26 of the
433 complaints filed about the Toyota Grand Highlander
are about the throttle and cruise control —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2024.
26
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact stated that while at a stoplight and attempting to drive forward, while making a left turn, the vehicle experienced a momentary unintended acceleration and lurched forward. The contact immediately depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,544.
NHTSA complaint #11753688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate immediately while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle then accelerated and lurched forward while entering traffic. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.
NHTSA complaint #11752397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
After a complete stop at a stop sign there is hesitation/stalling when trying to accelerate. Sometimes the hesitation is several seconds and then the engine kicks in and lurches forward. Couple times this has been a safety issue as it happens when I’m trying to pull out on a busy road. The delay/hesitation has caused me to almost get hit a few times. There are no lights or warning messages when this happens. It happens a multiple times a week especially during hot weather when AC is on full (LO temp setting and maximum fan) and is usually during the first few minutes of operation usually at the same stop signs on my route to pickup my kids after the car has been sitting unused overnight. I also notice that the hybrid battery indicator is usually always at 3 bars. Dealership hasn’t been able to reproduce as it's a very specific scenario (not driving/in garage overnight and short drive). Instead they went and applied T-SB-0040-25 but this hesitation is still happening after the software update. This needs to be handled like a safety issue/recall worthy with a complete fix! Not just some drivability issue that only gets applied if we ask about specific T-SBs.
NHTSA complaint #11752130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
After coming to a complete stop at a stop sign or stop light, then trying to go, the vehicle will stall. It will not go when given gas. The first time it happened, I was at a busy intersection with oncoming traffic coming towards me with the pedal to the floor, nothing would happen for 5-10 seconds. It was terrifying. Thank god the car coming towards us went around in time. It then happened again in my neighborhood a week later. Thankfully that time I wasn’t in traffic. I have noted that it seems to happen when very hot outside (Florida July summer) and air is on full blast. Also seems to be happening only during the first trip of the day, within the first 5-10 minutes of said trip. The dealership has not been able to recreate this to see for themselves. I think it would have to be with them overnight and they start it/drive it for the first time that day. It has now happened a total of 3 times since I’ve been driving it (2.5 months). I have 3 children and very worried I will get t-boned one day when it stalls next. I love my car so much so it’s heartbreaking that I have to drive it in fear. No lights/warnings/messages when this happens.
NHTSA complaint #11750573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On a recent road trip I experience loss of acceleration twice. I was at a stop sign making a left hand turn. I step on the accelerator it start forward but then stop suddenly leaving me in the 1st lane of on coming traffic. I smashed on the accelerator several time before the vehicle finally responded. I took the vehicle to the dealer on 6/30 told the dealer what had happen along with my google findings acceleration hesitation and sudden lurching in the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs), including T-SB-0017-24. The dealer could not duplicate or find any error code, they are refusing to fix a known issue. They are creating an unnecessary safety risk for me and my family.
NHTSA complaint #11747691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle hesitates and does not accelerate immediately from a complete stop. This occurs more frequently when the car is on a slight incline. The delay in acceleration creates a safety concern, especially when attempting to merge into traffic or pull out onto a roadway. I have reported this issue to the dealership multiple times, but they have not taken action because they have been unable to reproduce the problem.
NHTSA complaint #11734376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving toward the perimeter of my neighborhood, approaching an arterial cross street. When I braked the pedal went straight to the floor. The breaks didn’t work despite pumping them multiple times. I also heard the engine revving. To avoid the intersection and busy street I steered into a yard, hit a retaining wall and a tree, rolled and hit a metal city street sign. All airbags deployed. I was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The car was totaled and is on a temporary hold at a salvage yard.
NHTSA complaint #11727033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact stated that after driving into the garage and while pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration, lurched forward, and crashed into the husband's workbench. During the incident, the brake pedal was forcefully pressed, but the vehicle did not immediately stop. No injuries were reported. The husband's workbench was destroyed. The vehicle was later driven to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the incident, and an investigator was sent to examine the vehicle. The investigator reported that no trouble was found with the vehicle, and the crash was due to driver error. The contact insisted that no driver error had occurred, and the incident occurred while the brake pedal was being forcefully pressed. The failure mileage was 14,000.
NHTSA complaint #11723219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle has been out of service since October 7, 2025 due to a complete failure of the instrument cluster (combination meter). This issue is related to SAFETY RECALL 25TA08. The instrument panel is fully non-functional, making the vehicle unsafe and inoperable. The vehicle has been at Toyota dealership for approximately three months, with no repair completed and no clear timeline provided. The dealership stated they are awaiting instructions from Toyota Corporate and cannot proceed independently.
NHTSA complaint #11708716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shortly after powering on the GHHM vehicle, driving a short distance, coming to a stop and depressing the accelerator the vehicle does not accelerate as though no power is getting to the drive train. This does not often happen but has always happened when the EV battery level is 3 bars or less and the vehicle is in its Normal mode (as opposed to Sport or ECO). This acceleration failure event lasts for a few seconds. No warning indicators are displayed prior to, during or after this happens. The dealer checked the vehicle on 30AUG2025, was not able to reproduce, but applied a firmware update TSB-0040-25, which has not solved the problem. Took it back to dealer on 14OCT2025, but the dealer was again not able to reproduce the problem. It poses a safety risk when attempting to cross intersections or entering round-abouts and the vehicle can only move at a coasting speed instead of the expected normal acceleration.
NHTSA complaint #11700965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Inconsistently but on numerous occasions, this vehicle has experienced harsh shifting, hesitation, or jerking during low-speed acceleration (e.g., 20-40 mph) or gear engagement. This was a known and reported issue with the 2024 model for which Toyota provided a fix. They have not provided one for the 2025 models. This issue is a safety risk while driving because with the surge you feel you must quickly let off the pedal, and with the hesitation you let off the brake indicating you will move forward yet the vehicle doesn’t accelerate.
NHTSA complaint #11699345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car accelerated very fast as I was attempting to pull into a parking spot. At first attempt brake did not work. Was able to avoid an accident. No sensors went off. Best described as an out of control amusement ride.
NHTSA complaint #11690211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Description of Issue: I have experienced repeated incidents where the accelerator pedal becomes unresponsive (“dead pedal”) after coming to a stop. When pressing the pedal to accelerate, the vehicle does not respond at all for several seconds. Then, without warning, it suddenly surges forward with excessive acceleration once the power engages. This problem happens intermittently throughout a drive each day, often enough to be concerning. It occurs after being stopped at an intersection or in traffic. No warning lights or error messages appear before or during the issue. The delay followed by a sudden surge is dangerous, as I expect the car to move when I press the pedal, but it hesitates instead. When the vehicle finally responds, it accelerates quickly, which could cause me to lose control or collide with another vehicle. Safety Concern: This malfunction creates a significant safety risk. It puts myself, passengers, and other drivers in danger when the vehicle fails to accelerate as expected in high-risk scenarios such as crossing intersections, merging into traffic, or making left turns. The hesitation can leave the vehicle exposed in traffic, and the sudden lurch forward can cause unintended movement or rear-end collisions. Status: The problem has occurred multiple times under similar conditions and is ongoing. It has not yet been inspected or confirmed by a dealer or service center, but I have an apt Aug 24th. However, the malfunction is real, reproducible, and presents a serious hazard that could lead to an accident if not corrected. Many others with the same vehicle have expressed the same concern as well on forums and reported no fix after dealership appointments.
NHTSA complaint #11684736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I've had consistent issues with the vehicle accelerating and shifting. These include sluggish acceleration, loss of power, sputtering, and limp mode. We've almost been hit by other vehicles almost 10 times because the vehicle has failed to accelerate when pulling into a roadway. The vehicle will start to accelerate slowly, then stop, then 5-10 seconds later will surge forward will the engine revs very high and is delayed shifting into 2nd gear. I've told my Toyota dealership about this numerous times but they keep telling me that there's no issue but there clearly is being that many others are experiencing the same exact problems. There's never been a warning lamp or message when this happens. This is a huge safety issue and my family is extremely lucky that we haven't been involved in a serious accident.
NHTSA complaint #11681923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
*Acceleration lag from a stop On June 21, 2025 - 92 degrees outside leaving store, I was making a left turn from a parking lot. I took my foot off the brake to creep forward which the vehicle did, but as I pressed the gas the car would not accelerate. I was stuck in the middle of the lanes with my car coasting. Fortunately it was a quiet street and the car coming from behind me had ample time to stop until i could coast my car to the side of the road which then it revved high and engaged. It felt like the car was in neutral but it was in drive. It lasted about 5 seconds. *It would not accelerate which was scary and very dangerous for obvious reasons. * I took the car to the dealership on the next business day and unfortunately cannot have it inspected until July 15, 2025. *No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms. *My car is available for inspection. That would be great! That’s why I brought it to the dealer but they were booked. *It happened only once, but I haven’t driven it much since the incident. I am now driving my 20 yr old, reliable MDX until I can get it inspected on July 15th
NHTSA complaint #11668846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety hazard and design flaw with the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid. While driving on a two-lane highway, our vehicle suddenly lost power and warning lights appeared on the dashboard. We were forced to exit the highway immediately (we were less than 0.5 miles to an exit). Shortly after pulling onto the off-ramp, the vehicle entered limp mode, significantly limiting its ability to function - all assist systems deactivated amd the car has a significant decrease in power. We were able to drive approximately half a mile to a nearby gas station, where we called for a tow. This situation left us vulnerable on a busy roadway, placing both us and other drivers at risk. The Toyota dealership diagnosed the issue as damage to the hybrid inverter radiator, allegedly caused by a rock or piece of debris entering through the front grille. We were told this was not covered under warranty, and to make matters worse, the necessary part is currently on backorder for three weeks to three months—leaving the vehicle undriveable. A significant concern is the design of the front grille, which has large, open gaps that allow ordinary road debris to enter the engine compartment. This leaves critical components like the hybrid inverter radiator exposed and vulnerable, even under standard driving conditions. After researching, I discovered numerous similar reports from other Toyota hybrid owners—including those with Grand Highlanders, Highlander Hybrids, RAV4 Hybrids, and Prius models—who have experienced the exact same issue. In nearly every case, drivers were told it was due to external damage and denied warranty coverage. This presents a clear and growing safety issue: 1. Sudden power loss on a highway or arterial road increases the risk of collision. 2. A critical hybrid system component is inadequately
NHTSA complaint #11668786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Engine failed to engage while trying to pull out of my neighborhood this morning. The electric motor starts and propels the car forward into the road, but the gas motor fails to engage leaving me in the middle of the road without the ability to maneuver. This is a recurring problem. The dealer is aware of it and I have made reports here before. Just documenting each time until Toyota cooperates and helps find a solution. The car does not display any error codes. When I call the dealership to tell them and hopefully go in to have them run a diagnostic they consistently fail to get back to me or downplay my concerns.
NHTSA complaint #11616001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Car failed to accelerate when pulling into traffic on 5 lane road. Dealer completed a software update on 9/17 they thought would remedy the issue (which is ongoing) but it apparently did not. Vehicle gives no warning lights, error messages, etc. Just does not accelerate from a complete stop for 4-5 seconds.
NHTSA complaint #11615301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Car will not accelerate immediately from a stop; seems to happen more often when on a slight incline. This poses a safety issue when pulling out onto any road. I have asked multiple times at the dealer about and been told they cannot do anything about it unless the car gives a code. They also say it will not reproduce for them, although every time I pull out of their service location (with a slight incline) it stalls out and will not engage immediately for me.
NHTSA complaint #11612795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On high-temperature days, when the A/C is running at full capacity, the vehicle occasionally fails to accelerate from a stop. This issue persists even after applying the recommended ECM update. The lack of reliable acceleration poses a significant safety risk, particularly when turning across oncoming traffic or entering a busy street. This situation can leave the vehicle stalled in the path of approaching vehicles, increasing the likelihood of an accident.
NHTSA complaint #11606847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.