Toyota Highlander Complaints (2001)

137 consumer complaints on file.

#10310559February 15, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM HAPPEN TO ME SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS PROBLEM WAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO AND MY SON AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR SOME FAST THINKING ON MY PART. I WAS TRYING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND MY CAR ACCELERATED FOR NO REASON. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT MY BRAKES HAD FAILED SINCE WHEN I STOMPED ON THE BRAKE, MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP, EVEN THOUGH I HAD BOTH FEET PRESSING DOWN ON IT. AT THIS POINT,WITH CARS IN FRONT OF ME THAT I WAS GOING TO HIT, I SWERVED INTO THE TURN LANE AND THEN ALL I COULD SEE WAS AN 18 WHEELER COMING AT ME. I WAS SO LUCKY THERE WERE NO CARS ON THE SIDE ROAD THAT I TURNED ONTO AND ALL THE WHILE I WAS STEADILY TRYING TO GET MY VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. I ENDED UP THROWING IT INTO PARK AS I MADE THE TURN. IT TOOK TURNING MY CAR OFF TO BRING IT TO A COMPLETE STOP. AT THAT TIME, I THOUGHT MY FLOOR MAT HAD SOMEHOW GOTTEN STUCK ON THE ACCELERATOR, SO I TOOK ALL MY FRONT FLOOR MATS OUT. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF THE CAR "REVVING" FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING IT SEVERAL TIMES AND/OR UPON STARTING IT. IT WOULD JUST IDLE HIGH IN THE 6/8 RPM RANGE. WE JUST THOUGHT IT WAS COLD. HOWEVER, ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT KEPT SHOOTING FORWARD AT EVERY STOP. I'D HAVE TO STOMP ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET. I'D PULL OFF, STOP MY CAR, TURN IT OFF, RESTART IT, AND THE RPM'S WHO SHOOT BACK UP TO 8. I KEPT PRAYING THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO STOP. IT WAS THE MOST FRIGHTENING 15 MILE RIDE BACK HOME THAT I EVER TOOK AND SERIOUSLY, I WANTED TO JUST LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO CHANGED AN RPM SENSOR. THIS HAS NOT STOPPED THE PROBLEM EITHER. PERIODICALLY, MY CAR'S RPM'S WILL SHOOT UP TO 4 OR 6 WHILE I AM DRIVING IT OR UPON STARTING THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308450February 10, 2010
EQUIPMENT, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS STARTING TO SLOWLY DRIVE OFF THE FERRY BOAT AS THE FERRYMAN WAS OPENING THE GATE. MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2001 SPED UP OUT OF CONTROL. IF THE MAN HAD NOT JUMPED ASIDE, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN RUN OVER. I HAD NO CONTROL. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS. REPORTED TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. "MAT PROBLEM". I REPLACED THE MAT WITH A HEAVY RUBBER MAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305687February 4, 2010
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE AIR CONDITIONER ONLY WORKS WHEN YOU MOVE THE DIAL AROUND. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL AND ONLY THE HEAT COMES ON EVEN WHEN YOU JUST HAVE THE FAN ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303971February 2, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
I BOUGHT A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN AUG 2001. THE 1ST TIME I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL WAS ABOUT A MONTH LATER WHEN I WENT TO PULL IN AT WORK. I PARKED UP BY THE BUILDING AND PUT ON MY BRAKES AND THE CAR REVVED UP AND I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND IT DID WANT TO STOP. I FINALLY GOT IT STOPPED AND SAT THERE AND WONDERED WHAT HAD JUST HAPPEN. I LET IT GO AS I DID NOT HAVE AN EXPLANATION. EVERYTHING WAS FIND UP TO THE YEAR 2009. I WAS TAKING MY MOM AND BROTHER TO THE GROCERY AND MOM IS 86 YRS AND I PARKED IN A HANDICAP SPOT THAT HAD A POLE IN FRONT WHERE THE HANDICAP SIGN WAS. MY BROTHER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT WITH ME AND TO MY AMAZEMENT WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES THE CAR REVVED UP AND I HAD TO PUSH ON THE BRAKE REAL HARD. I DID HIT THE POLE AND JARRED ALL OF US. I FEEL LIKE THIS CAR MODEL SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302971January 28, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT AND SUDDENLY, THERE WAS AN UNINTENDED INCREASE OF ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REPOSITION THE FLOOR MAT AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BE REMOVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300420January 20, 2010
SEAT BELTS
THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE AND PASSENGER SEATBELTS NO LONGER RETRACT WHEN UNBUCKLED AND FREQUENTLY THE CAR DOOR IS CLOSED ONTO THEM WHILE THEY HANG INTO THE DOOR JAM AREA. CAUSING DENTS TO INSIDE OF THE DOOR FRAME AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300419January 20, 2010
VISIBILITY
ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND WAS NO LONGER USABLE. AN $800 REPAIR WAS REQUIRED. FLASH FORWARD 6 MONTHS, NOW THE REAR DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT ANOTHER $800. WE RARELY EVEN USE THE REAR WINDOWS. SO THIS IS FROM LESS-THAN-NORMAL WEAR. AND IT HAPPENED TO BOTH REAR WINDOWS WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297995January 4, 2010
VISIBILITY
A DESIGN DEFECT CAN CAUSE THE SUN VISORS TO RANDOMLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DROP DOWN OBSCURING THE DRIVER'S VISION POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. THIS INCIDENT OCCURS IN A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. HOWEVER, I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY INTERNET POSTINGS OF OTHER TOYOTA YEARS AND MODELS WITH THE SAME DESIGN DEFECT AND SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA'S AND THEIR DEALERS RESPONSE HAS BEEN TO TELL THE CUSTOMER TO SPEND APPROXIMATELY $750 TO REPLACE THE VISOR WHICH IS LIKELY TO FAIL LIKE THE FIRST ONE AFTER A GIVEN AMOUNT OF TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296081December 16, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSEQUENTLY SHE CRASHED INTO A SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY INSTALLED A SECONDARY HOOK TO THE FLOOR-MAT. ALSO SHE WAS ADVISED THAT IN APRIL 2010 THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,794.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293558November 25, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS IN OPERATION THE ENGINE BOLTS PULLED LOOSE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND BE DESTROYED. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AT THE TIME AND HAD IT BEEN IN OPERATION ON THE FREEWAY COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE IS DESTROYED AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST $7000. I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS INVOLVING ENGINE BOLTS ON TOYOTA CARS AND TRUCKS AND THAT TOYOTA HAS ALWAYS BLAMED OTHER THINGS AND NOT ADDRESSED WHETHER THE BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE OR HAVE NOT BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY. THERE ARE VARIOUS REFERENCES ON THE INTERNET OF CUSTOMERS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE BOLTS ON TOYOTA VEHICLES..TOYOTA HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I BELIEVE IT MAY BE THE INSTALLATION OF THE BOLTS OR THE QUALITY OF THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279170August 3, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY COMPLAINT. IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO GET TOYOTA MOTOR TO ADMIT A DEFECT IN MANY OF THEIR ENGINES. OIL AND COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE OF MY 2001 HIGHLANDER. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA SERVICE THAT THEY FOUND 3 STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS WHICH CAUSE THE LEAK AND IT ENDED UP COSTING ME $3,500 TO REPAIR THE HEAD AND BLOCK. NO GUARANTEE THAT THE BOLTS WOULD NOT SKIP OUT AGAIN. I HAVE READ A GROWING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM TOYOTA OWNERS WHO HAVE FACED THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO HELP OR ADMIT THAT THIS MAYBE A ENGINE FLAW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272997June 6, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
BEGAN TO FILL THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH GAS, AND NOTICED GASOLINE POURING OUT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THE RUBBER HOSE WHICH CONNECTS THE FILLER NOZZLE TO THE GAS TANK HAD SPLIT. THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THIS RUBBER HOSE. THIS SEEMS LIKE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE IF A NON-MOVING PART CAN SPLIT LIKE THIS, WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE STRESS COULD BE APPLIED THAT WOULD MORE EASILY CAUSE FAILURE AND A GAS LEAK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266486April 23, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS INVOLVED IN HAD SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES THAT FOLLOWED, FOR EXAMPLE, FINANCE COMPANY REPOSSESSED MY VEHICLE ALTHOUGH MY PAYMENTS WERE CURRENT. RECENTLY, WHILE RESEARCHING VEHICLE RECALLS, I FOUND THAT MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAD A HYDRAULIC BRAKE RECALL. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED INJURIES AS WELL AS TOTALING OUT TWO VEHICLES. I WAS DRIVING ON FWY WHEN I HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY DUE TO CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC. MY HIGHLANDER'S BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10230936June 13, 2008
AIR BAGS
SHIRENE DUHANEY JUNE 13, 2008 ATTN: RECALLS/COMPLAINTS & INVESTIGATIONS DEAR SIR/MADAM: I AM WRITING BECAUSE I NEED ASSISTANCE WITH A DANGEROUS MATTER. MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I HAVE CONTACTED & VISITED THE DEALER. I HAVE HAD AN ATTORNEY WRITE TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA, INC. AND NO RESOLVE. I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THEM. FOR DETAILS PLEASE SEE BELOW: I WANT THEM TO BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO PLAZA AUTO MALL ON 3/22/07. I SPOKE WITH ADVISOR LONNIE. THE REASON I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO HAVE THEIR TECHNICIANS CHECK OUT MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A LUMP IN MY STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION I WAS HAVING A RECALL TAKEN CARE OF. ACCORDING TO THE ADVISOR LONNIE 'HE SAID IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND IT WAS OK. HOWEVER, THE PRINT OUT THAT HE WANTED ME TO SIGN SAID 'LUMP IN STEERING WHEEL 'TECH FOUND AIR BAG DISTORTED 'NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CUSTOMER DECLINED REPAIR.' THAT WAS NOT TRUE I WAS NEVER TOLD IT NEEDED REPAIR. I REFUSED TO SIGN THAT AND NOTED THAT ON THEIR COPY . THAT WAS UNSETTLING TO ME I RETURNED SHORTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 4/5/07 AND DEALT WITH YET ANOTHER ADVISOR. HE RE-EXAMINED MY VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS OK. HE GAVE ME A NEW FORM THAT SAID THAT THE CAR WAS OK. (ATTACHED ARE 2 COPIES OF TOYOTA PRINT OUTS BOTH OF WHICH SHOW A DISCREPANCY IN THE INFORMATION.) HOWEVER, IT IS STILL NOT SITTING WELL WITH ME. TOYOTA AS A CORPORATION NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THIS. THIS MAY BE A DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY RECALLS. THIS MAY ALSO BE A RECALL THAT THE CORPORATION IS NOT AWARE OF. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS LOOKED INTO BY THE CORPORATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MY AIR BAG IS NOT MALFUNCTIONING. I NEED TO HAVE THIS FIXED. ASAP THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION! SINCERELY, SHIRENE DUHANEY *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230255June 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2001, USING THE CELL PHONE CHARGER IN THE POWER OUTLET THE DASHBOARD CLOCK RESET A COUPLE TIMES, THE THIRD TIME ALL POWER TO THE CLOCK AND THE A/C DASHBOARD CONTROLS WAS RENDERED INOPERATIVE, DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THAT THE A/C AMPLIFIER WAS AFFECTED AND THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS AFFECTED BOTH RENDERED INOPERATIVE, REPLACED THE A/C AMPLIFIER BUT THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE - ALL NEW PARTS. WAITING FOR THE ECM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219338February 27, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2.4 (4CYL) ENGINE MAKING NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE ROD KNOCKING. TOYOTA DEALER SAID SAME THING. ENGINE BLEW UP AT 45 MPH. OIL WAS ALWAYS CHANGED AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES. USED ON HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS. CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE. OUT OF WARRANTY. NEVER HEARD OF A TOYOTA ENGINE BLOWING A ROD. THIS HIGHLANDER WAS IN EX. COND. TO SOLD AS JUNK NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA AGAIN !!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216399January 29, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN SHIFTED TO REVERSE GEAR FROM PARKED CONDITION CAR ACCELERATED AND CAUSED CRASH TO THE REAR OF THE CAR TO WALL. *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10201858September 4, 2007
VISIBILITY
SUN VISOR ON MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FALLS DOWN ALL THE TIME. PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX IT SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. HAVE A SITE TO PROVE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE - SUN VISOR DRIVER SIDE FALLS DOWN WHEN DRIVING - CAUSES A SECURITY ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189492May 2, 2007
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ROLL UP THE TWO REAR WINDOWS. SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND WAS UNABLE TO ROLL UP THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 53,000 ,AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187170April 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WE BOUGHT OUR HIGHLANDER JUST OVER A YEAR AGO AND WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY PUT OIL INTO VEHICLE. IT ONLY HAS 80,000 ON IT, AND WE HAVE TO PUT ABOUT A LITER OF OIL INTO IT EVERY OTHER WEEK. THE MANUFACTURER OF OUR AREA CHECKED IT TWICE, AND DETERMINED THAT WE NEED ANOTHER ENGINE, BUT THE COST WAS AROUND $7000 IN CANADIAN THAT ENGINE WOULD COME FROM JAPAN, AND IT WOULD BE A USED ONE, AND WOULD ONLY WARRANTY THAT FOR 1 YEAR. THEN WHAT AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED!! WE PLAN ON GETTING RID OF THIS THING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA AGAIN..DO YOURSELVES A FAVOR AND TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THIS SO NO ONE GOES THIS .*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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