2004 Toyota Highlander acceleration problems

Filed Sep 14, 2020 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 250,000 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

While traveling through a highway construction zone my car suddenly became hard to steer, and my speed became greater, tried to (break) decelerate the car began sliding out of control-plowing into the road construction barriers part lodged in front passenger windshield. The car went through the ditch became airborne through a rod iron fence shattered the rear second-row right side window spun out , and came to rest just feet from the some pileings. This is the information of my daughter whom is an out of state college senior and very shaken up from this ordeal, this her statement to the best of my knowledge. Possibly the placement of the 🚧 could have been a contributor, and the uncontrollable acceleration. Vehicle was bought used a year ago. Can you help up learn why?

Filed Nov 26, 2018 · Acceleration · 170,000 miles · LA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. While driving various low speeds, the vehicle accelerated rapidly without warning. Upon applying minimal pressure to the accelerator pedal, the accelerator pedal became stuck and the contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle, a dumpster, and almost struck a group of children before coming to a stop. In an attempt to stop the vehicle, pressure was applied to the accelerator pedal and then the brake pedal. The vehicle finally stopped and was turned off. The vehicle was able to be driven to the contact's residence. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained severe pain to the neck and back, which required medical attention. A dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the crash. The vehicle was subject to the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v112000 (vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 170,000.

Filed Apr 25, 2016 · Acceleration · GA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 toyota highlander. While driving 20 MPH and making a right turn, the vehicle accelerated to approximately 75 MPH. The vehicle crashed into an oak tree. The contact was knocked unconscious and taken to the hospital. The contact sustained knee, back, shoulder, and chest injuries that required medical attention. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and later deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed May 12, 2014 · Acceleration · 96,000 miles · FL · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated without warning. The contact crashed into another vehicle as a result. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic. The contact also received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v112000 (vehicle speed control) however, the manufacture was not notified of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 96,000.

Filed Sep 13, 2013 · Acceleration · GA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. The contact stated that while entering the highway, the vehicle accelerated without manual force and the contact crashed into a tree. The contact sustained knee, chest and arm injuries. A police report was filed and the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was unknown. Updated 12-05-13

Filed Jul 15, 2013 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 141,000 miles · CA · crash

As I exited the freeway I took my foot off the accelerator and applied the brake. The car accelerated and did not slow down. I crossed both lanes of the street and I turned the car to the right. The wheels of the left side of the car hit the curb and the front and rear wheels on the left side of the car broke off. Then, the car went over the curb and hit the state sign with the left front of the car. The car got stuck in deep mulch from recent landscaping and came to a stop.

Filed Mar 27, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 111,922 miles · NJ · crash

While parallel parking and slowly backing into the parking space, my vehicle suddenly accelerated backward crashing into the vehicle parked behind me. My vehicle continued accelerating backward into the other vehicle and pushed it back even though I was applying the brakes as hard as I could. I then put my vehicle into drive while applying the brakes, and it immediately lunged forward crashing into the vehicle in front of me. While continuing to accelerate forward, with the brakes applied, my vehicle pushed that vehicle into the vehicle in front of it. I then turned off the ignition and my vehicle stopped moving. All four vehicles sustained damage. There were no occupants in the other parked vehicles. Repairs to my vehicle totaled $4,076, plus $1,444 for a rental car. I also received a summons for careless driving. I believe the accident was the result of sudden unintended acceleration due to a defect in the electronic throttle control system.

Filed Jul 26, 2012 · Acceleration, Brakes · 86,000 miles · MN · crash

I was pulling into a parking space in a parking lot, going less than 5 miles per hour. As I turned into the spot, the car lurched ahead, so quickly, that slamming on the brakes still caused me to slide a bit. I ended up hitting a car parked in the spot in front of me, and causing $1400 worth of damage (to my front bumper and the other cars rear bumper). I had a friend in the car with me who vouched for this. I have never had an accident before, and was completely baffled by what happened. After googling this, I see that this car has had several similar incidents, and I am now worried about the safety of my car. I am unsure how to proceed, as I have read that mechanics seem unable to duplicate the event that occurs where it seems to accelerate rapidly. Very embarrassing- I have never had a car accident before!

Filed Nov 18, 2011 · Acceleration, Brakes · 125,360 miles · FL · crash

On november 14, 2011, I was parking my toyota highlander in a very familiar parking space and suddenly my car took on a life of its own and accelerated, veered left, jumped low sidewalk car barrier, jumped curb, and hit a decorative pole; brakes could not stop car. It went from gently entering a parking spot which I have often used to full throttle speed. The car did not accelerate straight forward it veered to left.

Filed Aug 1, 2011 · Acceleration, Brakes · 78,000 miles · CA

I took my 2004 toyota highlander v6 to longo toyota for brake booster recall in november 2010. They kept my car nearly 7 weeks before repair was completed. A few days after picking up my vehicle, while I was parked dropping off my passenger, most of the control panel lights illuminated (brakes, ABS, trac off, vsc, check engine). I reported this to the dealer. They said to bring the car back. I took the car back and diagnostic tests were run and concluded that a code was stored but it was nothing specific that had failed. Brake system was bled. In june 2011, the light cluster ("christmas tree" is how the dealer refers to it) illuminated again while I was attempting to pick up my car from my local toyota dealer (bob smith toyota). Again, the car was left. Again it was reported to me that the system had stored a code but no specific component was in failure and the brakes were bled. Approximately, july 20, 2011 and july 23, 2011, the lights illuminated again, only four of them (trac off, vsc, ABS, brakes). I contacted the toyota dealer on tuesday, july 26 and was forcing the issue on july 29, 2011 and made an appointment for august 1, 2011. On july 31, 2011, the same four lights illuminated while driving and stayed on. I stopped, turned off the engine, restarted the vehicle, and experienced a very spongy, squishy brake pedal. I contacted toyota motor corporation to further address the concern of my vehicle now being unsafe as a result of their recall. Toyota motor corporation was vague and said that the matter could only be addressed by longo toyota, the dealer that performed the recall, since the parts warranty would only be with them. In contacting bob smith toyota, the service advisors swears that the problem can be resolved by them. It appears that performing the recall weakened the integrity of my brake system. As one representative said, "you will not have a catastrophic failure and you will still be able to stop. It will just take longer."