2013 Toyota Highlander: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Jul 5, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · MA

I purchased the car in 2020 with 73K miles on it. It has sporadically had incidents of unintended acceleration. I happens when I slow for a stop sign, red light, or crosswalk. My foot is on the brake when this occurs, the engine then goes into high gear and no amount of pressure on the brake will stop it. I put the car in park and turn the key off. There are no warning lights. It has happened more frequently in 2024. On [XXX], I tried to come to a stop at a crosswalk in Plymouth MA. The UA occurred, putting the folks in the crosswalk and myself in danger. The next day I contacted the dealer and Toyota. The upshot - they said the car is fine, it must be my mats or shoes or something that is not their fault. I've been driving Toyotas for 40 years, I've never had a mat or shoe problem. There is something faulty with the acceleration/braking system. The last occurrence was [XXX] in Plympton MA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 2, 2016 · Acceleration · CA · crash

Letter from constituent regarding the issue of unintended acceleration in toyota and lexus vehicles. *smd 2013 toyota highlander. The consumer stated as she was about to put the vehicle in reverse to reposition the vehicle, it suddenly lurched forward with the engine racing . It was if the accelerator was floored. Within a couple of seconds the vehicle jumped over the cement parking block and into a pole. The vehicle had significant damage between $13,000 and $15,000. The consumer was informed the carpet floor mat was found to be unattached.

Filed Dec 10, 2015 · Acceleration · 33,000 miles · MS

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 toyota highlander. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration while starting the vehicle. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure occurred approximately three times. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000. The VIN was not provided.

Filed Sep 20, 2014 · Acceleration, Airbags · 12,356 miles · KS · crash · 1 injury

On september 12 2014 my wife was pulling into a parking space at her doctor's office. The space include a stop curb and it faced a four lane street. As she pulled into the space, she braked to avoid contacting the curb and was about to shift into park when the car suddenly accelerated. The car jumped the parking curb and then another curb and entered a grassy area (approximately 10 ft wide. The car continued to accelerate and jumped another curb and landed in a 4 lane street. She continued to apply the brakes while the car continued to accelerate across the street. She was headed toward another curb and grassy area and a downhill slope followed by a meineke repair business. Not wanting to go down the hill and into the building, she turned the car to the right but not in time to avoid entering the second grassy area. She was now traveling parallel to the meineke building and side swiped two small trees, and was headed toward a very busy rush hour street. To avoid accelerating into this street, she decided to try shifting the car into neutral. She looked down to find the neutral gear, and just as she looked up, she crashed head-on into another tree. The air bags did not deploy but the seat belts saved her. The car was significantly damaged to the drivers side front where she hit the tree and to the side of the car where she side swiped the two trees. The meineke employees called 911 and a detective took her to her doctor's office for treatment. She injured her ribs and back and continues to receive treatment. I'm convinced this is a software problem and I am attempting to resolve this with toyota but hold out little hope. It needs to be fixed before there are additional injuries or loss of life. My wife could have died if the car had made it to the very busy street.

Filed May 2, 2014 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 11,432 miles · TX · crash

As I was pulling into a parking space (maybe 5 miles per hour) and put my foot on the brake to stop, my 2013 toyota highlander lunged forward so hard that it went over the concrete spacer, a grass median, the curb and into the street beyond the parking lot. I was able to brake and stop the acceleration, but it was so sudden, fast and unexpected that I scraped the passenger side on the vehicle next to me. A by-stander commented "I don't know what happened! All of a sudden your car just raced away!" I have driven for over 45 years without an accident. I have been a loyal toyota customer, buying one for my son and daughter as well as this vehicle and I thought whatever problems toyota had were taken care of but now I am afraid to drive my vehicle.

Filed Apr 15, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 11,000 miles · TN · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 toyota highlander. The contact stated that on several occasions, the vehicle exhibited unintended acceleration. Additionally, the vehicle would vibrate excessively when stationary with the engine on. The vibrations would cause ear pain to the contact. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 11,000.

Filed Apr 9, 2014 · Acceleration, Body · 88 miles · CA

Tl the contact owns a 2013 toyota highlander. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact was able to engage the brake pedal and the vehicle resumed normal function. The contact also stated that the door hatch motor emitted a loud clicking sound when it was opened and closed. The dealer replaced the motor; however, the failure was not corrected. The failure mileage was 88. The current mileage was 2,500. Rk

Filed Feb 19, 2014 · Acceleration · 3,500 miles · FL

Vehicle accelerated slightly when brake was applied, cruise on, speed 60mph, 1 time. Hesitated on acceleration after deceleration, speed 60 MPH, cruise off, 1 time; speed 40 MPH, cruise off, 2 times; speed 35 MPH, cruise off, 3 times. Hesitated on acceleration after coasting, speed 40 MPH, cruise off, 4 times; speed 43 MPH, cruise off, 1 time, speed 45 MPH, cruise off, 2 times; speed 35, cruise off, 3 times. Accelerated by itself including downshift one gear, RPM 1725 changed to 2225 and accelerated from 60 to 65 then returned to 60 MPH after a few seconds, flat level roadway, cruise on, 1 time. I have been a mechanic over 45 years and a fleet owner, once I experienced the initial speed up I have been keeping a log of all abnormal behavior related to this issue. First issue at about 3500 miles, present mileage about 6000.

Filed Jan 14, 2014 · Acceleration · 14,000 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 toyota highlander. The contact was driving 5 MPH and attempted to engage the brakes when the vehicle violently lunged forward and crashed into a support beam, then down an embankment before finally crashing into a tree. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 14,000.

Filed Jan 5, 2014 · Brakes, Engine · 15 miles · IN

I bought a new 2013 highlander december 28, 2013 from tom wood toyota dealership. When I was driving home december 28-31, 2013 click, click, squeaking noise, brakes slipping, dragging, vibrating and a tremendous pulsating against my foot when I stop. When I tried to stop the highlander the vehicle jumped forward. January 2, 2014 a burnt odor coming through the heater vents, rattling in the right front door, gush sound coming from the brakes, there is also another sound coming from the brakes that I can not identify. I am wondering if a fire is trying to start, because of the burnt odor.

Filed Oct 2, 2013 · Acceleration, Airbags · 24,000 miles · IN · crash

Pulling into parking space - brakes applied - car lurched forward (unintended acceleration) - brakes did not engage - car jumped the curb, crossed the sidewalk and hit a tree - airbag did not deploy.