Page 6 of 6 · complaints 251–286 of 286

2004 Toyota Highlander complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →

Latches/Locks/LinkagesCrash2 injured
Filed Dec 21, 200422,500 milesIL

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

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
Filed Dec 7, 2004CA

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

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Nov 22, 20041 milesIL

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 19, 20041,100 milesCA

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (prndl)
Filed Nov 9, 2004IL

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 29, 2004TX

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Filed Oct 25, 200410 milesIL

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 24, 20043,800 milesIL

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 20, 20041,000 milesMS

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

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Oct 19, 2004TN

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 16, 2004CA

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 15, 2004CT

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 14, 2004600 milesIL

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 12, 20042,000 milesSC

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 5, 2004900 milesOH

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 30, 2004172 milesCA

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

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Sep 30, 20042,000 milesTX

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 28, 2004MO

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 19, 2004MD

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

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 18, 200470 milesCA

HESITATION ON ACCELERATION. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 16, 2004500 milesMS

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 14, 2004IL

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Torque Converter
Filed Sep 14, 2004500 milesMD

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 10, 20041,500 milesOH

I HAVE OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 4-WD VEHICLE SINCE JULY 10, 2004. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I NOTICED THERE WAS SOME HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND ON OCCASION THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO DOWN SHIFT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN AGAINST TRAFFIC WITHOUT A TURN ARROW OR PULLING OUT INTO ANY KIND OF TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES IT WILL GO - OFTEN TIMES THERE IS A 1-2 SECOND DELAY. *AK I HAVE ALSO NOTICED ON OCCASION THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SUDDENTLY THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS WITH NO CHANGE IN ACCELERATION ON THE DRIVER'S PART. THIS MAKES FOR A JUMPY FEEL IN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY A VERY SMOOTH DRIVING CAR. IN ADDITION, IT IS WREAKING HAVOC ON MY MILEAGE (AM CURRENTLY GETTING 17.1 MPG EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY). I CAN SEE THESE PROBLEMS LEADING TO ACCIDENTS AND I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF CLOSE CALLS ALREADY. I ALSO HAVE TEENAGED DRIVERS AND THERE IS NO WAY I CAN FEEL THEY ARE SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN TWO TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. I AM TOLD THAT THE HIGHLANDER HAS A "UNIQUE SHIFT PATTERN" AND THE TECHNICIAN DIDN'T NOTICE ANY HESITATION PROBLEMS. UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED HESITATION RIGHT AWAY. I SUPPOSE THEY ARE CHOOSING TO IGNORE THESE PROBLEMS. THE SUGGESTION WAS THAT I SPEAK TO MY SALESMAN AND MAYBE THEY WOULD OFFER ME A GOOD DEAL ON ANOTHER MODEL SINCE I HAVE JUST 2,000 MILES ON THE HIGHLANDER. WHAT KIND OF SOLUTION IS THAT? FURTHERMORE, I WENT TO THIS DEALER'S WEBSITE AND FOUND SEVERAL LOW-MILEAGE HIGHLANDERS

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 9, 200411,000 milesKS

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 29, 2004MS

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

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Aug 23, 2004OR

CAR HAS AN UNACCEPTABLE LAG WHEN ACCELERATING. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 22, 20042,265 milesGA

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Aug 20, 20041,100 milesOH

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

Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint
Filed Aug 20, 2004CA

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

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 2, 20047 milesMI

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

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jul 29, 200450 milesNJ

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

Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
Filed Jun 27, 20045,800 milesNJ

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

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Apr 13, 2004523 milesCA

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

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Mar 19, 20042,500 milesCT

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

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 15, 2004250 milesFL

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

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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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