Toyota Grand Highlander jerking problems

Filed Oct 20, 2026 · Driver assistance, Transmission · WA

Incident occurred on XXX at 9:46AM PST, [XXX]. When applying brakes normally to come to a gradual stop behind another vehicle stopped at a stop sign on a slight decline, PCS collision warning lights enabled and vehicle lurched forward while my foot was on brake. This is not to be confused with automatic braking behavior as front collision warning lights in driver information center flashed red. Rather, vehicle lurched forward as if accelerating once within feet of vehicle in front. Then, vehicle rocked front to back multiple times with my foot still on the brake, as if Drive and Reverse was being quickly and intermittently engaged back and forth about 1 second apart. Had my foot not been firmly on the brake, the vehicle felt like it would travel forward and then back (colliding with vehicle in front and in back) without driver inputs.  While car continued to lurch forward and then back, I shifted transmission into Park then back in Drive, and behavior stopped. There was a loud clunk as the car engaged in Drive. This has occurred 3 times over the past 2.5 years. What is even more curious, is that this occurred all 3 times at the same stop sign, which is at a slight decline. This leads me to deduce that somehow the angle of decline or other specific condition at this stop sign is somehow contributing or confusing vehicle systems, as bizarre as this sounds. AC was on during at least one preceding event but not during yesterday's event. Others have observed similar events on on-line forums, but I don't know if they have reported this given how infrequently it occurs. Vehicle has 28000+ miles, and I stop at this exact location at least 3 times per week, with behavior observed only 3 times. Statistically, it seems probable that there must be some element (angle of decline?) at this location that somehow confuses vehicle systems, triggering this dangerous unintended acceleration and reversing behavior. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 19, 2026 · Transmission · UT

I have had my 2026 Grand Highlander Max Hybrid for only 3 months. Shortly after buying it I started noticing issues with how it shifted. It was hard for me to explain at first, but as the issue happened more it became more apparent. Periodically when driving I will be stopped at a red light or stop sign and attempt to accelerate and there is an obvious delay for a couple seconds followed by a surge of acceleration to high RPM. My foot is in a general form for acceleration at about 25 mph. This is concerning because if I pull in front of traffic timing when based on the expected acceleration, you can imagine that this is scary if I have this delay and oncoming traffic hits me. This issue is the most obvious, but there are other issues such as jerking and rough shifting at lower speeds periodically. I have taken in the car 5 times now. The first time they replicated it and said they did an update that fixed it. It did not resolve. The other times they have not been able to replicate it because it happens periodically and I can’t go without my car for several days or weeks for them to drive it to see if it does it. I have filed a issue claim and lemon law with Toyota and they just told me to go back to the dealership and denied my lemon law claim. This is a huge safety concern and Toyota isn’t doing anything about it.

Filed Oct 13, 2026 · Driver assistance, Steering · GA

I experienced a serious safety incident involving my 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander with approximately 14,000 miles. While driving on a straight interstate highway at approximately 70 mph, surrounded by other vehicles, the steering wheel suddenly made two to three sharp, forceful jerking movements to the left. Afterward, the steering wheel remained approximately 20 degrees off-center to the left. All lane departure assistance sensors were active during the incident. This unexpected steering behavior created a significant safety hazard. At highway speed, I could have lost control of the vehicle, departed my lane, or collided with surrounding traffic. I was able to reach my destination, but the steering wheel remained crooked. Immediately afterward, I took the vehicle to an authorized Toyota dealership for inspection and repair. The technician reported that the left rear wheel was significantly out of alignment and that the left rear alignment eccentric lock nut was loose. According to the technician, this caused excessive wear on the inside tread of the left rear tire. The dealership also performed a vehicle health check to identify any system faults. My vehicle has always been serviced by authorized Toyota dealerships. At the last service appointment, at approximately 10,000 miles, no related problems were identified. The technician confirmed that no alignment-related work had been performed during that visit. The vehicle had no previous similar issues. I am concerned that the loose alignment eccentric lock nut and resulting severe misalignment may indicate a mechanical defect that could compromise vehicle stability and steering safety. The sudden steering movements at highway speed presented a serious risk to me, my passengers, and other motorists. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency investigate this incident and determine whether a safety defect exists in the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander involving the rear suspension alignment component, eccentric locking, sensors.

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 3, 2026 · Brakes · 39,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact stated that the vehicle unexpectedly lurched forward while depressing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that excessive pressure was needed on the brake pedal to prevent the failure. The contact stated that a service appointment was scheduled with the dealer. While conducting independent research, the contact identified Technical Service Bulletin: T-SB-0028-25, which was associated with the vehicle shuddering while at a complete stop, and believed that the failure was associated with the technical service bulletin. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.

Filed Jul 30, 2026 · Acceleration · 40,544 miles · CO

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.

Filed Jul 23, 2026 · Acceleration · 18,000 miles · UT

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.

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 14, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NM

Radiator issue summer of 2025, when in back to back traffic at low speeds my vehicle overheated at a stand still took vehicle in to dealership with no real answers. The following summer 2026 same scenario but the engine was smoking. Took into dealership and they stated the connection for the radiator fan was disconnected which meant it was not colling the engine. A month later the AC is blowing hot air when AC is set to the coolest setting, scheduled another appt with dealership likely another radiator issue. Fuel gauge inaccuracy. Manual states 17 gallon tank capacity but my car states empty and can only fill the tank with 14 to 15 gallons. Dealership had no help and stated it does that to protect the hybrid engine. Transmission shifting issues, in the summer hotter temperatures I notice at times the transmission has difficulty shifting in lower gears and really revs up the RPMs to shift sometimes. At times the the transmission shift is jerky or harsh when going speeds form 20- 40 mph.

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.