2005 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER HEAD, BACK, CHEST, AND LEGS. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS UNINJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE "LOW TIRE PRESSURE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE MECHANISM WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS NOT LOW IN ANY OF THE FOUR TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WOULD BE $2,414.60. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000. UPDATED 10/16/08.*LJ UPDATED 10/17/08.*JB

AROUND THE MIDDLE OF MARCH 2008, MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS KNOCKING SOUNDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I MAKE TURNS. I SOUGHT THE ADVISE OF A MECHANIC FRIEND WHO HAS WORKED WITH LEXUS IN THE PAST. HE CONDUCTED A TEST DRIVE AND OCULAR INSPECTION AND ADVISED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR HE SUSPECTS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY. ON MARCH 24, 2008, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY. I PAID A TOTAL OF $469.29 FOR THE SERVICE BY TOYOTA CITY, MAMARONECK, NY 10543 INV. [XXX] . THE CAR HAS 14,549 MILES DURING THE DATE OF SERVICE. I WROTE TOYOTA USA FOR A REFUND OF THE AMOUNT I SPENT AND GOT AN ASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT. FAMILY MEMBERS USE THE CAR IN THE USUAL COURSE OF GROCERY, SCHOOL AND RELATED TRAVEL ACTIVITIES AND HAS NOT ABUSED IT. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THIS IS ALSO WELL MAINTAINED AS WE FOLLOW THE SUGGESTIONS/ADVISE OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULED CHECKS. MY VIN [XXX] . THE LETTER OF ASSURANCE FROM TOYOTA SALES USA WAS RECEIVED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND REQUEST FOR REFUND HAS NOT BEEN ACTED UPON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GREAT DAY! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)*TR

I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT PROBLEM. I NOTICE IT HAS A NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10019873. WHEN MY CAR WAS GETTING A STATE INSPECTION, THE INSPECTOR NOTICED THE SLIGHT NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. I FIND OUT LATER AT THE TOYOTA DEALER THAT THE SHAFT WAS "BINDING" AND CONTINUED DRIVING COULD CAUSE STEERING FAILURE. IF THE GAS STATION HADN'T NOTICED THE SUBTLE NOISE, WE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED DRIVING IT UNTIL THE STEERING FAILED. I WOULD CALL THAT A SAFETY ISSUE WARRANTING A RECALL. *TR

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH ONLY 72000 MILES (12,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY), SEALS ON TRANSFER CASE OF TRANSMISSION LEAKS ONTO EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING SMOKING AND SMELL OF BURNT FLUIDS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK WITH HESITATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000.

THE WINDOW CONTROL DROPS THE WINDOW INTO THE DOOR AND YOU CANNOT BRING THE WINDOW BACK UP. THIS FIRST OCCURRED ON JANUARY 2008, TO MY REAR RIGHT WINDOW ON MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $ 600.00. THAT WAS RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRICED, SO I FOUND A WAY TO LIFT THE WINDOW, AND THEN I DISCONNECTED THE POWER WINDOW CONTROLS TO THAT WINDOW. WITHOUT FAIL, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE REAR LEFT WINDOW OF OUR CAR IN JANUARY 2009. I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH HIGHLANDERS AND CAMRYS, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FROM TOYOTA FOR THIS COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

HEAT CONTROLLER UNIT STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. WINDOWS BECAME FROSTED WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF LOST TEMPERATURE CONTROL. OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 HIGHLANDER THAT DEVELOPED A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AT 62,000 MILES. TOYOTA CURRENTLY HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT STATING THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEAL ON CERTAIN AWD HIGHLANDERS AND SIENNAS ARE PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE. THIS CAN RESULT IN LEAK OF TRANSMISSION OR FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FLUID. THE REPAIR IS NOT BEING COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR ME SINCE THE CAR IS BEYOND THE 60000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION OR GEAR OIL CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN FREEZING OF DIVE-AXLE, WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER HAS A NUT WHICH REPEATEDLY COMES LOOSE. THIS CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TO BECOME LOOSE AND CEASE TO FUNCTION. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE MECHANISM WAS DESIGNED TO COME LOOSE SO AS TO AVOID DAMAGE TO THE UNDERLYING MOTOR. HE SAID TO JUST KEEP TIGHTENING THE NUT! IN THE 27,000 MILE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO TIGHTEN IT NOW A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS 6 WEEKS AGO DURING A SNOW STORM. THE INABILITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM CONSTITUTES A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

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

2005 YEAR MODEL TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THERE HAD BEEN A STEERING WHEEL "KNOCKING" SINCE ABOUT 5000 MI. IT COULD ONLY BE DETECTED WHEN GENTLY TURNING (WIGGLING) THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK IS TO TOYOTA DEALER SHORTLY BEFORE THE THREE YEAR FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. I WAS NOT TOLD WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT IT COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IF THE CV JOINT IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

I OWN A TOYOTA 4-RUNNER (2005, 53635 MILES) WHICH IS A COMPANY CAR. ON 8/27/07, I ATTEMPTED TO ADD AIR TO ALL 4 TIRES. THE METAL VALVE CAPS THAT WERE SUPPLIED ON THESE TIRES FROM TOYOTA SEIZED TO THE ALUMINUM VALVE STEMS AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE VALVE STEM. THE RIMS ARE ALSO ALUMINUM. ON ONE TIRE, I ATTEMPTED FORCE THE REMOVAL OF THE METAL VALVE CAP WITH A PAIR OF PLIERS WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOP OF THE VALVE STEM BREAKING OFF WHICH RESULTED IN AN IMMEDIATE FLAT. I CONTACTED AAA TO CHANGE THE TIRE. I THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO IRA TOYOTA IN MANCHESTER, NH TO REPAIR THE TIRE. I WAS CHARGED $119.75 TO REPLACE THE VALVE STEM AND SENSOR. THEY DID NOT CHARGE LABOR FOR THIS SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REMOVE THE TOYOTA SUPPLIED METAL VALVE CAPS FROM THE 3 REMAINING TIRES ON MY VEHICLE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THEY WERE AWARE THAT SOME VEHICLE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP PLANNED ON OBTAINING 3 MORE STEM/SENSOR UNITS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THAT THEY COULD NOT REMOVE THE VALVE CAPS WITHOUT DAMAGING THE REMAINING VALVE STEMS AND SENSORS. THIS WOULD HAVE COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $360 TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE UNITS. NOT GOOD TOYOTA WORKMANSHIP IN MY OPINION. I WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE 3 REMAINING TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A WAY TO PUT ADDITIONAL AIR INTO THE TIRES. I WAS LEFT TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE MYSELF. I HAD TO MANUALLY GRIND THE CAPS OFF WITH THE AID OF A DREMMEL GRINDING TOOL WHICH TOOK ME 2 HOURS TO DO MYSELF. I REPLACED THE METAL CAPS WITH BLACK PLASTIC CAPS. I BELIEVE THAT ALL TOYOTA CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY. I BELIEVE THAT A FULL RECALL SHOULD BE MADE ON TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH METAL CAPS ON THE ALUMINUM RIM TIRES. PLEASE NOTE THAT I LISTED THE VEHICLE AS A "HIGHLANDER" BECAUSE IT WAS THE CLOSEST TO THE "4-RUNNER" WHICH I OWN BUT WAS NOT LISTED IN THE AVAILABLE SELECTION. *JB

MY DRIVER SIDE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT FLASHED BURNED MY LIGHT ENSEMBLE ON MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. SHOWED TECH AT TOYOTA AND CLAIMED DESPITE NEVER SEEN A FIRE CAUSED BY HEADLAMP THAT IT DID INDEED BURN PLASTIC HOUSING FROM FLASH BURN OUT NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR STATIONARY, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE A KNOCKING VIBRATION WHEN IT WAS TURNED. THE FAILURE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT/COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $550. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

2005 V6 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER - TRANSMISSION UPDATE FLASH - DOES NOT RESOLVE LAG ISSUE AS INTENDED, AND LATER MAKES TRANSMISSION STUTTER AND JERKY - NOT RESOLVED AFTER TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE AND INSPECTION. TWO DEALERS STATED: COULD NOT REPLICATE ISSUE. FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE DRIVEN AND RIDDEN IN VEHICLE AND STATE THEY FEEL IT DRIVES LIKE AN OLD CAR OR WORSE - MAKES NOISES AND IS NOT SMOOTH, ALSO CAN BE DANGEROUS IF A QUICK RESPONSE IS NECESSARY. *TR

2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE RECALL INFORMATION. *MC *TR

ALREADY HAVE A CASE NUMBER, REPORTED ON 1/22/2010. I HAD A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT IN MAY OF 2007 WHERE THE PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE BRAKES TO WORK. I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING BACKWARDS OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. I HAVE HAD TO PAY EXTRA INSURANCE PREMIUMS EVERY SIX MONTHS AND HAVE THAT ACCIDENT ON MY RECORD. THE FL HWY PATROL OFFICER SAID THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. ONE OF THE WITNESSES WAS AN OFF-DUTY LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICER SAID HE HEARD THE ACCELERATION AND COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE WAS ACCELERATING IN THE PARKING LOT OF A PUBLIX SUPERMARKET. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TOYOTA IS GOING TO DO TO HELP CAR OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS TO CORRECT THEIR DRIVING RECORDS AND TO CONTACT INSURANCE COMPANIES TO HELP THE INSURED TO RECOUP EXTRA MONIES PAID BECAUSE THE CAR HAS BAD EQUIPMENT, WHICH TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED LONG AGO.. *TR

PURCHASED NEW TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005 MODEL YEAR IN JULY 2005. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY SINCE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 23,000 MILES. CORROSSION DEVELOPED WITHIN 9 MONTHS OF PURCHASE IN THESE AREAS: BASE OF ANTENNA, ANTENNA MAST, WINDOW FRAMES, AND ALUMINUM OR ALLOY WHEELS SHOW BUBBLING IN THE SURFACE THAT ARE INCREASING IN SIZE AND DIAMETER.**AK DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA WERE CONTACTED TO REMEDY PROBLEMS WITH WHEELS WITHOUT SUCCESS. DEALERSHIP REPAINTED CORRODED WINDOWS. DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA CLAIM CORROSION IS DUE TO ENVIRONMENT - I HAVE HAD 2 OTHER VEHICLES PARKED IN THE SAME LOCATION WITHOUT VISIBLE SIGNS OF CORROSSION. I AM CONCERN THAT THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE BUBBLES AND CORROSSION ON THE WHEELS WILL CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT WEAKENS THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE WHEES.

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN, OBSTRUCTING VIEW, UNPREDICTABLY, DESPITE HAVING NOTHING ON IT. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, V6 MODEL, ALWAYS ON APPLYING THE BRAKES THE FIRST TIME AFTER STARTING IN THE MORNING IS LIKE THE ABS SYSTEM IS ENGAGED, IT TAKES LONGER TO STOP THAN IT WILL ON THE SUCCEEDING BRAKING APPLICATIONS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY TO SOMEONE WHO MAY NOT BE PREPARED FOR THIS OR IS NOT THE USUAL DRIVER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST HYDRAULICS BUT NOW I THINK IT IS TIED TO THE ABS SYSTEM, AFTER READING OF THE PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. *TR

THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT OR ACCIDENT REPORT BUT A REPORT OF FACTS THAT MAY BENEFIT OTHERS. 2005 MODEL TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, STEERING KNOCKING/CLUNKING. IT CAN BE DETECTED BY WIGGLING THE STEERING WHEEL WITHIN 5 DEGREES. IT IS WORSE WHEN THE STEERING IS LOADED, E.G. WHEN NEGOTIATING BENDS AND MINOR CURVES. TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY DECIDED THAT WHOLE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN. I AM REPORTING BECAUSE THIS MAY NOT BE AN ISOLATE CASE. THE PROBLEM IS NOT EASILY DETECTABLE BY UNSUSPECTED DRIVERS. YET IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE VEHICLE DID NOT LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO GEAR. THE ONLY WAY THAT THE DOORS LOCK WAS BY MANUALLY LOCKING THEM OR PUSHING THE POWER LOCK BUTTON. ONCE THE DOORS WERE LOCKED THEY COULD NOT BE OPENED BY THE PULL OF THE DOOR HANDLE ONLY BY THE POWER LOCK SWITCH OR MANUALLY. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS ONLY A PROGRAMMING ISSUE AND THAT THEY WOULD PROGRAM IT FOR HIM, BUT HE LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A DOOR LOCK PROGRAM FEATURE. *AK UPDATED 2/22/2007 - *NM

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6. I'M EXPERIENCING A PAUSE OR HESITATION SHIFTING INTO LOW AT VERY LOW SPEEDS (2 TO 4 MPH). THE HESITATION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE BECAUSE THE GAS PEDDLE IS DEPRESSED BEFORE THE LOW GEAR ENGAGES. I FEEL IT IS AN UNSAFE DESIGN BECAUSE IN SLOW TRAFFIC OR NEAR PEDESTRIANS I NEED TO KEEP MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM LUNGING. TOYOTA HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED". *NM

BRAKE PROBLEM I BOUGHT A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN APRIL 2005. EARLY NOVEMBER 2006 THIS HAPPENED: AFTER I STARTED THE CAR, I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE STEPPED ON. IT SOUNDED LIKE NOISY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT. THE NOISE REPEATED EVERY TIME THE BRAKES WERE STEPPED ON. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SERVICE AT CRYSTAL TOYOTA IN GREEN BROOK, NEW JERSEY, AND THEY DID SOME WORK ON IT. ABOUT TEN DAYS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED. THE CRYSTAL TOYOTA SERVICE FOREMAN STATED THAT ROTOR PADS NOW HAVE A METALLIC CONTENT. WHENEVER MOISTURE FORMS ON THE PADS DUE TO THE WEATHER, NOISE CAN RESULT. THE SERVICE APPLIED AN ADDITIVE. THE LOUD NOISE REAPPEARED EARLY JANUARY 2007. CRYSTAL TOYOTA SERVICE SUGGESTED DRIVING THE CAR A SHORT DISTANCE AND THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY. THIS WAS CORRECT. THE NOISE WENT AWAY AFTER DRIVING ABOUT HALF A MILE AND STEPPING REPEATEDLY ON THE BRAKES. I COULD NOT SEE THIS AS A LONG- TERM SOLUTION, HOWEVER, AS THE NOISE LEVEL WAS EXTREME, AND IT WAS LIKELY THAT AN EXCESSIVE IMPACT AND STRESS WERE OCCURRING. IT APPEARED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE AND JOE LACEFIELD, A NEW JERSEY REPRESENTATIVE, CALLED ME. LACEFIELD DOWNPLAYED MY CONCERN AND SAID HE WOULD LOOK AT THE CAR ON JANUARY 26. I TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD PROBABLY NOT HEAR THE NOISE SINCE IT DID NOT OCCUR ON MOST DAYS. LACEFIELD CALLED ME AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR AND SAID THAT HE HAD HEARD NO NOISE. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD EXPECTED THAT AND HAD POINTED IT OUT TO HIM. HE THEN SAID THAT WHAT I HEARD MUST HAVE BEEN SOME PLAIN EVERYDAY BRAKE NOISE AND THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM! TOYOTA CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. THE NOISE HAS NOW OCCURRED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES. THE ATTITUDE OF LACEFIELD AND OF TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THAT MY COMPLAINT HAS NO MERIT, AND THAT THE EXTREME LOUD NOISE DOES NOT EVEN EXIST! MARCH 14 WAS THE LATEST NOISE OCCURRENCE. UPDATED 05/04/07

PURCHASED A NEW 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4WD. AFTER 45K MILES THE 4WD TRANSFER CASE BEGAN TO LEAK GEAR OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. I NOTICED THIS SINCE I DO ALL MY OWN OIL CHANGES ON THE VEHICLE. NO HARM WAS DONE, BUT I HAVE BROUGHT THE SAME PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES. EACH TIME THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WITHOUT FAIL SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOT VERY FRIENDLY OR HELPFUL. ONE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP REALLY DID NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO PROPERLY FIX THE TRANSFER CASE SEALS PROPERLY. MY SAFETY ISSUE: IF THIS TRANSFER CASE FAILS AGAIN AND I DO NOT NOTICE IT, THEN I FEAR THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE SENT INTO AN UNCONTROLLABLE SPIN OR EVEN WORSE. THUS FAR TOYOTA HAS REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE TWICE AND THE TRANSMISSION ONCE WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *JB

LONG HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP OR LOW SPEEDS. *JB

SUMMARY: 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS SIGNIFICATION HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. 1.) EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: FAILURE IS CONSTANT SINCE IT IS PRESENT DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE; 2. FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: IF I ACCELERATE (STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL), THE VEHICLE HESITATES/LAGS/DIES FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN MOVING. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE IS THAT THERE IS CONSTANT DANGER WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN DURING GAPS IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ALTHOUGH A MARGIN OF SAFETY IS ALWAYS USED, I AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY, SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN TO REDUCE THIS MARGIN, E.G. ONCOMING CAR IS ACCELERATING VERY QUICKLY OR THE HESITATION WORSENS FROM A FEW SECONDS TO SEVERAL SECONDS; 3.) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: NOTHING. CONTACTED TWO TOYOTA DEALERS, DON DAVIS TOYOTA AND FREEMAN TOYOTA, AND WAS TOLD BY JOHN AND TIM, SERVICE DEPT ADVISORS, THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR TOYOTAS SINCE ADOPTING FLY-BY OR DRIVE-BY WIRE. BOTH AUTHORIZED TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES SAY THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS COMPLAINT BUT THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DONE; THIS IS NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURE AND FALLS WITHIN THEIR DESIGN PARAMETERS. NO PARTS WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW BY TOYOTA. WHILE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM, THEY DO NOT FEEL THEY NEED TO RESOLVE AND OFFER NO SOLUTION. *JB

DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT LENSES IN JULY 2006, A 1-INCH DIAMETER OPAQUE "DISCOLORATION " APPEARED IN LEFT FRONT HEADLAMP LENS, DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF AREA CLOSEST TO HALOGEN BULB. BESIDES IMPAIRING LIGHT OUTPUT, I WAS FEARFUL THAT DEFECTIVE AREA WOULD EVENTUALLY BREAK OR CRACK, ALLOWING WATER TO CONTACT HALOGEN BULB - CAUSING IT TO EXPLODE WHEN HOT. (2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS 18-MONTHS OLD AT THAT TIME, WITH 25,263 MILES.) TOYOTA REPLACED SAME UNDER WARRANTY. NOW SAME LENS DEFECT / DISCOLORATION IS OCCURRING TO RIGHT FRONT HEADLAMP PLASTIC LENS AT 45,000 MILES, AND AGAIN FEARFUL THAT LENS FAILURE WILL RESULT IN EXPLODING HALOGEN BULB. UNSURE IT TOYOTA WILL COVER THIS SECOND REPAIR. HEADLAMPS AND BULBS ARE ORIGINAL FACTORY EQUIPMENT. *JB

WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A VERY SLOW SPEED (ALMOST STOP) MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WILL SURGE. I HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS WHEN TRY TO PASS OR WHEN SLOWED TO TAKE A TURN BUT WITH NOT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT IT. I GET THE FEELING THAT THEY THINK IT IS NORMAL OR OK. *NM

I DROVE UP HILL, SLOWED, TURNED, AND PULLED BEHIND TRUCK TO PARK OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS ALSO UPHILL. THE CAR WAS STOPPED, I WENT TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO PARK, AND THE CAR FOR SOME REASON ACCELERATED WILDLY (LOUD ROARING OF ENGINE). IT THEN LURCHED FORWARD VERY FAST AND SLAMMED INTO THE TRUCK THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD NO POWER TO STOP IT. THIS INCIDENT WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF MY CONTROL. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH SEVERE HESITATION. I HAVE ALSO HAD A HESITATION, FOLLOWED BY EXTREME ACCELERATION. I DID FILE A COMPLAINT PREVIOUSLY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A CHILD I HIT INSTEAD OF A TRUCK!. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. THIS IS A SPORADIC OCCURRENCE, BUT IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AT ALL. *NM

UNEXPLAINED VEHICLE ACCELERATION WITH INABILITY TO STOP BEFORE HITTING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. PULLED OFF OF ROAD BEHIND TRUCK TO PARK. LIFTED FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL TO PUT ON BRAKE SO AS TO PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK. THERE WAS THEN AN EXTREME VEHICLE ACCELERATION WHICH WAS UNCONTROLLABLE WITH BRAKE. SLAMMED INTO TRUCK. TOYOTA CORP CLAIMS NO ERRORS LOGGED IN COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND THAT IF FOOT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE FILAMENT WOULD HAVE BROKEN. I CAN'T BE CERTAIN THE BRAKING HAPPENED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT-IT WAS VERY FAST. I AM CERTAIN FOOT WAS ON BRAKE AND NOT ON GAS!! THERE HAS BEEN A PREVIOUS DENIAL OF A PETITION TO INVESTIGATE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF THIS IDENTICAL SITUATION WITH OTHER TOYOTA'S-(NHTSA ACTION # DP05002). NHTSA PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS!! THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING-DO SOMETHING BEFORE THERE ARE DEATHS! IS TOYOTA IMMUNE FROM SAFETY RECALLS? I'M SORRY YOU COULDN'T FIND EVIDENCE OF A DEFECT, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG. SEVERE HESITATION, SUDDEN ACCELERATION=POSSIBLE DEATHS. I'VE RECEIVED MY REPAIRED VEHICLE, AND WHEN I WENT TO TRADE IT IN, I WAS OFFERED THOUSANDS LESS THAN TRADE IN IS SUPPOSED TO BE! IF TOYOTA REALLY BELIEVES THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THEIR CAR, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? AGAIN THEY'RE NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE! *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE REAR WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 4/19/2006 - *NM

I WAS REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK WHILE STOPPED COMPLETELY ON THE HARDY TOLL ROAD IN HOUSTON. THE TRUCK WAS GOING APPROX 30 MPH. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK AND MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION. TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT SEAT BELTS PROVIDE NO PROTECTION DURING A REAR END COLLISION. I THINK THEY ARE WRONG. *JB

PRODUCT BRAND/MODEL: GARMIN / STREET PILOT I5 (NAVIGATION/GPS): THERE IS A SINGLE BUT SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. MY I5 LOSES SUCTION FROM THE WINDSHIELD DAILY WITHOUT WARNING AND/OR CONSISTENT CONDITIONS (I.E. HOT/COLD/WET/DRY/MOVING/STILL). THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE RUBBER SUCTION CUP AND MY CAR IS NEW (2005 HIGHLANDER) AND CLEAN. I TOLD A NEIGHBOR ABOUT IT (HE IS AN ENGINEER) HE SAID THE DEVISES SUCTION CUP IS TOO SMALL RELATIVE TO IT'S WEIGHT AND THUS GRAVITY AND LEVERAGE OVER POWER THE VACUUM OF THE SUCTION OVER TIME (I.E. THE SUCTION CUP IS TO SMALL RELATIVE TO THE WEIGHT IT MUST HOLD UP). THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE AS THE UNIT HAS FALLEN ONTO MY LAP SEVERAL TIMES IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING MY CAR AND CAN BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DISTRACTION (IT COULD JUST AS EASILY FALLEN ON THE FLOOR UNDER MY BREAKS AS WELL). I HAVE CONTACTED THE COMPANY THROUGH OUT THEIR WEB SITE BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE TO DATE. THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THAT I AM SURE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS AND PRIOR MODELS (I1 TO I4) WHICH WILL ALL HAVE THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE (WHY WAIT FOR A SERIES OF ACCIDENTS TO TAKE ACTION) HELP!*JB

TOYOTA HILANDER LIMITED. I HAVE A HESITATION WHEN I ACCELERATE. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO TOYOTA AT LEAST 3 TIMES CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THEY TELL ME THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. IT'S DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET ON AN INTERSTATE AND DON'T HAVE THE ACCELERATION YOU NEED. *AK

MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS CHRONIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE REVS BUT THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES NOTICEABLY BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR. SOMETIMES THE HESITATION LASTS SO LONG THAT IT INTERFERES WITH MY ABILITY TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THOSE ARE VERY SCARY SITUATIONS. SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION CANNOT DECIDE WHAT GEAR TO BE IN AND WHEN IT DOES ENGAGE THE WHOLE CAR BUCKS OR SHUDDERS. EVERYONE WHO DRIVES MY CAR EXPERIENCES THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN THE PASSENGERS NOTICE. THE TOYOTA DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS MY DRIVING AND THAT I HAVE NOT ADJUSTED TO THE CAR'S "DRIVE BY WIRE" SYSTEM. ONE MECHANIC DID ADMIT THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION'S COMPUTER FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. OTHER THAN THAT, TOYOTA INSISTS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND THAT I HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

MULTIPLE TIMES, I HAVE TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE AND THERE HAS BEEN "HESITATION" WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL--THE CAR SEEMED TO BE IN NEUTRAL, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS/GEARS--IT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED ONCE; IN THAT INSTANCE THE CAR ACTUALLY "BUCKED" AND STOPPED. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART, AND DRIVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. AT OTHER TIMES, I HAVE BEEN ON A RELATIVELY EMPTY STREET AND IT HAS NOT BEEN AS MUCH OF A PROBLEM SINCE NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. HOWEVER, THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AS I HAVE A LONG COMMUTE TO WORK (AND BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ITS SAFETY AND RELIABILITY). ON MY FIRST VISIT TO THE DEALER, TOYOTA MADE A FIX ACCORDING TO A TECHNICAL BULLETIN. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THEY DID NOTHING BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM--EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. ON THIS SECOND VISIT, THEY MERELY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WE WERE TOLD WE COULD RENT A LOANER VEHICLE FROM THEM AT THEIR COST BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE THE DASHBOARD PANEL WAS BLACK DURING THE DAY. SHINING A FLASH LIGHT ON THE DASH IS THE ONLY WAY THE DASHBOARD GAUGES CAN BE SEEN. THE GAUGES ARE NOT DIGITAL. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DASHBOARD PANEL WAS NOT ABLE TO BE READ BUT THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MADE. THE DASHBOARD WORKED PROPERLY AT NIGHT.*AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

TRANPATH TOYO TIRES ON 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THE TIRE CAME ON THE HIGHLANDER. THE TIRE SEEMED TO FUNCATION WELL UNTIL ABOUT 15,000 MILES. THE ROAD NOISE IS GETTING TO BE UNBEARABLE AND THE TRACTION IS POOR AND HAZARDED ON WET ROAD. THAT COULD CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. COMPLAINTED TO THE CAR SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY OFFERED TO SALE US NEW TIRES WITH NO DISCOUNT. VERY DISAPPOINTED TO THE TIRE. *NM

CAR IS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LTD. V-6 4WD WITH 5-SP AUTO. ENGINE HESITATES SEVERELY WHEN ASKED TO ACCELERATE HARD AT SPEEDS SEEMINGLY BETWEEN 15 AND 70 MPH. (THESE ARE SPEEDS I'VE NOTICED IT) WHEN YOU "FLOOR" THE THROTTLE TO QUICKY MERGE WITH TRAFFIC OR TURN ACROSS A LINE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THERE IS A RATHER LONG DELAY BEFORE VEHICLE BEGINS TO ACCELERATE. THIS BEHAVIOR ALSO OCCURS EXACTLY THE SAME WAY IN MY WIFE'S 2004 LEXUS RX-330, WHICH HAS THE SAME POWERTRAIN. I COMPLAINED TO LEXUS SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE (BOUGHT NEW) AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I'VE BEEN ON SEVERAL TOYOTA HIGHLANDER NEWSGROUPS AND THIS PROBLEM IS BEING WIDELY REPORTED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL "CLOSE CALLS" BECAUSE OF THIS DELAYED ACCELERATION. IN THE TIME THAT THE CAR DECIDES TO DOWNSHIFT AND ACCELERATE, TRAFFIC HAS CLOSED IN ON YOU ENOUGH THAT SEVERAL ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN NARROWLY AVOIDED. I HAVE NOT REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA AS YET, BUT FEEL THAT THEY WILL SAY THE SAME AS LEXUS DID. *NM

RECURRING ISSUE: WHILE TRAVELING AT BOTH HIGHWAY AND CITY STREET SPEEDS, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PASS BY FULLY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS. THIS HAS RESULTED IN NEAR-MISS ACCIDENT/INJURY INCIDENTS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THIS WAS A ROUTINE COMPLAINT FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THE LEXUS RX-330. THE MANUFACTURER, TOYOTA CORPORATE, WAS CONTACTED AND THE INDIVIDUAL STATED THIS WAS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE. NO MEDIATION WAS PROVIDED FROM EITHER CONTACT. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO EXISTING ODI ID NUMBERS: 10113278, 10114325, 10115243, 10120592, 10128880, 10129705, 10131894, 10132578, 10137651, 10145021. *JB

I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FUNCTIONING OF THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. IT BEGAN ONE MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THE NEW CAR. THE PROBLEMS HAVE PROGRESSIVELY GROWN WORSE AND ARE MORE FREQUENT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATES THAT THE HESITATION AND JERKING OF THE TRANSMISSION IS NORMAL AND A RESULT OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLLING OF THE TRANSMISSION. EVEN AFTER THE DEALERSHIP UPDATED THE SOFTWARE, THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP NOR TOYOTA HAVE NOT OFFERED ANY SOLUTIONS. *JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATION - WHEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY (AS WHEN ENTERING A FREEWAY) AFTER SLOWING DOWN OR COASTING, THE TRANSMISSION HAS DOWNSHIFTED TO A TOO-LOW GEAR OR NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE SPEEDS UP TO APPROXIMATELY 5000 RPM WITHOUT INCREASING THE CAR SPEED. LETTING UP ON THE GAS AND ACCELERATING MORE EASILY ALLOWS THE VEHICLE SPEED TO INCREASE. SO FAR, THIS HESITATION HAS NOT CAUSED ME TO BE REAR-ENDED. THE DEALER SAYS THIS OPERATION IS "NORMAL." *NM

ON OUR 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, AND ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP, LETTING OFF ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND IMMEDIATELY PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR RATHER HARD TO ATTEMPT TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE INCREASES RPM'S, BUT NO POWER GOES TO THE WHEELS. IT IS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT GEAR TO SHIFT INTO. YOU HAVE TO LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR, AND LET THE RPM'S COME BACK DOWN, AND THEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY DETERMINES WHAT GEAR TO SHIFT INTO, AND YOU CAN THEN PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR TO REGAIN FORWARD MOMENTUM. WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR IS GOING TO SHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEAR, AND MOVE FORWARD ACCORDINGLY. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN MY OPINION. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THIS LOSS OF TRANSMISSION ACCELERATION HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, NOT JUST ONCE. *NM

CONSUMER 2005 HIGHLANDER HAS EXPERIENCED HESITATION DURING ACCELERATIONS AND SOMETIMES DECELERATION. *TS THE DEALER RECALIBRATED THE ECM WHICH IMPROVED THE HESITATION PROBLEM WHILE SHIFTING BUT ALSO REDUCED THE GAS MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEIR COMPUTER INDICATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. *NM

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED W/V6 ENGINE. WHEN I ACCELERATE AT LOW SPEEDS, THEN TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN, THERE IS A PROLONGED HESITATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTS TO ACCELERATE. THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THE OTHER DAY I WAS TRYING TO PULL OUT ONTO A WELL TRAVELED ROAD. I MOVED OUT INTO THE FIRST LANE AND THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE NEXT LANE WAS CLEAR. I SAW THERE WERE CARS COMING AROUND THE CURVE TOWARDS ME IN BOTH LANES. I HIT THE GAS AND THE CAR HESITATED. THEN FINALLY IT STARTED TO MOVE. I BARELY MISSED BEING BROADSIDED. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS AND HAVE DRIVEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND TOYOTA AND THEY SAY THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED THIS IS ANYTHING BUT NORMAL AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *NM

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.

MY 2005 HIGHLANDER OFTEN HESITATES RIGHT WHEN I NEED THE MOST ACCELERATION. *NM

I AM A CERTIFIED CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN AND HAD A PARENT COME TO ME WITH CONCERN ABOUT THE THIRD ROW SEATING IN HER TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005. THE HEAD RESTRAINTS IN THIS MODEL ONLY HAS TWO NOTCHES. THE FIRST IS UP ABOUT 4 INCHES AND THE SECOND AROUND 5 INCHES. THERE IS A HUGE GAP IN BETWEEN. THIS SEAT CANNOT BE USED FOR A CHILD IN A NO BACK BOOSTER SINCE THIS HEAD RESTRAINT HAS NO NOTCHES THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THIS CHILD'S HEAD HEIGHT. IT IS EITHER TOO LOW OR TOO HIGH. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY STATED THAT THEIR VEHICLES MEET OR EXCEED ALL SAFETY STANDARDS. THEY REFERRED ME TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL CONSUMER RELATIONS PERSON WHICH THE PARENT IN CONCERN HAD BUT THE GENTLEMAN HAD NO CLUE WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT. UNLESS THIS IS YOUR PRIMARY FOCUS THIS MAY HAVE GONE UNNOTICED BUT THIS PARENT HAD THE CONCERN AND CHECKED INTO IT. SHE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED IN SOME WAY. IT SEEMS THAT ADDING A FEW NOTCHES COULD ACCOMMODATE MANY MORE PASSENGERS IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS USELESS TO HER AND THIS IS THE MAIN REASON WHY SHE PURCHASED THIS 7 PASSENGER VEHICLE. *NM