2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Power Train Problems

ON WED, 4 SEP 2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00, I PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO PICK UP MAIL. AFTER PICKING UP THE MAIL, I RETURNED TO THE CAR AND LEANED OVER THE CAR TO RETRIEVE MY PURSE FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN MY SUV STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. MY CAR WHICH WAS ON AN INCLINE IN MY DRIVEWAY KEPT ROLLING BACKWARDS. I FELL ON MY BACK ON THE CONCRETE DRIVEWAY AND THE FRONT TIRE OF MY CAR ROLLED OVER MY LEFT THIGH. THE CAR ROLLED BACK AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. MY NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET CALLED 911. *JS

AS MY WIFE WAS SLOWING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO EXPERIENCE AN ACCELERATION ON ITS OWN. SHE FELT AS IF THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK SO SHE IMMEDIATELY PRESSED BRAKE WITH HER LEFT FOOT AND ACCELERATOR WITH THE RIGHT FOOT IN AN EFFORT TO 'RELEASE' THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS WAS A REFLEX MOVE ON HER PART BECAUSE IT HAPPENED SO FAST. THE VEHICLE HOPPED OVER THE PARKING LOT CURB, LANDED ON THE GRASS AND CAME TO A STOP. I WAS STANDING 50 FEET FROM THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE ONLY THING I NOTICED WAS A BRAKING SOUND AND WHEN I TURNED AROUND THE CAR HAD HOPPED AND WAS ON THE GRASS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE OR REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. A MONTH HAS GONE BY SINCE...

THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH MAKES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ESPECIALLY THE SPEEDOMETER UNREADABLE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE TIME WHEN THE DRIVER IS WEARING SUNGLASSES. I CANT'T DRIVE WITHOUT SUNGLASSES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH LIGHT INCIDENT ON THE RECESSED INSTRUMENTS TO MAKE THEM READABLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. THIS VEHICLE LIKE ALL IN THE SOUTHEAST U.S AND LOTS OF OTHER AREAS HAS THE TINTED "PRIVACY GLASS" INSTALLED ON THE REAR WINDOWS WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO LESS LIGHT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT I DEPEND ON THE SPEEDOMETER TO KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING WHEN ENTERING CURVES, ON-RAMPS, ETC. THE VEHICLE IS TOO SMOOTH AND QUIET TO JUDGE SPEED ANY OTHER WAY. THIS COULD BE INEXPENSIVELY FIXED JUST BY HAVING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME.

SPEEDOMETER STOPPED (WENT TO ZERO) WHILE CAR OPERATING AT 65 MPH. REGISTERED COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA, WHO ADVISED IT WAS ACCEPTABLE DEFECT, AND WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

SPEEDOMETER STOPPED (WENT TO ZERO) WHILE CAR OPERATING AT 65 MPH. REGISTERED COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA, WHO ADVISED IT WAS ACCEPTABLE DEFECT, AND WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.