2005 Toyota Highlander: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Aug 14, 2016 · Transmission · 119,000 miles · VA

Bought the car and not even a week after owning it I had transmission problems, I took it back to the dealer they replaced the trans and updated the computer. The problem still persist, there is a huge hesitation in the transmission when slowing to an almost stop and re accelerating. The RPM's rev up but the car does not respond sometimes. This is very dangerous when going through intersections or merging into traffic. There are numerous complaints from people experiencing the same problem. I have a new trans in my car, fluid levels are perfect the computer has been updated and still having huge issues with my trans. This is dangerous very dangerous.

Filed Nov 11, 2015 · Transmission · SC

Have documented transmission problems since the purchase of the vehicle. Contacted toyota with my concerns, no help was provided. Transmission failed. Provided toyota with complaint on oct.14,2015. And many times before then. Afraid for my life to drive it. Turning, jerking, hesitation in take off. Etc.

Filed Oct 17, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 25,000 miles · CO

I am the original owner of the vehicle and throughout my ownership since 2/2005 when it was bought this car has issues with acceleration. It usually occurs when you are sitting at a stop and try to accelerate the vehicle. The car does not recognize when you are pushing the acceleration pedal and has a delay when it finally responds. There have been numerous incidents where I have tried to cross a busy intersection or pull out into traffic and the vehicle hesitates when trying to accelerate, ending with a jerk of the vehicle. I have almost been t-boned a few times trying to cross busy intersections and the car doesn't want to move. I have brought this to the dealership numerous times and the only response they have is that the car adjusts to different drivers and it then programs itself based off your driving habits, so they reset the coding on it. Still have the issue, didn't fix anything and now I am reading where others have had issues, I just think they brushed it under the rug to not have to honor my warranty that was in place on the vehicle. I have also have had issues from day 1 on this car with the transmission pan leaking, they have had to replace the transmission pan gasket numerous times on the vehicle; claiming it just went bad. Really, that many times it just goes bad, I don't think so.

Filed Jan 4, 2013 · Electrical, Locks · GA

For a few days the driver side door lock hesitated opening with remote key access. After a few days, it would not unlock at all. The key does not unlock the door either. I must enter on the passenger side to unlock driver side door.

Filed Jan 24, 2011 · Transmission · 50,994 miles · TX

I have a toyota highlander 2005 v6 4wd, which suffers from a transmission shift delay and hesitation ,which normally occurs when upshifting or downshifting between 2nd and 3rd gear. This shift delay is not only a headache, but a safety concern to me and many other fellow highlander owners as seen on various online forums. While driving my vehicle I have to constantly try to anticipate how it might react in order to prevent an accident from happening,while in traffic. It seems as if this problem has been known by toyota since 2000 and they have not done enough to get it fixed.

Filed Jan 12, 2011 · Transmission · 29,000 miles · AR

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 toyota highlander. While the contact shifted the gear into the park position, the transmission began to jerk with hesitation. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Transmission · 15,000 miles · CA

My 2005 toyota highlander has chronic transmission problems. When accelerating, the engine revs but the transmission hesitates noticeably before going into gear. Sometimes the hesitation lasts so long that it interferes with my ability to merge onto the freeway and those are very scary situations. Sometimes the transmission cannot decide what gear to be in and when it does engage the whole car bucks or shudders. Everyone who drives my car experiences the same problem. Even the passengers notice. The toyota dealer claims that there is no problem with the vehicle and that the problem is my driving and that I have not adjusted to the car's "drive by wire" system. One mechanic did admit that there were issues with the transmission's computer for this model year. Other than that, toyota insists that there is no problem and that I have to learn how to drive the car.

Filed Jan 28, 2010 · Transmission · MA

My 2005 toyota highlander v6 4wd, which I purchased new, has been experiencing a hesitation/shifting problem for nearly as long as I have owned the vehicle. While the problem does not always occur, it is quite pronounced when it does and has resulted in very dangerous situations. The problem has been brought to the direct attention of toyota motor sales in california, and their response has been disturbingly poor. The toyota dealer that has been servicing my vehicle has been very helpful, but apparently cannot take action to correct the problem without corporate authorization. Here is a summary of the problem: the vehicle cannot always decide when to accelerate from a stop - there have been many instances of initial hesitation/lack of adequate power upon applying the gas pedal. For example, I have experienced a delay of a second or two when applying the gas pedal to proceed. This has resulted in some very close calls with oncoming traffic. Also, there are occurrences where the vehicle cannot seem to decide between gears (it will sometimes jump up/down between the lower gears, such as 1st to 2nd gear and/or 2nd to 3rd gear). Furthermore, I have noticed a general lack of adequate acceleration/gas pedal response, especially during city driving (ie. Lower speeds). My local toyota dealer has records of the problem since approximately 16,000 miles (the vehicle now has about 44,000 miles). I believe the issue is the ECM, which was reprogrammed but the problem returned. Based on my research, I believe the ECM may be defective and that replacing the unit may solve the problem. Toyota will not replace the ECM. About a month ago, the toyota dealer was able to verify the hesitation problem during a service visit. However, they could not duplicate it later with the scan tool attached - they had the vehicle for two days trying to get a snap shot because the toyota field service technician told them "no repairs are to be made until the problem occurs more often." tw*

Filed Aug 4, 2007 · Transmission · 300 miles · MI

This problem has been happening from the first month I bought my 2005 toyota highlander new at the dealership. Transmission shift erratically. Jolting shifts all the time; especially when accelerating. Lags in downshifting, hesitation in shifting. I've taken it to the toyota dealership many times. They have said it is learning my driving habits. One dealership told me to take my foot off the gas and depress it again - this tells the transmission what I really want to do. He also said to be aggressive with the gas. Most of the time the dealerships say there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it. But I've noted that they never type in my complaint on the work orders.

Filed Apr 13, 2007 · Transmission · 2,000 miles · GA

Toyota hilander limited. I have a hesitation when I accelerate. I have had it back to toyota at least 3 times concerning this problem. They tell me that's the way it's supposed to be. It's dangerous if you are trying to get on an interstate and don't have the acceleration you need.

Filed Dec 1, 2006 · Transmission · 718 miles · MI

I own a 2005 toyota highlander v6. I'm experiencing a pause or hesitation shifting into low at very low speeds (2 to 4 MPH). The hesitation causes the vehicle to lunge because the gas peddle is depressed before the low gear engages. I feel it is an unsafe design because in slow traffic or near pedestrians I need to keep my left foot on the brake to prevent the car from lunging. Toyota has informed me that the vehicle is "operating as designed".

Filed Sep 20, 2006 · Transmission · MT

Long hesitation when trying to accelerate from a stop or low speeds.