2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Recalls, Complaints & Safety

MY FRONT TIRES, (FROM A SET OF FOUR), HAVE PARTS OF THE TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE BODY. THE RUBBER UNDER THE MISSING PIECES OF TREAD HAS A TEXTURE LIKE POPCORN. THE INNER SURFACE OF THE RUBBER IS SHINY AND SMOOTH. *DT IT IS NOT FROM GOUGING, FORCE, OR ABUSE TO THE TIRES. IT IS AS IF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS USED TWO DIFFERENT BATCHES OF RUBBER THAT WAS NOT INCORPORATED TOGETHER CORRECTLY, AND IS NOW SEPARATING FROM ITSELF. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY! IF A TIRE FAILURE OCCURS FROM THIS DEFECT AT SPEED, IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, ROLLOVER, HEAD-ON, SERIOUS INJURY/DEATH. PLEASE REVIEW HIS MATTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR PICTURES OF THE DEFECT, SINCE THE WEBSITE HAS NO WAY TO UPLOAD THE PICS.*DT*JB *TR

SUNROOF GLASS BLEW OFF OF THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY YESTERDAY. I SEE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS ON THE INTERNET. WAS THERE EVER A TSB OR RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE FROM TOYOTA? DANGEROUS AND SCARY, HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC.

I AM SOLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE BOUGHT IT NEW AND WELL MAINTAIN IT. DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL ARE PEELING AND GOOEY. TOYOTA SERVICE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT AND ASKED ME TO CALL TOYOTA. I CALLED AND FILED A COMPLAINT NO. 1709121290 WITH TOYOTA. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS BUT NOT THIS ONE SO IT SEEMS THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE FOR THEM. THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX IT.

ON 11/17/2015 I HIT A PARKING ISLAND IN AN UNLIT PARKING LOT. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP, MY BRAKES FAILED. THIS CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT HIT 2 PARKED CARS AND A TREE. I HAVE LOST WAGES AND LIVE IN PAIN EVERY DAY DUE TO INJURIES FROM THIS ACCIDENT.

Crash 1 injured

ON 11/17/2015 I HIT A PARKING ISLAND IN AN UNLIT PARKING LOT. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP, MY BRAKES FAILED. THIS CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT HIT 2 PARKED CARS AND A TREE. I HAVE LOST WAGES AND LIVE IN PAIN EVERY DAY DUE TO INJURIES FROM THIS ACCIDENT.

Crash 1 injured

ON 11/17/2015 I HIT A PARKING ISLAND IN AN UNLIT PARKING LOT. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP, MY BRAKES FAILED. THIS CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT HIT 2 PARKED CARS AND A TREE. I HAVE LOST WAGES AND LIVE IN PAIN EVERY DAY DUE TO INJURIES FROM THIS ACCIDENT.

Crash 1 injured

DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. IT DROOPS APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGREES WHEN LOWER TO BLOCK SUN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. THE POLICE WAS CONTACTED, BUT A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND NECK PAINS THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,980. MA 10/15/2015 *CN

Crash 1 injured

FAULTY STOP LIGHTS, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE STOP LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNSOLVED AND KEEPS COMING BACK ON BOTH TAIL LIGHTS. WHAT'S WRONG TOYOTA?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

TOYOTA HAD A PROBLEM WITH THERE 4 CYLINDER ENGINES IN CAMRY AND HIGHLANDER WITH ENGINE MOUNTAIN THREADS PULLING AWAY FOR A THREE OR FOUR YEAR PERIOD. MY CAR STARTED LEAKING OIL ABOUT 90,000 MILES WHEN I TOOK IN TO A DEALER HE TOLD ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND TOYOTA DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL. I WAS TOLD ONLY FIX IS A NEW ENGINE. THEY ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALSO AGAIN NO RECALL. *TR

WIRING PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT. KEPT REPLACING BULB, THEN REPLACING SOCKET, NOW GOING TO PUT A WHOLE KIT. TOYOTA NEGLECTED TO TELL ME THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE, EVEN AFTER SEVERAL TICKETS AND WASTED MONEY ON DIFFERENT THINGS TELLING ME IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

Crash

WIRING PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT. KEPT REPLACING BULB, THEN REPLACING SOCKET, NOW GOING TO PUT A WHOLE KIT. TOYOTA NEGLECTED TO TELL ME THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE, EVEN AFTER SEVERAL TICKETS AND WASTED MONEY ON DIFFERENT THINGS TELLING ME IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

Crash

WIRING PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT. KEPT REPLACING BULB, THEN REPLACING SOCKET, NOW GOING TO PUT A WHOLE KIT. TOYOTA NEGLECTED TO TELL ME THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE, EVEN AFTER SEVERAL TICKETS AND WASTED MONEY ON DIFFERENT THINGS TELLING ME IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

Crash

ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED THE LINE AND I SWERVED TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION. HOWEVER POINT OF IMPACT WAS DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND SIDE TO REAR. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TR

Crash 1 injured

SUNVISOR DROPS DOWN ABOUT 30 DEGREES FROM THE UP POSITION OR JUST DON'T STAY ALL THE WAY DOWN. *TR

ANYTIME CAR IS KEPT OUTSIDE IN TEMPERATURE BELOW FREEZING, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND STAYS ON AFTER CAR IS STARTED. IT CONTINUES TO STAY ON UNTIL TEMPERATURE WARMS UP AND CAR IS SUBSEQUENTLY RESTARTED. THERE ARE REPORTS OF A TSB ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM STATING THE AIRBAG IS NON-OPERABLE WHILE LIGHT FLASHES, BUT TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR IS WILLING TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. NOTE: THIS IS A SAFETY DRIVE ABILITY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE TREATED AS A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE APPLIED FORCEFULLY IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V228000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE DEALER'S RECORDS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY REPAIR PERFORMED. THE RECALL WAS NOT HONORED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,071.

I HAVE A 2001 HIGHLANDER. THE LEFT VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN FROM THE WEIGHT OF THE VISOR. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN THE VISOR FELL IN FRONT OF MY EYES,CAUSING ME TO SWERVE . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE VISOR. *TR

ON WED, 4 SEP 2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00, I PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO PICK UP MAIL. AFTER PICKING UP THE MAIL, I RETURNED TO THE CAR AND LEANED OVER THE CAR TO RETRIEVE MY PURSE FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN MY SUV STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. MY CAR WHICH WAS ON AN INCLINE IN MY DRIVEWAY KEPT ROLLING BACKWARDS. I FELL ON MY BACK ON THE CONCRETE DRIVEWAY AND THE FRONT TIRE OF MY CAR ROLLED OVER MY LEFT THIGH. THE CAR ROLLED BACK AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. MY NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET CALLED 911. *JS

Crash 1 injured

DRIVER'S SIDE SUNSHADE DOES NOT STAY UP WHEN PLACED IN THE UP POSITION. PRIOR TO THIS, IT WOULD STAY UP FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME AND SUDDENLY FALL DOWN, HITTING THE DRIVER'S HEAD AND BLOCKING THE VIEW.

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF OUR 2001TOYOTA 3.0 HIGHLANDER. I ALSO OWN A 2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA PICKUP AND A 2008 LEXUS ES 350. OUR HIGHLANDER HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL VEHICLE. I HAVE PERFORMED ALL THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ON OUR VEHICLES SINCE THEIR PURCHASE, OIL CHANGES, FLUIDS LEVELS, SERPENTINE AND POWER STEERING BELTS REPLACEMENTS, TIRE ROTATION, AIR AND FUEL FILTERS REPLACEMENT, WIPERS, STRUTS, AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. THE ONLY SERVICE THAT WAS PERFORMED BY TECHNICIANS WAS COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION OIL SERVICE. ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012 WHILE MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, I NOTICED THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED. WHEN I GOT HOME, I USE MY OBD CODE READER AND OBTAINED THE FAULT CODE OF P1349. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MY VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE RUNNING NORMALLY. AFTER READING THE POSSIBLE CAUSES, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND HAD AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED. I DID THIS BECAUSE I HAD A COUPON FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND FILTER FOR $14.99. I RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE WORK. ON THE WAY HOME, I NOTICED THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MY LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT HAD ACTIVATED. AS I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE IT OFF THE FREEWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE MOTOR START MESSING. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE OFF RAMP, THE ENGINE WAS EMITTING LOUD BANGING SOUNDS AND WAS STRUGGLING. BY THE TIME IS ABLE TO SAFELY PARK THE VEHICLE, THE MOTOR HAD CEASED. AS AN ORIGINAL OWNER, I DO NOT RECALL EVER RECEIVING A NOTICE REGARDING OIL JELLY. I AM REQUESTING THAT MY MOTOR FAILURE BE COVERED THE OIL GEL SETTLEMENT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4X4 LIMITED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT OPENED BOTH REAR WINDOWS BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE POWER WINDOW REGULATORS FOR BOTH REAR WINDOWS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,839.

AS MY WIFE WAS SLOWING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO EXPERIENCE AN ACCELERATION ON ITS OWN. SHE FELT AS IF THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK SO SHE IMMEDIATELY PRESSED BRAKE WITH HER LEFT FOOT AND ACCELERATOR WITH THE RIGHT FOOT IN AN EFFORT TO 'RELEASE' THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS WAS A REFLEX MOVE ON HER PART BECAUSE IT HAPPENED SO FAST. THE VEHICLE HOPPED OVER THE PARKING LOT CURB, LANDED ON THE GRASS AND CAME TO A STOP. I WAS STANDING 50 FEET FROM THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE ONLY THING I NOTICED WAS A BRAKING SOUND AND WHEN I TURNED AROUND THE CAR HAD HOPPED AND WAS ON THE GRASS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE OR REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. A MONTH HAS GONE BY SINCE THE INCIDENT AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING UNUSUAL WITH THE CAR SINCE. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IS FRAYING BECAUSE IT RUBS AGAINST THE SLOT IN THE LATCH. MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. I'VE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE I'VE OWNED OVER THE 50 YEARS I'VE DRIVEN. I HAVE A 1992 CAMRY WITH ALMOST 200,000 MILES ON IT, AND THERE IS NO WEAR AT ALL ON THE SEAT BELT. WE NEED A RECALL! *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN INTO MY FIELD OF VIEW WHEN I HIT A BUMP ON A THREE LANE 40 MPH PAVED ROAD AT RUSH HOUR. I NEARLY REAR-ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DURING THE SHORT TIME (MAYBE TWO SECONDS) REQUIRED TO REACT AND RAISE THE VISOR. AN ONLINE SEARCH REVEALED THAT A REPLACEMENT VISOR COSTS A SHOCKING $791.00, AND THAT MANY DOZENS OF OTHERS WERE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM IN 2001 - 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS. SOLUTIONS RANGED FROM JURY-RIGGING THE VISOR IN THE UP POSITION TO SIMPLY REMOVING THE VISOR AND USING ONE'S HAND TO BLOCK THE SUN WHEN NEEDED. SOME OF THESE "SOLUTIONS" ARE OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE, AND COULD EASILY BE AVOIDED IF TOYOTA CHARGED A MORE REASONABLE PRICE FOR THE REPLACEMENT VISOR. REPLACEMENT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY ALMOST ANYONE WITH A SCREWDRIVER IN ABOUT 12 MINUTES. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *TR

I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED. I KEPT HITTING THE BRAKE AND IT FINALLY STOPPED. I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATED AGAIN. I TRIED HITTING THE BRAKE AND IT WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HIT THE GARAGE DOOR. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST IT WAS GOING, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED. *KB

Crash

I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED. I KEPT HITTING THE BRAKE AND IT FINALLY STOPPED. I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATED AGAIN. I TRIED HITTING THE BRAKE AND IT WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HIT THE GARAGE DOOR. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST IT WAS GOING, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED. *KB

Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. THERE WERE NO DAMAGES TO EITHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ALLOW A TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT IT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND AN ENGINEER TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET EXAMINED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Crash

THIS VISIBILITY ISSUE IS CAUSED BY THE SUNVISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE, DROPPING DOWN FROM THE STOWED POSITION UNEXPECTEDLY AND REPEATEDLY BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VISION. DEALER INDICATED NOT A TOYOTA PROBLEM AND PRICING IT AT $700 + DOLLARS TO REPLACE. WHEN DRIVING, THE SUNVISOR HAD TO BE MOVED TO THE SIDE AT ALL TIMES AND BACK TO FORWARD POSITION JUST TO GET IT OUT OF WAY TO EXIT VEHICLE. ENDED UP BUYING FROM THE DEALER A REGULAR VISOR (NOT THE LIMITED MODEL VISOR). THE NEW VISOR COST $80 + DOLLARS. VEHICLE SOLD AS A LIMITED MODEL, SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY HAZARDOUS/DANGEROUS PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS, NOT ADDRESSED WITHOUT A NATIONAL RECALL. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE TOYOTA CORP. FOR NOT ACCEPTING THESE COMPLAINTS AND DENYING THAT PROBLEM EVEN EXISTS. NHTSA PLEASE TAKE NOTE, AND ADD UP ALL THESE SAME VISIBILITY ISSUES AS SHOWING ON YOUR SITE. NOT JUST THIS MODEL I BET MANY SAME VISOR ISSUES SHOW UP FOR OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. THANK YOU! *TR

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

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

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

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

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

Crash 1 injured

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

Crash 1 injured

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.

Crash 1 injured

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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