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 ↗2010 Toyota Highlander cruise control problems
severe 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
5crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 19 cruise control complaints filed for the 2010 Toyota Highlander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 15 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.
As part of the settlement described above, Toyota will install Smart Stop Technology on the above listed model and model year vehicles. This feature will cut engine power in case of simultaneous application of both the accelerator and brake pedal at certain speeds and in certain driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗On July 24, 2013, the settlement of claims for Economic Loss arising from allegations of unintended acceleration was approved. As part of the settlement Toyota will be launching the third phase of a Limited Service Campaign to install Smart Stop technology on March 31, 2014., for the following models:
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗On July 24, 2013 the settlement of claims for Economic Loss arising from allegations of unintended acceleration was approved. As part of the settlement Toyota will be launching the second phase of a Limited Service Campaign to install Smart Stop Technology on December 11, 2013 for the following models:
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗On July 24, 2013 the settlement of claims for Economic Loss arising from allegations of unintended acceleration was approved. As part of the settlement Toyota will be launching the second phase of a Limited Service Campaign to install Smart Stop Technology on December 11, 2013 for the following models
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2010 Highlanders report recurring sudden acceleration and pedal sticking that began within the first year of ownership and mileages well under 10,000 miles. The main complaint is the gas pedal getting stuck in the depressed position or becoming extremely hard to push, forcing the driver to use a floor mat or restart the engine to regain control. Multiple owners state the accelerator pedal reinforcement bar recall performed by dealers did not fix the problem — one owner discovered the pedal was installed upside down and required re-service.
A second pattern involves the engine accelerating on its own while the driver brakes, particularly at traffic lights and during parking maneuvers. Drivers report pushing the brake harder only causes the engine to rev faster. On cruise control, owners note the system overshoots set speed by over 5 mph on slight uphill grades, creating concern for vehicle control.
Several collisions resulted: one owner hit a retaining wall during parking (facing $10,000 in repairs), another reversed 110 feet uncontrolled across a lawn ($6,000+ damage). Dealership diagnostics consistently fail to find a fault, and Toyota refused buy-backs or lease exits despite post-recall recurrence. One owner's floor liner from a third party caught the pedal, but the underlying pedal sticking problem existed independently.
Same Toyota Highlander cruise control reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration — pedal sticks hard or becomes unresponsive to release attempts
Accelerator pedal becomes stuck in depressed position or extremely difficult to push down, preventing normal throttle control. Owners report the pedal not responding to foot-off attempts and remaining stuck despite effort to lift it.
When: Occurs at low speed during parking/maneuvering, at traffic stops, and during highway driving; some instances mere weeks after dealer performed recall fix; earliest reports within first few thousand miles (under 6,600 mi)
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal stuck or very hard to push; Pedal does not return to idle when driver releases; Vehicle jerks when pedal finally releases; Engine RPMs climb sharply
Repairs/costs cited: Narrative #19 notes pedal installed upside down at dealer; corrected by another dealership. Narratives #10 mentions accelerator pedal reinforcement bar not fully installed at first recall service, requiring engine lift/dismantling for proper studs installation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota issued recall for accelerator pedal reinforcement bar; owners report dealer service did not resolve issue. Multiple owners state Toyota service centers stated 'nothing they could do' after fix was completed. One owner (Narrative #5) states dealer salesperson pre-warned of uncontrolled acceleration at vehicle delivery, suggesting awareness of issue.
Vehicle accelerates without driver input — engine runaway while braking or at idle
Engine accelerates to high RPM independent of accelerator pedal position. Occurs when driver is braking, at traffic lights, or while parked. Braking does not arrest acceleration; vehicle continues forward or backward. Some instances suggest computer/electronic control override rather than mechanical stick.
When: Traffic stops, low-speed parking maneuvers, reverse gear operation; reported at mileages from 1,700 to 73,000 miles; incidents span early 2010 through July 2010
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle creeps or lunges forward without foot on accelerator; Engine revving to extreme RPM despite brake application; Harder braking does not slow vehicle; acceleration increases with brake pressure; Head-snapping sudden acceleration on highway cruise control; Vehicle accelerates in reverse; brakes become unresponsive
Repairs/costs cited: Owners put vehicle in Neutral and coasted to stop; some turned off ignition. Narrative #13 cites $10,000 repair estimate for collision damage from parking lot acceleration. Narrative #18 reports $6,000+ rear-end damage from 110-foot uncontrolled backup.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota recalled 2010 Highlanders for accelerator pedal defect. Multiple owners report dealership inspection finding 'no visible or other problem detected' despite repeated service calls and specialist inspection (Narrative #1). Dealers refused to buy back vehicles or exit leases after recurrence post-recall. Narrative #1 references steering column airbag spiral cable recall (May 2014) as separate issue.
Cruise control acceleration overshoot — vehicle exceeds set speed on inclines
When cruise control is engaged and vehicle encounters slight uphill grade, the system accelerates the vehicle to a speed significantly higher than the operator's set speed (over 5 mph higher reported). Recurring issue that creates safety concern, especially in hands of less experienced drivers.
When: Engaged on uphill sections; reported multiple times on same vehicle within first few months of ownership (purchased Dec 28, 2009)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates well above set cruise speed; Overshoot exceeds 5 mph over target speed; Happens repeatedly on same roadway/grade condition
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Narrative #5 suggests dealer was aware of issue at time of sale (salesperson provided pre-emptive instruction on handling uncontrolled acceleration). No recall or TSB cited for cruise control calibration.
Accelerator pedal catches on aftermarket floor liner
WeatherTech driver-side floor liner physically obstructs accelerator pedal travel, causing pedal to stick in depressed position during normal driving. Pedal pops free when floor liner is removed.
When: Occurred during highway passing maneuver shortly after floor liner installation (ordered Jan 5, 2010)
Symptoms owners cite: Gas pedal stuck while passing vehicle; Pedal springs free when floor mat removed
Repairs/costs cited: WeatherTech floor liner Part #441151/00185 REV 1 (driver side) and cargo liner Part #40328; owner returned products for refund. Same cargo liner caused rear hatch to not close properly, luggage fell into road.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: This is an aftermarket product issue, not a Toyota defect, though it contributed to unintended acceleration event.
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Driver backed out of an end parking space (nose in, curb in front and on right). Driver felt wheel (right side) go over curb (turned too quickly). Driver stopped, shifted to drive (forward) to get off the curb. When driver touched accelerator, the vehicle shot forward (seemed like 50 MPH). Left front of the highlander creased the two side doors of the minivan parked adjacent on the left. The left…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2010 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 2010 Toyota Highlander?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 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 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 3,000 and 52,000 miles, with the median around 6,600. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,000; a quarter make it past 52,000. 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/2010/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.