Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Toyota Highlander owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. Once in a drive thru and the second time in line leaving a shopping center. It is as if the car wants to keep going forward after multiple stops and starts.
Periodically hesitates when accelerating - doesn't move, doesn't accelerate - nothing - almost like car not running. Does it from stopped position or while moving. Happened twice yesterday, after being stopped at red light and when turning across lane of traffic (city street). Has done it when passing on interstate - never know when it will happen. It's scary and by the time it kicks in, traffic is fast approaching. Worry that one day it will not engage and I will get hit. Doesn't matter if hot or cold, wet or dry, driving short time or long time. Definitely an accident (and death) waiting to happen. Dealership said they have not heard complaint before and can't fix it unless code appears. Find that hard to believe since owner's wife drove it. Sent complaint to Toyota with copies of similar complaints found posted online. …
As I was pulling into a parking space (maybe 5 miles per hour) and put my foot on the brake to stop, my 2013 Toyota Highlander lunged forward so hard that it went over the concrete spacer, a grass median, the curb and into the street beyond the parking lot. I was able to brake and stop the acceleration, but it was so sudden, fast and unexpected that I scraped the passenger side on the vehicle next to me. A by-stander commented "I don't know what happened! All of a sudden your car just raced away!" I have driven for over 45 years without an accident. I have been a loyal Toyota customer, buying one for my son and daughter as well as this vehicle and I thought whatever problems Toyota had were taken care of but now I am afraid to drive my vehicle.
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. The condition is unnerving and I believe potentially dangerous as I have almost been in accidents when I try to accelerate and the car won't respond until it is ready to allow it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated when accelerating from a stop or a break without warning. The failure recurred several times and, each time, the contact had to pump the accelerator pedal up to three times in order to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who diagnosed that one of the computer modules that regulated acceleration was faulty. The dealer could not determine which of the modules was faulty; therefore, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and issued a case number to take to the dealer. The failure mileage was 17,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving in reverse less than 5 MPH, the vehicle suddenly and inadvertently accelerated causing her to lunge backward 20 feet and crashing into a parked vehicle. The vehicle only came to a complete stop after it crashed into a fence and garden. The contact was not injured. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an auto body facility. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 3000.
Letter from constituent regarding the issue of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles. 2013 Toyota Highlander. The consumer stated as she was about to put the vehicle in reverse to reposition the vehicle, it suddenly lurched forward with the engine racing . It was if the accelerator was floored. Within a couple of seconds the vehicle jumped over the cement parking block and into a pole. The vehicle had significant damage between $13,000 and $15,000. The consumer was informed the carpet floor mat was found to be unattached.
From stop (at traffic light, merging, etc), press on gas pedal for acceleration and vehicle does not go, hesitates, then does accelerate. This has happened multiple times, intermittently, and has been reported to titus will Toyota dealership. Since they have not duplicated it, problem continues intermittently. Never know when this will occur. It is very disconcerting and dangerous. This vehicle has a lot of "computer" glitches with GPS mapping, Bluetooth, auto lights, etc. Maybe related?
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Highlander. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the cruise control was engaged and the rpms increased rapidly to 5,000 for a brief moment and then resumed normally. The failure occurred when driving up an incline and also without the cruise control activated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Highlander. The contact was driving 5 MPH and attempted to engage the brakes when the vehicle violently lunged forward and crashed into a support beam, then down an embankment before finally crashing into a tree. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 14,000.
Acceleration complaints in other Highlander years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2013 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2013 Toyota Highlander, 15% of the model year's 207 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Toyota Highlander acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2013 Toyota Highlander, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Toyota Highlander acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 10,000 miles, and 80% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.