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Comments
I personally think anyone stupid enough to purchse a FWD vehicle has a perfect right to encounter all the hazards thereof without any interference whatsoever.
No, really, I think the automotive industry is going to far to coddle us and in the process there are taking all the fun away.
At Toyota and Lexus dealers, and the Edmunds Town Hall website, owners frequently complain of hesitation and surging in 2004 models (Camry, Highlander, Sienna, ES330 and RX330). Yet, Toyota claims there is no defect, and no safety problem with the transaxle and drive by wire throttle/software system—this is “normal” performance because all their cars do it.
Based on the NHTSA database of 2004 owner reports:
• There are 13 reports of accidents with property damage, personal injury and one death related to the transmission/throttle system. (7 times the equivalent Ford and Honda accident rate!).
• Owners of V6 models (Sienna, ES330 and RX330) are 15 times more likely than Ford and Honda owners to file a hesitation/surging complaint—Could it be because a) they have more problems b) Toyota refuses to acknowledge (or fix) the problem and c) it’s NHTSA’s job to step in when a manufacturer won’t voluntarily correct their safety defects?
• The majority of V6 Toyota owners filing a hesitation/surging complaint state the car is unsafe. (Of the significantly fewer transmission complaints from Ford and Honda owners, none reported it as a safety hazard!)
I don't want to loose this thread. There are too many of us having this problem to let it go...and we are getting new members everyday that might not be aware. Hey, maybe this will get it resolved!!!
So file a complaint if you are experiencing the hesitation problem with the '04 Highlander here;
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
Click on "secure submissions" and fill out the simple form. When you get towards the end of filling out the form, you'll be asked the component. Click/highlight "POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION." Some have posted under "VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL" so file where you want. There are (8) complaints under PT: Auto Trans and (2) under VSC:Accel Pedal at present posting. As of 9/23/04 that is.
Thanks!
I agree. If I buy a car that is more likely to roll over than another, so be it. Trying to engineer a driver out of a rollover accident by having the car stall at a critical moment is asinine. It's like trying to prevent Humpty Dumpty from falling off the wall by booby trapping his ladder so he falls off the ladder rather than the wall.
Engineers being driven by lawyers...next we'll have cars that refuse to start because we might get into an accident. "What's that?" "Oh that's my $32,000 Highlander paperweight. It doesn't drive, but it makes a heck of a decoration, don't you think?"
By the way, someone mentioned that using snow mode and turning off the overdrive helped the hesitation issue. I tried it, and for me it did not help.
Maybe if enough of us make our voices heard, Toyota will come up with some sort of fix.... And you're right about new members- I've seen a handful of new HL's in town lately. Maybe a few of these new owners will have the same problem.
Mine is an '04 FWD 4-cylinder model. I found an explanation for when to turn off the traction control in the owner's manual, but no explanation of "ETC/Snow" even in the section on winter driving. The illustration of the dashboard and the indicator lights refers to "ETC/Snow" as "Snow Mode."
Does it maybe lock out first gear so you start moving in second?
today now tire pressure warning lite is on.
called dealer
service manager (who was new) said it can be a problem
"push the lite reset button on the dash, if that does not work remove the wheels and rotate them 180 degrees on the hub. He said it took them 2 hours to fix one.
I read the owners manual - a complicated system.
I re set it and re initialized it but do not know if it "took" - tho lite is out - manual says u have to drive an hour.
design of this seems very non toyota,as it violates the KISS (simple) rule
anyone heard of this rotate the wheel on the hub fix? is that bad info?
In the 60s pontiac and probably all of GM had different alignment specs depending on who was paying ie warranty specs were wider than customer paying specs (these were in the factory manual.
Maybe I have more a question than a problem regarding the tire pressure sensors. Friday night she parked the HL after a trip. Saturday she drove <.2 mile and realized she had a flat tire (passenger rear). While I filled the flat tire I saw sidewall wear that indicated that it had been driven flat for more than the drive down our street. I filled the tire and limped to a nearby tire store. The pressure warning light never went on. The tire shop was kind enough to put on the full size spare (which is a real tire on a real aluminum rim...I like that) as the tire was ruined, and suggested we take this up with the Toyota dealer. My wife took the HL to the Toyota dealer today and was told that the sensor does not work in the event of sudden pressure loss, and does not work until the vehicle is moving at 9mph. It was a slow/moderate leak and the warning light never went on.
I'm not going to lose any sleep over the cost of replacing the tire but am disappointed that what seemed like a nice feature only works in very selective situations.
I am considering pursuing this with Toyota but would like the groups input to see if I have a case or am just ignorant about this system.
Thanks for your input!
Maybe I have more a question than a problem regarding the tire pressure sensors. Friday night she parked the HL after a trip. Saturday she drove <.2 mile and realized she had a flat tire (passenger rear). While I filled the flat tire I saw sidewall wear that indicated that it had been driven flat for more than the drive down our street. I filled the tire and limped to a nearby tire store. The pressure warning light never went on. The tire shop was kind enough to put on the full size spare (which is a real tire on a real aluminum rim...I like that) as the tire was ruined, and suggested we take this up with the Toyota dealer. My wife took the HL to the Toyota dealer today and was told that the sensor does not work in the event of sudden pressure loss, and does not work until the vehicle is moving at 9mph. It was a slow/moderate leak and the warning light never went on.
I'm not going to lose any sleep over the cost of replacing the tire but am disappointed that what seemed like a nice feature only works in very selective situations.
I am considering pursuing this with Toyota but would like the groups input to see if I have a case or am just ignorant about this system.
Thanks for your input!
where are they and what do they look like?
Thanks again for the prompt Phyllis
Once, however, I read about an "issue" with one of my cars, that I wasn't aware of, and it made me hate the car. LOL It was mentioned that the steering wheel on (this particular vehicle that I also owned) was designed slightly off center, and at an slight angle with the driver's seat. I had never noticed this, and, of course, every time I drve that car after reading that, it was in my mind. I sold that car a few months later. It was getting near time to replace it anyway, but that helped in my decision to sell it.
There have been other issues I have followed, that got so much discussion here, that it is appears that the manufacturer stepped up and addressed that issue publicly, in response to Edmunds. In fact, the even had a thread where posts/questions were answered by the manufacturer's representative.
Sorry for long post..
a faithfull (but aware) reader
So, Toyota has no intention to fix this "design" until it hurts them in the pocketbook not to. Apparently, we were all stupid for buying their product and we got what we deserve. Many more people need to complain about this before anything will be done.
I guess the next step is nhtsa complaint and consider arbitration. In the meantime, Toyota has created another walking billboard warning people...
DON'T BUY THE HIGHLANDER - IT'S DANGEROUS, DRIVES CRUDELY AND UNPREDICTABLY!
Test drive the Highlander carefully before you buy.
Mine seems to be OK (no hesitation issues). I'm not sure why some would do it and not others, but that seems to be the case.
I don't want to loose this thread. There are too many of us having this problem to let it go and we are getting new members everyday that might not be aware. Hey, maybe this will get it resolved!!!
So file a complaint if you are experiencing the hesitation problem with the '04 Highlander here;
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
Click on "secure submissions" and fill out the simple form. When you get towards the end of filling out the form, you'll be asked the component. Click/highlight "POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION." Some have posted under "VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL" so file where you want. There are (10) complaints under PT: Auto Trans and (3) under VSC:Accel Pedal at present posting. As of 10/04/04 that is.
Thanks!
Jbollt, I agree...to an extent. Yes, if someone is unhappy with a certain issue, they tend to be a little more "vocal" which is totally understandable. But my point and it's only a point is to get this serious problem corrected in anyway I can. I've already followed the proper channels and as so many others have pointed out, the response we get is "it's normal."
Well, it's NOT!
I really love my Highlander as does my wife and I plan on keeping it through thick and thin. And if it wasn't for this transmission issue, I wouldn't be going through the trouble of re-posting this.
Please understand I'm not getting off on seeing my post on the internet or just trying to over-stress the negatives, I'm not. I'm just trying to help myself and others in getting this corrected. It's too serious to let it go.
Myself and others have invested too much money in the trust of Toyota and they must be held accountable.
I don't want someone, myself or family included to get hurt because this vehicle isn't performing at 100%.
BTW, was your previous vehicle with a "off center" steering wheel a CR-V?
Sorry to hear about your problems, but you're beating a dead horse.
The issues:
- Oil + Filter change
- Check A/C temperature
- Check steering wheel squeak
- Check 'chattering' rear wiper
- Check rear hatch interior trim
- Check gasket on rear hatch near Toyota logo
- Check driver side mudguard (torn)
*08/21 Sat.* appointment
- Oil and filter changed
- A/C temp checked out at 38 degrees F. Normal. Could not duplicate intermittent blowing warm air.
- Lubed steering column. Stated insufficient lube.
- Replace rear wiper arm/blade. Stated arm was bent. (ORDERED PART)
- Rear hatch interior trim. (ORDERED PART)
- Rear hatch logo grommet (ORDERED PART)
- Mudguard (ORDERED PART)
Advisor states parts should be in in 1 - 1 1/2 weeks.
*09/17 Fri.* 4 weeks later, no call from dealership so I called. Said 3 of 4 parts arrived. Waiting for interior trim garnish.
*09/22 Wed* Received voicemail from dealer. All parts are in. Pls call to schedule appointment.
*09/23 Thu* Called dealer to set up Sat. appt. Said they're too busy, schedule for weekday. Offered to provide rental car if I left car Wed. PM, pick up next day. Agreed
*09/29 Wed* Dropped off car at 4PM. Got Corolla rental. Got home, received voicmail AGAIN: All parts are in. Please call to schedule appt.
*09/30 Thu* Called dealer to have them check famous glovebox rattle. Stopped by dealer on the way home from work. Advisor states 1 part has NOT YET arrived. (After 2 voicemail stating otherwise!!)Said to keep rental car. I asked to speak to service manager. He promised to 'take care of me and my HL'. I asked for rental upgrade. Surprisingly, they gave me a 2004 Prius. (this is a really great, fascinating car!)
*10/01 Fri* Dealer states part came in...but was damaged. Keep Prius 1 more day. (Fine with me!)
*10/02 Sat* Saturday 4PM dealer calls...car is ready.
Picked up car. Everything fixed. Could not test rear wiper until it rains. They could not duplicate A/C problem. Said they would extend the warranty on the A/C however.
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to share my ordeal with you all.
Toyota dealer tries, but not very hard. They really botch things up then play the 'make up' game with apologies, and rental cars. My HL has been pretty decent for being a 1st model year. (2001). Just some minor annoyances that shouldn't be there, but no major show stoppers. Very disappointed in Toyota (vehicles and dealer service). Probably go back to Honda.
Gary
2001 2WD HL V6 'non' limited
Millennium Silver
28000 miles
If Toyota thinks the "hesitation" version of the engine control firmware/software is the correct one you may find that the dealers will update your non-hesitation model for the correct version.
If there were two different codes or versions out there, wouldn't they just recode the hesitating vehicles using the "non-hesitation" code?
I certainly think the hesitation issue is cause for concern, but I'm skeptical about the likelihood of the situation you describe.
I've been in the automotive industry for over 25 years and all they (Toyota) needs to do is a "re-flash" of the PCM. (Powertrain Control Module)
Yes hmurphy, they could re-flash using a program that is not experiencing any of the problems but it wouldn't work on all the Highlanders. There are too many variables; Engine size, transmission, 4WD or 2WD, Limited or Non Limited editions, options factory installed, tire size and so on. All of these and more are programed into a vehicles PCM.
I'm convinced that they (Toyota) knows how to fix this but they (Toyota) don't want to deal with the embarrassment and expense of this warranty issue. Plus there probably hasn't been enough complaints to justify a fix/recall.
All they see right now is escalating sales numbers which translates into dollars.
Dealer confirmed that it is a rear main seal and said that they have seen quite a few of these. A friend that is a Lexus tech tells me that he also has replaced quite a few on RX300s.
I didn't expect something like this with only 38k miles, but at least the powertrain warranty will cover it. For those of you that do your own oil changes, you might want to take a peek at this area. Actually, I recommend anybody take a look especially if you are near the end of your powertrain warranty. You do not have to crawl under the vehicle. Just look under the front bumper and look at the bottom most bolt that is connecting the engine to the tranny.
Later I learned that if the dealer overfills the crankcase and simply runs the vehicle around the block a few times the seal will be broached.
DIY.
Mike.
If you had around 5,000 miles on the odometer when you had the 5,000 mile service and if the oil and filter were changed at that time, there is no need to get them changed again at 7,500 miles. To avoid voiding the warranty you just need to get the oil changed every 5,000 miles.
he then said service dept wants us to change at 3500
Toyota informed the dealer that replacing the nozzle assembly under the cowl solves the problem - and they were correct.
Apparently there have been a number of complaints to Toyota about this problem [have not seen this mentioned here however] and they were quick to suggest a fix. It took the mechanic 4.5 hours to do the job and the HL feels like new. Thankfully, I have no hesitation or brake problems that so many seem to have.
If anyone has this problem and wants more information, let me know.
03 Base HL V6 4WD
13,000 miles
Do these remotes come apart easily? Thinking of putting in stronger springs-
my mom's buick has a much deeper push requires.
japan screwed this one up.