Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
41
Latest Oct 23, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 224 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
20
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5
What this page shows
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Toyota Highlander submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 41 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming driver-assistance
The 25 most recent of 41, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROVE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CARMAN FORD LINCOLN (193 S DUPONT HWY, NEW CASTLE, DE 19720 AT (302) 323-2300) WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS REPAIRED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE STABILITY CONTROL AND PARKING BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, AND THE RADIO AND CLOCK STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRICE TOYOTA (168 N DUPONT HWY, NEW CASTLE, DE 19720 (302) 322-8600) WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT OTHER FAILURES MAY OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,271.
NHTSA ID
11035924
Incident
Sep 22, 2017
Mileage
119,271 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 3, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO PROPERLY FUNCTION FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW INTERMITTENTLY AND THE REAR WINDOWS FAILED TO ELECTRONICALLY CLOSE AND OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (TEXAS TOYOTA OF GRAPEVINE, 701 E STATE HWY 114, GRAPEVINE, TX 76051, (817) 329-5949) FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. IN ADDITION, THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN THE DEALER MAY PROVIDE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM AN ELECTRICAL RECALL TO SERVICE THE POWER MASTER WINDOW SWITCH FAILURE FOR THE WINDOWS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA ID
11031470
Incident
Mar 9, 2015
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 5, 2016
ANTI-SKID COMPUTER HAS GONE BAD, ACTIVATING SKID CONTROL CONSTANTLY ( CUTTING POWER AND APPLYING BRAKES ) ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING IN WARM DRY WEATHER. MANY TIMES YOU CAN NOT EVEN PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC SAFELY, IT CUTS POWER ONCE YOU START TO MOVE. VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING BY BOTH INDEPENDENTS AND THE DEALER, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE COMPUTER (ANTI-SKID ECU) HAS A DEFECT. KNOWN ISSUE. KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUES THE CAR AT $8500 (PRIVATE SALE) AND THIS REPAIR WILL BE OVER $2500. VEHICLE HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT. BELONGS TO MY ELDERLY MOTHER, WHO IS ON A FIXED INCOME. DRIVING THE CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. COME TO A STOP (LIGHT, CROSS ROADS,ETC). THEN GO, IT ACTIVATES AND CUTS ALL POWER TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. YOU ARE JUST SITTING THERE, AND CAN NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. IF YOU ARE MERGING, OR CROSSING TRAFFIC, YOU ARE NOW IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
NHTSA ID
10913891
Incident
Oct 3, 2016
Mileage
51,000 mi
Body & structureDriver assistanceOther / unspecified+2 more
Filed Jun 20, 2015
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported
ON SATURDAY, MAY 30TH AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 I WAS MOVING OUR 2005 HIGHLANDER FROM THE STREET INTO OUR RESERVED PARKING SPACE WITHIN OUR COMPLEX. AS I WAS STARTING MY RIGHT HAND TURN INTO THE COMPLEX THE CAR ACCELERATOR STUCK. I HIT THE CURB ON THE DRIVER'S/LEFT SIDE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE I HIT A TREE AND KNOCKED OVER ONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S POSTED SIGNAGE. THE IMPACT MADE THE CAR BOUNCE BACKWARD PARTIALLY INTO THE DRIVE, DAMAGING THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE, DRIVE SHAFT BROKE, FRONT END PART FLEW ALL OVER AND A SMALL FIRE OCCURRED. POLICE WERE CALL AND REPORT TAKEN. THEY ESTIMATED THE SPEED AT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR. THE REPORT TAKEN WAS NOT FILED SINCE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STARTED THE VEHICLE TO GET IT ON THE TRUCK. HE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FOR HE COULD NOT GET THE WHEELS TO TURN. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 2, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A RECALL REPAIR DONE ON MAY 21, 2011, AFTER WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO INSTALL THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR CARPET COVER. WE WERE ADVISED THAT IF IT WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY, THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION. AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL TEMPORARILY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A FAILURE OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. *TR
NHTSA ID
10726359
Incident
May 30, 2015
Mileage
104,493 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 26, 2014
I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER & SOLE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE & EVER SINCE I TEST DROVE IT THE DAY I PURCHASED IT THIS CAR'S HAD ISSUES WITH "JERKY/DELAYED" ACCELERATION. DURING THE TEST DRIVE I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR ADJUSTS TO HOW I DRIVE & IT'LL GET BETTER. THIS HAPPENS PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE AFTER IT'S BEEN STOPPED OR THE SPEED SLOWED SUBSTANTIALLY. EACH & EVERY TIME I TRY TO GENTLY ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE FROM A STOP, THERE'S A TINY DELAY IN VEHICLE RESPONSE FROM WHAT I AM INPUTTING TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THEN AFTER THE DELAY, IT'S LIKE THE VEHICLE TRIES TO SUDDENLY CATCH UP WITH WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE ACCELERATION PROCESS & SUDDENLY JERKS FORWARD WITH A LOT OF ACCELERATION. THIS POSES A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC & NEEDING THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL INPUTS THAT I'M GIVING IT IMMEDIATELY AS I'M GIVING THEM & NOT WITH EVEN A SMALL DELAY. THAT DELAY IN RESPONSE BY THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR-MISSES WITH OTHER TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRIED TAKING IT INTO MY DEALER AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES TO HAVE THE ISSUE ADDRESSED BUT THE TECHNICIANS JUST WANTED TO BRUSH IT OFF SAYING THEY DIDN'T NOTICE IT OR BLAME IT ON THE TRANSMISSION & WHEN I TOLD THEM THIS ISN'T A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THEY JUST BLEW ME OFF TREATING ME LIKE A DUMB FEMALE WHO DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS, NOT KNOWING THAT I'M AN ENGINEER. BOTH OF THESE TIMES WERE WITHIN MY WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT IT'S OBVIOUS THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND THE TIME & EFFORT TO DIAGNOSE THIS ISSUE. MY SAFETY WAS CLEARLY NOT IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. SO I CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVERY SINGLE TIME I ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AND MOST TIMES I RE-ACCELERATE AFTER HAVING SLOWED DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY. AFTER HAVING THIS ISSUE FOR THE PAST 9 YEARS, THE JERKINESS OF THE ACCELERATION PROBABLY HAS CAUSED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10661116
Incident
Mar 31, 2005
Mileage
6 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 17, 2014
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND THROUGHOUT MY OWNERSHIP SINCE 2/2005 WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT THIS CAR HAS ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION. IT USUALLY OCCURS WHEN YOU ARE SITTING AT A STOP AND TRY TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU ARE PUSHING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL AND HAS A DELAY WHEN IT FINALLY RESPONDS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS WHERE I HAVE TRIED TO CROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION OR PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, ENDING WITH A JERK OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN T-BONED A FEW TIMES TRYING TO CROSS BUSY INTERSECTIONS AND THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO MOVE. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE ONLY RESPONSE THEY HAVE IS THAT THE CAR ADJUSTS TO DIFFERENT DRIVERS AND IT THEN PROGRAMS ITSELF BASED OFF YOUR DRIVING HABITS, SO THEY RESET THE CODING ON IT. STILL HAVE THE ISSUE, DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING AND NOW I AM READING WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD ISSUES, I JUST THINK THEY BRUSHED IT UNDER THE RUG TO NOT HAVE TO HONOR MY WARRANTY THAT WAS IN PLACE ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAVE HAD ISSUES FROM DAY 1 ON THIS CAR WITH THE TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKING, THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION PAN GASKET NUMEROUS TIMES ON THE VEHICLE; CLAIMING IT JUST WENT BAD. REALLY, THAT MANY TIMES IT JUST GOES BAD, I DON'T THINK SO. *TR
NHTSA ID
10648518
Incident
Sep 6, 2007
Mileage
25,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 24, 2014
Crash reported
BACKING UP OUT OF DRIVEWAY PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE WENT FROM BRAKE PEDAL TO GAS PEDAL TAPING THE GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY TO INCH OUT OF DRIVEWAY SLOWLY. AFTER ONE TAP ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CHAIN LINK FENCE WHICH IN TURN CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10638699
Incident
Sep 22, 2014
Mileage
74,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 21, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported
MY CAR WAS DECELERATING IN THE FAR RIGHT TURN LANE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE BRAKE HAD BEEN APPLIED APPROXIMATELY 1000 FT FROM THE INTERSECTION AS THERE WERE 3 VEHICLES STOPPED AHEAD OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING AT 10 MPH AND I INCREASED THE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THE CAR APPROACHED A STOPPED VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AHEAD OF MY VEHICLE. THE ENGINE REVVED TO THE HIGHEST RPM READING AND LURCHED FORWARD AS I CONTINUED TO APPLY FULL PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BY ADDING MY LEFT FOOT TO THE ALREADY STATIONARY RIGHT FOOT. I STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND DROVE ON THE SIDEWALK AND GRASS BETWEEN A BURGER KING AND AUTOZONE PARKING LOTS TO AVOID HITTING THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT DISENGAGE. I WAS NEARLY STANDING ON BRAKE AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH THE ENGINE SCREAMING FROM THE HIGH RPMS. I STRAIGHTENED THE CAR'S PATH TO AVOID A PARKED VEHICLE IN THE AUTOZONE PARKING LOT. I JUMPED A CURB ONTO GRASS AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL CRASHING THROUGH A CINDER BLOCK WALL SUPPORTING THE AUTOZONE SIGN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT WHICH ENGAGED THE ENGINE KILL SWITCH. WHILE STILL STANDING ON THE BRAKES, MY CAR TRAVELED ANOTHER 25-30 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE DRIVER BEHIND ME CAN CONFIRM THAT I WAS DECELERATING AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON AS THE CAR "TOOK OFF" ON ITS PATH TOWARD THE AUTOZONE SIGN. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I RECEIVED NECK, SHOULDER AND CHEST INJURIES FROM THE IMPACT. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR ON MY OWN. *TR
NHTSA ID
10593315
Incident
May 19, 2014
Mileage
101,513 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 31, 2011
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND AS THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,000.
NHTSA ID
10403768
Incident
May 29, 2011
Mileage
79,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 13, 2011
Crash reported
RUN AWAY THROTTLE AND NO ABILITY TO BRAKE 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER CAUSING CRASH INTO HOUSE WALL AND FRONT END DAMAGE TO CAR I TOOK FOOT OF GAS PEDAL AND MOVED TO BRAKE CAR CONTINUED AT SAME SPEED IT WAS TRAVELING AND BRAKE PEDDLE WAS APPLIED HARD AND NO EFFECT. CAR STRUCK HOUSE AND PUSHED ON THE WALL A MOMENT THEN DROPPED TO IDLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10395770
Incident
Apr 8, 2011
Mileage
98,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 8, 2011
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 2-3 MPH IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT TO NO AVAIL AS THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND THERE WAS MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE THREE ADDITIONAL OCCURRENCES OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE FLOOR MAT AND THE BRAKE COVERS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS STILL AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SHE LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
NHTSA ID
10386834
Incident
May 15, 2009
Mileage
2,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 13, 2011
Crash reported
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING HER VEHICLE IT ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO HER GARAGE. PREVIOUSLY, WHEN SHE WAS TRYING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD WHEN SHE WAS FORCED TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ID
10376590
Incident
May 1, 1973
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Oct 28, 2010
Crash reported
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
NHTSA ID
10362801
Incident
Sep 26, 2010
Mileage
44,200 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 30, 2010
Crash reported
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.
NHTSA ID
10358459
Incident
Sep 27, 2010
Mileage
53,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 16, 2010
Crash reported
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.
NHTSA ID
10343589
Incident
Jun 13, 2010
Mileage
62,600 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 10, 2010
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.
NHTSA ID
10318383
Incident
Aug 9, 2005
Mileage
17,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 9, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported
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
NHTSA ID
10316513
Incident
Sep 10, 2009
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 7, 2010
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
NHTSA ID
10317451
Incident
Aug 20, 2009
Mileage
30,300 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Mar 4, 2010
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.
NHTSA ID
10316713
Incident
Mar 2, 2010
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 2, 2010
Crash reported
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
NHTSA ID
10315744
Incident
Nov 19, 2009
Mileage
81,689 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Feb 23, 2010
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
NHTSA ID
10313003
Incident
Sep 30, 2009
Mileage
35,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 22, 2010
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
NHTSA ID
10312746
Incident
Jan 30, 2010
Mileage
71,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 22, 2010
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
NHTSA ID
10312720
Incident
Feb 22, 2010
BrakesDriver assistanceExterior lighting+2 more
Filed Feb 21, 2010
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
NHTSA ID
10312516
Incident
Dec 11, 2009
Mileage
52,991 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 21, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported
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, EVEN TOYOTA CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ACCELERATORS. I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A GLITCH IN THE COMPUTER. I CAN STILL HEAR THAT SURGING SOUND AND AM AFRAID IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT TO HAVE SURGED AND SMASHED INTO A BRICK COLUMN AS I WASN'T STOMPING ON THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT TO PARK MY CAR. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT FOR 38 YEARS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10312510
Incident
Sep 10, 2009
Mileage
36,725 mi
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