NHTSA Complaint #10328714 — 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER PURCHASED USED TOYOTA CERTIFIED 9-3-09 FAILS TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. MOST OCCURRENCES AT LOW SPEED AFTER SLOWING TO 5MPH VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO GAS PEDAL - OR WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR AND MOVE FORWARD. THIS OCCURS OR IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED AFTER HAVING SLOWED DOWN OR IN THE MIDST OF A TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT. WIFE HAS ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING INTO GEAR WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED UP ACTS LIKE YOU DIDN'T SHIFT IT INTO GEAR. WE HAVE ALSO NOTED TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ALWAYS SEEM TO DISENGAGE WHEN SLOWING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS 55 MPH. FEELS LIKE IT IS DRAGGING CAR TO STOP. THERE IS A NOTICEABLE WHINE BETWEEN 55 - 62 MPH. TALKED TO DEALER MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT WAS NORMAL EVERYTHING IS CONTROLLED BY COMPUTERS. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE IT BACK IN THIS WEEK AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. WE HAVE ALSO HAD A ISSUE WITH THE TOYO TIRES. AT 28,345 THEY WERE DOWN TO 5/32 TO 4/32. THEY HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN SNOW AND HEAVY RAIN WITH LOSS OF TRACTION. WHEN ESC KICKS ON IN THE SNOW ON A TURN DO TO SLIDING AT SLOW SPEED IT MAKES MATTERS WORSE BE BETTER OFF WITH IT TURNED OFF. *TR