2005 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

1-MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE, AND MAKING A TURN AND MERGING INOT TRAFFIC 2-ENGINE HESITATION FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN VEHICLE RESPONDS WITH SURGE IN SPEED. CARS COMING BEHIND ME HAD TO BRAKE/CHANGE LANES TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME. 3-I DIDN'T TRY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED, BECAUSE I UNDRSTAND THAT TOYOTA IS SAYING THIS IS NORMAL, AND NOT A PORBLEM.

DT: 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6- THE CONSUMER DROVE OFF THE LOT ON JUNE 3, 2005; THE CRUISE CONTROL BEHAVED ERRATICALLY AND IT OFTEN FELT AS IF IT WAS ACCELERATING A COUPLE OF MILES BEHIND THE DESIRED SPEED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO PASS THIS TURKEY WHICH YIELDED DIFFERENT RESULTS. THERE IS SOMETIMES AWKWARD DOWN SHIFTING AND RAPID ACCELERATION WHICH IS PRECEDED BY HESITATION. THE CONSUMER APPROACHED A VILLAGE INTERSECTION, DOWNHILL WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND BEGAN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ONTO DESIRED STREET. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY A BIT OF GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY A BIT MORE GAS AND AGAIN NOTHING HAPPENED. THE THIRD TIME THE CONSUMER ADDED A BIT MORE GAS AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TOO FAST CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S HEADS TO TIP BACK. THIS WAS A NARROW MAIN STREET IN A MAIN VILLAGE. THERE WERE LOTS OF POSSIBLE TARGETS, CARS/ KIDS BIKES, AND OTHERS. THEN THERE WAS THE UNANTICIPATED DOWN SHIFTING FOR BRAKING EFFECT THAT TIPPED HEADS FORWARD, BUT THAT WAS ANOTHER STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY, AND NOT QUITE AS ANNOYING OR NEARLY OF THE SAME CONCERN. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER FIRST ASSERTED THAT THERE WERE NO ADJUSTMENTS ACCESSIBLE FOR THE MECHANICS. INABILITY TO DO SOMETHING. AFTER APPLYING MORE GAS AND VEHICLE HESITATION CONSUMER SEARCHED FOR A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) AND FOUND NONE. BUT FOUND ONE FROM JUNE 3, 2005 THAT RELATED TO RECALIBRATING OF THE TRANSMISSION. ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION OF EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN OR EARLIER TSBS. *AK *MR

DT: CALLER SAID THAT TWICE HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN HITTING THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO PASS A CAR NOTHING HAPPENED FOR A FEW SECONDS. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT, AND THAT WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WA SDESIGNED. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. ISSUES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROPERLY. SHIFT LAGS SEVERELY WHEN GAS PEDAL IS ENGAGED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LAG BEHIND AND NOT CATCH UP TO THE PROPER SPEED. VEHICLES BEHIND IT ARE IN A POSITION TO SEVERELY IMPACT THE REAR BUMPER BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING. HAVE HAD CAR TO DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. HAVE ASKED THEM TO CHECK SERVICE BULLETINS AND SEE ABOUT RESETTING THE COMPUTER WHICH TOYOTA CLAIMS IS THE PROBLEM. RESETTING THE COMPUTER DOESN'T WORK. *JB

MY DAUGHTER LEASED A 2005 4 CYLINDER, FWD TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN FEBRUARY 2005, AND HAS PUT ON ABOUT 5,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS LEASED IN LOUISVILLE, KY. A FEW DAYS AGO SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65MPH, AND NOTICED THAT THE GAS PEDDLE WAS STUCK, AND WOULD NOT COME UP SO AS TO REDUCE THE SPEED. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, SHE MANAGED TO REACH DOWN AND PULL THE PEDDLE ASSEMBLY UP, AND DECELERATION OCCURRED. THE NEXT DAY THIS SITUATION REPEATED 2 MORE TIMES, THE LAST TIME BEING ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE "REPAIRED" UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER FIXED THE ASSEMBLY, AND STATED THE ASSEMBLY HAD COME LOOSE. WHILE THE REPAIR SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL TO DATE, AND THE DEALER WAS VERY COOPERATIVE, I THOUGHT YOU FOLKS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS "DEFECT" AND BE ALERT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE SUCH FAILURES. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS TOO SHY OR RETICENT TO CONTACT YOU, I THOUGHT IT'S INEVERYONE'S BEST INTEREST TO AVOID POSSIBLE FUTURE FATALITIES. NOT EVERYONE IS AS ATHLETIC OR CALM AS MY DAUGHTER IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.

WHO DO I NEED TO SPEAK WITH REFERENCE EASE OF ROLLOVER OF THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND THE FACT THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT OPEN AT ALL WHEN I WAS FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES? THE SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR I WAS DOING 25 MILES WHEN BROADSIDED BY A 87 FORD RANGER GOING 25, WHICH HIT THE DRIVER DOOR LOW IMPACT ON THE HIGHLANDER SENT MY HIGHLANDER AIRBORN FLIPPING AND SPINNING. THE PRINCE WILLIAM POLICE HAVE THE REPORTS ON THE ACCIDENT. THE HIGHLANDER IS IN STATE FARM HANDS NOW. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON MAY 14TH IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ON ROUTE 1. *NM

HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. COMPLAINT FILED WITH DEALER ON 8/10/05. I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THIS IS A CONSTANT CONDITION AND NOT SAFE. *NM

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM: WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 30 MPH (OR CRUISING SPEED), ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO ACCELERATE FOR A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS. ACCELERATION RESUMED AFTER THIS PERIOD. CONTACTED TOYOTA. TOYOTA SAID THIS IS A NORMAL PHENOMENON IN THEIR DRIVE-BY-WIRE SYSTEMS.

IMPOSSIBLE TO READ INSTRUMENT PANEL ON SUNNY DAYS, SET TO FAR BACK WITH NO STRONG BACK LIGHT, CAN'T SEE ODOMETER, GAS, OIL AND HOW YOU ARE GOING, PLUS CAN'T READ MILEAGE NEVER-NO STRONG LIGHT BEHIND ANYTHING TO MAKE IT STAND OUT ON BRIGHT DAYS. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER TOYOTA HIGHLANDER OWNERS AND THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING. IN 20005 WHEN II FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR I BOUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF TOYOTA DISTRICT MANAGER AND TO THE PRESIDENT WITH NO REPLY TO ANY OF MY LETTERS. *TR

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FROM THE FIRST MONTH I BOUGHT MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER NEW AT THE DEALERSHIP. TRANSMISSION SHIFT ERRATICALLY. JOLTING SHIFTS ALL THE TIME; ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING. LAGS IN DOWNSHIFTING, HESITATION IN SHIFTING. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES. THEY HAVE SAID IT IS LEARNING MY DRIVING HABITS. ONE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND DEPRESS IT AGAIN - THIS TELLS THE TRANSMISSION WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO. HE ALSO SAID TO BE AGGRESSIVE WITH THE GAS. MOST OF THE TIME THE DEALERSHIPS SAY THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. BUT I'VE NOTED THAT THEY NEVER TYPE IN MY COMPLAINT ON THE WORK ORDERS. *JB

TOYOTA, HIGHLANDER 2005. GOING DOWN A MOUNTAIN AT APPROXIMATEKY 50 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY, BACK END FLIPPED UP, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISH TAIL. THE VEHICLE SLID INTO A BUSY ITERSECTION THEN STALLED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. WHILE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE I DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM W/A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT GETTING A NEW VEHICLE. (THIS VEHICLE WAS ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD). AND WAS TOLD THAT IF I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO ARBITRATION THEY WOULD IMMEDIATLY CEASE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE AND WOULD TAKE AWAY MY FREE RENTAL CAR LEAVING ME STRANDED W/NO TRANSPORTATION. TOYOTA BLACKMAILED ME. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 53 MPH SHE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION. SHE WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE PLASTIC PANEL BEHIND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FELL OFF AND SUBSEQUENTLY FELL BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; WHICH CAUSED THE PEDAL TO STICK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 23,000.

I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER & SOLE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE & EVER SINCE I TEST DROVE IT THE DAY I PURCHASED IT THIS CAR'S HAD ISSUES WITH "JERKY/DELAYED" ACCELERATION. DURING THE TEST DRIVE I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR ADJUSTS TO HOW I DRIVE & IT'LL GET BETTER. THIS HAPPENS PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE AFTER IT'S BEEN STOPPED OR THE SPEED SLOWED SUBSTANTIALLY. EACH & EVERY TIME I TRY TO GENTLY ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE FROM A STOP, THERE'S A TINY DELAY IN VEHICLE RESPONSE FROM WHAT I AM INPUTTING TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THEN AFTER THE DELAY, IT'S LIKE THE VEHICLE TRIES TO SUDDENLY CATCH UP WITH WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE ACCELERATION PROCESS & SUDDENLY JERKS FORWARD WITH A LOT OF ACCELERATION. THIS POSES A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC & NEEDING THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL INPUTS THAT I'M GIVING IT IMMEDIATELY AS I'M GIVING THEM & NOT WITH EVEN A SMALL DELAY. THAT DELAY IN RESPONSE BY THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR-MISSES WITH OTHER TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRIED TAKING IT INTO MY DEALER AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES TO HAVE THE ISSUE ADDRESSED BUT THE TECHNICIANS JUST WANTED TO BRUSH IT OFF SAYING THEY DIDN'T NOTICE IT OR BLAME IT ON THE TRANSMISSION & WHEN I TOLD THEM THIS ISN'T A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THEY JUST BLEW ME OFF TREATING ME LIKE A DUMB FEMALE WHO DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS, NOT KNOWING THAT I'M AN ENGINEER. BOTH OF THESE TIMES WERE WITHIN MY WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT IT'S OBVIOUS THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND THE TIME & EFFORT TO DIAGNOSE THIS ISSUE. MY SAFETY WAS CLEARLY NOT IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. SO I CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVERY SINGLE TIME I ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AND MOST TIMES I RE-ACCELERATE AFTER HAVING SLOWED DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY. AFTER HAVING THIS ISSUE FOR THE PAST 9 YEARS, THE JERKINESS OF THE ACCELERATION PROBABLY HAS CAUSED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH DRIVER PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR IN ORDER TO PASS A VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO ACCELERATE WHEN PEDAL WAS APPLIED, AND FINALLY ACCELERATED AFTER A FEW SECONDS.*AK

2005 HIGHLANDER LTD. HAS A SURGING EFFECT SINCE DAY ONE. ALSO SURGES SLIGHTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. TOYOTA SAID AT TIME TO CONTACT DEALER. TOYOTA HAS KEPT IT'S HEAD IN THE SAND TOO LONG. *TR

WE TOOK OUR 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TO THE TIRE SHOP FOR A TIRE ROTATION @ 10,000 MILES. WHEN THE WHEEL NUTS WERE HAND TORQUED TO 85PLI TWO WHEEL STUDS BROKE. THE EMPLOYEE TOLD US THAT THE METAL SEEMED SOFT. WE HAVE THE BROKEN STUDS IF YOU WANT US TO SEND THEM IN FOR TESTING. *AK

I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED. I FIND THAT IN THE BRIGHT FLORIDA SUNSHINE, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (SPEEDOMETER ETC.) IS SO DEEPLY RECESSED INTO THE DASH, THEY ARE DARK AND IMPOSSIBLE TO READ -- ESPECIALLY WITH SUN GLASSES. THIS IS RATHER DISCONCERTING WHEN I CANNOT SEE/READ THE SPEEDOMETER! I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO DATE.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH TOWARDS A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TEMPORARILY RECALIBRATED THE ECM ENGINE. ADDITIONALLY, THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. DRIVER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE , AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *AK *BF *NM

AFTER PLACING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED. *AK

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: TRANSMISSION TERRIBLY SLOW TO RESPOND. VERY DANGEROUS. TAKES AT LEAST A FULL SECOND TO RESPOND -- EITHER TRANSMISSION OR THROTTLE IS DEFECTIVE. *AK TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. THE COMPANIES ATTITUDE IS: "IF WE DON'T ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM, THERE IS NO PROBLEM. "

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was on a lift at the independent mechanic, it was discovered that the rear subframe was rusted. The contact was informed that the subframe needed to be replaced. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING HER VEHICLE IT ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO HER GARAGE. PREVIOUSLY, WHEN SHE WAS TRYING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD WHEN SHE WAS FORCED TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

CONSUMER TIRE PRESSURE WAS 38 PSI AND WAS TOLD BY DEALER AND GOODYEAR THAT IT WAS HIGH AND SHOULD BE AT 30 PSI. *JB

2005 HIGHLANDER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT WAS BENT, THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO MAKE A RATTLING NOISE. *TS THE RATTLING OCCURRED WHEN GOING OVER ROAD EXPANSION GAPS AND MINOR BUMPS. ***NAR***