2013 Toyota Highlander complaints

2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HESITATES/STALLS OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING. PRIMARILY OCCURS WHEN TURNING LEFT AFTER STOPPING AT A SIGN/LIGHT. THE HESITATION LAST FOR 5-10 SECONDS. HAVE ASKED DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT IT 5 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JULY 2013 BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM DURING THEIR TEST DRIVES. THEY CONCLUDE THE "VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED." *TR

I TURNED ON MY CAR, PUT IT ON DRIVE WHEN I TRIED TO PRESS THE GAS AND TURN THE WHEEL TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED SO HARD I COULD NOT TURN IT. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL AS I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SO DID THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD, ON THE BIG SCREEN WHERE IT SHOWS MY INFO AND OTHER FANCY GADGETS SHOWED "BRAKE MALFUNCTION PARK CAR IN SAFE ZONE" AS THE CAR DROVE FORWARD BY ITSELF AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING THE CAR HIT AN EMPTY PARKING SPACE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS AT A SCHOOL PARKING LOT WITH KIDS EVERYWHERE AROUND ME! *TR

ON 2/20/2015 MY PARKED TOYOTA WAS HIT IN THE FRONT BUMPER CAUSING DAMAGE. THE PARTY THAT HIT ME CARRIED STATE FARM INSURANCE. THEY ADMITTED FAULT AND SENT ME TO ONE OF THEIR PREFERRED SHOPS. THE SHOP INFORMED ME THAT STAE FARM WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO INSTALL A NEW BUMPER SINCE MY VEHICLE HAS 10,753 MILES ON IT. STATE FARM FORCED THEM TO SOURCE A USED BUMPER, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS PART OF THE TOYOTA SAFETY SYSTEM. I WOULD NOT ALLOW THE USED PART TO BE INSTALLED. SENATOR RICHARD BLUMENTHAL LAST WEEK ASK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND DOJ TO INVESTIGATE THIS PRACTICE OVER SAFETY CONCERNS. THESE USED PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED OR CERTIFIED AS SAFE BY THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER.

ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:50AM MST, AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK AT THE HOLIDAY GAS STATION ON PLEASANT GROVE BOULEVARD IN PLEASANT GROVE, UT, I BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM THE GAS PUMPS. BEFORE EXITING THE GAS STATION, AND AFTER MOVING ABOUT 20 FEET AT ABOUT 5 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP TO AROUND 4000 RPM. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY FOOT ENTIRELY OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL AND SLAMMED MY FOOT DOWN ON THE BRAKE, HOLDING THE BRAKE DOWN FIRMLY. DESPITE NOTHING PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL, AND DESPITE THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING VERY FIRMLY AND CONTINUOUSLY PRESSED, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO CYCLE AT EXACTLY THE SAME HIGH RPM AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, STRAINING AGAINST THE BRAKE. I THEN SWITCHED THE GEAR FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AT EXACTLY THE SAME RPM. AT THIS TIME, THE ENGINE WAS CONTINUOUSLY REVVING AT APPROXIMATELY 4000 RPM, THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING, THE GEAR WAS SET TO NEUTRAL, NOTHING WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS/ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND I WAS FIRMLY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I THEN EXAMINED THE DRIVER FOOTWELL TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING COULD POSSIBLY BE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL AND INDEED THERE WERE NO OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE DRIVER FOOTWELL. I THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND PUMPED THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND IN ANY WAY TO THIS ACTION ? RATHER IT CONTINUED TO SIMPLY REV AT THE CONSTANT HIGH RPM. I THEN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE STOPPED AND

I REAR ENDED A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. DAMAGE MINIMAL TO HIS CAR. MY HIGHLANDER SUSTAINED OVER 10 THOUSAND DOLLAR FRONT DAMAGE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

THE DOOR OPEN ALERT AND ALERT BEEPING CAME ON AS WELL AS ALL OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTING AS I WAS DRIVING. IT SHOWS GLASS DOOR ON THE DISPLAY. I CHECKED ALL DOORS AND NONE OF THE DOORS ARE OPEN. IT WAS VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS ON. THEY KEEP GOING ON AND OFF AND THE ALERT KEEPS BEEPING. AS FAR AS I CAN FIND OUT, THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN OFF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 300 MILES. I JUST HAD IT IN FOR THE 35,000 MILE SERVICE. I FIND NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE ON SEVERAL WEBSITES/DISCUSSION FORUMS. I CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS INFORMED THERE IS NO RECALL HOWEVER I FOUND THERE WAS A TSB? SENT OUT ON THE BACK LATCHES. I CALLED JIM NORTON TOYOTA IN TULSA, OK AND WAS INFORMED THEY WANT A $110 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. SEEMS LIKE WITH ALL OF THE SAME ISSUES THAT TOYOTA WOULD LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND RESOLVE. TOYOTA SAID THEY COULD NOT WAIVE THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. HOPING I CAN FIND A QUICK FIX OR SOMEONE WILLING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE INEXPENSIVELY OR BETTER YET, TOYOTA COULD STEP UP AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE THEMSELVES AS A CUSTOMER SERVICE STAND. *TR

MY VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE, STRIKING DIRECTLY INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE . THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED APPROXIMATELY $8000 WORTH OF FRONT END DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. (FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO INJURIES). IN LIGHT OF CURRENT WELL-PUBLICIZED AIR BAG ISSUES, I ASKED MY DEALERSHIP IF THEY WOULD INSPECT MY VEHICLE TO ENSURE THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THEY REFUSED, AND REFERRED ME TO TOYOTA CORPORATE. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE, EXPLAINED MY CONCERN, AND REQUESTED THAT MY AIR BAGS BE CHECKED OUT. TOYOTA CORPORATE REFUSED, AND SUGGESTED I SEND A LETTER TO THEIR CLAIMS DEPARTMENT. I SENT THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT A LETTER ON NOVEMBER 10, 2014, AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *TR

THE 2013 HIGHLANDER WAS SERVICED IN FLORIDA MONDAY 10/27 FOR 15000 MILES SERVICE, TODAY MY SISTER WAS DRIVING SINCE SERVICE, THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON ,THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING , THE HIGHLANDER WAS NOT STABLE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD AND SEEMED LIKE IT NEEDS A TUNE UP.I CALLED THE DEALER AND IT WAS TAKEN THEIR ,FIRST RESPONSE WAS GAS PUT IN, YES . WAS TOLD POSSIBLE THE CAP WAS NOT PUT ON RIGHT AND WITH NEWER CARS IT COULD BE A MALFUNCTION THE COMPUTER.. TURNED OUT THAT THE IGNITION COIL SWITCH WAS BAD ON THIS 2013 HIGHLANDER. WHICH IS WHY I'M REPORTING THIS DUE TO RECENT ISSUE WITH ANOTHER CAR MANUFACTURE KNOWING THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD ON THEIR AUTOMOBILES. *TR

THE AC UNIT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, IT IS NOT DRAINING, RESULTING IN A FOUL MOLDY MILDEW SMELL DUE TO THE BUILT UP CONDENSATION. TOYOTA OFFERED TO CHANGE THE AIR FILTER AS A SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE, UNFORTUNATELY IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WITHIN DAYS, THE ODOR WAS STILL VERY APPARENT. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT CAN BE DONE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2013, WITH 10K MILES, AND STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

I WAS CUTOFF BY ANOTHER DRIVER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HIT MY BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE DRIVER IN FRONT ME. I HEARD THE SEATBELT AND MY SONS CAR SEAT COME LOOSE. I TURNED AROUND AND SAW MY 2 YEAR OLD SONS CAR SEAT HAD BEEN EJECTED AND HIS FACE HAD SLAMMED INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT IN FRONT HIM. I WAS PUSHING THE CAR SEAT BACK, SO HE COULD BREATH, WITH ONE ARM AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE TRAFFIC AROUND WAS TOO FAST FOR ME TO GET OFF THE VEHICLE TO REINSTALL THE CAR SEAT SO I ADJUSTED IT AS BEST I COULD WITHOUT TAKING HIM OUT OF THE SEAT AND PROCEEDED TO TAKE HIM TO SCHOOL. I CALLED THE DEALER I NORMALLY GO TO ([XXX] ) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE ON MY LUNCH BREAK SO THEY COULD CHANGE THE SEAT BELT. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT BOTH THE SHOP FOREMAN AND SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO CHANGE THE SEATBELT BECAUSE IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY THERE AND SAID I HAD INSTALLED THE CAR SEAT INCORRECTLY! THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND I REFUSE TO PUT MY KIDS BACK IN THAT CAR, WHAT CAN I DO? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT ART HOME. I PRESSED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP, IT ACTUALLY ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY. I KNOW I PRESSED THE BRAKE AND NOT THE GAS BECAUSE I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THE BRAKE FULLY DEPRESSED AND MY LEG WAS FULLY EXTENDED. ALSO IF I WOULD HAVE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM CABE TOYOTA, A TOYOTA DEALER IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ON MARCH, 2013. I ALWAYS USE CABE TOYOTA FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO CABE TOYOTA ON JULY 5TH, 2014 FOR 20,000 MILES SERVICE AND REPLACED THE CABIN FILTER AS PER THEIR RECOMMENDATION. I REALIZED THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WERE SLOWER WHEN ENTERING THE FREEWAYS AFTER THE SERVICE. THE PERFORMANCE WAS EVEN WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE GOING UPHILL AND THE TOP SPEED STAYS ON 40 MPH EVEN WHEN THE ACCELERATION PADDLE WAS FULLY ENGAGE. WHEN I WAS VACUUMED THE VEHICLE YESTERDAY, SEPT 26TH, 2014. I NOTICED SOME ELECTRIC WIRES WERE UNPLUGGED, AND ONE SET OF THEM WAS CUT OFF COMPLETELY. I AM NOT SURE THIS IS THE RESULT OF MANUFACTURE FAILURE OR MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FOR INDEPENDENT INSPECTION CENTER IN MY AREA FROM YOU, SO THAT I CAN BRING MY CAR TO HAVE COMPLETE DIAGNOSES. THANK YOU. *TR

ON SEPTEMBER 12 2014 MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT HER DOCTOR'S OFFICE. THE SPACE INCLUDE A STOP CURB AND IT FACED A FOUR LANE STREET. AS SHE PULLED INTO THE SPACE, SHE BRAKED TO AVOID CONTACTING THE CURB AND WAS ABOUT TO SHIFT INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR JUMPED THE PARKING CURB AND THEN ANOTHER CURB AND ENTERED A GRASSY AREA (APPROXIMATELY 10 FT WIDE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND JUMPED ANOTHER CURB AND LANDED IN A 4 LANE STREET. SHE CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ACROSS THE STREET. SHE WAS HEADED TOWARD ANOTHER CURB AND GRASSY AREA AND A DOWNHILL SLOPE FOLLOWED BY A MEINEKE REPAIR BUSINESS. NOT WANTING TO GO DOWN THE HILL AND INTO THE BUILDING, SHE TURNED THE CAR TO THE RIGHT BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID ENTERING THE SECOND GRASSY AREA. SHE WAS NOW TRAVELING PARALLEL TO THE MEINEKE BUILDING AND SIDE SWIPED TWO SMALL TREES, AND WAS HEADED TOWARD A VERY BUSY RUSH HOUR STREET. TO AVOID ACCELERATING INTO THIS STREET, SHE DECIDED TO TRY SHIFTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. SHE LOOKED DOWN TO FIND THE NEUTRAL GEAR, AND JUST AS SHE LOOKED UP, SHE CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO ANOTHER TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE SEAT BELTS SAVED HER. THE CAR WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHERE SHE HIT THE TREE AND TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR WHERE SHE SIDE SWIPED THE TWO TREES. THE MEINEKE EMPLOYEES CALLED 911 AND A DETECTIVE TOOK HER TO HER DOCTOR'S OFFICE FOR TREATMENT. SHE INJURED HER RIBS AND BACK AND

BURNT SMELL COMING FROM THE AC VENTS, WHICH HAPPENS MOST OF THE TIME THE AFTER THE NOTED FIRST TIME OF INCIDENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN I TAKE MAJOR FREEWAYS, LAST TIME NOTED THIS AFTERNOON 8/31/2014 WHILE TAKING I-75 IN FLORIDA. WHEN I ACCELERATE TO 70-80MPH, ME AND MY WIFE/ PASSENGER ALWAYS SMELL BURNT ODOR COMING FROM THE AC VENTS WHICH IS REALLY ANNOYING AND SCARY BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW IF SOMETHING IS BURNING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR ELSEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. SO I NEED TO SLOW DOWN AFTER THAT, OPEN THE WINDOWS TO LET THE ODOR OUT. I HAVE LET THE TOYOTA CHECK IT BUT CANNOT DUPLICATE IT MAY BE BECAUSE DURING THE PLACE OF TESTING IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE IN MY OPINION, THE DEALERSHIP IS LOCATED NEAR A FREEWAY WHERE SPEED LIMIT IS ONLY AT 60MPH, THE TECH ACCELERATED IT ONCE AT 70MPH BUT I TOLD HIM HE CANNOT DUPLICATE IT WITH NOT CONSISTENTLY HITTING AT 70 OR HIGHER.MAY BE NEXT TIME OF SERVICE I WILL CHOOSE A DEALERSHIP NEAR THE FREEWAY I DRIVE AND DRIVE IT MYSELF. *TR

PURCHASED 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 11/24/12; TRANSMISSION HAS MALFUNCTIONED APPROXIMATELY 16 TIMES SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. WHEN REDUCING SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 30 TO10 M.P.H. AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO GO INTO NEUTRAL; THE DRIVE STICK REMAINS IN DRIVE! WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I SHIFT DRIVE STICK TO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE AND THEN TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO WORK FINE. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO EXTEND YOUR IMAGINATION TOO FAR TO REALIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH WHEN MAKING A TURN OR TRYING TO PASS SOMEONE! DEALER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. THE INITIAL RESPONSE FROM DEALER WAS THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO ADJUST TO MY DRIVING HABITS? IF YOU CHECK CARCOMPLAINTS.COM OR EDMONDS.COM, YOU WILL SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE 2004. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO REVIEW PAST HEAD ON COLLISIONS AND TURN ACCIDENTS TO CONSIDER IF IT WAS "DRIVER ERROR" VS "TRANSMISSION FAILURE" I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONTACTED TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU *TR UPDATED 02/20/2015 *JS

I PURCHASED A NEW 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED IN NOVEMBER 2013. A FEW DAYS LATER, UPON ACCELERATING FROM A STOP INTO A LEFT TURN, THE ENGINE CUT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE MORE TIMES BEFORE THE FIRST CHECKUP, AT WHICH TIME I INFORMED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, PROBLEM WAS NOTED ON SERVICE SHEET, BUT WHEN SERVICE WAS COMPLETED, THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. THE HESITATION CONTINUED, QUITE RANDOMLY, AND SEEMED TO HAPPEN IN LEFT TURN, ACCELERATING SITUATIONS. AT NEXT SERVICE AND CHECKUP (DIFFERENT DEALER) I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS WRITTEN UP AGAIN WITH SAME RESULT, NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES, NO RESULTS, NO ACTION TAKEN, NO PROBLEM FOUND. I CONSIDER THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. BASED ON INFORMATION I HAVE SEEN, IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM ASAP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NUMEROS ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO HAVE HER VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V148000 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V014000 (AIR BAGS , SEATS) HOWEVER, BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT RETURN THE CONTACT'S PHONE CALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXHIBITED THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DEAR SIR, I PURCHASED A NEW 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE SPARE TIRE IS MOUNTED UNDER THE VEHICLE & HELD IN PLACE BY A CABLE. THE SPARE TIRE BECOMES LOOSE AND IT DROPS DOWN WHEN DRIVING. I JUST RECENTLY HAD RIVERHEAD TOYOTA (WHERE I PURCHASED THE HIGHLANDER) REPAIR THE MECHANICAL CRANK, IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 8 DAYS. THE SERVICE MANAGER MIKE HAMMER TOLD ME HE PERSONALLY REPAIRED IT. I HAD IT 2 DAYS AND ABOUT 300 MILES AND THE SPARE TIRE DROPPED DOWN AGAIN. IT IS CURRENTLY BACK AT RIVERHEAD TOYOTA. I ASKED FOR THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE NOV 2013. I CALLED TOYOTA TO COMPLAIN, ABOUT 15 TIMES. I HAVE A CASE WORKER BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT FIXED. MY SPARE TIRE GETS DAMAGED WHEN IT DROPS DOWN, TOYOTA HAS REPLACED 2 MAG WHEELS AND IS REFUSING TO REPLACE 2 MORE DAMAGED MAG WHEELS. THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE SPARE TIRE HANGING BY A CABLE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE (IT HAS DROPPED DOWN AS MUCH 8IN OFF THE ROAD) AND IT SWINGS. MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH A TRAILER HITCH WHICH CONTAINS THE SWINGING OF TIRE. WHEN THE TIRE DROPS BELOW THE TRAILER HITCH IT MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. CAN YOU PLEASE CHECK IF THIS IS ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS & WHAT IS WAS DONE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I'M AFRAID ONE DAY THE TIRE WILL BECOME SEPARATED FROM MY VEHICLE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

DEAR SIR, I PURCHASED A NEW 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE SPARE TIRE IS MOUNTED UNDER THE VEHICLE & HELD IN PLACE BY A CABLE. THE SPARE TIRE BECOMES LOOSE AND IT DROPS DOWN WHEN DRIVING. I JUST RECENTLY HAD RIVERHEAD TOYOTA (WHERE I PURCHASED THE HIGHLANDER) REPAIR THE MECHANICAL CRANK, IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 8 DAYS. THE SERVICE MANAGER MIKE HAMMER TOLD ME HE PERSONALLY REPAIRED IT. I HAD IT 2 DAYS AND ABOUT 300 MILES AND THE SPARE TIRE DROPPED DOWN AGAIN. IT IS CURRENTLY BACK AT RIVERHEAD TOYOTA. I ASKED FOR THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE NOV 2013. I CALLED TOYOTA TO COMPLAIN, ABOUT 15 TIMES. I HAVE A CASE WORKER BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT FIXED. MY SPARE TIRE GETS DAMAGED WHEN IT DROPS DOWN, TOYOTA HAS REPLACED 2 MAG WHEELS AND IS REFUSING TO REPLACE 2 MORE DAMAGED MAG WHEELS. THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE SPARE TIRE HANGING BY A CABLE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE (IT HAS DROPPED DOWN AS MUCH 8IN OFF THE ROAD) AND IT SWINGS. MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH A TRAILER HITCH WHICH CONTAINS THE SWINGING OF TIRE. WHEN THE TIRE DROPS BELOW THE TRAILER HITCH IT MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. CAN YOU PLEASE CHECK IF THIS IS ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS & WHAT IS WAS DONE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I'M AFRAID ONE DAY THE TIRE WILL BECOME SEPARATED FROM MY VEHICLE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I'M NOT SURE TOYOTA WANTS TO FIX THE DEFECT AND I FEEL MY VEHICLE IS BEING HELD HOSTAGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V148000 (SEATS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

I HAVE A NEW 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. DURING A HEAVY RAIN OR CAR WASH WATER ENTERS THE CABIN AROUND FROM THE CENTER POST WHERE THE SEATBELT RETRACTS. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE IS BAD WELD AT ONE OF THE ROOF SEAMS AND THE WATER IS LEAKING DOWN THROUGH THE CENTER POST. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WHILE THEY TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE REPAIR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS DEFECT MAY ALSO AFFECT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT SMALL TRACES OF WATER ARE STILL ENTERING THE VEHICLE BUT AREN'T VISIBLE AS IT MAY BE HIDDEN BY INTERIOR TRIM. OVER TIME THIS MAY CAUSE RUST. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DEFECT? *TR

DRIVING UPHILL,SUDDENLY LOST SPEED,HAD NO GAS PEDAL,HAD TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD AND THEN IT CAME BACK.HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH IN THE CENTER LANE OF I 95 IN PA, HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE I GOT HOME. TOYOTA HAS TOLD ME IT IS EVERYTHING FROM SLIGHT HESITATION TO MY IMAGINATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED CAUSING HER TO LUNGE BACKWARD 20 FEET AND CRASHING INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ONLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER IT CRASHED INTO A FENCE AND GARDEN. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY FACILITY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000.

THE REAR WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE SHATTERED WHILE IT WAS PARKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE (MAYBE 5 MILES PER HOUR) AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP, MY 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LUNGED FORWARD SO HARD THAT IT WENT OVER THE CONCRETE SPACER, A GRASS MEDIAN, THE CURB AND INTO THE STREET BEYOND THE PARKING LOT. I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND STOP THE ACCELERATION, BUT IT WAS SO SUDDEN, FAST AND UNEXPECTED THAT I SCRAPED THE PASSENGER SIDE ON THE VEHICLE NEXT TO ME. A BY-STANDER COMMENTED "I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR CAR JUST RACED AWAY!" I HAVE DRIVEN FOR OVER 45 YEARS WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER, BUYING ONE FOR MY SON AND DAUGHTER AS WELL AS THIS VEHICLE AND I THOUGHT WHATEVER PROBLEMS TOYOTA HAD WERE TAKEN CARE OF BUT NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR NEAR THE DULLES TOLL ROAD ENTRANCE RAMP AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. SHE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF HER. NO BODILY INJURY TO EITHER PARTY. THE POLICE OFFICER WHO CAME TO THE SCENE SAID THAT IT WAS NOT MY WIFE'S FAULT AND HENCE, HE DID NOT ISSUE A TICKET TO MY WIFE. THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE IS $10,000. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTION WAS TOLD TO KOONS TOYOTA. THEY DID NOT NOTIFY THE NHTSB, NOR THE TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS. AFTER THE BODY SHOP WORK WAS DONE, KOONS TOYOTA DID NOT EVEN INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO CHECK ALL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE PROPERLY. NO SAFETY INSPECTION WAS DONE. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WHEN STATIONARY WITH THE ENGINE ON. THE VIBRATIONS WOULD CAUSE EAR PAIN TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

ON THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2013. I STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION AND WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD DIED. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. I PRESSED ACCELERATOR AGAIN AND IT JERKED AND TOOK OFF. I HAVE EXPERIENCED HESITATIONS SEVERAL TIMES (10-12). I BOUGHT THE HIGHLANDER 2013 IN JULY 2013. *TR

TL THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DOOR HATCH MOTOR EMITTED A LOUD CLICKING SOUND WHEN IT WAS OPENED AND CLOSED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,500. RK

THE VEHICLE DID NOT ALERT TO ANY ENGINE AND/OR VEHICLE PROBLEM (NO CAUTION LIGHT, NO ENGINE LIGHT, ETC.) THE DRIVER HAPPENED TO LOOK DOWN AT THE FUEL TANK AND NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE EXCEED THE MEASURING MARK (OVER THE RED ZONE) AND WAS STILL RUNNING. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY WENT TO A SAFE PLACE. TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP INFORMS THAT A "SMALL ROCK OR ROAD DEBRIS" TRAVELED THROUGH THE FRONT GRILL AND PUNCTURED THE RADIATOR. AFTER RESEARCHING WHY THE RADIATOR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY ON BRAND NEW VEHICLE UNDER THIS ROAD DEBRIS, I READ OVER 30 REPORTED CASES IN NOT ONLY THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, TOYOTA TUNDRA, AND TOYOTA COROLLA AS THEIR IS NO PROTECTION TO THE FRONT PORTION OF THE RADIATOR AND/OR CONDENSER. WOULD HAVE CAUSED ENGINE FIRE, DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WERE NO SAFETY LIGHTS AND OR INDICATORS SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN OCTOBER 2012 AND NEVER NOTICED ANY PROBLEM UNTIL EARLY IN 2014. WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE ON A SMALL INCLINE, THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT RESPOND. IT ACTED AS IF I AM NOT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT GOING TO THE MOUNTAINS BUT JUST A SMALL INCLINE WHEN I DRIVE HOME FROM WORK EVERYDAY. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER IN MARCH 2014 AND THEY RESPONDED SAME AS OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS WEBSITE, NO ERRORS ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND NO POSTING FROM TOYOTA. THEY ADVISED ME TO PUT IN PREMIUM FUEL AND I DID BUT THAT DID NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. VERY DISAPPOINTING FROM A TOYOTA WITH A V6 ENGINE. THE DEALER ALSO TRIES TO SAY IT IS DUE TO CVT TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, I HAVE A SUBARU WITH CVT AS WELL AND THAT CAR CAN ACCELERATE UPHILL WHEN NEEDED. I HAVE HAD A TOYOTA CELICA, TERCEL, AND A TOYOTA TRUCK IN MY LIFE AND NONE HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEMS. *TR

RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 03/15/14. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY, I SUBSEQUENTLY NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IMPAIRS / BLURRED VISION OF THE DRIVER AS WELL AS ANY OTHER OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WHILE LOOKING OUT OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. IT ACTUALLY MAKES YOU DIZZY AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD TO ALL ON THE ROAD. SEARCHED FOR RECALL/DEFECTS WITH TOYOTA AND DID FIND ANOTHER COMPLAINT OF THE SAME INCIDENT/VEHICLE/PART/SYMPTOMS WITH A VEHICLE OWNER. HIS COMPLAINT WAS CONFIRMED BY A TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER AND WAS SET UP FOR A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE OWNER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND TOLD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS THE WINDSHIELD THAT ALL TOYOTA HIGHLANDER'S ARE ASSEMBLED WITH. PERSONAL OPINION: DEFECT MAY BE DUE TO THE INTEGRATION OF THE "FRONT WINDSHIELD HEATER SYSTEM." *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,600. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. IT JUST ROLLED ALONG, ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED TILL ABOUT HALFWAY, THEN IT ACCELERATED RAPIDLY SPINNING THE TIRES, THIS HAS OCCURED 3 TIMES. IT HAS ALSO HESITATED BADLY WHILE ACCELERATING WITH NO RESPONSE TO PEDAL POSITION THEN SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED RAPID ACCELERATION, THIS HAS OCCURED 5 TIMES. THIS CONDITION HAS BECOME DRAMATICALLY WORSE SINCE IT WAS SERVICED FOR UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WHERE THE DEALER CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. HEADLIGHTS ARE ALSO AIMED WAY TOO HIGH ILLUMINATING THE TREES INSTEAD OF THE ROAD AND BLINDING ONCOMING DRIVERS. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THIS EITHER AND THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THESE HAZARDS AT 6006 MILES. WE HAVE STOPPED USING THE CAR SINCE WE FEEL IT IS UNSAFE.

JULY 20, 2013 I PUSHED THE IGNITION BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY REALIZED IT WAS STILL MOVING. I ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK IN THE VEHICLE TO STOP IT. I FELL AND THE BACK TIRE RAN OVER MY FOOT/LEG. A MAN CAME AND JUMPED IN THE CAR TO STOP IT AFTER IT CROSSED THE STREET AND HIT A PARKED CAR. I HAVE BOTH A FRACTURED TIBIA AND FIBULA. THE TIBIA REQUIRED A SCREW TO STABILIZE HOWEVER, MY FOOT WAS SO INJURED (TORN FLESH) THAT I HAD TO WAIT 5 WEEKS FOR THE FLESH TO HEAL TO AVOID INFECTION. I HAVE BEEN OFF OF WORK SINCE JULY 22 TO DATE (SEPTEMBER 5,2013). I REALIZE HOW FORTUNATE I AM IN THAT IT APPEARS I HAVE NOT SUSTAINED A PERMANENT DISABILITY. I SHUDDER TO THINK HOW MUCH MORE TRAGIC THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FOR MULTIPLE INNOCENT PEOPLE. I AM UNSURE OF HOW TO GIVE NOTICE TO OTHERS TO PREVENT FURTHER INJURIES. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I REPORT THIS TO NHTSA.

VEHICLE ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED, CRUISE ON, SPEED 60MPH, 1 TIME. HESITATED ON ACCELERATION AFTER DECELERATION, SPEED 60 MPH, CRUISE OFF, 1 TIME; SPEED 40 MPH, CRUISE OFF, 2 TIMES; SPEED 35 MPH, CRUISE OFF, 3 TIMES. HESITATED ON ACCELERATION AFTER COASTING, SPEED 40 MPH, CRUISE OFF, 4 TIMES; SPEED 43 MPH, CRUISE OFF, 1 TIME, SPEED 45 MPH, CRUISE OFF, 2 TIMES; SPEED 35, CRUISE OFF, 3 TIMES. ACCELERATED BY ITSELF INCLUDING DOWNSHIFT ONE GEAR, RPM 1725 CHANGED TO 2225 AND ACCELERATED FROM 60 TO 65 THEN RETURNED TO 60 MPH AFTER A FEW SECONDS, FLAT LEVEL ROADWAY, CRUISE ON, 1 TIME. I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC OVER 45 YEARS AND A FLEET OWNER, ONCE I EXPERIENCED THE INITIAL SPEED UP I HAVE BEEN KEEPING A LOG OF ALL ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. FIRST ISSUE AT ABOUT 3500 MILES, PRESENT MILEAGE ABOUT 6000. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND CAME UPON A RED LIGHT, THERE WERE TWO CARS AHEAD OF ME, A LINCOLN AND A CHRYSLER. I STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AT A DISTANCE, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED, I LOOKED DOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, AND IT SURE WAS, SO I HAMMERED DOWN ON THE BRAKE AND MY VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND CONTINUED TO RUN AT THE SAME SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE FAULTY BRAKE CAUSED A WITHOUT THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. I KNEW THAT I DID NOT ACCIDENTALLY STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL BECAUSE IF I HAD DONE SO, THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FATAL. I WOULD HAVE PUSHED THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME ONTO THE ON COMING TRAFFIC. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I TESTED OUT THE BRAKES, AND IT WAS AS IF EVERYTHING WAS ALRIGHT. EVEN THOUGH I HAD SEEN THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME, AND THE RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, MY VEHICLE DID NOT REACT TO MY BRAKES. THE LINCOLN AND THE CHRYSLER IN FRONT OF ME ALSO DIDN'T HAVE THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE SECOND ROW SEATS MOVED FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID WOULD NOT DISPENSE WHEN SHE APPLIED THE SWITCH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FLUID HAD FROZEN. THE CONTACT ADDED DE-ICER TO THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO WORK BRIEFLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A SUPPORT BEAM, THEN DOWN AN EMBANKMENT BEFORE FINALLY CRASHING INTO A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

I BOUGHT A NEW 2013 HIGHLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2013 FROM TOM WOOD TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME DECEMBER 28-31, 2013 CLICK, CLICK, SQUEAKING NOISE, BRAKES SLIPPING, DRAGGING, VIBRATING AND A TREMENDOUS PULSATING AGAINST MY FOOT WHEN I STOP. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE HIGHLANDER THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD. JANUARY 2, 2014 A BURNT ODOR COMING THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS, RATTLING IN THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR, GUSH SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES, THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES THAT I CAN NOT IDENTIFY. I AM WONDERING IF A FIRE IS TRYING TO START, BECAUSE OF THE BURNT ODOR. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2013 BRAND NEW 9/27/12. SHORTLY AFTER I RECEIVED IT I NOTICED SONGS WOULD SKIP OR START OVER ON THE IPOD AS WELL AS THE CD. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE RADIO STATION WOULD CHANGED CHANNELS FOR NO REASON. THESE THINGS HAPPENED IF I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, GOING OVER A SLIGHT BUMP OR JUST DRIVING NORMALLY ON A REGULAR ROAD OR A FREEWAY. I'VE GONE TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM AND BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS ARE INTERMITTENT THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE IT. I'VE HAD TWO CASEWORKERS AT TOYOTA OF AMERICA AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IN THE PAST MONTH WHEN I PULLED IN THE GARAGE THE HEADLIGHT "SOMETIMES" TURN OFF WHEN I TURN OFF THE IGNITION. OTHER TIMES THEY STAY ON THE NORMAL 30 SECONDS. I'VE ALSO HAD A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS MENTIONED ON YOUR WEBSITE MAINLY WHEN I'M AT A STOP AND THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS THE CAR ENGINE REVS A FEW SECONDS THEN LURCHES FORWARD. ALSO RECENTLY THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DIM OR BRIGHTEN FOR NO REASON AT ALL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT SEEMS PROBLEMS ARE INCREASING AND I JUST DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT STEPS TO TAKE NEXT. *TR

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 35MPH WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL THERE'S A DELAY ON ACCELERATION ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING UPHILL. IT STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS AT 1250 MILES ITS ON AND OFF. *TR

I STARTED MY VEHICLE, IN MY GARAGE, TO WARM IT UP FOR ITS FIRST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED FROM MY LAST USE OF THE VEHICLE THE NIGHT PRIOR (I ALWAYS APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE BEFORE EXITING MY CAR). AS MY HIGHLANDER WARMED UP, I BEGAN REMOVING A FEW PERSONAL ITEMS SO THAT THEY WOULD BE OUT OF THE VEHICLE DURING MY SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I PLACED MY PERSONAL ITEMS AT THE END OF MY GARAGE, ADJACENT TO THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE. AS I TURNED FOR MY 3RD TRIP BACK TO GET THE LAST OF MY PERSONAL ITEMS OUT, I SEE MY HIGHLANDER STARTING TO ROLL BACKWARDS. I WAS AT THE FRONT-END OF MY VEHICLE WHEN IT STARTED MOVING IN REVERSE. I WAS UNABLE TO SAFELY ENTER THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS IN REVERSE MOTION. MY VEHICLE BACKED UP OVER A CURB AND MADE IMPACT WITH BUSHES AND A BUILDING STRUCTURE. I QUESTION IF FAULTY CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARKING BRAKE ALLOWED IT TO DISENGAGE AND INDEPENDENTLY INITIATE MOVEMENT IN REVERSE. *LN *TR

OCCASIONAL THROTTLE NO RESPONSE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE MODERATELY FROM A STOP, OR FROM A VERY LOW SPEED (I.E.-COASTING AROUND A 90 DEGREE TURN WITH THE ENGINE AT IDLE SPEED.) I THEN PUSH HEAVILY ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND IT REVS UP, DOWNSHIFTS, AND RACES AHEAD. IT IS DANGEROUS, IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TWICE, AND THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. TWO SO CALLED FACTORY REPS RODE AROUND WITH ME THE SECOND TIME, WITH A COMPUTER CONNECTED. DIAGNOSTICS SHOWS NO ERROR CODES. *TR

AT TOTALLY RANDOM TIMES, AFTER A FEW MILES OF DRIVING OR FROM A SLOW SPEED, VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING. MOST ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS IS THE WAY IT DOESN'T RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT OR WHEN GOING SLOWLY AS IN ENTERING THE FREEWAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND OF COURSE VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR THE TIME THEY DROVE IT. TECH CHECKED FOR ANY TROUBLE CODES AND NONE WERE FOUND. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS LIKE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. HAVE GOTTEN NOTHING BUT THE RUN-AROUND AND DENIAL FROM THE NATIONAL TOYOTA "CASE MANAGER". (AT FIRST I THOUGHT THIS HESITATION OCCURRED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, BUT AFTER 5,000 MILES, I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AT RANDOM TIMES.) *TR

WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON DIM, VISIBILITY IS NOT ADEQUATE. A DISTINCT BLACK LINE APPEARS ACROSS THE HORIZON ABOVE WHICH THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE. *TR

I PURCHASED THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN DECEMBER OF 2012. IMMEDIATELY WE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THEY ARE FOCUSED DOWN TOWARD THE ROAD AND HAVE A LINE OF "SHADE" ABOVE. THE HIGHLANDER LIGHTS ARE SO DIM, WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE WORKING. WE ARE "OVERDRIVING" OUR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT AND WE CANNOT SEE ANY ROAD SIGNS BECAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE FOCUSED TO FAR DOWN THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE SIGNS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, IN HILLY AREAS, THEY ONLY ILLUMINATE THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL (AND THE SHADED PART IS ABOVE) SO YOU CANNOT SEE WHERE YOU ARE HEADED.THE TOPS OF THE HILLS ARE COMPLETELY BLOCKED BY THE "SHADED" PART. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! ALSO, THEY DO NOT GET WARM, SO THE SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATES ON THESE LIGHTS AND OBSCURES VISIBILITY EVEN FURTHER! I HAVE OWNED MANY MANY CARS, INCLUDING SEVERAL TOYOTA'S AND HAVE NEVER HAD A HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS CAR AS I CANNOT DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. *TR

PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE - BRAKES APPLIED - CAR LURCHED FORWARD (UNINTENDED ACCELERATION) - BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE - CAR JUMPED THE CURB, CROSSED THE SIDEWALK AND HIT A TREE - AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING TO MICHIGAN FROM ILLINOIS WHILE USING VEHICLE BUILD IN JBL NAVIGATION UNIT ON A NEWLY PURCHASED 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED WITH ONLY 300 MILES AT THE TIME, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIP NAVIGATION UNIT REBOOTED/CRASHED AFTER COMING BACK UP THE PROGRAMMED DIRECTIONS WERE LOST, SINCE THIS NAVIGATION UNIT HAS A PROGRAMMED SAFETY FEATURE THE DESTINATION CANNOT BE RE-PROGRAMMED WHILE DRIVING, WE HAVE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND STOP TO REPROGRAM THE DESTINATION AGAIN, ALSO THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED ON THE WAY BACK. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THE CASE WAS OPEN (#1308280087) THEY ADVISE ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, SO THE DEALER CAN CONTACT TOYOTA TECHNICIAN AND TRY TO ISOLATE AN ISSUE. SERVICE MANAGER CONTACTED THE TECHNICIAN WHO STATED THE PROBLEM HAS TO BE REPRODUCED; OTHERWISE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. LOOKS LIKE THIS ISSUE ONLY HAPPENS ON LONG TRIPS, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DEALER TO REPRODUCE USING MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN CONTACTED AGAIN ABOUT THE ISSUE; TOYOTA IS IGNORING THE PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED ON MULTIPLE FORUM SIDES AND UNWILLING TO WORK OUT A RESOLUTION BY DUPLICATING THE ISSUE IN-HOUSE. ALSO THE NAVIGATION UNIT DOES HAVE AN OUTDATED MAPS (HALF OF THE ADDRESSES THAT I HAVE ENTERED COULD NOT BE LOCATED) AND UPDATE IS NOT BEEN OFFERED AFTER THE COMPLAINT. JBL NAVIGATION SOFTWARE VERSION: 2.2.0 NAV ID: NQNA2011Q4. *TR