2011 Toyota Highlander Driver assistance Problems

Abs brake actuator started to fail.

NHTSA ID

11458335

Incident

Mar 25, 2022

DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR I WAS HEADING HOME WITH MY KIDS (5 Y.O. AND 7 Y.O.) WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND LOST POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE CARE ROLLED LONG ENOUGH TO PULL OVER TO A SAFE SPOT WITH MY CHILDREN AND CALL FOR A TOW. LIGHTS THAT CAME ON CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, CHECK 4WD SYSTEM, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT TOYOTA OF CERRITOS I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MASTER MECHANIC HAD TO PLACE A TICKET WITH TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE DUE TO ALL THE CODES THAT WERE LOGGED AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC. TOYOTA MOTOR INFORMED MECHANIC IT WAS HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. THIS COULD OF BEEN A HORRIBLE SITUATION HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTION LIKE IT DID ON THE EVENING OF 11/05/2019.

NHTSA ID

11288492

Incident

Nov 5, 2019

Mileage

158,298 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN CRUISE CONTROL AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING SPEEDOMETER READINGS. REPORTED ABS BRAKE MALFUNCTION, BRAKE MALFUNCTION. OVER THE NEXT 45 MINUTES WHILE IN ROUTE TO A TOYOTA DEALER VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOST POWER STEERING AND SPEEDOMETER READINGS. ALL MALFUNCTIONS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING.

NHTSA ID

11286609

Incident

Nov 30, 2019

Mileage

122,000 mi

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY POWER STEERING WHEEL, IT'S STIFF AND I UNABLE TO CONTROL IT WHEN ON THE ROAD. WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH HIGH SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SWAY LEFT OR RIGHT AND I UNABLE TO CONTROL IT BACK TO STRAIGHT. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL NOT REFLEXES, FAST ENOUGH FOR ME TO MAKE A TURN. FOR INSTANCE, WHENEVER I MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND THEN TRY TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO STRAIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT REFLEX BACK ENOUGH THAT IT LEADS ME TO HIT THE CURB DAMAGING FRONT WHEEL RIM. SINCE, THE PROBLEM KEEPS ON OCCURRING, AS I GET WORRIED I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP TWICE WITHIN THE PERIOD OF 2 MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME, I TOOK IT IN THE MECHANIC STATES THAT PROBABLY HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT, SO I PAID THE FOR THE PERFORMANCE. AND IT DIDN'T HELP AT ALL. THEN THE SECOND TIME, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP AGAIN, I TOLD THEM THAT THE ALIGNMENT DIDN'T HELP AT ALL AND ALSO I SPECIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING WHEEL THEN I LEFT THE VEHICLE THE WHOLE DAY FOR THE REPAIR SHOP TO FIX IT. LATER, WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP, THEY STATED THAT THEY CORRECTED THE CRADLE AND DO THE ALIGNMENT 4 TIMES AND I TOOK THE CAR OUT HOME. THE VEHICLE STILL HAD THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN TO REPAIR, THEN I DROVE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THE MECHANIC. THEN THE MECHANIC DROVE THE CAR WITH ME IN THE CAR, AND HE TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL AND THERE NO WAY HE COULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEN I ASKED HIM IF I TOOK IT TO ANY OTHER SHOP WILL THAT HELP. HE SAID NO, THERE NO SHOPS THAT COULD FIX IT. HE ALSO SAID THAT I JUST HAVE TO PUT UP WITH IT. BUT, IT IS MY LIFE OR EVER MY FAMILY MEMBERS LIFE ON THE ROAD. SO, I'M REALLY WORRIED AND I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO REPLACE WITH A NEW CAR RIGHT NOW. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE, I BOUGHT IT NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID

11258713

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

5 mi

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT OFF. EVEN WHEN A PERSON IS SITTING ON THE SEAT. CRUISE CONTROL ALSO STOPPED WORKING, LIGHT WOULDN'T EVEN COME ON. POWER LOCKING SYSTEM ALSO CEASED WORKING.

NHTSA ID

11246249

Incident

Aug 24, 2019

Mileage

64,000 mi

JANUARY 16, 2017 WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED CONCRETE STOP AND SLAMMED INTO RETAINING WALL. SEAT BELT HELD ME AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS DRIVEABLE AND WAS TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO TOYOTA DEALER TO INVESTIGATE. VEHICLE SUSTAINED $10,000 IN DAMAGE AND IS BEING REPAIRED AND THEN INVESTIGATED BY TOYOTA. VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY DEALER AND HAD 59,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10955604

Incident

Jan 16, 2017

Mileage

59,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH EXTREME FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,900. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10944240

Incident

Jan 8, 2017

Mileage

100,900 mi

I HAD MY CAR IN FOR IT'S 60,000 MILE SERVICE ON FRIDAY, OCT 3RD, 2014 AT CHEROKEE TOYOTA, CANTON, GA. MY WIFE DROVE IT FOR ONLY THE THIRD TIME SINCE THE SERVICE AND ENCOUNTERED A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE HIGHLANDER STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. MY WIFE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THEN THE ENGINE CUTOFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I MEET UP WITH HER AND TRIED TO START THE CAR. THE ENGINE TACHOMETER RAPIDLY INCREASED THEN THE ENGINE SHUTOFF. TOWED TO CHEROKEE TOYOTA FOR EVALUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641564

Incident

Oct 5, 2014

Mileage

59,000 mi

AT LOW SPEED, THE AUTO HAS A SERIOUS DELAY WHEN YOU PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ENTER A LANE OF TRAFFIC SUCH AS ENTERING AN INTERSTATE FROM AN ENTRANCE RAMP. AFTER THE DELAY THE AUTO THEN SURGES INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE. TOYOTA OFFICIALS CLAIM IT IS CAUSED BY A COMMUNICATION PROBLEM BETWEEN THE COMPUTER AND THE TRANSMISSION. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT CANNOT BE CORRECTED. I FEEL THAT THE DELAY AND SURGE IS NOT SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10468875

Incident

Aug 10, 2011

Mileage

8,500 mi

THE FOLLOWING EMAIL/REPORT WAS SENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FROM WHOM I HAD PURCHASED THIS NEW VEHICLE: I AM WRITING TO REPORT AN ABNORMAL INCIDENT, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED TO THE STALL PROBLEM I HAD ENCOUNTERED, AND WHICH YOU INSPECTED DURING MY LAST VISIT. IN THIS INCIDENT, I WAS VERY GENTLY TRYING TO MOVE THE CAR INTO MY GARAGE FROM A STATIONARY POSITION (THERE IS A SMALL 10 TO 15 DEGREE GRADE OVER A 3 FT DISTANCE BEFORE THE GARAGE FLOOR BECAME LEVEL AGAIN). AS I SLOWLY PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE SLOWLY IN A NORMAL FASHION, BUT AFTER MOVING HALF WAY INTO THE GARAGE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, ALMOST AT FULL THROTTLE... I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD REACT, MISSING A CRASH BY ONLY A FEW INCHES. AS I TRIED TO ANALYZE WHAT HAPPENED, THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN THINK OF IS THAT AS I WAS MOVING SLOWLY ENOUGH WHERE MOST LIKELY ONLY THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS MOVING THE CAR, BUT THEN VERY SUDDENLY THAT ELECTRIC MOTOR SOURCED ITS ABSOLUTE FULL POWER TO ACCELERATE THE WHEELS ---ALMOST AS IF THE SW DECIDED TO IGNORE MY VERY SOFT PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL AND SOURCE MAXIMUM POWER. PLEASE ADVISE WHEN YOUR TOYOTA ENGINEERS WILL BE VISITING YOU AGAIN SO THAT THEY MAY REVIEW THIS LATEST ABNORMALITY. I AM ALSO FORWARDING THIS MESSAGE TO THE NATIONAL AUTO SAFETY DEPARTMENT, SINCE I AM NOW QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457221

Incident

May 1, 2012

Mileage

5,930 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CEMENT WALL OF A GARAGE. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,700.

NHTSA ID

10454681

Incident

Apr 9, 2012

Mileage

8,700 mi

PULLED INTO EMPLOYERS PARKING LOT TO PARK WHEN I PLACED MY VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND BEGAN BACKING UP THE VEHICLE GAINED SPEED, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH MY PASSENGER SIDE COMING AGAINST HIS DRIVER SIDE, CLIMBED AN APPROXIMATE 10 FOOT STEEP EMBANKMENT, HIT A WAREHOUSE WALL CAUSING A LARGE DENT IN WALL AND BREAKING A 6X6 SUPPORT POST, THEN SLIDING DOWN THE EMBANKMENT INTO SAME PARKED VEHICLE I HAD HIT BEFORE, THEN CAME TO REST. TOTALED THE VEHICLE THAT WAS HIT ADJACENT MINE, $8600.00 DAMAGE TO MY HIGHLANDER, AND NOT SURE YET OF COST OF BUILDING DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453857

Incident

Mar 25, 2008

Mileage

21,000 mi

OCCASIONALLY, AFTER COMING TO A STOP AND THEN WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN WHILE TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT, THE ENGINE APPEARS TO STALL FOR 3 OR 4 SECONDS, THEN RESUMES NORMAL ACCELERATION. THE ENGINE DOES NOT QUIT OR DIE, IT JUST GOES BACK DOWN TO A LITTLE ABOVE IDLE SPEED, THEN SPEEDS BACK UP AGAIN AND RESUMES NORMAL ACCELERATION OPERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH MY WIFE AND ME ON MORE THAN A FEW OCCASIONS BEGINNING ABOUT 8,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. I ERRONEOUSLY POSTED THIS COMPLAINT EARLIER UNDER THE 2012 HIGHLANDER, HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS A 2011. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448438

Incident

Feb 18, 2012

Mileage

8,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT HER DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BARN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT THE VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND SIDES. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND CALLED TO THE SCENE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO CENTER FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO FILED A CLAIM ON BEHALF OF THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

NHTSA ID

10439767

Incident

Dec 10, 2011

Mileage

9,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED. ONCE THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THAT VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE AGENCY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1500. UPDATED 09/27/11 *BF UPDATED 2/9/12 *CN

NHTSA ID

10411952

Incident

Jul 9, 2011

Mileage

1,500 mi