2009 Toyota Highlander: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Aug 8, 2013 · Acceleration, Body · 30,352 miles · NJ · crash

As my wife came how with my daughter, she proceeded to reverse the car into our driveway to park the car in our garage as she normally does everyday. In the driveway was also my car where it is parked everyday. As she was proceeding to go back, the car all of a sudden accelerated on its own and took off. She tried to press the brake but to no avail. She continued to press the brake, however the car would not stop. She proceeded to hit my car and damaged both cars from front to back. Her car on the passenger side, and mine on the driver side. After hitting both cars, her car proceeded to go further back and crash into the house causing major damage. That is when the car actually stopped. It was at this time that she was able to put the car in park and turn the car off. Both cars and the house now need major repairs. My daughter was sitting in the back at the time of the incident.

Filed Apr 17, 2013 · Acceleration, Electrical · 800 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota highlander. The contact stated that she attempted to accelerate but the vehicle hesitated, after a brief delay, the accelerator engaged causing the vehicle to lunge forward. Also, the contact stated that all of the lights on the instrument panel continuously flickered and the driver's side brake light was defective. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician stated that they were not allowed to touch the vehicle and contacted an investigator to diagnose the failure. The investigator was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 800 and the current mileage was 26,500.

Filed Mar 1, 2010 · Acceleration · 1,000 miles · LA

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota highlander. The contact stated that on at least four occasions, the vehicle suddenly accelerated when the driver would depress the pedal gently after a stop. The vehicle also accelerated when the vehicle was shifted into reverse. The contact took the vehicle to the dealership but the dealer could not find what the cause for the failure was. He called the manufacturer and the representative instructed him to take the vehicle to the dealership. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The current mileage was approximately 7,000. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.

Filed Feb 1, 2010 · Acceleration · 700 miles · OH

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota highlander. While driving 40 MPH and removing her foot from the brake pedal the vehicle accelerated on its own. The contact applied normal pressure to the brake pedal when the vehicle slowed down and stopped. The failure is consistent and occurs daily. The dealer stated that they couldn't duplicate the problem or identify a failure where the accelerator pedal lost pressure while driving. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 700 and the current mileage was 3300.

Filed Jan 28, 2010 · Fuel system · 16,000 miles · TN

As published by media, my 2009 toyota highlander was subject to a recall by toyota due to recent accidents making the car accelerate due to (apparently) stuck-up gas pedal). I called up cobb county toyota in kennessaw ga to confirm if I need to bring my car back to their service center. They said "yes" and the only thing that they would be checking is my car's floormatting, which would take them only a couple of minutes. My concern is that what if it is not only the floormatting that makes the gas pedal stuck up and trigger uncontrollable acceleration of my car. Even if I have my checked by them just for that declared defect, I am still in danger of driving an unsafe car. I do hope full-blown investigation be made by your agency as to what is the real and root cause of the engine problem. Many consumers were already attesting through media that it was not the floormatting impediment that causes the sudden acceleration. Please help us be safe using this car or make a drastic action to oblige toyota to examine thoroughly the cause and make permanent solutions to it to keep us at peace using the car. We have been consistently a toyota car owners since 1980's and this is the first serious problem that we have encountered. I with your agency's help, we pray that we are in safe hands with our cars. If there would be no safety assurance, I am taking a risk every time I drive my car.