We have classified the 40 complaints from 2008 Toyota Highlander about VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL into the following categories.
When accellerating into traffic after stopping for a stop sign or light the car moves into the traffic but does not accellerate but coasts dispite flooring the gas pedal. after 2 to 5 seconds the car will accelerate. the tech at the toyota dealership said that this was caused by the computer throttle control that sets according to driving habits. this stall when accelleration is needed has almost caused many collisions from traffic coming up behind the vehicle. this stall happens also when trying to pass a vehicle on roads, pull out from behind vehicle being passed, depress the gas pedal and no acceleration for 2 to 5 seconds then the accelleration happens. this computer flaw is such a safety problem that if i let anyone else drive my vehicle, i have to warn them about the acceleration delay and to make sure there is beyond normal clear space before pulling out into traffic. i try to drive smoothly and avoid flooring the gas pedal. in order avoid a safety issue this computer throttle problem requires the gas pedal to be constantly floored to make sure that when acceleration is really needed ...
When accellerating into traffic after stopping for a stop sign or light the car moves into the traffic but does not accellerate but coasts dispite flooring the gas pedal. after 2 to 5 seconds the car will accelerate. the tech at the toyota dealership said that this was caused by the computer throttle control that sets according to driving habits. this stall when accelleration is needed has almost caused many collisions from traffic coming up behind the vehicle. this stall happens also when trying to pass a vehicle on roads, pull out from behind vehicle being passed, depress the gas pedal and no acceleration for 2 to 5 seconds then the accelleration happens. this computer flaw is such a safety problem that if i let anyone else drive my vehicle, i have to warn them about the acceleration delay and to make sure there is beyond normal clear space before pulling out into traffic. i try to drive smoothly and avoid flooring the gas pedal. in order avoid a safety issue this computer throttle problem requires the gas pedal to be constantly floored to make sure that when acceleration is really needed ...
Re: nhtsa recall 14v168000, aka sc-e0m141007, (10/07/14) 'a number of vehicles including the toyota highlander 2008-2010, where the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a flexible flat cable (ffc). due to the shape and location of the ffc's retainer, the ffc could become damaged when the steering wheel is turned. consequence: if the ffc is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. 2 yrs ago our '08 highlander sport the cruise control started acting erratically, not engaging/not turn/off using the column mounted stalk. our warranty had expired, & time passed, & the cc became unreliable, on a few occasions was unsafe when it did not 'cancel' pulling back on the stalk. i'm handy so i pulled off the steering wheel and took apart the clock spring, discovered that the spiral cable was coated in a waxy dirty looking buildup & there were abrasions on the flat wire tape, exposing the copper beneath, which cracked. this to me is the same thing that happened to the wire tape for the vehicles in the airbag recall mentioned ...
For about 6 months or longer, the cruise control on this car has been operating erratically, when it wants to it seems. the problem always seemed to be that i couldn't turn the system on. now, however, when i am sometimes able to turn it on, and set the speed, the problem becomes that the stalk on the lower right side of the steering wheel will lose it's connection and the movements of the stalk become inactive. this is very surprising if you're planning to slow down, speed up or more importantly hit the cancel button. the only thing to do is hit the brakes. this is very distracting and potentially dangerous.
On several occasions the vehicle has surged forward while traveling at low speed and applying the brake. tonight, and on at least two other occasions, it has occurred while exiting the local wendy's restaurant. the exit slopes downward for ten feet or so before reaching the multi-lane one way road. tonight, as i was coming down the exit with my foot on the brake, the vehicle once again surged forward and out into the road. i almost ran into the sides of several cars that were passing by, but i was able to get the vehicle stopped right before it got far enough out in the road to hit them. i don't know how close my front end was to hitting them, but it was very close. that's why i'm filing this complaint. i've checked the mat and it's not the mat. i believe it is something in the electronic speed control, but as you know, tests have been conducted on toyota vehicles before for this issue, and nothing was found that i'm aware of. but i'm telling you now, and i have a degree in astronomy (i'm technically minded), ...
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. while driving at 5 mph and parking the vehicle in the garage at home, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without the accelerator pedal being depressed. the vehicle crashed through the interior wall of the garage, only coming to a stop after damaging the outer brick facade of the building. the air bags did not deploy. there was no police report filed and no injuries sustained. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 98,000. updated 10/07/15*lj updated 12/11/2017*cn
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 toyota highlander. while idling at a stop sign, the vehicle accelerated independently and crashed into the passenger side of another vehicle. the driver sustained unknown injuries that required medical attention. a police report was filed. the manufacturer was not notified. the vehicle was towed to the insurance mechanic where it was deemed destroyed. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 50,000. the vin was not available.
On december 10th, 2014, around 8:15am, our 2008 highlander sport awd suddenly accelerated at full throttle when approaching a stop sign, entered the cross section and crashed with incoming suv on the passenger side. the car kept going at high speed after running a curb and flattened all 4 tires on straight lines and eventually stopped in a neighbor's yard, made deep trench into the lawn. the other parties were taken to hospital for medical exam and their suv was badly damaged to the engine compartment. we have photos from various angles showing that this car was not stoppable by a human at the moment. we were told our car will be a total loss by the insurance company. our evidence indicated the car's defects was the primary cause of full throttle acceleration which has been the case for many other toyota car owners for the last few years. we need to hold toyota responsible and accountable for this and other accidents and to be investigated thoroughly by the nhtsa. our loss should be properly compensated by toyota. thank you for your attention. case:toyota highlander uncontrolled acceleration accident on 12/10/2014 case number:[xxx] ...
The spiral cable in the steering wheel has caused the airbag light to come on, which means the airbags will not operate in the event of a crash. also the horn and cruise control will not operate. these items are all associated with the spiral cable. toyota customer service said they know of the spiral cable problem but do not have a fix for it now. *tr
Attempting to park car in a shopping center. suddenly engine accelerated unintentionally. hit curb & tree. damage to car approximately $6000 to repair. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. while driving approximately 5 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly increased acceleration. when the brake pedal was depressed there was no immediate response which resulted to the vehicle crashing into a cement wall. the front passenger sustained bruises to the body and injured the left leg. a police report was filed of the incident. the vehicle was completely destroyed and towed to a collision center. the manufacturer was notified and planned to launch an investigation regarding the unintended acceleration. the approximate failure mileage was 63,000.
I was parked in front of a subway restaurant in a strip mall at approximately 7:30 p.m. after eating, my family and i left the restaurant and got into our toyota highlander. i put the car in reverse and backed out of my parking spot just a few feet. (it is a very narrow parking lot and faces a very busy street.) i bumped into a concrete pole that was behind me, that i could not see because of the darkness. i then put the car in drive, so that i could pull back up into my original parking spot and renegotiate how i was going to back out. as soon as i applied a little pressure to the accelerator, the car suddenly seemed to jump forward. before i could even process what what happening, the car accelerated very, very quickly and i slammed into the brick wall of the subway. there was not even time for me to think about applying the brake, it happened so fast. i felt like i had lost complete control of the vehicle. thankfully, no one was hurt, but there was property damage to ...
I was involved in a car accident on 08/17/2010 while driving my 2008 toyota highlander that has 23000 miles on it. the accident caused me total damage to my car and put my life in danger due to failure in the break/acceleration system on the car. the car did not stop but accelerated even though when i was pressing the break which caused me to hit a truck that was passing in front of me. i explained to the emergency crew that the accident was because of failure of the break/and acceleration system on the toyota car and i explained the same thing to the police officer who was presented on the scene. i like to mention here that the toyota dealer sent me a note of defection about my car prior to the accident and i took the car to the dealer shop and spent 2 hours there to have it fixed. the car now is at the state farm insurance and i can email/send you the car pictures after the accident.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. while the vehicle was in drive gear, the vehicle began to surge backwards until the ignition was turned off. upon restarting the vehicle it began to function normally. the vehicle was not examined to determine the cause of failure. the failure mileage was 48,700 and the current mileage was 48,880. the vin was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. the contact stated while driving at approximately 15 mph, the vehicle rapidly accelerated without driver intent. the contact shifted into neutral and depressed the brakes until he was able to stop the vehicle. there was no warning prior to the failure. the manufacturer was contacted and advised an investigator would further assess the failure. the manufacturer stated also that the vehicle would be towed to the nearest dealer for diagnostic repairs. the vehicle was not yet repaired or diagnosed. the failure and current mileages were approximately 30,000.