2004 Toyota Highlander
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 286 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 25 Highlander model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 32 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 23 people were injured and 47 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine coolingNov 9, 2011
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.
IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 11V539000 on NHTSA.gov
Vehicle speed control, accelerator pedalFeb 24, 2011
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.
IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 11V112000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderOct 21, 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Campaign 10V499000 on NHTSA.gov
Vehicle speed control, accelerator pedalJul 13, 2006
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND HYBRID VEHICLES, THE TWO RETAINING CLIPS FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FORWARD CENTER CONSOLE CAN BECOME LOOSE. IF BOTH CLIPS SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ROD.
THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO FLOOR CARPET COVER RETAINING CLIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Campaign 06V253000 on NHTSA.gov
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
Representative owner complaints: power train
58 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Nov 6, 2005
2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED DEVELOPED A HESITATION AFTER AROUND 10,000 MILES. THE HESITATION IS FOLLOWED BY A HEAD-JERKING SURGE. THIS SITUATION IS VERY HAZARDOUS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT-HAND TURN, OR FAST ACCELERATION MERGE, IN HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY 15-YR-OLD TWINS WHO ARE LEARNING TO DRIVE IN THIS VEHICLE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA CONSIDERING THE VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HERE AND ON THE WEB. ARE YOU WAITING FOR A DEATH? MY DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *NM
Power train, Aug 23, 2005
2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS HESITATION WHILE TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT. *MR *SC
Power train, Jul 15, 2005
MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 (3.3L WITH 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION) HAS AN INTERMITTENT FAULT WHERE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL ABRUBTLY DROP DOWN A GEAR (OR GEARS) WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY TRYING TO ACCELERATE CREATING A SENSATION LIKE IT IS BUCKING OR PORPOUSING. USUALL STEPPING OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR IS SUFFICIENT TO ELIMINATE THE BUCKING SENSATION. THIS HAS OCCURED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN AUGUST 2004.
Power train, Jun 22, 2005
AT APPRX. 13000 MILES ON A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, NOTICED INCREASINGLY ROUGH SHIFTING FROM THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE OFTEN HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING, THEN SURGES INTO NEXT GEAR, CAUSING UNPREDICTABLE RIDE. THROUGHOUT THE GEARS, VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE HUNTING FOR GEARS, UPSHIFTING & DOWNSHIFTING AT ODD TIMES, CAUSING A ROUGH, UNPREDICTABLE RIDE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY 'RECALIBRATED' THE TRANMISSION, HOWEVER, THIS DIDN'T SEEM TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.
Power train, Jun 22, 2005
AT 12 MONTHS AND 13,000 MILES, NOTICED 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DURING SHIFTING, TRANSMISSION OFTEN HESITATES AND THEN SUDDENLY SURGES INTO NEXT GEAR, CAUSING INABILITY TO PREDICT VEHICLE PERFORMANCE. THROUGHOUT DRIVING, TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE ITS HUNTING FOR GEARS, FREQUENTLY SHIFTING AT ODD TIMES, CAUSING A ROUGH, UNPREDICTABLE RIDE.
Power train, May 17, 2005
I OWN A 2004 HIGHLANDER LIMITED, V6, 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC. WHEN DECELERATING AND THEN ACCELERATING, THERE IS A 1 TO 2 SECOND HESITATION BEFORE THE CAR MOVES AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME. THIS INACTION BY THE VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING ONTO A FAST-MOVING FREEWAY. NOTE: THIS HESITATION DOES NOT OCCUR IF YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I DID A WEB SEARCH TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, AND I FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS (YOU NEED TO ADD "WEB SEARCH" TO YOUR "SOURCE" LIST BELOW). SO IT'S NOT JUST MY VEHICLE. THIS DESIGN FAULT IS EVIDENT ON ALL TOYOTAS WITH THE 3.3 LITER, 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC. EVIDENTLY THE LEXUS ES330 AND RX330 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 2004 SIENNA THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO COMPLAIN, THEY SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRONICALLY-CONTROLLED TRANSMISSION, AND THAT "IT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY." I ASKED ABOUT REPROGRAMMING THE FLASH MEMORY OF THE CONTROLLER INVOLVED AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO UPDATED SOFTWARE, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. SO, I GUESS IT'S UP TO YOU TO GET TOYOTA TO DO SOMETHING. I SEE HERE ON YOUR SITE, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A REPEATABLE, MEASURABLE SYSTEM FAULT. JUST TAKE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH A V6 OUT FOR A DRIVE. THEN SLOW DOWN A BIT, THEN ACCELERATE AS YOU WOULD NORMALLY. THE CAR WILL HESITATE. EVERY TIME. NOW DO THIS WHILE YOU'RE MERGING ONTO A FAST-MOVING FREEWAY. WHEN IT HESITATES, YOU'LL DO AN "OH,?!@#$%" AND ACCELERATE HARDER, AT WHICH POINT THE TRANSMISSION WILL HESITATE SLIGHTLY AGAIN, THEN SHIFT DOWN. THE ENGINE WILL REV UP AND YOU'LL ROAR OUT ONTO THE FREEWAY LIKE AN IDIOT. PLEASE. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT, IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. *TR
Power train, Mar 7, 2005
WE PURCHASED A 2004 V6/5 SPEED AUTO 2WD TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN JUNE, 04. IT HAS A HESITATION PROBLEM WHICH CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD. IT LOSES POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER DECELERATING AND RE- ACCELERATING TO CHANGE LANES OR MAKE LEFT TURNS, THEREBY EXPOSING A POWERLESS, DECELERATING CAR TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE. THEY CLAIM IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, THEY CANNOT FIX. THEY SAY IT OCCURS AS A RESULT OF THE ADAPTIVE LEARNING ALGORITHM IN THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION PACKAGE. CHECK THE EDMONDS TOWN HALL BY SEARCHING FOR "HESITATION" AND YOU'LL FIND IT REPORTED SINCE 12/03 BY HIGHLANDER, CAMRY, SOLARA, LEXUS RX330 AND LEXUS CAMRY EQUIVALENT OWNERS ALL HAVING GOTTEN NO COMMITMENT BY TOYOTA TO FIX IT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS DESCRIBED BY THE CLASSICAL DEFINITIONS. IT OCCURS FREQUENTLY (IN MOST VEHICLES AND IN NORMAL OPERATION, AND MORE THAN A FEW OF THE OCCURRENCES WILL EXPOSE THE OCCUPANTS TO SEVERE PERSONAL INJURY. TOYOTA CLAIMS THE HESITATION IS "NORMAL" BECAUSE ALL THE HIGHLANDERS ON THE LOT DO IT--WHICH ONLY REINFORCES THE HIGH FREQUENCY ESTIMATE. FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY ARE NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN OFFER TO HAVE A TOYOTA REP CONFIRM YOUR CAR HAS IT AND THEN TO TAKE THE ISSUE TO ARBITRATION. ITS TIME FOR YOU TO INVESTIGATE, BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS OCCUR. IF WE CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME. JIM MULLEN. *AK *JB
Power train, Feb 20, 2005
POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING THE 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT HERE AND WITH TOYOTA ABOUT THE CAR CUTTING OUT BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH WHICH IS DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. THE HESITATION IS MORE PREVALENT NOW WITH 10,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH AT 700 MILES IT WAS INFURIATING NOT KNOWING IF YOU WERE SAFE TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC OR MAKE A LEFT TURN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COMPANY CAN SELL UNSAFE CARS AND BE ALLOWED TO CHEAT THE PEOPLE WHO PAID FOR THEM. WHEN THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED OF COURSE. HOW LONG BEFORE SOMEONE HOLDS TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS? HOW DO INDIVIDUALS FIGHT LARGE FOREIGN COMPANIES? ISN'T IT THIS AGENCY'S JOB TO MAKE SURE AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE SAFE AND TREATED FAIRLY? *JB
Power train, Feb 16, 2005
SAFETY CONCERN WITH 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TRANSMISSION. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTS IN A HESITATION MODE THEN SURGES. THE VEHICLE TAKES A LONG TIME TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. *TC *JB
Power train, Feb 14, 2005
2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER SAID IT WAS "NORMAL", BUT I SEE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AND THE NHTSA IS CONTEMPLATING A FORMAL INVESTIGATION. MY HIGHLANDER HESITATES EVERY TIME I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS AND QUICKLY REAPPLY IT. IN SOME CONDITIONS, IT HAPPENS AS I'M DECELERATING AND PRESS THE GAS. ALSO, PERIODICALLY, THE TRANSMISSION WILL JUMP BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN GEARS AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE DOESN'T KNOW WHICH GEAR TO BE IN.*AK
Power train, Feb 1, 2005
I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED V6 AWD. THE CAR HAS EXTREMELY DANGERIOUS PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS WHICH WILL BE THE CAUSE OF MANY ACCIDENTS. THERE IS AN UNEXPECTED AND VARYING DEGREE OF LAG IN ACCELERATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCLERATE TO MERGE ON HIGHWAYS OR TO MAKE TURNS ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SEVERE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHICH WILL LEAD TO LOSS OF LIFE. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS "JUST A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR" AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. THIS KIND OF "CHARACTERISTIC" IS TOO DANGEROUS TO JUST ACCEPT THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM!*AK
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Dec 23, 2004
MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER MAKES A TERRIBLE HUMMING / MOANING SOUND ON ACCELERATION THAT RESONATES WITHIN THE VEHICLES AND DISTURBS THE DRIVER. THE PROBLEM TYPICALLY OCCURS DURING SPEEDING UP FROM 0 MPH. IT IS TERRIBLY FRUSTRATING THAT A BRAND NEW CAR MAKES SUCH A ANNOYING SOUND. IT IS ALSO HESITATES A LOT DURING 20-40 MPH SPEED RANGE. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND AS IT SUPPOSED TO ON ACCELERATION AND THAT TOO SPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING WITHIN THE CITY. ON CANTACTING THE DEALER AND TOYOTA'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE THAY SAID IT IS DESIGNED TO BE LIKE THAT AND THE HESITATION IS A BY-PRODUCT OF COMPUTER CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS. AM TERRIBLY FRUSTRATED NOW AND PROMISE TO NEVER BUY ANY VEHICLE FROM TOYOTA IN FUTURE. I WOULD ALSO MAKE SURE THAT MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES DOES NOT GO NEAR A TOYOTA DEALER. I AM DESPERATE IN GETTING RID OF THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Power train, Nov 19, 2004
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE WITH FASTER MOVING TRAFFIC THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION. I'VE NEARLY BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE I JUST COULDN'T GET UP TO SPEED IN TIME. THIS IS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, V6 AWD. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WITH NO RESULTS.*AK
Power train, Nov 9, 2004
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. *NM THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE SHIFTS IN A HESITATION THEN SURGING MANNER NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. SHIFTING IS VERY ABRUPT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE IS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *TC
Power train, Oct 29, 2004
I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, V6, FWD. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO DOWNSHIFT SOMEWHAT UNEXPECTEDLY, BUT WORSE, WHEN I NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY SUCH AS MERGING IN TO TRAFFIC ON AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THERE IS A HESITATION OR LAG BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTS TO ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN APRIL AND HAPPENS ON A CONTINUING BASIS.
Power train, Oct 25, 2004
TRANSMISSION HESITATION AND SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTING CREATE UNPREDICTABLE AND HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ON THE STREETS (NOT HIGHWAY).*AK
Power train, Oct 24, 2004
OUR NEW 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS HESITATION PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING AROUND 10-30 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THERE ARE A LOT OF SITUATIONS THAT EVEN A SECOND HESITATION CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENT, SUCH AS MAKING A QUICK LEFT TURN IN A BUSY INTERSECTION TO AVOID ON COMING CARS. HERE IS HOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM: DRIVE THE CAR OVER 25 MILES PER HOUR, THEN GRADUALLY SLOW IT DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR. PRESS DOWN THE GAS PADDLE VERY BRIEFLY, REGARDLESS HOW HARD THE PADDLE IS HIT, THE CAR WILL NOT RESPONSE.*AK
Power train, Oct 20, 2004
2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HESITATES ON ACCELERATION AS WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. THERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE WHEN THIS HESITATION WILL OCCUR MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO JUDGE WHEN IT IS SAFE TO MERGE OR WHEN SOMEONE MIGHT REAR END YOU.
Power train, Oct 16, 2004
PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS LEAVING YOU STUCK IN TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION AND OR GAS KICK IN 2 SECONDS LATER. *JB
Power train, Oct 15, 2004
CAR LAGS WHEN SHIFING WHN COLD. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS 'NORMAL"*AK
Power train, Oct 14, 2004
HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. HAPPENS EACH TIME AIR CONDITIONER IS ON...NOT JUST AN ISOLATED CASE.*AK
Power train, Oct 12, 2004
I PURCHASED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN MARCH 2004, LARGELY ON THE MERITS OF TOYOTA'S SAFETY RECORD AND USER REVIEWS OF DRIVEABILITY. WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF DRIVING, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A HESITATION IN THE THROTTLE UPON ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS...AS IF THE CAR HAD TO "THINK ABOUT IT" BEFORE DECIDING TO RESPOND. TOOK IT IN TO DEALER WHO FOUND "NOTHING WRONG"...NEEDED BREAK-IN PERIOD, HE SAID. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND RESULTED IN AT LEAST TWO OCCURRENCES THAT CAUSED CONCERN: ONE MAKING LEFT HAND TURN IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ONE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY. HESITATION WAS PRONOUNCED ENOUGH TO CAUSE MOMENT OF PANIC...KIDS IN CAR ETC. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO HAD EXPLANATION OF USE OF DRIVE-BY-WIRE THROTTLE TECHNOLOGY USED IN FIGHTER PLANES, SAID THAT TOYOTA KNEW OF ISSUE BUT THERE WAS NO WAY FOR THEM TO CALIBRATE. I THEN WENT TO INTERNET TO SEE IF COULD VALIDATE AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. I AM FILING COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT TOYOTA WILL PRESS SOLUTION TO AVOID THE INEVITABLE ACCIDENT. *NM
Power train, Oct 5, 2004
I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED V6 4WD. I WAS MERGING ON A HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP SLOWING DOWN TO TIME THE TRAFFIC WHEN I SAW A GAP TO MERGE. I PRESSED ON THE GAS AND THE HIGHLANDER HESITATED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I KEEP PUMPING ON THE GAS AND THE HL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, LUCKLY FOR ME THE TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER THAT I WAS MERGING INFRONT OF MOVED TO THE NEXT LANE IN TIME OR HE WOULD HAVE PLOWED ME INTO A CONCRETE BRIDGE ABUTMENT. *AK
Power train, Sep 30, 2004
TOYOTA 2004 HIGHLANDER PURCHASED NEW ON 7/1/04 HAS TRANSMISSION SURGING AND DRIVETRAIN "CLUNK" WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR. DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TO NO AVAIL AND CLAIMS IT IS PART OF "FLY-BY-WIRE" DESING BY MANUFACTURER. *AK
Power train, Sep 28, 2004
THE VEHICLE HAS A CONSTANT MINOR HESITATION AND SURGING BEHAVIOR IN ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION SITUATIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT COULD BE A TRUE 'HAZARD' BUT IT IS QUITE ANNOYING.*AK