2005 Toyota Highlander Automatic Transmission Problems
- 27
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 27 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 12 |
| 30–60k mi | 4 |
| 60–100k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Automatic Transmission · Frame And Members · Service Brakes, Air
My 2005 limited edition toyota highlander has multiple issues. The right caliber is sticking, which has caused heat and warping in the hub system and affected the abs sensor. These will both need to be replaced at a cost of over $1000. The front struts are leaking. The largest problem is with the transmission which has some type of interior problem. It is suggested that i replace the transmission. The cost to repair…
ODI 10421658
Automatic Transmission
My 2005 toyota highlander developed a leak from the transfer case, which has the potential to cause a complete loss of transmission fluid as well as loss of steering control. There are documented accidents which have occurred as a result of this problem. This repair would normally be covered by a 5 year/60,000 mile power train warranty however the leak was discovered a few months after the 5 year time period…
ODI 10370393
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2005 toyota highlander and the transmission has slipped from about 45,000 miles when it shift from 3rd to 4th. Taken it to dealer for upgrade on ecm and this did not fix problem and it is getting worse. *tr
ODI 10328384
Automatic Transmission · Vehicle Speed Control
2005 highlander v6 awd. Has a surging effect since day one. Also surges slightly when applying brakes. In traffic stop and go situation, vehicle does not respond for a few seconds and then lunges forward. Very dangerous when trying to change lanes. Dealer said nothing wrong with vehicle. Toyota said at time to contact dealer.
ODI 10316713
Automatic Transmission · Fuel System, Gasoline · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I've owned a 2005 toyota highlander since new, once in a while this condition would occur, now it is all the time. It just turned over 80k miles. I have not been notified of any recalls, not even toyota no. 60f. When you are coming to a stop,at normal speeds,normal braking pedal pressure, just before the vehicle stops, it launches forward with your foot pressure on the brake pedal. When you apply more pressure as if…
ODI 10313008
Automatic Transmission · Equipment
My 2005 toyota highlander v6 4wd, which i purchased new, has been experiencing a hesitation/shifting problem for nearly as long as i have owned the vehicle. While the problem does not always occur, it is quite pronounced when it does and has resulted in very dangerous situations. The problem has been brought to the direct attention of toyota motor sales in california, and their response has been disturbingly poor.…
ODI 10303083
Automatic Transmission
Automatic transmission is forcing fluid out through vent causing loss of fluid and possible damage to transmission. Dealer said it is caused by bearing going bad in the transmission. Vehicle has almost 90,000 miles. Dealership said problem is covered under extended warranty since it was a certified used vehicle. *tr
ODI 10269998
Automatic Transmission
I have a toyota highlander 2005 v6 4wd, which suffers from a transmission shift delay and hesitation ,which normally occurs when upshifting or downshifting between 2nd and 3rd gear. This shift delay is not only a headache, but a safety concern to me and many other fellow highlander owners as seen on various online forums. While driving my vehicle i have to constantly try to anticipate how it might react in order to…
ODI 10378479
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 toyota highlander. While the contact shifted the gear into the park position, the transmission began to jerk with hesitation. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.
ODI 10376375
Automatic Transmission
2005 v6 toyota highlander - transmission update flash - does not resolve lag issue as intended, and later makes transmission stutter and jerky - not resolved after transmission fluid change and inspection. Two dealers stated: could not replicate issue. Family and friends have driven and ridden in vehicle and state they feel it drives like an old car or worse - makes noises and is not smooth, also can be dangerous if…
ODI 10200580
Automatic Transmission
I own a 2005 toyota highlander v6. I'm experiencing a pause or hesitation shifting into low at very low speeds (2 to 4 mph). The hesitation causes the vehicle to lunge because the gas peddle is depressed before the low gear engages. I feel it is an unsafe design because in slow traffic or near pedestrians i need to keep my left foot on the brake to prevent the car from lunging. Toyota has informed me that the…
ODI 10174907
Automatic Transmission · Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
Purchased a new 2005 toyota highlander 4wd. After 45k miles the 4wd transfer case began to leak gear oil and transmission fluid. I noticed this since i do all my own oil changes on the vehicle. No harm was done, but i have brought the same problem to the dealership 5 times. Each time they stated that they have repaired the problem. However, without fail several months later i am still experiencing the problem.…
ODI 10184681
Automatic Transmission
Long hesitation when trying to accelerate from a stop or low speeds. *jb
ODI 10168780
Automatic Transmission
Summary: 2005 toyota highlander has signification hesitation when accelerating. 1.) events leading to failure: failure is constant since it is present during normal operation of vehicle; 2. Failure and its consequences: if i accelerate (step on the gas pedal), the vehicle hesitates/lags/dies for a few seconds before vehicle will begin moving. The consequences of this failure is that there is constant danger when…
ODI 10162467
Automatic Transmission · Vehicle Speed Control
Unexplained vehicle acceleration with inability to stop before hitting vehicle in front of me. Pulled off of road behind truck to park. Lifted foot from gas pedal to put on brake so as to put vehicle into park. There was then an extreme vehicle acceleration which was uncontrollable with brake. Slammed into truck. Toyota corp claims no errors logged in computer system, and that if foot would have been on brake pedal,…
Crash reported
ODI 10161408
Automatic Transmission
Toyota hilander limited. I have a hesitation when i accelerate. I have had it back to toyota at least 3 times concerning this problem. They tell me that's the way it's supposed to be. It's dangerous if you are trying to get on an interstate and don't have the acceleration you need. *ak
ODI 10187743
Automatic Transmission
My 2005 toyota highlander has chronic transmission problems. When accelerating, the engine revs but the transmission hesitates noticeably before going into gear. Sometimes the hesitation lasts so long that it interferes with my ability to merge onto the freeway and those are very scary situations. Sometimes the transmission cannot decide what gear to be in and when it does engage the whole car bucks or shudders.…
ODI 10305396
Automatic Transmission
Multiple times, i have tried to accelerate the vehicle and there has been "hesitation" when i depressed the gas pedal--the car seemed to be in neutral, there was no response. This has happened many times at different speeds/gears--it is not predictable. I have almost been rear ended once; in that instance the car actually "bucked" and stopped. I had to turn off the engine, restart, and drive a short distance to a…
ODI 10150714
Automatic Transmission
Car is a 2005 toyota highlander ltd. V-6 4wd with 5-sp auto. Engine hesitates severely when asked to accelerate hard at speeds seemingly between 15 and 70 mph. (these are speeds i've noticed it) when you "floor" the throttle to quicky merge with traffic or turn across a line of oncoming traffic, there is a rather long delay before vehicle begins to accelerate. This behavior also occurs exactly the same way in my…
ODI 10145021
Automatic Transmission · Control Module (Tcm, Pcm)
Recurring issue: while traveling at both highway and city street speeds, the driver attempted to pass by fully depressing the accelerator and the vehicle failed to accelerate for approximately 1-2 seconds. This has resulted in near-miss accident/injury incidents. The dealer was contacted and stated this was a routine complaint for this vehicle and the lexus rx-330. The manufacturer, toyota corporate, was contacted…
ODI 10145178
Automatic Transmission
I have made numerous complaints about the functioning of the transmission in my 2005 toyota highlander. It began one month after i purchased the new car. The problems have progressively grown worse and are more frequent. The dealership indicates that the hesitation and jerking of the transmission is normal and a result of the electronic controlling of the transmission. Even after the dealership updated the software,…
ODI 10156791
Automatic Transmission
Automatic transmission hesitation - when needing to accelerate quickly (as when entering a freeway) after slowing down or coasting, the transmission has downshifted to a too-low gear or neutral. The engine speeds up to approximately 5000 rpm without increasing the car speed. Letting up on the gas and accelerating more easily allows the vehicle speed to increase. So far, this hesitation has not caused me to be…
ODI 10144333
Automatic Transmission
On our 2005 toyota highlander with a 4 cylinder engine, and electronic transmission. On several occasions, when taking off from a stop, letting off on the accelerator, and immediately pushing the accelerator rather hard to attempt to merge into traffic, the vehicle's engine increases rpm's, but no power goes to the wheels. It is as if the transmission computer cannot determine what gear to shift into. You have to…
ODI 10142579
Automatic Transmission
1-merging into traffic on interstate, and making a turn and merging inot traffic 2-engine hesitation for a few seconds, then vehicle responds with surge in speed. Cars coming behind me had to brake/change lanes to keep from hitting me. 3-i didn't try to have the problem fixed, because i undrstand that toyota is saying this is normal, and not a porblem.
ODI 10128880
Automatic Transmission
2005 toyota highlander. Issues with automatic transmission shifting properly. Shift lags severely when gas pedal is engaged causing vehicle to lag behind and not catch up to the proper speed. Vehicles behind it are in a position to severely impact the rear bumper because vehicle is not moving. Have had car to dealer and they claim there's nothing they can do. Have asked them to check service bulletins and see about…
ODI 10162363