2004 Toyota Highlander 4-DR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND PRESSING TO BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL FAILED TO RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEED 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER GROOVE TOYOTA LOCATED AT 5460 S BROADWAY, ENGLEWOOD, CO 80113 HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT YET CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH A HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION ZONE MY CAR SUDDENLY BECAME HARD TO STEER, AND MY SPEED BECAME GREATER, TRIED TO (BREAK) DECELERATE THE CAR BEGAN SLIDING OUT OF CONTROL-PLOWING INTO THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS PART LODGED IN FRONT PASSENGER WINDSHIELD. THE CAR WENT THROUGH THE DITCH BECAME AIRBORNE THROUGH A ROD IRON FENCE SHATTERED THE REAR SECOND-ROW RIGHT SIDE WINDOW SPUN OUT , AND CAME TO REST JUST FEET FROM THE SOME PILEINGS. THIS IS THE INFORMATION OF MY DAUGHTER WHOM IS AN OUT OF STATE COLLEGE SENIOR AND VERY SHAKEN UP FROM THIS ORDEAL, THIS HER STATEMENT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. POSSIBLY THE PLACEMENT OF THE 🚧 COULD HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTOR, AND THE UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED A YEAR AGO. CAN YOU HELP UP LEARN WHY?

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 FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE FABRIC MATERIAL STRAP BECAME FRAYED AND SHREDDED AT THE BUCKLE LOCATION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (ATLANTIC TOYOTA IN LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS) AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *JS

THE TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING AFTER ONLY 68000 MILES. THE LEAKING OIL DROPS OVER THE HEATED EXHAUST PIPE WHICH CAUSES FUME IN THE CABIN THROUGH AIR CONDITION AND FAN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE, VSC, AND BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,489.

MY TRAC OFF LIGHTS, ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. I WORK FAR FROM HOME SO I TOOK IT TO THE VALVOLINE NEAR MY JOB TO CHECK THE OIL. I DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR HOME IF THERE WAS NO OIL. THEY CHECKED THE OIL, UNDERNEATH MY CAR AND SAID EVERYTHINGWAS FINE AND TO TAKE TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO KEPT IT FOR 4 DAYS AND SAID ITS THE OIL SLUGE AND HE WAS TRYING TO SAVE THE ENGINE. MY MECHANIC SAID THEY HAD A LEXUS IN THE WEEK BEFORE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 2002, AND TOYOTA ONLY CONTACTEDTHE ORIGINAL OWNERS NOT ALL PEOPLE WHO HAD REGISTERED CARS. I BOUGHT THIS SECOND HAND THROUGH CAR MAX IN 2010 AND THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED THEN. MY CAR HAS 145,000.00.

THE OUTER RING OF THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY HAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE INNER RING CAUSING DAMAGE TO ALL SYSTEM AND CAN AFFECT STEERING. THIS ALREADY HAS A RECALL FOR MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, BUT NOT FOR MY VIN NUMBER. IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT THIS EXACT SAME THING THAT HAS THE RECALL AFFECTS MY CAR, BUT REPAIR IS NOT COVERED. SHOULD RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHER VIN NUMBERS??

THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE REAR WINDOWS ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY WILL NOT POWER UP OR DOWN THE WINDOWS IN THE BACK OF SUV. ALSO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IS NOW NOT OPERATING UP OR DOWN. THE POWER WINDOW PARTS HAVE FAILED TWO YEARS AGO, AND NOW IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS 2004 SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE OTHER RECALLS ON NEWER MODELS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE REQUIRED GREATER EFFORT TO STEER. WHILE STEERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE STAFF ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO DAYS NOW. THERE IS A BUZZING LIKE SOMETHING IS MALFUNCTIONING ON MY PASSENGER SIDE COMING FROM THE DASH I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO PEP BOYS AND THEY SAID THAT MY AIR BAG IS MALFUNCTIONING. IS RESULT OF THIS MY JOB WON'T LET ME DRIVE PATIENTS BECAUSE OF THE DANGER. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I KNOW FOR A FACT IT'S THE AIRBAG BECAUSE TOYOTA TOLD WHEN I BROUGHT IT THERE BECAUSE PEP BOYS TOLD GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO CONFIRM AND IT WAS!. THIS HAPPENS IN MOTION AND A LITTLE WHILE IN MOTION. WHEN IT IS HUMID OUTSIDE THE BUZZING IS EVEN WORSER TO WHERE THE SIDE PANEL VY DRIVERS LEFT LEG VIBRATE.

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

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH ON A CITY STREETAND THE VSC INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STARTED BREAKING ON ITS OWN. A LOUD SCRAPPING SOUND WAS HEARD. IT WAS ABOUT 70DEGREES AND SUNNY AND THE CAR THOUGHT I WAS GOING DOWN A SLIPPERY SLOPE. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I GOT ABOVE 8-10 MPH THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE CARE WOULD START BREAKING BECOMING UNABLE TO DRIVE.

IN FEB 2005 WHILE DOING ABOUT 30 MPH THE VSC LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED BRAKING, ON IT'S OWN, TO THE RIGHT MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THE CAR DISPLAYED NO CODES AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD CALIBRATED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. WE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL MAR 24, 2016. THIS TIME THE VSC INDICATOR CAME ON AT ABOUT 40 MPH. IF I SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MPH THE INDICATOR WOULD GO OFF. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME BUT THE CAR BRAKED, ON IT'S OWN, SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE TOYOTA DEALER. I'M AFRAID THAT THE EXPENSE TO REPAIR IT MAY COME CLOSE TO WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH. NHTSA NEEDS TO WAKE UP AND INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURRS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE CAR BRAKES ON IT'S OWN AT 75 MPH.

CAR IN MOTION @45 MILES AN HOUR AT 8AM 12/29/14. DRIVER LOST CONSCIOUSNESS DUE TO MEDICAL EVENT, WHICH RESULTED IN AUTO RUNNING OFF ROAD AFTER HITTING CURB AND SIDEWALK, THEN HITTING A ROADSIDE FENCE AT AN ESTIMATED 45 MPH. THE CAR THEN ROLLED AND LANDED ON ROOF. DRIVER WAS SEAT-BELTED. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE COLLISION. DRIVER SUFFERED TRAUMA TO HEAD AND OTHER INJURIES. CAR WAS RATED BY INSURER AS COMPLETELY TOTALED.

HEAT DOESN'T WORK AND A/C INTERMITTENTLY BLOWS COLD OR HOT. WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS WILL FOG UP IN BAD WEATHER AND WITHOUT HEAT I CAN'T DEFOG THEM FORCING ME TO PULL OVER AND MANUALLY WIPE THE FOG OFF EVERY FEW MINUTES.

TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING

WE HAVE A VEHICLE WITH A 2.4LITER/4 CYLINGER ENGINE THAT IS LOOSING OIL AT A RATE OF 1QRT PER 1000 MILES AND NOW THERE IS A COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM THE GASKET SEAL BETWEEN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND HEAD. THERE IS NO GUAGE THAT TELLS YOU HOW MUCH OIL IS MISSING UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO OVER HEAT. BOTH THE OIL AND COOLANT IS LEAKING ON ROADS, PARKING LOTS AND DRIVEWAYS, WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT THE BOLTS THAT ARE NEAREST THE LEAK ARE STRIPPED, THEY EITHER STRIPPED IN ASSEMBLY OR FLAILED DO TO OVERHEATING OF THE BLOCK DO TO THE ENGINE BLOCK NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT COOLING BECAUSE OF A HEAVY FOAM PAD THAT RESTRICTS AIR FLOE AROUND THE ENGINE CAUSING THE HEAD TO FLEX AND LEAK AT THE GASKET SEAL BASED ON ONLINE COMPLAINTS THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS THAT SOME OF THESE ENGINES ARE HAVING SUCCESS BY DRILLING, TAPPING AND INSERTING NEW COILS INTO THE ALUMINUM BLOCK, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE A PERMANENT SOLUTION. IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. THE MOST COMMON SUGGESTED REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AND WE ASSUME THAT THEY PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN SINCE THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE PROBLEM.. REPLACEMENT IS AT THE OWNERS COST FOR MATERIALS AND LABOR AT APPROX $6,000-$8,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX M/S2 TIRES, SIZE: P225/75/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE THREAD SEPARATED FROM THE BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

BEGAN DRIVING VEHICLE A WEEK AGO, USED TO BE MY WIFE'S VEHICLE. I NOTICED A SQUEAK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, AND NOTICED IT WIGGLED. I EXAMINED THE MOUNTING BOLTS, AND ALL 4 SEAT BOLTS WERE LOOSE, NOT EVEN FINGER TIGHT. THE ONLY SERVICE PERFORMED ANYWHERE NEAR THE SEAT WAS RECALL WORK ON THE FLOOR MAT RETAINING CLIP AND A SEAL IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, BOTH RECALLS WERE DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY AT RUDY LUTHER TOYOTA, 8805 WAYZATA BLVD, GOLDEN VALLEY, MN 55426. RECALL WORK WAS DONE A COUPLE YEARS AGO. I TIGHTENED THE BOLTS WITH MY OWN TOOLS. PASSENGER SEAT BOLTS WERE TIGHT.

GAS STATION DID NOT CLOSE HOOD COMPLETELY AND IT BLEW OPEN WHILE TRYING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY AT JUST OVER 40 MILES PER HOUR.THE SECONDARY SAFETY CATCH DID NOT HOLD OR WORK ! THE HOOD BLEW OPEN AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND BENT THE HOOD UP INTO THE ROOF.THE TOPS OF THE FENDERS NEAR THE HINGES WERE ALSO RIPPED UP.

WHEN DRIVING THE HEATER OR THE AIR WILL JUST COME ON, USUALLY WHEN YOU WOULD DRIVE OVER A ROUGH SPOT IN THE STREET.USUALLY THE AIR WILL COME ON IN THE WINTER AND THE HEATER WILL COME ON IN SUMMER.CALL TOYOTA THEY SAID COST ABOUT 800.00. I HAD IT FIX BY AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE.IT STILL COST ME 370.00. THEN I GO ON LINE AND OUT THERE'S HUNDREDS IF NOT LOTS MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.I THINK SINCE THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REIMBURSE US AT LEAST PARTLY. *TR

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 60-65 MPH WHEN ENGINE BEGAN OVER HEATING. PULL OVER RADIATOR WAS LOW. PUT ANTIFREEZE IN DROVE HOME CHECK WAS ALLOW AGAIN. THE NEXT CALLED TOYOTA DEALER, WITH OUT EVEN LOOKING THEY SAID YOU PROBABLY HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. BUT WHEN WE TEAR IT DOWN AND IF THE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED OUT IT WILL COST UPWARDS OF 2000.00. SO NOW I HAVE THE CAR IN AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. I'M OUT ALMOST 800.00 NOW, AND THE CARS STILL NOT FIXED. I BELIEVE TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM LONG BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THE HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN 2001-2006 MODELS.I THINK THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *TR

MY CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING AT 140K MILES. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HAD THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED. THE CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN A WEEK LATER. TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN HE WENT TO REPLACE THE GASKET HE FOUND THAT THREE HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED ON THE BLOCK. THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS SEPARATING FROM LOWER PART OF ENGINE BLOCK CAUSED A COOLANT LEAK. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURING ERROR. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY THE SOLE OWNER. HAD OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE BEFORE NOW. PLEASE PLACE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. THIS IS NOT THE OWNERS FAULT, NOR SHOULD IT BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN PROVIDED WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

AS SHOWN ON YOUR COMPLAINT SECTION I AMONG MANY MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN SOLD A DEFECTIVE 2.4 LITER ENGINE 4 CYLINDER. THE HEAD BOLTS BECOME STRIPPED AND MIGRATE LOOSE OVER TIME AND THERE IS NO REPAIR SOLUTION. YOU HAVE TO SCRAP THE ENGINE AND MAYBE THE WHOLE VEHICLE NO MATTER HOW GOOD OF CONDITION ITS IN. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND RESULTING MAJOR LEAKAGE OF ANTIFREEZE WHICH IS A LIFE THREATENING CHEMICAL BABIES AND PETS DRINK AND DIE FROM. I FIRST FOUND THIS POOL OF ANTIFREEZE ON MY GARAGE FLOOR AND I HAVE 2 DOGS! NOT TO MENTION GETTING STRANDED OUT IN TRAFFIC OR A DESOLATE AREA WHEN ENGINE OVERHEATING OCCURS PUTTING YOUR OWN LIFE IN DANGER FROM BECOMING A STRANDED MOTORIST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND WOULD ALSO INTERMITTENTLY SEIZE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 1/7/15*CN UPDATED 06/3/2015 *JS

MY VEHICLE IS HAVING AN ISSUE WHERE THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS ARE BEING DISABLED. THIS IS THE DEFAULT MODE WHENEVER THERE IS AN ISSUE. IT IS NOW OCCURRING EVERY TIME I START MY CAR. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE NOBODY WAS EVEN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, WHILE TRAVELING ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY. A CHECK OF THE TOYOTA OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM WOULD NOT FUNCTION IF THIS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR NO REASON AT ALL. SINCE WE LIVE NO WHERE NEAR A DEALER, NEAREST DEALER IS 100 MILES AWAY, I LET IT STAY THAT WAY FOR AWHILE. THERE WAS ALSO A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS MODEL, WHERE THE ALWAYS ON DAYLAMPS MELT THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND LEAVE A VISIBLE MELTED BUBBLE, THAT THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MANUFACTURE THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE VEHICLE YEAR AND MILEAGE IS OUT OF WARRANTY- BUT, WE STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE- THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THEN, MOST RECENTLY, A SHUFFLING SOUND FROM BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL/ BEZEL CLUSTER OCCURRED AND MAKES THE WEIRD SOUND FOR 3 OR SO MINUTES SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME, ABOUT EVERY 2 TIMES NOW. THE SOUND USED TO MAKE A CLICKING SOUND FOR ONLY 1 MINUTE- SO, IT'S GETTING LOUDER, AND LONGER. WE WERE ALSO TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THE SUSPENSION/RODS/SHOCKS ARE BAD AND WILL NEED REPLACED- THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX. *TR

BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR VERY SLOWLY AND VEHICLE SLOWLY CREEPS FORWARD. MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED WITH NEW. (HISTORY: AT 79000 MILES THE TOYOTA FACTORY RECALL TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER CUP KIT WAS PERFORMED BY TOYOTA DEALER ). *TR

DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE IN THE UP POSITION AND DROPS DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR

TRANSMISSION JUMPS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. *TR

I NOTICED THAT MY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT/MANUFACTURER PASSENGER-SIDE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHT LENS HAD A BURNT SPOT ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS (CLEARLY MELTED LENS MATERIAL). I CHECKED THE HEADLIGHT BULB, WHICH IS A FACTORY-INSTALLED KAITO MODEL HB3 LOW-BEAM BULB. THE BULB WAS DISCOLORED BLACK AND SMOKY LOOKING WITH AN OBVIOUS BULGE OF MELTED GLASS IN ONE SIDE OF THE BULB. THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS STILL WORK, BUT THE BULB SEEMINGLY HAS OVERHEATED, MELTING BOTH THE BULB GLASS AND THE INSIDE OF THE LENS ASSEMBLY. *TR

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK DYNAPRO HT TIRE, SIZE: P225-70-16T, AND DOT NUMBER: 7ADHUH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DEFLATED. THE CONTACT ADDED AIR TO THE TIRE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE BELT WAS SEPARATED AND BUBBLING. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,995.

VEHICLE HAD LOST SOME WATER/COOLANT AND BEGAN TO GET HOT. REPLACED FLUID AND DROVE HOME. KEPT LOOSING FLUID, SO I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP. THEY THOUGHT IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP WHICH DISCOVERED THAT 3-4 OF THE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED; THEY ARE STEEL AND THE BLOCK IS ALUMINUM. REPAIR KIT EXISTS AND HAS BEEN ORDERED. SO, TOYOTA MUST KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND COULD HAVE ISSUED AN ADVISORY TO ALL OWNERS. EXPECTED THIS MOTOR TO LAST 150-250 THOU MILES, BUT THIS IS A BUILT IN PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT OR UNLATCH INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE MOONROOF. WHEN I OPENED UP THE MOONROOF SHADE THE MOONROOF WAS GONE. THE MOONROOF HAD BEEN RIPPED AWAY FROM THE GLUE AND FLEW UP INTO THE AIR. *TR

THE DRIVER SUN VISOR KEEPS DROPPING FROM IT'S KEPT POSITION AND BLOCKS THE DRIVERS VIEW. THIS ALMOST CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS WITH MYSELF AND THEN MY WIFE. THE SUDDEN DROPPING OF THE VISOR IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS AND THEY HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR

AS I'M DRIVING THE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN BLOCKING MY VISION. THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS ITEM AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *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

AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND APPLIED THE BRAKE. THE CAR ACCELERATED AND DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I CROSSED BOTH LANES OF THE STREET AND I TURNED THE CAR TO THE RIGHT. THE WHEELS OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR HIT THE CURB AND THE FRONT AND REAR WHEELS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR BROKE OFF. THEN, THE CAR WENT OVER THE CURB AND HIT THE STATE SIGN WITH THE LEFT FRONT OF THE CAR. THE CAR GOT STUCK IN DEEP MULCH FROM RECENT LANDSCAPING AND CAME TO A STOP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT NOTICED CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE IN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT LENSES. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT LENSES HAD MELTED AND EXHIBITED A BUBBLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN NORMALLY AND PARKED. WHILE PARKED, OWNER NOTICED SMALL LEAK UNDER FRONT AXLE, INVESTIGATED AND LEAK APPEARED TO BE TRANSMISSION FLUID OR ANTIFREEZE. OWNER DROVE VEHICLE NEXT DAY, PARKED AND NOTICED LEAK WAS LARGER. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER NEXT MORNING AND WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS FAILING. DEALER SAID ALTERNATIVES WERE TO REPAIR HEAD GASKET ($3200+), REPLACE ENGINE OR BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. OWNER DECLINED REPAIR AND TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED HEAD GASKET LEAK AND RECOMMENDED EITHER SEALANT ($250) OR HEAD GASKET REPAIR ($1200). OWNER CHOSE SEALANT. ABOUT FOUR DAYS AFTER SEALANT FIX, OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND STOPPED AT A STARBUCKS DRIVE-THROUGH. MINUTES INTO THE WAIT, THE VEHICLES TEMP GAUGE BEGAN TO CLIMB RAPIDLY. OWNER REVVED ENGINE AND TEMP DECLINED. OWNER DROVE VEHICLE HOME AND INSPECTED ENGINE, DISCOVERED COOLANT HAD BEGUN TO SPRAY FROM OVERFLOW RESERVOIR. OWNER LET VEHICLE COOL. NEXT DAY, OWNER DROVE VEHICLE AT MODEST SPEED ACROSS TOWN, WATCHING THE TEMP GAUGE. TEMP WOULD INCREASE INCREMENTALLY, THEN DECLINE, BUT NO OVERHEATING APPEARED. THIRD DAY, OWNER DID SAME, BUT THIS TIME, AS OWNER APPROACHED HIS HOME, THE TEMP GAUGE SHOT TO RED. OWNER PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, OPENED HOOD AND FOUND OVERFLOW RESERVOIR BUBBLING, COOLANT SPRAY AND OVERFLOW ON FRAME. PRIOR TO THESE INCIDENTS, ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO THE OWNER HAD BEEN TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALER THAT A FEW ENGINE MOUNTS WERE CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, WHICH WAS DONE. NO OTHER MAJOR REPAIRS OR ISSUES HAVE EXISTED WITH VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS NOT 10 YEARS OLD, ITS 103,500 MILES HAS BEEN GENERALLY LIGHT HIGHWAY AND SHORT-DISTANCE CITY DRIVING. OIL AND OTHER MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN ROUTINELY PERFORMED. *TR

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

THE ENGINE OVERHEATED DESPITE THE NO INDICATION OF HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO MISDIAGNOSED IT INITIALLY. WE THEN DROVE IT BACK FROM DEALER (7 MILES) TO OUR HOME AND IT OVERHEATED AGAIN. NOW THE DEALER SAYS AT A BARE MINIMUM THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACEMENT ($3200) AND IT COULD NEW AN ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE AT 86,000 MILES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY 4 CYLINDERS BUT IT IS NOT RECALL. PLEASE HELP, I AM UNEMPLOYED AND NEED THIS CAR! *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

THE THREADS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK BECAME STRIPED LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE/PISTONS. RECOMMENDATION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *TR

VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING COOLANT FROM THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SENSORS HAVE GONE OFF PERIOD. CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURE LINE AND BOTH TOLD ME THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS UNTRUE I FOUND HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

THE THREADS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK BECAME STRIPED LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE/PISTONS, BLOWING THE HEAD GASKET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SEAL AND THE GASKETS FOR THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

LATE LAST YEAR WE NOTICED THAT THE DAYRUNNING PORTION OF THE HEADLAMP COVER HAD MELTED ON THE INSIDE, NEXT TO THE TIP OF THE BULBS ON EACH SIDE. THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN THE DAYRUNNING FEATURE ON OR OFF, IT IS ALWAYS ON. NOT ONLY DOES THIS WEAR DOWN THE BATTERY, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY REPLACED IN ONE YEAR, BUT THE HEADLIGHT COVER CANNOT HANDLE THE HEAT GENERATED FROM CONSTANTLY BEING "ON". WE WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AND A DISCOUNT GIVEN ON A NEW SET, SINCE IT ISN'T OUR FAULT, AS IT COULDN'T BE TURNED OFF. HEADLIGHTS ARE EXPENSIVE, AND AT NIGHT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE OUR VISIBILITY IS DRASTICALLY REDUCED- WHERE WE LIVE, THERE ARE DEER AND WINDING HILLY ROADS. IF TOYOTA WON'T DO ANYTHING, WE WILL BE FORCED TO DO THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR OURSELVES, BUT WILL BE VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED. TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

RIGHT PASSENGER FRONT ROW WINDOW MOTOR STOPPED WORKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS WINDOW WAS RARELY USED SO IT WAS VERY SURPRISING. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.COST $345.36 TO FIX. WAS FIXED BECAUSE OF FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE IN CASE OF A CRASH. TOYOTA SAYS 2004 IS NOT PART OF CURRENT RECALL FOR WINDOW MOTORS BUT DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED BECAUSE HAD SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN AGAIN ON THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR ON JULY 09. SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND AGAIN THIS WINDOW BARELY USED. COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX SO IT IS STUCK IN UP POSITION. HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND HOPING THEY WILL EXPAND RECALL TO 2004 HIGHLANDERS. I HOPE ALL TOYOTA OWNERS WILL REPORT WINDOW MOTOR PROBLEMS AND ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS TO BOTH THE NHTSA AND TOYOTA. *TR

WITH NO WARNING OR PRIOR INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM, THE STEERING RACK AND PINION BROKE MAKING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY UN-STEERABLE. TOYOTA REPAIR FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP BELT WAS BROKEN AND THE PUMP HAD LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A FREEWAY THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AND IT WAS JUST FORTUNATE THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON ONE OF THE FEW STRAIGHT STRETCHES AND IT WAS POSSIBLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD SURFACE. *TR

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.

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

ENGINE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER'S HEAD BOLTS WERE STRIPPED CAUSING THE LEAK. LATER WAS INFORMED DAMAGE WAS DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE INSULATION FOAM RUBBER PIECE BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE BLOCK THAT CREATED AN UNEVEN DISPERSION OF HEAT, CREATING FATIGUE IN THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ALLOWING THE HEADBOLT TO STRIP. CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. REPAIRS TOTALED $2,000 DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURING ERROR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A LEAK FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO STATED THAT THE LEAKING FLUID WAS ANTIFREEZE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS AND THREADS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE, DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING AND CHEAP MATERIAL OF THE HEAD BOLTS UNDER THE ENGINE. COOLANT WAS LEAKING AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. UPDATED 11/29/12 UPDATED 11/27/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THIS MALFUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND OVER HEAT RESULTING IN A PERSON BEING STRANDED. UPDATED 12/10/2012 *JS

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND VOC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE PULLEY THAT COULD CAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BECOME COMPROMISED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V539000, (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO ALSO INFORMED HER THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

MY 7 YEAR OLD GOT TRAPPED IN THE SEATBELT AND HE HAD TO BE CUT OUT. HE WAS SITTING IN HIS HIGH BACK BOOSTER WITH THE SEATBELT PULLED OVER AND BUCKLED. BEFORE UNBUCKLING, HE PUT HIS HEAD THROUGH AND UNDER THE SHOULDER BELT PORTION. AFTER DISENGAGING THE BUCKLE, THE BELT STARTED TO RETRACT, AND GOT CAUGHT ON THE ARMREST OF THE BOOSTER SEAT AND STARTED TIGHTENING AROUND MY CHILD. EVERYTIME HE WIGGLED OR MOVED TO GET OUT, IT TIGHTENED FURTHER TO THE POINT WHERE HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING. THERE WAS NO WAY TO MANUALLY LOOSEN THE BELT AS IT CONSTRICTED AROUND HIM FURTHER AND FURTHER LIKE A BOA CONSTRICTOR. I HAD TO SCREAM FOR HELP AT THE CAR WASH I WAS AT AND THE WORKERS BROUGHT SCISSORS TO CUT THE BELT AND GET HIM OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SMELL OF BURNING OIL WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION OIL BEARING SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,250. UPDATED 08/08/2012 *JS

SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 IT HAS VERY ROUGH SHIFTS. THE TRANSMISSIONS SEEMS TO HESITATE AND LAG WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE DURING NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS, (I FEEL LIKE I AM ON A CARNIVAL RIDE). I HAVE HAD IT TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP IN FLORIDA & THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING ("THAT THIS MODEL DRIVES LIKE THAT" & IT'S THE WAY YOU DRIVE") FUNNY THOUGH WHEN THE MECHANIC DROVE IT, WITH ME IN THE CAR HE SAID THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE UNDERWRITERS IN SERVICE THINK BECAUSE I'M A WOMEN, IT'S THE WAY I DRIVE. I LOVE MY CAR BUT, THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA & FIXED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *JS

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF AC WHEN HITS BUMPS. ON 06/23/11 I TOOK IN MY WIFE'S 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TO ALAMO TOYOTA WHERE THEY CHARGE ME $92.72 TO TIGHTEN OR AS THEY PUT IT RETORQUE BOLTS BEHIND AC PANEL IN WHICH LOOKING AT IT NOW THERE ARE NO BOLTS BEHIND PANEL THERE IS ONE UNDERNEATH THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB AND SCREW ON THE SIDE . THEY TIGHTEN THAT NUT DOWN ON THE CONTROL/TEMP KNOB AND WHAT IT DID IT PULLED AWAY THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE THREE CONDUCTOR ON THAT RIBBON CABLE BEHIND THE KNOB. WHICH WAS A QUICK FIX WHICH ESSENTIALLY STOPPED WORKING (THEY BROKE OFF ) . I TAKE IT IN AGAIN TO ALAMO TOYOTA AND NOW THEY SAY ITS MY COMPRESSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $1460.00 PLUS TAX I HAD ALREADY READ THE ONLINE FIX , I EXPLAIN TO THEM AND SHOWED THEM PICTURES OF THE ONLINE FIX. THEY SAID ITS THE COMPRESSOR. SO I CAME HOME TOOK IT APART AND FOUND TWO OF THE WIRE ON THE RIBBON CABLE BROKEN OFF .I INSTALLED THREE NEW WIRE BY SOLDERING THEM REPLACING THE RIBBON CABLE. AC IS WORKING AGAIN THANKS TO THE THAT ONE PERSON THAT PUT THOSE PICTURES ONLINE OF THE FIX THIS PERSON HE SAVED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE. I THANK HIM, AND I WILL NEVER DEAL WITH TOYOTA AGAIN I ALSO OWN A TUNDRA AND AS SOON AS I CAN I WILL TRADE BOTH IN FOR SOMETHING OTHER THEN TOYOTA. THEY ARE PART OF AMERICAN GREED. *JS

HESITATION DURING AUTO TRANSMISSION GEAR CHANGES. ENGINE REVS VERY HIGH THEN CHANGES GEARS. *TR

COOLANT LOSS DUE TO STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. NO SMOKE OR HEAT OR WARNING ON DASH. HAVE TO CHANGE ENGINE BLOCK COSTING $6,000 FOR PARTS AND REPAIR. DEALER NOT RESPONDING. ALWAYS HAVE RECEIVED MAINTENANCE WITH THE SAME DEALER/SERVICE CENTER. *TR

MY CAR STARTED HEATING UP AS I ACCELERATED ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I SAW THE DIAL GOING INTO THE RED ZONE. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO HILLTOP RICHMOND TOYOTA. I WAS TOLD THAT AFTERNOON THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND THE WATER PUMP BOTH BLEW OUT. I NOW HAVE A $2,500 REPAIR ON MY HANDS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I FOUND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY TOYOTA OWNERS AND THAT WAS VERIFIED BY THE DEALERSHIP PERSON AS WELL. TOYOTA IS USING BOLTS THAT STRIP WHICH CAUSE THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL REPORTS ABOUT A FOAM PIECE IN THE BLOCK THAT ALSO FAILS AS IT IS FAULTY AS WELL. *TR

BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL AND FILTER REPLACEMENT. AS DEALERS NORMALLY DO, THEY ALSO DID SPOT CHECKS ON BRAKES, HOSES, ETC. THE TWO FRONT WHEELS HAD BEEN REMOVED SUPPOSEDLY TO CHECK THE WEAR ON THE BRAKE PADS. AS THE MECHANIC WAS REINSTALLING THE WHEELS, TWO OF THE LUGS BROKE OFF. THE SERVICE REP SHOWED ME ONE AS HE EXPLAINED WHY THE OIL AND FILTER JOB WAS TAKING MUCH LONGER THAN EXPECTED. I STUDIED THE FRACTURE FACE AND SAW TYPICAL FATIGUE FAILURE WITH ORIGIN AND PROGRESSION FEATURES. IT WAS QUITE EVIDENT THE PROBLEM STARTED MUCH EARLIER THAN TODAY. I ONLY SAW ONE BROKEN LUG, BUT THE SERVICE REP SAID THAT THERE WERE TWO LUGS THAT BROKE PREMATURELY WHEN THEY WERE REINSTALLING ONE WHEEL. THIS CONCERNS ME SO I AM GIVING THIS INFORMATION TO NHTSA. I HAVE TAKEN CLOSE-UP PICTURES OF THE FRACTURE FACE IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM SUBMITTED. TO BE SAFE, I AM HAVING ALL THE FRONT WHEEL LUGS REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. AGREED, THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY A TOYOTA PROBLEM. IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY OVERTORQUE WHEN I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED. IF IT IS A TOYOTA PROBLEM, YOU'LL HAVE OTHER REPORTS SIMILAR TO MINE. (I AM A RETIRED SR. QUALITY ENGINEER FAMILIAR WITH ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION, FAILURE MODES, METALLURGY, METALLOGRAPHY, MACHINING PRACTICES, THREADS, ETC.) *TR

ON NOVEMBER 14, 2011, I WAS PARKING MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN A VERY FAMILIAR PARKING SPACE AND SUDDENLY MY CAR TOOK ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN AND ACCELERATED, VEERED LEFT, JUMPED LOW SIDEWALK CAR BARRIER, JUMPED CURB, AND HIT A DECORATIVE POLE; BRAKES COULD NOT STOP CAR. IT WENT FROM GENTLY ENTERING A PARKING SPOT WHICH I HAVE OFTEN USED TO FULL THROTTLE SPEED. THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE STRAIGHT FORWARD IT VEERED TO LEFT. *TR

THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WENT ON RANDOMLY DURING DRIVING, THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, CAUSING ENGINE SPEED SLOW DOWN AND SLUGGISH ON ROAD, IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. I DROVE SLOWLY TO THE DEALER, IT COSTS OVER $600.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AT TOYOTA. *TR

THE CABIN TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE TEMPERATURE WILL CHANGE DRASTICALLY WITHOUT ANY ADJUSTMENT TO THE CONTROLS. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CONTROL ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF CLOSE TO $900. *KB

I TOOK MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 TO LONGO TOYOTA FOR BRAKE BOOSTER RECALL IN NOVEMBER 2010. THEY KEPT MY CAR NEARLY 7 WEEKS BEFORE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. A FEW DAYS AFTER PICKING UP MY VEHICLE, WHILE I WAS PARKED DROPPING OFF MY PASSENGER, MOST OF THE CONTROL PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED (BRAKES, ABS, TRAC OFF, VSC, CHECK ENGINE). I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID TO BRING THE CAR BACK. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE RUN AND CONCLUDED THAT A CODE WAS STORED BUT IT WAS NOTHING SPECIFIC THAT HAD FAILED. BRAKE SYSTEM WAS BLED. IN JUNE 2011, THE LIGHT CLUSTER ("CHRISTMAS TREE" IS HOW THE DEALER REFERS TO IT) ILLUMINATED AGAIN WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PICK UP MY CAR FROM MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER (BOB SMITH TOYOTA). AGAIN, THE CAR WAS LEFT. AGAIN IT WAS REPORTED TO ME THAT THE SYSTEM HAD STORED A CODE BUT NO SPECIFIC COMPONENT WAS IN FAILURE AND THE BRAKES WERE BLED. APPROXIMATELY, JULY 20, 2011 AND JULY 23, 2011, THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN, ONLY FOUR OF THEM (TRAC OFF, VSC, ABS, BRAKES). I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER ON TUESDAY, JULY 26 AND WAS FORCING THE ISSUE ON JULY 29, 2011 AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR AUGUST 1, 2011. ON JULY 31, 2011, THE SAME FOUR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AND STAYED ON. I STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND EXPERIENCED A VERY SPONGY, SQUISHY BRAKE PEDAL. I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION TO FURTHER ADDRESS THE CONCERN OF MY VEHICLE NOW BEING UNSAFE AS A RESULT OF THEIR RECALL. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION WAS VAGUE AND SAID THAT THE MATTER COULD ONLY BE ADDRESSED BY LONGO TOYOTA, THE DEALER THAT PERFORMED THE RECALL, SINCE THE PARTS WARRANTY WOULD ONLY BE WITH THEM. IN CONTACTING BOB SMITH TOYOTA, THE SERVICE ADVISORS SWEARS THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED BY THEM. IT APPEARS THAT PERFORMING THE RECALL WEAKENED THE INTEGRITY OF MY BRAKE SYSTEM. AS ONE REPRESENTATIVE SAID, "YOU WILL NOT HAVE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO STOP. IT WILL JUST TAKE LONGER." *KB

INTERMITTENT LOSS OF A/C AND/OR HEAT AND FINALLY TOTAL LOSS OF A/C ON MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. INITIAL FIX WAS TO TIGHTEN THE NUT ON THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL. I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS INHERENT AFTER GOING TO THE WEB AND LEARNING OF THE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ASSEMBLY AND THE QUICK FIX. ESSENTIALLY THE A/C STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY. I BROUGHT IT TO MY PRIVATE MECHANIC AND HE FOUND THAT THE CABLE FROM THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL TO THE MOTHER BOARD WAS BROKEN. I INQUIRED HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN AND WAS ADVISED THAT WHEN THE NUT ON THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL CAME LOOSE, THE WHOLE UNIT WAS TURNING WHEN I WAS ADJUSTING THE TEMPERATURE, WHICH CAUSED THE CABLE TO BREAK. THE LACK OF A LOCK WASHER OVER THE FLAT WASHER WAS THE CULPRIT THAT ALLOWED THE NUT TO COME LOOSE. BECAUSE THE CABLE FROM THE MOTHERBOARD TO THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IS HARD WIRED, THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXITMATELY $950.00. NOTE: I HAVE THE ENTIRE FAULTY ASSEMBLY AT HOME, IN THE EVENT YOU REQUIRE TO SEE IT. *KB

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2004 6 CYL AWD - LAST MAY SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM BACK OF THE CAR. MADE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. TOOK 4 DAYS AND OVER $1200 TO FIX. THIS WEEK, NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF THE CAR. CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT - SO FAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED? JUST HAD IT AT THE SAME DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE 3 WEEKS AGO - SAID NOTHING. THIS WILL COST $1300. SEARCHING INTERNET AND FINDING I'M NOT ALONE, BUT NO RECALL. WHAT GIVES WITH THESE CARS? *TR

DRIVER SUN VISOR DEFECT HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS SAFETY ISSUES AND NEAR ACCIDENTS. VISOR WILL NOT REMAIN UP WHILE DRIVING IN 2004 TOYATA HIGHLANDER. *TT

CAR HESITATES AND SUDDENLY SURGES FORWARD. THE IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME WAS NEAR MY GARAGE AND FORTUNATELY THE CAR ONLY TRAVELED SEVERAL FEET FORWARD BEFORE HITTING THE CORNER OF THE GARAGE AND COMING TO A STOP. LAST SUNDAY, I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT. I WAS TURNING LEFT WHEN THE CAR HESITATED AND SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AT A RAPID SPEED. BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL, THE CAR HAD TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 20-25 FEET FORWARD, RAN UP ON A MEDIAN AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. I CALLED THE POLICE ABOUT FILING A REPORT BUT AS IT OCCURRED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, THEY DECLINED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WOULD INVOLUNTARILY SWITCH FROM BLOWING COOL AIR TO HOT AIR WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONTROL BOARD FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON DUE TO THE WIRING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER......DRIVER SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY UP. BLOCKS VISION. TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE WAS BROUGHT TO HIS ATTENTION BY ANOTHER DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

THE LENSES OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS/HIGH BEAMS HAVE DEVELOPED WHITE, OVAL-SHAPED BUBBLING/MELTING MARKS OF APPROXIMATELY 0.5 TO 0.75 INCHES IN DIAMETER, IN THE CENTER OF THE LENSES, DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE LAMPS. I FIRST NOTICED THIS IN DECEMBER 2010 JUST PRIOR TO CHANGING THE ORIGINAL LAMPS (THEREFORE THE REPLACEMENT LAMPS DID NOT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM). I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA, CASE NUMBER 1012071480. TOYOTA TOLD ME TO TAKE THIS UP WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF A DEALER. AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INITIALLY QUOTED A PRICE OF $988 TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLIES. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HIS FOLLOW-UP WITH TOYOTA, THE PRICE WAS LOWERED TO $396 TO PAY ONLY FOR LABOR, PARTS TO BE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE. I OPTED TO NOT HAVE THIS DONE FOR THIS PRICE. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES: 1) DAMAGED/MELTING LENSES COULD IMPACT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HIGH BEAMS AND/OR THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS; 2) HEAT THAT IS HOT ENOUGH TO DAMAGE/MELT THE LENSES COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD; 3) DAMAGED/MELTING LENSES COULD BE AN INDICATION OF AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS TAKEN IN DECEMBER 2010 SHOWING THE DAMAGED/MELTING LENSES THAT I HAVE PROVIDED TO TOYOTA AND WOULD BE PLEASED TO PROVIDE TO NHTSA. I HAVE ALSO RETAINED THE ORIGINAL LAMPS, AND THE CAR STILL HAS THE DAMAGED/MELTED LENSES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN AND THE FAILURE WAS RECREATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN

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

COOLANT LOSS DUE TO STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. ENGINE OVER HEATED. NO HEAT.*TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONING, HEAT, DEFROST AND THE RADIO TO FAIL. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CYLINDER BEHIND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HER WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, HEAT BEGAN BLOWING FROM THE VENTILATION AS OPPOSED TO COLD AIR. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 03/07/11*LJ UPDATED 07/18/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, AND NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAPIDLY INCREASED TO HOT AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR ONE HOUR AND THEN RESUMED DRIVING WITHOUT THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

I HAVE A 2004 4 CYL HIGHLANDER, AND I CAN COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE OTHER COMPLAINERS SITUATION AS I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED AT AROUND 60K MILES AND THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $600. TO FIX. I DIDN'T. I JUST HAD TO PLAY AROUND WITH THE KNOB WHEN I NEED TO USE IT. *TR

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT REGARDING TOYOTA *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ON THE FOURTH OCCASION, IT NOT ONLY STALLED, BUT ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BEHIND THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. (CONSUMER DIDN'T STATE IF THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE) *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR MOST PROMINENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 93,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE. NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED NOR DID THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INFORM HIM THAT IT WAS GOING TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE THREADS FROM THE ENGINE BOLT STRIPPED AND HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 151,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSING COOLANT BECAUSE OF A FRACTURED STRIP HEAD BOLT IN THE ENGINE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE AND OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

HEATER CONTROL BOARD THAT ADJUSTS HOT AND COLD ON 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS MALFUNCTIONED. ADJUSTMENT FOR HOT AND COLD NO LONGER WORKS. WILL GO FROM HOT TO COLD AND VICE VERSA SIMPLY BY DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WENT ON MANY FORUMS AND IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WILL THE 2004. SAME PROBLEM WITH MANY PEOPLE. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE PART IS 749.00 AND WOULD BE ABOUT $1000.00 TO REPAIR WITH LABOR. HAVE HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS WITH TOYOTA AND BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE ANOTHER. DON'T THINK THE CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. INITIALLY THOUGHT THE VEHICLE JUST WARMED UP SLOWLY BUT NOW BELIEVE THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF A MORE COMPLEX PROBLEM WITH HEATER BOARD. CANNOT GET HEAT TO WORK PROPERLY ALL THE TIME. HAVE TO TAKE OFF KNOW FOR HOT/COLD AND WIGGLE THE STICK FOR THE KNOB TO GET ANY HEAT AND SELDOM DOES IT STAY HOT FOR LONG. HAVE NOT GOTTEN FIXED YET BUT BELIEVE I WILL HAVE TO SINCE I LIVE IN A COLD WEATHER CLIMATE. *TR

RECENTLY DISCOVERED TWO WHITE MELTED BUMPS IN THE EXACT CENTER OF THE HEADLAMP CASING WHERE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP BEAMS PASS THROUGH THE PLASTIC. HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE JULY 2010 AND THE INCIDENT OCCURED DURING A 19 HOUR DRIVE, MOST OF WHICH TOOK PLACE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT TURNED ON UNTIL SUNSET. CONCERNED THAT FACTORY LIGHTS ARE HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE PLASTIC THAT IS FACTORY INSTALLED. OBVIOUS DEFECT, COULD CAUSE FIRE. IMPAIRED VISION AT NIGHT ALSO A RESULT AS PLASTIC IS NOW PERMANENTLY DAMAGED. ALSO CONCERNED THAT ISSUE COULD WORSEN AND HOLE COULD APPEAR, CAUSING RAIN AND ELEMENTS TO COME IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH LIGHTING SYSTEM. ANOTHER OBVIOUS DANGER. DISENGAGING DAYTIME LIGHTS IS NOT AN OPTION, NO CONTROL OVER OVERHEATING OTHER TO TURN ON HEADLIGHTS 100% OF TIME. ALSO CONCERNED WITH THIS SOLUTION, AS DEFECT COULD POTENTIALLY BE SIMILAR IN THESE AS WELL. ATTEMPTED TO HAVE DEALER LOOK AT PROBLEM, HOWEVER WARRANTLY PERIOD HAS EXPIRED. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR INSTANCES ON MODELS RANGING FROM 2004-2007. FEEL STRONGLY THAT ISSUE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS PASSENGER SAFTEY IS AT RISK.

SUMMARY: ON DEC. 30, 2009, I EXPERIENCED A MALFUNCTION IN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM OF MY 2004 4CYL FWD TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUV. THE MALFUNCTION IS EXACTLY OF THE NATURE DESCRIBED IN THE SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FOLLOWING AN ODI INVESTIGATION OF MALFUNCTIONS IN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS OF 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VEHICLES(NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V176000, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA09006). COMPLAINT: THE MALFUNCTION IN MY HIGHLANDER OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED FORWARD AT VERY LOW SPEED AFTER HAVING BEEN BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE SUBSEQUENTLY HESITATED AND SURGED DURING ACCELERATION AND THE BRAKES WERE AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED AND RELEASED AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE EXPERIENCING A SKID. UNLIKE THE COMPLAINTS CONSIDERED IN THE ODI INVESTIGATION, HOWEVER, THE MALFUNCTION IN MY HIGHLANDER DID NOT SELF-CORRECT. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED THE FOLLOWING DAY AT ACTON TOYOTA IN LITTLETON, MA, WHERE THE MALFUNCTION WAS CORRECTED BY RESETTING THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER THE COMPUTER WAS RESET. SINCE ACTON TOYOTA WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A CAUSE FOR THE MALFUNCTION IN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, I HAD THEM REPLACE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AS A PRECAUTIION ON JANUARY 6, 2010. ACTION: BASED UPON MY EXPERIENCE, I THINK THAT A RECALL OF 2004 4CYL FWD HIGHLANDERS SIMILAR TO THAT FOR 2003 SEQUOIAS SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY BEGAN TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE THEN SUDDENLY SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO A RAVINE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK AND WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TWO DAYS. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACTS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE CRASH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 01/14/11*LJ

A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SIGNAL LIGHT (SAFETY ITEM) IS MALFUNCTIONING AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER (DARCARS), I WAS TOLD I HAVE TO CHANGE THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM (LUXURY ITEM) WHICH CURRENTLY IS WORKING. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THEY HAD TO INTEGRATE THESE TWO FUNCTIONS WHEN ONE IS A SAFETY AND THE OTHER ONE IS LUXURY ITEMS. BESIDES, IT COSTS $6000 + LABOR + TAX TO CHANGE THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM. AFTER INTENSIVE SEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM EXCEPT THEY ONLY COVER THE PROBLEM UNDER THE 36,000MILE/3 YEAR WARRANTY. IF THIS WAS A MILEAGE RELATED PROBLEM, I CAN UNDERSTAND EVEN IF TWO NONE RELATED FUNCTIONS ARE INTERLOCKED, BUT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MILEAGE AND WE CANNOT DRIVE WITHOUT A SIGNAL LIGHT BUT WE CAN WITHOUT A NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THIS PROBLEM STARTED A MONTH AGO AND I HAVE TRIED TO GET A RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA AND THEY ARE NOT GIVING ME ANY RESPONSE REGARDING THIS MATER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ALSO INCLUDE THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE WHICH COINCIDES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE NON-FUNCTIONAL TURN SIGNALS, AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED VIA EMAIL BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL ON MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER KEEPS SWITCHING BY ITSELF FROM HOT TO COLD AND HOT AGAIN. I HAVE TO ACTUALLY TURN THE AC ON EVEN WHEN THE OUTSIDE AIR COMING IN IS MODERATE BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL WILL SWITCH BY ITSELF TO HOT AND I CAN'T SWITCH IT OFF. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE AND MORE SO WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP OR MAKE A TURN. I TURN THE VENT ON FOR OUTSIDE AIR, BUT THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL GETS LOCKED ON TO HOT AND I CAN'T TURN IT OFF. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT IT WOULD COST AROUND $1000.00 TO FIX IT. THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CONTROL UNIT. I HAVE READ VARIOUS FORUMS OF NUMEROUS OWNERS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA NOT LEAVING ENOUGH SLACK IN A RIBBON CABLE WITH 3 CONNECTIONS THAT CONNECT FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD TO THE CONTROL KNOB. THE WIRES BREAK OFF FROM THE SOLDERING ON THE KNOB. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A KNOWN DEFECT TO ME THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF, BUT CHOOSES TO IGNORE. APPARENTLY A CHEAPER FIX IS TO RE-SOLDER THE CABLE, BUT THEY REFUSED TO DO THAT. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE FIXING THIS FOR FREE. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF TOYOTA IGNORING KNOWN ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLES. *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

2004 HIGHLANDER - STEERING FAILED ON MAJOR SHOPPING ROAD TODAY. HEARD ONLY A HISSING SOUND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH A LARGE PLUME OF DARK SMOKE OUT THE TAIL PIPE. ENGINE DID NOT QUIT BUT WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO PULL WHEEL HARD RIGHT TO TURN INTO PARKING LOT. AI/C STAYED ON, DID NOT OVERHEAT, TIMING BELT JUST CHANGED, NO LEAKING FLUIDS BUT MOST OF ALL NO WARNING LIGHTS OR CHECK ENGINE LITE CAME ON. HAD PROBLEM LAST MONTH WITH A/C WHICH WAS FIXED. WHAT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE DRIVING AT 65 ON HIGHWAY AND LOSES ABILITY TO STEER ... INSTANT DEATH TO DRIVER AND PERHAPS MANY OTHERS. BEEN A TOYOTA FAN FOR 30 YEARS BUT THIS COUPLED WITH OTHER MAJOR RECALLS SERIOUSLY FRIGHTENS ME TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AGAIN. CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER WHO HAS MAINTAINED THE CAR SINCE 2004. AWAITING OUTCOME OF INVESTIGATION. POSTED 8-9-10. *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.

AFTER WE PURCHASED OUR 2004 HIGHLANDER SOME MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD THE BACK WINDOWS WOULD GET JAMMED WHEN ROLLED DOWN. WHEN ROLLED DOWN THEY WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP SO WE WOULD KNOW NOT TO EVER ROLL THEM DOWN. IT WAS UNFORTUNATE TO ACCOMMODATE THE VEHICLE RATHER THAN VISE VERSA AND NOW THEY SIMPLY WENT DOWN ON THEIR OWN AND WILL NOT ROLL BACK UP. THE MISTAKE WAS PROCRASTINATING YEARS BEFORE WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED AND NOT TAKING IT RIGHT AWAY BUT NOW THAT THEY ARE COMPLETELY DOWN I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS A 2004 GENERIC DEFECT OR WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY TOYOTA. *TR

MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 AT TIME HAS VERY ROUGH SHIFTS. THE TRANSMISSIONS SEEMS TO HESITATE AND LAG WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE DURING NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS GOING 20 TO 60. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING FROM HER DRIVEWAY AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS OF 1 MPH, THE FRONT BUMPER FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE FURTHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE COMPONENTS THAT HELD THE BUMPER TO THE VEHICLE WERE ALSO BROKEN. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO REFERRED HER TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HER BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 73,658.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OVERHEAT AND MELT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE BULB BECOMING EXTREMELY HOT AND MELTING THE HEAD LIGHT LENS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

CONTROL PANEL OF 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. NUT SECURING THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL BUTTON IS LOOSE. CAUSES ENGINE AIR TO ENTER THE CABIN. A/C DOES NOT WORK; GETS JUST HOT ENGINE AIR. REFER TO SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS AT: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/HIGHLANDER/100664-HIGHLANDER-HEAT-COOL-CONTROL/ AND HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.EF00024/4224. IT OCCURS DAILY. *TR

CABIN BRAKE ASSEMBLY BRACKET BENDS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) EMERGENCY STOPPING. THIS MOVEMENT CAUSES THE EDGE OF THE BRAKE PIVOT BOLT TO HANG ON THE UPPER BRAKE ASSEMBLY, LOCKING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND PREVENTING THE BRAKE FROM DISENGAGING. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THIS DOES OCCUR, LOSS OF ADEQUATE BRAKE LEVERAGE AND/OR SUDDEN CHANGE IN PROXIMITY OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR MAY PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM APPLYING THE BRAKES TO THEIR INTENDED CAPACITY. THIS IS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN DURING AN ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE SITUATION WHEN ADEQUATE FOOT PRESSURE FAILS TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE'S ABS. THIS DIRECTLY LEADS TO INCREASED DANGER OF INJURY/FATALITY TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, OCCUPANTS OF OTHER VEHICLES, AND PEDESTRIANS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO ADDRESS THIS DEFECT. DEALER REFUSED TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY DEFECT AT NO COST TO CUSTOMER. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE, VSC, TRAC-OFF LIGHTS APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD OF MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ON OR AROUND MARCH 7, 2010. ON MARCH 9, I WENT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHOSE TOYOTA DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE INFORMED THEM THAT SINCE THIS VEHICLE HAD UNDER 80,000 MILES - IT WAS STILL COVERED BY MY ORIGINAL WARRANTY. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH SUNRISE TOYOTA, IN OAKDALE, NY WHERE I PURCHASED THIS HIGHLANDER. AFTER SHOWING SUNRISE TOYOTA SERVICE REP: CHARLES SALVATO THE DIAGNOSTIC PRINTOUTS - HE REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS MECHANIC INADVERTENTLY CLEARED THE WARNING LIGHTS. THEY WOULDN'T ACCEPT THE DIAGNOSTIC PRINTOUTS AS PROOF OF A PROBLEM NOR WOULD THEY AGREE TO CHECK-OUT OR RE-RUN THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. AFTER FORMALLY COMPLAINING, I DID HEAR FROM A BOB JOHNSON AT SUNRISE TOYOTA WHO ASK ME TO STOP IN. WHEN I DID STOP BY, I WAS TOLD HE WAS AT AN ALL DAY MEETING. MY DISTINCT FEELING IS THAT THEY ARE HOPING TO LET THE CLOCK RUN OUT (LET THE MILEAGE GO OVER 80,000) SO THAT NOTHING HAS TO BE DONE. I AM ASKING FOR NHTSA'S ASSISTANCE WITH THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERN. A CONCERN, I FEEL,TOYOTA IS STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY OUT OF CONTROL FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REDUCE SPEED TO 35 MPH TO GAIN CONTROL OF STABILITY. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL MODULE COMPUTER WAS OFF BALANCE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL FAILED AGAIN IN 2008. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 9,000.

DRIVER'S SUN VISOR DROPS UNEXPECTEDLY OR WON'T STAY UP OUT OF RANGE OF VISION REPLACED BEFORE BY TOYOTA UNDER WARRANTY... NOW A $750 REPAIR??? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE WHERE THE NOISE HAD COME FROM. THE CONTACT STATED THE NOISE WAS HEARD ONE ADDITIONAL TIME. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 44,000.

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

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE COMPLAINT AGAINST TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION AND JAY WOLFE TOYOTA OF WEST COUNTY FM OWNER OF A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *TGW AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW WEEKS, IT BECAME APPARENT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTING WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CONDITION WAS MOST NOTICEABLE DURING SHARP ACCELERATION PERIODS. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP, BUT IT DID NOT GAIN SPEED RELATIVE TO THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE WOULD SOUND AS IF IT WAS UNDER STRESS AND IT WOULD THEN SHIFT WITH A SEVERE JOLT. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION FLAW, BUT THERE WAS NO FIX. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE.

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

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 V6 - AUTO (2WD) SINCE WE'VE PURCHASED THE T-HIGHLANDER, THE CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY SUDDENLY JERK FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AND WHEN THE SHIFT TAKES PLACE BETWEEN 2,000 AND 2,500 RPM WHEN IN 2ND GEAR. WE HAVE BROUGHT THIS IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ONLY TO BE TOLD THIS IS A "PROGRAMMING" ISSUE AND THE CAR IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SHIFT BASED ON DIFFERENT DRIVERS. I'VE LOOKED ONLINE AND ON FORUMS AND OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. I THINK IT'S TOYOTA TRYING TO SAVE $$. MY CONCERN SINCE WE'VE BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS IS THE SAME CONCERN THAT I WANT THE NHTSA TO BE AWARE OF NOW AND THAT IS, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT HERE DUE TO SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR THE "PROGRAMMING" OF HOW THE COMPUTER SHIFTS. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED BECAUSE ALL OF THE OTHER TOYOTA PROBLEMS THAT HAVE SURFACED HAVE REAFFIRMED WHAT I'VE KNOWN ALL ALONG, THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTAS AND IN OUR CASE, NOT HAVING COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. HOWEVER, I WAS MADE TO FEEL THAT I HAD NO BASIS FOR MY COMPLAINTS WHEN IN FACT, I DO. I HOPE THAT EVEN IF NOTHING IS DONE TO FIX MY T-HIGHLANDER AS I HAVE GIVEN UP ON IT (SHORT OF LEGAL ACTION, WHICH MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE NOW) THAT THE NHTSA DOES DO SOMETHING TO ENSURE THAT NO ONE IS INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS "PROGRAMMING" ISSUE. *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

"INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILURES ON 04-05 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER" THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (ST001-06) OF SHAFT REPLACEMENT ON SOME MODELS BUT NEVER BECAME A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. ON TOYOTA PRIUS NHW20 MODEL VEHICLES PRODUCED IN JAPAN FROM JULY 2003 TO NOV 2005 ARE BEING RECALLED. TOYOTA SAYS ON SOME VEHICLE, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MAY BECOME LOOSE OR DEVELOP A CRACK. WHAT ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO WANTS TO KEEP THEIR TOYOTA FOR A LIFETIME? MINE IS AN SUV(HIGHLANDER) WITH A HIGHER CENTER OF GRAVITY AND ROLLING FORCE. YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED A SLIGHT VIBRATION AND NOISE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN AND IF THE FAILURE PROGRESSED TO RETURN IT FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 4/22/10 *CN UPDATED 06/01/10*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND SWERVED TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A LARGE PILLAR ON AN OVERPASS AND BOUNCED OFF OF IT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE ALSO CRASHED INTO A SECOND PILLAR. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE MASSIVE IMPACT OF THE CRASH. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR MUST BE STRUCK IN A SPECIFIC AREA FOR THE DEPLOYMENT TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,498.

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY HIGHLANDER, NEW, I INFREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE AN UNEXPECTED SURGE IN ACCELERATION WHILE BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, OR AFTER SLOWING TO TURN A CORNER. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE TURNING A CORNER. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS, IN THE PAST, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION WAS THEIR BIGGEST COMPLAINT, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. WHILE DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM TO A SERVICE REP AT A DEALERSHIP, A GENTLEMAN, ALSO WAITING FOR SERVICE, INDICATED THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS NEWER MODEL RAV 4. THIS MAY HAVE HAPPENED FEWER THAN TWO DOZEN TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE HIGHLANDER. HAS THIS PROBLEM BEEN BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION, OR DO YOU KNOW IF TOYOTA HAS EVER DEVELOPED A "FIX" FOR THIS? *TR

WE HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, AND WE HAVE HAD SURGES ON THE GAS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT IN 2004. IT USUALLY IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTROL, AS YOU WILL BE DRIVING ALONG, AND IT WILL SURGE FORWARD A BIT, BUT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO APPLY BRAKE AND CONTROL IT. THERE HAS ONLY BEEN ONE INSTANCE WHERE IT SURGED STRONGLY, AND I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WE TRIED TO SELL THE CAR A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BUT THE BUYER TEST DROVE IT, AND NOTICED THE SURGING, ASKED ABOUT IT, AND THEN DECIDED NOT TO BUY IT - SO WE KEPT IT AFTER THAT. WE WERE THINKING IT IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM, OR SOMETHING.... WE HAVE NEVER TAKEN IT INTO A SHOP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, BUT THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MENTION IT, IN CASE OTHER HIGHLANDERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THE GAS PEDAL STICKING, BUT JUST THE GAS SURGING SOMEHOW, BUT MAYBE IT IS RELATED. *TR

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS 57,000 MILES, SINCE I OWNED THE CAR THE FOLLOWING OCCURS; ON SLIPPERY CONDITIONS THE VCS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND IT WOULD TAKE A SECOND OR SO FOR BRAKES TO ENGAGE. TODAY ON A DRY PAVEMENT SURFACE (NO RAIN OR SNOW) THE VCS LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON WHEN TRAVELING 20 MILES AN HOUR LOCKING MY BRAKES FOR NO APPARENT REASON MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TRIED DRIVING AGAIN BUT BREAKS IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP ONCE I HIT 10-15 MILES AN HOUR AND STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO LOOSE CAUSING DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAD CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND IT IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED, TECHNICIAN SAID THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED $500. NOT SURE IF THIS WILL CORRECT THE 1 SECOND GAP IN BREAK ENGAGEMENT ON SLIPPERY SURFACES WHICH HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2004. *TR

MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED V6 DEVELOPED SUBSTANTIAL TRANSMISSION/ TRANSAXLE LEAK AT 56,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS ABLE TO LEAK INTO THE FRONT TRANSAXLES AND THEN ONTO THE GROUND. TOYOTA IS AWARE THAT THE #2 AXEL SEAL IS AT FAULT AS IT IS WELL REPORTED. THE REPAIR WAS OVER $2,000. I FIXED MINE, BUT AM CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE THAT WON'T BE FIXED. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE TRANSMISSION LEAKS OUT IN TOTAL WOULD THE RESULTING TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULT IN INJURY.*TW

HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA 3.3L 2WD HIGHLANDER THAT HAS HAD A SURGING PROBLEM WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A START SINCE I HAD IT NEW....DEALER RECALIBRATED COMPUTER BUT DIDNT FIX THE PROBLEM....THEY TOLD ME THIS IS NORMAL.....IT IS NOT NORMAL AND IS VERY DANGEROUS....BEING THEY DONT WANT TO FIX IT, I GUESS IT WILL COME DOWN TO A LAW SUIT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.....THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF POST ON THIS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RECALLING AND FIXING......WONT NEVER BUY TOYOTA AGAIN IF SOMETHING ISNT DONE BECAUSE THEY STILL SEEM TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER MAKES AND MODELS IN TOYOTA LINE....AND LEXUS........*CN

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, AWD AND A V6. THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELARATING AFTER BRAKING. CAN BE UP TO 3 SECONDS BEFORE POWER IS RESTORED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IS NORMAL. *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

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

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

COOLANT LOSS DUE TO STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. ENGINE OVER HEATED. *TR

LENS PLATE COVERS OVER FOG LIGHTS ARE MELTING. THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE PLASTIC ON THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE PEELED, SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO APPEAR VERY DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT BUFFING WOULD REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51400, UPDATED 10/19/09 *CN UPDATED 10/19/09

STEERING WHEEL MAKE A NOISE LIKE A BOLT IS MISSING. *TR

2004 HIGHLANDER, HAVING SAME PROBLEMS AS ALL OTHER REPORTED PROBLEMS FOR THIS VEHICLE. HESITATION, STEERING SHAFT REPLACEMENT, 2 WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENTS, LOUSY ORIGINAL TIRES, BAD SODERING OF HEAT/AIR BOARD LEADING TO NOT WORKING PROPERLY, CAN NOT HAVE BACK WINDOWS DOWN DUE TO NOISE AND VEHICLE SHAKING, HAD REAR WIPER MOTOR REPLACED WITHIN 1ST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. WHILE I DID PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH DID COVER THE COST OF THE WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT, IT DID NOT COVER THE COST OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE TIRES DAMAGED BY THE BAD BEARING - AND TOYOTA DOES NOT CARE. IN THEIR RACE TO BECOME THE NUMBER ONE CAR MAKER, THEY HAVE GIVEN UP ON BEING THE SAFEST, MOST RELIABLE CAR MAKER - AND THEY HAVE CERTAINLY GIVEN UP ON BEING CUSTOMER FRIENDLY. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO, SINCE THEY CONTINUE TO BE POPULAR SELLING VEHICLES. I AM GETTING NERVOUS AS THE TIME FOR MY WARRANTY COMES DUE TO EXPIRE - AND FOR THE FIRST TIME AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TRADING IT IN BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, BUT AFTER READING ALL THE PEOPLE HAVING ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS, I AM VERY CONCERNED. *TR

STEERING. LOOSENESS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER REPLACED PART (45220-48150 SHAFT ASSY) @ A COST OF $387.93 (THIS WITH A 15% DISCOUNT). IN READING YOUR COMPLAINTS FILED, I NOTE THIS WASN'T T/1ST TIME THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED & AS STATED, THERE IS A DEALER SERVICE ADVISORY ON IT. I ALSO TOOK NOTE THAT THERE APPARENTLY HASN'T BEEN ANY ACTION 2 RESOLVE THE MATTER (IE, THE OWNER CONTINUES 2 PAY 4 REPAIRS). SHOULD NOT TOYOTA B REQUIRED 2 COVER THIS TYPE OF REPAIR ? LIKE WE'RE TALKING STEERING HERE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE WHO JUST LET'S THE PROBLEM GO TO THE POINT WHERE HE/SHE LOOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE & THERE IS PHYSICAL INJURY OR DEATH? I WAS HESITANT TO WRITE THIS UP BECAUSE I DON'T SEE WHERE N INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CONDUCTED (DID I JUST MISS IT?). MY VEHICLE HAS JUST UNDER 55K MILES ON IT (ALL OF THEM ONROAD) &S BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER. TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE A $$$ MAKER 4 THE DEALER & A CALCULATED DECISION BY TOYOTA THAT ENOUGH OF THOSE REQUIRING THE REPAIR WOULDN'T COMPLAIN; LOOKS LIKE TOYOTA WINS. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2WD. THIS VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, LOW MILEAGE (ABOUT 40,000) AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. ON APRIL 19, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL/ANTI-SLIP BUZZER SOUNDED. THE ICON LIT ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO BREAK AS IF THE CAR WAS SLIPPING. THE ROAD WAS DRY, OUR SPEED WAS EXTREMELY LOW (ABOUT 15MPH), AND THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THANKFULLY, WE WERE JUST OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND COULD TURN SAFELY AROUND THOUGH THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ON APRIL 20TH, WE PHONED TOYOTA OF KEENE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IN OUR VEHICLE. WE WEREN'T THRILLED WITH THE PROSPECT OF DRIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, BUT FIGURED IF WE KEPT TO LOW SPEEDS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT SAFELY. WE TOOK DOWN THE TOW COMPANY'S NUMBER JUST IN CASE. ON APRIL 21ST, MY HUSBAND SET OUT FOR THE APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIR IN KEENE. ABOUT 10 MILES FROM HOME, THE PROBLEM SUDDENLY WENT AWAY. THE SKID WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED BREAKING AUTOMATICALLY. MY HUSBAND MADE IT THE REST OF THE WAY TO TOYOTA OF KEENE WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. AFTER A TEST DRIVE, THE TECHNICIAN STATED, 'THAT WAS THE SCARIEST TEST I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED,' AS THE PROBLEM HAD RETURNED WHILE HE WAS ON THE ROAD. BUT BY THE TIME HE RETURNED TO THE SHOP AND HOOKED UP THE CAR TO DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTERS, THE PROBLEM HAD AGAIN CEASED. TOYOTA OF KEENE HAS HAD MY VEHICLE SINCE APRIL 21ST, AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR IT OR OFFER ANY SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE. THEY CLAIM THAT THEY CAN'T REPAIR IT IF THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE THE VEHICLE IS HOOKED UP TO COMPUTERS. THOUGH I UNDERSTAND THIS EXPLANATION, IT DOES NOTHING FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, AS WELL AS ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA COMPLAINT CENTER AND THEY OPENED UP A CASE NUMBER BUT WERE ESSENTIALLY USELESS IN ASSISTING ME. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AS WELL AS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE. *TR

WIFE WAS DRIVING ON CLEAN DRY ROAD. SUDDENLY, THE VCS LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE ALARM SOUNDING CAME ON AS WELL. CAR SUDDENLY BRAKED, BRAKES MADE A GRINDING SOUND, AND CAR JERKED TO THE RIGHT. TRIED TO DRIVE FORWARD AND IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 10MPH. IF THE CAR DID, THE ABOVE HAPPENED AGAIN. CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE SITUATION WAS VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR, NOT CONTROLLED BY MY WIFE, THE DRIVER, COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. TURNS OUT, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WENT ON THE CAR. FIRST...THE CAR ONLY HAS 53K MILES ON IT. THIS IS NOT A 'WEAR AND TEAR' PART. THIS PART SHOULD NEVER GO WITH ONLY THIS MANY MILES ON IT. GARBAGE. SECOND, THE FAILURE OF THIS PART CAUSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE ROAD, AS ONCE IT GOES, THE DRIVER BASICALLY HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR UNTIL IT SLOWS DOWN TO UNDER 10 MILES AN HOUR. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, FOCUS ON THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC, AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS AND DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING ON TOYOTA VEHICLES. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PART FOR $700. RIP OFF. *TR

THE HEAT WOULD NOT ALWAYS WORK. IT WOULD BLOW COLD AIR. SOMETIMES I COULD MOVE THE KNOB AROUND AND IT WOULD COME BACK ON BUT IT DIDN'T ALWAYS WORK LIKE THAT. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND CAME UP WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY DEALER SAID THE PART WAS OVER $600 TO REPLACE, THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THE DECAL WAS GOING TO COST ANOTHER $30. ONE OF THE GOOGLE SEARCHES HAD A FIX FOR IT. IT INVOLVED REMOVING THE GLOVEBOX AND PULLING THE CIRCUIT BOARD OUT. THEY SAID THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE A WIRE THAT WAS BROKEN OFF AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WAS. MY HUSBAND SOLDERED IT BACK ON, PUT THE BOAR BACK IN, AND IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM NOW. *TR

THE VEHICLE'S HEATING AND AIR SYSTEM CAUSES ME TO HAVE TO "JOGGLE" THE KNOB SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO IT BEGINNING TO PERFORM THE SPECIFIED NEED. *TR

VEHICLE BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN VENTILATION SYSTEM IS TURNED ON, EVEN WHILE A/C IS ON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK IN THE VEHICLE. SHE MUST TOGGLE WITH THE KNOBS IN ORDER FOR THE HEAT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. OFTENTIMES WHEN THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, IT WOULD BLOW COLD AIR. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, IT WOULD PRODUCE WARM AIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A CONSISTENT FAILURE WITH THE HIGHLANDER, BUT NO REPAIRS COULD BE MADE DUE TO WARRANTY STIPULATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION OR COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 57,000.

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AIRBAGS NOT WORKING. *TR

THE PASSENGER WINDOWS ON MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAVE COME OFF THE TRACKS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS. *TR

THE HEATER INSIDE MY CAR WON'T TURN OFF. I HAVE HOT AIR BLOWING CONTINUOUSLY, EVEN WHEN THE AIR SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF! THIS MAKES THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE FOR VERY LONG. (T>100 MOST OF TIME) THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT, IT JUST STARTED. THE PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON VARIOUS CAR FORUMS ONLINE DUE TO WIRE DEFECT. *TR

WE WERE TRAVELING IN THE VEHICLE, APPROX. 20-25 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED FOR A FEW SECOND, RELEASED AND THEN ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER, LOCKED AND RELEASED ONCE AGAIN. IT WAS AS IF WE HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, ONLY ON THE RIGHT DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THE CODES LEAD THE TECHNICIAN TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT ON THE ABS ACTUATOR, HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY COMPANY WOULDN'T FIX OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE 1) THEY COULDN'T REDUPLICATE THE PROBLEM; AND 2) THE PART IN QUESTION IS A SMALL PART WITHIN A $3,500 LARGER PART, OF WHICH THE ENTIRE $3,500 PART WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD US TO WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. APPROX. ONE MONTH LATER, THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING, HOWEVER, IT WAS ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX. 70 MPH. THE IMPACT WAS LESS HARD AS THE SPEED WOULDN'T ALLOW THE BRAKE TO FULLY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE WARRANTY AGENT AGAIN DENIED RESOLVING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT IN THEIR PRESENCE AND THE CODES WERE DEEMED INCOMPLETE AND THEREFORE, NO REPAIR. I AM CONCERNED THIS MIGHT CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND/OR DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED UNWANTED TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVITY, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE EXCESSIVELY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC REPROGRAMMED THE PCM MEMORY, WHICH REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. CURRENTLY, THE FAILURE HAS NOT RESURFACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,450. UPDATED 01-26-09 *BF UPDATED 01/27/09. *JB

THE CAR'S VSC (VEHICLE SKID CONTROL) SYSTEM ACTIVATED ON A DRY STRAIGHT ROAD. THE BRAKES WENT ON AND REDUCED THE SPEED TO ABOUT 5MPH, MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. GLAD THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED, AND I COULD GET IT TO ABOUT 10MPH, AND THEN IT WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES QUICKLY AND REDUCED POWER NO-MATTER WHAT THE THROTTLE POSITION WAS, AND THE CAR WAS LIMITED TO ABOUT 5MPH. ONCE THIS HAPPENED THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, UNLESS THE FUSES FOR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE REMOVED. I DID THIS JUST TO GET IT TO THE DEALER... IT HAD BUZZERS AND WARNING LIGHTS GOING OFF. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE & VSC "ECU", WHICH WAS GOING TO COST $2,400, BUT THERE COULD BE EXTRA SENSORS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TOO. THIS SEEMED VERY EXCESSIVE SO I DIDN'T HAVE THE WORK DONE. NOW THE CAR IS SITTING. I'VE HEARD THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND IT. I'VE HEARD THAT IT CAN BE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, OR THE WHEEL ROTATIONS SENSORS, OR THE G-CENTER (ACCELEROMETER). EACH ONE IS SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS APIECE. A FAILURE IN THE SKID CONTROL SYSTEM SHOULD JUST STOP WORKING AND NOT CAUSE THE BRAKES TO BE SLAMMED ON, LEAVING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. AND THE REPAIR COST SHOULD NOT BE $2,500 TO OVER $4,000. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

COMPLETE LOST OF HEAT FROM DEFROSTER AND HEATER. SEEM TO BE A GENERIC PROBLEM WILL ALL TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS OR MANY. *TR

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2004, I WOULD HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE CLOCK - SOMETIMES IT WOULD SHOW OTHER TIMES NOT. I HAVE A NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN THE CAR AND THE TIME IS TIED INTO IT. THIS YEAR, THE GPS STOPPED WORKING, AND WOULD KNOCK OUT THE RADIO, HEAT AND DEFROSTER. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO TOYOTA, THEY SAID IS WAS A GPS FAILURE AND SINCE I WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE, IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $1600.00 TO REPLACE IT. I WOULD THINK THAT SOMETHING I COMPLAINED ABOUT FROM THE BEGINNING WOULD BE LOOKED NOT AND THAT A RECALL SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF THE DEFROSTING SYSTEM DIDN'T WORK. THAT IS A DRIVING DANGER. I HAD TO PAY FOR IT FOR THE WINTER BUT AM NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR AND WILL SURELY NOT BE LOOKING AT A TOYOTA EVER AGAIN. SINCE I GOT THE REFURBISHED GPS, MY TIME IS ALWAYS THERE. *TR

NAVIGATION SYSTEMS SAYS EXTERNAL SYSTEM IS DISCONNECTED CAUSING THE HEAT/ AIR CONDITIONER & DEFROSTER TO BE DISABLED NEW SYSTEM WILL COST 5795.00 USED PART WILL COST 1500-1700.00 CAR ONLY HAS 41,864 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *TR

HEARD A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON BUSY HIGHWAY THE STEERING OF MY TOYOTA BECAME IMPOSSIBLE I MANAGED TO GET CAR OFF OF ROAD . HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR HAD GONE BAD THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SENT OUT ON THIS SITUATION. I JUST FEEL THAT THE OWNERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION AND TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DANGEROUS DEFAULT. *TR

AFTER STARTING MY CAR AND DRIVING IT TWO BLOCKS, THE VSC LIGHT AND AUDIBLE WARNING BUZZER WENT ON AT THE SAME TIME MY CAR LOST TRACKING AND STARTED VEERING TO THE LEFT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME, BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS SOON AS I DROVE IT 3 BLOCKS TO A SERVICE STATION. DIAGNOSTICS DISCOVERED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE PART WAS REPLACED FOR $630.11. I SEE THIS AS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY RESULTED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. *TR

THE GPS IN MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER GOES ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN IT DOES IT DISABLES THE DEFROSTER, AC AND HEAT. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE GPS, BUT WHEN IT DISABLES MY DEFROSTER, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. TOYOTA HAS INFORMED ME A NEW GPS WILL COST $5,000.00. I CAN PUT A USED ONE IN FOR $1,500.00. THIS IS AN UNFAIR PRICE TO HAVE A NECESSARY SAFETY FUNCTION, THE DEFROSTER, TO WORK. DEFROSTER ARE REQUIRED FOR STATE INSPECTION. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR TOYOTA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH APPROXIMATELY 70K MILES. FOR THE SECOND TIME THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE (ALL OVER THE WEB). I BELIEVE ANYTHING RELATED TO THE DRIVABLE/STEERING IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA SHOULD FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE FAILURES. *TR

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

I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY EMISSION SYSTEM/CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED TWICE NOW. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 2004, WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE AND THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS MAY 2008. *TR EACH TIME THE SYMPTOM WAS A SULFUR SMELL THAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE DEALER HAPPENS TO SOME 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS.

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLAND AND BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT OR MANUFACTURING FLAW WITH REGARD TO THE LENS COVERS TO THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHT COVERS. BOTH HAVE SIGNIFICANT MELTING FROM THE LIGHT BULBS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH ON FIRE. ALL PRODUCTS INVOLVED ARE ORIGINAL TOYOTA PARTS. THE LENS COVERS EACH HAVE A LARGE (BIGGER THAN A QUARTER) CIRCULAR SPOT WHERE THE MELTING TOOK PLACE FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THERE IS A BUBBLE ON EACH. THE SAME HAS HAPPENED WITH THE FOG LIGHTS AND THEY ARE NOW CRACKED FROM THE HEAT. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY WILL NOT FIX, REPLACE, REPAIR THE LENS COVERS AND SAY THAT THERE IS NO RECALL. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT ANYTHING MELTING ON A VEHICLE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CATCH FIRE. THIS HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE OVER SEVERAL YEARS SO THE INCIDENT DATE IS NOT EXACT. IT IS EVIDENT THAT EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE HOLES IN THESE COVERS FROM THE HEAT/MELTING AS THE DAYLIGHTS RUN CONSTANTLY AND CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. *TR

TRANSFER ASSY FAILED AT 74,000 MILES AND FAILED AGAIN AT 101,000 MILES. *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

I WAS LEAVING MY HOME GOING TO WORK TODAY AND NOTICED THAT MY WIFE'S TOYOTA 2004 HIGHLANDER HEADLIGHT LENSES HAD STARTED TO MELT WHERE THE DAY TIME RUNNING LAMPS ARE. *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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

STEERING. *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

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

ACCELERATION LAGS ALL THE TIME, BUT IS ESPECIALLY APPARENT WHEN "FLOORING IT" UPON FREEWAY ENTRY, PASSING, ETC. I SEE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT 04 HIGHLANDERS. OVERALL, QUITE DISAPPOINTED IN MY OVERPRICED SUV. *TR

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

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

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

1 MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE TOYOTA THE HESSITATION ON ACCELERATION BEGAN. I HAD THE COMPUTER PROGRAM FLASHED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY COULD. ENTERING HIGHWAYS OR TURNING CORNERS THE CAR STALLE D UNTILL THE THROTTLE GRABBED, AND THEN TOOK OFF. IT JOLTED THE BODY AND MADE DRIVING THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VERY DIFFICULT. *AK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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.

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.

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ENGINE DIES, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 20 MPH, ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS WERE ON, WOULD SLOW DOWN TO 10 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. *KB THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL UNIT WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES. JB

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

WHILE RESEARCHING ANOTHER MATTER CONCERNING MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ON YOUR SITE, I READ COMPLAINT #10161055 CONCERNING A HESITATION PROBLEM THE OWNER WAS HAVING AND WANTED TO SAY THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS NOT CONSTANT, HOWEVER IT DOES HAPPEN FREQUENTLY. *JB

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

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

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 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

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 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

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2004 WITH THE MICHELIN 225/65/R17 TIRES SOLD AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT IN ANY KIND OF SNOW CONDITIONS. EVEN WITH AS LITTLE AS 1-2 INCHES OF SNOW THESE TIRES ON THE HIGHLANDER TRAP AND BUILD UP SNOW IN THE WHEEL WELL LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH NO STOPPING ABILITY.*AK

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

IDENTICAL TO COMPLAINT #10114548 MY EVENT HAPPENED JANUARY 6, 2005 WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. NOW, AT 35,750 MILES, I HAVE O2 SENSOR PROBLEMS ON A ROUTINE BASIS(3RD SENSOR ON ORDER FROM DEALER RIGHT NOW). I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THESE PROBLEMS WILL CONTINUE PAST WARRANTY, I HAVE LITTLE FAITH IN THIS VEHICLES SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE -EVERY DAY I CROSS MY FINGERS THAT NOTHING ELSE GOES "BRAKES" WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *NM

I BOUGHT A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN NOVEMBER OF 2003 BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I FOUND OUT WE WERE PREGNANT AND NEEDED A BIGGER CAR. THREE MONTHS AND 5000 MILES LATER I HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN A CHIP IN THE "MOTHERBOARD." (SOME SENSOR DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE ASC MECHANISM TO FOUL UP.) ANYWAY, ON MONDAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AT 50500 MILES, BUT THIS TIME THE CAUSE WAS A STEERING SENSOR ACTUATOR. OF COURSE, THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I RAISED CANE BECAUSE TWO MAJOR THINGS HAVE CAUSED ME TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH BARELY 50000 MILES ON THE CAR. THEY ARE PAYING FOR THE COST OF THE PARTS BUT THAT'S IT. I TRULY BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THE ENTIRE ORDEAL, INCLUDING TOWING, LABOR AND RENTAL CAR BECAUSE OF MY INCONVENIENCE AND OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE CAR. TOYOTA IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY BRAND NAMES OF CARS AND YOU DON'T EXPECT TO DEAL WITH THESE TYPES OF ISSUES WHEN BUYING ONE. I FEEL THAT THEY REALIZE I HAVE A DEFECTIVE CAR AND HAVE DECIDED NOT TO CARE. NOW I DON'T TRUST THE VEHICLE AND WANT TO TRADE IT IN FOR A NON TOYOTA CAR. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *JB

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ELECTRONICS GET CONFUSED AT STREET SPEEDS, NOT ALLOWING ME TO ACCELERATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN NEARLY T-BONED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. I TALKED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND EXPECTS TOYOTA TO COME UP WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, I LEFT A MESSAGE WITH THE SAME TECHNICIAN ASKING WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, AND I RECEIVED NO REPLY. IT IS EXTREMELY SCARY TO FIND THIS 'DEAD SPOT' IN ACCELERATION. THIS IS OUR FOURTH TOYOTA, AND MIGHT BE THE LAST IF TOYOTA DOES NOT ADDRESS THIS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON JULY 8, 2005. THE PROBLEM DID NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL NOVEMBER 22, 2005. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD GONE THROUGH TWO FENCES AND CRASHED INTO THE CORNER OF THE NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS.*AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

ENGINE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEEDS; TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE AND THEN SURGE WHEN ACCELERATING. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SLOT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE LURCHING INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND REPROGRAMMED THE ECU. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. *AK

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED DEVELOPED A HESITATION AFTER AROUND 10,000 MILES. THE HESITATION IS FOLLOWED BY A HEAD-JERKING SURGE. THIS SITUATION IS VERY HAZARDOUS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT-HAND TURN, OR FAST ACCELERATION MERGE, IN HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY 15-YR-OLD TWINS WHO ARE LEARNING TO DRIVE IN THIS VEHICLE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA CONSIDERING THE VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HERE AND ON THE WEB. ARE YOU WAITING FOR A DEATH? MY DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *NM

MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HESITATES FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM ABOUT 40 TO 50 MPH SUCH AS GETTING ONTO A FREEWAY. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I FIND THIS HESITATION TO BE VERY DISCONCERTING AND MAKES ME WORRY ABOUT MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. *JB

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS HESITATION WHILE TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT. *MR *SC

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DESIGN DEFECT IN THE OUTSIDE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. *MR THE CONSUMER STARTED ADJUSTING THE LEFT DOOR MIRROR AND DISCOVERED A BLIND SPOT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS RIGHT AT THE HIGHLANDERS REAR BUMPER. WHEN APPROACHING A PASSING LANE, THE VEHICLE ABSOLUTELY DISAPPEARS NO MATTER HOW HIGH THE MIRROR WAS ADJUSTED. *SC

MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 (3.3L WITH 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION) HAS AN INTERMITTENT FAULT WHERE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL ABRUBTLY DROP DOWN A GEAR (OR GEARS) WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY TRYING TO ACCELERATE CREATING A SENSATION LIKE IT IS BUCKING OR PORPOUSING. USUALL STEPPING OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR IS SUFFICIENT TO ELIMINATE THE BUCKING SENSATION. THIS HAS OCCURED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN AUGUST 2004.

INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASH SAY CONTACT YOUR DEALER. ONE IS THE TIRE PRESSURE AND THE OTHER IS THE ENGINE. HAVE CARRIED TO DEALER 3 TIMES AND STILL OCCURS. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO PICKUP TOMORROW AND CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. ONLY LISTED LAST DATE

AT 12 MONTHS AND 13,000 MILES, NOTICED 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DURING SHIFTING, TRANSMISSION OFTEN HESITATES AND THEN SUDDENLY SURGES INTO NEXT GEAR, CAUSING INABILITY TO PREDICT VEHICLE PERFORMANCE. THROUGHOUT DRIVING, TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE ITS HUNTING FOR GEARS, FREQUENTLY SHIFTING AT ODD TIMES, CAUSING A ROUGH, UNPREDICTABLE RIDE.

AT APPRX. 13000 MILES ON A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, NOTICED INCREASINGLY ROUGH SHIFTING FROM THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE OFTEN HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING, THEN SURGES INTO NEXT GEAR, CAUSING UNPREDICTABLE RIDE. THROUGHOUT THE GEARS, VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE HUNTING FOR GEARS, UPSHIFTING & DOWNSHIFTING AT ODD TIMES, CAUSING A ROUGH, UNPREDICTABLE RIDE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY 'RECALIBRATED' THE TRANMISSION, HOWEVER, THIS DIDN'T SEEM TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.

MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. DURING THE 15,000 MILE SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT ALL 4 TIRES WERE WORN TO THE POINT OF NEEDING REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING EVENLY AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS AT THE RECCOMMENDED PRESSURE. DURING MY INSPECTION I COULD FEEL SOME SLIGHT CUPPING ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE TIRES. THE TIRES ARE TOYO TRANPATH A11 SIZE P225/70R16. THE DEALERSHIP IS SUPPOSED TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER TO SEE WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE THEY CAN PROVIDE. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO ODI NUMBER 10067341

NO EVENTS LED UP TO THE FAILURE. WIFE DROVE CAR, BRAKE WARNING COMES UP ON DASHBOARD, SHE PULLED OVER. WIFE CALLED ME ON CELL. I THOUGHT IT W THE PARKING BRAKE. I TOLD HER TO MANIPULATE TO CLEAR THE WARNING TO NO AVAIL. THEN I TOLD HER TO OPEN THE HOOD TO LOOK AT THE BRAKE CYLINDER. THE BRAKE CYLINDER HAD DISCONNECTED FROM ITS HOLDER. A SINGLE PIN HOLDS IT IN PLACE. THIS PIN APPARENTLY BROKE CAUSING THE CYLINDER TO FALL OVER AND RELEASE THE BRAKE FLUID. THE CYLINDER WAS LAYNG OVER ON ITS SIDE DANGLING BY TWO WIRES. MY WIFE WAS ABOUT 80 MILES FROM HOME VISITING HER PARENTS. SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD DRIVE HOME SO IT COULD BE REPAIRED BY OUR DEALER, DAYTON TOYOTA IN DAYTON, NJ. I TOLD HER NOT TO DRIVE GIVEN THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID. IF SHE HAD DRIVEN HER STOPPING DISTANCES WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT LONGER. WE CONTACTED AAA THEN A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER - STAR TOYOTA OF BAYSIDE, NY. THEY ARRANGED FOR A FLATBED TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY SO IT STAYED AT A AAA SERVICE STATION OVERNIGHT. STAR TOYOTA NOTED THAT THEY WOULD WORK ON IT RIGHT AWAY SO MY WIFE COULD DRIVE HOME. THEY DIDN'T WORK ON IT UNTIL WEDNESDAY WHEN I HAD TO GO GET THE CAR. STAR REPLACED THE CYLINDER SUB ASSEMBLY, BLED THE SYSTEM AND REPLACED THE FLUID. MY CONCERN IS HOW MANY OTHER 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS ARE OUT THERE WITH THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. AS NOTED THERE WAS NO REASON FOR TEH FAILURE OF THE PIN HOLDING THE BRAKE FLUID CYLINDER. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING TO DEALERS TO CHECK FOR THIS PROBLEM.

I OWN A 2004 HIGHLANDER LIMITED, V6, 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC. WHEN DECELERATING AND THEN ACCELERATING, THERE IS A 1 TO 2 SECOND HESITATION BEFORE THE CAR MOVES AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME. THIS INACTION BY THE VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING ONTO A FAST-MOVING FREEWAY. NOTE: THIS HESITATION DOES NOT OCCUR IF YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I DID A WEB SEARCH TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, AND I FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS (YOU NEED TO ADD "WEB SEARCH" TO YOUR "SOURCE" LIST BELOW). SO IT'S NOT JUST MY VEHICLE. THIS DESIGN FAULT IS EVIDENT ON ALL TOYOTAS WITH THE 3.3 LITER, 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC. EVIDENTLY THE LEXUS ES330 AND RX330 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 2004 SIENNA THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO COMPLAIN, THEY SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRONICALLY-CONTROLLED TRANSMISSION, AND THAT "IT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY." I ASKED ABOUT REPROGRAMMING THE FLASH MEMORY OF THE CONTROLLER INVOLVED AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO UPDATED SOFTWARE, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. SO, I GUESS IT'S UP TO YOU TO GET TOYOTA TO DO SOMETHING. I SEE HERE ON YOUR SITE, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A REPEATABLE, MEASURABLE SYSTEM FAULT. JUST TAKE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH A V6 OUT FOR A DRIVE. THEN SLOW DOWN A BIT, THEN ACCELERATE AS YOU WOULD NORMALLY. THE CAR WILL HESITATE. EVERY TIME. NOW DO THIS WHILE YOU'RE MERGING ONTO A FAST-MOVING FREEWAY. WHEN IT HESITATES, YOU'LL DO AN "OH,?!@#$%" AND ACCELERATE HARDER, AT WHICH POINT THE TRANSMISSION WILL HESITATE SLIGHTLY AGAIN, THEN SHIFT DOWN. THE ENGINE WILL REV UP AND YOU'LL ROAR OUT ONTO THE FREEWAY LIKE AN IDIOT. PLEASE. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT, IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. *TR

DT: 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH HESITATION PROBLEM. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN ENTERING INTERSTATE AND NEED TO ACCELERATE, IT HESITATES THEN QUICKLY JOLTS. TAKEN TO DEALER WHO SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. EXPLAINED VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND IS NOT CONTROLLED BY A THROTTLE CABLE AS PART OF FEDERAL EMISSIONS REGULATION, THIS MAKES CHANGING GEARS A LITTLE LONGER TO DO SINCE THE THROTTLE DOES NOT OPEN ALL THE WAY OUT . *TT

EXCESSIVE SULFUR DIOXIDE IN 2004 V6 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, THERE IS ALREADY A TSB ON THE V4, BUT I OWN A V6 AND HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW (STOP AND GO AND ACCELERATION, THERE IS A ROTTEN-EGG SMELL). I'VE BEEN TOLD BY 2 TOYOTA SERVICE STATIONS THAT IT IS THE GAS. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE. I'VE TRIED EVERY TYPE OF GAS AVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING THE NORMAL VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE CAUSES THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR TO FALL DOWN OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD. THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY ESPECIALLY IF THE ROAD IS UNEVEN AND ON THE FREEWAY. THE VISOR CONTAINS A FACTORY GARAGE DOOR OPENER BUILT IN. I AM 6'1" TALL; THUS, THE VIEW OF THE ROAD IS MOSTLY OBSTRUCTED. THIS FIRST OCCURRED AS I WAS DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, FORTUNANTLY I WAS NOT INVOLED IN AN ACCIDENT. IF I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE OF THIS CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA REQUESTING INFORMATION ON A QUICK FIX, IF APPLICABLE, AND ASKED IF THEY ARE WILLING TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING THE DEFECT AS THE WARRANTY OF THE VEHICLE HAS EXPIRED.

2004 HIGHLANDER HAS BAD THROTTLE SURGE PROBLEM .....DEALER DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO.....SAYS IT IS NORMAL????? THERE IS DEFINITLY A PROBLEM.....JUST READ SOME OF THE INTERNET SITES ON THIS AND YOU WILL SEE....

ON 3/17/05 I DROVE MY TOYOTA 2004 HIGHLANDER, 2,025 MILEAGE, ONTO A MAIN STREET AT ABOUT 5 MPH. A BEEPING SOUNDED, THE SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT BLINKED SLIGHTLY, AND HORRIBLE CRUNCHING AND CLANGING SOUNDS OCCURED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP. I TRIED TO SLOWLY RESUME DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE AND THE DEALER SENT A TOW TRUCK. THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITHIN THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH INTERACTS WITH THE YAW AND STEERING ANGLE SENSORS, AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THERE IS ALSO SUPPOSE TO BE A G-SENSOR ACCORDING TO TOYOTA'S WEB SITE GLOSSARY. (THE DEALER NEVER HEARD OF THE G-SENSOR). THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND SINCE I'VE ONLY DRIVEN IT A FEW MILES, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S OKAY. WHAT IF THE REPLACEMENT SENSOR IS ALSO BAD? I OFTEN DRIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS ALONE, AND AM EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT IT. I AM RETIRED AND BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY, RELYING ON TOYOTA'S EXPERTISE, OR SO I THOUGHT! THE VSC SITUATION IS VERY SERIOUS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. I NOW WISH I HAD BOUGHT A HONDA PILOT. *AK

WE PURCHASED A 2004 V6/5 SPEED AUTO 2WD TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN JUNE, 04. IT HAS A HESITATION PROBLEM WHICH CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD. IT LOSES POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER DECELERATING AND RE- ACCELERATING TO CHANGE LANES OR MAKE LEFT TURNS, THEREBY EXPOSING A POWERLESS, DECELERATING CAR TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE. THEY CLAIM IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, THEY CANNOT FIX. THEY SAY IT OCCURS AS A RESULT OF THE ADAPTIVE LEARNING ALGORITHM IN THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION PACKAGE. CHECK THE EDMONDS TOWN HALL BY SEARCHING FOR "HESITATION" AND YOU'LL FIND IT REPORTED SINCE 12/03 BY HIGHLANDER, CAMRY, SOLARA, LEXUS RX330 AND LEXUS CAMRY EQUIVALENT OWNERS ALL HAVING GOTTEN NO COMMITMENT BY TOYOTA TO FIX IT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS DESCRIBED BY THE CLASSICAL DEFINITIONS. IT OCCURS FREQUENTLY (IN MOST VEHICLES AND IN NORMAL OPERATION, AND MORE THAN A FEW OF THE OCCURRENCES WILL EXPOSE THE OCCUPANTS TO SEVERE PERSONAL INJURY. TOYOTA CLAIMS THE HESITATION IS "NORMAL" BECAUSE ALL THE HIGHLANDERS ON THE LOT DO IT--WHICH ONLY REINFORCES THE HIGH FREQUENCY ESTIMATE. FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY ARE NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN OFFER TO HAVE A TOYOTA REP CONFIRM YOUR CAR HAS IT AND THEN TO TAKE THE ISSUE TO ARBITRATION. ITS TIME FOR YOU TO INVESTIGATE, BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS OCCUR. IF WE CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME. JIM MULLEN. *AK *JB

POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING THE 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT HERE AND WITH TOYOTA ABOUT THE CAR CUTTING OUT BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH WHICH IS DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. THE HESITATION IS MORE PREVALENT NOW WITH 10,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH AT 700 MILES IT WAS INFURIATING NOT KNOWING IF YOU WERE SAFE TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC OR MAKE A LEFT TURN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COMPANY CAN SELL UNSAFE CARS AND BE ALLOWED TO CHEAT THE PEOPLE WHO PAID FOR THEM. WHEN THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED OF COURSE. HOW LONG BEFORE SOMEONE HOLDS TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS? HOW DO INDIVIDUALS FIGHT LARGE FOREIGN COMPANIES? ISN'T IT THIS AGENCY'S JOB TO MAKE SURE AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE SAFE AND TREATED FAIRLY? *JB

OWNER STATED THAT WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP HE TEST DROVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE OWNER FOUND THAT THE MEASUREMENTS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE NOT THE SAME IN EACH VEHICLE THAT WAS TEST DRIVEN. *AK

THERE WAS A SEAT BELT LOCKING REEL FAILURE THAT HAD OCCURRED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE SIDE. *SC *JB

SAFETY CONCERN WITH 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TRANSMISSION. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTS IN A HESITATION MODE THEN SURGES. THE VEHICLE TAKES A LONG TIME TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. *TC *JB

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER SAID IT WAS "NORMAL", BUT I SEE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AND THE NHTSA IS CONTEMPLATING A FORMAL INVESTIGATION. MY HIGHLANDER HESITATES EVERY TIME I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS AND QUICKLY REAPPLY IT. IN SOME CONDITIONS, IT HAPPENS AS I'M DECELERATING AND PRESS THE GAS. ALSO, PERIODICALLY, THE TRANSMISSION WILL JUMP BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN GEARS AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE DOESN'T KNOW WHICH GEAR TO BE IN.*AK

ERRONEOUS "REMINDER" FROM TOYOTA STATES THEY PREVIOUSLY SENT AN "OFFICIAL SAFETY RECALL NOTIFICATION" FOR "SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN SSC 40B" RE "CHILD PROTECTION LOCK SYSTEM". WE HAVE RECEIVED NO PREVIOUS NOTICE OF THIS ALLEGED RECALL. I HAVE ALREADY SENT A SEPARATE INQUIRY AND COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA MOTORS, USA ABOUT THIS. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT WE MISSED THE FIRST NOTICE, AND THAT TOYOTA CAN'T KEEP IT STRAIGHT WHO THEY NOTIFIED AND WHO THEY DIDN'T NOTIFY. *JB

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED V6 AWD. THE CAR HAS EXTREMELY DANGERIOUS PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS WHICH WILL BE THE CAUSE OF MANY ACCIDENTS. THERE IS AN UNEXPECTED AND VARYING DEGREE OF LAG IN ACCELERATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCLERATE TO MERGE ON HIGHWAYS OR TO MAKE TURNS ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SEVERE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHICH WILL LEAD TO LOSS OF LIFE. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS "JUST A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR" AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. THIS KIND OF "CHARACTERISTIC" IS TOO DANGEROUS TO JUST ACCEPT THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM!*AK

ENGINE HESITATION AND DELAYED ACCELERATION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE SLIP LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT STEERING NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED, AND ALIGNED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK......STEERING SENSOR IS ON BACK ORDER FOR 1 MONTH. THIS SENSOR IS ON BOTH THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND SIENNA. *AK

WAS T-BONED ON DRIVERS SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER MAKES A TERRIBLE HUMMING / MOANING SOUND ON ACCELERATION THAT RESONATES WITHIN THE VEHICLES AND DISTURBS THE DRIVER. THE PROBLEM TYPICALLY OCCURS DURING SPEEDING UP FROM 0 MPH. IT IS TERRIBLY FRUSTRATING THAT A BRAND NEW CAR MAKES SUCH A ANNOYING SOUND. IT IS ALSO HESITATES A LOT DURING 20-40 MPH SPEED RANGE. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND AS IT SUPPOSED TO ON ACCELERATION AND THAT TOO SPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING WITHIN THE CITY. ON CANTACTING THE DEALER AND TOYOTA'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE THAY SAID IT IS DESIGNED TO BE LIKE THAT AND THE HESITATION IS A BY-PRODUCT OF COMPUTER CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS. AM TERRIBLY FRUSTRATED NOW AND PROMISE TO NEVER BUY ANY VEHICLE FROM TOYOTA IN FUTURE. I WOULD ALSO MAKE SURE THAT MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES DOES NOT GO NEAR A TOYOTA DEALER. I AM DESPERATE IN GETTING RID OF THIS VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND DEALER PERFORMED REPAIRS. SHORTLY AFTER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE BRAKES ARE STILL NOT PERFORMING AS THEY SHOULD. THE TIRE WORE OUT PREMATURELY AT 24000 MILES. *NM

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS INVOLVED IN CRASH. THE DOORS WERE NOT LOCKED WHEN TRAVELING, BUT WERE LOCKED WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AFTER CRASH. OCCUPANTS COULD NOT GET OUT. THEY COULD NOT TURN OFF KEY. THEY COULD NOT BREAK WINDOWS TO GET OUT, EITHER, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY KICKED THEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER. IF THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE, THE OCCUPANTS WOULD HAVE DIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER REAR WINDOWS. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE ALMOST LOOSES CONTROL DUE TO THE NOISE. THE NOISE FROM THE WINDOW NOT ONLY CHANGES THE AIR PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OR FASTER IT HURTS BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS EARS. THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO HEAR EMERGENCY VEHICLES AS THEY APPROACH. *TC

HAVE EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION HESITATION PROBLEM ON 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TOYOTA WHO INSIST THAT THE CAR IF FINE AND PERFORMING TO THEIR SPECS. ALSO CONTACTED THEIR REGIONAL OFFICE AND WAS TOLD TO PERIODICALLY CHECK WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN MAY HAVE BEEN ISSUES, BUT AS OF NOW NOTHING WAS BEING WORKED ON. TOYOTA DID ISSUES A TSB ON A DIFFERENT 2004 MODEL. AS MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR USUALLY WITH CHILDREN I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS HESITATION. *JB

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE WITH FASTER MOVING TRAFFIC THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION. I'VE NEARLY BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE I JUST COULDN'T GET UP TO SPEED IN TIME. THIS IS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, V6 AWD. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WITH NO RESULTS.*AK

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. *NM THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE SHIFTS IN A HESITATION THEN SURGING MANNER NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. SHIFTING IS VERY ABRUPT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE IS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *TC

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, V6, FWD. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO DOWNSHIFT SOMEWHAT UNEXPECTEDLY, BUT WORSE, WHEN I NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY SUCH AS MERGING IN TO TRAFFIC ON AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THERE IS A HESITATION OR LAG BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTS TO ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN APRIL AND HAPPENS ON A CONTINUING BASIS.

TRANSMISSION HESITATION AND SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTING CREATE UNPREDICTABLE AND HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ON THE STREETS (NOT HIGHWAY).*AK

OUR NEW 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS HESITATION PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING AROUND 10-30 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THERE ARE A LOT OF SITUATIONS THAT EVEN A SECOND HESITATION CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENT, SUCH AS MAKING A QUICK LEFT TURN IN A BUSY INTERSECTION TO AVOID ON COMING CARS. HERE IS HOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM: DRIVE THE CAR OVER 25 MILES PER HOUR, THEN GRADUALLY SLOW IT DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR. PRESS DOWN THE GAS PADDLE VERY BRIEFLY, REGARDLESS HOW HARD THE PADDLE IS HIT, THE CAR WILL NOT RESPONSE.*AK

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HESITATES ON ACCELERATION AS WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. THERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE WHEN THIS HESITATION WILL OCCUR MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO JUDGE WHEN IT IS SAFE TO MERGE OR WHEN SOMEONE MIGHT REAR END YOU.

MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EXHIBITS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION AT THE START OF RAPID ACCELERATION THAT I BELIEVE IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED AND THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED TO BEGIN A RAPID ACCELERATION (PASSING A SLOWER VEHICLE OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC), A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION IS PRESENT BEFORE THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO ACCELERATE. THIS DELAYED RESPONSE TO THE ACCELERATOR INPUT CAN PLACE THE VEHICLE IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE CANNOT GET OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER TRAFFIC. I BELIEVE THIS BEHAVIOR COULD RESULT IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AND POTENTIAL INJURY TO PEOPLE. *AK

PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS LEAVING YOU STUCK IN TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION AND OR GAS KICK IN 2 SECONDS LATER. *JB

CAR LAGS WHEN SHIFING WHN COLD. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS 'NORMAL"*AK

HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. HAPPENS EACH TIME AIR CONDITIONER IS ON...NOT JUST AN ISOLATED CASE.*AK

I PURCHASED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN MARCH 2004, LARGELY ON THE MERITS OF TOYOTA'S SAFETY RECORD AND USER REVIEWS OF DRIVEABILITY. WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF DRIVING, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A HESITATION IN THE THROTTLE UPON ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS...AS IF THE CAR HAD TO "THINK ABOUT IT" BEFORE DECIDING TO RESPOND. TOOK IT IN TO DEALER WHO FOUND "NOTHING WRONG"...NEEDED BREAK-IN PERIOD, HE SAID. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND RESULTED IN AT LEAST TWO OCCURRENCES THAT CAUSED CONCERN: ONE MAKING LEFT HAND TURN IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ONE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY. HESITATION WAS PRONOUNCED ENOUGH TO CAUSE MOMENT OF PANIC...KIDS IN CAR ETC. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO HAD EXPLANATION OF USE OF DRIVE-BY-WIRE THROTTLE TECHNOLOGY USED IN FIGHTER PLANES, SAID THAT TOYOTA KNEW OF ISSUE BUT THERE WAS NO WAY FOR THEM TO CALIBRATE. I THEN WENT TO INTERNET TO SEE IF COULD VALIDATE AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. I AM FILING COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT TOYOTA WILL PRESS SOLUTION TO AVOID THE INEVITABLE ACCIDENT. *NM

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED V6 4WD. I WAS MERGING ON A HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP SLOWING DOWN TO TIME THE TRAFFIC WHEN I SAW A GAP TO MERGE. I PRESSED ON THE GAS AND THE HIGHLANDER HESITATED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I KEEP PUMPING ON THE GAS AND THE HL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, LUCKLY FOR ME THE TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER THAT I WAS MERGING INFRONT OF MOVED TO THE NEXT LANE IN TIME OR HE WOULD HAVE PLOWED ME INTO A CONCRETE BRIDGE ABUTMENT. *AK

TOYOTA 2004 HIGHLANDER PURCHASED NEW ON 7/1/04 HAS TRANSMISSION SURGING AND DRIVETRAIN "CLUNK" WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR. DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TO NO AVAIL AND CLAIMS IT IS PART OF "FLY-BY-WIRE" DESING BY MANUFACTURER. *AK

I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ON 3/26/2004 AND AFTER ABOUT 2 MONTHS STARTED NOTICING A PROBLEM WITH HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR WHEN PASSING. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT DIES FOR 1 TO 2 SECONDS AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT A LIGHT WITH ONCOMING CARS FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THIS ALSO CAUSES PROBLEMS WHEN TRYING TO MERGE WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC OR WHEN PASSING. THIS OCCURES EVERY DAY AND WHEN IT WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA SERVICE THEY STATED IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NO FIX OR TECHNICAL BULLETIN. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS A CONSTANT MINOR HESITATION AND SURGING BEHAVIOR IN ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION SITUATIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT COULD BE A TRUE 'HAZARD' BUT IT IS QUITE ANNOYING.*AK

OUR 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS CONSISTENT ACCELERATION "DELAYS" THAT NOT ONLY MAKE THE VEHICLE A CHORE TO DRIVE BUT AT TIMES CAN BE DANGEROUS EX. MERGING WITH MOVING TRAFFIC.*AK

HESITATION ON ACCELERATION. *AK

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HESITATES ON ACCELERATION MAKING DRIVING IN TRAFFIC EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND ADDS MORE RISK TO BEING REAR ENDED. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NO FIX. *JB AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED I WAS TOLD THERE ISN'T A WAY TO REPAIR IT, YET THE DEALER REFUSES TO REFUND THE COST OF A 4 MONTH OLD CAR WITH 5000 MILES ON IT. *JB

VEHICLE; 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED, V6 ENGINE, AUTO TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A DEFINITE HESITATION/LAG/DELAY IN SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION. THIS CONDITION HAPPENS ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME AND CREATES A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. MODERATE ACCELERATION WILL PRODUCE THIS CONDITION. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS CONDITION BUT IS DOING NOTHING TO CORRECT IT.

I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN MARCH. AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF DRIVING I NOTICED THAT WHILE BRAKING AT A LIGHT, SOMETIMES THE BRAKE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE. WHEN THE DEALER LOOKED AT MY CAR HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND SAID IT WAS A "POWER SURGE" I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS AND WHY THEY DIDN'T FIX IT, BUT THE CAR STILL DOES IT 3 MONTHS LATER. ALSO I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO STALL WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC ONTO A HIGHWAY. I HAVEN'T BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE RE: THE LAST ISSUE BUT I EXPECT THE SAME WRITEOFF ANSWER THAT THEY GAVE ME FOR THE FIRST PROBLEM.

I HAVE OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 4-WD VEHICLE SINCE JULY 10, 2004. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I NOTICED THERE WAS SOME HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND ON OCCASION THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO DOWN SHIFT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN AGAINST TRAFFIC WITHOUT A TURN ARROW OR PULLING OUT INTO ANY KIND OF TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES IT WILL GO - OFTEN TIMES THERE IS A 1-2 SECOND DELAY. *AK I HAVE ALSO NOTICED ON OCCASION THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SUDDENTLY THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS WITH NO CHANGE IN ACCELERATION ON THE DRIVER'S PART. THIS MAKES FOR A JUMPY FEEL IN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY A VERY SMOOTH DRIVING CAR. IN ADDITION, IT IS WREAKING HAVOC ON MY MILEAGE (AM CURRENTLY GETTING 17.1 MPG EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY). I CAN SEE THESE PROBLEMS LEADING TO ACCIDENTS AND I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF CLOSE CALLS ALREADY. I ALSO HAVE TEENAGED DRIVERS AND THERE IS NO WAY I CAN FEEL THEY ARE SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN TWO TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. I AM TOLD THAT THE HIGHLANDER HAS A "UNIQUE SHIFT PATTERN" AND THE TECHNICIAN DIDN'T NOTICE ANY HESITATION PROBLEMS. UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED HESITATION RIGHT AWAY. I SUPPOSE THEY ARE CHOOSING TO IGNORE THESE PROBLEMS. THE SUGGESTION WAS THAT I SPEAK TO MY SALESMAN AND MAYBE THEY WOULD OFFER ME A GOOD DEAL ON ANOTHER MODEL SINCE I HAVE JUST 2,000 MILES ON THE HIGHLANDER. WHAT KIND OF SOLUTION IS THAT? FURTHERMORE, I WENT TO THIS DEALER'S WEBSITE AND FOUND SEVERAL LOW-MILEAGE HIGHLANDERS FOR SALE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY HAVE HAD TO SATISFY OTHER OWNERS BY TRADE AS WELL. ASIDE FROM THAT, NOTHING WAS DONE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEMS.

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH APPROX. 11,000 MILES. 6CYL. 2W/D I HAVE NOTICED A SLIGHT BUT CONSISTENT HESITATION BETWEEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND ACTUALLY ACCELERATING. I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THAT WHEN ACCELLERATING HEAVILY, AS TO PASS ANOTHER CAR, THE HIGHLANDER ACTUALLY SEEMS TO PAUSE, AND TO EVEN MOMENTARILY SLOW DOWN INSTEAD OF ACELLERATING. AND THEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATES. THIS DELAY IS GREATER THAN 1-2 SECONDS AND IS SIGNIFICANTLY NOTICABLE. THIS IS NOT A SITUATION WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DROPING SMOOTHLY INTO A LOWER GEAR TO ACCELLERATE. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURED TO ME I THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FULLY DISINGAGED OR OTHERWISE FAILED. I HAD TIME TO BRIEFLY CONSIDER HOW I WAS GOING TO GET SAFELY OUT OF TRAFFIC & ONTO THE SHOULDER BEFORE IT SUDDENLY ACCELLERATED. PLEASE UNDERSTAND, THE ENGINE IN FACT DID REV IN ACCELERATION WHILE THE VEHICLE ITSELF SLOWED BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SURGED INTO CONNECTION AT A HIGH RPM. THIS IS MY WIFES VEHICLE. SHE'S DESCRIBED THIS "SURGING" BEFORE AND I PRETTY MUCH BLEW HER OFF UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO ME. NO MORE. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. IN THE MEANTIME TOYOTA, OR MORE ACCURATELY THE MECHANIC AT THE TOYOTA DEALER, TELLS ME THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AS FAIRLY COMMON, BUT DON'T HAVE A FIX AND HAVE NOT ENTERED A BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERS. AGAIN, THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK

BOUGHT A NEW '04 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER MAY 3. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS DRIVING IT BECAME DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN HEAVY/FAST TRAFFIC. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM UNTIL I INSISTED REPEATEDLY. THEN THEY 'FOUND THE PROBLEM' BUT THERE IS NO FIX. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE KILLED. WHY ISN'T TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM ON A $30,000 VEHICLE?? *JB

CAR HAS AN UNACCEPTABLE LAG WHEN ACCELERATING. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS A DANGEROUS HESITATION ON LOW SPEED ACCELERATION. WHEN SLOWLY ROLLING FORWARD, AND THEN ACCELERATING, SUCH AS TO PULL OUT FROM A SIDE STREET, THE VEHICLE WILL OFTEN HESITATE FOR 1 SECOND OR MORE. THIS SOMETIMES RESULTS IN ALMOST GETTING INTO A SIDE IMPACT CRASH, AS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PULL ACROSS THE LANE OUT OF THE WAY OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. *JB

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS RESULTED IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR-ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. *AK IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PIVOT BRACKET HAD BENT, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. *SC *JB

THE HEAD REST ON THE THIRD ROW OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN. IT WILL NOT STAY UP. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

THE 1994 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT THE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AND AT THE VERY LEAST UNACCEPTABLE FROM A QUALITY CONSUMER STANDPOINT. WHEN THE REAR WINDOW IS PUT DOWN IT CREATES A WIND NOISE AND VIBRATION THAT IS DANGEROUS TO THE PASSENGERS AND DRIVER. IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE THAT TOYOTA COULD LET THIS GO ON WITHOUT A RECALL OR AT THE VERY LEAST A WARNING AND A BETTER SOLUTION THAN "OPEN UP THE FRONT WINDOWS BEFORE OPERATING THE BACK ONES". AFTER JUST ONE MONTH OF OPERATION I AM REALLY QUESTIONING IF I WILL EVER OWN A TOYOTA AGAIN.*AK

THE NEW MODEL YEAR 04 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUV AND SIENNA VANS HAVE POORLY DESIGNED AND OR MISADJUSTED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, CAUSING BLINDING GLARE TO ON COMING DRIVERS, DRIVERS IN FRONT OF THESE VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS WALKING AT NIGHT. THESE EXCESSIVELY GLARING LIGHTS DISTRACT AND CAUSE EYE PAIN TO OTHER DRIVERS AND TEMPORARY BLINDNESS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ESPECIALLY FOR PEDESTRIANS WALKING AGAINST TRAFFIC AT NIGHT.*AK

JACK SUPPLIED WITH VEHICLE IS INADEQUATE FOR SIZE/WEIGHT OF VEHICLE PARTICULARLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL 16" WHEELS. *JB

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM, IN A BRAND NEW TOYOTA HIGHLANDER CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. (IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TWICE BEFORE)

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A NISSAN PATHFINDER CUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I CRASHED INTO HIM. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN HE SUDDENLY VEERED INTO MY LAND. I TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT THERE WASN'T TIME AND I HIT THE BACK OF HIS PATHFINDER AND THEN SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE GUARDRAIL. THE SEAT BELTS EXPLODED, BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, UPON EITHER IMPACT. THE FIREMEN JUST SHOOK THEIR HEADS IN DISBELIEF AND MY CAR'S DAMAGE (~$9000). MY HIGHLANDER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BACK TO ME IN 2-3 WEEKS, BUT IT HAS BEEN NINE WEEKS AND THE CAR STILL ISN'T FIXED DUE TO BACK ORDERS AT TOYOTA. THE NUISANCE OF THE TOYOTA BACKORDERS MAKES ME VERY UNSATISFIED WITH TOYOTA. THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY IS SCARY AND MAKES ME VERY LEERY OF THE HIGHLANDER AND DECREASES MY FAITH IN TOYOTA, ONCE I DO GET IT BACK. (AL

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. ON MY WAY TO GEORGIA ON INTERSTATE 75, WHILE GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR, I ROLLED DOWN THE BACK WINDOWS.THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHOOK AND THE PRESSURE INSIDE WAS PIERCING TO MY EARS, I FELT LIKE THE BACK REAR WINDOW WAS GOING TO BLOW OUT. THE VHEICLE SHOOK SO VIOLENTY, I HAD A VERY HARD TIME KEEPING UNDER CONTROL WHILE I ROLLED UP THE WINDOWS IT SCARED ME SO BAD, I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER (COURTESTY TOYOTA) PUT IN WIND BREAKS OR VENTS, OVER THE SIDE WINDOWS SO THAT I WAS ABLE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS AND DRIVE SAFELY AND THE DEALER REFUSED MY REQUEST. I TOLD THE DEALER, THAT I BELIEVED THIS SITUATION WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY STILL REFUSED MY REQUEST. I ASKED TO SEE THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, THAT WIND BREAKS "WOULD NOT HELP" THE SITUATION. HE SAID THAT IF I WOULD PUT DOWN THE FRONT WINDOWS A FIVE OR SIX INCHES, I WOULD NOT HAVE THE WIND PROBLEM IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I TOLD HIM, I DO NOT ALWAYS WANT THE FRONT WINDOW OPEN, WHEN I AM DRIVING, SOMETIMES, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE SOME AIR IN THE BACK. (I ALSO SAID, SUPPOSE SOME CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT SUDDENLY DECIDED TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW WHILE THE MOTHER WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE). AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS YOU WILL LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE WIND AND THE VEHICLE SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY. THE REASON I CHOSE THE HIGHLANDER WAS THAT THE BACK WINDOWS OPENED. I TAKE MY DOGS WITH ME WHEN I TRAVEL AND THEY CAN GET AIR WHILE THEY ARE RIDING IN THE BACK.*AK