Problems · by component

2005 Toyota Highlander vehicle speed control problems

39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Toyota Highlander cite vehicle speed control, 17% of all 225 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
39
17% of all complaints
Crashes
18
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO PROPERLY FUNCTION FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW INTERMITTENTLY AND THE REAR WINDOWS FAILED TO ELECTRONICALLY CLOSE AND OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (TEXAS TOYOTA OF GRAPEVINE, 701 E STATE HWY 114, GRAPEVINE, TX 76051, (817) 329-5949) FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. IN ADDITION, THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN THE DEALER MAY PROVIDE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM AN ELECTRICAL RECALL TO SERVICE THE POWER MASTER WINDOW SWITCH FAILURE FOR THE WINDOWS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 3, 2017Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11031470
“ON SATURDAY, MAY 30TH AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 I WAS MOVING OUR 2005 HIGHLANDER FROM THE STREET INTO OUR RESERVED PARKING SPACE WITHIN OUR COMPLEX. AS I WAS STARTING MY RIGHT HAND TURN INTO THE COMPLEX THE CAR ACCELERATOR STUCK. I HIT THE CURB ON THE DRIVER'S/LEFT SIDE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE I HIT A TREE AND KNOCKED OVER ONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S POSTED SIGNAGE. THE IMPACT MADE THE CAR BOUNCE BACKWARD PARTIALLY INTO THE DRIVE, DAMAGING THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE, DRIVE SHAFT BROKE, FRONT END PART FLEW ALL OVER AND A SMALL FIRE OCCURRED. POLICE WERE CALL AND REPORT TAKEN. THEY ESTIMATED THE SPEED AT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR. THE REPORT TAKEN WAS NOT FILED SINCE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STARTED THE VEHICLE TO GET IT ON THE TRUCK. HE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FOR HE COULD NOT GET THE WHEELS TO TURN. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 2, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A RECALL REPAIR DONE ON MAY 21, 2011, AFTER WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO INSTALL THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR CARPET…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2015Steering, Suspension, Structure, Vehicle speed control, Equipment adaptive/mobilityCrash reportedFire reportedODI 10726359
“I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER & SOLE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE & EVER SINCE I TEST DROVE IT THE DAY I PURCHASED IT THIS CAR'S HAD ISSUES WITH "JERKY/DELAYED" ACCELERATION. DURING THE TEST DRIVE I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR ADJUSTS TO HOW I DRIVE & IT'LL GET BETTER. THIS HAPPENS PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE AFTER IT'S BEEN STOPPED OR THE SPEED SLOWED SUBSTANTIALLY. EACH & EVERY TIME I TRY TO GENTLY ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE FROM A STOP, THERE'S A TINY DELAY IN VEHICLE RESPONSE FROM WHAT I AM INPUTTING TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THEN AFTER THE DELAY, IT'S LIKE THE VEHICLE TRIES TO SUDDENLY CATCH UP WITH WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE ACCELERATION PROCESS & SUDDENLY JERKS FORWARD WITH A LOT OF ACCELERATION. THIS POSES A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC & NEEDING THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL INPUTS THAT I'M GIVING IT IMMEDIATELY AS I'M GIVING THEM & NOT WITH EVEN A SMALL DELAY. THAT DELAY IN RESPONSE BY THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR-MISSES WITH OTHER TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRIED TAKING IT INTO MY DEALER AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES TO HAVE THE ISSUE ADDRESSED BUT THE TECHNICIANS JUST WANTED TO BRUSH IT OFF SAYING THEY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 26, 2014Power train, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10661116
“I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND THROUGHOUT MY OWNERSHIP SINCE 2/2005 WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT THIS CAR HAS ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION. IT USUALLY OCCURS WHEN YOU ARE SITTING AT A STOP AND TRY TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU ARE PUSHING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL AND HAS A DELAY WHEN IT FINALLY RESPONDS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS WHERE I HAVE TRIED TO CROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION OR PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, ENDING WITH A JERK OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN T-BONED A FEW TIMES TRYING TO CROSS BUSY INTERSECTIONS AND THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO MOVE. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE ONLY RESPONSE THEY HAVE IS THAT THE CAR ADJUSTS TO DIFFERENT DRIVERS AND IT THEN PROGRAMS ITSELF BASED OFF YOUR DRIVING HABITS, SO THEY RESET THE CODING ON IT. STILL HAVE THE ISSUE, DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING AND NOW I AM READING WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD ISSUES, I JUST THINK THEY BRUSHED IT UNDER THE RUG TO NOT HAVE TO HONOR MY WARRANTY THAT WAS IN PLACE ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAVE HAD ISSUES FROM DAY 1 ON THIS CAR WITH THE TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKING, THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2014Power train, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10648518
“BACKING UP OUT OF DRIVEWAY PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE WENT FROM BRAKE PEDAL TO GAS PEDAL TAPING THE GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY TO INCH OUT OF DRIVEWAY SLOWLY. AFTER ONE TAP ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CHAIN LINK FENCE WHICH IN TURN CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2014Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10638699
“MY CAR WAS DECELERATING IN THE FAR RIGHT TURN LANE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE BRAKE HAD BEEN APPLIED APPROXIMATELY 1000 FT FROM THE INTERSECTION AS THERE WERE 3 VEHICLES STOPPED AHEAD OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING AT 10 MPH AND I INCREASED THE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THE CAR APPROACHED A STOPPED VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AHEAD OF MY VEHICLE. THE ENGINE REVVED TO THE HIGHEST RPM READING AND LURCHED FORWARD AS I CONTINUED TO APPLY FULL PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BY ADDING MY LEFT FOOT TO THE ALREADY STATIONARY RIGHT FOOT. I STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND DROVE ON THE SIDEWALK AND GRASS BETWEEN A BURGER KING AND AUTOZONE PARKING LOTS TO AVOID HITTING THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT DISENGAGE. I WAS NEARLY STANDING ON BRAKE AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH THE ENGINE SCREAMING FROM THE HIGH RPMS. I STRAIGHTENED THE CAR'S PATH TO AVOID A PARKED VEHICLE IN THE AUTOZONE PARKING LOT. I JUMPED A CURB ONTO GRASS AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL CRASHING THROUGH A CINDER BLOCK WALL SUPPORTING THE AUTOZONE SIGN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT WHICH ENGAGED THE ENGINE KILL SWITCH.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 21, 2014Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10593315

Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Free remedy

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.

Vehicle speed controlReported Feb 24, 2011NHTSA 11V112000

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Free remedy

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.

Vehicle speed controlReported Jul 13, 2006NHTSA 06V253000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2005 Highlander problem areas