2013 Toyota Highlander Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 31about this part
- Share
- 15%of 207 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 9,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 31 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2013 Toyota Highlander, 15% of the 207 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 9,000 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Driving uphill,suddenly lost speed,had no gas pedal,had to pull to side of road and then it came back.has happened dozens of times at different speeds. The last time it happened I was driving 70 MPH in the center lane of I 95 in pa, have not driven the car since I got home. Toyota has told me it is everything from slight hesitation to my imagination.”
NHTSA complaint #10595323, filed 2014-05, 350 miles“On thursday, april 3, 2013. I stopped at an intersection and when I tried to accelerate there was no response. I thought the engine had died. There were no lights on instrument panel. I pressed accelerator again and it jerked and took off. I have experienced hesitations several times (10-12). I bought the Highlander 2013 in july 2013.”
NHTSA complaint #10578436, filed 2014-04, 12,500 miles“On sunday, january 18, 2015 at approximately 7:50am mst, after filling up the gas tank at the holiday gas station on pleasant grove boulevard in pleasant grove, ut, I began to pull away from the gas pumps. Before exiting the gas station, and after moving about 20 feet at about 5 MPH, the engine suddenly revved up to around 4000 RPM. I immediately took my foot entirely off of the gas pedal and slammed my foot down on the brake, holding the brake down firmly. …”
NHTSA complaint #10683283, filed 2015-02, 35,000 miles“Every time I switch from brake to gas pedal quickly, the car looses power as if to stall. Then it regains power and accelerates. It also happens if I am on the highway and touch the brake pedal before attempting to pass and then I can't get power to pass for a couple seconds. Very scary and dangerous I think. The dealer explained to me that Toyota had made a change to make the computer in charge of deciding if one could accelerate or not rather than a direct link from the gas pedal to the carburetor. …”
NHTSA complaint #10704025, filed 2015-04, 10 miles“On multiple occasions since purchasing my 2014 Toyota Highlander limited the car lurches forward while my foot is firmly pressed on the brake. On two occasions I could not stop the lurching of the vehicle without standing up with both feet on the brake pedal having hit the car in front of me while my car continued to push them again while applying both feet on the brake pedal. I was not in control of the vehicle as if something was pressing the gas pedal while I was stopped. In both of these accidents situations I had progressed forward stopping and starting. …”
NHTSA complaint #11019898, filed 2017-08, 35,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 30% |
| 2024 | 1 | 2% |
| 2023 | 9 | 5% |
| 2022 | 8 | 3% |
| 2021 | 9 | 2% |
| 2020 | 10 | 3% |
| 2019 | 13 | 3% |
| 2018 | 9 | 3% |
| 2017 | 13 | 5% |
| 2016 | 4 | 4% |
| 2015 | 11 | 6% |
| 2014 | 5 | 4% |
| 2013 | 31 | 15% |
| 2012 | 14 | 8% |
| 2011 | 12 | 7% |
| 2010 | 22 | 10% |
| 2009 | 14 | 10% |
| 2008 | 45 | 11% |
| 2007 | 16 | 13% |
| 2006 | 43 | 15% |
| 2005 | 39 | 17% |
| 2004 | 40 | 14% |
| 2003 | 28 | 11% |
| 2002 | 31 | 10% |
| 2001 | 15 | 11% |
Other parts of the 2013 Toyota Highlander
46 complaintsEngine
32 complaintsElectrical system
26 complaintsOther or unknown
23 complaintsBody and structure
18 complaintsAir bags
17 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsFuel system
15 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
11 complaintsSeats
10 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology