Toyota Highlander Vehicle Speed Control Problems
Owners have filed 444 complaints with NHTSA about vehicle speed control problems on the Toyota Highlander across 25 model years. The 2008 model year has the most (45). The words owners use most often: “suddenly accelerated” (9% of reports).
- 444vehicle speed control complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 166mention a crash
- 59mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- 25%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Suddenly accelerated: mentioned in 39 of 444 complaints (9%)
- Parking space: mentioned in 38 of 444 complaints (9%)
- Unintended acceleration: mentioned in 26 of 444 complaints (6%)
- Floor mat: mentioned in 23 of 444 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do vehicle speed control problems happen?
Based on 332 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 444 complaints, 166 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 59 an injury.
Toyota Highlander vehicle speed control complaints by model year
| Model year | Vehicle Speed Control complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Highlander | 3 | 30% | 15,000 |
| 2024 Highlander | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2023 Highlander | 9 | 5% | 30,500 |
| 2022 Highlander | 8 | 3% | 7,400 |
| 2021 Highlander | 8 | 2% | 12,000 |
| 2020 Highlander | 10 | 3% | 8,498 |
| 2019 Highlander | 13 | 3% | 10,000 |
| 2018 Highlander | 9 | 3% | 14,800 |
| 2017 Highlander | 13 | 5% | 14,680 |
| 2016 Highlander | 4 | 4% | 15,000 |
| 2015 Highlander | 11 | 6% | 6,500 |
| 2014 Highlander | 5 | 4% | 15,750 |
| 2013 Highlander | 31 | 15% | 9,000 |
| 2012 Highlander | 14 | 8% | 8,200 |
| 2011 Highlander | 12 | 7% | 15,000 |
| 2010 Highlander | 22 | 10% | 4,350 |
| 2009 Highlander | 14 | 10% | 3,574 |
| 2008 Highlander | 45 | 11% | 27,500 |
| 2007 Highlander | 16 | 13% | 33,000 |
| 2006 Highlander | 43 | 15% | 50,000 |
| 2005 Highlander | 39 | 17% | 44,200 |
| 2004 Highlander | 40 | 14% | 38,088 |
| 2003 Highlander | 28 | 11% | 81,234 |
| 2002 Highlander | 31 | 10% | 61,000 |
| 2001 Highlander | 15 | 11% | 56,600 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Model years: 2004, 2005, 2006
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 highlander, highlander hybrid, and model year 2004-2007 lexus rx330, rx350, and rx400h vehicles. If the forward retention clip used to secure the floor carpet cover, which is located in front of the center console, is not installed properly the cover may lean toward the accelerator pedal and interfere with the accelerator pedal arm.
Risk: If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may temporarily become stuck in a partially depressed position rather than return to the idle position. A stuck accelerator pedal may result in unintended and sustained vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the floor carpet cover with a newly designed one free or charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during march 2011. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Model years: 2008, 2009, 2010
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 highlander, model year 2009-2010 corolla, venza and matrix passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. This recall is an expansion of a campaign of 3.8 million other toyota vehicles announced in 2009 for the same issue (see 09v-388).
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will modify or replace the accelerator pedals on the subject vehicles. Floor surface modifications are also being considered and will be included for any model for which it is deemed appropriate. Initially, dealers will be instructed on how to reshape the accelerator pedal for the repair. As replacement parts with the same shape as the modified pedal become available, they will be made available to the dealers for the repair. Customers who have had the pedal reshape remedy completed will have the opportunity to receive a new pedal if they desire, after replacement pedals become available. In addition, toyota will replace any toyota all-weather floor mat in a subject vehicle with a newly designed mat, free of charge. For those customers who have the previous design all-weather floor mat but do not need or want the newly designed all-weather floor mat, toyota will recover the previous design all-weather floor mat and reimburse its price. The safety recall began march 30, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Model years: 2010
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 avalon, model year 2007-2010 camry, model year 2009-2010 corolla, corolla matrix, rav4, model year 2010 highlander, model year 2008-2010 sequoia, and model year 2007-2010 tundra vehicles. Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever may become smooth during vehicle operation. In this condition, if condensation occurs on the surface, as may occur from heater operation (without a/c) when the pedal assembly is cold, the friction when the accelerator pedal is operated may increase, which may result in the accelerator pedal becoming harder to depress, slower to return, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position.
Risk: The accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly. Gm will notify owners for the pontiac vibe please see 10v-018. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on february 5, 2010 and will be completed on march 15, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Model years: 2004, 2005
Problem: On certain sport utility and hybrid vehicles, the two retaining clips for the driver's side forward center console can become loose. If both clips separate from the floor carpet cover, the cover may lean toward the accelerator pedal, causing interference with the accelerator pedal rod.
Risk: This condition may interfere with the accelerator pedal returning to the idle position increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the two floor carpet cover retaining clips free of charge. The recall began on july 24, 2006, and should be completed by early september 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while leaving the driveway at the doctor's office on a slope, the accelerator pedal was depressed while making a left turn, but the vehicle failed to move. The vehicle then rolled into traffic. The brake pedal was depressed, but the…
I was backing up the vechial accelerated the steering wheel was turning rapid & a grinding noise causing me too hit another vechial about a month before my husband was driving & the vechial accelerated going toward also we had had some issues with back camera not doing a warning signal with a…
While driving my 2018 Toyota Highlander Limited, the check engine light began flashing off and on. I was near an exit and drove off the freeway. I could feel the car (near the gas pedal) start shaking, then the power went down quickly... as I was trying to find a safe place to go. The farther I…
Whining sound can be heard while accelerating the vehicle. Maintenance crew is reporting an issue with transmission. UA80F 8 speed transmission on V6 engine in Toyota Highlander has this failure noise. Given that the transmission can fail anytime. It is dangerous to operate the vehicle. No action…
The speedometer registers speed up to 7mph over actual speed for the first 15 miles then returns to matching GPS speed. Reported to Toyota, dealer said they have seen this before but not identified a fix as of today
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Highlanders have vehicle speed control problems?
No. NHTSA has 444 owner complaints about vehicle speed control for the Toyota Highlander. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Toyota Highlander vehicle speed control?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list vehicle speed control. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about vehicle speed control problems on the Toyota Highlander?
The most frequent phrase is “suddenly accelerated”, in 39 of 444 complaints, followed by “parking space” (38).
Other Toyota Highlander problems
- Power Train problems (1,041)
- Electrical System problems (634)
- Service Brakes problems (589)
- Engine problems (536)
- Structure problems (446)
- Steering problems (365)
- Air Bags problems (356)
- Visibility problems (318)
See all Toyota Highlander problems.