TSB: 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 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Toyota Highlander cruise control problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
6crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 10 cruise control complaints filed for the 2007 Toyota Highlander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TOYOTA: ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY INFORMATION REGARDING THE INSPECTION, REMOVAL, AND INSTALLATION, IF LUBRICATION OR OIL, IS APPLIED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report five distinct problem patterns. First, spontaneous unintended acceleration while cruise control is on or recently off, where engines race to full power and require emergency braking and system restart to resolve. Second, a cruise control resume hazard where transmission downshift near the set speed causes sudden, unwanted acceleration that drivers must counter with braking or manual intervention. Third, after-market floor mats trap the accelerator pedal, locking it at full throttle during parking attempts; at least one crash involved complete vehicle destruction and multiple injuries. Fourth, a single report of brake pedal collapse at low speed with loss of braking response. Fifth, several owners describe the accelerator pedal itself as dangerously narrow, capable of catching toes or open-toed shoe straps and physically trapping the foot, leaving drivers unable to release the pedal mid-drive and causing at least one intersection collision. Crashes resulted in property damage ($600–$3,000+), injuries, and one total loss. Dealerships consistently reported inability to duplicate failures during testing, with manufacturers denying recalls and declining responsibility. One dealer installed a floor mat retention hook after the fact.
Same Toyota Highlander cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration with cruise control active or recently disengaged
Engine races or vehicle accelerates without operator input, sometimes triggered by cruise control or when cruise control is turned off. Occurs on highways, usually during moderate-to-heavy traffic or uphill driving.
When: Varying mileage; reports at 18,000 and 40,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine races to full power (200 kW reported); Vehicle accelerates despite operator foot off pedal; Problem resolves after stopping and restarting vehicle; Smoke from brakes after emergency stop
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealers report no knowledge of defect; 2007 model not included in recalls; dealerships unable to duplicate failures during diagnostic testing
Cruise control resume hazard acceleration
When resuming cruise control after slowing down, transmission downshifts as speed approaches set cruising speed, causing sudden unwanted acceleration. Occurs regularly during highway driving and requires quick brake or cruise control deactivation.
When: High-speed highway driving, recurring
Symptoms owners cite: Slow acceleration when resume button pressed; Sudden transmission downshift with hazardous quick acceleration when within 4–5 mph of cruising speed; Requires braking or cruise control shutdown to prevent collision
Repairs/costs cited: Workaround: manually return to cruising speed before pressing resume
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated no knowledge of problem
Floor mat entrapment of accelerator pedal
After-market or factory floor mats shift and trap the accelerator pedal in the fully depressed position, causing uncontrolled acceleration. Multiple complaints cite this as the suspected cause of acceleration events.
When: Various mileage; reported at 41,212 and 50,398 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Floor mat visibly caught under accelerator pedal; Vehicle accelerates uncontrollably when attempting to park or drive slowly; Crash into obstacles (trees, other vehicles, property)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer installed secondary hook to secure floor mat; cost not specified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota acknowledged floor mat issue; at least one owner reported mat entrapment but Toyota rep said no accelerator defect found and blamed owner's floor mat choice
Brake pedal failure
Brake pedal falls to floor and becomes unresponsive during low-speed operation, causing forward lurching or collision. Single report but represents loss of primary stopping system.
When: 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal collapses to floor at 5 mph; No braking response; Vehicle lurches forward over obstacle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to duplicate failure; no repair completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership could not reproduce issue; no remedy provided
Narrow accelerator pedal design catching open-toed footwear
Accelerator pedal design is very narrow and can catch toes or the strap of open-toed shoes, trapping the foot and preventing release. Owner describes foot physically trapped between toes and shoe strap and pedal.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Foot gets wedged between toes, shoe bottom, and accelerator pedal; Unable to pull foot free while driving; Vehicle accelerates during struggle to free foot; Collision at intersection
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Toyota highlander. When entering a parking space the vehicle accelerated forward without intention. Consequently she crashed into a sign. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician installed a secondary hook to secure the floor-mat. The failure mileage was 50398. The current mileage was 50998.
2007 Toyota highlander hybrid, v6, 4x4 --- on november 23rd, 2011, at approximately 10:00am, I was driving with my family on I-5 south in the central valley of california. The cruise control was on, but not engaged because the traffic was too heavy. My speed was approximately 65 miles-per-hour, going uphill. Unexpectedly, the engine began to race. I applied the brakes to keep the car at the…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2007 Toyota Highlander?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2007 Toyota Highlander?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 18,000 and 43,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 18,000; a quarter make it past 43,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Toyota/Highlander.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.