2004 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

HIGHLANDER RECENTLY RECEIVED 30K SERVICE AT TOYOTA DEALER. CAR MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29K. THE SERVICE ADVISOR REPORTED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS MAKING A CLUNK TYPE SOUND AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. HE BELIEVED HIGHLANDERS AND TACOMA'S HAD BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM. HE DID NOT THINK THE PART WOULD BREAK BUT THAT THE PART HAD BEEN REDESIGNED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VIN INFO IS NOT CORRECT. I INSERTED RANDOM NUMBERS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT INFO IN MY POSSESSION RIGHT NOW AS I AM AT MY WORK DESK. ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT MY CAR IS A 2004 VIBE. IT DID NOT HAVE THAT OPTION. IN 2/28/08, I HAD AN ACCELERATATION PROBLEM. IF YOU GET IN TOUCH WITH BARSTOW IN POTSDAM NY, THEY CAN VERIFY THIS. THEY HAVE IT ON RECORD. THIS PROBLEM WAS UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO STOP AFTER IT ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. I BROUGHT IT TO BARSTOW, EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND THEY SAID THEY HAD HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS SUCH AS MINE. THE MECHANIC THERE UNDID THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. FIVE MONTHS LATER I HAD HIM PUT IT BACK ON IN JULY. IT COST ME $25 EA. TIME. PLEASE CONTACT KEN MURRAY AT BARSTOW MOTORS POTSDAM NY TO VERIFY ALL OF THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE MONEY I HAD TO PAY AS I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE ONE THAT TOYOTA IS HAVING NOW WITH ACCELERATION DIFFICULTIES. ALSO, ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER PROBLEMS, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WILL TOYOTA DO IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. MY VIBE IS A 2004. [XXX] *TR

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED STEERING SYSTEM LOOSENESS, CLUNKING. THE STEERING SYSTEM EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE FREEPLAY AND CLUNKING. A DEFECTIVE PART WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BUT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

ONE WEEK AGO, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WOULD HAPPEN. I SCHEDULED A APPOINTMENT WITH GOODYEAR TO HAVE MY BRAKES CHECKED. 2 DAYS BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT DATE, I ALSO HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. I FREAKED OUT AND WENT STRAIGHT TO GOODYEAR FOR THE REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RUBBER ON THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD BEEN EATEN AWAY BY THE BRAKE FLUID AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE WAS A RECALL IN 2001 FOR THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2004 HIGHLANDER. *TR

I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE AND "SENSATION" IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS OR ON A BUMPY ROAD. IN DECEMBER, 2007 I TOOK THE HIGHLANDER TO THE DEALER AND WAS FIRST TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND JUST NEEDED SOME LUBRICATION. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE MANAGER FURTHER ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING DANGEROUS, I WAS TOLD THAT IT "COULD BE A PROBLEM AND THAT THE STEERING SHAFT SHOULD BE CHANGED". I WAS TOLD THAT THE COLUMN COULD "LOCK UP", CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. AFTER FURTHER QUESTIONING, THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A COPY OF THE TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN DATED FEBRUARY 2006, OBVIOUSLY TOYOTA WAS WELL AWARE OF THE POSSIBLE DANGER, I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM. THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $450 TO ME SINCE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN MAY OF 2007, ALMOST A YEAR AFTER THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA PURPOSELY HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL IN ORDER TO SAVE MONEY. THOSE OF US WHO OWN A 2004 HIGHLANDER ARE NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND OUT OF LUCK. SINCE THIS IS A POTENTIAL DANGER AND TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR WELL OVER A YEAR, I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL NEEDED REPAIRS AND A RECALL ISSUED. *TR

BOUT MY 2004 HIGHLANDER 3 MONTHS AGO, USED, WITH 46K MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC LAST WEEK TO GET THE OIL CHANGED AND TIRES ROTATED. HE TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AND SAID THAT IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION IN 3 MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE STEERING. THERE IS A CLUNK IN THE STEERING, WHICH I NEVER THOUGHT WAS ABNORMAL BUT HE SAID IT IS. HE ALSO SAID THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON IT. I CALLED THE DEALER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR NEXT WEEK. I SERIOUSLY HAD BETTER NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. *TR

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HEADLAMP MATERIAL COVER FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. CONSUMER STATED THE MECHANIC DID NOT OFFER A CORRECTIVE ACTION. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE LENS MATERIAL HAD MELTED AND A FOG SPOT WAS PRESENT. WHEN THE LAMP WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, A BULGE WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE LAMP IN THE UP POSITION. *JB

I PURCHASED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4DR 4WD 4ECT AS A PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLE WITH A PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLE WARRANTY. AFTER OWNING AND USING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION, THE RIGHT SIDE REAR BRAKE SUDDENLY LOCKED UP INTERMITTENTLY ACCOMPANIED BY SWERVING, BY PANEL VSC LIGHT FLASHES AND AN AUDIBLE WARNING. THIS SITUATION FORTUNATELY OCCURRED NEAR OUR RESIDENCE ON DRY PAVEMENT. BY DRIVING VERY SLOWLY WE MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND THE FOLLOWING DIAGNOSIS OR SIMILAR WAS PROVIDED: CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE VSC LIGHTS ARE COMING ON AND THE BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP, YAW RATE SENSOR IS OUT OF CALIBRATION. RECALIBRATED YAW RATE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO US AS REPAIRED. THE PRECISE SAME VSC FAILURE SITUATION OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 11TH OF THIS YEAR AND AGAIN WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN IN A REASONABLY SAFE LOCATION AND DRIVING UNDER GOOD ROAD CONDITION WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP AND TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALER FACILITY FOR ANALYSIS AND REPAIR. WE RECEIVED THE DIAGNOSIS: ?ELECTRICAL REPAIR, CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE VSC LIGHTS ARE COMING ON, AND THE BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP, YAW RATE SENSOR IS OUT OF CALIBRATION. RECALIBRATED YAW RATE SENSOR?. I WAS TOLD BY TELEPHONE THAT ?THE PREVIOUS REPAIR LASTED TWO YEARS?. ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD CONSIDER THAT THE POTENTIAL USEFUL LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE SHOULD EXCEED TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS. FURTHERMORE, THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY REOCCUR IMMEDIATELY. AFTER BEING TOLD IT WAS TEST DRIVEN AND PRONOUNCED SAFE TO DRIVE I THINK THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION WAITING FOR ANOTHER EVENT TO OCCUR AND THAT AN ACCIDENT COULD RESULT FROM ANOTHER INSTANCE OF THE VSC SYSTEM FAILURE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT PROPERLY LOCATED OR PROPERLY REPAIRED IN EACH OF THE TWO OCCURRENCES. A PROPER REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FIRST EVENT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE SECOND. *TR

SUN VISOR (DRIVER SIDE) FELL DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH A SPEED OF ABOUT 65MPH.. IT BLOCKED MY VIEW. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A SAFE PLACE. THE VISOR IS HOLDING IN PLACE BY A RUBBER BAND AND A STICK BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN MY CAR IS PARK THE HEAT INSIDE THE CAR MELTS THE RUBBER BAND AND THE VISOR FALLS OVER AGAIN. I TALKED TO TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY IS OVER AND THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO BUY A NEW VISOR FOR ABOUT $500 (+ INSTALLATION FEES AND EXTRA ELECTRONIC MIRROR CABLE). TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, IT IS A DRIVING HAZARD. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR

OUR SUV STARTED SERIOUSLY SKIDDING ON THE ROAD SURFACE WHILE DRIVING, CHECK THE TREAD AND FOUND INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF TIRES EDGES BALD, AND CENTER OF TIRE ALSO POOR TREAD. SO FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND FAMILY I HAD ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED. *TR

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BRAKES ENGAGED WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE WAS IN A PARKING LOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKES APPLIED, AND THAT MADE THE ENGINE STALL. HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. *KB THE DEALER FOUND THE STEERING ANGEL SENSOR WAS NOT OUT PUTTING CORRECTLY WHICH CAUSED THE VSC TO ACTIVATE. *JB

STEERING. *TR

ON AUGUST 18TH 2007 I SENT A LETTER TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES WRITING CONCERNING A PROBLEM WITH MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHICH HAD SURGED IN A PARALLEL PARKING SITUATION HITTING THE CAR BEHIND AND DAMAGING IT AND MY VEHICLE. . HER HEADLIGHT AND BUMPER WERE DAMAGED. . THE REPAIR ON THE OTHER CAR CAME TO $1800.00. AND MORE. I REPORTED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN SPIRIT LAKE, IA. AND ALSO TO THE TOYOTA MOTOR SALES IN TOLEDO , OHIO 43699-0024. THE SPIRIT LAKE DEALER TOLD ME IT MUST HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY BAD GAS. *TR

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH AWD AND 4 CYL. VEHICLE IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AT 67,500 MILES. DEALERSHIP SAY THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM AS IT AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXPECTED RELIABILITY OF A TOYOTA PRODUCT, BUT IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. MY OTHER VEHICLE IS A LEXUS RX 300 WHICH I LOVE, BUT I WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA PRODUCT IN THE FUTURE AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE. *TR

MOON ROOF BEGAN MAKING SLIGHTLY FUNNY SOUND ON OCCASION, THEN WAS FINE AND STOPPED MAKING NOISE, THEN VERY SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP IT STOPPED OPENING AND WON'T SHUT.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE WEATHER WAS HOT OUTSIDE THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR FELL DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT IT WAS CONSIDERED USAGE AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 89,559.

SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THE ENGINE, VSC, AND TRACKING LIGHT BEGAN GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. MARIETTA TOYOTA PERSONNEL TOLD ME THAT THE GAS CAP WAS NOT ON TIGHT ENOUGH AND I SHOULD TIGHTEN IT. CALLS WERE MADE NUMEROUS TIMES TO THEM. SINCE MAY, 2007 THE LIGHTS ARE ON CONSTANTLY AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I KEEP GETTING THE SAME REPLY AND THEY DO NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT IT AT ALL! *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK PULLED UP TO STOP LIGHT WITH MANY OTHER CARS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I GOT UP TO 20 MPH AND THE BRAKES KICKED ON SLOWING ME DOWN TO ALMOST A STOP, AND CREATING A LOUD NOISE. THE CAR BEHIND HIT ME, BUT DID NOT CAUSE ANY DAMAGE. HE SAID I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. IT WILL ONLY GO 15 MPH BEFORE THE VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL WENT ON AND STOPPED THE CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN FOR THE PROBLEM. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS IN A RECALL BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY , ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH ACTIVATED FOR NO REASON AND NO BRAKE LIGHTS WENT ON. *AK

THE STEERING SENSOR ON THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO ENGAGE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THIS CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAR HAD TO BE PULLED OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC ENVIRONMENT. CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGING. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I ASKED THE DEALER TO DISCONNECT THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM, BECAUSE THIS SYSTEM WAS MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE PROBLEM IT WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS. THE DEALER SAID THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND IF THE STEERING SENSOR WAS NOT REPLACED, THE CAR WOULD NOT BE DRIVABLE. IF A SENSOR IN A CONTROL SYSTEM FAILS, IT SHOULD NOT CAUSE A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. IF A SENSOR FAILS, THE BRAKES SHOULD NOT ENGAGE, THE SYSTEM SHOULD JUST BECOME INOPERABLE. THE LOGIC IN THEIR CONTROL SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND THE COMPUTER SHOULD BE RE-PROGRAMMED TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA MOTORS WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY CHOOSE TO IGNORE MY COMPLAIN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STIRRING SENSOR FOR A RIDICULOUS PRICE AND THE CAR IS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AGAIN WITHOUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGING. MY WIFE IS AGAIN DRIVING A CAR WHICH IS INHERENTLY UNSAFE. WE ARE CONSIDERING SELLING THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING SAFETY PROBLEMS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 25-40 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING SIGNAL ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES PULSATED. THE TRAFFIC CONTROL LIGHT SHOULD HAVE ILLUMINATED WHEN THERE WAS WHEEL SLIPPAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING DRY ROAD CONDITIONS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,700. UPDATED 03/10/08. *LJTHE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING.

I WANTED TO OPEN MY SUNROOF. I STARTED TO SLIDE BACK AND GOT STUCK. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP JUST TO HAVE THEM CLOSE IT. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS 8TH ONE THAT WHERE THE SUNROOF BROKE. THEY HAD TO DISCONNECT THE SUNROOF JUST TO CLOSE IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE SWERVED WHILE DRIVING FORWARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE CLICKING STOPPED, HOWEVER, THE SWERVING CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 46,000 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. *AK

VARIATION IN BRAKE PRESSURE. SOMETIME BRAKES FEEL FINE AND BRAND NEW AND OTHER TIMES, BRAKE ALMOST GOES TO FLOOR. *TR

MY HIGHLANDER WAS INVOLVED IN A TOTAL LOSS CRASH BACK IN 2007, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY PAID OUT A TOTAL LOSS CLAIM AND TOOK THE SALVAGE. I HAVE REPEATEDLY UPDATED TOYOTA THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, YET THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO SEND RECALL NOTICES FOR THE PSAT 4 YEARS. PLEASE MAKE THEM STOP !! *TR

NOISY STEERING SHAFT CAUSED ME TO TAKE CAR TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE I WAS TOLD THE SHAFT WAS 'WORN' (TINY BEARINGS WITHIN THE SHAFT WERE WORN) AND THE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. DEALER INFORMED ME THEY'D SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS, AND ON THEIR ECONOMY TOYOTA PRISMS AS WELL, BUT MANUFACTURER HAD NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS. I PAID THE BILL USING MY EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVATED ON DRY SURFACE AND ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AFFECTS THE STEERING AND OCCURS EVERY FEW FEET. SINCE THAT TIME, THE SYSTEM ATTEMPTS TO ACTIVATE AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING 15-20 MPH. THE VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT FULL SPEED WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IN THE MICROTRIP THAT CONTROLS THE VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY ATTEMPTING TO HAVE IT REPROGRAMMED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 39,000.

I BOUGHT USED 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND NOTICED A HEARD A THUMPING SOUND THAT COULD ALSO BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT SLOW SPEEDS. HAD AN ACCIDENT A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHERE ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT MY FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THE THUMPING GOT WORSE SO I MENTIONED IT TO THE BODY REPAIR SHOP. THEY HAD IT TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER EVEN THOUGH I HAD DRIVEN IT FOR 6 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WHERE THEY WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR , 85,000 MILE,) ON THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $380 +. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS NOT ACCIDENT RELATED. I STILL HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED. *AK

TRANSMISSION SHIFT HESITATION ON ACCELERATION AT LOWER SPEEDS. JUST ENOUGH LAG TIME TO SCARE ME A FEW TIMES THAT I WOULDN'T MAKE IT ACROSS TRAFFIC. *JB

STEERING SHAFT ON THE 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DID NOT FEEL SAFE, FELT LOOSE AND NOISY WHEN TURNING. TOYOTA REFUSESD TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY, A TSB WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY 2006, WHICH INDICATED TOYOTA'S AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT WANT TO PUBLICLY ADMIT IT. WHILE DRIVING IT FELT LIKE THE STEERING COLUMN COUD BREAK OFF, AND IF THAT HAPPENED, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MANY DEATHS.*AK

I HAD A TIRE GO VERY NEARLY FLAT AND THE LOW TIRE INDICATOR ON MY 04 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER NEVER ILLUMINATED. A PASSING MOTORIST MADE ME AWARE OF THE TIRE CONDITION. I BARELY WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A STATION WITHOUT RUINING THE ALMOST NEW TIRE. I HAD JUST CAME INTO TOWN, AND WAS PREVIOUSLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH 2 ELDERLY PASSENGERS BESIDES MYSELF. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER HERE IN MCKINNEY TX SAID THAT TOYOTA TECH SUPPORT SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST DRIVEN ABOUT 5 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH ONE TIRE PURPOSELY UNDER INFLATED BY 10 POUNDS TO PROVE TO THEM THAT IT WAS NOT WORKING, THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, EXCEPT TO VERIFY THAT THERE IS NO CODES SET IN THE COMPUTER! *JB

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM DIFFERENTIAL - 2000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY - DEALER SAID THEY HAVE AT LEAST TWO OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS THIS VEHICLE IS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *NM

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BEGAN MAKING A NOISE WHICH COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, PARTICULARLY WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER A BUMP AT SLOW SPEED. TOYOTA HAS A TSB OUT ON THIS BUT IT IS NOT KNOW TO OWNERS, AND IS NOT WELL KNOW AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS DESPITE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. FURTHERMORE, TOYOTA REPS AND THE DEALER'S SERVICE WRITERS WILL TELL YOU FACE TO FACE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT WON'T PUT IT IN WRITING. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY REPAIRED BY REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING SHAFT, I BECAME AWARE THAT PRIOR TO THE REPAIRS THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN AS THE VEHICLE NOW TRACK STRAIGHT AND THE WHEEL EASY TO TURN. WITH SUCH SYMPTOMS I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO NOTIFY VEHICLE OWNERS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED ERRATICALLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAD REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.*AK

LOOSE AND NOISY STEERING SHAFT, DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. *JB

DEALER (GREEN'S TOYOTA, LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY) MAKING RECALL REPAIRS ON MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (RECALL # 06V253000) FAILED TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF NHTSA RECALL, BY REPLACING DEFECTIVE RETAINING CLIPS WITH VELCRO. NO REPLACEMENT CLIPS WERE USED.

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ACCELERATION INCIDENT, CROSSED MEDIAN, WAS HIT BROADSIDE AND TWO OCCUPANTS KILLED; MY SON AND HIS WIFE. WRITTEN LETTER OF WITNESS OF ACCIDENT IS AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/22/10 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 05/13/120 *TR UPDATED 9/28/11*CW

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, WHILE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM, YET WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE BRAKES DUE TO THE DESIGN. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE CONTACT NEEDED TO WARM UP THE ENGINE BEFORE DRIVING, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 11/9/2006 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO SAID THE ARE STILL WORKING ON A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. *NM

DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE IN MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4X4 2004 WITH A 20000 MILES, THE DEALERSHIP INFORM ME THAT THE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACE AND TOLD ME THAT WARRANTY DOES NOT INCLUDE TIRES. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT TIRES SHOULD HOLD MORE THEN 15000 MILES. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 687. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CARPET ON THE VEHICLE FLOOR WAS LOOSE AROUND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V253000 REGARDING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL 4 TIRES DRY ROTTED ON THE SIDEWALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS MADE.

THE AIR/HEAT KEEP GOING IN AN OUT. MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU TRY TO SWITCH IT OVER THE AC IT STAYS HOT AND SAME W/ HOT. STOPPED BY TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT ON THIS YEAR MODEL HIGHLANDERS THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE HEAT AND AIR ARE GOING BAD. BUT THEY WON'T DO A RECALL. IT EVEN MESSED 1 OF THE ACCUATORS UP AND WE HAD TO REPLACE IT LAST TIME AND NOW IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN. *NM

LET ME START BY SAYING I AM A DIE-HARD TOYOTA OWNER, MY CURRENT VEHICLE BEING THE 3RD TOYOTA WE OWN. I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, V6, 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH AWD. THIS VEHICLE HAS A VERY SERIOUS HESITATION PROBLEM WHICH IS DANGEROUS. UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP OR AT SPEED, THERE IS A VERY SERIOUS LAG IN THROTTLE RESPONSE. MANY TIMES LEAVING A STOP OR ACCELERATING FROM A SLOW SPEED I.E. PARKING LOT DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL LAG WITH NO RESPONSE, THEN LURCH & ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, SAFE PASSING, STARTS AT LIGHTS AND SAFE DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS AND AROUND PEDESTRIANS CAN BE HAZARDOUS. THOUSANDS OF OWNERS ACROSS THE NATION ARE AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT. FROM MY RECENT RESEARCH IT APPARENTLY IS NOT RESTRICTED TO THE HIGHLANDER, BUT AFFECTS MANY TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH "DRIVE BY WIRE" AS OPPOSED TO MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION & THROTTLE LINKAGE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER RIGHT AFTER MY PURCHASE IN NOVEMBER OF 2004 AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG, NOW RECENT RESEARCH TELLS ME THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. I LOVE TOYOTA BUT THERE METHODS OF DEALING WITH PROBLEMS LIKE THIS IS DECEPTIVE AT BEST AND JUST SHORT OF CRIMINAL AT WORST. PLEASE "GOOGLE" TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HESITATION PROBLEM AND ALSO VISIT TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM FOR MORE EVIDENCE OF WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. TOYOTA HAS NOT DEVOTED ENOUGH RESOURCES TO THIS PROBLEM OR A PERMANENT FIX WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED. PLEASE CONTACT TOYOTA AND URGE THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER WITH ALL THE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS ACROSS THE U.S. THAT ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS MATTER. I WILL BE FOLLOWING THIS MATTER WITH KEEN INTEREST TO SEE IF ANYTHING IS BEING DONE AND AM ADVISING AAA OF THE ISSUES AS WELL AS MY STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES. TOYOTA COMMANDS A PREMIUM PRICE FOR WHAT ARE OTHERWISE EXCEPTIONAL VEHICLES AND THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THE NATIONS DRIVERS DESERVE A BETTER MORE RESPONSIBLE RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA. *NM

THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT MY HIGHLANDER IN NOVEMBER 2004. AFTER BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY OR MOVING IN REVERSE, THE FIRST TIME BRAKES ARE USED IN THE FORWARD OR DRIVE GEAR THERE IS A LOUD CLANK OR BANG FROM THE FRONT WHEEL BRAKES. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER CHECK THEM MORE THAN ONCE AND EVERY TIME I AM TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL OR THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST CAR EVER AND I'M SURE THAT I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT KIND OF NOISE IN MY BRAKES AFTER CHANGING GEARS. *NM

THERE IS A SULFUR SMELL WHEN I STOP OR BACK UP ON HILLS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (PARTS ARE ON ORDER) AND THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT IN SOME VEHICLES. IF AN OWNER MENTIONS THE SMELL, THEY DO THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. SHOULDN'T OWNERS BE MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM? *NM

NOTICED FREE PLAY AND A CLUNKING IN STEERING WHEEL @15,000 MILES. MORE PRONOUNCED ON TURNS WITH BUMPS. COMPLAINED TO DEALER ABOUT CONDITION AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING SHAFT HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY IN SHAFT JOINT. HAD TO WAIT OVER 1 MONTH FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE. STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY PART#45220-48150 WAS REPLACED. *JB

I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE GOING THROUGH THE TIRE REPLACEMENT STEPS AND HAD THE VEHICLE JACKED WITH THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED JACK. AFTER REMOVING THE LUG NUTS, I WENT TO REMOVE THE FLAT TIRE FROM THE WHEEL STUDS. THE JACK POPPED OUT OF PLACE AND BENT, AND IS NOW UNUSABLE. WE HAD TO FIND A HEAVY DUTY JACK TO LIFT THE VEHICLE TO GET THE TIRE OFF AND PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON. SPARE WAS PLACED AND PROPERLY TIGHTENED. NOW, THERE IS A SCRAPING SOUND WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED. I HAD FLAT FIXED AND WHEN TIRE COMPANY REMOVED SPARE, ONE WHEEL STUD FOR FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF. TIRE COMPANY SAYS THEY'VE SEEN THIS NUMEROUS TIMES WITH HIGHLANDERS; THE INTEGRITY AND/OR MACHINING OF THE WHEEL STUD APPEARS DEFECTIVE. *JB

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6. AT 45,000 MILES, I NOTICED A CLUNKING SENSATION IN MY STEERING WHEEL. LONG STORY SHORT, TOYOTA SAID IT WAS A FAILED U-JOINT AND HAD TO REPLACE MY STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY (PART # 45220-48150) AT A COST OF $490 TO ME. NOT COVERED BY 5 YR/ 60000 MI DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY OR 3 YR/36000 MI EITHER. I LEARNED IN AN EDMUNDS.COM HIGHLANDER OWNERS' CHAT ROOM THAT I AM NOT ALONE. SEVERAL PEOPLE COMMENTED THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE PROBLEM ALSO OCCURS WITH CAMRYS (WHICH HAS THE SAME CHASSIS). THE OTHER OWNERS COMPLAIN OF A LONG PART BACKORDER WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THIS MAY BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. DOES THIS QUALIFY FOR A RECALL AND COULD I GET MY $490 REFUNDED IF SO? THANK YOU. *NM

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VSC LIGHT COMES ON AT UNEXPLAINABLE TIME AND CAR LOSES POWER. DEALER HAS HAD THREE TIMES AND STILL HASN'T FIXED. *NM

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH A 3.3L V6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE MANUFACTURER, I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM OR FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NOW THE CAR HAS ALMOST 20,000 MILES ON IT, I'VE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER A FEW TIMES AS THE HESITATION HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND THEY CONTINUE TO TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I RARELY DRIVE THE CAR NOW SINCE I HAVE COME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A MAJOR ACCIDENTS NUMEROUS TIMES. IN EACH CASE, I WILL TRY AND MERGE ONTO A FREEWAY. GOING UP THE RAMP (OR DOWN) AND ACCELERATING TO GET UP TO SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION WILL DELAY FOR 2-3 SECONDS. I THEN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL DOWN A BIT MORE AND THE RPM'S WILL SHOOT UP, THE CAR WILL JERK, AND SPEED AHEAD. IF I DON'T APPLY THE EXTRA GAS, IT LEAVES ME IN A SITUATION WHERE I MIGHT BE HIT FROM BEHIND BY OTHER CARS. WHEN THE CAR JERKS AHEAD, I'VE COME CLOSE TO SLAMMING INTO CARS AHEAD OF ME. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS WITH THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I HOPE NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED OR INJURED FROM THIS DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO ADDRESS, AND THAT THE NHTSA WILL INVESTIGATE THIS BEFORE ANYONE IS KILLED OR INJURED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE TRANSMISSION MOMENTARILY HESITATES BEFORE PROPERLY SELECTING THE CORRECT GEAR TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC RESET THE SOFTWARE THREE TIMES, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE REPRESENTATIVE DROVE THE VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCED THE HESITATION AND EXPLAINED, THIS IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN AND THE VEHICLE IS FREE-WHEELING. THE REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CONTACT THE ENGINEERS AND TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB