Engine Stall Problems of Toyota Highlander

When accelerating from a stop, the car abruptly lost power and it felt like the engine was going to stall out completely, but then the car started accelerating again. This happened three time today. In two cases I was needing to accelerate briskly as I was either crossing, or entering onto, a busy street with fast traffic. In two cases (in both cases I was making a right turn from a stop) the red exclamation point warning sign appeared briefly on the dash board upper screen. On the third occasion (I was accelerating straight ahead from a stop), a red written message appeared on the center dash board screen, but it disappeared before I could read it.

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For two years now, my vehicle will randomly have an engine stall while operating the vehicle. It happens at different speeds and while going straight ahead or turning. The entire instrument panel and navigation screens shuts off and turns back on. I have taken the car in to Toyota twice and was told they couldn't find anything wrong or get the the vehicle to malfunction again. Today, the engine didn't immediately come back on after stalling, and I had to pull over and turn the car off and back on again. My car has less than 33000 miles on it and has had regular maintenance. This is truly a safety concern at this point and it seems I'm not the only one with this issue according to those reported to the NHTSA.

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I purchased the 2013 Highlander new from a dealer in vienna, va in July 2013. The auto started a string of engine hesitancy to accelerate problems at around 5,000 miles which was reported to the dealer at the 5,000 mile check-up and again at the 7,500 mile checkup. The service department could not duplicate the problem and gave the engine a clean bill of health. We moved to mn in may 2014 and the hesitancy of the car to move (accelerate) from a stopped position for several seconds after engaging the gas petal continues and is increasing in frequency. The car has been taken in to the local Toyota dealer on three occasions with the same answer that there is no problem with the car. I have been in two near accidents while pulling out in traffic on to a high speed divided highway and consider this a very serious safety issue. It happens randomly, (three times this past week), but a pattern has developed - most incidents occur while idling at intersections for some time waiting for traffic to clear, traffic lights, etc, and then making a left hand turn onto the roadway. The car has exhibited this behavior only a couple times while making a right hand turn from a idling start. The sensation is that the engine stalled and no matter what is done with the gas petal nothing happens for anywhere up to 4-5 seconds. With traffic moving at 60 miles an hour and one is attempting to merge into traffic, a five second delay brings the on-coming traffic almost 450 feet closer to one before the car starts to move requiring more distance in traffic gaps to overcome a potential stall in the roadway. I have come across another local owner with the same problem and note at least 15 other complaints on the web of almost the exact circumstances. What does it take for Toyota to recognize this as a safety issue?.

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While attempting to turn from a side road onto a main road, I needed to accelerate to blend into the faster moving traffic. While attempting to accelerate the engine acted like the gas pedal had not been pressed but maintained the previous slow engine speed despite the gas pedal being finally pressed to the floor. While maintaining the full gas pedal position the engine finally revved up and the SUV lurched forward. I have not been placed yet into a hazardous situation, but that is becoming a reality. This hesitation has recurred more than twenty times since then. No, I have not taken this to Toyota since they appear to have no concern for the many fine folks reporting similar engine stalling.

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted and taken to the dealer for inspection. The dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

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The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was informed that the inverter was defective and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 104,000. Updated 11/03/10.

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Toyota Highlander-2002-engine oil turned to sludge, engine just short of seizing-new engine installed.

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