NHTSA Complaint #10162467 — 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

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 MAKING A LEFT TURN DURING GAPS IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ALTHOUGH A MARGIN OF SAFETY IS ALWAYS USED, I AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY, SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN TO REDUCE THIS MARGIN, E.G. ONCOMING CAR IS ACCELERATING VERY QUICKLY OR THE HESITATION WORSENS FROM A FEW SECONDS TO SEVERAL SECONDS; 3.) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: NOTHING. CONTACTED TWO TOYOTA DEALERS, DON DAVIS TOYOTA AND FREEMAN TOYOTA, AND WAS TOLD BY JOHN AND TIM, SERVICE DEPT ADVISORS, THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR TOYOTAS SINCE ADOPTING FLY-BY OR DRIVE-BY WIRE. BOTH AUTHORIZED TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES SAY THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS COMPLAINT BUT THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DONE; THIS IS NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURE AND FALLS WITHIN THEIR DESIGN PARAMETERS. NO PARTS WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW BY TOYOTA. WHILE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM, THEY DO NOT FEEL THEY NEED TO RESOLVE AND OFFER NO SOLUTION. *JB