2005 Toyota Highlander complaints

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 VE

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, E

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 MALFU

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 R

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