Service Brakes. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Hybrid Propulsion System. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

34 crash reports7 fire reports6 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

76 reports

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70,000 miles · Nov 18, 2018

Service Brakes

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I BOUGHT MY CAR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID FROM A NON-TOYOTA DEALERSHIP LAST YEAR AUGUST. AND FEW MONTHS LATER I STARTED NOTICING SQEEZING NOISE AND SINCE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED A TAPPING NOISE WHENEVER I APPLY BREAK EVEN WHEN CAR IS IN STATIONARY. I TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT SEEMS TO BE AN ACTUATOR PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO INVESTIGATED IN DETAIL. I FEEL IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR AS WHENEVER I APPLY BREAKS I HEAR TAPPING NOISE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN POST RELATED TO SAME PROBLEM FROM MANY CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA ODI #11152274

156,000 miles · Nov 17, 2018

Service Brakes

"TAKATA RECALL" MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS BEEN MAKING A LOUD SCRAPPING SCREECHING NOISE FROM THE LEFT REAR BRAKES. BRAKE DISCS AND EMERGENCY BRAKES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTS. IT FEELS ALMOST AS IF EMERGENCY BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED BUT THE CAR CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD. SOUND LESSENS WHEN DRIVING AND DOES NOT AP…

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NHTSA ODI #11152151

125,000 miles · Oct 31, 2018

Service Brakes

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS MODULE ACTUATOR. BRAKES ARE SOFT AND LOCKING UP AT LOWER SPEEDS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE HYBRIDS BOTH HIGHLANDER AND PRIUS.

NHTSA ODI #11144566

150,000 miles · Oct 5, 2018

Service Brakes

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WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR PRODUCES A CHIRPING / CRUNCH NOISE AND IT SLIPS A TAD. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS ON OR OFF, MOVING OR STOPPED. ON A RECENT SERVICE VISIT, THE DEALER SAID THAT IT'S LIKELY THE BRAKE ACTUATOR AND TO JUST DRIVE WITH IT UNTIL IT PRODUCES AN ERROR CODE. ONLINE, I READ THAT TOYOTA HAD CREATED AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT WOULD ONLY FIX IT IF IT PRODUCED AN ERROR CODE. THAT "EXTENDED WARRANTY" IS NOW PASSED AND MY CAR STILL HASN'T PRODUCED THE CODE. THIS HAS GOT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11133568

128,000 miles · Aug 31, 2018

Service Brakes

WAS GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR AND ALL MY ABS AND BREAK LIGHTS WENT ON. I WAS LUCKY I WAS ON A STRAIGHT AWAY WITH PLENTY OF SPACE BETWEEN THE ME AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHAT KILLS ME IS MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP EVENTUALLY AND WAITED HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK AND RIDE. I RECEIVED NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE WARRAN…

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NHTSA ODI #11123600

118,000 miles · Aug 21, 2018

Service Brakes

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BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILURE. MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED JUST HAD A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE ACTUATOR THAT WAS DIAGNOSED BY TEXAS TOYOTA GRAPEVINE. UNFORTUNATELY THIS FAILURE HAPPENED AFTER THE TIME THAT WAS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FROM TOYOTA FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I CALLED TOYOTA USA AND THEY SAID SINCE THE PART DID NOT FAIL DURING THE TIME OF THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT THEY WILL NOT HELP. FORTUNATELY NO ONE IN MY FAMILY WAS INJURED DURING THE FAILURE NOR WAS THERE ANY PROPERTY OR BODILY INJURY TO ANYONE ELSE. AS EXPECTED, I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA SINCE THEY PLACED MY FAMILY'S LIVES IN DANGER DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11121506

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2018

Service Brakes

ANTI LOCK BRAKE ACTUATOR MAKING A RAPID CLICKING SOUND AND VEHICLE DISPLAYS CHECK VSC SYSTEMS WARNING LIGHT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON MALFUNCTION WITH TOYOTA HYBRID VEHICLES. THE WARRANTY NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11118680

109,000 miles · Jun 14, 2018

Service Brakes

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BRAKE ACTUATOR WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISES STARTING IN 8/2017 WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. ACTUATOR PROBLEM LIGHTS CAME ON IN 3/2018, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAME ON BEFORE I OWNED CAR. WHEN I TOOK CAR INTO DEALER ON 9/8/2017 THEY TOLD ME NOISE WAS NORMAL AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. ON 4/2/2018 VSC/ABS/BRAKE/TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON AND TOYOTA TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE ACTUATOR. I OPENED CASE # 1804022826 WITH TOYOTA WHO TOLD ME I WAS RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR REPAIR. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LATER I HAVE A NEW BRAKE ACTUATOR THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SOUNDS AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #11101840

174,000 miles · Jun 12, 2018

Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

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I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE OFF-RAMP OF EAST-BOUND 202/MCQUEEN RD EXIT. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY AND HIT THE REAR OF VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. AS I REALIZED THE COLLISION, I PRESSED THE BRAKE HARDER DELIBERATELY (WHILE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD STARTED TO MOVE FURTHER), AND TO MY HORROR MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE MY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. I CONSCIOUSLY CHECKED MY FEET TO ENSURE I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKES AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR. MY CAR CONTINUED TO STRANGELY & UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATE UNTIL IT HIT THE SAME CAR IN FRONT OF ME AGAIN THE 2ND TIME AT THE TRAFFIC INTERSECTION. AFTER THE 2ND COLLISION, MY CAR STOPPED AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE MCQUEEN ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11101316

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2018

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

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FIRST A LOUD RINGING HAPPENED AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. WE HAVE SERVICED CAR REGULARLY, BRAKES ARE NEW, BUT CAR DOES NOT STOP. TRYING TO BRAKE AT THE INTERSECTION, STOP LIGHT AND HIGHLANDER WOULD NOT STOP. PUT US IN DANGER ALMOST LED ME INTO ACCIDENT, WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ABS SYSTEM AND THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY DESIGN ISSUE AND EXPENSIVE FIX TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THEIR DESIGN FLAWS. THERE IS NOT PHYSICAL CONTACT OR WEAR AND TEAR ON THE PART FOR IT TO FAIL. MS. DEBORAH HUSTON AT TOYOTA STONE WALLS THE PROCESS TO GET THIS RESOLVED. SHE CLAIMS TOYOTA IS NOT AWARE OF THESE ISSUES, BUT THE NHTSA RECORDS SHOW CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING FOR A LONG TIME AND THAT THEY KNOW.

NHTSA ODI #11100406

Official recalls

13V396000 · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

Sep 4, 2013

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module may contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors may be heat damaged by the solder. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342 are not affected by this campaign.

11V539000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Nov 9, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

11V342000 · Electrical System

Jun 29, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND LEXUS RX400H PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2005, THROUGH AUGUST 30, 2006. A MODULE INSIDE THE INVERTER MODULE MAY CONTAIN INADEQUATELY SOLDERED TRANSISTORS THAT DURING HIGH-LOAD DRIVING, MAY BE DAMAGED BY HEAT CAUSED BY THE LARGE CURRENT. IF THIS OCCURS, VARIOUS WARNING LAMPS, INCLUDING THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP, SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT, BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, AND MASTER WARNING LIGHT, WILL BE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE VEHICLE MAY ENTER A FAIL-SAFE/LIMP-HOME MODE THAT LIMITS THE DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE HYBRID SYSTEM WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA/LEXUS MAILED AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION ON JULY 19, 2011 TO ADVISE OWNERS OF THIS RECALL AND THE FACT THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE A FUTURE NOTICE WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. TOYOTA DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HYBRID INVERTER PRODUCTION NUMBER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE INVERTER CONTAINS SUSPECT TRANSISTORS AND REPLACE THE MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

11V112000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Feb 24, 2011

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

09V223000 · Equipment:other:labels

Jun 15, 2009

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 27,080 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER CARS BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO MAY 4, 2009. THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A NEW, ACCURATE LABEL TO BE INSTALLED OVER THE INACCURATE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371.

06V253000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Jul 13, 2006

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO FLOOR CARPET COVER RETAINING CLIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 24, 2006, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY SEPTEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

PE11005 · Hybrid Inverter Failure - Vehicle Stall

Opened Feb 15, 2011 · Closed Jul 20, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

In a June 29, 2011 letter to NHTSA, Toyota submitted a Defect Information Report regarding a safety recall of certain Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h vehicles to address a defect condition with the hybrid inverter assembly (NHTSA Recall No. 11V-342).Toyota's letter identified a defect related to inadequately soldered transistors on the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) of some of the subject vehicles that could result in sudden loss of power while driving.Toyota's remedy procedure instructs dealers to inspect the hybrid inverter production number to determine if the inverter contains suspect transistors.If so, the dealer will replace the IPM.The recall covers approximately 45,528 model year (MY) 2006 and 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles manufactured from February 16, 2005 through August 29, 2006 and approximately 36,745 MY 2006 and 2007 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured from February 23, 2005 through August 30, 2006.This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.

RQ10003 · Unintended And Uncontrolled Acceleration

Opened Feb 16, 2010 · Closed Mar 1, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:software; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

On February 16, 2010, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V-388, 10V-017, and 10V-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V-112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V-113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V-388 and remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured floor mat.Recall 11V-115: (1) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS300 (all wheel drive vehicles); and, (2) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS350 (all wheel drive vehicles). The total estimated population under this recall is 19,647 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by inadequate clearance between the pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded in the vehicle's carpet.II. Potential Electronic Causes of Unintended Acceleration.After NHTSA opened RQ10-003, NHTSA launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.NHTSA launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.NHTSA enlisted engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to assess whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.That study has concluded.Two reports are associated with the study and are available on NHTSA's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).NHTSA's report is entitled Technical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems (Feb. 2011).Both reports should be read in conjunction with each other. As stated in its report, NASA did not find an electronic cause of large throttle openings that can result in unintended acceleration incidents. NHTSA did not find a vehicle-based cause of unintended acceleration incidents other than the physical pedal interference causes that are being addressed by Toyota's recalls. This RQ is closed.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Electrical System:software

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal