is starting to go and I am comfortable the replacement will go as smoothly as the one I just did. I ended up getting mine from rockauto.com and went with the AISIN brand as they seemed to have gotten good reviews and appear to be high quality. Thanks again! PS - the dealer had already replaced two of them under warranty (car is now out of warranty).

Thanks! I'm going to use this vid to pull the panel and replace my speakers and add sound deadning mat. Thanks again!

If you're replacing this on the driver side, do yourself a favor and REMOVE THE LOCK CYLINDER before you install the new actuator! Look up a video on how to do this but it's dead simple and only requires loosening one screw. Don't make the same mistake I did and try to angle the actuator around the key rod and seat it back in by feel when you can just pull the rod out and stick it straight back in after the actuator is in position. For some reason every one of these instructional videos fails to mention this and it would have saved me a ton of time and frustration.

Thanks for the great video, just replaced drivers side, passenger is next, then rear left. Unbelievable for a 2015 to have this problem and Toyota won’t admit to a manufacturer defect

Thank you for the very informative video. $80 for the part off Amazon, ~40* minutes start to finish and the door locks again! (*20 minutes lost trying to figure out where the little rubber seat on the window sill above the lock - part 19541 - belonged. It fell out while removing the panel and wasn't immediately clear where it belonged on reinstall). Great video.

Thanks for this, couldn’t find many videos on actuator replacements. I had this issue with my 2004 Kia Cerato, and the actual pull cable is broken and had to jimmy rig something to pull the handles open, but now the lock is not staying in the unlocked position and caused the door to stay locked. Can’t open the door and so have to hop out via the passenger side, lol. I suspect it’s the actuator no longer responding. But can’t open the door now to remove the screws to the actuator.

Great job on the video! I am sure you will get quite a few views when other Highlander owners find out the replacement cost of the door actuator at the dealership.

really great video, very articulate, but i missed the crucial step in reconnecting the lock cylinder linkage to the upper back left corner of latch assembly :(

Great video! My issue is my 2016 Highlander Limited Platinum "manual key operated door lock" will not do anything to help unlock door. I will be using this vid to help troubleshoot my Toyota door lock issue. The one thing that I did not see in this video is any mention of how the door lock functions in conjunction with the door handle and door actuator. My HL is the Limited/Platinum, with "touch to lock/auto unlock" function with wire going to the door handle. No mention of this little wire in this video...

Thank you for this video You save me $2500 dollars

How does the actual door lock (key tumbler) mechanism tie into this?? My actuator works but does not manually lock/unlock with the turn of the key in the door. THANK YOU

Thank you so much for your video! It will help lots when I go to upgrade the speakers in the doors!

Thank you very much, it helps me very well

Thanks so much. This was VERY well done.

I could replace the actuator but my problem is troubleshooting which one is defective or if something else. The master door switch on the driver's side works but activated a few more times it won't open any doors. Then wait a minute it works again with the first push then stops with subsequent activation. The key fob does the same routine. Any ideas?

Thanks for the video is very helpful

Great instructions ! Thanks

Great video, thanks for making it!

Nice video, I'm tempted to try. But I feel with my luck, it wouldn't end well. You would think eventually this would be recalled. Highlander is a nice vehicle, but if you noticed the door shake at impact when shut. The metal door jars, like thin metal.

Hello, is it helps also that finger touching not work?

Your the best! I was able to fix my wife’s car and save about $500 due to this video. I feel like I owe you a beer or something.

The rear door should be the same right ? I have a small problem with my rear door handle.

Thank u very much ur video helped me n saved me lots of money. Great methotic video.🙏👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👌✅✅✅✅✅✅100%

Thank you for doing this video! I just had both front actuators go out on my 2014 after a few days of being intermittent. Not impressed with this! Hoping this is not a portent of what is to come! My 2004 Highlander had zero issues like this...

Thanks for the video. I am needing to do one on a 2011 Venza, does anyone know if it is basically the same steps? Thanks

Hi, great video and power door lock works perfectly. However, my mechanical key will not unlock the door. It wasn’t working before but I assumed it was because the actuator was out. It fits and turns without issue but for some reason will not activate the actuator. Any ideas?

Has any one changed front door glass on 2014 to 2019 highlander?

the tip on prying the door panel clips was money. thanks

Awesome video! Quick question. Just replaced the actuator but now the driver side window is not working. All the other windows are working fine. Any idea as to what is causing this?

Great video. However, if I forget to put the metal rod into the actuator how do I open the door? Unfortunately I re-assembled the entire door and forgot to insert the metal rod into the actuator. Now, I CANT OPEN the door? Please help.

I just did a similar repair on my Tundra. However, now the key will not unlock the door. I can still use the remote though. Does the top part on the back side of the actuator go to the key lock? Do you have any suggestions?

How much was the new actuator and where did you buy it? My wifes highlander driver, passenger and rear passenger went out. I appreciate the video it was very helpfull.

Is this same way it would be done on 2013 ? I can find a good vid for 2013

wow, they still use Phillips screws?

That's what I have to do in my toyota.

Thanks allot... 2015 highlander actuator failed on the same side... like wtf...

Great video, EXCEPT it leaves a few things out that are critical. That may be why the thumbs down. The way he installed it will produce the problem I had with my HL. Here are some tips - from experience of course. @ 8:21, it might be better to pop the light out from the front to unplug it @8:10 when popping those clips out there is a high possibility they will pop out of the slot they are in on the panel and you won't notice it. They may end up on the floor or in the folds of the panel. Best to look for them at this point and make sure they are all in the panel slots. @8:53 when removing the door panel, there is a plastic part under the top left edge of the panel that will likely fall out. When it does, you may step on it and break it (I did not, but close) since you may not notice it fall. When putting it back in it may take a few minutes to figure out how it goes back in. I suggest you observe this as you are pulling the panel off to prevent the above issues. HERE IS THE BIG ONE!!! @19:08 he gets into a discussion about getting that rod into the hole. The problem I was fixing was that a previous fixer must have also watched this video because he pays no attention to the rod coming from the key lock mechanism. This is the only door with a key. Mine was no where near the hole it must be in, so, the key did not work. The hole is on the other side of that mechanism picture. It is a 4 prong plastic spline and it has somewhat of a shroud 1/2 way around it, apparently to help you guide it in. That rod must go in first and it will be totally by feel. The mechanism at that point will be close to its final position. You must then drop it no more than about 1/4", otherwise, the lock rod will come out. Then push the lever the "hole" is in down as far as it will go so you can move the rod into it. Now you can move everything to final position insuring the lock rod has not fallen out and that the key locks and unlocks the door. Since he apparently paid no attention to that, his key lock will not be functional.

Hello Mr. tgilldesign, hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your manual/valet key isn't working anymore if you followed the procedures you detailed in your video. Give it a try, if you still have the vehicle. Will to bet it will not open. Ensure you have the FOB a distance when using the manual key as the FOB will electronically open the door and not the manual key. Driver side has a special rod/gear that needs to be lined up much like the push rod.

I can't thank you enough for this video and I hope it helps others in saving a small fortune from having the dealership repair the door actuators. I have a 2013 Tundra and this video applied perfectly to my fix. I was quoted $1150 to replace front driver and front passenger actuators and was mortified at the cost. I declined the repair and had to eat the $114.95 fee to diagnose the problem. I then Googled the parts for my truck and went to WWW.CARPARTS.COM and found new actuators for $30.72 per actuator. $70 total including shipping and I watched your very detailed video and then proceeded to replace my actuators. 45 minutes later and both were replaced and the doors reassembled. THANK YOU VERY MUCH for taking the time to make and share this video. You saved me a lot of money....

I don't know if it is NipponNenso, but ND moved a lot of manufacturing to China, reducing quality.

You didn't say why you are replacing it

Why is it junk so soon? I’ll never buy this junk again

This video is amazing! We found it too late though. How can we open the door if we didn’t put the rod into the actuator? HELP! 🥹🫠