2012 Toyota Highlander complaints

VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN SHALLOW WET SAND, WITHIN LESS THAN A COUPLE MINS OF ATTEMPTS TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD BY SPINNING WHEELS , THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE ISSUE IS THE LITTLE THAT IT TOOK TO START A FIRE LIKE THIS - PERHAPS SOME COMPONENT NEEDS TO HAVE SAFETY FEATURE ADDED OR STERN WARNING COMMUNICATED AND POSTED IN THE CAR OF THIS DANGER. WE LEARNED THAT LESSON THE VERY HARD WAY. INTERNET SEARCHES AFTER THE FACT SHOW OCCURRENCES OF THIS SAME SCENARIO ON ICE, ETC ON MODERN CARS. *TR

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CLICKING FEEL IN THE STEERING SYSTEM ABOUT A YEAR AND 9 MONTHS FROM MANUFACTURE DATE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A FAILED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND RECOMMEND INDICATE REPLACEMENT . I CONTACTED TOYOTA AS I FEEL REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY COMPANY DUE TO NATURE OF FAILURE AND AGE OF VEHICLE. THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED ANYTHING IN WAY IF ASSISTANCE AND HAVE NO RECALL PENDING EVEN THOUGH THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM ACROSS THE WHOLE TOYOTA VEHICLE LINE UP. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT WITH OUR 2 SMALL CHILDREN WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR JERKED LIKE WE WERE REAR ENDED. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN TO HAVE IT ONLY HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES. IT WAS VERY SCARY. IF WE WERE ON THE ROAD WE WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WE CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER WHICH WAS VERY FAR FROM OUR HOME. THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER FINDING METAL DEBRIS IN THE FLUID. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE CAR STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN AND WAS BROUGHT TO ANOTHER DEALER. THAT DEALER ORDERED YET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AND PUT IN A SECOND ONE MAKING SURE IT WAS CALIBRATED. TOYOTA CORPORATE OUT OF CALIFORNIA WAS INVOLVED THE WHOLE TIME. THEY RESPONDED AND WAS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING THAT HAD OCCURRED WITH THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *TR

RIGHT FRONT DOOR DOES NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK USING THE KEYLESS REMOTE HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD TO HAVE THE ACTUATOR REPLACED ON MARCH 17TH, 2014. NOW ON APRIL 8TH, 2014 DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK USING KEYLESS REMOTE AGAIN HAVING TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR. TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND HAS TO HAVE THE ACTUATOR REPLACED. TWO ACTUATORS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED IN LESS THAN 1 MONTH. SUV NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

WHILE PARKED AT A CURBSIDE, WITH ENGINE IDLING, I SPONTANEOUSLY DECIDED TO ADJUST MY TILT STEERING COLUMN (UP/DOWN) TO SEE IF THERE WAS A MORE COMFORTABLE POSITION TO DRIVE. WHEN I MOVED THE COLUMN DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME (I HAD NEVER TRIED TO ADJUST THE POSITION PREVIOUSLY, SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR ONE YEAR EARLIER), THE CAR'S ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. I COULD NOT RE-START THE ENGINE AND ALL I KEPT THINKING WAS THANK-GOODNESS I WAS NOT DRIVING, AS I HAD LOST ENGINE, STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. THE RECENT HEADLINES ABOUT GM'S IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS AND DRIVERS SUDDENLY LOSING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING MADE ME REALIZE THAT I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN A SIMILAR CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF CONTROL SITUATION, BECAUSE OF THE TILT-STEERING PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED. I THANK THE STARS THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING OR ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. APPARENTLY, AN IGNITION SWITCH WIRE SOMEHOW BECAME DETACHED OR BROKEN DUE TO MY SINGLE TILT ACTION. SCARY INDEED. *TR

THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHEN WE CAME TO A STOP. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO HELP. THE CAR HAS TO BE TURNED OFF BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION OR SOLUTION FOR THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. UPDATED 02/25/14

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS LATCHED TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOLTS WERE LOOSE DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

I WAS ABOUT TO START THE CAR. MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SHE LOWERED THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR AND THEN TRIED TO PUT IT BACK UP. WE HEARD A CLICK, AND FOUND THAT THE SUN VISOR WILL NOT GO BACK INTO THE "UP" POSITION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT AFFECTS MY VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING. *TR

AFTER DRIVING APROX 1200 MILES FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO FLORIDA NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR MATS UNDER THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE SOPPING WET. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO ARLINGTON TOYOTA IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA ON 12/27/2012 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED INTO. SINCE I DID NOT HAVE A "REPAIR APPOINTMENT" IT WAS NECESSARY TO RETURN ON A LATER DATE. RETURNED ON 01/23/2013 AND SUBMITTED THE CAR FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS FOREIGN DEBRIS HAD ENTERED THE A/C SYSTEM AND CLOGGED THE DRAIN. THIS PROBLEM HAS REPEATED ITSELF THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES SINCE THE INITIAL REPAIR WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF SPIDERS BLOCKING THE DRAIN TUBE. THE WET FLOORS IN THE CAR AND THE RESULTING MOLD HAS TRIGGERED AN ALLERGIC REACTION AND CAUSED A SINUS INFECTION. THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM. *TR

OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW WEEKS WE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT SMELL IN OUR CAR. WE HAVE RUBBER FLOORMATS, SO DID NOT NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A DRAINAGE PROBLEM IN OUR A/C CONDENSER. THE BLOCKAGE CAUSED DRAINAGE TO BACK UP INTO THE BODY OF OUR VEHICLE AND MOLD STARTED TO GROW ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE CARPET UNDERNEATH THE RUBBER FLOORMATS. WE LATER LEARNED THAT THE BLOCKAGE WAS CAUSED BY A SPIDER WEB IN THE A/C CONDENSER DRAINAGE TUBE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY CALLED TOYOTA AND LEARNED IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED TOYOTA CARE WARRANTY AND ANY COSTS WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID OUT OF POCKET. I JUST LEARNED THAT SIMILAR MODEL YEAR TOYOTA VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE AVALON AND CAMRY, ARE UNDER RECALL DUE TO PROBLEMS THAT RESULT FROM SPIDER WEBS BLOCKING THE A/C CONDENSER DRAINAGE TUBE. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT THAT COVERS MORE THAN JUST THE AVALON AND CAMRY MODELS, BUT THE RECALL DID NOT COVER MY HIGHLANDER. WE HAVE AN INFANT SON AND THE GROWTH OF MOLD COULD HAVE SEVERELY IMPACTED HIS HEALTH AND BREATHING. *TR

THIS EVENT HAPPENED WHEN MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2012 (SE V6 4WD) WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. I PRESSED THE REMOTE CONTROL BUTTON TO AUTOMATICALLY OPEN THE CAR HATCH DOOR. THE DOOR WAS OPEN AND STAY UP. HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS PUTTING SOME GROCERY BAGS INSIDE THE CAR, THE DOOR CAME DOWN WITHOUT ANY ANNOUNCEMENT AND HITTING MY HEAD. I HAD HEAD ACHE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, THE BACK DOOR DOES NOT STAY UP. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWO DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. I AM STILL WAITING FOR A DECISION FROM TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AND WITHOUT MY CAR (3 WEEKS AND COUNTING). I AM CLAIMING A CAR REPLACEMENT FROM TOYOTA. THIS IS THE FIFTH INCIDENT WITH THIS CAR (FIVE CAR REPAIRS BY THE DEALERSHIP UNDER TOYOTA GUARANTY) DURING ITS FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP (A BRAND NEW CAR). REALLY DISAPPOINTED FROM TOYOTA CAR QUALITY. I AM AFRAID THAT NEXT TIME WOULD BE A FATALITY OR ANOTHER SERIOUS INJURY WITH IRREVERSIBLE CONSEQUENCES. *TR

I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION (RED LIGHT) AND WAS NEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN BUT THIS INTERSECTION DOES NOT HAVE A GREEN ARROW SO YOU HAVE TO YIELD TO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AS I PROCEEDED FORWARDED A LITTLE BIT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION SO I COULD MAKE MY LEFT TURN, I SLOWED DOWN TO ALMOST A STOP BECAUSE THERE WERE TOO MANY CARS AND I COULDN'T TURN AT THAT MOMENT. THEN THERE WAS A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO TURN SHORTLY AFTER I SLOWED DOWN ALMOST TO A STOP AND I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO GO, THEN NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE JUST PAUSED FOR ABOUT 2 OR 3 SECONDS AND THEN SUDDENLY JUMPED FORWARD. MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR AND SHE THOUGHT IT WAS ME MASHING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT I DIDN'T, IT'S JUST THAT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AND THEN SUDDENLY JUMPED FORWARD! LUCKILY WHEN THIS DELAY HAPPENED, I WASN'T IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFICS LANE, NOR WERE THERE ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC CLOSE AT THAT MOMENT. AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, I EVEN THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS ME NOT GIVING THE VEHICLE ENOUGH GAS, BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT A MONTH LATER. THIS IS WHEN I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR DELAYED ACCELERATION AND I CAME UPON OTHER'S WHO HAVE MENTIONED THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING WITH THEIR TOYOTA VEHICLES AS WELL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD AND I'VE READ THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR OLDER TOYOTA VEHICLES. I'VE EVEN READ THAT TOYOTA KNOWS OF THE ISSUE ALREADY BUT THEY HAVE NO FI

ON FEBRUARY 4, 2013 THE HIGHLANDER ACCELERATED THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE EACH TIME AND ENGINE ACCELERATED WHEN COMING TO A STOP EACH TIME. ON JUNE 16, 2013 THE HIGHLANDER ENGINE ACCELERATED AS THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP. WE HAVE HAD ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH TWO HIGHLANDERS AND TWO CAMRYS AND NO ANSWERS FROM TOYOTA AS TO WHY ACCEPT FOR THEM TO TRY AND BLAME IT ON DRIVER ERROR. WHEN A CAR IS AT A STOP AND ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN THEN THERE IS NO DRIVER ERROR. PLEASE HELP US. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWAYING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO A BILLBOARD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON I-35 AND HAS TO STOP AT THE SHOULDER FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO FIX SOMETHING. THE SHOULDER IS SMOOTH AND NEWLY PAVED. THEN I WENT ON DRIVING AGAIN, MINUTES LATE, THE TIRE LOW AIR INDICATOR WAS ON AND A FEW MORE MINUTES LATER, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS TOTALLY FLAT. THE TIRE HAS ONLY 7500 MILES ON IT AND WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALER THAT I NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE. AND THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON IT SINCE IT IS FROM A NEW CAR AND I DID NOT PURCHASE THEIR EXTENDED COVERAGE. I THINK IT IS QUALITY OF THE TIRE USED AND I SAW TONS OF SAME COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER TOYOTA HIGHLANDER OWNERS. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING ALONG EL CAMINO REAL IN SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA WHEN WE HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG AND OUR CAR SWAYED TO THE RIGHT AND ALMOST HIT A BYSTANDER. THE REAR PASSENGER RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT AT NO APPARENT REASONS. THERE WAS A BIG CRACK OF 3 TO 4 INCHES ON THE SIDE (INSIDE PART) OF THIS TIRE. WE BROUGHT OUR CAR TO MELODY TOYOTA TELLING THEM THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SIGNS OF NAILS OR ANY OTHER OBJECTS THAT WILL CAUSE THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. FORTUNATELY, WE DECIDED NOT TO TAKE THE FREEWAY THIS TIME OR ELSE WE WILL BE IN A BIG ACCIDENT. MELODY TOYOTA TOLD US THAT IT WAS DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE BUT THEY ARE NOT SURE ABOUT IT BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE SURFACE WAS SO SMOOTH AND NO MARKS OF ANY OBJECTS HITTING IT. IT LOOKED THAT IT CAME FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THEY DECIDED TO SEND THE TIRE TO THE MANUFACTURER (TOYO BRAND) TO INVESTIGATE. OUR WORRY THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WILL TRY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEY WILL RULE THAT IT WAS DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. GRANTING IT WAS DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE THE TIRE SHOULD DEFLATE SLOWLY AND NOT A SUDDEN LOUD BURST. WE ARE REPORTING THIS BECAUSE WE WANT TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES WHO HAVE THIS BRAND OF TIRES. FORTUNATELY, NOTHING BAD HAPPENED TO US AND THE BYSTANDER. I WAS REQUESTING THE DEALER TO REPLACE ALL OUR TIRES BECAUSE WE HAVE NO PEACE OF MIND DRIVING WITH THESE TIRES. BY THE WAY, OUR CAR IS A BRAND NEW CARTOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2012 THAT WE BOUGHT ONLY LAST JUNE OF 2012, IT WAS AN 8 MONTH-O

WHEN STOPPING THE AUTO ON 3 OCCASIONS THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING VERY STRONGLY....UPDATED 02/07/13 *BF *TR HOWEVER, WHILE THE HIGHLANDER WAS BEING CHECKED, THE CONSUMER AND HER HUSBAND EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING A TOYOTA CAMRY LOANER, CAUSING A CRASH AND PERSONAL INJURY. UPDATD 02/11/13

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE. THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY WHILE REVERSING BUT UPON SHIFTING BACK INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE AGAIN ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PLACED INTO REVERSE AND THEN CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A CURB, CAUSING THE AXLE TO FRACTURE. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUFFER ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A DEFECT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,900. UPDATED 2/21/13 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE TOO DIM, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND ADJUSTED THE LIGHTS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000. ... UPDATED 02/27/13 *BF UPDATED 03/04/13

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND STEERING TO THE RIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN POWERING OFF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DEFROSTER FOR THE REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO REMAIN FOGGY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,300. UPDATED 1/29/13 *CN

LIGHT TURNED RED. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP. BRAKE PEDAL WAS ROCK HARD NO RESPONSE. TWO MORE ATTEMPTS USELESS. I JUST CONTINUED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND THERE WAS NO FURTHER EVENT. THIS WAS THE THIRD EVENT FOR THIS CAR. I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. I AM AWAITING A RESOLUTION FROM TOYOTA UNDER A CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW DISPUTE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER THE CURB. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET AND SHIFTED INTO PARK IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO SENT AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,500.

THE 2012 HIGHLANDER SPEEDOMETER CONSISTENTLY SHOWS 3 MILES OVER THE ACTUAL SPEED, AS COMPARE TO VARIOUS HIGHWAY SPEED MONITORS AND COMMERCIAL GPS SPEED INDICATORS. HOWEVER, TOYOTA DEALER AND HEADQUARTER SAID THE SPEEDOMETER IS WITHIN PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS DRIVER MAY NOT BE SURE OF THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY INSTEAD. SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE HOWEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD BECOME VERY STIFF. SHE HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED 15 FEET LATER. SHE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN IDLE UP CLUTCH DEFECT, WHICH OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,800. UPDATED 08/28/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD AND THE ENGINE REACHED 1600 RPM EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS ONLY DRIVING 10 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. SHE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. SHE THEN SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED ABOUT 7-10 MINUTES.

AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THEN BRAKING, I BACKED UP TO REALIGN THE VEHICLE BETTER. WHEN I PULLED IN THIS TIME AND BRAKE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. I CONTINUED TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE REPEATEDLY, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL DID NOT STOP. THE ENGINE THEN REVVED UP AND ACCELERATED. AT THIS SAME TIME THE GEAR SHIFT WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AS IT HIT THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING, AND THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO BACK UP THE VEHICLE AND PARK IT IN THE PARKING SPACE, WITH NOT PROBLEM BRAKING IT TO STOP THIS TIME. *TR

MY HIGHLANDER WAS AT THE AIRPORT FOR THREE DAYS PARKED. WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE LOT I WAS DRIVING SLOW IN THE LOT TO PAY MY PARKING. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE LOT TO MAIN STREAM TRAFFIC I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO SLOW AS I KEPT PUSHING THE THROTTLE. THERE WERE CARS ON BOTH SIDES OF ME WITH NO ONE IN FRONT AND THEN THE CAR JUST TOOK OFF. IT DID STARTLE ME BECAUSE I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE I AM SURE I WOULD NOT HAVE REACTED FAST ENOUGH TO STOP BECAUSE OF THE RAPID ACCELERATION. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE THROTTLE IN THESE VEHICLES. I DID NOT TAKE IT IN BECAUSE I AM SURE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPEN ONCE AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

THE CAR WILL NOT HOLD WHEN PARKED ON A STEEP INCLINE. NOT EVEN IN MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME. ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE ADDED WEIGHT. THEY ADJUSTED IT THE FIRST TIME AND SAID IT WOULD BE FINE. THAT ONLY LASTED A MONTH. TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG BUT THEY ADJUSTED IT MORE. TECH SAID THEY MIGHT HAVE TO CHARGE ME BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO WEAR OUT THE PARKING BRAKE PADS. NEVER HAD SOME THING LIKE THIS HAPPEN IN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. IT CURRENTLY IS NOT HOLDING SO I APPLY THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR AND THEN PUT IT IN PARK. NOT A GOOD PRACTICE. *TR

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT, MY HIGHLANDER SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL! MY HIGHLANDER WENT UP OVER THE CURB WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW. I HAD BRAKES AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE, COMING TO A SAFE STOP. NOT BEFORE SLASHING MY LEFT FRONT TIRE AND BENDING MY TIRE RIM. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS INJURED. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE CONTACT THEN ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE ENGINE RMPS INCREASED UP TO 3,000. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED REPEATEDLY AND THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING TO THE DESTINATION AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

DRIVERS AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT. FRONT END CRUSHED, PROBABLY $20,000 DAMAGE TO FRONT END ALTHOUGH TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IT WAS TOTALED. WIFE WAS DRIVING AND COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IF SEAT BELT HAD FAILED ALSO. *TR

OCCASIONALLY, AFTER COMING TO A STOP, AND THEN TAKING OFF AND TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT, THE ENGINE WILL LOSE POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE ENGINE DOES NOT SHUT OFF, IT JUST SLOWS DOWN TO JUST ABOVE IDLE SPEED FOR 3 OR 4 SECONDS AND THEN RESUMES NORMAL ACCELERATION OPERATION. *TR

WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE IN PRIVATE SHOPPING MALL AT SLOW RATE OF SPEED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING RAPIDLY ACCELERATED FORWARD INTO VEHICLE PARKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WENT UP AND OVER PARKED VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. NO ONE WAS HURT IN THIS ACCIDENT AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS MADE AS IT WAS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO TOYOTA WHO INVESTIGATED AND TOYOTA DETERMINED THAT NO VEHICLE DEFECT OR DESIGN EXISTED AND REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. MY WIFE WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND SWEARS AS TO THE FACTS. SHE DID NOT CONTRIBUTE AT ALL TO THIS ACCIDENT. TOYOTA IS MARKETING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY AND UNFORTUNATELY RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY IF THEY ARE NOT NOW HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR