2006 Toyota Highlander: jerking or lurching

Filed Apr 26, 2021 · Acceleration, Brakes · CA

The brake actuator is failing and is making loud noises. The car does not brake normally. I have reported braking problems since I bought the vehicle in 2007. When it hits a bump it accelerates and I must stand on the brakes so I do not hit someone. It lurches forward when it hits a pothole or some kind of obstruction in the road. When I worked down near the bus station I would hit the areas in the road where the buses created bumps in the roadway and it would lurch forward. I reported this numerous times at north bakersfield toyota. I recently went in to report the noise I was hearing and they finally figured out that the brake actuator is failing. I was told that it was not a hazard but they could not tell me when it will totally fail. I believe it is a safety hazard and there has been a problem from day one

Filed Apr 20, 2021 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 182,000 miles · TN

My ABS, vsc, (I), and emergency brake dash lights are on continuously. It is very hard to stop the car as it feels like the brake isn't engaging. When it does engage you are jerked forward.

Filed Apr 16, 2016 · Fuel system · 65,700 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

Sudden acceleration. Vehicle was stopped, with foot on brake, when sudden acceleration occurred very rapidly. Brake pressure could not keep vehicle from lurching foward and hitting the rear a of stopped vehicle. I never use my left foot on the brake, so I can never hit the brake and accelerator simultaneously.

Filed Aug 8, 2013 · Brakes · 76,725 miles · VA

The vehicle failed to stop when depressing the brake pedal. The pedal suddenly felt 'soft' and the vehicle continued to move. After stomping on the brake again the vehicles' braking system engaged with a jerk and began working normally again. This happened several times over a period of a few days before taking the vehicle into a toyota dealership for repair. Dealership identified a faulty master cylinder and booster assembly - both of which are covered under a limited recall on 2004 - 2006 highlanders. Unfortunately not all 2006 highlanders are covered even though they experience the exact same malfunction.

Filed May 30, 2011 · Acceleration · 35,000 miles · CA

I received your response to my letter of complaint dated feb 24, 2011. It did not address my concern with the delayed response between the depressed accelerator and a delayed engine response. Rather I was informed by a form letter that ny complaint would be satisfied with a "floor mat adjustment". I was additionally notified that a 2nd letter from toyota would arrive by early may 2011 when "parts are ready and preparations are complete. I have not received this notification as of this date. I repeat; my accelerator does not stick". Sometimes there is a one or two second delay when the accelerator is depressed and the engine responds causing a fast "lurch forward" rather than a gradual increase form the current speed or sometimes from a complete stop it will happen. The delayed engine response to a depressed accelerator is a serious problem with potentially dangerous consequences. Sincerely,

Filed May 25, 2011 · Lights · GA

Vehicle has original headlights that were in it when I bought the car.the bulbs are burning the lens over the lights.I "do not" drive with the high beams on as the dealership tried to insinuate.no dumbass drives with the high beams on all the time. Toyota claims bulbs are an exclusion on the warranty.this is a factory defect and should be a recall item.they want to charge the purchaser to replace the bulbs which show evidence of of defect as well as the lens cover.I would like to see toyota or the manufacturer of the bulb replace these items at no cost to the purchaser.even if they don't replace the lens cover at least replace the bulb with the proper bulb.car has always jerked from the time I purchased it.I thought it was the transmission but toyota claims they didn't detect anything when I took it in for service for this issue.

Filed Feb 25, 2011 · Acceleration, Electrical · 35 miles · CA

Vehicle toyota 2006 VIN #[xxx] highlander limited prior complaint sent to toyota & dot 2/4/2010. After a stop when accelerator sometimes there is a second or two pause before the engine responds causing a sudden lurch forward. Additionally when diving at in town speeds and the accelerator is released and then a resumption of pressure on it there is a second or two pause before the engine engages, also causing a lurch forward. I have learned to "expect the condition" and make allowances for it, however it still causes concern and possibly a dangerous acceleration. The accelerator and engine activation need to be corrected for this "pause and lurch forward response". Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Oct 21, 2010 · Engine · 102,000 miles · PA

I went through a toll booth, car began to lurch, lights all went up, and the car stalled, highly dangerous, but managed to get to side of road, apparently the inverter in my 2006 toyota highlander, 102,000 miles on it, was defective, it was replaced free, but had to pay labor and for rental.. But I really could have been injured severely.

Filed May 21, 2010 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 65,000 miles · MN

When braking our 2006 toyota highlander the brakes seem to catch then release, catch and release. This is on dry pavement. The local toyota dealer service says this is normal operation and is because the battery recharging mechanism is taking over. This may be true but I am of the opinion that there is something wrong. When you apply the brakes and it reacts in the way it does you tend to want to easy up on the brakes because the car lurches a bit but that is the wrong thing to do!

Filed Jan 27, 2010 · Transmission · 35,000 miles · KY

Car jerks as moving into the wrong gear. Also stumbles as if the transmission is slipping and then jerks into a gear lurching forward. The car also surges at times without warning. Told repeatedly at dealer they can't find anything wrong.

Filed May 27, 2008 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 24,000 miles · VA

Friday early may 2008, I carried my highlander for it's 30k service at 28k, due to hesitation, lurching, backfiring at times and poor gas mileage. At the service, I was told they clean the accelerator senor. The vehicle ran fine getting 28 miles per gallon, but notice a change in the vehicle grounding. I could hear the engine noise though the radio sometimes in the morning. The engine noise was added feature. I noticed the engine shifting was smooth until the following tuesday. It was rain traffic medium driving 65 MPH. The highlander consumed a quarter of a tank within 20 miles. My highlander is kept in garage nightly and most of the day. I make an appointment to my nearest toyota dealer on 16may08 31k. The local dealership reset my vehicle?s computer by connecting the battery and reconnection. I was told 2 weeks before hand at the dealership it was a possibly of vehicle ?s computer software needing upgrading when they cleaned the accelerator senor. Today, the vehicle doesn't have the smooth accelerating power. For this vehicle, riding in traffic causes serious problems due lack of power lurching, poor gas mileage or the possible of losing control. No computer test was completed. I change gas station types and various gas treatments, it ?s not the gas. I have driving and working on cars since 1978 from engine, electrical system and brakes. I even noticed when the highlander is full with gas. The vehicle sometime cough or delay. Is there a lemon law this?

Filed Oct 30, 2007 · Acceleration · 15,252 miles · WA

I accelerated to avoid a collision at low speed in an intersection. The car hesitated about 2 seconds after I pressed the gas pedal, then lurched forward, spinning the drive wheels. The length of delay or hesitation in response to accelerator input is frequently there, but is somewhat unpredictable, making stop-and-go traffic performance dangerous. Poor performance of the cruise control function is probably related to this defect. The car was returned to the dealer for service at 1500 miles. The dealer did a thorough check of the equipment and found no defective parts. Dealer states that there are no service bulletins for this problem, in spite of the fact that toyota has acknowledged this problem and promised to fix it since december 2004. This is a serious problem. Had the pavement been wet, I could have lost control of the vehicle. Fortunately, in the incident described, the other driver was able to avoid a collision. Next time, I might not be so lucky.