Four problems related to accelerator pedal have been reported for the 2003 Toyota Highlander. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Toyota Highlander based on all problems reported for the 2003 Highlander.
2003 Toyota Highlander. Consumer submits documentation related to unintended acceleration issues with vehicle the consumer stated the vehicle accelerated out of control and subsequently, crashed into a concrete divider, struck a palm tree and then a metal light pole. Even after the vehicle came to rest, the engine continued to rev very fast. It finally stopped a few seconds after the impact.
)n the morning of 12-05-09, as I'm pulling into my garage, the car suddenly lurched forward with an unexpected increase in speed. Before I could brake, the car slammed into a steel shelving unit on the back wall which resulted in extensive damage to the wall ( both interior & exterior) and what appeared to be minimal damage to the auto. I took the vehicle to my Toyota service on that same day because I/we felt that this could constitute an unsafe driving condition. Total costs from this incident were as follows: covered by insurance- $3607. 81 (plus 703. 31 pd. Directly to the dealer?) and $916. 27 ( 500. 00 insurance deductible and an additional mechanical charge for a fuel/air sensor that failed on 12-26-09). I have not previously experienced "sudden acceleration" with this vehicle. I have notified both my local dealer, southeast Toyota distributors and Toyota customer relations regarding the problem stating that there may be other vehicles beyond the scope of their current recall that should also be considered as potentially dangerous. Updated 05/03. 10 Toyota denied the consumer claim, stating the vehicle examination revealed no apparent reason for the acceleration. However, the dealer that performed the inspection stated the throttle was became stuck due to gummy deposits cased by ethanol in the gasoline. Updated 08/210/jb.
Consumer feels that the location of the brake/gas pedal are too close. This resulted in accidental acceleration while reversing.
Backing out of garage in a Highlander and the engine suddenly raced w/o foot on gas pedal, causing consumer to react by applying the brakes. Consumer's foot slipped off brake pedal and landed on the accelerator resulting in the vehicle hitting the neighbor's house. A 2003 camry was supplied as a rental vehicle when the Highlander wastaken for repair. While using the camry, the consumer went to apply the brake for a stop sign and inadvertently applied both the brake and accelerator pedal. Consumer raised his foot then reapplied the brake pedal (only) and was able to stop before entering the intersection.