75 of the
1,104 complaints filed about the Toyota Highlander Hybrid
are about the throttle and cruise control —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
75
Complaints
7%
Share of all complaints
22
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated while the brake pedal was depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on several different occasions to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
NHTSA complaint #11619151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle surged forward and accelerated before coming to a stop. The failure occurred intermittently; however, the failure seemed most pronounced while decelerating from highway speeds. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was informed of the failure; however, the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.
NHTSA complaint #11611594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle continued to accelerate forward before coming to a stop. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions but no cause for the failure was found. The contact was informed that the vehicle operated normally due to the hybrid system. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 10.
NHTSA complaint #11564106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON 5/16/20. WE WERE DRIVING AROUND 65 MPH STRAIGHT. WE WERE DRIVING ON BLACK ASPHALT AND THEN WHEN WE DROVE OVER A BRIDGE WITH WHITE/GRAYISH CONCRETE, THE CAR'S EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND APPLIED SUDDEN BRAKING EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NORMALLY DRIVING. THE CAR JOLTED AND SLOWED DOWN AND ALL PASSENGERS WERE STOPPED BY AUTO-LOCKING SEATBELTS.
NHTSA complaint #11326887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I-30 EAST UP A HILL GOING APPT 70 MPH WHEN THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND SLOWED DOWN TO 10 MPH. THEN WENT TO ONLY 1 MPH. WE CHECKED THE BATTERY CONNECTION, FUEL CAP, EVERYTHING WE FOUND ONLINE TO CHECK.
NHTSA complaint #11302108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11176284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE OFF-RAMP OF EAST-BOUND 202/MCQUEEN RD EXIT. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY AND HIT THE REAR OF VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. AS I REALIZED THE COLLISION, I PRESSED THE BRAKE HARDER DELIBERATELY (WHILE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD STARTED TO MOVE FURTHER), AND TO MY HORROR MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE MY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. I CONSCIOUSLY CHECKED MY FEET TO ENSURE I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKES AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR. MY CAR CONTINUED TO STRANGELY & UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATE UNTIL IT HIT THE SAME CAR IN FRONT OF ME AGAIN THE 2ND TIME AT THE TRAFFIC INTERSECTION. AFTER THE 2ND COLLISION, MY CAR STOPPED AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE MCQUEEN ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11101316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN AUGUST OF 2017 WE WERE DRIVING OUR 20088 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE DISPLAY WARNED OF ABS VSC MALFUNCTION AND TO PULL OVER OR TAKE CAR TO NEAREST DEALER, THE BRAKE PEDALS LOST COMPRESSION OR PRESSURE AND THE BRAKE WAS NOT WORKING HARDLY. TOOK TO THE MECHANIC SHOP THAT HAS BEEN DOING THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THEY PERFORMED DIAGNOSTICS AND STATED ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ADVISE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. CHECKED THIS WEBSITE AND CARCOMPLAINTS TO SEE MANY OTHER USERS SAME ISSUE, CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY STATED THEY HAD NO RECALLS, ITS OUT OF WARRANTY, WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE $4000 TO HAVE FIXED, WE PAID FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET, WHICH WAS A FINANCIAL HIT FOR US. CONTACTED TOYOTA TODAY ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR COST, SAID THEY DONT HAVE IT RECALLED OR A CAMPAIGN FOR THE ISSUE, I STATED THIS WEBSITE WITH THE COMPLAINTS AND OTHER SITES, WAS BASICALLY TOLD UNTIL A RECALL IS ON THE ISSUE, WOULDNT BE REFUNDED.
NHTSA complaint #11076663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I ARRIVE AT A PARKING LOT ON FLOWER AVENUE STRIP DRIVING SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A CLINIC, AT A VERY LOW SPEED, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED--BY THE TIME I HIT THE BRAKES ATTEMPTING TO STOP, IT WAS IN THE OFFICE OF OF MATERNAL AND CHILD CARE, UNSTOPPABLE--FORTUNATELY, IT WAS ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND THERE WERE NO EMPLOYEES OR PATIENTS IN THE RECEPTION AREA OF THE OFFICE...SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS THE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. THIS CAR MUST BE RECALLED---I TOOK IT TO KOONS TOYOTA IN VIENNA, VIRGINIA-- WHERE I BOUGHT IT LAST OCTOBER--A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER...
NHTSA complaint #10899033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ACCELERATOR MOVED TO FULL SPEED AS BACKING UP BEGAN. AUTO PLOWED 110 FEET FULL SPEED THROUGH PLANTS AND TREES, COMING TO A STOP BY SOME TREES. CAR WAS PARKED ON PRIVATE DRIVEWAY. DRIVER SLIGHTLY INJURED. REAR END CAR DAMAGE IS $6,000+.
NHTSA complaint #10819165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ABS, VSC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, I CONTINUED DRIVING (WAS 10 MILES FROM HOME ON FWY). FIVE MINUTES LATER I ENCOUNTERED TRAFFIC, TRAVELING AT 40-50 MPH I TOOK FOOT OFF GAS AND BEGAN TO APPLY BRAKES. BRAKES IMMEDIATELY SEIZED AND THE CAR STARTED TO SKID. I RELEASED THE BRAKES, THEN TRIED AGAIN, SAME RESULT. I PULLED TO SIDE OF FWY AND STOPPED. I DROVE SURFACE STREETS USING THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN I NEEDED TO STOP, UNTIL I GOT TO MY HOUSE. THAT EVENING AND THE NEXT MORNING I CHECKED TOE CARS OPERATION, IT DIDN'T MATTER IF I WAS TRAVELING IN FWD OR REVERSE, THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY GRABBED AT THE SLIGHTEST APPLICATION OF THE PEDAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP, HE WITNESSED THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE AND DID A COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS, WHICH INDICATED A NEW BRAKE ACTUATOR UNIT WAS NEEDED ($3000). MY PRIMARY CONCERN (AND MY MECHANIC'S) WAS THAT THERE WAS NO FAIL SAFE, IF THE UNIT MALFUNCTIONED I WOULD EXPECT THE ABS SYSTEM NOT TO WORK, NOT TO MAKE THE BRAKING SYSTEM COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. I NARROWLY AVOIDED BEING REAR-ENDED WHEN THEY MALFUNCTIONED ON THE FWY. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA MOTOR AS WELL (CASE #1511120583)
NHTSA complaint #10790072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRYING TO GET BACK ON THE FREEWAY, THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR THE ABS SYSTEM, THE VSB SYSTEM, THE 4WD SYSTEM AND ANTI-SKID SYSTEM CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL DRIVE POWER. IT DEFAULTED TO FAILSAFE/LIMP MODE EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE CAR WILL START AND MOVE BUT WITHIN 60 SECONDS REVERTS TO FAIL SAFE MODE.
NHTSA complaint #10761919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIRST NOTICED ON DATE ABOVE, BUT OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. WHEN SLOWING DOWN, AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, IF A BUMP, POTHOLE, AND TRACTION IS LOST FOR A SPLIT SECOND THE BRAKES STOP WORKING AND THE CAR SURGES,COASTS, DISENGAGE. FIRM PRESSURE ON BRAKES IS USED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. AS A RESULT STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED. THIS LOSS OF BREAKING POWER LASTS FOR 1/2 TO 1 SECOND. PERHAPS ITS RELATED TO THE HYBRID REGENERATING SYSTEM. NEVER THE LESS IT IS VERY DISCONCERTING TO LOSE BRAKES, EVEN FOR A SPLIT SECOND
NHTSA complaint #10722110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY BETWEEN 45 -50 MPH. SUDDEN A BUNCH OF LIGHTS AND WARNINGS CAME UP IN THE DASHBOARD. I LOST POWER STEERING AND MOTOR PROPULSION TOO. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. ALTHOUGH I HAD THE ABILITY TO BRAKE, IT SEEMED THAT THE BRAKING WAS ALSO IMPAIRED. HOWEVER BECAUSE I WAS GOING UP AN INCLINE I DID NOT NEED STRONG BRAKING. I MANAGED TO COAST OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. LUCKILY THERE WERE ONLY A COUPLE OTHER CARS NEAR ME SO IT WASN'T TOO DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER BY THEM AND COAST TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE BREAKDOWN LANE WAS. ONCE I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED I SHUT THE CAR DOWN COMPLETELY AND RESTARTED IN THE NORMAL HYBRID STARTUP MANNER. THE CAR PROPULSION AND STEERING CAME BACK BUT NOW THE MESSAGE WAS ALTERNATING BETWEEN "MAINTENANCE NEEDED" AND "CHECK VSC SYSTEM", AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SYMBOL WAS ON. I SHUT OFF EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL TO MINIMIZE ELECTRICAL DRAIN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ANOTHER 8-10 MILES TO GET HOME BUT I WAS CONSTANTLY LOOKING TO SEE WHERE I COULD PULL OVER IF THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN. I MADE IT HOME. TOMORROW BRING IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. SIGNIFICANTLY, I RECENTLY HAD THE BRAKE ACTUATOR REPLACED AT A COST OF AROUND $2700, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY WARNED ME THAT I COULD LOSE BRAKING AND OTHER ELECTRONIC FACILITIES UNPREDICTABLY. I THOUGHT THAT EXPENSIVE REPAIR WOULD AVOID THIS. UNFORTUNATELY IT APPEARS THAT WHAT THEY WERE PREDICTING COULD HAPPEN DID HAPPEN, BUT AFTER THE REPAIR! I WAS ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR DIED BUT WITH NOT MUCH TRAFFIC AND AN EASY ACCESS BREAKDOWN LANE. HAD IT BEEN 10 MINUTES LATER I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON A MUCH BUSIER HIGHWAY IN A PLACE WHERE A BREAKDOWN LANE IS MUCH HARDER TO REACH. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD IT BEEN DAYTIME AND IN A SAFER AREA I WOULD HAVE STOPPED AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10706384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT I HEARD A LOUD WARNING INDICATOR INSIDE THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT I LOST ABILITY TO BRAKE. I WAS ONLY TRAVELING 10 MPH OR LESS WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY ROLL INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE ABS, VSC, AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS WERE ALREADY ON, AND HAD BEEN FOR MONTHS. FRED HAAS TOYOTA DEALER IN HOUSTON, TX AREA RECOMMENDED HAVING THE ABS ACTUATOR REPLACED AT A COST OF $2700 FOR THE PART PLUS TAX AND LABOR. THE BRAKING SEEMED TO WORK FINE SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS LATEST INCIDENT DISABLED THE BRAKES ALMOST ENTIRELY SO I HAD TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. NOW FRED HAAS TOYOTA SAYS ITS THE BRAKE PUMP AND WORN BRAKE PADS. THESE WERE REPLACED AT OVER $2600 AND THE BRAKES SEEM TO BE WORKING AS WELL AS BEFORE. BUT OF COURSE, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE NOW TURNED BACK ON AND FRED HAAS STILL WANTS TO REPLACE THE ABS ACTUATOR AT $2700 PLUS TAX AND LABOR. I SEE THAT THE WORLD WIDE WEB HAS HUNDREDS OF EXAMPLES OF CONSUMERS IN MY PREDICAMENT AND EVEN A FEW COMPLAINTS OVER THE YEARS ON THIS SITE. CAN THIS FINALLY BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED PLEASE?
NHTSA complaint #10695422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY (NOT IN MY TOWN) LIGHTS CAME ON MY DASHBOARD FOR THE ABS BRAKING AND VSC SYSTEM. THERE WERE ALSO ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS LIKE (!) IN A CIRCLE. THE MANUAL SAID FOR ALL OF THESE CONTACT DEALER IMMEDIATELY, WHICH I DID. I WAS TOLD THE ABS ACCUMULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WAS APPROXIMATELY A $3,000 JOB. I HAD THE REPAIR COMPLETED AND PAID $2,700.00. (THE DEALER DISCOUNTED THE JOB). I AM AWARE THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THAT SAME PART IN THE CAMRY HYBRID. FURTHER THE INTERNET IS REPLETE WITH INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING IN 2006 AND 2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRID MODELS. TOYOTA HAS NO CREDIT, EXTENDED WARRANTY, OR OTHER BENEFIT TO HIGHLANDER HYBRID OWNERS. I CALLED TOYOTA AND HAVE A CASE NUMBER WITH THEM (#1412081681). I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR EXTENSION OF WARRANTY ON THIS KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART. IS THERE ANY INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE?
NHTSA complaint #10663954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE ENTERING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT A VERY SLOW SPEED, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN FURTHER. BUT INSTEAD OF BRAKING, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I FELT I WAS NOT IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I CONTINUED TO HIT THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO FORWARD. IT SLAMMED INTO THE CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE. IT ALSO SHOVED THE CAR INTO THEIR GARAGE, SPLIT THE FRAME IN HALF AND RIPPED OFF BRICK FROM THEIR HOME. THE SURFACE WAS SLIPPERY WITH WET LEAVES AND THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCLINE GOING UP THE DRIVEWAY, BUT I JUST HAD BRAND NEW TOP OF THE LINE WINTER TIRES PUT ON AND I WAS PROBABLY ONLY GOING 5 MPH. IT DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE. FROM READING THE FORUMS ON LINE, I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THE HYBRID AND TOYOTA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL. LIVES ARE AT STAKE. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL.
NHTSA complaint #10660065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
NHTSA complaint #10658532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN. VSC, ABS, AND BRAKE MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. BRAKES FUNCTIONED, BUT DEALER SAID THAT THE ACCUMULATOR AND BOOSTER ASSEMBLIES NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10644907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.