2003 Toyota Highlander Driver assistance Problems

Automatically disengage the transmission Stopped the road Icalled my husband Myhusband came and together we got the car to a safe place.Then Icame home with my husband and he called the insurance company and had the car towed. Ifound a place to fix the car and they said the transmission was broken and it cost about 6500 dollars.Icontacted the insurance company said they couldn’t help.The car was towed home and is not available.

NHTSA ID

11523925

Incident

May 8, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA ID

11133071

Incident

Sep 19, 2018

Mileage

185,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO EFFECTIVELY SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE GEAR SHIFTER BUTTON WAS PUSHED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SPED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *JS

NHTSA ID

10939869

Incident

Dec 29, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

SATURDAY JUNE 18 2016 AT 6:40 A.M. DRIVING ON TULLY ROAD IN MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. MY SPEED WAS 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE HIGHLANDER THIS HAD NO EFFECT ON SLOWING DOWN THE HIGHLANDER. THE BRAKES WENT INTO ANTI LOCKING MODE THE WHEELS STARTED TO PULSATE. WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR , BUT ON THE BRAKES. THE HIGHLANDER WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN BUT INCREASING SPEED. I DOWN SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR, THE ENGINE RACED AT A HIGH RPMS. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THE RPMS STILL RACING AT A HIGH RATE. I THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN TO SLOW DOWN. THE HIGHLANDER STARTED TO SLOW DOWN I THEN TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND THEN CAME TO A STOP. I WAITED FOR A MINUTE AND STARTED THE CAR THE ENGINE RACED AT A HIGH RPMS AS IF MY FOOT WAS PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR, BUT MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I WAITED AGAIN A FEW MINUTES TO START THE HIGHLANDER , THE SAME HIGH RPMS HAPPENING AGAIN. A FEW MINUTES LATER I TRIED AGAIN TO START THE HIGHLANDER AND THIS TIME THE HIGHLANDER IDLED NORMAL. I TURNED THE HIGHLANDER AROUND AND WENT HOME WHICH WAS HALF A MILE AWAY. THE TOTAL DISTANCE OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION WAS IN MY ESTIMATION OVER 1,000 YARDS. I HAD TO HIGHLANDER TOWED TO STEVENS CREEK TOYOTA WHERE IT REMAINS NOW JUNE 27 2016.

NHTSA ID

10877040

Incident

Jun 18, 2016

Mileage

156,160 mi

PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT KAISER HOSPITAL AS I HIT THE BRAKE THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR SPED FORWARD WHILE MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. I HIT A TREE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT AREA OF THE CAR (LIGHTS, FENDER, BUMPER) HAD CAR REPAIRED. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THAT I HAD ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE GAS PEDAL;HOWEVER, ONE MONTH LATER WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, AS I STOPPED, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. LUCKILY NO CAR OR PEDESTRIAN WAS IN THE INTERSECTION. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY SHIFTING INTO PARK. TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. HE WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THIS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION OCCURRED IN THE SAME WAY (COMING TO A STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE AND GEAR-SHIFT IN DRIVE) , IN A FIVE WEEK PERIOD, IT COULD BE A TRANSMISSION OR ACCELERATER PROBLEM. I NO LONGER FEEL CONFIDENT DRIVING THE CAR AND CONSIDER IT UNSAFE.

NHTSA ID

10820689

Incident

Jan 15, 2016

Mileage

95,268 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER LEFT FOOT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,082.

NHTSA ID

10820081

Incident

Dec 31, 2015

Mileage

51,082 mi

GRANDMOTHER WAS LEAVING AND DROVE THROUGH A CLOSED WROUGHT IRON GATE THAT WAS OVER 10' TALL AND 16' WIDE. CONTINUED ACCELERATING THROUGH A PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET, DROVE OVER A LARGE DECORATIVE BOULDERS AND CAME TO HALT AFTER CRASHING INTO A NEIGHBORS FENCE. SHE SAID THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP IN FRONT OF HER GATE TO OPEN IT BUT THE BREAKS WOULD NOT WORK AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. THANKFULLY IT ENDED HOW IT DID LEAVING HER WITH MINOR INJURIES. IT IS ALSO DISGUSTING KNOWING THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE AND IF A CAR DEFECT IS THE REASON NOTHING WILL BE DONE UNTIL DEATHS BEGIN TO OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552720

Incident

Nov 18, 2013

ON 7-11-13, GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON ROUTE 52 IN NORTH CAROLINA, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK WIDE OPEN CAUSING MY CAR TO ACCELERATE BEYOND MY CONTROL. I SLOWED DOWN TO GET OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, BUT I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, ONLY SLOW IT DOWN, TO APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH. GOT BACK ON THE ROAD AND TOOK THE NEXT EXIT. AGAIN I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, AND THOUGH I SLOWED AGAIN TO ABOUT 10-15 MPH, I DRIFTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT THE STOP SIGN, WITH TRAFFIC APPROACHING FROM BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT! I TURNED SHARPLY LEFT, GOT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TURNED THE KEY OFF TO STOP THE CAR. GOD WAS WATCHING, BECAUSE NO COLLISION OCCURRED. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN, IT ROARED LIKE I'VE NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE. SOMEHOW, I DON'T REMEMBER HOW, I GOT THE CAR ABOUT 100 YARDS DOWN THE ROAD TO A MARATHON GAS STATION, TO GET COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF THE WAY. A MAN STOPPED AND WALKED OVER TO ME, TELLING ME THAT MY THROTTLE WAS STUCK BECAUSE OF A FAULTY TPS (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR). HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS A MECHANIC, WHO FORMERLY WORKED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND SAID THAT WAS A ?KNOWN? PROBLEM WITH TOYOTAS. HE TOWED ME TO HIS HOUSE, REPLACED THE TPS, AND WE TESTED THE CAR, TO THE SATISFACTION OF BOTH OF US. IT RAN JUST FINE, SO I FOLLOWED HIM TO THE PNC BANK TO GET MONEY TO PAY HIM. WHILE THERE, THE LADY HELPING ME, IN RESPONSE TO MY STORY, TOLD ME THAT HER TOYOTA PARKED OUTSIDE HAD THE VERY SAME PROBLEM! EXCEPT IT COST HER A LOT MORE THAN MY TOW & REPAIR DID. MY INCIDENT WAS MOST DEFINITELY A PART FAILURE, NOT AN OPERATOR ERROR, OR A PROBLEM DUE TO FLOOR MATS, AS IS ALLEGED IN THE PENDING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION? LITIGATION AGAINST TOYOTA, AND MY 2003 HIGHLANDER IS NOT SPECIFICALLY LISTED IN THAT LITIGATION INFORMATION ON-LINE. I AM SENDING A LETTER TO TOYOTA, THE NTSB AND OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10533402

Incident

Jul 11, 2013

Mileage

101,400 mi

CAR ACCELERATED AND CHASED INTO HOUSE IN NOV 20011. CAR ACCELERATED IN PARKING LOT DEC. 2012. NO DAMAGE THIS TIME BUT IN 2011 THERE WAS 14,000 $ DAMAGE TO HOUSE AND CAR. CAR WAS CHECKED OUT AT TOYOTA TWICE ,NO PROBLEM FOUND. WIFE WILL NEVER DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. SHE IS INFEAR OF HURTING SOMEONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490644

Incident

Dec 6, 2011

Mileage

85,000 mi

THIS CAR HAS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED FROM DAY ONE. LAST YEAR, WE BEGAN NOTICING AN ODD, LOUD DRUMMING SOUND OCCURRING ALONG WITH RESISTANCE TO ACCELERATION IN SLOW SPEED SITUATIONS. THIS INCLUDED PARKING LOTS, STOPPING FOR A LEFT TURN WITHIN AN INTERSECTION, AND EVERY OTHER SITUATION WHERE WE NEEDED TO MANEUVER AT LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD LURCH WITHIN A TURN. IT BECAME ALARMINGLY SEVERE AND THE PERIODS BETWEEN INCIDENTS BEGAN TO SHORTEN. WHILE STILL INTERMITTENT, WE BEGAN TO BE CONCERNED AND TOOK IT TO THE NY DEALER WHO HAD BEEN SERVICING THE CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW. WE REPORTED EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN ABOVE, INCLUDING THE COMMENT THAT THE ANTI-SKID LIGHT WOULD COME ON THE DASH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AFTER CHARGING US OVER $900 FOR FLUID REPLACEMENT AND REATTACHING A VACUUM HOSE, WE WERE TOLD WE HAD NO PROBLEM, THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. IT OCCURRED AGAIN WHEN WE LEFT THE DEALERS LOT. THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY. AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF INCREASING DIFFICULTY WE TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, TO BE TOLD THAT OUR TIRES WERE WORN. WE REPLACED THE TIRES, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED ON EITHER WET OR DRY PAVEMENT. WITH A CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP COMING UP, WE TOOK THE CAR TO AN AAMCO, WHO TEST DROVE IT AND SAID WE HAD AN ABS BRAKE PROBLEM. THEY KEPT IT FOR THREE DAYS, AND CHARGED US $400 HAVING FOUND A PIECE OF RUSTED METAL THEY BELIEVED WAS PREVENTING ONE OF THE WHEEL SENSORS FROM MAKING CONSTANT CONTACT. IT FELT BETTER, BUT THE PROBLEM BEGAN TO SHOW UP AGAIN IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. WE COULD NOT PUT THE TRIP OFF, AND DROVE THE CAR CROSS COUNTRY, HAVING THE PROBLEM RE-OCCUR IN ALMOST EVERY LOW SPEED SITUATION, WHEN WE GOT TO NEW MEXICO WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER WHO SOLD US THE CAR. THEY SAID IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND AFTER FOUR DAYS, TOLD US THE ABS ECU WAS MALFUNCTIONING. IT COST $2178 TO REPLACE. THE REPLACED COMPONENT IS A SEALED ELECTRONIC MODULE WITH NO MOVING PARTS. IT SHOULD HAVE LASTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386017

Incident

Sep 1, 2010

Mileage

93,500 mi

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER SUBMITS DOCUMENTATION RELATED TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENTLY, CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER, STRUCK A PALM TREE AND THEN A METAL LIGHT POLE. EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV VERY FAST. IT FINALLY STOPPED A FEW SECONDS AFTER THE IMPACT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10382321

Incident

Oct 27, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED TO BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT TRIED SEVERAL WAYS TO STOP THE VEHICLE (SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE) BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO REV. THE TIRES ALSO WERE SPINNING. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF WHICH STOPPED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED AND THE EXTRA FLOOR MAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE GAS PEDAL. IT WAS SECURELY IN PLACE. UPDATED 11/16/11

NHTSA ID

10379973

Incident

Jan 26, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

AUTO WAS STOPPED THREE FEET FROM ANOTHER AUTO. SUDDEN NON INITIATED ACCELERATION (FULL THROTTLE) WITH DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE SEVERE, MINIMAL TO HIGHLANDER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10363949

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

125,000 mi

VSC (VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, INCLUDING ABS) & CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN TURNING ON INTERMITTENTLY ALMOST FROM THE START OF OUR OWNERSHIP OF THIS 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 AWD LIMITED AND AFTER COSTLY REPAIRS AT THE DEALER THEY ARE STILL ON CONTINUOUSLY. LAST TIME (MAY-JUNE 2010) DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS & ROTORS; REAR AXLES AND SPEED SENSORS AND NOW WANTS TO REPLACE ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS THAT DO NOT APPEAR CONNECTED. FIRST TIME CAR WAS SERVICED UNDER WARRANTY AT DEALER AND THAT TOO DID NOT LAST FOR LONG. TOYOTA CAR SATISFACTION CENTER HAS NOT BEEN HELPFULL. CASE # [XXX]. FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR SIMILAR ISSUE RECENTLY: 10S13 FOR REAR AXLE BREAKAGE IN THE SNOW BELT! TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE AND INTERNET HAS MANY DISCUSSIONS ON TOPIC. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10355107

Incident

May 26, 2010

Mileage

97,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,000.

NHTSA ID

10346109

Incident

Jul 20, 2010

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD IN THE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY TURNING IT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10342716

Incident

Jul 8, 2010

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH UTILIZING THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM, HE ATTEMPTED TO SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED UP TO 90 MPH. HE IMMEDIATLEY PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT WAS LYING OVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED ALL FLOOR MATS FROM THE VEHICLE AND HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE SINCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10318919

Incident

May 16, 2008

Mileage

55,000 mi

VSC SKID CONTROL/ECU FAILURE IN 2003 HIGHLANDER. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS: MY CAR LIGHTLY SKIDDED ON ICE OR WATER AND THE CHECK ENGINE/VSC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. EVERY TIME THE CAR SKIDS, THE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE SKID CONTROL APPEARS TO BE DISABLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10315068

Incident

Feb 9, 2010

Mileage

105,850 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT A WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING . THERE WERE FRONT END DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THERE WERE REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,300.

NHTSA ID

10313911

Incident

Feb 16, 2010

Mileage

62,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE WHICH DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT THEN PUT THE GEAR NEUTRAL WHICH SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN AND SHE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, HOWEVER THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,752. UPDATED 04/09/10. *LJ UPDATED EVOQ 06/08/10.*JB UPDATED 06/15/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10312794

Incident

Aug 10, 2008

Mileage

75,752 mi

)N THE MORNING OF 12-05-09, AS I'M PULLING INTO MY GARAGE, THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD WITH AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN SPEED. BEFORE I COULD BRAKE, THE CAR SLAMMED INTO A STEEL SHELVING UNIT ON THE BACK WALL WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WALL ( BOTH INTERIOR & EXTERIOR) AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE AUTO. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY TOYOTA SERVICE ON THAT SAME DAY BECAUSE I/WE FELT THAT THIS COULD CONSTITUTE AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. TOTAL COSTS FROM THIS INCIDENT WERE AS FOLLOWS: COVERED BY INSURANCE- $3607.81 (PLUS 703.31 PD. DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER?) AND $916.27 ( 500.00 INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE AND AN ADDITIONAL MECHANICAL CHARGE FOR A FUEL/AIR SENSOR THAT FAILED ON 12-26-09). I HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED "SUDDEN ACCELERATION" WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTIFIED BOTH MY LOCAL DEALER, SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS AND TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS REGARDING THE PROBLEM STATING THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER VEHICLES BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THEIR CURRENT RECALL THAT SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED AS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. *TR UPDATED 05/03.10 TOYOTA DENIED THE CONSUMER CLAIM, STATING THE VEHICLE EXAMINATION REVEALED NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE ACCELERATION. HOWEVER, THE DEALER THAT PERFORMED THE INSPECTION STATED THE THROTTLE WAS BECAME STUCK DUE TO GUMMY DEPOSITS CASED BY ETHANOL IN THE GASOLINE. UPDATED 08/210/10*JB

NHTSA ID

10305790

Incident

Dec 5, 2009

Mileage

76,500 mi

ON MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:45 A.M. CDT, I DROVE MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ON TO THE EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT AT UNIGROUP, INC. AS I ALWAYS DID, I PULLED UP PAST MY ASSIGNED PARKING SPOT, STOPPED, AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO BACK INTO MY SPACE. WHEN I MOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO THE ACCELERATOR AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BACK INTO SPACE 304, THE SUV SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A TREMENDOUS SPEED, HIT AND BOUNCED OFF THE FORD EXPLORER PARKED IN SPACE 305 AND THEN HIT THE SUBARU LEGACY WAGON PARKED IN SPACE 317 IMMEDIATELY BEHIND SPACE 304. ONE WITNESS WHO WAS IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE TIME LATER TOLD ME THAT WHILE HE DID NOT SEE THE CRASH, HE HEARD A HUGE ROAR OF A MOTOR AND THE CRASHING NOISE OF THE IMPACT. THE OWNER OF THE SUBARU ALSO DID NOT SEE THE INITIAL ACCELERATION OF THE SUV, BUT HEARD THE TIRES SCREECHING AND TURNED IN TIME TO SEE MY SUV HIT HIS SUBARU. BOTH OF THE TWO WITNESSES HELPED ME LOAD THE BACK BUMPER OF MY HIGHLANDER INTO THE CARGO AREA. PRIOR TO GOING INTO THE OFFICE, I CHECKED THE FLOOR MAT UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT COULD NOT SEE ANY INDICATION THAT IT IN ANY WAY HAD MOVED. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED MY HIGHLANDER WAS THE FACT THAT IT HIT THE TWO VEHICLES IN SPACES 305 AND 317. LATER THAT DAY (4.28.2008), I CALLED TOYOTA TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. I WAS TOLD BY A REPRESENTATIVE BY THE NAME OF BARBARA THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS OR RECALLS ON THE HIGHLANDER, ONLY THE CAMRY (THIS ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA.) MY REPORT WAS GIVEN . THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY SUV AND THE TWO OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE HIT. THUS FAR, TOYOTA HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT MY VEHICLE (2003 HIGHLANDER) IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND SINCE THE VIN # BEGINS WITH A J, I AM TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH ANY VEHICLE MADE IN JAPAN. THEREFORE, I CANNOT EVEN TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. I AM LEFT IN LIMBO WITH A DEFECTIVE TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10304304

Incident

Apr 28, 2008

Mileage

56,546 mi

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, I HAVE A RANDOMLY OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL STICKING WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. MY YEAR MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL BUT I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THERE ARE OTHER POSSIBLE PROBLEMS OUT THERE. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO AND IT IS RANDOMLY OCCURRING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10303153

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER UNCONTROLLED SURGE IN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS LIMITED TO NO USE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FLOOR MAT PLAYED ABSOLUTELY NO ROLE IN THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENT. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS, BUT COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE CAUSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10302789

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. HE DOWN-SHIFTED , THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DURING THE FAILURE, THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT UNDER THE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS OPEN, WHICH COULD AFFECT THE SPEED. HOWEVER THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR LOCATE ANY DIAGNOSTIC ERROR CODES.. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,467.

NHTSA ID

10294035

Incident

Aug 8, 2008

Mileage

82,467 mi