2004 Toyota Highlander Speed Control & Cruise Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. UPON APPLYING MINIMAL PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, A DUMPSTER, AND ALMOST STRUCK A GROUP OF CHILDREN BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED AND WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE PAIN TO THE NECK AND BACK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

WHILE PARALLEL PARKING AND SLOWLY BACKING INTO THE PARKING SPACE, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE PARKED BEHIND ME. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING BACKWARD INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE AND PUSHED IT BACK EVEN THOUGH I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD. I THEN PUT MY VEHICLE INTO DRIVE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND IT IMMEDIATELY LUNGED FORWARD CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. WHILE CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE FORWARD, WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, MY VEHICLE PUSHED THAT VEHICLE INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. I THEN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND MY VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING. ALL FOUR VEHICLES SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS IN THE OTHER PARKED VEHICLES. REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE TOTALED $4,076, PLUS $1,444 FOR A RENTAL CAR. I ALSO RECEIVED A SUMMONS FOR CARELESS DRIVING. I BELIEVE THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. *TR

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT, GOING LESS THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR. AS I TURNED INTO THE SPOT, THE CAR LURCHED AHEAD, SO QUICKLY, THAT SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES STILL CAUSED ME TO SLIDE A BIT. I ENDED UP HITTING A CAR PARKED IN THE SPOT IN FRONT OF ME, AND CAUSING $1400 WORTH OF DAMAGE (TO MY FRONT BUMPER AND THE OTHER CARS REAR BUMPER). I HAD A FRIEND IN THE CAR WITH ME WHO VOUCHED FOR THIS. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT BEFORE, AND WAS COMPLETELY BAFFLED BY WHAT HAPPENED. AFTER GOOGLING THIS, I SEE THAT THIS CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL SIMILAR INCIDENTS, AND I AM NOW WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY CAR. I AM UNSURE HOW TO PROCEED, AS I HAVE READ THAT MECHANICS SEEM UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE EVENT THAT OCCURS WHERE IT SEEMS TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. VERY EMBARRASSING- I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR ACCIDENT BEFORE! *TR

ON FEBRUARY, 18, 2011 AT APPPROXIMATELY 1:30 P.M. I GOT INTO MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, WHICH WAS PARKED IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT AT 1 MEETINGHOUSE RD. IN CHELMSFORD, MA. I TURNED THE KEY ON, STARTED THE CAR, AND PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. AS I TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH MY RIGHT FOOT, THE CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AT A SPEED THAT DID NOT CORRESPOND WITH THE PRESSURE I HAD PUT ON THE PEDAL. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO BACK OUT IN A COUNTERCLOCKWISE DIRECTION, AND WITHIN NO MORE THAN 4 SECONDS, THE CAR CRASHED INTO A BUILDING APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET FROM WHERE THE CAR WAS INITIALLY PARKED. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE TO MY EFFORTS TO BRAKE SUBSEQUENT TO THIS SUDDEN AND INEXPLICABLE ACCELERATION. I'M LUCKY I WASN'T KILLED, BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT MANUAL FORCE AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED KNEE, CHEST AND ARM INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 12-05-13 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN OAK TREE. THE CONTACT WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED KNEE, BACK, SHOULDER, AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND LATER DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR

DATE OF INCIDENT: SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 12:45 P.M. INCIDENT DESCRIPTION: COMING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO PARK A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER INTO A PARKING SPOT. THE DRIVER GENTLY/MINIMALLY TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PULL INTO THE PARKING SPOT. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL FORCE PLACED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE METAL PART OF A SIGN. THIS IS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR AT THIS TIME. UPDATED 10/20/10 *BF UPDATED 10/22/10 *TR

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I HAVE HAD AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE HESITATING AND THEN LURCHING UPON ACCELERATION SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AS THE VEHICLE AGES. I HAVE MENTIONED IT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE IN FOR SERVICE BUT THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN USING AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS FOR MY REGULAR SERVICE ON THE CAR (THE CAR HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD CAR OTHER THAN THE ACCELERATION ISSUE AND HAS NOT NEEDED ANYTHING OTHER THAN REGULAR SERVICE). I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM TO HIM ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND AT FIRST, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM EITHER. MY HUSBAND MENTIONED IT AGAIN WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR THE LAST SERVICE. THIS TIME WHEN THE MECHANIC DROVE THE CAR HE WAS ABLE TO FEEL THE HESITATION AND SUBSEQUENT LURCHING. HE THEN PUT IT ON AN ANALYZER WHICH SHOWED VOLTAGE SPIKES IN THE THROTTLE BODY. HE SAID TO CALL TOYOTA. WE CALLED TOYOTA AND WERE TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER. WE TOOK IT TO A DEALER THIS MORNING AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. I CALLED TOYOTA AND FILED A COMPLAINT (10070906470 AND 1007090670 WERE THE NUMBERS I WAS GIVEN). THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO UNTIL A TOYOTA DEALER CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE BY OTHER 2004 HIGHLANDER OWNERS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN FOR HELP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING EXTREME FORCE TO THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHICH ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OF DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 36,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BUT WAS NOT INJURED, YET, HE IS VERY SORE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 06/04/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. UPDATED 10/05/10

UNLOADING ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK OF THE 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AT THE BACK (BASEMENT) OF A NEW RESIDENCE. DROVE FROM THE BACK OF THE HOUSE TO THE FRONT WITH INTENTIONS OF BACKING UP TO THE GARAGE TO UNLOAD THE REMAINDER OF THE BOXES. I ENDED UP CROSSING THE ROAD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVEWAY HITTING A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON; SMASHING MY HEAD AGAINST AND BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE INCURRED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MEDICAL BILLS, APPROXIMATELY $7,000 IN DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND A WEEK OFF OF WORK. *TR

I JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW, LAST YEAR MY GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK. I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN I INVESTIGATED IT, I FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC PANEL TO THE RIGHT OF THE PEDAL HAD BROKEN LOOSE CAUSING THE PANEL TO LIFT UP SO THAT THE PEDAL COULD GET STUCK UNDER IT. THE PLASTIC SCREW HAD COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF. I WENT TO TOYOTA HERE IN BOULDER AND THEY REPLACE THE SCREW. WHY MANUFACTURERS USE PLASTIC SCREWS IS BEYOND ME. I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA WOULD HAVE USED PLASTIC SCREWS FOR WHAT IS APPARENTLY A STRESSED AREA. I'M JUST GLAD I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS PRETTY SCARY! *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN A PARKING PLACE AT MY WORK SITE. I WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY MOVING INTO THE PARKING SPOT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HIGHLANDER BEGAN ACCELERATING VERY RAPIDLY. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR BY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. UPON REACHING THE FRONT OF THE PARKING SPOT THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND RAN INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPIN THE WHEELS WHILE PUSHING ON THE TREE UNTIL I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THE DAMAGE TO THE HIGHLANDER WAS $5,272.46 WHICH WAS COVERED BY MERCURY INSURANCE [XXX] . *TR

VSC SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND STARTED APPLYING BRAKES WHEN THE AUTO WAS ON DRY ROADS. SYSTEM HAS NO DISCONNECT SWITCH IN ORDER TO DISABLE SYSTEM. DROVE AUTO HOME AT ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR BECAUSE SYSTEM WOULD NOT DIS-ENGAGE. THE AUTO ONLY HAS 25,000 MILES. HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE AT 4,000 MILES. *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

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

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

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 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.