Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Vehicle Speed Control (14.7% of complaints) — is covered by 2 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints here are 2.9× the median for that category across the 1732 model-years tracked on this site.
1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 · 14.7% | Recalled | Recall 11V112000 · Recall 06V253000 |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 27 · 12.1% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 22 · 9.8% | Investigation closed | RQ10003 → recall 11V112000 · RQ10003 → recall 11V113000 · RQ10003 → recall 11V115000 |
| Steering | 21 · 9.4% | No official action | — |
| Power Train | 17 · 7.6% | No official action | — |
| Visibility | 13 · 5.8% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 224 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 16V396000 · 2016 · reported 06/02/2016
If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 11V539000 · 2011 · reported 11/09/2011
IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 11V112000 · 2011 · reported 02/24/2011
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 10V035000 · 2010 · reported 02/03/2010
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 06V253000 · 2006 · reported 07/13/2006
THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 10V499000 · 2010 · reported 10/21/2010
A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE…”NHTSA complaint 10318383 — filed 03/10/2010 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“AN AFTERNOON DURING AUGUST OR EARLY SEPTEMBER 2009 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 HIGHLANDER IN A HIGH TRAFFIC ROUTE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK…”NHTSA complaint 10317451 — filed 03/07/2010 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“2005 HIGHLANDER V6 AWD. HAS A SURGING EFFECT SINCE DAY ONE. ALSO SURGES SLIGHTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. IN TRAFFIC STOP AND GO SITUATION, VEHICLE DOES…”NHTSA complaint 10316713 — filed 03/04/2010 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Vehicle speed control issues are the most-reported category, cited in 33 of 224 NHTSA complaints (14.7%), followed by power train:automatic transmission (27), electrical system (22), steering (21). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
224 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 35 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, and 20 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 16V396000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
