2001 Toyota Highlander
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Visibility is the leading concern among 136 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 19 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 11 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchApr 15, 2004
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE A CHILD PROTECTION LOCK (CPL) SYSTEM ON BOTH OF THE REAR SIDE DOORS. WHEN AN OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CLOSES THE DOOR VERY HARD WITH THE CPL LEVER SET TO THE LOCK POSITION, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LEVER MAY CONTACT THE BODY PANEL, CAUSING THE CPL LEVER TO MOVE INTO THE UNLOCK POSITION.
THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE OPENED WITH THE INSIDE WHILE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES THAT THE CPL WAS ACTIVATED. IF THE DOOR WERE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AN OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT AND BE INJURED.
DEALERS WILL SHORTEN THE CPL LEVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 04V181000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assembly, mountingJul 30, 2002
ON SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THERE IS A BREATHER HOSE THAT ATTACHES TO THE NOZZLE OF THE ON-BOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) VALVE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE BREATHER HOSE IS ATTACHED WITH A CLAMP, WHOSE "TABS" FACE IN THE UPWARD DIRECTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED UNDER THE NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TEST (I.E., 35 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER CRASH), THE CLAMP "TABS" CONTACTED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BODY DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING THE NOZZLE TO BREAK.
IN THE WORST CASE, NOZZLE BREAKAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE VEHICLE ROLLS-OVER AFTER A HIGH SPEED FRONTAL CRASH.
DEALERS WILL ROTATE THE SPECIFIED CLAMP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 02V208000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderJul 5, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTIITY VEHICLES. THE RESERVOIR FILLER CAP OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY INDUCE A VACUUM, INTRODUCING SOME AIR INTO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. THIS COULD CAUSE ABNORMAL BRAKE NOISE AND INCREASED PEDAL STROKE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
THE INCREASED PEDAL STROKE WILL LENGTHEN THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL BLEED THE AIR FROM THE BRAKE LINES AND REPLACE THE RESERVOIR FILLER CAP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 01V228000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
136 reports, newest first.
Exterior lighting, Dec 5, 2011
I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND THE PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT BRIGHTEN WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKE, HOWEVER IT WILL COME ON WHEN I TURN ON THE LIGHTS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE I AM INCLUDING A LINK TO A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ISSUE FROM SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE:HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-HIGHLANDER/T7H7LD934GSQLC6BE. *TR
Service brakes, Electric, Apr 24, 2011
I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHENEVER I PRESS ON THE BRAKE IT PULSATES,VIBRATES AND IT MAKES A DISTRACTING LOUD RATCHETING SOUND. WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER DROPS TO LESS THAN 10MPH- IT HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS SO FREQUENTLY, THAT I REALLY HATE DRIVING ANYWHERE. I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHANICS. AFTER BEING TOLD THE PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING IS DUE TO WARPED ROTORS AND WARN BRAKE PADS- I PAID TO HAVE NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS INSTALLED. THAT DIDN'T WORK. (NOW THEY SAY IT IS AN ABS PROBLEM) I TOOK THE HIGHLANDER TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO WITHOUT PROPERLY PERFORMING A COMPUTER SCAN, BLAMED THE MECHANICS WHO REPLACED MY ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS FOR THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING-AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT THE ABS SYSTEM. ANYWAY, I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT BOTH PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS DISAGREE ON. PULSATION, VIBRATION AND LOUD NOISES. NOTE: NEITHER OF THE TWO INDICATOR LIGHTS BRAKE/ABS HAS ACTIVATED SINCE THE PROBLEM STARTED. FINALLY, I TOOK THE HIGHLANDER TO A THIRD MECHANIC, PAID FOR AN INSPECTION OF MY ABS SYSTEM AND RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPUTER SCAN ABS FAULTS CODES:C1271-C1278- ABS ACTIVATES AT A LOWER SPEED. ALSO, MASTER CYLINDER PRESSURE SENSOR MALFUNCTION C1281. I WANT TOYOTA TO REPAIR THE DEFECTS IN MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *TR
Visibility, Mar 22, 2011
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FLOPS DOWNWARD WHEN IN USE, INSTEAD OF REMAINING TILTED FORWARD (TOWARD WINDSHIELD), THUS PARTIALLY BLOCKING VISION. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON A NUMBER OF TOYOTA VEHICLES. *TR
Air bags, Dec 18, 2010
WHEN 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IS STARTED WHEN COLD, BELOW 30 DEGREES F, AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKS UNTIL 1) CAR WARMS UP 2) CAR IS RESTARTED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER THAT WHEN LIGHT IS BLINKING, AIR BAGS ARE INOPERABLE. ORDINARILY THIS CAR IS KEPT IN A GARAGE SO IT IS NOT VERY OFTEN STARTED WHEN BELOW 30 F. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH THE CAR SINCE NEW. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS ON MANY OTHER TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS OF THIS ERA BECAUSE A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKS COLD WEATHER" BRINGS UP DISCUSSIONS OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR THE FIRST GENERATION HIGHLANDERS 2001 - 2007. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Nov 9, 2010, crash
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN AUGUST 2010 IN MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT EVEN THOUGH I WAS GOING 45-50 MPH. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME FROM HITTING MY STEERING WHEEL WAS A HARD IMPACT TO MY CHEST. I SENT PICS TO TOYOTA AND SPOKE TO THEM SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT MY COMPLAINT OF THE FAILING AIRBAGS AND SEATBELT. THEY SAID THAT THE CAR DID WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO ON IMPACT AND THEREFORE I HAD NO COMPLAINT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED IN THE COLLISION. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Jul 22, 2010, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HER NECK. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A POLICE REPORT BEING FILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE CAUSED DUE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109000.
Visibility, Jul 14, 2010
NOTED RECENT COMPLAINT RE:SUN VISORS ON 2001 HIGHLANDER- I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM HOWEVER JUST PASSENGER SIDE VISOR INVOLVED SO FAR. PART COST IS $214.00 ! I THINK IT IS A RIDICULOUS ITEM TO FAIL. *TR
Visibility, Jul 4, 2010
2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE, AND FALLS DOWN INTO DRIVERS FIELD OF VISION UNEXPECTEDLY PASSENGER SIDE VISOR DOES THE SAME THING, BUT TO A LESSER DEGREE. THIS BEGAN AFTER WE OWNED THE CAR FOR FIVE YEARS(OUT OF WARRANTY) AND IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM, AND I FEEL THE DEALER SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER(S) SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO PAY UPWARDS OF $800 TO FIX SUCH A SIMPLE PROBLEM, ONE THAT SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE OWNED MORE THAN TWELVE VEHICLES, AND EVEN THE CHEAPEST OF THOSE NEVER HAD SUCH A PROBLEM. SEVERAL HIGHLANDER OWNERS HAVE TOLD OF THE SAME COMPLAINT, AND IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING. *TR
Visibility, Apr 20, 2010
THE DRIVER SIDE SUNVISOR OF MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED WOULD NOT STAY UP SINCE 2006, WHICH HAS BEEN A SAFETY HAZARD. AN ESTIMATION OF REPLACING THE VISOR AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS $700.00 IN MAY 2007, WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR FREE REPAIR. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Apr 20, 2010
2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER PURCHASED NEW. ABOUT ONCE A YEAR IT ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. REPORTED PROBLEM TO TOYOTA DEALER IN 2002 OR 2003 - HAVE RECEIPT. WE CAN STOP THE CAR WITH FIRM PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE. IN MOST CASES WHEN WE PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE AT HIGH RPM. I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL INCIDENTS, BUT BELIEVE THAT IN SOME CASES WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE ENGINE DOWN BY KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUTTING THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE. OTHER TIMES I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I RESTART THE CAR IT IS FINE. MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS SUNDAY 4/18/2010 IN PARKING LOT OF A&P ON SOUTH AVENUE IN CLARK OR WESTFIELD, NJ. MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME. I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THE LAST HALF HOUR WAS ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY AT 55+ MILES PER HOUR. WAS OFF THE PARKWAY FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES WHEN I MADE LEFT TURN INTO A&P PARKING LOT AND ANOTHER LEFT IN THE PARKING LOT. DRIVING LESS THAN 15 MILES PER HOUR. THEN WAS ALMOST STOPPED AS I WAS ABOUT TO TURN LEFT INTO PARKING SPACE. NOTICED THE ENGINE RPM SEEMED A LITTLE HIGHER THAN NORMAL AND I BECAME MORE CAUTIOUS AND MADE SURE MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENGINE RPM BEGAN TO INCREASE RAPIDLY. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS POSSIBLE AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT STOP RACING. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE AT FULL THROTTLE. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. RESTARTED THE CAR AFTER A MINUTE AND IT WAS FINE. DON'T BELIEVE I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME AS THE BRAKE BECAUSE THE TWO PEDALS ARE FAR ENOUGH APART THAT TO DO SO MY FOOT COULD ONLY BE HALFWAY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IN THAT CASE WHEN I PRESS HARD MY ANKLE STARTS TO TWIST. I AM SURE MY FOOT WAS CENTERED ON THE BRAKE IN THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE I HAD TIME TO PREPARE AND IT FELT FIRMLY IN THE CENTER. I DON'T THINK THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK BECAUSE I HAD BEEN DRIVING VERY SLOWLY IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE INCIDENT. *TR
Other or unspecified, Mar 26, 2010
2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER RECALL REQUEST*CW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE, BUT SHE ISN'T SURE IF THEY HAVE BEEN CORRECTED, BECAUSE SHE IS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS THERE A WAY TO VERIFY RECALL WORK?
Vehicle speed control, Mar 18, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE SERVICED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 04/27/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO PULL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UP, WHICH WAS STUCK. UPDATED 06/25/10.*JB
Vehicle speed control, Feb 26, 2010
MY 2001 HIGHLANDER HAS CAUSED ME SO MUCH STRESS. ON JUNE 25, 2006 I BROUGHT THE HIGHLANDER IN TO TOYOTA CRYSTAL IN GREENBROOK, NJ AFTER HAVING HAD TWO EPISODES IN WHICH THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKES DID NOT HELP IN SLOWING THE CAR DOWN. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I HAD PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO SLOW IT DOWN. IT IS THE SAME EXACT SCENARIO THAT HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS THIS PAST MONTH. THE TOYOTA DEALER WAS UNABLE TO HELP US IN RESOLVING THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. I STILL HAVE A COPY OF THE LETTER I GAVE TO THE DEALER ON THAT DATE DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE NEWS BROKE ABOUT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM I CALLED CRYSTAL TOYOTA. THEY OFFERED TO CHECK THE CAR AGAIN BUT WAS TOLD WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE ANALYSIS SINCE IT WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. SO I CALLED TOYOTA IN MORRISTOWN NJ WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2001. THE MANAGER TOLD ME TO CALL TOYOTA CORPORATE AT 800-331-4331. I DID SO AND AFTER DESCRIBING THE CAR PROBLEM, WAS GIVEN CASE #1001138288 AND ASSURED THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY. THE CALL NEVER CAME SO MY HUSBAND CALLED TOYOTA BACK. THE REASON GIVEN TO US FOR NOT CALLING BACK WAS THAT OUR CAR WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE ALSO TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THE PARTS UNDER RECALL WERE NOT INSTALLED IN THE 2001 HIGHLANDER AND TO CALL CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT CRYSTAL TOYOTA. THIS TIME CRYSTAL OFFERED TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR FOR NO CHARGE BUT SAID THEY WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT REPAIRING IT SINCE NO SUBSTITUTE PIECE FOR THE 2001 EXISTS. SO THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNRESOLVED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I AM SURE THAT THERE MUST BE OTHER 2001 HIGHLANDERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE THOSE TWO EXPERIENCES I ONLY DRIVE THE CAR WHEN IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT NHTSA UNTIL THIS WEEK. OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE CONTACTED NHTSA AT AN EARLIER DATE. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 26, 2010
CAR BEGAN SURGING ON THREE OCCASIONS. CAR WAS PARKED, IN PARK AT THE CURB, AND ENGINE WAS SURGING FROM IDLE TO APROX 2500 RPM. I PLUGGED AN OBD INTO THE CAR TO LOOK FOR ERROR CODES AND THERE WERE NONE. I CYCLED THE OBD AGAIN AND THE SURGING STOPPED. ?? *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 16, 2010
I BOUGHT A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN 2001. I THINK MY CAR DOES HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN I APPLY BRAKES AT SPEED OVER 50 MILES, CAR IS VIBRATING AND HARD TO STOP. I HAVE TO STOP APPLYING BRAKE. AFTER BUYING A CAR, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THE SALES AGENT SAID, "IT IS NOT A BRAKE PROBLEM, IT IS BECAUSE OF HARD PRESSURE." RECENTLY, MY HUSBAND DROVE THE CAR AND HE FELT IT TOO.(DATE FOR THIS INCIDENT IS SOME WHERE IN SEPTEMBER 2001) (2) OCCASIONALLY MY CAR IGNITION IS NOT WORKING, I HAVE TO GIVE GAS TO START CAR! I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER LOCATED AT BUFORD MALL OF GA, IN THE U.S.A. THEY WORKED ON IT TWICE. I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $650. THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. THEN SOMEBODY CALLED ME TO INFORM THAT SOMETHING IS BAD (COAST IS $800)AND IT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM! I COMPLAINED TO THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE SURVEY ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. NO BODY FOLLOW UP ON IT. I SENT AN EMAIL. THEN AN AGENT NAMED "TONY" CALLED ME AND SAID, "I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND $800 MORE AND WHICH MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM. I SAID, "WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FIRST TWO REPAIRS?" HIS RESPONSE WAS, "IT IS LIKE YOU GO TO DOCTOR. THEY TRY ONE MEDICINE. IF YOU ARE NOT CURED, THEY TRY ANOTHER MEDICINE!" THEN HE ASKED ME,"WHAT YOU WANT TO DO? DO YOU WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM?" I SAID, "YES, BUT I CAN'T LET YOU KEEP ON TRYING NEW REPAIRS, SPEND MONEY AND PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED!." HE SAID, "IF YOU ARE THINKING THAT I WILL FIX YOUR PROBLEM FREE, IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!." THEN HE HANG UP THE CALL. YES, TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE IMPROVE THEIR SERVICE AND CHANGE THE ATTITUDE. THEIR SERVICE PRICE VARIES WITH THE TEAM/SERVICE AGENT. I DO NOT REMEMBER EXACT DATE, THE FOLLOWING DATE IS APPROXIMATE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Equipment, Feb 15, 2010
I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM HAPPEN TO ME SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS PROBLEM WAS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO AND MY SON AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR SOME FAST THINKING ON MY PART. I WAS TRYING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND MY CAR ACCELERATED FOR NO REASON. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT MY BRAKES HAD FAILED SINCE WHEN I STOMPED ON THE BRAKE, MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP, EVEN THOUGH I HAD BOTH FEET PRESSING DOWN ON IT. AT THIS POINT,WITH CARS IN FRONT OF ME THAT I WAS GOING TO HIT, I SWERVED INTO THE TURN LANE AND THEN ALL I COULD SEE WAS AN 18 WHEELER COMING AT ME. I WAS SO LUCKY THERE WERE NO CARS ON THE SIDE ROAD THAT I TURNED ONTO AND ALL THE WHILE I WAS STEADILY TRYING TO GET MY VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. I ENDED UP THROWING IT INTO PARK AS I MADE THE TURN. IT TOOK TURNING MY CAR OFF TO BRING IT TO A COMPLETE STOP. AT THAT TIME, I THOUGHT MY FLOOR MAT HAD SOMEHOW GOTTEN STUCK ON THE ACCELERATOR, SO I TOOK ALL MY FRONT FLOOR MATS OUT. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF THE CAR "REVVING" FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING IT SEVERAL TIMES AND/OR UPON STARTING IT. IT WOULD JUST IDLE HIGH IN THE 6/8 RPM RANGE. WE JUST THOUGHT IT WAS COLD. HOWEVER, ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT KEPT SHOOTING FORWARD AT EVERY STOP. I'D HAVE TO STOMP ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET. I'D PULL OFF, STOP MY CAR, TURN IT OFF, RESTART IT, AND THE RPM'S WHO SHOOT BACK UP TO 8. I KEPT PRAYING THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO STOP. IT WAS THE MOST FRIGHTENING 15 MILE RIDE BACK HOME THAT I EVER TOOK AND SERIOUSLY, I WANTED TO JUST LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO CHANGED AN RPM SENSOR. THIS HAS NOT STOPPED THE PROBLEM EITHER. PERIODICALLY, MY CAR'S RPM'S WILL SHOOT UP TO 4 OR 6 WHILE I AM DRIVING IT OR UPON STARTING THE CAR. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Equipment, Feb 10, 2010
I WAS STARTING TO SLOWLY DRIVE OFF THE FERRY BOAT AS THE FERRYMAN WAS OPENING THE GATE. MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2001 SPED UP OUT OF CONTROL. IF THE MAN HAD NOT JUMPED ASIDE, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN RUN OVER. I HAD NO CONTROL. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS. REPORTED TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. "MAT PROBLEM". I REPLACED THE MAT WITH A HEAVY RUBBER MAT. *TR
Visibility, Feb 4, 2010
THE AIR CONDITIONER ONLY WORKS WHEN YOU MOVE THE DIAL AROUND. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL AND ONLY THE HEAT COMES ON EVEN WHEN YOU JUST HAVE THE FAN ON. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Feb 2, 2010, crash
I BOUGHT A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN AUG 2001. THE 1ST TIME I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL WAS ABOUT A MONTH LATER WHEN I WENT TO PULL IN AT WORK. I PARKED UP BY THE BUILDING AND PUT ON MY BRAKES AND THE CAR REVVED UP AND I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND IT DID WANT TO STOP. I FINALLY GOT IT STOPPED AND SAT THERE AND WONDERED WHAT HAD JUST HAPPEN. I LET IT GO AS I DID NOT HAVE AN EXPLANATION. EVERYTHING WAS FIND UP TO THE YEAR 2009. I WAS TAKING MY MOM AND BROTHER TO THE GROCERY AND MOM IS 86 YRS AND I PARKED IN A HANDICAP SPOT THAT HAD A POLE IN FRONT WHERE THE HANDICAP SIGN WAS. MY BROTHER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT WITH ME AND TO MY AMAZEMENT WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES THE CAR REVVED UP AND I HAD TO PUSH ON THE BRAKE REAL HARD. I DID HIT THE POLE AND JARRED ALL OF US. I FEEL LIKE THIS CAR MODEL SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Jan 28, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT AND SUDDENLY, THERE WAS AN UNINTENDED INCREASE OF ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REPOSITION THE FLOOR MAT AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BE REMOVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Seat belts, Jan 20, 2010
THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE AND PASSENGER SEATBELTS NO LONGER RETRACT WHEN UNBUCKLED AND FREQUENTLY THE CAR DOOR IS CLOSED ONTO THEM WHILE THEY HANG INTO THE DOOR JAM AREA. CAUSING DENTS TO INSIDE OF THE DOOR FRAME AS WELL. *TR
Visibility, Jan 20, 2010
ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND WAS NO LONGER USABLE. AN $800 REPAIR WAS REQUIRED. FLASH FORWARD 6 MONTHS, NOW THE REAR DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT ANOTHER $800. WE RARELY EVEN USE THE REAR WINDOWS. SO THIS IS FROM LESS-THAN-NORMAL WEAR. AND IT HAPPENED TO BOTH REAR WINDOWS WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. *TR
Visibility, Jan 4, 2010
A DESIGN DEFECT CAN CAUSE THE SUN VISORS TO RANDOMLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DROP DOWN OBSCURING THE DRIVER'S VISION POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. THIS INCIDENT OCCURS IN A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. HOWEVER, I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY INTERNET POSTINGS OF OTHER TOYOTA YEARS AND MODELS WITH THE SAME DESIGN DEFECT AND SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA'S AND THEIR DEALERS RESPONSE HAS BEEN TO TELL THE CUSTOMER TO SPEND APPROXIMATELY $750 TO REPLACE THE VISOR WHICH IS LIKELY TO FAIL LIKE THE FIRST ONE AFTER A GIVEN AMOUNT OF TIME. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Dec 16, 2009, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSEQUENTLY SHE CRASHED INTO A SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY INSTALLED A SECONDARY HOOK TO THE FLOOR-MAT. ALSO SHE WAS ADVISED THAT IN APRIL 2010 THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,794.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 25, 2009
WHILE MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS IN OPERATION THE ENGINE BOLTS PULLED LOOSE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND BE DESTROYED. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AT THE TIME AND HAD IT BEEN IN OPERATION ON THE FREEWAY COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE IS DESTROYED AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST $7000. I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS INVOLVING ENGINE BOLTS ON TOYOTA CARS AND TRUCKS AND THAT TOYOTA HAS ALWAYS BLAMED OTHER THINGS AND NOT ADDRESSED WHETHER THE BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE OR HAVE NOT BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY. THERE ARE VARIOUS REFERENCES ON THE INTERNET OF CUSTOMERS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE BOLTS ON TOYOTA VEHICLES..TOYOTA HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I BELIEVE IT MAY BE THE INSTALLATION OF THE BOLTS OR THE QUALITY OF THEM. *TR