2004 Toyota Highlander: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Jun 19, 2012 · Transmission · 15,000 miles · FL

Since I purchased my 2004 toyota highlander v6 it has very rough shifts. The transmissions seems to hesitate and lag when I try to accelerate during normal driving speeds, (I feel like I am on a carnival ride). I have had it to 3 different dealership in florida & they all say the same thing ("that this model drives like that" & it's the way you drive") funny though when the mechanic drove it, with me in the car he said that it was the transmission. The underwriters in service think because I'm a women, it's the way I drive. I love my car but, this problem needs to be addressed by toyota & fixed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Filed Apr 2, 2012 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · TX

Hesitation during auto transmission gear changes. Engine revs very high then changes gears.

Filed Jun 11, 2011 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · CO · crash · 1 injury

Car hesitates and suddenly surges forward. The is the 2nd time this has occurred in the past 3 months. The first time was near my garage and fortunately the car only traveled several feet forward before hitting the corner of the garage and coming to a stop. Last sunday, I was leaving a parking lot. I was turning left when the car hesitated and suddenly surged forward at a rapid speed. Before I was able to regain control, the car had traveled approximately 20-25 feet forward, ran up on a median and crashed into a tree. I called the police about filing a report but as it occurred on private property, they declined.

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 Jul 9, 2010 · Acceleration · 85,000 miles · FL

I own a 2004 toyota highlander. I have had an occasional problem with the vehicle hesitating and then lurching upon acceleration since I purchased the vehicle. The problem is becoming more frequent as the vehicle ages. I have mentioned it on several occasions when the vehicle was take in for service but the mechanic was not able to duplicate the problem. I have been using an independent mechanic for the last couple of years for my regular service on the car (the car has been a very good car other than the acceleration issue and has not needed anything other than regular service). I mentioned the problem to him on different occasions and at first, he was not able to duplicate the problem either. My husband mentioned it again when we took it in for the last service. This time when the mechanic drove the car he was able to feel the hesitation and subsequent lurching. He then put it on an analyzer which showed voltage spikes in the throttle body. He said to call toyota. We called toyota and were told that the vehicle needed to be taken to a toyota dealer. We took it to a dealer this morning and were told that they could not duplicate the problem again. I called toyota and filed a complaint (10070906470 and 1007090670 were the numbers I was given). They told me there was nothing they can do until a toyota dealer can duplicate the problem. I have since found hundreds of complaints online about the same issue by other 2004 highlander owners. I don't know where else to turn for help.

Filed Jun 4, 2010 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · MA

My 2004 toyota highlander v6 at time has very rough shifts. The transmissions seems to hesitate and lag when I try to accelerate during normal driving speeds. This has happened when I was going 20 to 60.

Filed Feb 2, 2010 · Acceleration · 30,000 miles · MN

2004 toyota highlander, awd and a v6. The vehicle hesitates when accelarating after braking. Can be up to 3 seconds before power is restored. I brought the vehicle back to the dealer and was told that is normal.

Filed Jun 8, 2009 · Electrical, Steering · NY

2004 highlander, having same problems as all other reported problems for this vehicle. Hesitation, steering shaft replacement, 2 wheel bearing replacements, lousy original tires, bad sodering of heat/air board leading to not working properly, can not have back windows down due to noise and vehicle shaking, had rear wiper motor replaced within 1st month of ownership. While I did purchase the extended warranty, which did cover the cost of the wheel bearing replacement, it did not cover the cost of having to replace the tires damaged by the bad bearing - and toyota does not care. In their race to become the number one car maker, they have given up on being the safest, most reliable car maker - and they have certainly given up on being customer friendly. According to several toyota dealers, they don't have to, since they continue to be popular selling vehicles. I am getting nervous as the time for my warranty comes due to expire - and for the first time am seriously considering trading it in before that happens. That was not the intent when I bought the vehicle, but after reading all the people having all the same problems, I am very concerned.

Filed Dec 1, 2006 · Transmission · 300 miles · WA

Transmission shift hesitation on acceleration at lower speeds. Just enough lag time to scare me a few times that I wouldn't make it across traffic.

Filed Nov 13, 2006 · Acceleration · 34,000 miles · PA

Dt*: the contact stated at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Also, the vehicle shifted erratically. The dealership had reprogrammed the computer multiple times, but the problem persisted.

Filed Jul 13, 2006 · Engine · NE

While researching another matter concerning my 2004 toyota highlander on your site, I read complaint #10161055 concerning a hesitation problem the owner was having and wanted to say that I have experienced the same problem. It is not constant, however it does happen frequently.

Filed Jun 29, 2006 · Acceleration, Transmission · 8,902 miles · VA

Let me start by saying I am a die-hard toyota owner, my current vehicle being the 3rd toyota we own. I own a 2004 toyota highlander, v6, 5 speed automatic with awd. This vehicle has a very serious hesitation problem which is dangerous. Upon acceleration from a stop or at speed, there is a very serious lag in throttle response. Many times leaving a stop or accelerating from a slow speed I.e. Parking lot driving, the vehicle will lag with no response, then lurch & accelerate suddenly. Merging into traffic, safe passing, starts at lights and safe driving in parking lots and around pedestrians can be hazardous. Thousands of owners across the nation are affected by this defect. From my recent research it apparently is not restricted to the highlander, but affects many toyota vehicles with "drive by wire" as opposed to mechanical transmission & throttle linkage. I took the vehicle back to the dealer right after my purchase in november of 2004 and was told they could find nothing wrong, now recent research tells me they were well aware of the problem at that time. I love toyota but there methods of dealing with problems like this is deceptive at best and just short of criminal at worst. Please "google" toyota highlander hesitation problem and also visit tundrasolutions.com for more evidence of what I am talking about. Toyota has not devoted enough resources to this problem or a permanent fix would have already been developed. Please contact toyota and urge them to take care of this matter with all the thousands of owners across the u.s. That are having to deal with this matter. I will be following this matter with keen interest to see if anything is being done and am advising aaa of the issues as well as my state and federal representatives. Toyota commands a premium price for what are otherwise exceptional vehicles and their customers and the nations drivers deserve a better more responsible response from toyota.