NHTSA Complaint #10358010 — 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LTD (N/A). WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND SPEEDING TO 70 MPH TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE PASSENGER REMOVED THE FLOOR MATS BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL FIRMLY, SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF. THE RPMS CONTINUED TO INCREASE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD CARBON AND BUILT UP CORROSION WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD, TOO HIGH IN MILEAGE AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 218,000.