Toyota Grand Highlander hesitation problems

Filed Oct 25, 2026 · Suspension, Transmission · NY

Experienced repeated axle issues, acceleration hesitation, and poor suspension performance. Dealer failed to identify or reproduce the problem despite multiple visits and diagnostic fees. Axles eventually required out-of-pocket replacement due to popping and clicking. Suspected axle defect persists, and the vehicle remains unsafe-feeling and unresolved. Requesting Toyota investigate and provide free repairs.

Filed Oct 9, 2026 · Transmission · NC

Vehicle is experiencing hesitation, stuttering, and almost stalling at low speeds when the engine is running (it is a hybrid). Sometimes when pressing the accelerator when the vehicle experiences this hesitation, the vehicle does not move forward and bogs down, almost stalling out. This has happened twice when trying to quickly pull into traffic, and has almost resulted in an accident, since the vehicle failed to move forward when commanded. The dealership was able to reproduce the issue but said there is no fix available. There are no warning lamps or messages associated with this condition.

Filed Sep 29, 2026 · Brakes, Seat belts · PA

June, July and August multiple occurrences of Electronic Parking Brake and Drive Engagement Failure intermittently occurring. The Automatic electronic park brake fails to release from Park to Drive or Park to Reverse while drivers seatbelt is fastened, all door closed, vehicle on level ground. Vehicle behaves as if it's still in Park and revs RPM with gas pedal pressed without movement. Vehicle may abruptly lunge once engagement finally occurs after vehicle on/off & multiple Park to Drive manually placed. Seatbelt of driver has stated that the drivers seatbelt is not buckled when it is and all doors are closed. Display on the info display states that driver door is open when it's closed and that seatbelt is unfastened, when it is fastened. Push start button intermittently fails like it has a dead battery. Button is pressed at appropriate length to start but sputters or hesitate before finally starting with sometimes multiple attempts. Excessive wind noise due to roof seal being raised. Roof weather stripping was lifted/separated. There was no full replacement of this issue on September 17th at a local dealer but rather a quick fix of refitting the molding. I stated that is not the appropriate fix due to the actual factory seal stating it cannot be reused once compromised. Today, September 29th, the back panoramic sunroof exploded going down the highway with no other external impact and was stated as a possible occurrence after a seal is not replaced appropriately. It is note in my Toyota case management file as well. Overhead console electrical failure had been fixed may 28, 2026 after purchase in March brand new. The drivers overhead light failed and all cabin lights surged when pressed. Driver door lock and key fob malfunction in June 27. The drivers door locked with the key fob still inside vehicle at center console. Toyota app indicates vehicle was unlocked. Driver door would not unlock by app. Had to crawl through the passenger side to manually unlock.

Filed Sep 3, 2026 · Transmission · AR

After starting the vehicle and coming to a conplete stop the vehicle will hesitate upon new acceleration. The hesitation causes a lag in the vehicle and it then will jerk or jolt while shifting. The vehicle will Rev up in a low gear and not shift correctly. This causes a safety issue especially when going into traffic. I have not taken it to the dealer as of yet, but I will be. This is an intermittent issue, so i fear toyota will say they cannot replicate the issue. There were no warning lamps when the event happens.

Filed Aug 26, 2026 · OH

Multiple times a week in the summer my car will hesitate to go once I have stopped at a stop sign/busy four way intersection. When I push the gas the car doesn’t respond and hesitates for a long while before I can get the car to start moving again. The car will roll into the intersection after I take my foot off the break to go and it won’t do anything. It is terrifying and confuses other drivers around me thinking that I am letting them go. This has happened upwards of 20 times since I have had the car. It happens only on hot days when the external temperature is above 80 or so degrees and happens when car is freshly started. It reliably happens when I go up a pretty small hill by my house about 1 minute after starting the car (even when it is coming from being parked in my garage). Joseph Toyota on Colerain in Cincinnati has not been able to reproduce the issue. I drive with two children in the car and it is so scary when it happens because I have almost been hit with them in the car many times now.

Filed Aug 24, 2026 · Acceleration, Transmission · 800 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact stated that while making a right turn from a complete stop to merge into traffic, the vehicle hesitated and failed to exceed 7–10 MPH. The contact released and then depressed the accelerator pedal again, and the vehicle responded as intended. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where software updates were performed on several occasions; however, the failures persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 800.

Filed Jul 22, 2026 · Transmission · LA

I own a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Platinum Hybrid MAX with approximately 34,000 miles. The vehicle has experienced repeated delayed or absent acceleration from a complete stop, creating a serious risk when entering traffic. Before the most recent repair, I reported intermittent hesitation to the Toyota dealer. On Sunday, July 12, 2026, shortly after startup, the vehicle hesitated twice within the first half mile. At the second stop sign, I attempted a left turn into traffic and applied approximately 30% accelerator pedal. The engine was running, but the vehicle only crept forward at idle-level power for approximately three seconds. There was no noticeable increase in engine RPM and no warning lights. Normal power then returned. On July 15, 2026, the Toyota dealer performed TSB T-SB-0017-24 and updated the engine-control software for hesitation during acceleration. After that repair, the same loss-of-acceleration condition happened again while my wife was leaving a parking lot. She was stopped at a stop sign, making a right turn into traffic on a slight uphill grade, when the vehicle failed to provide normal acceleration. This was substantially similar to the earlier incident and occurred after the software update intended to correct the problem. The repeated failure to respond to accelerator input from a stop creates a collision risk because the vehicle can begin entering traffic without providing the expected power. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate whether this is a broader safety defect affecting the Grand Highlander Hybrid MAX and whether the existing software repair is effective.

Filed Jul 22, 2026 · Acceleration, Fuel system · CA

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.

Filed Jul 16, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · IL

I've had consistent issues with the vehicle accelerating and shifting. These include sluggish acceleration, loss of power and sputtering when we've come to a complete stop and starting to move again. We've almost been hit by other vehicles at least over 20 times because the vehicle has failed to accelerate when pulling into a roadway. The car hesitates during acceleration regardless of how much I push the gas. Once it starts to go, it feels as though the car can't shift from 1st to 2nd gear, The RPMs get extremely high while the car is going 25-40 mph and remain there for a few seconds up to ~20 seconds. I am fearful of getting t-boned when my car hesitates while turning at an intersection, going through an intersection or pulling out from a parking lot. I have been stuck in several intersections when traffic was coming toward me, but thankfully those cars had patience and avoided us. I've also found that this issue always happens when the hybrid battery shows that it only has a charge of 3 bars. It seems that the engine, transmission and hybrid battery don't know how to communicate when the battery charge gets that low. This has been happening since Dec 2023 when I bought the vehicle and the dealer has never been able to duplicate or find any error code, they are refusing to fix a known issue when many others are experiencing the same issue. There are Toyota Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) out there regarding this problem but my dealer told me they won't do anything as it could label my vehicle a lemon. This is creating an unnecessary safety risk for me and my family.

Filed Jul 1, 2026 · Acceleration, Fuel system · CA

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.