Page 5 of 5 · complaints 201–216 of 216

2010 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 2010 record →

Tires
Filed Apr 4, 20102,950 milesMD

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FAILED. IT WENT COMPLETELY FLAT OVERNIGHT. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY EVIDENCE OF A FOREIGN OBJECT LODGED IN THE TIRE. WHEN I TRIED TO ADD AIR, I COULD HEAR IT HISSING OUT. NOT CLEAR IF IT WAS A PUNCTURE, TIRE CRACK OR SOME OTHER TIRE FAILURE. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN IT TO A DEALER, BUT PLAN TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 2,950 MILES ON IT. THE TIRE WAS A TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A-20. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Mar 28, 20105,100 milesNC

ON MARCH 28, I WAS DRIVING OUR 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT WE PURCHASED AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2009 IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA WHEN THE GAS PEDAL STUCK AND I WAS UNABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP IT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL GEAR AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INJURY TO ANYONE. I THEN CALLED THE 911 AND THE POLICE CAME OUT. THIS CAR WAS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL AND THE FIX WAS COMPLETED A FEW WEEKS AGO. NO ONE WAS AVAILABLE AT ANY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO COME OUT AND PICK UP THE CAR, SO I HAD IT TOWED USING AAA TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I HAD MY FOUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME AND CAN TESTIFY AS TO WHAT HAPPENED. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THEIR FIX HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT IS REALLY WRONG WITH THESE CARS. I LOVED TOYOTA UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT FROM THESE CARS. BY THE WAY, YOUR FORM REQUIRES A SPEED AND A MILEAGE, BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE CAR TO GET THE MILEAGE, NOR DO I REMEMBER THE SPEED BECAUSE IT STARTED ONCE I APPLIED THE GAS AND IT HAPPENED SO FAST, SO I APPROXIMATED BOTH IN THE COMPLAINT. *CN

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Mar 17, 20101,500 milesNY

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHICH I PURCHASED 3 MONTHS AGO. I HAD THE GAS PEDAL "FIX" DONE ON 2/15 AND ON 3/12 MY GAS PEDAL STUCK MULTIPLE TIMES!!! I CALLED TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AS THE FIX HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE. I ASKED THAT THEY TAKE MY VEHICLE BACK AND CANCEL MY LEASE AS IT IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND I REFUSE TO PUT MY CHILDREN IN IT. THEY REFUSED. TOYOTA DRIVERS NEED TO KNOW THAT THE FIX WAS NOT A REAL FIX AND TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN DRIVING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PEDAL BECAME STUCK SEVERAL TIMES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS HARD TO PUSH, TO THE POINT WHERE WHEN IT ACTUALLY WENT DOWN, THE VEHICLE JERKED. THEN ON A HILL ON THE WAY HOME, THE CONSUMER WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, BUT SHE NOTICED THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE GOING MUCH FASTER. UPDATED 04/21/10.*JB

Steering
Filed Mar 2, 20101,280 milesMD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT AND HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT ENGAGE; HOWEVER, AFTER 5 SECONDS THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRIVING NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN AND TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,280 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,295.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 27, 2010500 milesWI

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BASE MODEL. WHEN CRUISER CONTROL IS ACTIVATED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING SLIGHTLY UPHILL, THE VEHICLE USUALLY ACCELERATES TO A SPEED THAT IS MUCH HIGHER (OVER 5 MI/HR HIGHER) THAN THE SET SPEED. THIS SITUATION HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS WORRISOME, ESPECIALLY WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON DECEMBER 28TH, 2009. I GUESS THAT THE LOCAL DEALER (HEISER TOYOTA, MILWAUKEE) MUST BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF MY PURCHASE BUT PRETENDED TO NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE SPECIFIC SALESPERSON (ART STAMOS) TOLD ME AND MY WIFE DURING VEHICLE DELIVERY THAT, IN CASE OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION, WE SHOULD PUT GEAR TO NEUTRAL AND FIRMLY PRESS BRAKE PEDAL. I SUGGEST THAT YOUR OFFICE REQUEST TOYOTA TO NOT ONLY RECALL BUT BUY-BACK ALL TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT WERE SOLD DURING THE TOYOTA'S MOST RECENT PROMOTION PERIOD (TOYOTATHIONE) IN WHICH TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DECIDED TO DO NOTHING. *TR

Traction Control System
Filed Feb 17, 20101,275 milesCA

ON DECEMBER 2, 2009, I TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SPORT MODEL, WITH A V-6 ENGINE AND 2 WHEEL DRIVE. THIS VEHICLE SUBSEQUENTLY WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE JANUARY & FEBRUARY, 2010 RECALL NOTICES AS BEING ONE OF THE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE STICKING GAS PEDAL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PRECEDING THE RECALL NOTICES, ON JANUARY 15, 2010, I EXPERIENCED A BRAKE PEDAL FADE WHILE STOPPED ON LEVEL FLAT GROUND AT A RED TRAFFIC SIGNAL. I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER TO ENSURE THAT I DID NOT DRIFT INTO THE REAR END OF THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. UPON PRESSING DOWN HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE "HILL ASSIST" WARNING BUZZER SOUNDED EVEN THOUGH MY WHEELS WERE NOT SPINNING OR IN DANGER OF SPINNING. WHEN THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL CHANGED TO GREEN A MINUTE OR SO LATER, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND LIGHTLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO START MOVING FORWARD. I FOUND THAT I HAD TO APPLY SUBSTANTIAL ( GREATER THAN NORMAL) PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MAKE THE CAR MOVE FORWARD. THIS CAUSED GREAT CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING FORWARD TOO QUICKLY FROM A DEAD STOP AND HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY SELLING DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE CAR'S COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW ANY DEFAULTS AND THAT ALL SYMPTOMS WERE NORMAL. I WAS FURTHER ADVISED TO STOP PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SO HARD. HOWEVER, MY CONCERN IS THAT WHENEVER THE "HILL ASSIST" SYSTEM IS ENGAGED (I CAN ENGAGE IT AT ANY TIM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 14, 20102,100 milesNV

MY AUTOMOBILE IS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LE. I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I15 JUST SOUTH OF BARSTOW, CA., AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH. MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. I EITHER PRESSED RESUME OR DID NOTHING, IT HAPPENED SO FAST I AM NOT SURE WHICH. MY CAR BEGAN SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL TO THE DEGREE THAT MY HEAD SNAPPED BACK TO THE HEADREST. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT KIND OF ACCELERATION BEFORE. I BRAKED SOUNDLY, AND FORTUNATELY THAT KICKED IT OUT OF THE ACCELERATION. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING TOYOTAS AND USING CRUISE CONTROL FOR YEARS. THIS WAS NOT NORMAL CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATION. NEITHER WAS IT A STICKY PEDAL, AS TOYOTA IS CLAIMING. THE CAR JUST TOOK OVER. I AM NOT SURE I COULD EVEN DUPLICATE THAT RATE OF ACCELERATION IF I TRIED. IT WAS SOMETHING INTERNAL WITH THE ENGINE OR THE COMPUTER. *TR

Service Brakes, Electric
Filed Feb 13, 2010400 milesIL

MY WIFE AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT OUR NEW 2010 HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED HAS A DELAY FROM THE TIME YOU PUSH THE BRAKES TO THE TIME THE BRAKES RESPOND. THIS OCCURS CONSISTENTLY, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS LIKE WHEN PARKING OR STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. I WOULD GUESS THAT THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT THE PRIUS HAS. THIS COULD BE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE--ESPECIALLY FOR PEDESTRIANS SINCE THE CAR TAKES MORE DISTANCE TO STOP DUE TO THIS GAP. MY WIFE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCES A SMALL SURGE PRIOR TO THE GAP IN BRAKING. I JUST DID A QUICK WEB SEARCH AND SAW DOZENS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER HIGHLANDER HYBRID OWNERS. THANKS. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 10, 20101,417 milesNY

UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. 3 TIMES ON 2-10-10. *TR

Service Brakes, Electric
Filed Feb 4, 201017 milesCO

2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED HYBRID--BRAKING PROBLEMS. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE FIRST APPLIED, THEY ARE SOFT AND MUSHY. IF YOU SLAM ON THE BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY, THEY STOP, BUT IN EVERYDAY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO ENGAGE UNTIL YOU REALLY PUT SOME WEIGHT ON IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 MONTHS AGO. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 4, 2010737 milesNY

ON PENNSYLVANIA TPKE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2010 MODEL BOUGHT A MONTH AGO JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AFTER AN HOUR DRIVE, CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED THAT IT HAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM AND THAT WAS REPLACED. THE WAS RETURNED AFTER A WEEK. ON OUR WAY BACK AGAIN AFTER APPROX. AN HOUR DRIVE THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. WE ESCAPED 2 MAJOR ACCIDENTS BY GOD'S GRACE. THE CAR IS STILL WITH ROCKLAND TOYOTA. THIS TIME THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM, THEN THEY SAID IT IS LOOSE WIRE ETC. ETC. *TR

Equipment
Filed Feb 2, 2010CO

GAS PEDAL OF 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER GOT STUCK ON THE WEATHERTECH DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR LINER WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. LUCKILY, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PULL CAR OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WE DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. WHEN MY HUSBAND REMOVED THE FLOOR LINER THE GAS PEDAL POPPED BACK UP - SO IT GOT STUCK ON THE LINER. ALSO, EARLIER IN THE TRIP THAT DAY THE WEATHERTECH CARGO LINER PREVENTED THE REAR HATCH FROM CLOSING PROPERLY AND OUR LUGGAGE FELL OUT INTO THE ROAD. ORDER # 92137633; ORDER DATE: 1/5/2010. WE HAVE ADVISED WEATHERTECH AND ARE RETURNING THE PRODUCT FOR A REFUND. P/N:441151/00185 REV 1 (DRIVER'S SIDE LINER); PART # 40328 (CARGO LINER) - CAN NOT FIND EXACT LISTING OF MODEL # ON YOUR FORM - SO ENTERED CLOSEST TO MODEL # SINCE FORM WILL NOT LET YOU CONTINUE WITHOUT CHOOSING A MODEL #. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 1, 20103,600 milesOH

ON JAN.26,2010, I WAS STOPPED BEHIND CARS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. MY 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER STARTED CREEPING FORWARD/I THOUGHT I'D TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING TO AN OUTRAGEOUS LEVEL. THE HARDER I BRAKED THE MORE THE ENGINE REVVEDAND THE CAR TRIED TO JUMP FORWARD. IT WAS SO LOUD THE DRIVER AHEAD OF ME TURNED AROUND TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON BEHIND HIM. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO REAR-END HIM UNTIL I REMEMBERED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE RETURNED TO ITS NORMAL RPMS, BUT I WAS REALLY SHAKEN. I DROVE ABOUT 1 MILE TO MY DESTINATION AND CALLED TOYOTA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THEIR SERVICE AREA. THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND AFTER 24 HRS. TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AND MY CAR WAS MADE IN JAPAN SO IT WASN'T UNDER THE RECALL. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND I DON'T FEEL TOYOTA REALLY KNOWS OR IS REVEALING ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING. MY PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS AT A STANDSTILL AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THE STUCK ACCELERATOR STORY. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET SOME SATISFACTION? AT THIS POINT THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY OCCURRED ONCE, BUT I'VE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN MY NEW VEHICLE...LESS THAN 4000 MILES ON IT! *TR

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler
Filed Jan 22, 201060 milesGA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS ON, HE COULD NOT SEE OBJECTS ON THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND VARIOUS SPEEDS IF HE HIT A DIP OR CURVE IN THE ROAD, THE VISIBILITY WOULD DROP TO LESS THAN 2 FEET IN FRONT OF HIM. HE NOTICED THE ISSUE DIFFERENCE WHENEVER HE HAD TO USE THE HEADLIGHTS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO FILE A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60. UPDATED 03/19/10. *LJ THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO HAIRLINE CRACKS FORMING, THE HEATED SEATS WERE NOT HEATING PROPERLY, THE SKID CONTROL LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AND THE DASH LIGHTS WOULD BLINK INTERMITTENTLY. UPDATED 07/27/10*JB

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Dec 23, 2009CA

WE HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT OUR 2010 HIGHLANDER & ITS DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WHICH, BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD WITH REPAIR SHOPS AND TOYOTA EMPLOYEES, IS LIKELY CAUSED BY THE PLASTIC FILM PRESSED BETWEEN THE GLASS. THIS DEFECT CAUSES VISUAL DISTORTION AND IS INCREDIBLY DISTRACTIVE WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSES EYE STRAIN. I SPOKE TO THE SALESMAN THE OTHER DAY WHO NOW SAYS HE BELIEVES IT IS A DEFECT IN ALL HIGHLANDERS (WE HAVE NOT SEEN THIS DEFECT IN OTHER HIGHLANDERS OURSELVES). TOYOTA CORP, DESPITE ALL OF THIS, REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM NOR EVEN MEET WITH US. THEY SIMPLY STATE IT IS OUR IMAGINATION. WHENEVER WE DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH TOYOTA'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY DENY IT EXISTS. BUT EMPLOYEES OF THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *TR

Visibility
Filed Dec 10, 2009CA

IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING OUR CAR, WE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS DEFECTIVE. IT HAS WAVES, CAUSING VISION DISTORTION AND HEADACHES. WE HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND ALSO HAD A TOYOTA CORP REP LOOK AT IT, WITHOUT US BEING PRESENT, AND THEY SIMPLY DENY THIS PROBLEM EXISTS. WE HAVE COMPARED IT WITH OTHER HIGHLANDERS, AND NONE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE SALESPEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM EXISTS, BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX IT. *TR

Reading these

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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