NHTSA Complaint #10311577 — 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

ON DECEMBER 2, 2009, I TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SPORT MODEL, WITH A V-6 ENGINE AND 2 WHEEL DRIVE. THIS VEHICLE SUBSEQUENTLY WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE JANUARY & FEBRUARY, 2010 RECALL NOTICES AS BEING ONE OF THE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE STICKING GAS PEDAL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PRECEDING THE RECALL NOTICES, ON JANUARY 15, 2010, I EXPERIENCED A BRAKE PEDAL FADE WHILE STOPPED ON LEVEL FLAT GROUND AT A RED TRAFFIC SIGNAL. I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER TO ENSURE THAT I DID NOT DRIFT INTO THE REAR END OF THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. UPON PRESSING DOWN HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE "HILL ASSIST" WARNING BUZZER SOUNDED EVEN THOUGH MY WHEELS WERE NOT SPINNING OR IN DANGER OF SPINNING. WHEN THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL CHANGED TO GREEN A MINUTE OR SO LATER, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND LIGHTLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO START MOVING FORWARD. I FOUND THAT I HAD TO APPLY SUBSTANTIAL ( GREATER THAN NORMAL) PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MAKE THE CAR MOVE FORWARD. THIS CAUSED GREAT CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING FORWARD TOO QUICKLY FROM A DEAD STOP AND HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY SELLING DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE CAR'S COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW ANY DEFAULTS AND THAT ALL SYMPTOMS WERE NORMAL. I WAS FURTHER ADVISED TO STOP PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SO HARD. HOWEVER, MY CONCERN IS THAT WHENEVER THE "HILL ASSIST" SYSTEM IS ENGAGED (I CAN ENGAGE IT AT ANY TIME AT WILL), THERE IS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY THAT THE EXTRA PRESSURE NEEDED TO START THE CAR MOVING FORWARD WILL CAUSE ME TO ACCELERATE INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS CONDITION IS COMPUTER RELATED AND PRESENTS AN IMMINENT DANGER TO BOTH MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS DRIVING A SIMILAR EQUIPPED TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THEREFORE, I AM REQUESTING THAT AN INVESTIGATION BE COMMENCED IMMEDIATELY IN LIGHT OF TOYOTA'S MASSIVE RECALL PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.*TR