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SUVs Toyota Highlander Toyota Highlander Transmission Problems
230 messages, Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 9:52 AM
You are in the Toyota Highlander Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Recently test drove a new '09 FWD V6 Highlander Limited. Seems the odometer had something like 30 miles on it. This was a $36.000 car With the sales rep in the car, we left the dealership and started down a smooth road. It felt somewhat like there was a tire out of balance, or possibly a flat stop on a tire. Within a few miles, that went away. Just before getting back to the dealer, we were running in the 50 mph range and started up a medium grade hill. Then the "Skipping" or vibration started. It felt like the torque converter was locking and unlocking 2-3 times a second. OR a spark plug had stopped firing and the engine was skipping. It went away as soon as we topped the hill and I let off the throttle a bit. Sales rep said she had never felt that before. Got out of the Highlander and into a new '09 FWD RAV4 V6 Sport. It was very smooth the entire test drive, over the same roads. This was a loaded up $30K car. FWIW the Highlander's "S" shifter indicator showed "5". But I was driving in "D". I was also driving in "D" on the RAV4. Wondering if the fact that the Highlander having the "Shiftable" transmission could be a problem? Kip
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Replying to: wwest (Oct 31, 2009 9:53 pm) -Steve |
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Replying to: kipk (Nov 01, 2009 2:05 am) My mistake was not test driving the car we bought. It is my wife's vehicle. She did not notice any problem during her test drive of a demo. Mostly smooth roads without inclines. We purchased a different one then the one she test drove. Waited for the right color to come in with Leather. Never test drove it before taking delivery. Noticed the problem the next day and have been experiencing it since. 37k vehicle. Nice |
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Replying to: mccartsj (Oct 31, 2009 9:06 pm) As for the downshift issue. My 03 Honda Pilot did the exact same thing for the 7 years we owned it. Kinda like it puts on the brakes when your already braking when slowing down to stop on a decline. My Honda did this from day one until we traded it for our Highlander. Never had any issues with the transmission. It's just how there programmed I guess.
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Replying to: minnesnowta1 (Nov 01, 2009 8:52 am) Actually when I feel that little "Extra" brake force, the tranny also shifts down a gear. This down shift is probably accounting for most of the "EXTRA BRAKING" feel. Wanted to trade the Pilot for a New Highlander because of the Highlanders smaller size and better performance than the new Pilots. However the tranny thing gives me pause. Might be better to wait until the gremlin has been found!  Kip |
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Replying to: mccartsj (Oct 31, 2009 9:06 pm) I have bought many cars from new in my time, the last one being a Mazda 3GT 2.3 with a stick shift and I remember for the first couple of months how poorly is ran, flat spots at certain low revs, the fact that it wouldn't pull cleanly with less than 2000 rpm in top gear etc, but all these problem disappeared as I put a few thousand miles on the clock, it now pulls cleanly well below 1500 rpm in top. I think as the engine loosens up it develops more torque and power at lower revs and this certainly helps it pull more cleanly, the same could be true of the HL as it loosens up - let's hope so I will continue to follow this thread and contribute as necessary
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Hey Guys (I'm Canadian), Just bought an "09 Highlander 5 weeks ago (4WD V6) and was experiencing all of the same symptoms as described from the start - the vehicle would prematurely shift into 5th gear at 55kph (30 mph) and would shudder until about 50-55 mph under light acceleration. I gave it a while to break in as a previous post mentioned something about the "learning curve of the computer". Over the last two weeks since I arrived home from a long trip (approximately 1800 miles), the vehicle has been behaving - I've been actively trying to reproduce the same conditions that caused the vibration but can't any more - the SUV now shifts into 5th gear closer to 50 mph more appropriately and I am not able to cause the vibration. It is possible the break in period settled the issue of shift points with the auto transmission in that they are now more appropriate for engine speed, torque, rpm etc. However, I do notice that the transmission can be more hesitant at times to shift from 4th to 5th after downshifting to 4th to climb a hill at 60 mph and I let off the accelerator when the hill crests. No other issues since, though. Cheers
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Replying to: jayman6 (Nov 02, 2009 1:51 pm) I am pleased to report that that my Highlander no longer shutters/vibrates when changing gears. The dealer performed two transmission fluid flushes (out of 5 Toyota said would be the maximum to try to resolve the problem) This was to remove any moisture that may have contaminated the old fluid. The vehicle is now running more smooth in overall driving than it did when I first pulled off the lot. Here's to hoping this is a permanent fix.
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Replying to: vttaco (Nov 03, 2009 6:26 am) Good to hear you solved your problem. When was your SUV giving you problems? When accelerating or during the deceleration?
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Replying to: vttaco (Nov 03, 2009 6:26 am)
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