2005 Toyota HIGHLANDER: complaints, problems and recalls

AFTER PLACING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 540 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097745 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED. I FIND THAT IN THE BRIGHT FLORIDA SUNSHINE, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (SPEEDOMETER ETC.) IS SO DEEPLY RECESSED INTO THE DASH, THEY ARE DARK AND IMPOSSIBLE TO READ -- ESPECIALLY WITH SUN GLASSES. THIS IS RATHER DISCONCERTING WHEN I CANNOT SEE/READ THE SPEEDOMETER! I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO DATE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10108379 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. DRIVER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE , AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *AK *BF *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113278 at NHTSA ↗

WE TOOK OUR 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER TO THE TIRE SHOP FOR A TIRE ROTATION @ 10,000 MILES. WHEN THE WHEEL NUTS WERE HAND TORQUED TO 85PLI TWO WHEEL STUDS BROKE. THE EMPLOYEE TOLD US THAT THE METAL SEEMED SOFT. WE HAVE THE BROKEN STUDS IF YOU WANT US TO SEND THEM IN FOR TESTING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113866 at NHTSA ↗

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: TRANSMISSION TERRIBLY SLOW TO RESPOND. VERY DANGEROUS. TAKES AT LEAST A FULL SECOND TO RESPOND -- EITHER TRANSMISSION OR THROTTLE IS DEFECTIVE. *AK TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. THE COMPANIES ATTITUDE IS: "IF WE DON'T ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM, THERE IS NO PROBLEM. "

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114325 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH DRIVER PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR IN ORDER TO PASS A VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO ACCELERATE WHEN PEDAL WAS APPLIED, AND FINALLY ACCELERATED AFTER A FEW SECONDS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115243 at NHTSA ↗

TOYOTA, HIGHLANDER 2005. GOING DOWN A MOUNTAIN AT APPROXIMATEKY 50 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY, BACK END FLIPPED UP, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISH TAIL. THE VEHICLE SLID INTO A BUSY ITERSECTION THEN STALLED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. WHILE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE I DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM W/A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT GETTING A NEW VEHICLE. (THIS VEHICLE WAS ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD). AND WAS TOLD THAT IF I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO ARBITRATION THEY WOULD IMMEDIATLY CEAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116888 at NHTSA ↗

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM: WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 30 MPH (OR CRUISING SPEED), ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO ACCELERATE FOR A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS. ACCELERATION RESUMED AFTER THIS PERIOD. CONTACTED TOYOTA. TOYOTA SAID THIS IS A NORMAL PHENOMENON IN THEIR DRIVE-BY-WIRE SYSTEMS.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,905 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120592 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-07-13 (July 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.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

Reported: 2010-10-21 (October 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2011-02-24 (February 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2011-11-09 (November 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2016-06-02 (June 2, 2016)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.