Toyota Highlander Complaints (2006)

648 consumer complaints on file.

#10200222August 20, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
ELECTRONIC PEDAL POSITION SENSOR DOES NOT RESPOND TO DRIVER INPUT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFT RESPONSE BECOMES DELAYED FOR 2 OR MORE SECONDS, AND IN CERTAIN DRIVER SITUATIONS POSES A DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. A SHIFT AND/OR ACCELERATION DELAY OCCURS WHEN FULL RAPID THROTTLE RESPONSE IS REQUIRED OR NEEDED IN CERTAIN TYPES OF TRAFFIC SCENARIOS SUCH AS ENTERING FREEWAYS , NEGOTIATING TRAFFIC , CHANGING LANES, STOP AND GO AND EMERGENCY TYPE BRAKING/ACCELERATION MANEUVERS. THE DEALER AND TOYOTA USA HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS BEHAVIOR, AND NO SUCH FIX HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. I HAVE RECEIVED MANY DEALER/MFR.OPINIONS ON THIS . THE DEALER JUST SAYS THAT THERE IS NO INFORMATION FROM TOYOTA ON HOW TO ADJUST OR FIX THIS COMMON COMPLAINT. I AM NOT ALONE ON THIS. AND COMPLAINTS REGARDING DRIVEABILITY OF VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED BY OWNERS OF MY2004-2007 HIGHLANDERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197397July 24, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE VEHICLE'S CORRECT TIRE INFORMATION IS GOODYEAR INTEGRITY 101 S TIRES, SIZE 225/65 R-17. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO A SERVICE STATION. APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS BEFORE THE TIRE FAILED, HE HEARD A RUMBLING SOUND. THE TOW SERVICE ARRIVED AND PLACED THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL WELL WAS FOUND TO BE DAMAGED. THE FUEL SYSTEM AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12,043. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194395June 15, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH DRAINS THE BATTERY. *MC THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED 6 TIMES AND THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE DEALER DID FIND AN INTERNAL SHORT BY THE ENGINE AND THE THEFT DETERRENT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE STALLING PROBLEM.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190855May 16, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 3-3V-6 5 SPEED AUTO. VERY ERRATIC SHIFTING AND HESITATION WHEN AT SLOW SPEEDS. HAPPENED MOSTLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND BRAKES NEEDED TO BE APPLIED MUCH HARDER THAN ONE WOULD LIKE. COULD NEVER BE SURE WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC HOW THE CAR WILL RESPOND. VERY DANGEROUS. HAD A 2002 HIGHLANDER BEFORE THIS ONE AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN JULY 2006. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS TO ADJUST TO MY DRIVING STYLE. UNLESS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON THEY WON'T EVEN TRY TO FIX ANYTHING. I EVEN HAD THE REGIONAL REP DRIVE IT (5 MILES) AND PROCLAIM THE CAR TO BE NORMAL. IF THIS IS NORMAL, YOU CAN KEEP IT. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS CAR. TOYOTA IS WAITING FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO OCCUR. I INTEND TO FILE A CLAIM WITH THE NJ LEMON LAW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187984April 15, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ERRATIC SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION,HESITATION,SEARCHING FOR GEARS .TRANSMISSION DOES NOT IDLE DOWN WHEN COMING TO A STOP, CAUSING HARD BRAKING WHEN IT SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY.TOYOTA REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 9,500 MILES, IT IS HAVING SOME ISSUES JUST NOT AS SEVERE AS THE OLD TRANSMISSION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185505March 19, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT THIS CAR 6 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM. THERE IS A UNPREDICTABLE 2-3 SECOND HESITATION ON ACCELERATION WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC STREAM FROM A PARKING LOT OR ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN I AM DRIVING RELATIVELY SLOW AND WANT TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I HAVE TO SCOOT IT STUMBLES BEFORE PICKING UP SPEED SO I AM NOT SCOOTING AS WELL AS I SHOULD BE TO KEEP FROM INTERFERING WITH OTHER ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT ACTS AS IF THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF FOR AN INSTANT CAUSING ME TO LURCH FORWARD MOMENTARILY AS THE CAR DECELERATES BEFORE THE ENGINE CATCHES AND LUNGES FORWARD IN ACCELERATION. THIS HESITATION THROWS OFF MY BALANCE AND TIMING CAUSING A SENSATION OF STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND BECOMING A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND IS A PROBLEM. TODAY I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE INVOICE STATES: "CUSTOMER STATES THERE IS A HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AS IF THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND THEN IT LUNGES ?????????" THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AS THIS IS AN INHERENT TOYOTA DESIGN FEATURE BECAUSE IT HAS ELECTRONIC THROTTLE AND THEY COULD HAVE SAVED ME A TRIP TO SEE THEM IF I HAD CALLED AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE INVOICE STATES: "TEST DROVE VEHICLE, PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TEST. NO DEFECT OF PARTS OR CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE." THEY SAID I HAVE JUST A FEW THOUSAND MILES ON THE CAR AND THE COMPUTER IS LEARNING MY DRIVING HABITS AND MAY SETTLE DOWN AFTER A WHILE. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS AND THINK I AM AWARE OF WHEN A CAR TENDS TO HESITATE ON ACCELERATION. I ASKED THEM WHAT THEY WILL TELL ME WHEN I COME BACK IN A FEW WEEKS AND TELL THEM I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY WILL TELL ME THE SAME THING. IF WHAT THEY SAY IS TRUE THEN ALL TOYOTAS SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY RECALLED AS A SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183530February 26, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I NOTICED HESITATION IN GEAR SHIFTING AND SOME LUNGING WHEN MY FOOT WAS OFF THE BRAKE AFTER I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 HIGHLANDER IN JULY 2006 AND MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO HAVE IT CHECKED AT THE FIRST FOLLOW-UP SERVICE. IN OCTOBER 2006, I WAS PULLING OUT OF A POST OFFICE PARKING LOT WHILE AWARE OF 2 CARS AT A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY. WHEN IN THE INTERSECTION, 1 OF THE 2 CARS WAS TRAVELING MUCH FASTER THAN ANTICIPATED. WHEN I ACCELERATED QUICKLY, THE CAR JUST SEEMED TO CHOKE, AND THE CAR COLLIDED INTO MY REAR SIDE (DRIVER'S SIDE). I AND THE OTHER DRIVER HAD ONLY MINOR INJURIES, BUT THE COLLISION WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I ALSO FELT THAT SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR THAN I HAD THOUGHT. AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE BODY REPAIR SHOP (7 WEEKS LATER), I TOOK IT INTO TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD ALL OF THE HIGHLANDERS HAVE THAT HESITATION IF THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED HARD. I WAS TOLD TO PRESS DOWN ONLY GRADUALLY. SINCE THEN, I CONTINUE TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. IT MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND AM NOT SURE HOW TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OTHER THAN TO SELL THE CAR. I AM WORRIED HOWEVER THAT OTHERS MAY BE AT RISK BECAUSE OF THIS FEATURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10179566January 18, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, STEERING
2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AND STEERING GOING OUT AT THE SAME TIME**NAR** THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES THERE WAS NO PULSATING SENSATION, AS EXPECTED WHEN THE ABS ACTIVATES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE COASTED ABOUT 150 FEET UNTIL IT IMPACTED ANOTHER VEHICLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177774January 4, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LOST POWER WHEN HE USED THE VEHICLE FOR TOWING. WEATHER CONDITIONS VARIED, ROAD CONDITIONS WERE PRIMARILY ICY, GRAVEL, AND DIRT. THE ONLY WAY HE COULD GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE WAS BY UN-HITCHING THE TRAILER. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED, AND IT WILL LOSE POWER TO PROTECT THE VEHICLE IF THE LOAD WAS TOO HEAVY. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AT 3,500 MILES AND AT 17,500 MILES. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS BEFORE OR AFTER POWER LOSS. THE VEHICLE STARTED UP AND DROVE NORMALLY ONCE THE TRAILER WAS UNHITCHED. AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. UPDATED 01/29/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175884December 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKING PROBLEMS ... DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP FAIRLY QUICKLY (I.E. STOP SIGN), THE BRAKE ENGAGES ... LETS GO FOR A SECOND... CATCHES, CAR STOPS. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT IT BEGAN HAPPENING QUITE FREQUENTLY ... TOOK IT TO TOYOTA. THEY CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON THE FRONT ... SINCE THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE NEWER MODEL, BUT NOT MINE. RIVING ON A SERVICE ROAD ... 55-60 MPH ... THE CAR STARTS SLOWING DOWN BY ITSELF ... CONSTANTLY.. KEPT SPEEDING UP AND IT KEPT SLOWING DOWN, AS IF BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED... NO BRAKE LIGHTS THOUGH. TODAY I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ... GOING DOWN A GRADUAL SLOPE ... ON A TURN ... BRAKED ... THE CAR SPED UP .. WENT FROM 30 MPH TO ABOUT 35 MPH, WHILE BRAKING ... CAR SKIDED OFF THE ROAD, SKID LIGHT CAME ON, BEEPING NON STOP ... HIT A POLE... SHATTERED MY MIRROR AND SCRATCHED THE SIDE ... CAR WOULDN'T STOP ... THREW IT INTO PARK AND FINALLY SKIDDED TO A STOP. DRIVING ON THURSDAY, ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP AND .... IT DOES THIS SHORT STOP THING RECENTLY.. WHERE IT BRAKES RATHER FORCEFULLY AND ABRUPTLY WHEN IT IS COLD... SO AFTER THAT HAPPENS ...THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF... AND COMES TO A FULL STOP. NO LIGHTS. NO ENGINE. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CAR IS STILL IN DRIVE, KEY STILL IN IGNITION ...PUSH IT INTO PARK, TAKE OUT KEY... RESTART.... DRIVING AGAIN. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHT DOESN'T TURN ON ANYMORE NOW. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE LAST THURSDAY NOW. THERE ARE ALOT MORE INCIDENCES AND DIFFERENT FAILURES. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175137December 4, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SPORT 4 MONTHS AGO. I BOUGHT THE V6 ENGINE. I BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT A HESITATION PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR HOLDS BACK WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP AND THEN LURCHES. THIS IS DANGEROUS AT STOP LIGHTS AND ENTERING FREEWAYS. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THE CAR DOES THIS ON PURPOSE BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHY. THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN EXCISE FOR A FLAW IN THE DESIGN. I CHECKED WWW.CARSURVEY.COM, WHICH LISTS CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS IGNORING!! PLEASE DO SOMETHING AND CHECK THE ABOVE SITE TO SEE MORE COMPLAINTS. THANK YOU GARY MACKMAN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173875November 20, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY FOB ONLY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY TO OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A SECOND SERVICE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE KEY FOB WAS RECEIVING INTERFERENCE FROM THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173764November 17, 2006
SUSPENSION
IN MY HIGHLANDER HYBRID, WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 0-15 MILES PER HOUR HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT AND FIRMLY WITH BOTH HANDS IF FULL THROTTLE IS UTILIZED, THE VEHICLE WILL PULL UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE RIGHT THEN BACK TO THE LEFT. ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, I ALMOST SIDE SWIPED A VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MY DEALER AND THEN TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO TEST DRIVE AND VERIFY THE PROBLEM, WHICH THEY DID. THE DEALER RESPONSE WAS" IT IS JUST THE WAY THE VEHICLE IS AND THEY ALL DO THIS" AND "UNLESS A WARNING LIGHT COMES ON THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO". SO NOW I AM AFRAID TO ACCELERATE WHEN NEEDED DUE TO LACK OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA IS SENDING A FACTORY REP OUT TO EVALUATE THE VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171226October 18, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY WITH DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ENTERED INTO AN INTERSECTION WITH A GREEN LIGHT AND WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL, FORCED ACROSS TWO LANES AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CONCRETE LIGHT POLE, HEAD ON. THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN, BUT THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND THE INSURANCE CLAIMS ADJUSTER HAD PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 12/26/06. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170770October 13, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON RAINY, WET AND SLIPPERY CONDITIONS, AN APPROACHING VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN AND WAS THROWN ONTO THE CURB. THE CONTACT LOST CONSCIOUSNESS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. A SEATBELT WAS WORN AND NONE OF THE 6 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY WRECKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROMISED A CALL BACK WITHIN 2 BUSINESS DAYS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT THE FORCE WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. UPDATED 10/30/06. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10169735October 2, 2006
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING AN EMERGENCY STOP AFTER TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE STEERING REMAINED LOCKED AFTER THE COLLISION, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT DAMAGE TO INTERFERE WITH THE WHEELS. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AN INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/30/06. *JB *NM THE CONSUMER THE ECU HAS BEE REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE LAST REPLACEMENT OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 9, 2009. THE CONSUMER ALSO REMEMBERED WHEN HE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE, THERE WAS NO PULSATING SENSATION IN THE PEDAL AS THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAS ABS. UPDATED 04/08/10.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168682September 19, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SINCE I OWNED THE CAR IN SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH THERE IS A HESITATION BACK AND FOURTH THIS IS A HYBRID HIGHLANDER 2006 REPORTED IT TWICE NO FIX YET. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168544September 18, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH A METAL SHEET HIT THE GAS TANK CREATING A HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE GAS TANK WAS OBSERVED TO BE 3/4 COVERED IN METAL AND 1/4 COVERED IN PLASTIC. THE HOLE WAS CREATED IN THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE GAS TANK. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE GAS TANK MET THE NHTSA FMVSS THEREFORE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO ALERTED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166873August 29, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED AT 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND JUMPED OVER A CURB WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS WHILE CONSTANT BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE WHERE IT CAME TO A FINAL STOP. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE PANEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164466August 4, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2006-TOYOTA HIGHLANDER-3.3V-6 WITH 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ERRATIC SHIFTING AND HESITATION AT SLOW SPEED WHEN LETTING OFF ACCELERATOR AND THEN REAPPLYING TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE STAYS IN BETWEEN GEARS AND HESITATES. ONCE IT GETS INTO GEAR THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD, MAKING IT NECESSARY TO APPLY THE BRAKES HARD. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I GET NERVOUS WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW THE ACCELERATOR WILL RESPOND AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME TO WORK THROUGH THE DEALER. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. AFTER READING THE MANY POSTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, IT SEEMS TOYOTA AND THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE TELLING CUSTOMERS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO ACT THIS WAY. THE DEALERSHIPS THAT TRY TO REPROGRAM THE CHIP THAT CONTROLS ACCELERATION ARE NOT HAVING ANY LUCK FIXING THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM RETURNS SOMETIMES WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE. AT PRESENT THERE IS NO RECALL AND NO TSB. THE 'FIX' SEEMS TO BE BASED ON EXPERIMENTATION NOT FACT. I WILL GIVE THE DEALER A CHANCE BUT I HAVE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE. SINCE THERE IS NO FIX AND TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO ADMIT TO DEFECT, I FEAR I WILL BE FACING MANY VISITS TO THE DEALER GETTING A LOT OF LIP SERVICE WITHOUT ANY ACTION. I AM SURPRISED THAT TOYOTA, THE BEACON OF QUALITY, IS IGNORING THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. LETS NOT WAIT FOR THE ACCIDENT TO SPURN A RECALL OR INVESTIGATION. HOW ABOUT CAR COMPANIES GET PROACTIVE FOR A CHANGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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