2004 Toyota Highlander driver assistance 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 Apr 7, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 157,489 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. While driving various speeds, while depressing the brake pedal, the pedal traveled to the floor. The traction control, check engine, vsc, and brake indicators illuminated. The vehicle was serviced per the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v499000 (service brakes), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact observed brake fluid leaking from the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 157,489.

Filed Apr 10, 2016 · Driver assistance · 110,000 miles · CA

I was driving about 15 MPH on a city streetand the vsc indicator light came on and the vehicle started breaking on its own. A loud scrapping sound was heard. It was about 70degrees and sunny and the car thought I was going down a slippery slope. I stopped the vehicle. Every time I got above 8-10 MPH the light would come on and the care would start breaking becoming unable to drive.

Filed Mar 29, 2016 · Driver assistance · 143,000 miles · NM

In feb 2005 while doing about 30 MPH the vsc light came on and started braking, on it's own, to the right making it almost impossible to drive. The next morning the car was towed to the toyota dealer. The car displayed no codes and they said that they had calibrated the steering angle sensor. We had no further problems until mar 24, 2016. This time the vsc indicator came on at about 40 MPH. If I slowed down to about 20 MPH the indicator would go off. We were able to drive the car home but the car braked, on it's own, several times. We have an appointment with the toyota dealer. I'm afraid that the expense to repair it may come close to what the car is worth. The federal safety agency needs to wake up and investigate this issue. It's been going on for a long time. This problem could result in a serious accident if it occurrs at highway speeds. I can't imagine what would happen if the car brakes on it's own at 75 MPH.

Filed Nov 8, 2015 · Driver assistance · 95,000 miles · CA

Traction control came on during normal driving

Filed Nov 20, 2014 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 110,000 miles · IN

My vehicle is having an issue where the vehicle stability control and ABS are being disabled. This is the default mode whenever there is an issue. It is now occurring every time I start my car.

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."

Filed Nov 5, 2010 · Driver assistance · 51,249 miles · MA

Summary: on dec. 30, 2009, I experienced a malfunction in the electronic stability control system of my 2004 4cyl fwd toyota highlander SUV. The malfunction is exactly of the nature described in the summary of findings following an odi investigation of malfunctions in the electronic stability control systems of 2003 toyota sequoia vehicles(the federal safety agency campaign id number 10v176000, the federal safety agency action number ea09006). Complaint: the malfunction in my highlander occurred when the vehicle started forward at very low speed after having been backed out of a parking space. The vehicle subsequently hesitated and surged during acceleration and the brakes were automatically applied and released as if the vehicle were experiencing a skid. Unlike the complaints considered in the odi investigation, however, the malfunction in my highlander did not self-correct. The vehicle was serviced the following day at acton toyota in littleton, ma, where the malfunction was corrected by resetting the on-board computer. The vehicle operated normally after the computer was reset. Since acton toyota was unable to identify a cause for the malfunction in the electronic stability control system, I had them replace the steering angle sensor as a precautiion on january 6, 2010. Action: based upon my experience, I think that a recall of 2004 4cyl fwd highlanders similar to that for 2003 sequoias should be undertaken.

Filed May 4, 2010 · Driver assistance · 74,400 miles · NY

The check engine, vsc, trac-off lights appeared on my dashboard of my 2004 toyota highlander on or around march 7, 2010. On march 9, I went to my local mechanic whose toyota diagnostic machine informed them that since this vehicle had under 80,000 miles - it was still covered by my original warranty. I made an appointment with sunrise toyota, in oakdale, ny where I purchased this highlander. After showing sunrise toyota service rep: charles salvato the diagnostic printouts - he refused to address the problem because the previous mechanic inadvertently cleared the warning lights. They wouldn't accept the diagnostic printouts as proof of a problem nor would they agree to check-out or re-run the diagnostic test. After formally complaining, I did hear from a bob johnson at sunrise toyota who ask me to stop in. When I did stop by, I was told he was at an all day meeting. My distinct feeling is that they are hoping to let the clock run out (let the mileage go over 80,000) so that nothing has to be done. I am asking for the federal safety agency's assistance with this important safety concern. A concern, I feel,toyota is still responsible for. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Filed Apr 28, 2010 · Driver assistance · 9,000 miles · IL

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle began to sway out of control from left to right. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership for diagnosis where the contact was advised to reduce speed to 35 MPH to gain control of stability. The dealer also stated that the stability control module computer was off balance and needed to be replaced. The electronic stability control failed again in 2008. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The VIN was unavailable when the complaint was filed. The current and failure mileages were approximately 9,000.