2005 Toyota Highlander 4-DR.

Driver's seat belt locked up so I was unable to wear it, I hit a deer tried to swerve to miss it, and my car was shaking uncontrollably.

The contact owns a Mifold Original Grab-and-Go Booster Seat, Model Number: MF01/US, Manufactured Date: May 3, 2019. The contact stated that her daughter had unbuckled the seat belt but was unable to unlatch the seat belt from the buckle. The seat belt was extremely tight and would not loosen from the child restraint. Since her daughter remained stuck in the child restraint, the contact had to cut the seat belt to remove her child from the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The seat belt was not replaced. The failure mileage was unknown.

MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER LOOKS TO BE LEAKING NEAR THE BRAKE BOOSTER. I KNOW THAT IT WAS REPLACED BY TOYOTA DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V499000. HOWEVER I DO NOT REMEMBER THE YEAR. I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE NEXT TIME I TRIED TO STEP ON THE PEDAL IT WAS WORKING OK. BUT THEN THE 3RD TIME I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WAS GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AGAIN. THIS WAS A SHOCKED SINCE IT GOT ME TO WORK 9 HOURS EARLIER WITH NO ISSUE. I GOT HOME AND CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL AND LOOKED TO BE AT THE CORRECT LEVEL. I DID NOT DRIVE UNTIL NEXT DAY TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK INSIDE THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. IT STILL IS IN THE SHOP, HOWEVER I REMEMBERED THAT IT WAS "SWAPPED OUT" WITH A NEW ONE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V499000. COULD IT BE POSSIBLE THAT THE RECALLED FOR THE NEW PART IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN GET REPLACED AGAIN UNDER THE RECALL, OR HAVE TO PAY THE $550 FOR NEW PART AND LABOR. THANK YOU

SHORT IN MASTER WINDOW SWITCH

REAR BREAK LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT WITH FUSE BLOWING. NO REAR LIGHTS AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I KEEP REPLACING THE 10A FUSE BUT CAN'T FIND CAUSE OF FAILURE. VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. CAUSE OF LIGHTS SUDDENLY GOING OUT IS UNKNOWN.

INVOLVED IN THEE CAR T-BONE COLLISION THAT CAUSED SEVERAL INJURIES TO UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES. THE AIR-BAG FAILED TO INFLATE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION ON A RURAL ROAD AND TURNING LEFT.

BRAKE FLUID HAS TO BE REFILLED EVERY 500 MILES. THERE MUST BE A LEAK SOMEWHERE IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. ONCE WE ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKE NEARLY FAILED DUE TO ABSENCE OF BRAKE FLUID

ENGINE SLUDGE

ON 7/23/2011 I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP IN MY VEHICLE. I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR TRAVELING 70MPH+ AND PUSHED INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OFF, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROVE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CARMAN FORD LINCOLN (193 S DUPONT HWY, NEW CASTLE, DE 19720 AT (302) 323-2300) WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS REPAIRED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE STABILITY CONTROL AND PARKING BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, AND THE RADIO AND CLOCK STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRICE TOYOTA (168 N DUPONT HWY, NEW CASTLE, DE 19720 (302) 322-8600) WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT OTHER FAILURES MAY OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,271.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO PROPERLY FUNCTION FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW INTERMITTENTLY AND THE REAR WINDOWS FAILED TO ELECTRONICALLY CLOSE AND OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (TEXAS TOYOTA OF GRAPEVINE, 701 E STATE HWY 114, GRAPEVINE, TX 76051, (817) 329-5949) FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. IN ADDITION, THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN THE DEALER MAY PROVIDE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM AN ELECTRICAL RECALL TO SERVICE THE POWER MASTER WINDOW SWITCH FAILURE FOR THE WINDOWS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TRANSAXLE VENT IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO EXHAUST, POTENTIAL OF CATASTRAPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO TOTAL SUDDEN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLIUD. LEAK IS CAUSE BY A DEFECTIVE SEAL

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL.

MY HIGHLANDER HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY GAVE OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT STARTED BY DOWNSHIFTING SUDDENLY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THEN I LOST ALL FORWARD POWER AND HAD TO COAST TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. I AM NOW STUCK PAYING A $3500+ REPAIR BILL DESPITE KEEPING UP ON REGULAR MAINTENANCE ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS MAINTENANCE GUIDE. AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS, I FOUND OUT THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE TRANSMISSIONS USED BY THE RAV4S AND HIGHLANDERS, BUT TOYOTA HAS ONLY ISSUED RECALLS FOR THE RAV4S? VERY DISAPPOINTING. *TR

ANTI-SKID COMPUTER HAS GONE BAD, ACTIVATING SKID CONTROL CONSTANTLY ( CUTTING POWER AND APPLYING BRAKES ) ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING IN WARM DRY WEATHER. MANY TIMES YOU CAN NOT EVEN PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC SAFELY, IT CUTS POWER ONCE YOU START TO MOVE. VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING BY BOTH INDEPENDENTS AND THE DEALER, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE COMPUTER (ANTI-SKID ECU) HAS A DEFECT. KNOWN ISSUE. KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUES THE CAR AT $8500 (PRIVATE SALE) AND THIS REPAIR WILL BE OVER $2500. VEHICLE HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT. BELONGS TO MY ELDERLY MOTHER, WHO IS ON A FIXED INCOME. DRIVING THE CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. COME TO A STOP (LIGHT, CROSS ROADS,ETC). THEN GO, IT ACTIVATES AND CUTS ALL POWER TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. YOU ARE JUST SITTING THERE, AND CAN NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. IF YOU ARE MERGING, OR CROSSING TRAFFIC, YOU ARE NOW IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

BOUGHT THE CAR AND NOT EVEN A WEEK AFTER OWNING IT I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY REPLACED THE TRANS AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST, THERE IS A HUGE HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SLOWING TO AN ALMOST STOP AND RE ACCELERATING. THE RPM'S REV UP BUT THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND SOMETIMES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE A NEW TRANS IN MY CAR, FLUID LEVELS ARE PERFECT THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN UPDATED AND STILL HAVING HUGE ISSUES WITH MY TRANS. THIS IS DANGEROUS VERY DANGEROUS.

WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING WHERE I WORK, BACKING UP, THE ENGINE IDDLE WENT EXTREMELY HIGH AND I TRIED TO STOP, BUT I COULD NOT DO IT BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED. I TRIED TO PUT THE GEAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT INSTEAD, IT WENT STRAIGH TO DRIVE, SO IT CAUSES MAJOR DAMAGES TO 2 VEHICLES BEHIND MINE, AND OTHER 3 IN FRONT OF MINE TOO. ALSO MY VEHICLE DESTROYED A MAIL BOX AND A TREE, BUT I COULD NOT STOP UNTIL MY HIGHLANDER STOPPED BY ITSELF TOTALLY DESTROYED. I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH SOME TRAUMA.

NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND STEERING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME WE MADE A TURN TO EITHER THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. WE THEN TOOK OUR 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE ADVISED US THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FLEX COUPLING WAS LOSE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO POTENTIAL BALL BARRIERING LOSE. CLICKING SOUND WENT AWAY ONCE STEERING WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS ALSO A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE STEERING.

THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR IS DROOPING MORE AND MORE. NOW IT IS PARTLY IN MY LINE OF SIGHT (I'M 6'3") AND WHEN I HIT A BUMP IT DROPS DOWN EVEN FURTHER AND BLOCKS ABOUT HALF OF MY VISION OUT THE WINDSHIELD. VERY DANGEROUS. BEFORE I START DRIVING, I CAN GENTLY RAISE IT AND SLOWLY LET IT DROP TO WHERE IT STOPS WHERE IT ONLY PARTIALLY BLOCKS MY VISION. AS LONG AS I CAN AVOID BUMPS/POTHOLES, IT WILL STAY BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH OF A BUMP TO KNOCK IT LOOSE TO WHERE IT DROPS DOWN FURTHER AND BECOMES A SAFETY HAZARD BY BLOCKING TOO MUCH OF MY VISION. THIS STARTED SOME YEARS AGO AND HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE.

HAVE DOCUMENTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED TOYOTA WITH MY CONCERNS, NO HELP WAS PROVIDED. TRANSMISSION FAILED. PROVIDED TOYOTA WITH COMPLAINT ON OCT.14,2015. AND MANY TIMES BEFORE THEN. AFRAID FOR MY LIFE TO DRIVE IT. TURNING, JERKING, HESITATION IN TAKE OFF. ETC.

UNABLE TO STEER CAR PROPERLY ESP WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE CAR, ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS, HAD THE TENDENCY TO GO STRAIGHT (DIFFICULT TO STEER) WHEN MAKING TURNS AND THEN GOES AWAY MOST TIMES. 2ND INCIDENT, WRITER ATTEMPTED TO MERGE TO THE MAIN STREET. LAST INCIDENT TODAY.

HEWLLO MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR.IT WONT STAY UP AND HASNT FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I HAVE READ THAT A LOT OF HIGHLANDER OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO SEE.A NEW COSTS ABOUT 175.00!

WHEN DRIVING ON THE COUNTRY SIDE, WE USED THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS AND NOTICED WHEN WE STOP SMOKE FROM THE HEAD LAMPS. IT WAS SO HOT THAT MELTED THE LENS COVERS. THIS REPRESENT A HAZARD AND LIABILITY. IT CAN CAUSE A SEVERE BURN SKIN DAMAGE TO A PERSON AND PROBABLY IF LEFT MORE TIME A FIRE. TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE TECHNICAL BULLETIN T-SB-0036-08 (NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10024893) THAT ADDRESS A "DISCOLORATION ON THE LENS". MY VIN NUMBER IS INCLUDED ON THE LIST. TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MATERIAL USED, IT ABSORBS TO MUCH HEAT. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FOR FIRE AND FOR A SEVERE BURN. TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THEM. PICTURES ATTACHED AS WELL AS SERVICE TECHNICAL BULLETIN T-SB-0036-08. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT A FIRE, THE PRESENCE OF THE SMOKE INDICATE A POTENTIAL FOR FIRE IF WE HAD USE IT LONGER.

WHEN I STARTED MY CAR I NOTICED THE ABS,BRAKE,TIRE,TRAC OFF&VSC LITES WERE ALL LIT. I COULDN'T GET A DIAGNOSIS FROM MECHANIC.THESE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO STAY LIT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS SAFE. I HAVE READ AT LEAST A HUNDRED OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON BLOGS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL OFF, VSC, TIRE PRESSURE, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. ...UPDATED 09/28/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE STEERING CONTROL AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO LOSE POWER. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WOULD HAPPEN ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. UPDATED 10/06/15*JB

ON SATURDAY, MAY 30TH AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 I WAS MOVING OUR 2005 HIGHLANDER FROM THE STREET INTO OUR RESERVED PARKING SPACE WITHIN OUR COMPLEX. AS I WAS STARTING MY RIGHT HAND TURN INTO THE COMPLEX THE CAR ACCELERATOR STUCK. I HIT THE CURB ON THE DRIVER'S/LEFT SIDE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE I HIT A TREE AND KNOCKED OVER ONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S POSTED SIGNAGE. THE IMPACT MADE THE CAR BOUNCE BACKWARD PARTIALLY INTO THE DRIVE, DAMAGING THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE, DRIVE SHAFT BROKE, FRONT END PART FLEW ALL OVER AND A SMALL FIRE OCCURRED. POLICE WERE CALL AND REPORT TAKEN. THEY ESTIMATED THE SPEED AT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR. THE REPORT TAKEN WAS NOT FILED SINCE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STARTED THE VEHICLE TO GET IT ON THE TRUCK. HE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FOR HE COULD NOT GET THE WHEELS TO TURN. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 2, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A RECALL REPAIR DONE ON MAY 21, 2011, AFTER WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO INSTALL THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR CARPET COVER. WE WERE ADVISED THAT IF IT WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY, THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION. AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL TEMPORARILY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A FAILURE OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. *TR

I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND WAS GOING TO ENTER A ROAD. I WAS COASTING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 10 MPH BECAUSE I HAD TO STOP BEFORE ENTERING THE CROSS ROAD. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP, THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE HARD AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM KICKED IN WHILE THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND KEPT PUSHING THE CAR. THE ACCELERATION PUSHED ME INTO THE CROSS ROAD WHILE THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS MAKING LOTS OF NOISE,. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THE CROSS ROAD AT THAT TIME. I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BREAK, AND THE ENGINE RPM'S DROPPED DOWN TO IDLE. I THEN PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE ( BECAUSE CARS WERE NOW COMING ON THE ROAD I WANTED TO ENTER). AND I BACKED UP NORMALLY ( NO MORE ENGINE REVVING) . I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND EVERYTHING ACTED NORMAL. IT WAS VERY SCARY, BECAUSE IF CARS WERE CROSSING IN FRONT OF ME WHEN IT HAPPENED, I WOULD HAVE GONE INTO THE ROADWAY UNABLE TO STOP AND I WOULD HAVE HIT SOME ONE.

AIR CONDITIONER, CAN BE ON THE COLDEST SEATING AND THEN TURN EXTREMELY HOT. SEEMS LIKE WHEN A BUMP IS HIT, IT EFFECTS WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

I HAVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 .THE DRIV ERR S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP.IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WE HOLE DRIVING.TOYOTA, THOUGH THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR MANY HIGHLAND ERR OWN ERR 3RD WILL NOT FIX OR REPLACE IT. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL LOCKED UP. HAD TO CUT ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE. THE WHEEL STILL TOTALLY LOCKED WHEN IT HAD TO BE DRAGGED ONTO A FLAT BED. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO INJURIES. STILL NOT 100% SURE OR WHAT'S WRONG BUT GUESSING IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRACTION/ABS CONTROL SYSTEM. THEY REALLY SHOULD LOOK INTO A RECALL BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING STOP WORKING. VERY HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO PARK IN SAFE PLACE. CAR RUNS BUT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN, OBSTRUCTING VIEW, UNPREDICTABLY, DESPITE HAVING NOTHING ON IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENTIRE SUNROOF SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AREA WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE DETERIORATING. THERE WAS A PRESENCE OF A SPOT THAT WAS SPREADING ACROSS THE PLASTIC, WHICH MAY BE INTERMITTENTLY MELTING. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SPOT WAS INCREASING ON THE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENSE AND COULD IMPACT THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY UPON THE USE OF THE LOW OR HIGH BEAMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS BECAME ABNORMALLY BENT AND ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED FOR THE WHEELS TO BE ROTATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,915.

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND THROUGHOUT MY OWNERSHIP SINCE 2/2005 WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT THIS CAR HAS ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION. IT USUALLY OCCURS WHEN YOU ARE SITTING AT A STOP AND TRY TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU ARE PUSHING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL AND HAS A DELAY WHEN IT FINALLY RESPONDS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS WHERE I HAVE TRIED TO CROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION OR PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, ENDING WITH A JERK OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN T-BONED A FEW TIMES TRYING TO CROSS BUSY INTERSECTIONS AND THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO MOVE. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE ONLY RESPONSE THEY HAVE IS THAT THE CAR ADJUSTS TO DIFFERENT DRIVERS AND IT THEN PROGRAMS ITSELF BASED OFF YOUR DRIVING HABITS, SO THEY RESET THE CODING ON IT. STILL HAVE THE ISSUE, DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING AND NOW I AM READING WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD ISSUES, I JUST THINK THEY BRUSHED IT UNDER THE RUG TO NOT HAVE TO HONOR MY WARRANTY THAT WAS IN PLACE ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAVE HAD ISSUES FROM DAY 1 ON THIS CAR WITH THE TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKING, THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION PAN GASKET NUMEROUS TIMES ON THE VEHICLE; CLAIMING IT JUST WENT BAD. REALLY, THAT MANY TIMES IT JUST GOES BAD, I DON'T THINK SO. *TR

BACKING UP OUT OF DRIVEWAY PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE WENT FROM BRAKE PEDAL TO GAS PEDAL TAPING THE GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY TO INCH OUT OF DRIVEWAY SLOWLY. AFTER ONE TAP ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CHAIN LINK FENCE WHICH IN TURN CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. *TR

THERE ARE 2 MALFUNCTIONS HAPPENING ON THIS VEHICLE:1) THE DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE STOP WORKING WITH KEYLESS ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO, IT WORKS IF YOU DO IT MANUALLY. 2) BOTH VISORS-DRIVER'S AND PASSENGERS VISOR HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY LOOSER, THERE ARE NO ADJUSTMENT SCREWS, WHAT MAKES THIS SUCH A HAZARD, IF YOU HIT A BUMP AND YOU'RE IN SPEEDING TRAFFIC SOMETIMES THE VISOR JUST DROPS DOWN AND BLOCKS YOUR LINE OF SIGHT. *TR

TRAVELING AT APPROX 35MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING DECELERATED RAPIDLY TO ZERO MPH AND A LOUD GEAR - LIKE CRUNCHING AND GRINDING SOUND WAS HEARD UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE AT 1 MPH TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND WAS TOTALLY DISABLED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. MECHANICS CONCLUDED THE FRONT DRIVE DIFFERENTIAL SUFFERED A MAJOR FAILURE AND THEN RUINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *JS

SEAT BELT ON FRONT DRIVERS SEAT CONTINUES TO FOLD OVER, AND WILL NOT RETRACT. *TR

MY CAR WAS DECELERATING IN THE FAR RIGHT TURN LANE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE BRAKE HAD BEEN APPLIED APPROXIMATELY 1000 FT FROM THE INTERSECTION AS THERE WERE 3 VEHICLES STOPPED AHEAD OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING AT 10 MPH AND I INCREASED THE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THE CAR APPROACHED A STOPPED VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AHEAD OF MY VEHICLE. THE ENGINE REVVED TO THE HIGHEST RPM READING AND LURCHED FORWARD AS I CONTINUED TO APPLY FULL PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BY ADDING MY LEFT FOOT TO THE ALREADY STATIONARY RIGHT FOOT. I STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND DROVE ON THE SIDEWALK AND GRASS BETWEEN A BURGER KING AND AUTOZONE PARKING LOTS TO AVOID HITTING THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT DISENGAGE. I WAS NEARLY STANDING ON BRAKE AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH THE ENGINE SCREAMING FROM THE HIGH RPMS. I STRAIGHTENED THE CAR'S PATH TO AVOID A PARKED VEHICLE IN THE AUTOZONE PARKING LOT. I JUMPED A CURB ONTO GRASS AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL CRASHING THROUGH A CINDER BLOCK WALL SUPPORTING THE AUTOZONE SIGN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT WHICH ENGAGED THE ENGINE KILL SWITCH. WHILE STILL STANDING ON THE BRAKES, MY CAR TRAVELED ANOTHER 25-30 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE DRIVER BEHIND ME CAN CONFIRM THAT I WAS DECELERATING AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON AS THE CAR "TOOK OFF" ON ITS PATH TOWARD THE AUTOZONE SIGN. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I RECEIVED NECK, SHOULDER AND CHEST INJURIES FROM THE IMPACT. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR ON MY OWN. *TR

BOTH POWER REAR WINDOWS CAME OUT OF THEIR PWR WINDOW TRACKS. THIS ALLOWS THE WINDOW TO FALL TO THE FULLY OPEN POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT CAUSED SEVERE AIR BUFFETING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT'S SO SEVERE THAT IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS VIBRATING APART. THIS EXTREMELY LOUD PAINFUL SOUND CAUSES PANIC AS TO WHAT HAPPENED AND SEVER EAR PAIN. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE BUFFETING IS TO QUICKLY PULL OFF THE ROAD AND STOP. THE OPEN WINDOW ALSO EXPOSED OCCUPANTS AND PETS IN THE REAR SEAT AREA TO FALLING OUT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT AS THE TRACK ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW THAT CONNECTS TO THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR ARM MIGRATES SLOWLY ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW EACH TIME THE WINDOW IS OPERATED UNTIL THE MOTOR ARM FALLS OUT OF THE TRACK. THEN THE WINDOW IS FREE TO FALL DOWN AND CANNOT BE CLOSED UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THERE IS NO SERVICE BULLETIN COVERING THIS. I RECEIVED A CHUCKLE FROM THE DEALER AS HE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS COMMON $250 PER WINDOW FIX. *TR

POWER STEERING LINE CORRODED WITH FLUID LEAK. REPLACED BY MEINEKE. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN, WON'T STAY UP, AND OBSTRUCTS VIEW WHILE DRIVING. *TR

AS NOTED ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES FROM USERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS I AM, THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE; THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKELIGHT IS FAULTY. IT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN PRESSED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. DEALER HAS BEEN NO HELP UNLESS I GIVE THEM EVERY PENNY I HAVE TO MY NAME OF COURSE. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I AM NOT EXPERIENCING ALONE. PUBLIC OUTCRY FOR ASSISTANCE NEEDED ON PULLING A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE AND THANK YOU. *TR

MY TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ON MY TOYOTA 2005 HIGHLANDER AFTER 96,000 MILES. I HAVE READ OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND I AM CONVINCED THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE TO TOYOTA AND THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WOULD COST $5060,00 TO REPLACE. TOYOTA OFFERED ME .10% OFF THE COST OF REPAIRS. I WAS SHOCKED AS I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 15 MONTHS AND HAVE A 4 YEAR NOTE. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT HAVE A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT AS I WAS COMING DOWN A VERY STEEP INCLINE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL. I AM FORCED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AS I AM NOT IN THE POSITION TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE FURTHER. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 TOYOTA WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE FRONT ENGINE HOOD AREA. THERE WERE NO TROUBLE LIGHTS SHOWING FOR THE ENGINE AT THE TIME, NOR WAS THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWING A HIGH TEMPERATURE. SHE PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE GRILL AREA AND FRONT ENGINE HOOD WERE MELTING AND SCORTCHED. SHE CALLED POLICE / FIRE TO RESPOND TO THE SCENE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT HOOD, SINCE IT APPEARED THAT THE RELEASE CABLE HAD MELTED FROM THE EXTREME HEAT. THEY BENT THE HOOD UP TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE FIRE, AND THEN EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR UPON ENGAGING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRUISES AND MINOR PAIN TO THE CHEST AS A RESULT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAULTY WEBBING. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD NOT FUNCTION DURING THE CRASH. THE FRONT HOOD AND BUMPER WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,804.

BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 49K MILES APPROXIMATELY. DID NOT DO THIS FOR THE FIRST 1.5 YRS WE OWNED THIS NOW PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANNY AND DEALER TOLD US IT IS SUPPOSE TO DO THAT. I DONT THINK SO BY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FORUMS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WITH THIS TRANNY PROBLEM AND TOYOTA HAS NO FIX BUT TO REPLACE THE TRANNY FOR $5000.00 WIFE'S 2005 HIGHLANDER IS NOT SHIFTING CORRECT WHEN SHE SLOWS DOWN AND THEN TRIES TO SPEED UP OR WHEN SHE GOES AROUND A CORNER SLOW AND SPEEDS UP THE TRANNY HAS A DELAY AND THEN SHIFTS KINDA HARD. WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP SHIFTS FINE NO PROBLEMS JUST SLOWING DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATING IT WILL DELAY THEN SHIFT. IT KIND OF JERKS THE CAR AND MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT IS GOING ON. CAR HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IN TRAFFIC WITH THE DELAY SHIFTING TRYING TO MERGE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. MANY CLOSE CALLS OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. BEEN ON MANY FORUMS AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE TOYOTA DEALERS THAT THIS IS NORMAL WHICH I FEEL IS A BULL CRAP STORY JUST TO GET RID OF THE PERSON/COMPLAINT. I'M PUTTING IN THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY COMPLAINT IN MY JUDGMENT AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THESE TRANNY PROBLEMS. THANKS *TR

ENGINE/TRANSMISSION IS VERY JERKY AND ON AGAIN OFF AGAIN WITH ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, AND I AM CONSIDERING GETTING RID OF THE CAR. IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH HIGHLANDER FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME. AND I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD HONOR THE HARD WORKING CITIZENS THAT BUY THEIR VEHICLES AND PROVIDE A RECALL TO REPAIR THE AFORE MENTIONED PROBLEMS. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE SUNVISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, IT JUST FALLS DOWN AND BLOCKS DRIVERS VIEW ANY TIME AND AT THE WORST TIME! NOW IT WILL NOT STAY UP! *TR

WHEN I RETURNED FROM WORK ON 08/28/2013 I NOTICED A LEAK UNDER MY VEHICLE. I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTO MECHANIC ON 8/30/2023 AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE POWER STEERING LINE WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 74296 IN MILEAGE. I HAD THE POWER STEERING LINE REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS. *JB

THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR DROPS DOWN RANDOMLY AND OBSTRUCT MY VISION. I HAVE HAD MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THIS PROBLEM WAS FOR THE HEATING AND A\C. THIS WEBSITE TELLS OF THE PROBLEM IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE VEHICLE: WWW.DEVALCOURT.COM/2010/03/FIXING-2004-TOYOTA-HIGHLANDER-AC-AND-HEAT-ISSUE/ . THE WAY TOYOTA MADE THE WIRING (TOO SHORT FOR THE DIAL) WAS FAULTY IN THAT, AFTER REPEATED USE (WHO DOESN'T USE THEIR HEATING AND A/C REGULARLY?) THE WIRES WOULD BREAK OFF CAUSING A SHORT. WHENEVER WE DRIVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE A/C SHIFTS TO HEAT OR THE HEAT SHIFTS TO A/C. WE USED TO REMOVE THE COVER OF THE KNOB AND TIGHTEN THE HEX NUT THERE, BUT NOW THAT DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS ESPECIALLY WORRISOME IN THE WINTER WHEN THE DEFROST SHIFTS TO A/C AND THE FRONT WINDOW STARTS TO "FOG" UP. THIS MAKES FOR EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DRIVING AND INHIBITS YOUR ABILITY TO SEE CLEARLY AND NAVIGATE THE ROADS. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A DESIGN FLAW BY TOYOTA AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. PLEASE NOTE, ON THE WEBSITE MENTIONED ABOVE -- THERE ARE MANY MORE YEAR MODELS (2001, 2004 WERE ALSO MENTIONED) THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS. THANK YOU! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE WHEN IT IS ALL THE WAY UP. BECAUSE OF THE INHERENT DESIGN PROBLEM AND POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF WEIGHT AND OR VIBRATION OF THE VISOR IT FALLS DOWN MAY BE UP TO 30 DEGREES. THERE ARE TWO POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ISSUE: 1. SAFETY ISSUE: IT PARTIALLY BLOCKS THE VISION OF THE DRIVER ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS DANGEROUS. 2. PHYSICAL INJURY: WHILE THE DRIVER IS EXITING OUT OF THE CAR OR WHEN THE DRIVER MOVES HIS HEAD FORWARD, THERE ARE CHANCES THAT HE/SHE MAY BUMP THEIR FOREHEAD TO THE VISOR. *TR

IN FEB 2011 MY TOYOTA DEALER, WILDE TOYOTA, INSTALLED 4 BRAND NEW TIRES ON MY 2005 HIGHLANDER. THEY PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AS WELL. SINCE THEN MY STEERING WHEEL HAD BEEN OFF CENTERED. WHEN I DRIVE STRAIGHT I HAVE TO HOLD MY STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. WILDE TOYOTA TRIED TO FIX THIS ISSUE 4 SEPARATE TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. A TOYOTA FIELD TECH CAME OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT ITS SET TO FACTORY SPECS. AFTER HE MADE SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE HELD TO THE RIGHT SIDE NOW INSTEAD OF THE LEFT SIDE IN ORDER TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. THE FIELD TECH DECLINED TO SPEAK TO ME DIRECTLY. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE. THEY ARE NOT ALLOWING ME TO HAVE A SECOND OPINION BY ANOTHER FIELD TECH. I FEEL THAT I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

FOR A FEW DAYS THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK HESITATED OPENING WITH REMOTE KEY ACCESS. AFTER A FEW DAYS, IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK AT ALL. THE KEY DOES NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR EITHER. I MUST ENTER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO UNLOCK DRIVER SIDE DOOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ACCESSING THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DOOR. IN ADDITION, THE REMOTE KEY FOB FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 12/12/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FOB WORKS ON THE PASSENGER AND BACK DOORS, BUT NOT THE DRIVER'S SIDE. UPDATED 12/12/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SEIZED ABNORMALLY, SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE NEVER SAW ANY OF THE TECHNICIANS SERVICE HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S PERSONAL MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,333.

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RECALL NOTICE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED, HE WAS ADVISED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING TO SCHOOL TO PICK UP KIDS, THE ENGINE GOT OVERHEATED. COOLANT IS FULL IN THE RADIATOR. NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN SNOWY WEATHER AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

BROUGHT MY CAR INTO TOYOTA FOR "FLOOR CARPET COVER AND RETENTION CLIPS" AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I REPLACED THE FLOOR MATS MYSELF AT A COST OF $108.00 PLUS TAX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

ON 11/9/2011, WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80 NEAR AUBURN, CA., THE REAR WINDOW ON MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED/SHATTERED. I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER/BODYSHOP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TEMPERED GLASS AT MY EXPENSE ($468). THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. TWO WEEKS LATER ON 11/28/2011, WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80 NEAR ROCKLIN, CA., THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED/SHATTERED SENDING SHARDS OF GLASS INTO THE VEHICLE AND OUT. THE CAR IS GETTING REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE ($408). TOYOTA CLAIMS THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WORTHY OF INVESTIGATION. DURING THE SECOND INCIDENT, A PASSENGER WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED HAD THEY BEEN SITTING NEXT TO THE EXPLODING GLASS. IF THE WINDOW HAD BEEN THE DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH. AS IT WAS, THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE MEASURES TO AVOID THE FLYING GLASS. THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN 2 INCIDENTS WITHIN TWO WEEKS INVOLVING 2 SEPARATE OEM GLASS SUGGESTS A POSSIBLE DEFECT. *KB

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE KEEPS FALLING OUT OF ITS PLACE AND OBSTRUCTING VIEWS . I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT MORE THAN $400.00 TO FIX IT. THE VISOR FALLING DOWN IS DANGEROUS AND DISTRACTING. IN MY ABLE OPINION TOYOTA HAS TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR

WE WERE INVOLVED IN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. A MOTORCYCLE WAS SPEEDING AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR WAS SEVERELY BASHED IN, THE STEEL FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS BENT, AND THE FLOOR WAS COMING UP. I CALLED TOYOTA TO ASK WHY THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOOK REPORTS. TODAY THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD ONLY DEPLOY IF THERE WAS A SEVERE INTRUSION, ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO BE HURT. I WAS HURT (BACK AND HEAD) AND MY LITTLE COUSIN SUFFERED A NOSEBLEED. HE ALSO SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE IS SEATBELTS. I SAID THERE WAS A SEVERE INTRUSION, BAD ENOUGH THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HIM AND TOYOTA AND THAT I WAS ONLY CALLING BECAUSE THEY NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS SO THEY CAN MAKE THEIR CARS SAFER. I HAD FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN IN MY CAR THAT DAY AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT WE WERE IN THE SAFEST CAR. NO MORE TOYOTAS FOR ME. *TT

BRAKES MADE METAL/METAL GRINDING NOISE. FOUND REAR BRAKE ROTORS BADLY CORRODED. APPROX. 30% OF BOTH ROTORS FUNCTIONAL. SEVENTY PERCENT CAKED WITH THICK RUST. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR CALIPER SLIDER PIN STUCK. FRONT BRAKES DID MOST OF WORK, THEREFORE PADS ARE PREMATURELY WORN. IN DECADES OF DRIVING, I'VE NEVER HAD BRAKE WORK BEFORE 80,000 MILES. CAR IS USED ALMOST DAILY AND ALWAYS GARAGED. ROTOR CASTINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. BRAKES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED BY TOYOTA DEALER EVERY 6 MONTHS. NO PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED, BUT CORROSION IS SEVERE, THICK WITH FLAKING. I HAVE DEALER SERVICE RECORDS AND PHOTOS TO SUPPORT MY SAFETY CONCERNS. TOYOTA RECALLED 130,000 VEHICLES IN CHINA BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE REAR WHEEL DISK BRAKES WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RUST. PERHAPS SOME OF THESE ROTORS FOUND THEIR WAY ON TO OUR HIGHLANDER. MY FAMILY AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THANKFULLY, NO EMERGENCY STOPS HAVE BEEN REQUIRED. HOW MANY OTHER HIGHLANDERS HAVE CORRODED, UNSAFE, BRAKE ROTORS? UPDATED IVOQ 01/26/12 *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. IN APRIL 2011, THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE LOCKED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CALIPERS. IN AUGUST 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR CALIPERS HAD RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKES AND STATED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,800.

CAR LOSS CONTROL DUE TO ELECTRICAL POWER IS GONE. CAR LOSS SPEED AT 45MPH AND HAS TO PULL OVER AND STOP. DIAGNOSIS LATTER FOUND BATTERY IS GOOD, BUT ALTERNATOR IS BAD. IN MY CASE, BATTERY WAS REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO. *TR

MY 2005 LIMITED EDITION TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS MULTIPLE ISSUES. THE RIGHT CALIBER IS STICKING, WHICH HAS CAUSED HEAT AND WARPING IN THE HUB SYSTEM AND AFFECTED THE ABS SENSOR. THESE WILL BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $1000. THE FRONT STRUTS ARE LEAKING. THE LARGEST PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHICH HAS SOME TYPE OF INTERIOR PROBLEM. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS, BASED ON WHAT THE TOYOTA SHOP SAID WAS $3400-$4600. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 94,000 MILES ON IT. THE BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE CALIBER, ROTERS, AND HUB SYSTEM WILL GET REPLACED NEXT WEEK. THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR WILL NOT BE REPAIRED AT THIS TIME UNLESS THE TOYOTA GOODWILL PETITION GOES THROUGH. THE COST IS TOO GREAT. *TT

SEAT BELT ARE FRAYED AND COMING APART. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AS WELL AS TOYOTA COSTUMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT IS NO LONGER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THEY SAID THEY'D BE HAPPY TO CHANGE THE SEAT BELTS, AND THEN HANDED ME A HEFTY QUOTE. THANKS TOYOTA, GLAD YOU CARE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED HE HEARD A CLANKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED HE COULD FEEL A BUMP IN THE STEERING COLUMN DURING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER TURNS WERE MADE AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND AS THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,000.

I OWN 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ON MAY 09,2011 I WAS GETTING ON THE FREE WAY AND ACCELERATED TO MERGE INTO THE FREEWAY , I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS GOING FULL SPEED AND THAT THE GAS PEDAL HAD GOTTEN STUCK. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT AND PRESS THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET, PUSHED IN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PULLED OUT THE KEY. I DON'T KNOW HOW I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND WAS LUCKY TO FIND AN EXIT THAT GAVE ME MORE TIME TO STOP THE CAR. THE HEATER, AIR CONDITION, RADIO AND CD PLAYER ALL ORIGINAL STOPPED WORKING ONE YEAR AGO. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE HAYWARD TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT UNTIL MAY 11,2011.THE MANAGER FROM THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT CALLED ME TO INFORM ME THAT IT WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP AND THAT I NEEDED TO PAY THEM $120.00 FOR RUNNING THE TESTS ON THE CAR. HE STATED THAT NOTHING WAS FOUND AND THAT I NEEDED TO PICK THE CAR UP. I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND I HAD A BAD SCARE AND COULD HAVE ENDED IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT, UNTIL TODAY I HAVE NIGHTMARES OF THE INDECENT. I STATED MY CONCERN TO THE MANAGER THAT I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR WITH MY CHILDREN AND LOVED ONES. HE SAID THAT I COULD TRADE IT IN. I INFORMED HIM THAT I STILL PAY THE CAR AND HAVE A LOAN BALANCE OF $15,000.00 WITH THE BANK I AM DRIVING A RENTAL CAR AND HAVE TO PAY $19.00 PER DAY BECAUSE THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER COULD NOT GIVE ME A RENTER CAR FOR LESS THAN $25.00 PER DAY. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH TWO CHILDREN AND CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW CAR LOAN. I AM REQUESTING THAT TOYOTA PAYS ME THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF MY CAR AND TAKE THEIR CAR BACK. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR AND I AM VERY CONCERN OF THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE TAKE TIME TO INVESTIGATE MY URGENT MATTER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

RUN AWAY THROTTLE AND NO ABILITY TO BRAKE 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER CAUSING CRASH INTO HOUSE WALL AND FRONT END DAMAGE TO CAR I TOOK FOOT OF GAS PEDAL AND MOVED TO BRAKE CAR CONTINUED AT SAME SPEED IT WAS TRAVELING AND BRAKE PEDDLE WAS APPLIED HARD AND NO EFFECT. CAR STRUCK HOUSE AND PUSHED ON THE WALL A MOMENT THEN DROPPED TO IDLE. *TR

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING COLUMN WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE EACH TIME THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED *TGW THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE LUBRICATED, BUT THERE WAS NO WAY TO LUBRICATE IT, TO ELIMINATE THE SOUND. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT IT, WAS TO INSTALL A NEW STEERING BOX WHICH WOULD COST BETWEEN $400-500.

THERE IS A DISTINCT CLUCK FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHILE TURNING (INDICATING SOMETHING IS LOOSE OR NOT TIGHT), I HAVE READ THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM TOYOTA FOR THIS ISSUE BUT I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON THE STEERING COLUMN. TSB # ST001-06 FOR HIGHLANDER AND CAMRY. *TR

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL REQUEST *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY WERE VERY SLOW TO RESPOND. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 2-3 MPH IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT TO NO AVAIL AS THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND THERE WAS MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE THREE ADDITIONAL OCCURRENCES OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE FLOOR MAT AND THE BRAKE COVERS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS STILL AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SHE LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: MASTER CYLINDER). THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS EXHIBITED NINETY PERCENT ABNORMAL WEAR AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE NEVER REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

02/28/11, I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND THE SUN VISOR (WITH LIGHTED MIRROR) ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT STAY UP. WHEN I DRIVE IT CAUSES A VISIBILITY ISSUE. THIS DEFINITELY CREATES A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION ON THE ROAD BECAUSE PART OF THE VISIBILITY IS BLOCKED. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT MY CAR IS BARELY 6 YEARS AND I AM ALREADY HAVING ISSUES. I HAVE NEVER HAD THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I HAVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 V6 4WD, WHICH SUFFERS FROM A TRANSMISSION SHIFT DELAY AND HESITATION ,WHICH NORMALLY OCCURS WHEN UPSHIFTING OR DOWNSHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THIS SHIFT DELAY IS NOT ONLY A HEADACHE, BUT A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AND MANY OTHER FELLOW HIGHLANDER OWNERS AS SEEN ON VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY TRY TO ANTICIPATE HOW IT MIGHT REACT IN ORDER TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT FROM HAPPENING,WHILE IN TRAFFIC. IT SEEMS AS IF THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN BY TOYOTA SINCE 2000 AND THEY HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK WITH HESITATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000.

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR KEEPS COMING DOWN CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR

SEAT BELT CLIP BROKE; IT HAD BEEN USED MINIMALLY OVER TIME AND WAS NOT ABUSED WHEN IT FAILED TO BUCKLE. *TR

HEATER/AC FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY THEN FAILS COMPLETELY. WELL KNOW PROBLEM WHERE PLACEMENT OF RIBBON CABLE TO POTENTIOMETER BREAKS LOOSE, PARTIALLY (INTERMITTENT FAILURE), THEN COMPLETELY (TOTAL FAILURE). QUOTED COST AT ANY DEALERSHIP $900-$1,000. I DID REPAIR MYSELF IN ONE HOUR FOR A COST OF $10. QUICK SEARCH ON THE WEB UNCOVERED MANY MANY OF SAME INCIDENT AND, FORTUNATELY, DETAILED REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS.

MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DEVELOPED A LEAK FROM THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A COMPLETE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AS WELL AS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THERE ARE DOCUMENTED ACCIDENTS WHICH HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS REPAIR WOULD NORMALLY BE COVERED BY A 5 YEAR/60,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY HOWEVER THE LEAK WAS DISCOVERED A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE 5 YEAR TIME PERIOD EXPIRED. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND FIRST RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) IN NOVEMBER OF 2007 WITH THE MOST RECENT TSB BEING ISSUED MAY OF 2010. MY VEHICLE WAS CLEARLY UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME THAT THE TSB'S WERE INITIALLY ISSUED, BUT TOYOTA WITHHELD THIS INFORMATION FROM THE CONSUMER. THIS RESULTS IN A COST OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE CONSUMER IN POTENTIAL REPAIRS. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND THEY REFUSE TO NEGOTIATE ANY TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. TOYOTA HAS CONTINUED TO ISSUE TSB'S FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR 3 YEARS AND HAS APPARENTLY MADE NO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM DURING PRODUCTION. *TR

I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE AND ODD VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS OR ON A BUMPY ROAD. I DO BELIEVE THAT IF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS NOT REPLACED, IT COULD EASILY CAUSE UNNECESSARY ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED 2 TSB CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE MINE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I'M REALLY WRITING FOR ALL OF THOSE OWNERS WHO MIGHT BE DRIVING WITH THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE IT REPLACED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. THE VEHICLE MOVED TO THE DRIVERS LEFT LANE AND A CRASHED OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AND MOVED INTO THE THIRD LANE OF THE HIGHWAY CRASHING INTO THE MEDIAN WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ( NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V499000, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC FOUNDATION MASTER CYLINDER) AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

I HAVE 2005 HIGHLANDER LIMITED V6 AWD. THE CAR HAS ISSUES WITH THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID LEAKING AFTER 30,000 MILES OR EVERY TWO YEARS. THE DEALER FIXED THE LEAKING FOR MY CAR AT 35,429 MILES (NO CHARGE DUE TO WARRANTY) IN 2008; HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING AGAIN AT 67,329 MILES THIS YEAR. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL IS 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF THESE WARRANTY GUIDELINES THE COST OF REPAIRS BECOMES THE OWNER?S RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

VEHICLE: 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. DEFECT: THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH (THE DEVICE THAT TURNS OFF THE SIGNAL AFTER A TURN IS COMPLETED) HAS FAILED IN OUR VEHICLE. WE ARE TOLD BY A LOCAL DEALER THAT TOYOTA'S TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES FAIL AT A VERY HIGH RATE. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD NEVER FAIL OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. GIVEN THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF FAILURES, TOYOTA'S DESIGN IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. HAZARD: IF THE DRIVER FORGETS TO MANUALLY TURN THE SIGNAL OFF, OTHER DRIVERS ARE GIVEN A FALSE SIGNAL AND LIKELY TO MISINTERPRET THE DRIVER'S INTENT. THIS COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. REPAIR: TOYOTA'S CHARGE FOR REPAIRING THE DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS EXCESSIVELY HIGH -- APPROXIMATELY $450. CONSEQUENTLY, MANY DRIVERS ARE FORCED TO ACCEPT AND LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM, RESULTING IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION. REMEDY: TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO EITHER RECALL AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES OR REPAIR THEM AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOWS HAD BEEN FALLING OFF TRACK SINCE MAY 2009. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE MECHANISM THAT LOWERED AND RAISED THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE INVERTER STALLED. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

IN A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE FRONT BUMPER CORNER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE BRAKES IN THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE FEEL VERY SPONGY MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE SPEED AND TRAJECTORY OF THIS VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEEDS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR RECALL 06V253000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,200. UPDATED 01/31/11/ *BF UPDATED 04/20/11

FRONT DIFFERENTIAL CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED ON 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (4WD) (65,220 MI) WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE. VEHICLE INSTANTANEOUSLY LOST SPEED (TO 30 MPH) & WE NARROWLY AVOIDED BEING RUN OVER BY SEMITRAILER AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DUE TO CONFIGURATION OF ROAD - ONLY SPORADIC SHOULDERS BECAUSE OF TERRAIN - THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAR STUCK IN TRAVEL LANES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. FEEL VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. REPAIRING DEALER ASSERTED THAT THE PART HAD NO FLUID REMAINING DUE TO SEAL LEAK. VEHICLE WAS LAST SERVICED BY LOCAL DEALER ~2,000 MILES EARLIER (63,226 MI) WITH NO LEAKAGE SEEN. ENTIRE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL / TRANSFER CASE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED (STILL HAVE PART). CAR WAS TOTALLY INSPECTED BY REPAIRING DEALER AT THE TIME (65,220 MI) AND NO OTHER PROBLEMS FOUND. ONE MONTH LATER FOUND FLUID PUDDLE IN DRIVEWAY (66,216 MI). DEALER INVESTIGATED AND REPORTED THAT THE INSPECTION PLUG ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS RAPIDLY LEAKING DIFFERENTIAL FLUID. TOLD NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE TILL PLUG AND GASKET REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE OK NOW. SO, WITHIN A MONTH AND 1,000 MI USE, BOTH THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL RAPIDLY LOST FLUIDS. I SUSPECT BAD GASKETS WERE USED IN MANUFACTURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IDLING AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACT NOTICED NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH SURGING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS BEING FILED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 53,000.

I AM APPROACHING 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I JUST RECENTLY NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENS ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAS AN OPAQUE SPOT ABOUT ONE INCH IN DIAMETER DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE HIGHBEAM LIGHT BULB. TOYOTA HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM SINCE APRIL 15, 2008 AS EVIDENCED BY TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0036-08 DATED APRIL 15, 2008. WHEN YOU GOOGLE THE BULLETIN IT WILL BECOME APPARENT THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS FOR SOME 2004 TO 2007 MODELS, A SPAN OF THREE YEARS. THE BULLETIN WILL ALSO SHOW THAT TOYOTA WILL REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS IF COMPLAINED ABOUT DURING THE 36,000 / 3 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. I AM OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND IN FEAR THAT IT WILL COST ME SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR A DESIGN DEFECT THAT TOYOTA HAS BEEN AWARE OF FOR SEVERAL YEARS. FROM WHAT I READ FROM OTHER POSTERS TOYOTA'S ATTITUDE APPEARS TO BE IT IS NOT OUR PROBLEM. *TR

THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON OUR 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FAILED AT 94,000 MILES. WE HEARD STRANGE NOISES FROM THE REAR END AND ASKED OUR MECHANIC TO CHECK. HE INDICATED THAT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS "CUPPED" AND SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT. SINCE IT WAS TIME FOR NEW TIRES ANYWAY, WE DID THAT BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. UPON RETURNING TO THE MECHANIC HE DUG FURTHER AND REPORTED THAT BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE WORN, THE LEFT (TO THE POINT OF BEING DANGEROUS) MORE THAN THE RIGHT, TO THE POINT THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER FROM WHO WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS AND WE ARRANGED FOR THE NEEDED REPAIRS. WHEN WE ASKED THE DEALER AND TOYOTA DIRECTLY WHETHER THIS WAS PROBLEM THEY HAD SEEN BEFORE THEY INDICATED IT WAS JUST WEAR AND TEAR AND BASICALLY, OUR HARD LUCK. *TR

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WOULD NOT PASS 2010 MASSACHUSETTS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO FAULTY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THERE IS FOG IN THE LENS AND NIGHT TIME LIGHT IS IMPAIRED???? TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THE $900 EXPENSE TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS EXPENSE AS WELL. *TR

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 - 4 CYL DRIVING IN THE RAIN, OVER PUDDLES OF WATER THAT CREATE A SPLASH UP TO ABOUT 3/4 THE HEIGHT OF THE TIRE (PASSENGER SIDE), WILL CAUSE THE DISCHARGE WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON AND CAUSE LOSS OF POWER STEERING (HARD TO TURN). SUDDENLY, THE WARNING LIGHT WILL GO OFF AND POWER STEERING WILL RETURN. THIS IS MY WIFE'S VEHICLE AND I JUST NOTICED THIS ISSUE RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. THE FAULT IS REPEATABLE AS I NOTICED IT FOR A SECOND TIME TODAY, AND I MANAGED TO HAVE IT REPEAT THE FAILURE EVERY TIME. THIS FAILURE CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IN A RAINSTORM IT WILL BE TYPICAL TO CREATE A SPLASH WHEN TURNING INTO ANOTHER STREET, AS IT IS COMMON FOR WATER TO POND AT THE TURN. LOSS OF POWER STEERING WILL CAUSE THE DRIVER TO TURN THE WHEEL HARDER, AND WHEN THE POWER STEERING RETURNS, THEN THE VEHICLE WILL LIKELY OVERSTEER AND SPIN OUT OR HIT ANYTHING ON THE DIRECTION THAT IT IS OVERSTEERED INTO. THIS INCIDENT ACTUALLY OCCURRED IN TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN I WAS TURNING IN THE RAIN. THE FIRST WAS INADVERTENT AND AT A HIGHER SPEED SINCE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING (A FEW WEEKS AGO). THE SECOND TIME OCCURRED TODAY. AFTER THE INCIDENT I TRIED TO RECREATE THE FAILURE, THIS TIME SINCE I WAS EXPECTING IT, I DID SO MORE SLOWLY BUT WITH THE SAME RESULT THAT WILL LIKELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE VEHICLE YET SINCE I HAVE JUST NOTICED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WE HAVE AND HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF VEHICLES OF DIFFERENT MAKES, AND NONE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH SPLASHING WATER CAUSING WHAT IS PROBABLY A SHORT AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AFTER DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE, I OPEN THE HOOD AND LOOK FROM THE TOP, FROM THE TOP EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE DRY. THE OTHER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN THROUGH LARGER SPLASHES, WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE IN HER GARAGE AT A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED. HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE WALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE FRONT END DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE AN INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE INVESTIGATOR ADVISED THE RESULTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,600.

HEATER RUNS ERRATICALLY--BLOWING FINE AND THEN SWITCHING TO COLD AIR AND THEN IF I "JIGGLE" THE CONTROL CAN GET HEAT AGAIN. HAD THE DEALER REPAIR IN FALL OF 2009 (ABOUT $95), BUT IT HAS STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN. *TR

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. ERRATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL FROM HEATER. WHEN SET ON COOL WILL SUDDENLY BLOW HOT AIR AND VICE VERSA. ON-LINE COMPLAINTS INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM RESULTING FROM DEFECTIVE CONTROL UNIT IN THIS AND OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES OVER SEVERAL YEARS. THE CONTROL KNOW COMES LOOSE AND THEN THE WIRING BEHIND IT BREAKS FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD RESULTING IN ERRATIC AIR TEMPERATURES. I ALSO HAVE CONCERN THAT THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE COULD CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL SHORTS OR PROBLEMS. DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE CONTROL UNIT AT PRICES RANGING FROM $500 TO $1500. ON-LINE CONSUMERS REPORT FIX ONLY REQUIRES RESOLDERING THE 3-WIRE CONTACTS AT A COST OF A FEW DOLLARS. IT IS OBVIOUS TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THE RELATIVELY EASY FIX DOCUMENTED WITH PICTURES ON-LINE BUT CONTINUES TO DENY THAT IT IS THEIR PROBLEM. IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT CHARGING OWNERS HUGE FEES FOR REPLACING A SIMPLE COMPONENT SEEMS TO BE WHAT TOYOTA FEELS IS THE APPROPRIATE SOLUTION. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED FROM ABOUT 45,000 MILES WHEN IT SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH. TAKEN IT TO DEALER FOR UPGRADE ON ECM AND THIS DID NOT FIX PROBLEM AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. *TR

WHILE COMING TO A RED LIGHT I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DID NOT STOP. TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN AND THE SECOND TIME THE BRAKES WOKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE TO MY WIFE AND ONCE TO ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,500.

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSED A CRASH. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE, SHE HEARD A SURGING SOUND AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE QUICKLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK COLUMN IN FRONT OF THE STORE AND THEN IT WENT BACKWARDS AND STOPPED. *JB

AN AFTERNOON DURING AUGUST OR EARLY SEPTEMBER 2009 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 HIGHLANDER IN A HIGH TRAFFIC ROUTE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK DOWN, LEADING TO AN INITIAL HIGH SPEED AND STEADILY HIGH RPMS (6-7000). I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED BY STEPPING DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET WHILE KEEPING EXCEEDINGLY HIGH RPMS ON HEAVY TRAFFIC. IN THE EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL STRESS OF THE MOMENT, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A BUILDING ENTRANCE. WITH THE CAR ON "PARKING" POSITION, THE RPMS KEPT HIGH AND DID NOT DECREASE DESPITE STEPPING FURTHER ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRYING TO "UNSTUCK" IT, WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. FINALLY I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. AFTER TURNING THE CAR BACK ON, THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECURRED. I TOOK THE CAR TO ITS REGULAR MAINTENANCE SERVICE IN HARR TOYOTA (100 GOLD STAR BLVD., WORCESTER, MA) IN SEPT. 19, 2009, EXPLAINED THE EVENT, THEY DOCUMENTED IT, AND APPLIED THE 60F CARPET CLIP RECALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIMILAR INCIDENT SINCE THEN. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO TOYOTA COMPANY WITH DOCUMENTATION # 1002135597. TOYOTA CLAIMS THEY WILL NOT APPLY THE CURRENT RECALL ACCELERATOR FIX TO MY CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON THE OFFICIAL RECALL AND THE CAR WAS BUILT IN JAPAN (BASED ON VIN), WITH A DIFFERENT ACCELERATOR PEDAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. *TR

2005 HIGHLANDER V6 AWD. HAS A SURGING EFFECT SINCE DAY ONE. ALSO SURGES SLIGHTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. IN TRAFFIC STOP AND GO SITUATION, VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN LUNGES FORWARD. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE LANES. DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. TOYOTA SAID AT TIME TO CONTACT DEALER.

I WISH TO REPORT A SAFETY DEFECT ON MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS ABOVE ABOUT 35 MPH I CANNOT HEAR THE TURN SIGNAL CLICKER. I AM 69 YEARS OLD, BUT DO NOT HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT HEARING LOSS. NOT BEING ABLE TO HEAR THE CLICKER SOMETIMES CAUSES ME TO LEAVE THE TURN SIGNAL ON WHEN IT SHOULD BE OFF. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, IT COULD CAUSE OTHER DRIVERS TO MAKE HAZARDOUS DECISIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I HAD MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ON BY MISTAKE SOMEONE WAITING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ONTO THE ROADWAY COULD BE THINKING I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN OFF THE ROAD. I'VE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT CHANGING TO A LOUDER FLASHER, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE ONE. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP ME AT ALL. YES, THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR LIGHTS WORK ON THE DASH, BUT THEY ARE NOT IN MY FIELD OF VIEW WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE ROAD AND LOOKING AT THEM IS AN UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION. I THINK AUDIBLE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS SHOULD BE ON ALL CARS AND THE SOUND LEVEL SHOULD BE ADEQUATE FOR ALL DRIVERS WHO CAN HEAR. PREFERABLY THE SOUND LEVEL WOULD BE MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE OR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE ACCORDING TO THE CAR SPEED. *TR

ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN CHARLOTTESVILLE VA. SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE CAR WAS IN REVERSE. RIGHT CAR SIDE DAMAGED ALONG WITH 2 OTHER CARS. MODEL OF CAR IS 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VS AWD LIMITED. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR THE TOYOTA WAS $6,900. *TR

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN INCLUDING THE SOUND OF METAL RUBBING TOGETHER. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE MANUFACTURERS DESIGN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 59,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

1. TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45-55 MILES PER HOUR, GAS PEDAL STICKS. ALSO, THE DEALER SOLD ME THE CAR WITH OUT A DRIVER FLOOR MAT. SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2007, I'VE NOTICED A GRADUAL EROSION OF THE FLOOR MAT BENEATH MY RIGHT FOOT AND JUST BELOW THE GAS PEDAL. THERE IS NOW A HOLE IN THE CARPET AND AN INDENTATION IN THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. ALSO, THERE IS A SMALL TOGGLE TYPE OBJECT JUTTING OUT FROM UNDER THE CARPET JUST BELOW THE GAS PEDAL 2. IT OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. *TR

I'VE OWNED A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SINCE NEW, ONCE IN A WHILE THIS CONDITION WOULD OCCUR, NOW IT IS ALL THE TIME. IT JUST TURNED OVER 80K MILES. I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS, NOT EVEN TOYOTA NO. 60F. WHEN YOU ARE COMING TO A STOP,AT NORMAL SPEEDS,NORMAL BRAKING PEDAL PRESSURE, JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPS, IT LAUNCHES FORWARD WITH YOUR FOOT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN YOU APPLY MORE PRESSURE AS IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY, IT IS WORSE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE LEARNED TO COMPENSATE BY COASTING THEN STOPPING. I EMAILED TOYOTA.COM ABOUT THIS TWICE, NO ANSWERS. *TR

TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL ALL OLDER MODELS RELATING TO PEDAL ACCELERATOR. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RECALLING ALL RELATED VEHICLES AS FAR BACK AS 2003 MODELS IF IT ALREADY KNOWS THE COMPUTER COMPONENT IN THOSE CARS HAVE THE SAME PEDAL ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS AS THE NEWER MODELS. WHY AREN'T THEY MADE TO DO THAT? I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND I AM WORRIED EVERYTIME I GET IN MY CAR NOW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FLOOR MATS BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALMOST CAUSING TWO ACCIDENTS. ALSO THE CARPET IN THE VEHICLE WAS RIPPED WHERE THE FLOOR MATS WERE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND CONTACT WAS TOLD TO CALL THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER, INFORM THEM OF THE PROBLEMS SO SHE CAN GET TOTAL COMPENSATION FOR HER MATS. THE CONTACT CALLED AND IS WAITING FOR THEM TO CALL BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 03/08/10

I AM WRITING ABOUT A PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED WITH MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WE PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN JANUARY OF 2005. BEAVERTON TOYOTA HAS ADJUSTED THE COMPUTER ON MY CAR SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE FIRST OIL CHANGE AS MY HIGHLANDER FEELS LIKE IT IS CHANGING GEARS BY ITSELF. THE CAR HAD NOT DONE THIS UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST OIL CHANGE. ON SUBSEQUENT SERVICE CALLS, I WOULD DISCUSS THE PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD TELL ME THAT THEY ADJUSTED THE CAR'S COMPUTER. ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2009, I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE STORE PARKING LOT AND WAS ABOUT TO PULL INTO A PARKING PLACE BY THE FRONT OF THE STORE WHEN I HEARD A SURGING SOUND AND MY CAR QUICKLY WENT FORWARD AND SMASHED INTO A BRICK COLUMN IN FRONT OF THE STORE AND THEN IT WENT BACKWARDS AND STOPPED. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS SMASHED AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I HAD NOT SPOKEN ON MY CELL PHONE SINCE THE NIGHT BEFORE, I HAD NO ONE ELSE IN THE CAR WITH ME TO DISTRACT ME, AND I WAS NOT SPEEDING OR SWERVING TO AVOID ANOTHER PERSON OR CAR. I THANK GOD THAT I HIT THE BRICK COLUMN IN FRONT OF THE STORE INSTEAD OF A PERSON OR ANOTHER CAR. MY SHOULDER, NECK AND TEETH STILL HURT FROM HITTING THE BRICK COLUMN SO HARD. I HAD JUST GOTTEN GAS, AND I HAD MY TIRES ROTATED A FEW DAYS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. I ASKED THE BODY SHOP WHO FIXED MY CAR AND BEAVERTON TOYOTA TO CHECK THE ACCELERATOR. AT THE TIME OF MY ACCIDENT, THEY WERE LOOKING FOR CAR MATS THAT WEREN'T PROPERLY INSTALLED. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT WITH ALL THE RECALLS NOW, EVEN TOYOTA CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ACCELERATORS. I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A GLITCH IN THE COMPUTER. I CAN STILL HEAR THAT SURGING SOUND AND AM AFRAID IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT TO HAVE SURGED AND SMASHED INTO A BRICK COLUMN AS I WASN'T STOMPING ON THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT TO PARK MY CAR. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT FOR 38 YEARS. *TR

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. DRIVING TO WORK IN A BLIZZARD ON 12/11/09 ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS WENT ON. DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE SUNROOF HOUSING FAILED CAUSING $3,977.16 WORTH OF DAMAGE. BEING OUT OF WARRANTY THE DEALER AGREED TO PAY 2,000.00. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ANOTHER 1,500 AND WE PAID 477.16. WE PICKED UP THE CAR ON 12/24/09. ON 2/2/10 WE RETURNED IT AFTER NOTICING A BURN SPOT ON EACH OF THE PLASTIC HEAD LIGHT COVERS. THE DEALER FOUND BOTH HIGHBEAM BULBS MELTED,AND SUGGESTED I HAD OVERUSED THEM CAUSING THE INTENSE HEAT THAT DID THE DAMAGE. I AM CONCERNED IT COULD BE A RESULT OF DELAYED WATER DAMAGE SHOWING UP. OUR CONCERNS WITH THIS CAR(WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW IN NOV. OF 2005)GOES BACK TO 9/7/06 WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT SLOW THE CAR GOING DOWN HILLS. ON 2/28/07 WE HAD BRAKE AND WIPER BLADE ISSUES. ON 4/20/07 THE BLADES LOCKED DURING A DOWNPOUR ON THE 5 FREEWAY. I HAD TO PULL OVER IN A PANIC. ON 7/12/07 THE CARGO CLIP HAD TO BE REPLACED. ON 9/10/07 THAT PARKING BRAKE DID NOT HOLD PROPERLY AND THERE WAS A RATTLE FROM THE RIGHT REAR. ON 11/6/07 WE COMPLAINED OF SQUEAKY BRAKES. DEALER TIGHTENED LOOSE NUTS AND BOLTS ON 4X4 ASSEMBLY. ON 4/1/08 THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED @ 29,080 MILES.ON 10/22/08 THE SOUND SYSTEM FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NEXT WEEK WE ARE HAVING THE 5TH SET OF TIRES PUT ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES ON IT. THE SET TO BE REPLACED HAS ONLY ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON THEM. THEY HAVE A 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. *TR

THE SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS INITIALLY STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN STRUCK (T-ED) ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A LARGE PICKUP TRUCK (APPROX SPEED 60 MPH). THE IMPACT DENTED THE DOORS TO THE SEATS AND BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN DUE TO THE IMPACT. VSC, ABS WERE ENGAGED AS EVIDENCED BY THE PANEL LIGHTS ON AT THE END OF THEE CRASH, HOWEVER NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED RESULTING IN TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (CLOSED HEAD INJURY), POST CONCUSSIVE SYNDROME, GRAND MAL SEIZURE, RETROGRADE AMNESIA FOR DRIVER. VEHICLE ALSO HAD A THIRD IMPACT AS IT WAS PUSHED INTO BARRIER WALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 65 MPH, SHE PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR AND WHEN SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF, THE PEDAL DID NOT RELEASE FROM THE DEPRESSED POSITION. SHE KEPT PUMPING THE PEDAL BUT IT CONTINUED TO STICK TO THE FLOOR UNTIL SHE CRASHED INTO THE WALL OF SOMEONE'S HOME. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH (BROKEN RIBS AND HEAD INJURIES). A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

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

TIE RODS SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WHEELS TURNED SIDEWAYS. GOING 30 MILES PER HOUR, WAS ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY CLAIMED RUST, BUT WE RECEIVED VERBAL AFFIRMATION THAT NO RUST WAS FOUND. *TR

ALREADY HAVE A CASE NUMBER, REPORTED ON 1/22/2010. I HAD A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT IN MAY OF 2007 WHERE THE PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE BRAKES TO WORK. I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING BACKWARDS OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. I HAVE HAD TO PAY EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUMS EVERY SIX MONTHS AND HAVE THAT ACCIDENT ON MY RECORD. THE FL HWY PATROL OFFICER SAID THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. ONE OF THE WITNESSES WAS AN OFF-DUTY LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICER SAID HE HEARD THE ACCELERATION AND COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE WAS ACCELERATING IN THE PARKING LOT OF A PUBLIX SUPERMARKET. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TOYOTA IS GOING TO DO TO HELP CAR OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS TO CORRECT THEIR DRIVING RECORDS AND TO CONTACT INSURANCE COMPANIES TO HELP THE INSURED TO RECOUP EXTRA MONIES PAID BECAUSE THE CAR HAS BAD EQUIPMENT, WHICH TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED LONG AGO.. *TR

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I WENT TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE AND PARKED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE IN THE DRIVEWAY BY PLACING THE GEAR SHIFT IN THE PARK POSITION. I LEFT THE VEHICLE IDLING WHILE I WENT INTO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE TO GET A GROCERY LIST. I WENT IN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT 10- 15 MINUTES TO RETRIEVE ITEMS FOR MY FRIEND THAT WERE OUTSIDE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY IDLING. WHILE I WAS BACK INSIDE RETRIEVING THE GROCERY LIST MY FRIEND AND I OBSERVED MY VEHICLE MOVING THROUGH HER BACK YARD AND PROCEEDED INTO THE WOODS BEHIND HER HOUSE WHERE IT CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING A TREE. THIS VEHICLE SOMEHOW TOOK ITSELF OUT OF THE PARK POSITION AND INTO DRIVE!!!! I REPORTED THIS TO MY TOYOTA DEALER AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THE REGIONAL TOYOTA MANAGER SAID THERE WAS NO WAY THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND THAT IT WAS NOT THE SAME ISSUE BEING INVESTIGATED (GAS PEDAL ISSUE). I WENT AHEAD AND HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY PAID FOR IT (EXCEPT FOR MY $500.00 DEDUCTIBLE) WITH NO INVESTIGATION OR QUESTIONS. I PICKED THE CAR UP TODAY AND NOW I AM HEARING ON THE NEWS THAT MANY OF THE SO CALLED GAS PEDAL INCIDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EXPLAINED AND THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MANY OF THE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED INCIDENTS CAN ONLY BE EXPLAINED BY A FAULTY COMPUTER. RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT I ASKED THE TOYOTA DEALER/REGIONAL MANAGER SPECIFICALLY IF MY INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. THE ANSWER WAS NO! *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUNVISOR DOES NOT STAY UP IN MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. IT FLIPS DOWN FREQUENTLY BLOCKING DRIVER'S VIEW WHILE DRIVING AND CREATES DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. I WENT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED MANY MANY SAME COMPLAINTS ON MESSAGE BOARDS - ONLY ON DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *TW

UNDER A SPECIFIC SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSES THE CAR TO SURGE PAST THE SET CRUISE SPEED. I'VE NEVER LET THE SURGE GET PAST 10 MPH ABOVE THE SET CRUISE SPEED, I ALWAYS TURN OFF THE CRUISE WHICH CANCELS THE SURGE. I CANNOT FORCE THE REPLICATION OF THE PROBLEM BUT IT HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES OVER THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE CIRCUMSTANCES I CAN IDENTIFY ARE THE CRUISE IS SET ON A SPECIFIC SPEED (LIKE 60 MPH), THE CRUISE IS DISENGAGED TO SLOW DOWN (WELL BELOW 60 MPH), USING THE GAS PEDAL TO SPEED UP ON A LONG UPHILL GRADE, ENGAGE THE CRUISE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE SET SPEED (60 MPH) AND THE CRUISE BLOWS PAST 60 MPH. IN THE SECONDS IT TAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, I'VE REACHED 70 MPH. *TR

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, CAR WILL ACCELERATE FROM A DEAD STOP ON ITS OWN. CHANGE TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND LET OFF BRAKE AND CAR WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT TOUCHING GAS PEDAL FAST ENOUGH TO CHANGE GEARS AND CONTINUE. HAVE REACHED A SPEED OF 30 MPH BEFORE BRAKING. THE TACHOMETER DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE ENGINE IS REVVING HIGHER THAN A NORMAL IDLE WHEN IN PARK CHANGING INTO DRIVE SO IT SEEMS LIKE AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM, ETC. ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO 2 DEALERS OVER THE TIME IT HAS BEEN OWNED AND WE WERE TOLD THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED SO NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I CALLED THE SAME DAY THIS EMAIL WAS SENT AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WELL, THE RECALLED GAS PEDALS DON'T STICK ALL THE TIME SO THEY ARE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS SO WHERE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR CARS AND OURS! I HAVE TRIED EVERY CONTACT NUMBER FOR TOYOTA AND CANNOT GET ANYWHERE!!!!!! *TR

2005 TOYOTO HIGHLANDER, 40,000 MILES TO DATE. ABRUPT ACCELERATION OCCURRED TWICE FOR NO REASON-CAR DOES NOT HAVE FLOOR MATS THAT COULD INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR, FIRST OCCURRANCE IN 2006 WAS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, BRAKING SOLVED THE PROBLEM SECOND OCCURANCE IN 2008- CAR WAS MOVING AT IDLE SPEED-FOOT WAS NOT OR NEAR THE ACCELERATOR BUT ABOVE BUT NOT TOUCHING THE BRAKE. BRAKING SOLVED THE PROBLEM. INFORMED TOYOTA DEALER-THEY WERE CLUELESS AND HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS CHRONIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE REVS BUT THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES NOTICEABLY BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR. SOMETIMES THE HESITATION LASTS SO LONG THAT IT INTERFERES WITH MY ABILITY TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THOSE ARE VERY SCARY SITUATIONS. SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION CANNOT DECIDE WHAT GEAR TO BE IN AND WHEN IT DOES ENGAGE THE WHOLE CAR BUCKS OR SHUDDERS. EVERYONE WHO DRIVES MY CAR EXPERIENCES THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN THE PASSENGERS NOTICE. THE TOYOTA DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS MY DRIVING AND THAT I HAVE NOT ADJUSTED TO THE CAR'S "DRIVE BY WIRE" SYSTEM. ONE MECHANIC DID ADMIT THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION'S COMPUTER FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. OTHER THAN THAT, TOYOTA INSISTS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND THAT I HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, V6 MODEL, ALWAYS ON APPLYING THE BRAKES THE FIRST TIME AFTER STARTING IN THE MORNING IS LIKE THE ABS SYSTEM IS ENGAGED, IT TAKES LONGER TO STOP THAN IT WILL ON THE SUCCEEDING BRAKING APPLICATIONS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY TO SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT BE PREPARED FOR THIS OR IS NOT THE USUAL DRIVER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST HYDRAULICS BUT NOW I THINK IT IS TIED TO THE ABS SYSTEM, AFTER READING OF THE PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. *TR

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND WAS TRYING TO PARK IN FRONT OF MY HOME BETWEEN TWO CARS WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE. I AM NOT 100% SURE WHAT HAPPENED, WHETHER I ACCIDENTALLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR OR THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF SOME KIND. I HAD TO MAKE A 90 DEGREE LEFT TURN BETWEEN TWO OTHER PARKED CARS, SO I AM SURE I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THIS VEHICLE STUTTERS WHEN MERGING ON TO TRAFFIC. ON THIS SPECIFIC INSTANCE I WAS MERGING FROM TURN IN LANE. THE THROTTLE WAS SLOW TO RESPOND AFTER DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL 3/4 OF THE WAY. THEN IT JUMPED/LURCHED FORWARD. I WAS NEARLY HIT BUT THE TRAFFIC COMING UP FROM BEHIND. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASSIONS IN THE PAST, BEGINNING WITH 20000 MILES ON THE CAR. HAD BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION IN THE PAST AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A "DESIGN FEATURE" OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE. THEY SEEMED TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT OFFER ANY SOLUTION. THE ECM WAS REPROGRAMMED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY BUT THAT ALSO DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

GOING UP HILL ON HWY 24 LEAVING GEO INTO TN IN RAIN AT 55 MPH AND TOOK FOOT OF GAS PEDAL IT DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I DRIVE A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *TR

MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 WILL ACCELERATE BY ITSELF WHEN I START OUT AT A LIGHT MAKING IT REV THE ENGINE EXCESSIVELY. THIS HAPPENED ALOT WHEN I GOT THE CAR UNTIL LAST FALL I GOT FUEL SYSTEM CLEANED AND ALL CARBON REMOVED FROM LINES. IT WENT AWAY AFTER I GOT CARBON CLEANED OUT AND NOW IT HAS RECENTLY STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. IT SOMETIMES MAKES MY FRONT TIRES SQUEAL. I HAVE ASKED THE JOE MEYERS TOYOTA IN HOUSTON, TX. ABOUT IT AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I NEVER BROUGHT IT UP WITH THEM AGAIN. I NEED TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS ANY FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM ASAP SINCE THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES WITH THIS BEING WORSE AND CAUSING DEATHS. NOTE: AFTER BUYING THE CAR IN JAN 06 THE FLOOR MATS CONSTANTLY PUSHED FORWARD UPTO PEDALS SO I GOT MY HUSBAND TO USE A GROMMET ON THEM TO MAKE HOLES AND ATTACH VIA CLIPS FROM JOE MEYERS TOYOTA. NOW THEY DON'T MOVE. THIS WAS NEVER THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION. IT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE - PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK. *TR

2005 YEAR MODEL TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THERE HAD BEEN A STEERING WHEEL "KNOCKING" SINCE ABOUT 5000 MI. IT COULD ONLY BE DETECTED WHEN GENTLY TURNING (WIGGLING) THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK IS TO TOYOTA DEALER SHORTLY BEFORE THE THREE YEAR FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. I WAS NOT TOLD WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT IT COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IF THE CV JOINT IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 4WD, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW, HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A HESITATION/SHIFTING PROBLEM FOR NEARLY AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE PROBLEM DOES NOT ALWAYS OCCUR, IT IS QUITE PRONOUNCED WHEN IT DOES AND HAS RESULTED IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DIRECT ATTENTION OF TOYOTA MOTOR SALES IN CALIFORNIA, AND THEIR RESPONSE HAS BEEN DISTURBINGLY POOR. THE TOYOTA DEALER THAT HAS BEEN SERVICING MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL, BUT APPARENTLY CANNOT TAKE ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITHOUT CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION. HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE PROBLEM: THE VEHICLE CANNOT ALWAYS DECIDE WHEN TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP - THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES OF INITIAL HESITATION/LACK OF ADEQUATE POWER UPON APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL. FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A DELAY OF A SECOND OR TWO WHEN APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL TO PROCEED. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SOME VERY CLOSE CALLS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ALSO, THERE ARE OCCURRENCES WHERE THE VEHICLE CANNOT SEEM TO DECIDE BETWEEN GEARS (IT WILL SOMETIMES JUMP UP/DOWN BETWEEN THE LOWER GEARS, SUCH AS 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND/OR 2ND TO 3RD GEAR). FURTHERMORE, I HAVE NOTICED A GENERAL LACK OF ADEQUATE ACCELERATION/GAS PEDAL RESPONSE, ESPECIALLY DURING CITY DRIVING (IE. LOWER SPEEDS). MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER HAS RECORDS OF THE PROBLEM SINCE APPROXIMATELY 16,000 MILES (THE VEHICLE NOW HAS ABOUT 44,000 MILES). I BELIEVE THE ISSUE IS THE ECM, WHICH WAS REPROGRAMMED BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, I BELIEVE THE ECM MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND THAT REPLACING THE UNIT MAY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE THE ECM. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THE TOYOTA DEALER WAS ABLE TO VERIFY THE HESITATION PROBLEM DURING A SERVICE VISIT. HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT LATER WITH THE SCAN TOOL ATTACHED - THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS TRYING TO GET A SNAP SHOT BECAUSE THE TOYOTA FIELD SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD THEM "NO REPAIRS ARE TO BE MADE UNTIL THE PROBLEM OCCURS MORE OFTEN." TW*

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, JUST BEFORE APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A CONCRETE STEP. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH BUT THE VEHICLE SUFFERED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY COLLECTED ALL THE INFORMATION REGARDING THE INCIDENT. HOWEVER HIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,892.

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4X4 V6. THE STEERING BECAME JERKY WHEN TURNING AND ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE TECHNICIAN RESEARCHED IT AND THERE HAVE BEEN TWO TECHNICAL BULLETINS PUT OUT BY TOYOTA AND THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE ORIGINAL PART SO THAT IT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND HAS A NEW PART NUMBER. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ALSO STATED THAT JUST LUBRICATING THE ASSEMBLY DOES NOT WORK. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAS FIXED A NUMBER OF THESE ON HIGHLANDERS, RAV4S, AND AVALONS. IN MY OPINION THE OLD PART ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE STEERING AND SAFE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY TOYOTA WHEN THE PART WAS REDESIGNED. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR ON OUR 2005 HIGHLANDER IS FAILING TO HOLD POSITION FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VISOR AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE BUT HAS NOT REPLACED THE SECOND FAILING VISOR. THE VISOR FALLS TO THE FULL DOWN POSITION AND BLOCKS A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION. *TR

DRIVER SIDE VISOR IS BLOCKING THE VIEW OF DRIVER. THE VISOR OF MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IS MALFUNCTION WHICH IS RESULT OF FLIPPING DOWN ALL THE TIME AND BLOCKING THE VIEW OF DRIVER, SPECIAL DURING THE NIGHT TIME OR RAINING. THIS FAULTY IS CAUSING US OF NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TWICE BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FLOOR MAT RECALL #06V253000. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK SINCE HE COULD HAVE INJURED SOMEONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

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

MY TOYO TIRES HAVE FAILED AFTER ONLY 18,000 MILES OF USE ON MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS FORCING FLUID OUT THROUGH VENT CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION. DEALER SAID IT IS CAUSED BY BEARING GOING BAD IN THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS ALMOST 90,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP SAID PROBLEM IS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY SINCE IT WAS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. *TR

THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN STEERING WHEEL NOISE AND PLAY IN MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE ISSUE WAS NOTICED AROUND 40,000 MILES BECOMING INCREASINGLY WORSE IN A ONLY A FEW MONTHS. MILEAGE NOW IS 46,000. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE IT APPEAR THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS PART OR DESIGN POSING A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 HIGHLANDER AND IT HAS 45K ON IT. I HAVE JUST RECENTLY NOTICED THIS CLUNK/KNOCK NOISE EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT 5 DEGREES OFF CENTER. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED SPENDING $140 ON GREASING THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND THE PROBLEM SHOULD GO AWAY, BUT THE MORE I READ UP ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, THE MORE I'M REALIZING THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THAT IF I BANDAGE THE PROBLEM NOW, IT'LL ONLY COME UP AGAIN IN FUTURE MILEAGE. THIS SHOULD TOTALLY BE A TOYOTA RECALL BECAUSE IT DIRECTLY AFFECT SAFE DRIVING. I'M JUST WONDERING HOW I CAN ESCALATE THIS COMPLAINT TO THE TOP? *TR

I NOTICED A LOOSENESS & CLICKING NOISE IN MY STEERING WHILE EITHER PARKED OR MOVING VERY SLOWLY. A LOCAL MECHANIC I USE DIAGNOSED IT AS A WORN RACK & PINION (R&P) GEAR WHERE IT MEETS THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY '05 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 WITH 60K MILES. I BROUGHT CAR TO KING TOYOTA IN DEERFIELD BEACH, FL AND THEY SAID THERE IS A TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM WHICH DISASSEMBLES & LUBRICATES THE STEERING COLUMN. THEY SAID IF THAT DOESN'T FIX PROBLEM THEN THEY WOULD CHANGE THE R & P ASSEMBLY. AS A FORMER AIRLINE MAINTENANCE PLANNER I DON'T KNOW HOW A LUBE WOULD FIX NOISE & LOOSENESS IN A STEERING ASSEMBLY...IT FELT LIKE A WORN PART. IF TRUE, WHY DID THE STEERING COLUMN LOSE ITS LUBE AFTER ONLY 60K MILES.. WAS THE LUBE MISSING FROM NEW & THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE WEAR...IF IT WAS LUBED WAS IT A DEFECTIVE SEAL. IS THE LUBE A STOP GAP WAY TO DELAY A RECALL? MY MECHANIC SAID & MY OWN EXPERIENCE TELLS ME SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT...THIS IS A STEERING & POSSIBLE VEHICLE CONTROL ISSUE. MOST OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY ABOVE 40-70MPH, SO I WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE MY FAMILY & MY LIFE ARE AT STAKE. *TR

THE WINDOW CONTROL DROPS THE WINDOW INTO THE DOOR AND YOU CANNOT BRING THE WINDOW BACK UP. THIS FIRST OCCURRED ON JANUARY 2008, TO MY REAR RIGHT WINDOW ON MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $ 600.00. THAT WAS RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRICED, SO I FOUND A WAY TO LIFT THE WINDOW, AND THEN I DISCONNECTED THE POWER WINDOW CONTROLS TO THAT WINDOW. WITHOUT FAIL, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE REAR LEFT WINDOW OF OUR CAR IN JANUARY 2009. I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH HIGHLANDERS AND CAMRYS, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FROM TOYOTA FOR THIS COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 4CYL. THE HEATER CONTROL WILL ONLY BLOW EXTREMELY HOT AIR THAT MAKES THE VENTS ALMOST TO HOT TO EVEN TOUCH. NO EVENTS LED UP TO THIS PROBLEM, THOUGH IN RESEARCHING ONLINE FORUMS, OTHER TOYOTA HIGHLANDER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME DEFECT. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THE SERVICE ASSOCIATE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $899.00. THIS IS EXCESSIVE FOR A HEATER ON A VEHICLE A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS OLD AND A LITTLE OVER 30,000 MILES. IT APPEARS THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND THE WIRES ARE NOT WELDED PROPERLY. THE CENTER NUT BELOW THE HEATER CONTROL KNOB LOOSENS OVER TIME AND THE WIRES THEN BREAK FREE FROM THE CONTACTS. *TR

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, 2005 YR, DEFECTIVE RIBBON ELECTRICAL CABLE BETWEEN HEAT/AIR CONTROL ON DASH AND COMPUTER IN CAR. HEAT ON, HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND AIR CONDITIONING COMES ON FULL BLAST OR THE REVERSE IN THE SUMMER. OTHER REPORTS ON INTERNET INDICATE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2001 & 2002 YEAR VEHICLES. COMMENTS ARE THE ELECTRICAL CABLE BECOME HARD AND BRITTLE WITH AGE AND BREAKS OR CROSS CONNECTS CAUSING PROBLEM. DEALER COST IS $600 - $900 TO CORRECT -- REPLACE WHOLE UNIT -- ALTHOUGH ONE COMMENT IS THAT NEW WIRE CAN BE SOLDERED. IT IS MY OPINION THAT CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE COST OF A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

ON NOVEMBER 26TH 2008 WHILE TRAVELING EAST ON INTERSTATE 70 FROM DENVER, 75 MILE AN HOUR, AND APROX TWENTY MILES EAST OF BENNET COLORADO, WE EXPERIENCED BOTH FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLOWOUTS AT THE SAME TIME. THE BACK PASSENGERS TIRE WAS DESTROYED. WE WERE ABLE TO CHANGE IT OUT WITH OUR SPARE. THE FRONT PASSENGERS TIRE WAS EXTREMELY LOW (1" OFF PAVEMENT) AND HAD A BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. IT HAD NOT BROKEN THE AIR SEAL AROUND THE RIM, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO RETURN VERY SLOW BACK APROX .25 MILES TO AN EXIT AND RETRIEVE AIR FOR THAT TIRE. AS THE SIDE WALL BUBBLE GREW IN SIZE WE STOPPED THE AIR AT ABOUT TWENTY POUNDS. WE THEN RETURNED APROX TWENTY MILE BACK TO DENVER, TO A DISCOUNT TIRE STORE. WE THEN REPLACED ALL OF THE TIRES ON OUR 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON THIS TRIP WE HAD ROTATED THE ORIGINAL TIRES AS WELL AS CHECKED AND CONFIRMED ALL AIR PRESSURES, (THE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED THIRTY MINUTES BEFORE LEAVING TOWN) WHEN CHECKING THE TIRES WE HAD HEARD A HISSING SOUND AT THE VALVE STEMS ON BOTH OF THE PASSENGER TIRES. THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST THE AIR HOSE, BUT NOW BELIEVE THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE CRACKED AND LEAKING AIR. I HAVE DOCUMENTED THE TIRE CONDITION AND HAVE THE ORIGINAL VALVE STEMS FROM THE TIRE STORE. THESE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MICHELIN TIRES WITH 28644 MILE ON THEM. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS CONDITION WAS A RESULT OF FAULTY VALVE STEMS, AND MAY BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN FOR OTHERS. MY TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE CENTER REFERS ME TO MICHELIN TIRE COMPANY, AND MICHELIN REFERS ME BACK TO THEM. TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY HAS DOCUMENTED A REPORT, BUT WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE AS A CONCERN. WE HAD THREE ADULTS - (500 POUNDS) AND THREE SUIT CASES - (150 POUNDS) AND THEREFORE DON'T BELIEVE THAT AT 750 - 800 POUND THAT WE WERE OVERLOADED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE "LOW TIRE PRESSURE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE MECHANISM WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS NOT LOW IN ANY OF THE FOUR TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WOULD BE $2,414.60. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000. UPDATED 10/16/08.*LJ UPDATED 10/17/08.*JB

AROUND THE MIDDLE OF MARCH 2008, MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS KNOCKING SOUNDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I MAKE TURNS. I SOUGHT THE ADVISE OF A MECHANIC FRIEND WHO HAS WORKED WITH LEXUS IN THE PAST. HE CONDUCTED A TEST DRIVE AND OCULAR INSPECTION AND ADVISED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR HE SUSPECTS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY. ON MARCH 24, 2008, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY. I PAID A TOTAL OF $469.29 FOR THE SERVICE BY TOYOTA CITY, MAMARONECK, NY 10543 INV. [XXX] . THE CAR HAS 14,549 MILES DURING THE DATE OF SERVICE. I WROTE TOYOTA USA FOR A REFUND OF THE AMOUNT I SPENT AND GOT AN ASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT. FAMILY MEMBERS USE THE CAR IN THE USUAL COURSE OF GROCERY, SCHOOL AND RELATED TRAVEL ACTIVITIES AND HAS NOT ABUSED IT. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THIS IS ALSO WELL MAINTAINED AS WE FOLLOW THE SUGGESTIONS/ADVISE OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULED CHECKS. MY VIN [XXX] . THE LETTER OF ASSURANCE FROM TOYOTA SALES USA WAS RECEIVED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND REQUEST FOR REFUND HAS NOT BEEN ACTED UPON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GREAT DAY! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)*TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR STATIONARY, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE A KNOCKING VIBRATION WHEN IT WAS TURNED. THE FAILURE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT/COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $550. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

SECOND TIRE TO HAVE A BUBBLE SHOW UP ON THE WHITE WALL SIDE. 2 OTHER TIRES HAD SEPARATION STARTED AND WAS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE BUBBLES WOULD SHOW UP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER HEAD, BACK, CHEST, AND LEGS. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS UNINJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT PROBLEM. I NOTICE IT HAS A NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10019873. WHEN MY CAR WAS GETTING A STATE INSPECTION, THE INSPECTOR NOTICED THE SLIGHT NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. I FIND OUT LATER AT THE TOYOTA DEALER THAT THE SHAFT WAS "BINDING" AND CONTINUED DRIVING COULD CAUSE STEERING FAILURE. IF THE GAS STATION HADN'T NOTICED THE SUBTLE NOISE, WE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED DRIVING IT UNTIL THE STEERING FAILED. I WOULD CALL THAT A SAFETY ISSUE WARRANTING A RECALL. *TR

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH ONLY 72000 MILES (12,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY), SEALS ON TRANSFER CASE OF TRANSMISSION LEAKS ONTO EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING SMOKING AND SMELL OF BURNT FLUIDS. *TR

HEAT CONTROLLER UNIT STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. WINDOWS BECAME FROSTED WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF LOST TEMPERATURE CONTROL. OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER HAS A NUT WHICH REPEATEDLY COMES LOOSE. THIS CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TO BECOME LOOSE AND CEASE TO FUNCTION. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE MECHANISM WAS DESIGNED TO COME LOOSE SO AS TO AVOID DAMAGE TO THE UNDERLYING MOTOR. HE SAID TO JUST KEEP TIGHTENING THE NUT! IN THE 27,000 MILE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO TIGHTEN IT NOW A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS 6 WEEKS AGO DURING A SNOW STORM. THE INABILITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM CONSTITUTES A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 HIGHLANDER THAT DEVELOPED A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AT 62,000 MILES. TOYOTA CURRENTLY HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT STATING THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEAL ON CERTAIN AWD HIGHLANDERS AND SIENNAS ARE PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE. THIS CAN RESULT IN LEAK OF TRANSMISSION OR FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FLUID. THE REPAIR IS NOT BEING COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR ME SINCE THE CAR IS BEYOND THE 60000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION OR GEAR OIL CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN FREEZING OF DIVE-AXLE, WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I OWN A TOYOTA 4-RUNNER (2005, 53635 MILES) WHICH IS A COMPANY CAR. ON 8/27/07, I ATTEMPTED TO ADD AIR TO ALL 4 TIRES. THE METAL VALVE CAPS THAT WERE SUPPLIED ON THESE TIRES FROM TOYOTA SEIZED TO THE ALUMINUM VALVE STEMS AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE VALVE STEM. THE RIMS ARE ALSO ALUMINUM. ON ONE TIRE, I ATTEMPTED FORCE THE REMOVAL OF THE METAL VALVE CAP WITH A PAIR OF PLIERS WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOP OF THE VALVE STEM BREAKING OFF WHICH RESULTED IN AN IMMEDIATE FLAT. I CONTACTED AAA TO CHANGE THE TIRE. I THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO IRA TOYOTA IN MANCHESTER, NH TO REPAIR THE TIRE. I WAS CHARGED $119.75 TO REPLACE THE VALVE STEM AND SENSOR. THEY DID NOT CHARGE LABOR FOR THIS SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REMOVE THE TOYOTA SUPPLIED METAL VALVE CAPS FROM THE 3 REMAINING TIRES ON MY VEHICLE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THEY WERE AWARE THAT SOME VEHICLE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP PLANNED ON OBTAINING 3 MORE STEM/SENSOR UNITS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THAT THEY COULD NOT REMOVE THE VALVE CAPS WITHOUT DAMAGING THE REMAINING VALVE STEMS AND SENSORS. THIS WOULD HAVE COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $360 TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE UNITS. NOT GOOD TOYOTA WORKMANSHIP IN MY OPINION. I WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE 3 REMAINING TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A WAY TO PUT ADDITIONAL AIR INTO THE TIRES. I WAS LEFT TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE MYSELF. I HAD TO MANUALLY GRIND THE CAPS OFF WITH THE AID OF A DREMMEL GRINDING TOOL WHICH TOOK ME 2 HOURS TO DO MYSELF. I REPLACED THE METAL CAPS WITH BLACK PLASTIC CAPS. I BELIEVE THAT ALL TOYOTA CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY. I BELIEVE THAT A FULL RECALL SHOULD BE MADE ON TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH METAL CAPS ON THE ALUMINUM RIM TIRES. PLEASE NOTE THAT I LISTED THE VEHICLE AS A "HIGHLANDER" BECAUSE IT WAS THE CLOSEST TO THE "4-RUNNER" WHICH I OWN BUT WAS NOT LISTED IN THE AVAILABLE SELECTION. *JB

MY DRIVER SIDE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT FLASHED BURNED MY LIGHT ENSEMBLE ON MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. SHOWED TECH AT TOYOTA AND CLAIMED DESPITE NEVER SEEN A FIRE CAUSED BY HEADLAMP THAT IT DID INDEED BURN PLASTIC HOUSING FROM FLASH BURN OUT NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.*JB

2005 V6 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER - TRANSMISSION UPDATE FLASH - DOES NOT RESOLVE LAG ISSUE AS INTENDED, AND LATER MAKES TRANSMISSION STUTTER AND JERKY - NOT RESOLVED AFTER TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE AND INSPECTION. TWO DEALERS STATED: COULD NOT REPLICATE ISSUE. FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE DRIVEN AND RIDDEN IN VEHICLE AND STATE THEY FEEL IT DRIVES LIKE AN OLD CAR OR WORSE - MAKES NOISES AND IS NOT SMOOTH, ALSO CAN BE DANGEROUS IF A QUICK RESPONSE IS NECESSARY. *TR

DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT LENSES IN JULY 2006, A 1-INCH DIAMETER OPAQUE "DISCOLORATION " APPEARED IN LEFT FRONT HEADLAMP LENS, DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF AREA CLOSEST TO HALOGEN BULB. BESIDES IMPAIRING LIGHT OUTPUT, I WAS FEARFUL THAT DEFECTIVE AREA WOULD EVENTUALLY BREAK OR CRACK, ALLOWING WATER TO CONTACT HALOGEN BULB - CAUSING IT TO EXPLODE WHEN HOT. (2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS 18-MONTHS OLD AT THAT TIME, WITH 25,263 MILES.) TOYOTA REPLACED SAME UNDER WARRANTY. NOW SAME LENS DEFECT / DISCOLORATION IS OCCURRING TO RIGHT FRONT HEADLAMP PLASTIC LENS AT 45,000 MILES, AND AGAIN FEARFUL THAT LENS FAILURE WILL RESULT IN EXPLODING HALOGEN BULB. UNSURE IT TOYOTA WILL COVER THIS SECOND REPAIR. HEADLAMPS AND BULBS ARE ORIGINAL FACTORY EQUIPMENT. *JB

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

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE RECALL INFORMATION. *MC *TR

TOYOTA HILANDER LIMITED. I HAVE A HESITATION WHEN I ACCELERATE. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO TOYOTA AT LEAST 3 TIMES CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THEY TELL ME THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. IT'S DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET ON AN INTERSTATE AND DON'T HAVE THE ACCELERATION YOU NEED. *AK

PURCHASED NEW TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 MODEL YEAR IN JULY 2005. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY SINCE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 23,000 MILES. CORROSSION DEVELOPED WITHIN 9 MONTHS OF PURCHASE IN THESE AREAS: BASE OF ANTENNA, ANTENNA MAST, WINDOW FRAMES, AND ALUMINUM OR ALLOY WHEELS SHOW BUBBLING IN THE SURFACE THAT ARE INCREASING IN SIZE AND DIAMETER.**AK DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA WERE CONTACTED TO REMEDY PROBLEMS WITH WHEELS WITHOUT SUCCESS. DEALERSHIP REPAINTED CORRODED WINDOWS. DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA CLAIM CORROSION IS DUE TO ENVIRONMENT - I HAVE HAD 2 OTHER VEHICLES PARKED IN THE SAME LOCATION WITHOUT VISIBLE SIGNS OF CORROSSION. I AM CONCERN THAT THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE BUBBLES AND CORROSSION ON THE WHEELS WILL CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT WEAKENS THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE WHEES.

BRAKE PROBLEM I BOUGHT A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN APRIL 2005. EARLY NOVEMBER 2006 THIS HAPPENED: AFTER I STARTED THE CAR, I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE STEPPED ON. IT SOUNDED LIKE NOISY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT. THE NOISE REPEATED EVERY TIME THE BRAKES WERE STEPPED ON. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SERVICE AT CRYSTAL TOYOTA IN GREEN BROOK, NEW JERSEY, AND THEY DID SOME WORK ON IT. ABOUT TEN DAYS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED. THE CRYSTAL TOYOTA SERVICE FOREMAN STATED THAT ROTOR PADS NOW HAVE A METALLIC CONTENT. WHENEVER MOISTURE FORMS ON THE PADS DUE TO THE WEATHER, NOISE CAN RESULT. THE SERVICE APPLIED AN ADDITIVE. THE LOUD NOISE REAPPEARED EARLY JANUARY 2007. CRYSTAL TOYOTA SERVICE SUGGESTED DRIVING THE CAR A SHORT DISTANCE AND THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY. THIS WAS CORRECT. THE NOISE WENT AWAY AFTER DRIVING ABOUT HALF A MILE AND STEPPING REPEATEDLY ON THE BRAKES. I COULD NOT SEE THIS AS A LONG- TERM SOLUTION, HOWEVER, AS THE NOISE LEVEL WAS EXTREME, AND IT WAS LIKELY THAT AN EXCESSIVE IMPACT AND STRESS WERE OCCURRING. IT APPEARED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE AND JOE LACEFIELD, A NEW JERSEY REPRESENTATIVE, CALLED ME. LACEFIELD DOWNPLAYED MY CONCERN AND SAID HE WOULD LOOK AT THE CAR ON JANUARY 26. I TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD PROBABLY NOT HEAR THE NOISE SINCE IT DID NOT OCCUR ON MOST DAYS. LACEFIELD CALLED ME AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR AND SAID THAT HE HAD HEARD NO NOISE. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD EXPECTED THAT AND HAD POINTED IT OUT TO HIM. HE THEN SAID THAT WHAT I HEARD MUST HAVE BEEN SOME PLAIN EVERYDAY BRAKE NOISE AND THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM! TOYOTA CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. THE NOISE HAS NOW OCCURRED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES. THE ATTITUDE OF LACEFIELD AND OF TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THAT MY COMPLAINT HAS NO MERIT, AND THAT THE EXTREME LOUD NOISE DOES NOT EVEN EXIST! MARCH 14 WAS THE LATEST NOISE OCCURRENCE. UPDATED 05/04/07

PURCHASED A NEW 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4WD. AFTER 45K MILES THE 4WD TRANSFER CASE BEGAN TO LEAK GEAR OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. I NOTICED THIS SINCE I DO ALL MY OWN OIL CHANGES ON THE VEHICLE. NO HARM WAS DONE, BUT I HAVE BROUGHT THE SAME PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES. EACH TIME THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WITHOUT FAIL SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOT VERY FRIENDLY OR HELPFUL. ONE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP REALLY DID NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO PROPERLY FIX THE TRANSFER CASE SEALS PROPERLY. MY SAFETY ISSUE: IF THIS TRANSFER CASE FAILS AGAIN AND I DO NOT NOTICE IT, THEN I FEAR THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE SENT INTO AN UNCONTROLLABLE SPIN OR EVEN WORSE. THUS FAR TOYOTA HAS REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE TWICE AND THE TRANSMISSION ONCE WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *JB

THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT OR ACCIDENT REPORT BUT A REPORT OF FACTS THAT MAY BENEFIT OTHERS. 2005 MODEL TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, STEERING KNOCKING/CLUNKING. IT CAN BE DETECTED BY WIGGLING THE STEERING WHEEL WITHIN 5 DEGREES. IT IS WORSE WHEN THE STEERING IS LOADED, E.G. WHEN NEGOTIATING BENDS AND MINOR CURVES. TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY DECIDED THAT WHOLE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN. I AM REPORTING BECAUSE THIS MAY NOT BE AN ISOLATE CASE. THE PROBLEM IS NOT EASILY DETECTABLE BY UNSUSPECTED DRIVERS. YET IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE VEHICLE DID NOT LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO GEAR. THE ONLY WAY THAT THE DOORS LOCK WAS BY MANUALLY LOCKING THEM OR PUSHING THE POWER LOCK BUTTON. ONCE THE DOORS WERE LOCKED THEY COULD NOT BE OPENED BY THE PULL OF THE DOOR HANDLE ONLY BY THE POWER LOCK SWITCH OR MANUALLY. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS ONLY A PROGRAMMING ISSUE AND THAT THEY WOULD PROGRAM IT FOR HIM, BUT HE LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A DOOR LOCK PROGRAM FEATURE. *AK UPDATED 2/22/2007 - *NM

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6. I'M EXPERIENCING A PAUSE OR HESITATION SHIFTING INTO LOW AT VERY LOW SPEEDS (2 TO 4 MPH). THE HESITATION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE BECAUSE THE GAS PEDDLE IS DEPRESSED BEFORE THE LOW GEAR ENGAGES. I FEEL IT IS AN UNSAFE DESIGN BECAUSE IN SLOW TRAFFIC OR NEAR PEDESTRIANS I NEED TO KEEP MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM LUNGING. TOYOTA HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED". *NM

TRANPATH TOYO TIRES ON 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THE TIRE CAME ON THE HIGHLANDER. THE TIRE SEEMED TO FUNCATION WELL UNTIL ABOUT 15,000 MILES. THE ROAD NOISE IS GETTING TO BE UNBEARABLE AND THE TRACTION IS POOR AND HAZARDED ON WET ROAD. THAT COULD CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. COMPLAINTED TO THE CAR SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY OFFERED TO SALE US NEW TIRES WITH NO DISCOUNT. VERY DISAPPOINTED TO THE TIRE. *NM

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

LONG HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP OR LOW SPEEDS. *JB

WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A VERY SLOW SPEED (ALMOST STOP) MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WILL SURGE. I HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS WHEN TRY TO PASS OR WHEN SLOWED TO TAKE A TURN BUT WITH NOT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT IT. I GET THE FEELING THAT THEY THINK IT IS NORMAL OR OK. *NM

SUMMARY: 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS SIGNIFICATION HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. 1.) EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: FAILURE IS CONSTANT SINCE IT IS PRESENT DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE; 2. FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: IF I ACCELERATE (STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL), THE VEHICLE HESITATES/LAGS/DIES FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN MOVING. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE IS THAT THERE IS CONSTANT DANGER WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN DURING GAPS IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ALTHOUGH A MARGIN OF SAFETY IS ALWAYS USED, I AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY, SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN TO REDUCE THIS MARGIN, E.G. ONCOMING CAR IS ACCELERATING VERY QUICKLY OR THE HESITATION WORSENS FROM A FEW SECONDS TO SEVERAL SECONDS; 3.) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: NOTHING. CONTACTED TWO TOYOTA DEALERS, DON DAVIS TOYOTA AND FREEMAN TOYOTA, AND WAS TOLD BY JOHN AND TIM, SERVICE DEPT ADVISORS, THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR TOYOTAS SINCE ADOPTING FLY-BY OR DRIVE-BY WIRE. BOTH AUTHORIZED TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES SAY THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS COMPLAINT BUT THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DONE; THIS IS NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURE AND FALLS WITHIN THEIR DESIGN PARAMETERS. NO PARTS WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW BY TOYOTA. WHILE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM, THEY DO NOT FEEL THEY NEED TO RESOLVE AND OFFER NO SOLUTION. *JB

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

UNEXPLAINED VEHICLE ACCELERATION WITH INABILITY TO STOP BEFORE HITTING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. PULLED OFF OF ROAD BEHIND TRUCK TO PARK. LIFTED FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL TO PUT ON BRAKE SO AS TO PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK. THERE WAS THEN AN EXTREME VEHICLE ACCELERATION WHICH WAS UNCONTROLLABLE WITH BRAKE. SLAMMED INTO TRUCK. TOYOTA CORP CLAIMS NO ERRORS LOGGED IN COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND THAT IF FOOT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE FILAMENT WOULD HAVE BROKEN. I CAN'T BE CERTAIN THE BRAKING HAPPENED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT-IT WAS VERY FAST. I AM CERTAIN FOOT WAS ON BRAKE AND NOT ON GAS!! THERE HAS BEEN A PREVIOUS DENIAL OF A PETITION TO INVESTIGATE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF THIS IDENTICAL SITUATION WITH OTHER TOYOTA'S-(NHTSA ACTION # DP05002). NHTSA PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS!! THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING-DO SOMETHING BEFORE THERE ARE DEATHS! IS TOYOTA IMMUNE FROM SAFETY RECALLS? I'M SORRY YOU COULDN'T FIND EVIDENCE OF A DEFECT, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG. SEVERE HESITATION, SUDDEN ACCELERATION=POSSIBLE DEATHS. I'VE RECEIVED MY REPAIRED VEHICLE, AND WHEN I WENT TO TRADE IT IN, I WAS OFFERED THOUSANDS LESS THAN TRADE IN IS SUPPOSED TO BE! IF TOYOTA REALLY BELIEVES THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THEIR CAR, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? AGAIN THEY'RE NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE! *NM

I DROVE UP HILL, SLOWED, TURNED, AND PULLED BEHIND TRUCK TO PARK OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS ALSO UPHILL. THE CAR WAS STOPPED, I WENT TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO PARK, AND THE CAR FOR SOME REASON ACCELERATED WILDLY (LOUD ROARING OF ENGINE). IT THEN LURCHED FORWARD VERY FAST AND SLAMMED INTO THE TRUCK THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD NO POWER TO STOP IT. THIS INCIDENT WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF MY CONTROL. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH SEVERE HESITATION. I HAVE ALSO HAD A HESITATION, FOLLOWED BY EXTREME ACCELERATION. I DID FILE A COMPLAINT PREVIOUSLY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A CHILD I HIT INSTEAD OF A TRUCK!. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. THIS IS A SPORADIC OCCURRENCE, BUT IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AT ALL. *NM

I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FUNCTIONING OF THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. IT BEGAN ONE MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THE NEW CAR. THE PROBLEMS HAVE PROGRESSIVELY GROWN WORSE AND ARE MORE FREQUENT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATES THAT THE HESITATION AND JERKING OF THE TRANSMISSION IS NORMAL AND A RESULT OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLLING OF THE TRANSMISSION. EVEN AFTER THE DEALERSHIP UPDATED THE SOFTWARE, THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP NOR TOYOTA HAVE NOT OFFERED ANY SOLUTIONS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE REAR WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 4/19/2006 - *NM

I WAS REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK WHILE STOPPED COMPLETELY ON THE HARDY TOLL ROAD IN HOUSTON. THE TRUCK WAS GOING APPROX 30 MPH. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK AND MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION. TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT SEAT BELTS PROVIDE NO PROTECTION DURING A REAR END COLLISION. I THINK THEY ARE WRONG. *JB

PRODUCT BRAND/MODEL: GARMIN / STREET PILOT I5 (NAVIGATION/GPS): THERE IS A SINGLE BUT SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MY I5 LOSES SUCTION FROM THE WINDSHIELD DAILY WITHOUT WARNING AND/OR CONSISTENT CONDITIONS (I.E. HOT/COLD/WET/DRY/MOVING/STILL). THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE RUBBER SUCTION CUP AND MY CAR IS NEW (2005 HIGHLANDER) AND CLEAN. I TOLD A NEIGHBOR ABOUT IT (HE IS AN ENGINEER) HE SAID THE DEVISES SUCTION CUP IS TOO SMALL RELATIVE TO IT'S WEIGHT AND THUS GRAVITY AND LEVERAGE OVER POWER THE VACUUM OF THE SUCTION OVER TIME (I.E. THE SUCTION CUP IS TO SMALL RELATIVE TO THE WEIGHT IT MUST HOLD UP). THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE AS THE UNIT HAS FALLEN ONTO MY LAP SEVERAL TIMES IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING MY CAR AND CAN BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DISTRACTION (IT COULD JUST AS EASILY FALLEN ON THE FLOOR UNDER MY BREAKS AS WELL). I HAVE CONTACTED THE COMPANY THROUGH OUT THEIR WEB SITE BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE TO DATE. THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THAT I AM SURE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS AND PRIOR MODELS (I1 TO I4) WHICH WILL ALL HAVE THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE (WHY WAIT FOR A SERIES OF ACCIDENTS TO TAKE ACTION) HELP!*JB

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

MULTIPLE TIMES, I HAVE TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE AND THERE HAS BEEN "HESITATION" WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL--THE CAR SEEMED TO BE IN NEUTRAL, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS/GEARS--IT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED ONCE; IN THAT INSTANCE THE CAR ACTUALLY "BUCKED" AND STOPPED. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART, AND DRIVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. AT OTHER TIMES, I HAVE BEEN ON A RELATIVELY EMPTY STREET AND IT HAS NOT BEEN AS MUCH OF A PROBLEM SINCE NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. HOWEVER, THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AS I HAVE A LONG COMMUTE TO WORK (AND BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ITS SAFETY AND RELIABILITY). ON MY FIRST VISIT TO THE DEALER, TOYOTA MADE A FIX ACCORDING TO A TECHNICAL BULLETIN. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THEY DID NOTHING BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM--EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. ON THIS SECOND VISIT, THEY MERELY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WE WERE TOLD WE COULD RENT A LOANER VEHICLE FROM THEM AT THEIR COST BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE THE DASHBOARD PANEL WAS BLACK DURING THE DAY. SHINING A FLASH LIGHT ON THE DASH IS THE ONLY WAY THE DASHBOARD GAUGES CAN BE SEEN. THE GAUGES ARE NOT DIGITAL. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DASHBOARD PANEL WAS NOT ABLE TO BE READ BUT THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MADE. THE DASHBOARD WORKED PROPERLY AT NIGHT.*AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

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

RECURRING ISSUE: WHILE TRAVELING AT BOTH HIGHWAY AND CITY STREET SPEEDS, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PASS BY FULLY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS. THIS HAS RESULTED IN NEAR-MISS ACCIDENT/INJURY INCIDENTS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THIS WAS A ROUTINE COMPLAINT FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THE LEXUS RX-330. THE MANUFACTURER, TOYOTA CORPORATE, WAS CONTACTED AND THE INDIVIDUAL STATED THIS WAS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE. NO MEDIATION WAS PROVIDED FROM EITHER CONTACT. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO EXISTING ODI ID NUMBERS: 10113278, 10114325, 10115243, 10120592, 10128880, 10129705, 10131894, 10132578, 10137651, 10145021. *JB

CAR IS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LTD. V-6 4WD WITH 5-SP AUTO. ENGINE HESITATES SEVERELY WHEN ASKED TO ACCELERATE HARD AT SPEEDS SEEMINGLY BETWEEN 15 AND 70 MPH. (THESE ARE SPEEDS I'VE NOTICED IT) WHEN YOU "FLOOR" THE THROTTLE TO QUICKY MERGE WITH TRAFFIC OR TURN ACROSS A LINE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THERE IS A RATHER LONG DELAY BEFORE VEHICLE BEGINS TO ACCELERATE. THIS BEHAVIOR ALSO OCCURS EXACTLY THE SAME WAY IN MY WIFE'S 2004 LEXUS RX-330, WHICH HAS THE SAME POWERTRAIN. I COMPLAINED TO LEXUS SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE (BOUGHT NEW) AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I'VE BEEN ON SEVERAL TOYOTA HIGHLANDER NEWSGROUPS AND THIS PROBLEM IS BEING WIDELY REPORTED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL "CLOSE CALLS" BECAUSE OF THIS DELAYED ACCELERATION. IN THE TIME THAT THE CAR DECIDES TO DOWNSHIFT AND ACCELERATE, TRAFFIC HAS CLOSED IN ON YOU ENOUGH THAT SEVERAL ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN NARROWLY AVOIDED. I HAVE NOT REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA AS YET, BUT FEEL THAT THEY WILL SAY THE SAME AS LEXUS DID. *NM

CONSUMER 2005 HIGHLANDER HAS EXPERIENCED HESITATION DURING ACCELERATIONS AND SOMETIMES DECELERATION. *TS THE DEALER RECALIBRATED THE ECM WHICH IMPROVED THE HESITATION PROBLEM WHILE SHIFTING BUT ALSO REDUCED THE GAS MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEIR COMPUTER INDICATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. *NM

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATION - WHEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY (AS WHEN ENTERING A FREEWAY) AFTER SLOWING DOWN OR COASTING, THE TRANSMISSION HAS DOWNSHIFTED TO A TOO-LOW GEAR OR NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE SPEEDS UP TO APPROXIMATELY 5000 RPM WITHOUT INCREASING THE CAR SPEED. LETTING UP ON THE GAS AND ACCELERATING MORE EASILY ALLOWS THE VEHICLE SPEED TO INCREASE. SO FAR, THIS HESITATION HAS NOT CAUSED ME TO BE REAR-ENDED. THE DEALER SAYS THIS OPERATION IS "NORMAL." *NM

ON OUR 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, AND ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP, LETTING OFF ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND IMMEDIATELY PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR RATHER HARD TO ATTEMPT TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE INCREASES RPM'S, BUT NO POWER GOES TO THE WHEELS. IT IS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT GEAR TO SHIFT INTO. YOU HAVE TO LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR, AND LET THE RPM'S COME BACK DOWN, AND THEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY DETERMINES WHAT GEAR TO SHIFT INTO, AND YOU CAN THEN PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR TO REGAIN FORWARD MOMENTUM. WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR IS GOING TO SHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEAR, AND MOVE FORWARD ACCORDINGLY. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN MY OPINION. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THIS LOSS OF TRANSMISSION ACCELERATION HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, NOT JUST ONCE. *NM

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

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED W/V6 ENGINE. WHEN I ACCELERATE AT LOW SPEEDS, THEN TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN, THERE IS A PROLONGED HESITATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTS TO ACCELERATE. THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THE OTHER DAY I WAS TRYING TO PULL OUT ONTO A WELL TRAVELED ROAD. I MOVED OUT INTO THE FIRST LANE AND THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE NEXT LANE WAS CLEAR. I SAW THERE WERE CARS COMING AROUND THE CURVE TOWARDS ME IN BOTH LANES. I HIT THE GAS AND THE CAR HESITATED. THEN FINALLY IT STARTED TO MOVE. I BARELY MISSED BEING BROADSIDED. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS AND HAVE DRIVEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND TOYOTA AND THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED THIS IS ANYTHING BUT NORMAL AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *NM

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

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

MY 2005 HIGHLANDER OFTEN HESITATES RIGHT WHEN I NEED THE MOST ACCELERATION. *NM

I AM A CERTIFIED CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN AND HAD A PARENT COME TO ME WITH CONCERN ABOUT THE THIRD ROW SEATING IN HER TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005. THE HEAD RESTRAINTS IN THIS MODEL ONLY HAS TWO NOTCHES. THE FIRST IS UP ABOUT 4 INCHES AND THE SECOND AROUND 5 INCHES. THERE IS A HUGE GAP IN BETWEEN. THIS SEAT CANNOT BE USED FOR A CHILD IN A NO BACK BOOSTER SINCE THIS HEAD RESTRAINT HAS NO NOTCHES THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THIS CHILD'S HEAD HEIGHT. IT IS EITHER TOO LOW OR TOO HIGH. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY STATED THAT THEIR VEHICLES MEET OR EXCEED ALL SAFETY STANDARDS. THEY REFERRED ME TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL CONSUMER RELATIONS PERSON WHICH THE PARENT IN CONCERN HAD BUT THE GENTLEMAN HAD NO CLUE WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT. UNLESS THIS IS YOUR PRIMARY FOCUS THIS MAY HAVE GONE UNNOTICED BUT THIS PARENT HAD THE CONCERN AND CHECKED INTO IT. SHE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED IN SOME WAY. IT SEEMS THAT ADDING A FEW NOTCHES COULD ACCOMMODATE MANY MORE PASSENGERS IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS USELESS TO HER AND THIS IS THE MAIN REASON WHY SHE PURCHASED THIS 7 PASSENGER VEHICLE. *NM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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