EN

2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4-DR.

11
Recalls
625
Complaints

Safety Ratings.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers compare vehicle safety when searching for a car. More stars mean safer cars.

Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
Overall Front Star Rating

Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.

Front Driver Side
Front Passenger Side
Overall Side Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Driver
Passenger
Overall Side Pole Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Rollover Star Rating

The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.

Complaints
Recalls

625 Complaints

for 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID
11/16/2021
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 11/15/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

While normally driving on the highway and without no warning the vehicle the power steering stops working , it just dies with no power and dash lights warning start to flash and Check Hybrid System turns on. I am not a mechanic nor a technician . The mechanic disconnected the ground cable after waiting about 5 minutes and it resets the system. He told me that it has something that may be caused by some electrical problem . He thinks that it has to do with a recall about some soldering electrical part in the inverter control. This has happened in 3 more occasion and I've been lucky and i have time to let it go to side of the road and i disconnect the ground wire for 5 minutes and connect it back and it resets and then starts to work normal. Since the vehicle stalls completely i fear that this could cause an accident or lost of life due to other vehicles coming behind at high speeds . Please i need help!

11/04/2021
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 11/01/2021
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: Jtedw21a360******
Summary

I was driving the car then as I hit the brakes it felt like they were not engaging until I applied more pressure. Then as I was almost home the abs and traction control lights came on. Took it to a specialist and they said that the abs module would have to be replaced. There are tons of people apparently with my same year and model with the same concern

10/06/2021
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 10/01/2021
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A460******
Summary

The contact's client owned a 2006 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while his client was driving at an unknown speed when the front passenger tire blowout and he crashed into a tree. The contact stated the front driver side air bag did deploy but the front passenger-side air bag failed to deploy causing the client's wife to have a fractured clavicle and spine, and internal injuries. The contact stated the wife was having a third surgery on 10/6/2021. The driver sustained 6 fractured ribs and did seek medical attention at a hospital. The contact also stated the client was traveling with their dog who was injured in the accident and decided to put down the dog due to the extended injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not driveable. The vehicle was towed to towing lot. The contact called the local dealer and spoke to them about a possible air bag recall inquiry. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

09/27/2021
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 09/22/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

Sudden power steering failure. Hybrid vehicle with power assist steering.

09/23/2021
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 04/22/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

ABS Control Module. Yes could be made available for review. A few years ago, a diagnostic showed the ABS Control Module as bad (it started buzzing is what made us get it checked). Toyota replaced it, but there was still buzzing after the service, from a NEW part!? I strongly expressed this to Toyota since it still seemed like an issue to me, but they told me nothing could be done unless the computer said it was bad or if there was a recall. The buzzing continued to get worse and does it almost all the time now, and finally the ABS light came on, sometimes it will make an alert noise, and the vehicle will not brake properly (with the brake pedal feeling very firm), so apparently now that the ABS light is on, a diagnostic showed it bad again. I have researched to find many other people experiencing this same issue with this part going bad AND continuing to quickly go bad even after replacing, and I have been advised the danger of this, for if it goes out while driving, you cannot brake like normal and cause an accident. If a brand new part was making the same buzzing noise when the previous part did not used to make that noise, then something seems very wrong! And this is very much a safety issue if your brakes suddenly stop working like they are supposed to! Please help! I appreciate your time. Thank you!

08/24/2021
Components: STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/30/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A260******
Summary

In the last 4 weeks my 06 Highlander Hybrid has had malfunctions in the brakes and in the power steering. Both issues rendering the car inoperable. The first issue that was to arise was the brake actuator pump. I noticed it was failing when i got in the vehicle to move it out of the driveway and noticed after i put the car in gear that their was no power brake assist. When the car was shifted into drive the car began rolling even while i was pushing hard on the brakes. Luckily the brake assist resumed and i did not run into anything but the car unintentionally moved about 5 feet. I mentioned this to my wife, and she said while driving home one day the car made a high pitched buzz. She was close to home, so she made it home and parked the car and forgot about the noise. After the car was turned back on again no noise was made and no CEL or warnings were displayed. The actuator was replaced, and the car operated fine for about one week and probably 40 miles of driving. I want to mention I had noted a odd feeling in the brakes for years leading up the the failure. The brake pedal would continue to the floor while trying to maintain constant pressure on the brakes. I believe this is due to the actuator losing pressure, but it would cause an uneasy sensation of failing brakes, but no CEL's were ever triggered. The new actuator fixed this. After fixing the car we drove it on a few trips. Yesterday 8/24/21 my wife went to drive the car, and it wouldn't start. She tried about 10 times and it wouldn't turn on. I put a battery charger on the car and the battery looked okay. I tried to start it a few time probably 5 and finally got the READY light, so the car was ready to go, but all of a sudden the car would shut off and the READY light would go out and the P/S light would come on. This light is triggered when something is wrong with the power steering system, and the computer will disable the vehicle. The car immobile now. These are worth recalling.

07/27/2021
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 07/27/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A560******
Summary

Power window failure passenger window stopped working, back passenger window was always getting stuck either halfway down or all way down ( I had the POWER DISCONNECTED for the Bk passenger window). front driver window hesitates to work, can hear window rattling part way or all the way down - Yes car available for inspection. The safety for all persons in my vehicle are at risk I have not been in an accident yet, if I do I’m worried people won’t be able to escape through the windows if needed. Dealer looked at it- too expensive to fix. Obviously no warning light This has been going on since 2012. I complained to Toyota on 8/28/2012 my incident # 120828000209 asking them if they had complaints - NO complaints regarding window failure, 2 months later toyota had a recall due to power switch failure, sticky power window switch pretty much related to catching on fire-mine has not. This has to be investigated before people get hurt !!!! I have complained to you in the past, go to Toyotanation.com and look at all the vehicles with the same issues. The date below is incorrect disregard it

07/03/2021
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/15/2021
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

3 accidents all rear end due to brakes ( brake pump/brake actuator failure) not safe.

07/01/2021
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 06/21/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal had to be pumped several times to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the ABS warning light and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

07/01/2021
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Incident Date: 06/25/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

The dashboard on my Highlander Hybrid 2006 (AWD) had all its check lights on suddenly. I was not driving then. The car was in my parking lot for a few hours before which it had no signs on. The warning message said: Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). I took it to my nearest Toyota service center for diagnosing the issue. They reported that the ABS systems have started to fail. Specifically, the ABS actuator is losing pressure and should be replaced. They quoted a price of $2700 approx. which includes about $2000 for parts. Turns out that this same part had been replaced in 2016 during a recall - but they cannot attend to this again without charging the customer. What I was never told about was that a whirring sound - which has always been an issue with this car - was always from the ABS actuator. The same service center has checked and diagnosed this car multiple times - so I am surprised that they did not find the ABS actuator noise a problem on earlier occasions. I have been reading about this on this forum and Toyotanation and this seems to be a consistent issue with the older Toyota hybrid highlanders and other hybrids as well - with the same diagnosis and approximately the same price quoted by the service centers. I have not currently fixed this issue since I cannot afford this price. It also seems that I will be paying for manufacturer's or service center's negligence since this actuator seemed to be faulty all along and I was not warned about this.

04/26/2021
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 12/18/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A460******
Summary

THE BRAKE ACTUATOR IS FAILING AND IS MAKING LOUD NOISES. THE CAR DOES NOT BRAKE NORMALLY. I HAVE REPORTED BRAKING PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2007. WHEN IT HITS A BUMP IT ACCELERATES AND I MUST STAND ON THE BRAKES SO I DO NOT HIT SOMEONE. IT LURCHES FORWARD WHEN IT HITS A POTHOLE OR SOME KIND OF OBSTRUCTION IN THE ROAD. WHEN I WORKED DOWN NEAR THE BUS STATION I WOULD HIT THE AREAS IN THE ROAD WHERE THE BUSES CREATED BUMPS IN THE ROADWAY AND IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD. I REPORTED THIS NUMEROUS TIMES AT NORTH BAKERSFIELD TOYOTA. I RECENTLY WENT IN TO REPORT THE NOISE I WAS HEARING AND THEY FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR IS FAILING. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT A HAZARD BUT THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHEN IT WILL TOTALLY FAIL. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE

04/21/2021
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/01/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A060******
Summary

HAVE HAD BRAKE ACTUATOR MALFUNCTION/FAILURE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. STARTED WITH NOISES AND HAS PROGRESSED TO WARNING LIGHTS AND ALMOST COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS BC IT A RX400H AND NOT A HIGHLANDER BIT THEY RESPECTFULLY DECLINE TO GET INVOLVED. HAD CALLED OVER A YEAR AGO. HAD CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE THAT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH OTHER MOTORIST AND AM NOW PAYING 3000 TO HAVE THE BRAKE ACTUATOR REPLACED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT FOR YEARS AND REFUSED TO FIX AND CONSISTENTLY REMIND ME I DON'T SERVICE MY VEHICLE AT A DEALERSHIP FOR NORMAL MAINTENANCE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER NEVER RECIEVED NOTICE OR A WARRANTY CAMPAIGN AND ULTIMATELY RID THEMSELVES OF IT BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE AND PRICE OF THE BRAKE ACTUATOR TO BE FIXED.

04/20/2021
Components: SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Incident Date: 04/19/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

MY ABS, VSC, (I), AND EMERGENCY BRAKE DASH LIGHTS ARE ON CONTINUOUSLY. IT IS VERY HARD TO STOP THE CAR AS IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE ISN'T ENGAGING. WHEN IT DOES ENGAGE YOU ARE JERKED FORWARD.

03/30/2021
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 03/24/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

THE VSC LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SOUND IS ARE ON. THE CODE IS BACK AS WELL C1391 FOR THIS BRAKE ACTUATOR. IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH TOYOTAS . THIS WAS FIXED ONCE ALREADY BY TOYOTA DEALER AND FAILED AFTER 40K MILES AGAIN. HOW CAN A PART HAS FAILED AGAIN IN SUCH A SHORT TIME AND MILES? THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WE CAN'T GET HELP FROM TOYOTA COMPANY OTHER THAN TO PAY FOR THEIR LACK OF QUALITY ON PARTS? I CAN'T AFFORD $4000 PLUST TO FIX A PART THAT ONLY LASTED 40,000 MILES. WHEN IS TOYOTA GOING TO DO A RECALL ON THIS PART AND FIX IT FOR GOOD?

03/23/2021
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/23/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH DOWN A HILL, WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STARTED MAKING AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DCH WAPPINGERS FALLS TOYOTA (1349 U.S. 9, WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590, (845) 288-0892) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE BRAKE ACTUATOR TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 191,000.

03/08/2021
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/26/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

THE VSC LIGHT, ABS LIGHT AND NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE CODE COMES BACK TO C1391 WHICH IS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA THAT OCCURS @118,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD IT WAS GOING TO COST $4,000, BUT THEY FINALLY ONLY MADE ME PAY FOR THE LABOR AND TAX. HOWEVER, IT HAS NOW BEEN 30,000 MILES LATER AND THAT PART HAS FAILED AGAIN. I CAN'T AFFORD $2500-$4000 TO FIX A PART THAT ONLY LASTS 30,000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN THIS COMPLAINT OVER AND OVER. CAN WE GET SOME HELP??

02/08/2021
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/06/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

LOUD CONTINUOUS BEEP BEGAN IN CAR WITH NO INDICATION AS TO WHAT IT WAS. WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH, LET OFF GAS TO GET READY FOR TURN, HIT BRAKES AND THERE WEREN'T ANY. WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MERGE BACK INTO TRAFFIC AND DECELERATE ENOUGH TO TURN ONTO THE NEXT STREET. DIAGNOSED AS FAILED BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY.

01/20/2021
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/10/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

BRAKES ARE FAILING AND WHEN I BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKES SEEM LIKE THEY ARE NOT ACTIVATING AND ARE DANGEROUS BECAUSE I CANNOT STOP IN TIME. TOYOTA MUST REPLACE THIS OTHERWISE IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IF BRAKES FAIL.

01/07/2021
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/04/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

VSC LIGHTS CAME ON. EVENTUALLY LOST ALL BRAKES. THE ABS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED. I WAS DRIVING SLOW ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED SO MANY TIMES HERE BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WHERE IS THE RECALL ON THIS PART?!?! TOYOTA HAD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING THIS PART BECAUSE THEY KNEW THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH IT. THANK GOD THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT, GRATEFUL NO ONE WAS HURT. SICKENED I WASTED MY MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE. NEVER BUYING ANOTHER TOYOTA.

01/05/2021
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 01/04/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW54A860******
Summary

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AND ALL THE DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS GOING 60MPH.

12/28/2020
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 04/12/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. MY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I HAD TO PULL OVER. IT DIED THERE. I WAS ON BELFIELD AVE AND GRATZ STREET IN PHILADELPHIA, PA . I SUBSEQUENTLY HAD IT TOWEDBACK TO MY RESIDENCE.

11/23/2020
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 09/07/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A860******
Summary

AFTER BEING DRIVEN OR IDLING FOR AWHILE, THE CAR STARTS CUTTING OUT. IT ACTS LIKE IT ISN'T GETTING GAS. I HAVE TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR OR PUSH IT TO THE FLOOR. HILLS ESPECIALLY CAUSE IT TO STALL. IT WAS SO BAD, I HAD IT TOWED. THE SCAN SHOWED A OXYGEN SENSOR PROBLEM. HAD THAT REPLACED. IT DROVE OK FOR AWHILE. IT HAS RESUMED THE STALLING. WHEN I READ THE RECALL, IT SOUNDED LIKE MY CAR WOULD BE INCLUDED. THE VIN # SHOWS IT NOT BEING ON THE LIST. PLEASE VERIFY BECAUSE IT CUTS OUT, ACTING LIKE IT ISN'T GETTING FUEL. THE AREA I WAS IN WAS A COUNTRY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDERS TO PULL OFF ON. IT ALSO HAPPENED ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. IF IT IS NOT A RECALL, ANY SUGGESTION WILL BE APPRECIATED. THE EXACT DAYS IN SEPTEMBER ARE AN EDUCATED GUESS. THANK YOU.

10/08/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 10/01/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

UNLIKE TRADITIONAL VEHICLES WHERE YOU STILL HAVE SOME STOPPING ABILITY WHEN POWER BRAKING FAILS THIS HYBRID HAS NO BRAKES. WHAT HAPPENED? THAT'S PRETTY SIMPLE I WAS DRIVING AND THEN I HAD NO BRAKES WHILE I WAS STILL MOVING. I WAS GOING 25 MILES AN HOUR AND ALL THE OTHER CARS WERE GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED TO LOOK AT THE FLOWERS AND I LAID ON MY HORN LUCKILY THE ONCOMING CAR RECOGNIZED THE SITUATION AND PULLED OVER JUST ENOUGH TO ALLOW ME TO STRADDLE THE YELLOW LINE AND PASS THE STOPPED CAR WITHOUT CRASHING. THE PARKING BRAKE DIDN'T HELP MUCH BUT EVENTUALLY STOPPED ME ABOUT A QUARTER-MILE LATER DOWN A SLIGHT HILL. DEALER WANTS $3,500 TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WHICH THEY HAD ORIGINALLY OFFERED TO REPLACE FREE AS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THE PROBLEM DIDN'T CREEP UP UNTIL THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. I HAVE NO DOUBT PEOPLE ARE DYING BECAUSE OF TOYOTA'S DESIGN FLAW.

10/01/2020
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 09/30/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FORWARD GEARS WERE INOPERABLE HOWEVER, THE REVERSE GEAR WORKED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MARK MCLARTY TOYOTA 4336 LANDERS RD, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR 72117 (501) 753-0400 BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

09/16/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 09/01/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

ABS ACCUMATOR STOPPED WORKING

08/30/2020
Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 04/15/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A560******
Summary

MY 2008 HIGHLANDER ONLY HAS 130,000 MILES, YET THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR DROPS AND FALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING, THUS CAUSING A DRIVING SAFETY HAZARDTHE VEHICLE IS ACCIDENT FREE. I HAVE CODES CHECK ENGINE, VSC AND TRAC OFF. GAS CAP WAS REPLACED WITH NEW OFFICIAL TOYOTA MATCHED PART & SYSTEM CHECKED BUT PROBLEM FOUND - THIS DISPLAY LIGHT COMBINATION IS COMMON ON TOYOTAS AROUND THIS TIME.. MY GAS MILEAGE & ACCELERATION PERFORMANCE IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED. INABILITY TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE CREATES A DANGER FOR INABILITY TO AVOID COLLISIONS.

08/12/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 08/11/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

ABOUT A WEEK AGO, I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2006 AND EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT. ON MONDAY, OUT OF THE SUDDEN THE DASH TURNED TO A CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS + VSC SYSTEM. I WAS TERRIFIED SO I CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND TOOK AN APPOINTMENT. WENT THERE THE NEXT DAY AND THEY MADE ME WAIT 6 HOURS AND TOLD ME IT HAS BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY PROBLEM AND TO GET IT FIXED, I HAVE TO PAY $2,246. AS A COLLEGE STUDENT THIS IS VERY PRICY. IT PUTS ME IN A MAJOR STRESS. AFTER I TOLD THEM I CAN'T OFFERED IT, I WAS TOLD IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE IT, NOTHING GOING TO HAPPENED BUT A A WEIRD FEELING ON THE BRAKE. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND OUT IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IT LIKE THAT. I FELT LIKE TOYOTA WANTED ME TO PUT MYSELF IN DANGER. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR RIGHT NOW. I LOST MY FATHER LAST WEEK AND WITH THIS PROBLEM, I FEEL VERY BAD. PLEASE HELP.

08/09/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/01/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A960******
Summary

THE ABS ACTUATOR MAKES LOUD NOISE ANYTIME YOU STEP ON BRAKES. MAKES SOUND STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.

08/07/2020
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/20/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR/ACTUATOR IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO HONOR THE REPAIR. THEY MANIPULATED OWNERS BY HAVING A WARRENTY SUPPORT PROGRAM WITH END DATES, INSTEAD OF HAVING A RECALL ON IT. WHICH IS WHY WHEN I RESEARCHED BEFORE I BOUGHT, IS NOT LISTED ON CAR FAX. THE WARRANTY SUPPORT WAS BEFORE I PURCHASED VEHICLE AND PREVIOUSLY IT WAS EITHER IGNORED OR MISSED BETWEEN OWNERS. THEY HAVE HAD MANY OF THESE AND GET AWAY WITH IT. RIGHT NOW THERE IS A CLASS ACTION FILED IN OHIO OVER THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER CARS. IT IS A $3000 DOLLAR PART AND NOT A KNOB ON RADIO. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO IT BEING PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I'VE SEEN WHERE THE SUPPORT PROGRAM SAID MILES DIDN'T MATTER BUT WHEN TALKING TO TOYOTA THEY SAY 114,000 MILES. THE CAR IS A 2006, YEAH THAT'S REASONABLE, EVEN FOR 2017/18 LETTER. WHILE DRIVING THE VSC ALARM SYSTEM COMES ON AND THE BRAKING BECOMES DIFFICULT. THE PUMP HAS ALWAYS MADE A SOUND BUT WAS TOLD BY DEALER IT WAS THE SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM MAKING THE NOISE. IT HAPPENED IN 2019 ALSO, THE ALARM, BUT REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS CALIPERS, SO PAID $800 TO HAVE THEM REPLACED WITH PADS. ITS ALWAYS MADE NOISE BUT THE ALARM SYSTEM STARTED BACK UP AGAIN LAST MONTH. NOW WITH RESEARCH ON MY OWN, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS BUT TOYOTA SAID THEY SENT LETTER TO PREVIOUS OWNER AND SORRY ABOUT MY LUCK! THIS HAS RENDERED THIS VEHICLE WORTH $5500, WORTHLESS. CANT TRADE IN A VEHICLE LIKE THIS AND LOST MY INCOME FROM DELIVERY WITH IT. I HAVE CHECKED OFF EVERYTHING THAT WOULD APPLY IF IT WAS A RECALL BUT SINCE THE SUPPORT PROGRAM HAS AN END DATE TO GET OUT OF TOYOTA EVER BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PART, THEY PUSH IT OFF ON OWNERS. I'M JUST LUCKY, I HAVE A CDL AND GOOD DRIVER AND HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH IT. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA AND THEY JUST SWIPED ME AWAY AS ANOTHER POOR SUCKER THAT DIDN'T FIGURE IT OUT BEFORE I PURCHASED.

08/02/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/31/2019
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE ACTUATOR, ABS WHICH FAILED PREMATURELY. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA IN JULY 2019 AND WAS TOLD THE EXTENDER WARRANTY CAMPAIGN EXPIRED IN DEC 2018. THE REFUSED TO COVERED THE COST OF THE REPAIR. $1,186.19 FOR THE PART PLUS $653. 00 FRO THE INSTALLATION. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE THE NEW BRAKE ACTUATOR PUMP STILL DOESNT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE ON UNEVEN ROAD , MANHOLE COVERS OR OVER BUMPS FEELS LIKE WHEN I BRAKE I AM HITTING ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE TAKES TIME TO KICK IN..I HAVE FOUND MYSELF IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASE FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I DONT FEEL COMFORTABLE LETTING HER DRIVE THIS CAR.

07/20/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 03/15/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

BRAKE ACTUATOR WENT OUT, I HAD READ THIS IS AM ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I TRIED TO SEE IF I QUALIFIED FOR A COVERED REPAIR AND WAS TOLD IT HAD ENDED.

07/08/2020
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/06/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY HAS GONE OUT AT 135000 MILES. IT INTERFERS WITH BRAKING. THE BRAKES LOCK UP FREQUENTLY AND CAR WILL ALMOST HOP TO A HALT. IT IS QUITE CONCERNING AND SCARY WHEN IT OCCURS.

05/21/2020
Components: STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/21/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

ONCE AFTER PARKING AND THEN TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT, THE VSC LIGHT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE CAUTION LIGHT ALL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING STEERING ASSISTANCE . EACH TIME REQUIRING MULTIPLE KEY TURNS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE INTO LIMP HOME MODE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED ONCE BEFORE FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE WHICH OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. THE TANK IS FULL OF FUEL, THE TIRES ARE LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, AND THE VEHICLE UNDERGOES REGULAR MAINTENANCE(WHICH INCLUDES A NEW BATTERY AS THE ONE BOUGHT FROM TOYOTA HAD A FEW DEAD CELLS AFTER ONLY A YEAR OR TWO). I'VE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE UNDERLYING ISSUE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A RELATED RECALL THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE MY VIN. *TR

05/13/2020
Components: SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 05/13/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A360******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS VERY WELL KEPT AND THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY WASHED AND SERVICED HOWEVER, THE UNDERCARRIAGE BECAME VERY CORRODED. THE SUBFRAME AND FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 256,000.

05/07/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/01/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AND HAD NO BRAKES. TOOK TO A MECHANIC WHO CLEARED THE CODES AND AFTER 24 HOURS THEY CAME BACK ON. CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN 2017 FOR THAT EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WAS QUOTED ALMOST $2500.00 TO GET IT FIXED. TOYOTA SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PRICE. NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON THAT ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE CAUSE I HAVE NO BRAKES. *TR

04/21/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 04/17/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND NEEDING TO SUDDENLY BRAKE, ABS LIGHT AND CHECK VSC SYSTEM LIGHTS CAME ON, THE CAR DID BRAKE IN TIME. HOWEVER, SOON AFTERWARDS THE BRAKES DID NOT IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE WHEN REVERSING OUT OF PARKING SPACE OR ANYTIME WHEN PRESSING BRAKES WHILE REVERSING.

03/10/2020
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 03/05/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES STILL OPERATED AS INTENDED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SHOULDER AND CHECKED THE FLUID LEVELS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 290,000.

03/03/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/01/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

THE ABS PUMP AND MODULE ARE DEFECTIVE

02/19/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 10/10/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (RICE TOYOTA 2630 BATTLEGROUND AVE, GREENSBORO, NC 27408) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE ASSENTURA NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THE 150,000 MILES HAD BEEN EXCEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

02/03/2020
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 02/01/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A260******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR FAILED. THE CONTACT ADVISED THAT THE SUN VISOR WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. HOWEVER THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE SUN VISOR FAILED TO STAY SECURED AND OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTO NATION TOYOTA DEALER (6300 WEST SAHARA AVENUE, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89146, PHONE NUMBER (866)-314-3304). FOR INSPECTION THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE SUN VISOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

01/29/2020
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 04/07/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SOUND WAS PRESENT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED TOYOTA MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAILED BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

01/26/2020
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 01/26/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I-30 EAST UP A HILL GOING APPT 70 MPH WHEN THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND SLOWED DOWN TO 10 MPH. THEN WENT TO ONLY 1 MPH. WE CHECKED THE BATTERY CONNECTION, FUEL CAP, EVERYTHING WE FOUND ONLINE TO CHECK.

01/13/2020
Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/06/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

06 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND AM UNABLE TO FILL GAS TANK WITHOUT NOZZLE CLICKING OFF THIRTY OR MORE TIMES. DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHAT ANGLE, BRAND OF GAS OR DISTANCE. -- MY TECHNICIAN SAID A NEW GAS TANK NEED TO BE REPLACE AND IT COST $1700... THIS PARTS SHOULD BE A SAFETY MEASURE AND WORK DURING THE LIVE OF THE VEHICLE.... TOYOTA SELL ME DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK.

01/07/2020
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 11/15/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21AX60******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING, WE (MULTIPLE DRIVERS) EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT SLOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS (BELOW 30 MPH). WE HAVE CHECKED THE FLUIDS AND ALL LOOKS GOOD. THE MECHANIC CANNOT PINPOINT THE ISSUE AND I'VE NOTED THAT MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THE ISSUE OCCURS VERY SPORADICALLY AND MAY GO DAYS WITHOUT RECURRENCE. IT HAS OCCURRED DURING TURNS AROUND THE CORNER AS WELL AS DURING LANE CHANGES.

01/06/2020
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 12/16/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

ONGOING ISSUE WITH GENERATION 1 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS AND PRIUS FROM SAME DATE RANGES. A WARRANTY ADJUSTMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED AND ENDED. THE ABS BRAKE ACCUMULATOR GETS AN INTERNAL LEAK CODE C1391. REDUCED BRAKING, ESC, BRAKE AND OTHER LIGHTS COME ON. MANY OF THOSE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY ARE ALREADY FAILING A SECOND TIME. VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SINCE IT CAN BE DRIVING PERFECTLY AND FAIL WHILE IN MOTION CAUSING DANGEROUS BRAKING CONDITIONS.

12/12/2019
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 09/30/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AND THE HYBRID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE PREVIOUS TIMES BY NAGUABO AUTO TOYOTA (CARRETERA 31 KM 3.9, NAGUABO, PR 00718) REGARDING THE HYBRID MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

11/19/2019
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/25/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE USED CAR LOT. THEY TOLD ME ALL SERVICE WAS COMPLETED THROUGH TOYOTA SO I HAD FAITH IN TOYOTA REPAIRING ANY PROBLEMS, WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR THE ABS SYSTEM STARTED MAKEING STRAINGE NOICES AND THE BREAKS WERE NOT VERY EFFEECTIVE, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING SINCE THIS IS MY FAMILY PRIMARY VEHICLE AS A RETIRED DISABLE VET, I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME TOO BAD THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER COULD OF HAD THE EXTENDED WARENTIY BUT THEY DIDNT DO IT, NOW IM STUCK DRIVING A DANGERIOUS VEHICLE WITH MY FAMILY WHICH INCLUDES 2 BOYS THAT ARE SPECIAL NEEDS AND MYSELF A 100% DISABLED VET. NOT HAPPY WITH TOYOTA.

08/02/2019
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 04/22/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, HOWEVER IT POTENTIALLY CAUSES UNSAFELY IF NOT FIXED AS REQUESTED. THE REASON I COME TO YOU FOR COMPLAINT, I DO HAVE A SITUATION WITH CARLSON TOYOTA AND/OR TOYOTA MOTOR GROUPS. HERE THE SITUATION WHAT HAPPENS. I DO HAVE 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. I DROVE THIS SUV SINCE 2009. I HAVE A NUMBER OF RECORDS FROM THE SAME DEALER TO MAINTAIN THE SUV SAFE. HOWEVER, COUPLE MONTH AGO ON 04/22/2019, I GOT SOME OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATES ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) CHECK LIGHT IS ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE CARLSON TOYOTA DEALER PAY DIAGNOSED FEE $149.00 AND THE RESULTS IS UNPREDICTABLE PRICES. SEE THE LISTS: 1) BREAK ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY----------------------------$2225.00 2) RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING AND HARNESS ----------$1156.00 TOTAL------------------------------------------------------$3,381.00 THE REASON I AM COMPLAINING TODAY NOT BECAUSE OF THE PRICE TO HIGH. HOWEVER, I FOUND TOYOTA PUBLISHED LETTER ON APRIL 19, 2016, TO ALL TOYOTA DEALER PRINCIPALS, GENERAL MANAGERS, SERVICE MANAGERS, AND PARTS MANAGERS. UNDER THE SUBJECT LINE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM ?ZG1, FOR ALL 2006-2007 MODEL YEAR HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND OTHERS TYPE INCLUDED. ALSO, DOWN THE LAST THREE PARAGRAPH (SEE ATTACHED LETTER) INDICATES UNDER OWNER LETTER MAILING DATE, SAID ?TOYOTA WILL BEGIN TO NOTIFY OWNERS IN LATE APRIL, 2016 AND WILL BE MAILED OVER SEVERAL MONTHS. A SAMPLE OF THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER HAS BEEN INCLUDED FOR YOUR REFERENCE.? AFTER I FOUND THE PUBLISHED NOTICE, I WENT TO THE CARLSON TOYOTA DEALER ON 06/18/2019. I DESCRIBED THE SITUATION AND I SHOWED THE RECIPES OF WHERE I GET FROM DURING INSPECTION, AND FINALLY THEY TOLD ME THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM IS EXPIRED. I ASK THEM HOW IS EXPIRED, NOBODY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS RECALL OR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. I NEED HELP TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION. SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS. *JS

06/19/2019
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 06/16/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. FRED HAAS TOYOTA WORLD (20400 INTERSTATE 45 N, SPRING, TX 77373) WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE TEST WAS NOT FREE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

06/15/2019
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 06/15/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

MY 2006 HIGHLANDER DROVE JUST FINE. PARKED IN MY USUAL SPOT AND THE NEXT TIME I START IT MY P/S LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE NO STEERING. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR IT TO JUST QUIT WORKING ON PEOPLE. I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY THIS ISSUE HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA YET. THANK GOD I WASN'T DRIVING LIKE OTHERS WERE WHEN IT HAPPENED.

06/04/2019
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 12/15/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ON MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 3 TIMES SINCE 2014. REPLACING THIS PART IS A $2500 - $3000 REPAIR. THE FIRST TIME, WE PAID OUT OF POCKET. THE SECOND TIME, I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET AND I DECLINED. PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND THEN RECEIVED NOTICE FROM TOYOTA THAT THE PART WAS BEING OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UNDER LETTER ZG1. AT THAT POINT, I HAD THE PART REPLACED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW THE PART HAS FAILED AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AS IT CONTROLS THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM AND FAILURE CAN HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES. I THINK TOYOTA RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE, MADE ADJUSTMENTS, BUT DID NOT MAKE PROPER ADJUSTMENTS AND STILL HAS ISSUES WITH THIS PART. PARTICULARLY - THIS ISSUE MAY BE RELATED TO THE FACT THAT THE HYBRID VEHICLES RELY ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO REGENERATE THE BATTERY.

05/07/2019
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/07/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION DURING CITY DRIVING THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY HARD TO PRESS DOWN AND SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON MY VEHICLE DASHBOARD. AT FIRST, THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT BUT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORST OVER CONTINUED DRIVING. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM MODULE AND THE REPAIR WAS ABOUT $2,600.00. I PARKED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND TO MANY CLOSE CALLS. LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THIS 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND SEVERAL PROCEEDING MODEL YEARS HAD A VERY EXTENSIVE CONSUMER COMPLAINT NUMBER FOR THIS VERY SAME ABS BRAKE SYSTEM CONCERN. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE SAME LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ABOUT A WARRANTY AT WHICH TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED WHICH I NEVER WAS INFORMED. IT SEEMS TO ME PERSONALLY THIS IS HOW THE AIR BAG SAFETY PROBLEM WAS OVER LOOKED ON THESE VEHICLES UNTIL CONSUMERS LOST THEIR LIVES ON FAULTY CONSUMER PRODUCTS THAT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORST OVER TIME. SEVERAL OF THE OTHER IMPORT MANUFACTURE HAVE OFFERED RECALLS ON THE VERY SAME ABS SYSTEM BRAKE CONCERN. TOYOTA HAS YET TO OFFER A RECALL SEVERAL MODEL YEARS INTO THIS SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. IF WE AS CONSUMERS CAN'T STOP OUR VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING ON THE CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAYS ACCIDENTS HAPPEN AND PEOPLE DIE. THIS SAFETY CONCERN HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH WITH THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OVER THE YEARS FOR THE SAME ABS BRAKE SYSTEM CONCERN. THERE MUST BE A MUCH BETTER JOB AT PROTECTING THE CONSUMER SAFETY FROM CONTINUED SAFETY CONCERNS NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. ALL THE OTHER IMPORT MANUFACTURES HAVE STEP UP WITH RECALLS, WHATS TAKING TOYOTA MANUFACTURES SO LONG AFTER YEARS OF THE SAME SAFETY CONCERNS. PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS ABS BRAKE SYSTEM CONCERN.

04/22/2019
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 04/22/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A260******
Summary

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN AUGUST 2018. IN JANUARY, WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED A 'VSC SYSTEM' PROBLEM. THE EVENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I RESEARCHED CAR REPAIR WEBSITES AND FORUMS, AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS OFTEN A SIMPLE PROBLEM WITH A SENSOR FOR THE FUEL DOOR, OR A LINKAGE IN THE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY. I FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS, AND THE LIGHT TURNED OFF. OVER THE PAST SIX WEEKS, THE LIGHTS HAVE RETURNED, USUALLY IN ASSOCIATION WITH REFUELING THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TODAY, AND WAS INFORMED THAT AN ABS ACTUATOR WAS FAILING. THE PART IS $1700 FROM TOYOTA, WITH LABOR TOTALING $600. FURTHER RESEARCH REVEALED THE PROBLEM WAS WIDESPREAD, BUT THE ONLY REMEDY WAS A 'WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT' THAT HAS ALREADY EXPIRED. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR, AND I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS ISSUE AT PURCHASE. BECAUSE THIS ISSUE WAS CRITICAL FOR VEHICLE SAFETY, I FELT THE NEED TO ALERT THE NHTSA TO A CONTINUING PROBLEM.

04/11/2019
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 04/09/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PUMP FAILED AND WAS REPLACE UNDER THE WARRANTEE EXTENSION ZG1. THE REPLACEMENT BRAKE ACTUATOR PUMP FAILED BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER IT. IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE DEFECTIVE PART. WHEN THE PART FAILS MANY SYSTEMS ARE IMPACTED ESPECIALLY THE BRAKES.

04/08/2019
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 04/03/2019
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGP21A560******
Summary

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT.

03/28/2019
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 09/03/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A560******
Summary

WHEN IS THERE GOING TO BE A RECALL FOR THE POWER WINDOWS??? THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2007 HIGHLANDERS- IN 2012, 2 MONTHS BEFORE I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA, THEY HAD NO COMPLAINTS !!THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, THERE ARE SOOO MANY COMPLAINTS. I CURRENTLY HAVE 2 WINDOWS THAT DON'T WORK,THEY WERE STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION, BOTH OF THE MOTORS HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED. THE 3RD WINDOW WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS @ 88,000 MILES. THE VISORS DON'T STAY UP, ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD !!! ALSO WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS.

03/20/2019
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 03/02/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON, THERE IS A HIGH BEEPING SOUND, AND THE BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE BRAKES EITHER NEED TO BE MATCHED WITH EXTREME FORCE OR THE BRAKES WILL SLAM BY BARELY TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE AND OFFERED A WARRANTY EXTENSION TO OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE EXTENSION WAS OFFERED AND HAVEN'T HAD ISSUES UNTIL RECENTLY. I AM CONCERNED FOR NOT ONLY MY SAFETY BUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I HAVE BEEN A TOYOTA FAN FOR ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE. HOWEVER, AFTER DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AND BEING QUOTED $2000 TO FIX IT, I WOULD OFFER ADVICE TO ANYBODY OR NOT TO BUY A TOYOTA OR AT LEAST NOT A TOYOTA HYBRID. BUYER AND DRIVER BEWARE!

03/10/2019
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 03/08/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE MAIN ROAD COMING TO A STOP LIGHT.THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AFTER PRESSING ON THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES. THERE ARE SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE DASH:BRAKES,TRACTION CONTROL, 2 YELLOW EXCLAMATION MARKS ONE INSIDE A TRIANGLE AND THE ,ABS. THE MECHANIC IS SAYING THE BRAKE ACTUATOR IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO REPLACED.

02/21/2019
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/21/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED TO PROPERLY STOP THE CAR. THIS ISSUE FIRST HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2017. AT THAT TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN AND HAD THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED UNDER A LIMITED SERVICE RECALL BY TOYOTA AND THE REPLACEMENT ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY ALSO FAILED WITHIN 18 MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA THE BRAKES AGAIN FAILED TO STOP THE CAR, MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND JERKING TO A HALT AFTER PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. BECAUSE THE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED UNDER THE LIMITED SERVICE RECALL TOYOTA DENIES ANY CULPABILITY IN THE FAILURE OF THE REPLACEMENT PART AND REFUSES TO OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE.

01/19/2019
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 10/08/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I AM GETTING A "CHECK VSC SYSTEM" ON THE DASHBOARD ALONG WITH A RED TRIANGLE, ORANGE ABS LIGHT, ORANGE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, RED BRAKE LIGHT AND ORANGE EXCLAMATION MARK INSIDE A CIRCLE. I HAVE BEEN HEARING WEIRD POPPING NOISES WHEN BRAKING ALSO.

01/15/2019
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/04/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

BRAKE ACTUATOR. ON SEPTEMBER 2016 I HAD MY CAR SELF BRAKE AT 45 MPH. NO INJURIES OCCURRED, BUT I HAD CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER SHIP IN ORLANDO FLORIDA. AFTER LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE INSPECTOR DIAGNOSIS. THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER I RECENTLY DISCOVERED IN JUNE OF 2016 TOYOTA DID ISSUE A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WARRANTY ISSUE WITH MY CARS BRAKING ACTUATOR. I WAS NEVER INFORMED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2018 I REPORTED A ISSUE WITH BRAKES. DEALER CONFIRMED IT WAS ACTUATOR. TOYOTA REFUSED OT ASSIST WITH REPAIR. IN JANUARY OF 2019, MY BRAES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. AGAIN NO INJURIES. IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE ACTUATOR. TOYOTA AGAIN REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY.

01/09/2019
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 12/01/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

THE BRAKE ACTUATOR MODULE FAILED IN 2013 AND THE REPLACEMENT MODULE FAILED AGAIN IN 20018.

01/07/2019
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 12/14/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF CLEVELAND (3560 VILLAGE N BLVD, MCDONALD, TN 37353) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 259,294.

01/02/2019
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/01/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL AND ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STOPPED AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY TOYOTA OF HATTIESBURG (6461 US-98, HATTIESBURG, MS 39402) IN FEBRUARY OF 2017, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

12/14/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 11/26/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ALL AT THE SAME TIME AND STAYED ON. WENT TO DIAGNOSE REPAIR AND THEY SAID IT NEEDS A NEW BRAKE ACTUATOR. UPON INVESTIGATING, I SEE THAT TOYOTA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS BUT IT EXPIRED ON DEC 31 2017. UPON REFLECTION, WE HAVE FELT THE BRAKES OCCASIONALLY BECOME VERY STIFF AND HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ACTUATOR ISSUE. I FEEL THIS SAFETY ISSUE, ALBEIT RATHER OLD, IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO TOYOTA AND THEY SHOULD PROVIDE SOME RECOURSE FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE INCLUDED THE DIAGNOSTIC SHOWING DIAGNOSTIC CODES AND MECHANIC EVALUATION.

11/28/2018
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 11/01/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

STEERING DOES NOT STEER CORRECTLY SOMETIMES WHEN I DRIVE. DEALER SAYS THAT THEY WANT $2000 TO FIX IT BY REPLACING THE STEERING MECHANISM. I HAVE NOTICED IT SOMETIMES WHEN I AM MOVING.

11/18/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 04/10/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

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.

11/17/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 10/19/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW2TA360******
Summary

"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 APPEAR WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE.

10/31/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/13/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

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.

10/11/2018
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,ENGINE
Incident Date: 04/09/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

TAKATA RECALL IN 3 TIMES THE LIGHT "READY '' DISAPPEAR AND APPEAR "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" AND THEN ENGINE NEED TO START AGAIN..

10/09/2018
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/27/2016
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A260******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PEDESTRIAN SUFFERED INJURIES AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *JS

10/05/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/01/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

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.

08/31/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 08/30/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

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 WARRANTY EXTENSION THAT TOYOTA SUPPOSEDLY GOT OUT TO ALL THOSE WHO PURCHASED VEHICLES WITH THIS MALFUNCTION.

08/21/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 08/12/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

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.

08/09/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/01/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTFFW21A960******
Summary

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.

07/20/2018
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 07/19/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A460******
Summary

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY FLUSH TO INTERIOR CAR ROOF NOR FLUSH TO WINDSHIELD WHEN PLACED IN DOWN POSITION. NO TENSION AT ALL AROUND THE SUPPORT SHAFT. IN "UP" OR CLOSED POSITION, VISOR DROPS TO 45 DEGREES AND DIRECTLY INTO DRIVER LINE OF SIGHT, BLOCKING VISIBILITY SIGNIFICANTLY. IN "DOWN" OR OPEN POSITION, VISOR CANNOT REMAIN FLUSH WITH WINDSHIELD, DROPPING TO 120 DEGREES. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, VISOR DROPS FURTHER TO ALMOST 90 DEGREES. ISSUE ONGOING FOR ~5 WEEKS.

06/14/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 08/02/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

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.

06/12/2018
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/07/2018
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A460******
Summary

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.

06/07/2018
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/05/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

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.

06/06/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/01/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BREAKS NOT WORKING! IM AN EXTREMELY SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE NOW I DONT WANT MY FAMILY HURT OR OTHERS IN THE ROAD IT IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS UNTIL IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON ALL VEHICLES! TOYOTA HAS DIAGNOSED IT AS THE BREAK ACCUMULATER AS DEFECTIVE! THE COST IS 3000 I JUST CAN BELIVE THIS HASN'T BEEN FIXED ON ALL VEHICLES!. I REALLY HOPE WE CAN GET THIS DONE SOON SO I CAN DRIVE MY VEHICLE AGAIN!

06/06/2018
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 06/06/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A060******
Summary

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES SEEMINGLY ON IT'S OWN. WHILE DRIVING IT PICKS UP SPEED THEN SLOWS DOWN SOME.

05/08/2018
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/02/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

I WAS PREGNANT AND DRIVING WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN WHEN THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON ABOUT VSC AND A LOUD RINGING HAPPENED AND THEN I TRIED TO BRAKE AT THE STOP LIGHT AND THEY WERE SO DIFFICULT TO PUSH I BARELY STOPPED IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ABS SYSTEM AND THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS BUT PUT STIPULATIONS ON AN EXTENDED WARRANTY RATHER THAN RECALL SO IT'S TOO LATE FOR MOST TO GET FIXED AND BE COVERED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND EXPENSIVE FIX TOYOTA NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND.

04/23/2018
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/07/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A460******
Summary

THE PASSENGER WINDOWS CONTINUALLY STICK IN THE DOWN POSITION. I HAVE TAKEN MY HIGHLANDER TO TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES AND PAID HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. ALSO, THE FOB QUIT WORKING ON THE DRIVER DOOR. I THINK THERE MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE IN THE DOORS.

04/18/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 04/01/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

MY BRAKES BEGAN MAKING A LOT OF NOISE WHILE PARKED OR STATIONARY. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER DIAGNOSED THE MALFUNCTION AS THE BRAKE ACTUARY ASSEMBLY. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT TURNS OUT THIS IS A RECOGNIZED PROBLEM WITH 2006-7 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS AND IN RESPONSE TOYOTA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY PERIOD UNTIL DECEMBER 2017 TO COMPENSATE. HOWEVER, I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS DEFECT UNTIL RECENTLY, JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE END OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD. WHY WASN'T A RECALL ISSUED FOR SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT TO SAFETY AS THE BRAKES?

04/18/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 04/16/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A560******
Summary

TWO MONTHS AGO, MY CAR SYSTEM NOTED ABS SYSTEM PROBLEM: ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND OTHER LIGHTS ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO TOYOTA PLACE IN GARDEN GROVE, CA DEALER, THEY TOLD ME ABS SYSTEM FAILED, IT WOULD BE REPLACED AS POSSIBLE, THE COST IS FROM $2500 TO 3500. THEY ALSO SAID THE CAR I CAN DRIVE BUT THE ABS DIDN'T WORK. THE PROBLEM IS THE COST IS TOO HIGH AND I CAN'T AFFORD FOR IT. ON LAST MONDAY 04/16/2018, AROUND 7:30AM ON THE WAY DRIVING TO THE WORK PLACE, I STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOTHING, MY CAR RAN OUT OF CONTROL. LUCKILY, I WAS FIRST IN THE LINE, THEN I DROVE THE CAR WITH NO STEP ON GAS PEDAL, HIT EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON, AND USED THE LEG BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. AFTER THAT, MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, THEY SAID ABS ACTUATOR STOPPED WORKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY CHARGED ME $2,642.32; THE PART COST IS $1,834.94, BRAKE FLUID IS $7.04, THE LABOR IS $650 (FROM THE ARRIVING TIME 9:36AM TO THE CALLING TIME TO NOTE MY CAR TO BE DONE AROUND 3:40PM) AND SALES TAX IS $143.30. YOU SHOULD KNOW MY CAR IS PERMANENTLY CHANGED OIL AND MAINTENANCE AT THE SAME DEALER FROM 2011, THE YEAR I BOUGHT THE CAR AS A PRE-OWNER CAR. IN THIS PERIOD TIME, MY CAR IS ALWAYS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WITH NOTHING BIG PROBLEM AND SPECIFICALLY WITH NO WARNING ABOUT ABS SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, IN OWNER'S MANUAL AND SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE GUIDE THE MANUFACTORY KEEPS SILENT RECOMMENDATION ABOUT ABS SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. TODAY, I AM FILING A COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ABS SYSTEM PROBLEM OF TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2006 BECAUSE IT IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS FOR ITS CUSTOMERS WHEN DRIVING ON IT. I ALSO READ MORE THE SAME PROBLEM FROM ITS CUSTOMERS ON ONLINE. THEY MAY OR MAY NOT OPEN A FILE, BUT IT IS VITAL OF THE CONSUMER AND ALSO THE BUDGET OF EACH FAMILY. I HOPE YOU HAVE TO HELP TO SAVE THE LIFE OF PEOPLE ON THE ROAD AND SAVE THEIR MONEY ALSO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

03/22/2018
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/19/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

CAR HAS 84,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER A 40 MINUTE HIUGHWAY DRIVE, CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED. ENGINE LIGHTS "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" "CHECK ABS" AND "CHECK VCS" CAME ON. TOWED TO DEALER, DIAGNOSTIC CHECK SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH A WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HYBRID ELECTRICAL CABLE, WHICH SUFFERED FROM CORROSION AND THUS WAS LEAKING VOLTAGE. COST TO FIX MINIMUM OF $3500. FAULTY DESIGN??

03/17/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 03/05/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

I PURCHASED A 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID FWD IN FEB 2018 FROM HERCULES POLICE DEPARTMENT. FAIRLY OFTEN WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AT LOWER SPEEDS 20-30MPH , THE SUV SURGES FORWARD LIKE THE BRAKES HAVE RELEASED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN HAVE REAPPLIED. IT IS DANGEROUS AND VERY DISCONCERTING IN CLOSE TRAFFIC OR WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER OR CIRCLE. ALTHOUGH I HAVE MANAGED NOT TO HAVE A COLLISION, I HAVE COME PRETTY CLOSE WHEN DRIVING WITH A REASONABLE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT. I HAVE DESCRIBED IT TO TOYOTA, WHICH THEY DENIES THERE IS ANY PROBLEM SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL WAS DONE. I HAVE HAD IT DIAGNOSED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES BEING IDENTIFIED. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS NOTED BY MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WHO DESCRIBE THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL AS WELL AS OTHER HYBRIDS MANUFACTURED BY TOYOTA. IT IS A DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF EMERGENCY BRAKING IS NECESSARY, WHICH AT SOME POINT WE ALL NEED TO DO TO BE SAFE ON THE ROAD. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS WITH TOYOTA.

03/09/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 03/01/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

MECHANIC PUT NEW BRAKES ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. WHEN DONE THE : MAINTENANCE VSC MESSAGE; TRACTION CONTROL; ABS; AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. THREE OTHER MECHANICS LOOKED AT IT AND CONCLUDED THAT THE ACCUMULATOR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERTY. I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM THIS DIAGNOSTIC THROUGH MANY EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE.. ALSO, ALL THE BRAKE COMPONENTS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED CAUSING AN ADDED TIME TO DO THE PARTS OUT. TO DATE THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT; BUT THE PROBLEM IN NEW YORK IS CAR WON'T PASS YEARLY INSPECTION BECAUSE OF OTHER FILED COMPLAINTS THE NEXT STOP IS THE DEALERSHIP APPARENTLY IF I CAN GET THERE SAFELY. (I'M ANOTHER PERSON ON SOCIAL SECURITY WITHOUT LARGE AMOUNTS OF CASH ~$2000 - $5000 TO SPEND ON A CAR THAT IS NOW DEPRECIATED TO ~ $4500.) THIS SAFETY ISSUE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL

03/01/2018
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 01/01/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ACCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND JUMPED A CURB AND HIT A BUILDING WHILE THE BRAKES WERE BEING DEPRESSED. *JS

02/26/2018
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 11/22/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A960******
Summary

MY VEHICLE IS A HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED. THE LIMITED HAS A TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY TO CONTROL THE ONBOARD GPS, SOUND SYSTEM, MAINTENANCE REMINDERS, AND CLIMATE CONTROL. I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE A FEW MONTHS AGO THE DISPLAY WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO BLACK. THE ONLY BUTTON THAT WOULD RESPOND WAS THE MAP BUTTON WHICH CAUSED THE SCREEN TO DISPLAY A MESSAGE STATING THAT IT WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE EXTERNAL SYSTEM. INITIALLY, THE SCREEN WOULD GO BLACK ONLY AFTER I STARTED TO MOVE, BUT LATER I REALIZED THAT THE MOVEMENT WASN'T A FACTOR BUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION.ONLY A COUPLE OF MINUTES AFTER IGNITION. AS TIME WENT BY THE SCREEN HAS NOW BECOME PERMANENTLY BLACK. MY CONCERN IS THAT I NOW NO LONGER HAVE CONTROL OF THE CLIMATE CONTROL WHICH COULD LEAD TO MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES DUE TO POTENTIAL LACK OF VISIBILITY. THE REAR DEFROSTER HAS ITS OWN INDEPENDENT BUTTON, SEPARATE FROM THE DISPLAY, BUT THAT ALSO DOES NOT RESPOND. I'VE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG FIRST-GENERATION HIGHLANDER LIMITEDS AND THAT THE COST COULD BE UPWARDS OF $2000 TO REPAIR. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WAS CAUSED BY USER ERROR OR MISUSE, IT'S SOMETHING RELATED TO THE MANUFACTURE OF THE CAR. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR OUT OF POCKET. ALSO, ONE OF THE THINGS I READ WAS THAT THIS COULD BE CAUSED BY A TRIPPED FUSE SO I CHECKED EVERYONE (EXCEPT THE ONES THAT COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE INVOLVED) AND NOT ONE FUSE WAS BAD.

02/20/2018
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/19/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK VSC LIGHT, BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT ALL ON PERMANENTLY AND MY BRAKES AREN'T WORKING. I WAS FORTUNATE NOONE GOT HURT.. IT WAS REALLY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKE AND IT DOESN'T STOP. ... FROM WHAT I READ ABS ACCUMULATOR WHICH COST 3K+ TO REPLACE AND THE HYBRID INVERTER WHICH COST 5K+ TO REPLACE. NHTSA PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUES.

02/12/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/10/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY IS MALFUNCTIONING, AND IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT TO ACTIVATE WHICH IN TURN DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO START THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT IF I WAS TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH THE MALFUNCTION, I COULD LOSE MY BREAKING SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND REFUSES TO DO A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $2100. FAULTY BRAKING SYSTEM SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR TOYOTA.

02/05/2018
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,ENGINE
Incident Date: 03/15/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED STEVENS CREEK TOYOTA SAN JOSE AT (408) 984-1234 (LOCATED AT 4202 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SAN JOSE, CA 95129) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

01/28/2018
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 01/09/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

MOST OF DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT ON AND BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN 17 Y/O SON DRIVING VEHICLE AS PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT. ABLE TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE AS IN PARKING LOT AND STOP THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO TOYOTA AND TOLD ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO COST OF ABOUT $2400. THIS OCCURRED ON 01/09/2018. WE FOUND OUT AFTER THE FACT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS EXPIRED ON 12/31/2017 JUST 9 DAYS BEFORE OUR SON HAD THIS INCIDENT. LUCKILY IN PARKING LOT AS WE LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND COULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY/SERIOUS INJURY IN ANOTHER SETTING. WE HAVE FILED COMPLAINT W/ TOYOTA.

01/22/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/12/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. NOTHING IN MANUAL ABOUT IT. CALLED TOYOTA DEALER SAID NO RUSH TO BRING IT IN. SNOWSTORM DELAYED ME. WENT IN - TOLD DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. HAVE TO REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING ACTUATOR - PART COSTS $1800 AND 3 HOURS LABOR - AROUND $2400 - THE CAR ONLY HAS 130K ON IT. BRAKE WAS SLIPPING DAY I GOT TO THE DEALER UNLESS I PRESSED HARDER THAN NORMAL.

01/09/2018
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/08/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I WAS ON HIGHWAY THE LIGHT( BRAKE VSC ABS..) THEN I HEARD NOISE I TRY TO PUSH THE BREAK DIDN'T STOP AND I AM GLAD THAT I MANAGE TO SLOW IT DOWN. I TAKE IT TO MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THIS BECAUSE SOME KIND OF ABS BRAKE ACCUMULATOR AND RELATED ISSUES. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE INSTANCES WHERE I'M PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT STARTS TO SLOW DOWN, THEN FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES RELEASE, THEN GRAB AGAIN SLOWING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. I'VE ALMOST CRASHED A COUPLE TIMES. I'VE HEARD AND READ OF MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS SYSTEM AND SOME HAVE EVEN HAD ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS. TO ME, I DONT HAVE $4000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND RIGT KNOW I AM STUDENT AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO, IT SHOULD BE RECALL. ALSO, WHEN TURNING THE KEY TO ON, THE ACCUMULATOR HAS STARTED MAKING A LOUD BUZZING NOISE FOR 10-15 SECONDS. PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS SYSTEM FOR IMMEDIATE RECALL

12/15/2017
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 12/14/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A960******
Summary

BRAKE ACUATOTOR FAILED. ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. LOSS OF BRAKES!!!!!

11/27/2017
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 11/26/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 65MPH THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER,THE CHECK HYBRID LIGHT WAS FLASHING, WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP. WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AND DRIVE 110 MILE HOME.

11/17/2017
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 11/17/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A560******
Summary

WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT LETTER ZG1 BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE FOR THE OWNER AND A THIRD-PARTY MECHANIC. MECHANIC SUGGESTED IT WAS THE ABS SYSTEM AND RECOMMENDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD OF THE WARRANTY LETTER ZG1; MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP READ CODES (C1345 AND C1368). THEY ATTEMPTED A RE-CALIBRATION BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO REPLACE THE ACTUATOR. TOYOTA CORPORATE WAS CONTACTED TO SEE IF THIS WOULD FALL UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR REPLACEMENT. THEY DECLINED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE NONE OF THE FOLLOWING CODES WERE NOTED (C1391, C1252, C1253, C1256). THE WARRANTY VERBIAGE DOES NOT STATE THESE CODES MUST BE INDICATED, BUT INSTEAD SAYS THEY "MAY BE ILLUMINATED". MY ARGUMENT IS THAT IF THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE ACTUATOR, REGARDLESS OF WHICH CODES WERE ILLUMINATED, THEN THIS COMPONENT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD IF IT IS SAFE TO OPERATE MY HIGHLANDER AND DEPEND ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM OR NOT.

11/04/2017
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 01/01/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A960******
Summary

THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN WHETHER IN MOTION OR STOPPED, IT CAUSES A BLOCKED VISION WHICH CAN CAUSE COLLISIONS.

10/08/2017
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 09/20/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

ABS SYSTEM FAILED AT 137,000 MILES , MECHANICS STATED THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN,I WAS DRIVING WHEN ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND CONTINUES TO STAY ON, AND ON 09/17 MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT IS ON,AND WHEN I PUSH BRAKE PETAL DOWN , MY CAR DOES NOT STOP. UNABLE TO GET CAR TO COME TO A STOP. I RECENTLY CHANGE MY BRAKE PADS IN AUGUST AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PERFECTLY UNTILL SEPTAMBER 20TH 2017

08/28/2017
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 04/01/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

ABS SYSTEM FAULT

08/19/2017
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 08/15/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

THE VEHICLE WILL OCCASIONALLY SURGE IN SPEED MOMENTARILY, MOSTLY NOTICED WHEN OPERATING BELOW 50 MPH. IT IS MORE PREVALENT AT LOWER SPEEDS. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER.THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING SITUATION SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. HYBRID MODEL. IT HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WITH NO ISSUES FOUND.

07/05/2017
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/19/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A260******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS CLICKING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TUSTIN TOYOTA IN TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA THAT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

06/14/2017
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/04/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A560******
Summary

PLEASE DISREGARD COMPLAIN NUMBER 10994017. THE AGENT DIDN'T PUT CORRECT DESCRIPTION. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS SUDDENLY ON ON 6/4/2017. THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE HAD BRAKE WORK DONE IN LATE APRIL WITH TOYOTA OF NASHUA AND REPLACED THE BRAKE FLUID. THE NEXT MORNING THE BRAKE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE (MAKING NOISE WHEN PRESSING BRAKE PADDLE AND DID NOT EFFECTIVELY STOP). BROUGHT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE SEAL BROKE, CAUSED BRAKE FLUID GET TO MASTER CYLINDER, THUS FAILURE, AND THE BRAKE FLUID ALSO LEAKED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND BOTH PARTS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE FOUND TOYOTA HAD A RECALL ON OCT 21 2010, WHICH DESCRIBED THE EXACTLY THE SAME CAUSE AS HAPPENED TO THIS CAR. FILE A CASE WITH TOYOTA CORP AND THE RESPONSE WAS ANY PART CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME. THE VEHICLE PASSED 1 YEAR WARRANTY OF RECALL WORK. SO TOYOTA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. NOTE, IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL, WHICH WAS 2010 FOR HIGHLANDER MANUFACTURED IN 2004-2006, WHICH IS AS LONG AS 6 YEARS LATER, TOYOTA MADE THIS RECALL AND STATED THAT THEY REIMBURSED THE REPAIR COST OF MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER IF DAMAGED. THERE WAS NO MILEAGE RESTRICTION. WITH TOYOTA'S RESPONSE, WHY EVEN BOTHER RECALL? THIS RAISED SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S VERY LIKELY TO CRASH WITH SUCH DAMAGE DUE TO THE SEAL LEAK. IF THIS CONTINUED TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, TOYOTA SHOULD PUT THIS CHECK INTO THEIR REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK AND REPLACEMENT. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/TOYOTA/HIGHLANDER/BRAKE-MASTER-CYLINDER-PROBLEMS.PHP. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE SHOWS INDIFFERENCE TO THE CONSUMERS AND SAFETY OF THEIR LIVES. I HOPE THIS BRINGS TOYOTA MORE ATTENTION TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE DEFECT AS APPARENTLY THIS IS NOT THE SINGLE OCCURRENCE. WITH SUCH CONDITION OF THE BRAKE, IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO CAUSE CRASH. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN DO FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

06/14/2017
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/10/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

ABS SYSTEM FAILED AT 180,000 MILES , MECHANICS STATED THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN,I WAS DRIVING WHEN ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND CONTINUES TO STAY ON, AND ON 6/10/17 MY ABC LIGHT IS ON,AND UNABLE TO PUSH BRAKE PETAL DOWN , UNABLE TO GET CAR TO COME TO A STOP.

06/08/2017
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/04/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A560******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (TOYOTA OF NASHUA; 10 MARMON DR, NASHUA, NH 03060; (603) 689-1500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-331-4331 AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/03/17*LJ INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

06/02/2017
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/01/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: CHECK VSC S******
Summary

CHECK VSC SYSTEM, BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS COME ON, ALSO AUDIBLE ALARM. ABS BRAKING DOES NOT WORK. *TR

05/29/2017
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 05/28/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WHEN I BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN I HEARD A CHIME AND A CHECK VCS SYSTEM WARNING CAME WITH ABS , BRAKE AND SLIP INDICATOR ,MASTER WARNING LIGHT AND ELECTRONIC CONTROLLED BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TOO. I HAVE FOUND THAT IN 2013 THERE WAS A SAFERY RECALL DLF(D2F) ON CERTAIN HIGHLANDER HV 2006-2010.

05/24/2017
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 05/23/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

I FOUND SOME INFO IN A FORUM WHERE MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT LEAKING AROUND THE AXLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RIGHT AXLE SEAL NEEDS REPLACEMENT WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A MULTI-POINT INSPECTION. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OVER TIME BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S HAPPENED TO OTHERS WHO HAVE NOTICED IT BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION AND IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT IT HAS EXPIRED AND I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY.

05/24/2017
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,ENGINE
Incident Date: 04/04/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21AX60******
Summary

TAKATA RECALL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WON'T GO OFF ALONG VSC LIGHT. ON THE STREET WHEN THE CAR STOP RUNNING.

04/29/2017
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 04/29/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

I AM ABOUT TO PURCHASE AN 06 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4X4 HYBRID. I RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT THE 06 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS, AND THAT THE COST TO FULLY REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IS HUGE. I WOULD LIKE TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM POTENTIAL PROBLEMS (LIKE THIS) BY NOT PURCHASING ANY SUCH VEHICLE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW (IF THIS ISSUE IS VALID) WHETHER DEALERSHIPS HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE INFORMED OF ANY SUCH VEHICLE PROBLEMS, BEFORE THEY SELL IT ON THEIR LOT?

04/05/2017
Components: STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 03/26/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

STEERING RECALL: I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HY WITH THE P/S (POWERS STEERING) LIGHT ON. I'VE BEEN TO TOYOTA TWICE IN THE PAST WEEK AND ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 2 WEEKS. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT KNOWING THE PROBLEM AND I'VE TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE ALSO TRIES TO ACCELERATE ON ITS ON WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP.

03/07/2017
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 02/10/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A560******
Summary

WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT THE POWER STEERING FOR BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT GOES OUT. IF THERE IS NO HARD TURN TO THE RIGHT THE STEERING REMAINS FUNCTIONAL. HAPPENED WHILE ON WINDING ROAD NEARLY RAN OFF THE ROAD. RESTART THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARS UNTIL THE NEXT RIGHT TURN. DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH THE POWER STEERING ECU AND THE POWER STEERING CONVERTER AND GIVE ME A BILL FOR OVER $1000.

03/04/2017
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 03/02/2017
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A960******
Summary

BRAKES DISENGAGE MOMENTARILY WHILE BRAKING AT SLOW SPEED. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, AND IS VERY DISCONCERTING. THE OTHER DAY IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY AND CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION AT LOW SPEED. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN AN ACTUAL BRAKE FAILURE, BUT AFTERWARD THE BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. WE ARE NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, AND THE DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE HE CAN'T 'REPLICATE' THE SITUATION. ONLINE, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE POSTED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH NO REMEDY.

02/24/2017
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 02/23/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS BURN MARKS ON THE HEADLIGHT LENS WHERE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE GOTTEN SO HOT THAT THEY ACTUALLY MELT THE PLASTIC ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT LENS. THIS HAS REDUCED MY VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IF IT IS GETTING HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE HEADLIGHT LENS IT CREATES A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL. WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE, IT DIDN'T CREATE A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN DRIVING VISIBILITY BUT AS THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE AND THE SPOT GETS LARGER THERE IS A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE. IF I AM DRIVING IN AN AREA WITHOUT CITY LIGHTING IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE WITH THE LO-BEAMS ON AND DRIVING WITH THE HI-BEAMS ON POSES A DANGER TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OF BLINDING THEM AND CAUSING THEM TO CRASH INTO ME OR RUN OFF THE ROAD. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CONSUMER CANNOT TURN OFF AND IT IS OBVIOUS FROM INTERNET FORUMS THAT THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE THAT IS LIMITED TO MY VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN A WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR HIGHLANDER. I HAVE OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO THEM PERSONALLY BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. IN MY OPINION, THIS SHOWS NOT ONLY A LACK OF SUPPORT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO PAY HARD-EARNED MONEY FOR THEIR VEHICLES BUT A LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE SAFETY AND LIVES OF NOT ONLY THEIR CUSTOMERS BUT ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SHARE THE ROADS WITH THESE VEHICLES. I AM TURNING TO THE NHTSA IN THE HOPES OF FINALLY HAVING MY VOICE AND THE VOICE OF THE MANY OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION HEARD AND SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN RENDER!

02/19/2017
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/02/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

THE CHECK VSC WARNING SIGN IS ON. THE DEALER RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS THAT INDICATED THE ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR AND PUMP SHOULD BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING AND FATIGUE FAILURE.

01/10/2017
Components: TIRES
Incident Date: 01/06/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

CATASTROPHIC FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FAILURE AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE I-35. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A HALT SAFELY FORTUNATELY. THE MAIN TIRE WAS COMPLETELY GONE, WITH JUST THE RUBBER ALONG THE EDGE OF EACH SIDE OF THE RIM REMAINING. $1300 IN DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL HOUSING, BUMPER AND WASHER RESERVOIR. TIRES ACTUALLY KELLY EDGE AS (NOT KELLY EXPLORER AS), WHICH WAS NOT AN OPTION IN THE DROP DOWN LIST PROVIDED.

01/09/2017
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 01/07/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

THE VEHICLE HEATING SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK AT ALL TIMES AT WHICH TIME IT SEEMS TO SWITCH TO AIR CONDITIONING. THE DIGITAL DISPLAY ALSO FADES THE LONGER THE SYSTEM IS SWITCHED ON OR THE LONGER THE DRIVE. THIS CAN CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS.

11/05/2016
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 11/05/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A560******
Summary

FRONT HEADLIGHT ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE BURNT OUT, IN DOING SO THE OUTSIDE LENS WAS BURNED WITH A QUARTER SIZE WHITE SPOT. PLASTIC LENS WAS MELTED.

09/27/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 09/16/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

THE BRAKES ON OUR TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID RANDOMLY GET MUSHY (SLIP) AND DON'T ENGAGE FOR A SECOND, THEN WILL ENGAGE. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP AS INTENDED AND WHEN NEEDED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE AT OTHER TIMES WILL SURGE WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED AND YOU ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN WELL-DOCUMENTED AT THE FOLLOWING SITE. WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS NOTED BY OTHERS WITH OUR VEHICLE. HTTP://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/5357/TOYOTA/HIGHLANDER-HYBRID/HIGHLANDER-HYBRID-BRAKE-PROBLEMS

09/04/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 09/03/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

BRAKES STOPPED WORKING THEN GRABBING. VERY DANGEROUS! NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE ACTUATOR.

07/10/2016
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 07/03/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND IN THE FAST LANE GOING APPROXIMATELY 75/80 MPH MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID DIED AND FAILED TO DRIVE. THE PANEL ON THE DASH HAD A RED ! EXCLAMATION POINT, AND SAID CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND CHECK VSC SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE MY VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT BREAKDOWN SHOULDER TO CALL FOR A TOW. TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD NOT START, BUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTINUED TO LIGHT GIVING EVIDENCE MY NEW 12V BATTERY WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. CALLED TOYOTA MOTOR USA AND ASKED WHAT RECALLS THEY HAVE LISTED FOR MY VEHICLE AND THEY ASKED FOR MY VIN. THEY TOLD ME THE ELECTRICAL INVERTER ASSEMBLY WAS COVERED FOR MY VIN. THEY GAVE ME THE NUMBER OF A TOW COMPANY TO CALL AND TOLD ME IT WAS COVERED BY TOYOTA AND I'D HAVE A RENTAL WAITING FOR ME. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AS DIRECTED, THEY FIXED SEVERAL OTHER RECALL ISSUES BUT NOT THIS ONE, SO WHEN I DROVE OFF THE LOT THE CAR DIED AGAIN. I MANAGED TO START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT BACK ACROSS THE HIGHWAY INTO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER SPEAKING WITH TOYOTA CORPORATION USA AGAIN, THEY APOLOGIZED AND SAID THEY MISINFORMED ME AND THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. HOWEVER, THEY PAID FOR MY TOW AND FOR MY RENTAL FOR 5 DAYS (THUS FAR). MY CASE NUMBER GIVEN FROM TOYOTA CORP IS 1607053248. I READ ONLINE THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE. KARL AND IRINA GAAL VS. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION. VIA ATTY MIKE ARIAS. TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE HAS PUT IN A REQUEST FOR ME TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP'S GM IN MY AREA IS ALSO WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AS IT'S STILL PENDING.

07/05/2016
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 07/05/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AR ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 09/06/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING DIDN'T ALWAYS RETURN. SOMETIMES, THE CONSUMER HAD TO SIT FOR SEVERAL HOURS. UPDATED 09/08/16.*JB

06/28/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/28/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A260******
Summary

VEHICLE IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID THROUGH THE VACUUM LINE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE INTAKE AND THEN OUT THE EXHAUST. BRAKES ARE NOW SPONGY AND DO NOT OPERATE AS REQUIRED FOR SAFE DRIVING. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS RECALL STATING MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE. THE BRAKE FLUID SLOW LEAK HAPPENS BOTH WHEN STATIONARY AND IN USE. THE RECALL WAS ISSUED ON OCTOBER 21, 2010. BRAKE FLUID TRAVELLING DOWN THIS PATH ALSO AFFECTS OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE; SUCH AS, VACUUM LINES, FUEL AIR SENSORS BOTH PRIOR TO AND AFTER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ITSELF.

06/27/2016
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 01/01/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEHD21A460******
Summary

THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 103,000 MILES AND HAS FUNCTIONED FLAWLESSLY TILL RECENTLY WHEN IT STARTED USING OIL EXCESSIVELY. THAT IS ONE QUART IN 500 MILES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS.

06/22/2016
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 06/21/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

IT IS A 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID WITH 105200 MILES AND WELL MAINTAINED.. IT LOOSES POWER ASSIST IN STEERING AT ALL SPEEDS INTERMITTENTLY. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I HAVE TO PUT LOT OF MUSCLE IN STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS BUT IT HAD LOST POWER ASSIST EVEN AT 65 MPH AS WELL WHICH MADE ME VERY NERVOUS. I CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS THE POWER STEERING P/S LIGHT COMES ON MOST OF THE TIMES NOW. ONLY ONCE A WHILE IT IS OFF WHICH IS WHEN I DRIVE BUT FEW MILES OF DRIVING GETS THE LIGHT BACK ON WITH NO POWER ASSIST. I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE IN FORUMS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THAT YEARS HYBRIDS. THEREFORE I AM REQUESTING TO HELP ME OUT WITH EITHER A RECALL OR GETTING THIS FIXED AT MY LOCAL ROCHESTER MN DEALERSHIP. ANYTHING YOU COULD DO AT THE EARLIEST WOULD BE APPRECIATED.. CUSTOMER REQUEST TO BE REMOVED FROM COMPLAINT LIST, CELL PHONE , ADDRESS. NOT TO BE CONTACTED. UPDATED 08/12/16*LJ UPDATED 6/18/18*JB

06/20/2016
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 06/19/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

06/19/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/13/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A260******
Summary

WHILE STOPPING OR STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE'S A CLICKING SOUND. I HAVE FOUND THAT IT'S COMING FROM THE ABS BRAKE ACCUMULATOR. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE INSTANCES WHERE I'M PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT STARTS TO SLOW DOWN, THEN FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES RELEASE, THEN GRAB AGAIN SLOWING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. I'VE ALMOST CRASHED A COUPLE TIMES. I'VE HEARD AND READ OF MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS SYSTEM AND SOME HAVE EVEN HAD ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS. TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS WOULD BE AN IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR A RECALL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE REPAIR CAN BE UP TO $4,000 AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH THAT THEY CAN JUST PAY OUT AT A GIVEN MOMENT. ALSO, WHEN TURNING THE KEY TO ON, THE ACCUMULATOR HAS STARTED MAKING A LOUD BUZZING NOISE FOR 10-15 SECONDS. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS SYSTEM FOR IMMEDIATE RECALL TO HELP PREVENT ANY MISHAPS.

06/16/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/05/2016
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 30 MPH; SPEED LIMIT WAS 40MPH. I WAS DRIVING NORTH-BOUND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. UP AHEAD, I SAW THAT TRAFFIC WAS STOPPING AND THE LIGHT WAS RED. I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO SLOW TO A STOP, AND I STARTED TO EVEN THOUGH I WAS BACK ABOUT 15 CAR LENGTHS FROM THE CARS AHEAD. WHEN I STARTED PUSHING ON THE BRAKE, MY CAR IMMEDIATELY 'DIED' BUT THE CAR KEPT ROLLING FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH I CONFIRMED MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. I WAS VERY STARTLED THAT THE CAR KEPT ROLLING WITH BRAKE APPLIED. BEFORE I COULD THINK ABOUT WHAT TO DO NEXT, THE CAR THEN RUMBLED AND SHOOK, AND THE ENGINE MADE A REVVING SOUND. THEN THE CAR JUST SPED UP INCREMENTALLY FASTER AND FASTER EVEN AS I DESPERATELY CONTINUED TO SHOVE HARD ON THE BRAKE. I YELLED "WHAT'S IT DOING?' I QUICKLY WONDERED IF I SHOULD PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION BUT FELT THAT WAS THE WRONG THING TO DO. AS THE CAR WENT FASTER, I WENT INTO ABSOLUTE PANIC. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO MISS HITTING ANYONE. I WAS DESPERATE TO AVOID CARS, BUT I WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO STOP MY CAR EVEN AS I CONTINUED PUSHING HARD ON THE BRAKE. THEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT THE LIGHT. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS WAS AN UNINTENDED BRAKE ACCELERATION. I AM DEEPLY COMPELLED TO REPORT THIS SO THAT THE CAUSE AND RESOLUTION MAY BE FOUND BEFORE OTHERS ARE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. I SUFFERED A FRACTURED BACK AND WAS IN THE HOSPITAL 4 DAYS; AND DRIVER I RAN INTO WAS HURT AS WELL REQUIRING HOSPITAL ATTENTION. BOTH THE 3RD PARTY COMPANY FOR TOYOTA WHO DOWNLOADED THE DATA BOX AND TOYOTA SAY THE BRAKES WERE NOT APPLIED; THAT IS NOT FACTUALLY UNTRUE! THE DATA COMPUTER PRINT-OUT SHOWS WHAT TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO THE IMPACT. IN FACT, IT SHOWS THAT THE ACCELERATOR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP TO THE POINT OF IMPACT WHICH TELLS US THAT THE COMPUTER TOOK OVER THE ACTIONS OF THE CAR AND DISENGAGED THE BRAKES.

06/07/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/01/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

DEALER STATED THAT BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING< VSC LIGHT ON< NOISE< $3200.00 TO FIX??? NO RECALL?

06/06/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/05/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

THE "BRAKE ACTUATOR" BECAME DEFECTIVE, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE PART WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AND SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED WIDE SPREAD ENOUGH THAT IT SHOULD BE "RECALLED".

05/26/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/25/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

MY ABS PUMP/ACTUATOR STARTED MAKING A WEIRD SOUND AND RUNS A LOT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WAS QUOTED $3200. I HAVE A CHECK VSC MESSAGE, BRAKE LIGHT, AND ABS LIGHT ON NOW AS WELL.

05/23/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/23/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

WE PURCHASED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH THE HOPES OF GETTING A RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE DUE TO ITS HIGH RATINGS AND REPORTED RELIABILITY...SADLY, I WAS MISTAKEN WHEN THE ABS BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND I NEARLY GOT INTO A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. UPON GETTING THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT, IT WAS ASCERTAINED THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY WAS TO BLAME. THE COST!!!!!!!!! $1,900 AND NO RECALL ON A PART THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE!!!!!! I COULD OF BEEN KILLED IN THIS FAULTY CONTRAPTION DUE TO MANUFACTURERS NEGLIGENCE.

05/06/2016
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 05/02/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

ABS ACUATOR IS NOT WORKING!

05/01/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/22/2015
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKES RANDOMLY SURGE INSTEAD OF STOPPING. AFTER A VAN REAR ENDED MY CAR AT A STOPLIGHT, THE TENDENCY TO SURGE INCREASED AND CAUSED TWO REAR END COLLISIONS WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. TOYOTA CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. CODES WERE DOCUMENTED, BUT I FEEL THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEYOND THE MANUFACTURER. IT IS ESPECIALLY PRONE TO THE SURGE WHEN BRAKES ARE HIT SUDDENLY ON CITY OR HIGHWAY STREETS. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE COMPUTER CANNOT DECIDE WHETHER TO CHARGE THE BATTERY OR BRAKE AND THAT HESITATION IS FRIGHTENING!

04/16/2016
Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 04/15/2016
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A660******
Summary

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, WHEN SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED VERY RAPIDLY. BRAKE PRESSURE COULD NOT KEEP VEHICLE FROM LURCHING FOWARD AND HITTING THE REAR A OF STOPPED VEHICLE. I NEVER USE MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, SO I CAN NEVER HIT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR SIMULTANEOUSLY.

04/11/2016
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
Incident Date: 11/01/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE BRAKE LIGHT, ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. ..UPDATED 05/02/16 *BF *TR

04/07/2016
Components: SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 04/02/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A660******
Summary

I HAVE HAD AXLES BREAK WHILE DRIVING AFTER THEY WHERE REPLACE AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING A MATTER WITH THE FRONT END. AND THE FRAME IS RUSTED AFTER A YEAR AND IT IS BREAKING.

03/08/2016
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 03/07/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

03/08/2016
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/07/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V396000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

03/02/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/20/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A260******
Summary

BRAKE ACTUATOR / ACCUMULATOR LOOSING PRESSURE. ACTUATOR MOTOR RUNS ALL THE TIME NOW AND AT TIMES RESULTS IN LOSS OF BRAKING. LOSS OF BRAKING HAS OCCURRED BOTH IN MOTION AS WELL AS AT A STOP. ONE TIME ALSO RIGHT AFTER CAR WAS TURNED ON AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WITH BRAKES APPLIED THE CAR MOVED IN REVERSE EVEN WITH BRAKES APPLIED. WE CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO A SAFETY CONCERN FOR OURSELVES, CHILDREN, AND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. THIS TEMPORARY LOSS OF BRAKING COULD KILL SOMEONE. REPAIR IS $2500 AT THE DEALER ESSENTIALLY RENDERING THE CAR A FINANCIAL TOTAL LOSS.

02/18/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/17/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

DRIVING AND BRAKES FAILED. LUCKILY, WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AVOIDING DANGEROUS ACCIDENT. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR AND REQUESTS $2500 TO FIX. RESEARCH HOWS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR YEARS AND SHOULD HAVE AN ACTION FOR RECALL.

02/12/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/22/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WOULD STOP ABRUPTLY AND IN SOME OCCASIONS WOULD CASE THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID BRAKE ACTUATOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

01/30/2016
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 12/23/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A560******
Summary

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED V6. THE CAR IS 66.000MILES, I NOTICED THAT THE DAY LIGHTS HAS BEEN OVERHEATED AS A RESULT 1 WHITE SPOT MELTED IN EACH HEADLIGHT LENSE. IT MIGHT BE A HAZARD FIRE ISSUE AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. TOYOTA SHOULD RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS.

01/20/2016
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 12/28/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

POWER STEERING FAILURE. CAR WAS IN MOTION TURNING WHEN PS LIGHT CAME ON AND NO POWER SINCE THEN

01/11/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 12/01/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

VEHICLE MAKES LOUD NOISE AFTER SHIFTING WHEN YOU RELEASE THE BRAKE. WAS TOLD ABS PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $3200 FROM TOYOTA DEALER

01/08/2016
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/06/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE HYBRID WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE HIGHER THAN 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V396000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

01/06/2016
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 01/03/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 03/15/16*LJ *TR

01/04/2016
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/28/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AN UNKNOWN DOOR FAILED TO OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY EXPLODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 04/13/16*LJ

12/03/2015
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 11/29/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AZ60******
Summary

UPON STARTING MY CAR, THE CHECK VSC SYSTEM, BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON. I TURNED OF THE THE ENGINE AND THE WARNINGS WENT AWAY. ABOUT THREE WEEKS LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH, THE WARNING LIGHTS SUDDENLY APPEARED. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW BATTERY. NEXT DAYS, AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, AGAIN OUT THE WARNING LIGHTS SUDDENLY APPEARED. TOO IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THREE DAYS LATER THEY TELL ME I NEEDED TO FIX THE BRAKE ACTUATOR AND THE COST WOULD BE OVER 4K. OUT OF NOWHERE, THE BRAKES JUST FAIL. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED.

11/27/2015
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/02/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED. THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING IMPROPERLY. WE HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ABS ACUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY WIFE AND I DONE SOME RESEARCH, THIS COMPONENT IS SUPPOSE TO LAST THE LIFE OF VEHICLE. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN ONLINE TOYOTA WILL NOT STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL THIS PART BECAUSE OF COST! THIS IS A VITAL SAFETY PART AND COST SHOULD NOT EVEN BE PART IF THE EQUATION. TO REPLACE THIS PART IT COSTS $2500 TO $3500 THRUOGH THE DEALERSHIP WE WENT TO. WE CAN NOT REPLACE FAMILY MEMBERS IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. SOME ONE PLEASE HELP , THIS WILL END UP COSTING SOME ONE THEIR LIFE! THE VIHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL GOT VERY HARD AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES AT ALL. WE ALMOST HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US, AT THE LAST MINUTE BRAKES ENGAGED AND NO INCIDENT HAPPENED. WE HAVE PARKED THE CAR EVER SINCE AND WILL NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL TOYOTA RECALLS PART!

11/20/2015
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 08/15/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A950******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,085. UPDATED 04/06/16*LJ,UPDATED 4/25/18*JB *TR

11/10/2015
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 03/21/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

STALL STEERING WHEEL

10/13/2015
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 10/01/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

DRIVING CAR AND IT STALLED THEN MESAGE CAME ON WHICH STATED CHECK HYBRID ENGINE. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD WOULD COST $9,000 AS IT WAS THE INVERTER. THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THE RECALL OF 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS. HAD THE POWER MODULE REPLACED AS RECALL IN 2012 BUT WHY WASNT MY CAR ON RECALL LIST FOR THE INVERTER?

10/09/2015
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 09/29/2015
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2015 THAT MAY HAD BEEN CAUSED BY BRAKE FAILURE ON SEPTEMBER 30 THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND DEALER DIAGNOSED A BRAKE ACTUATOR MALFUNCTION. ON DECEMBER 16, 2013 AT 68,490 MILES THIS CAR ALSO A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN FAILURE OF THIS SAME PART, NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED WITH THIS FAILURE. IT WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED ON HYBRIDS SINCE THE INABILITY TO BRAKE THE CAR CAN LED TO A FATAL ACCIDENT.

09/29/2015
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,ENGINE
Incident Date: 09/29/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEP21A7601******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE VSC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

09/21/2015
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 09/10/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

I APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY IN FILING THIS COMPLAINT. I JUST LEARNED OF THE COMPLAINT PROCESS. WE TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE ON 12/7/09 FROM BURNSVILLE TOYOTA IN BURNSVILLE, MN. ON 12/10/09 WHILE TRAVELING FROM EAGAN, MN TO OMAHA, NE THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE POWER STEERING REPAIRED IN BELLEVUE, NE ON 12/12. I FELT FORTUNATE TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE AS IT WAS A SATURDAY AND THE VEHICLE IS A HYBRID. THE BELLEVUE DEALERSHIP MADE THE REPAIRS AT NO CHARGE AND INFORMED ME OF THE OPEN RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING. UPON RETURNING HOME I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY APOLOGIZED AND OFFERED A FREE UPDATE ON THE GPS. I ALSO LATER CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE. MY NOTES FROM THAT CONTACT INDICATE A REFERENCE NUMBER OF 1001108638. UPON LEARNING OF THE COMPLAINT PROCESS I ALSO LEARNED THAT IT IS ILLEGAL FOR A NEW CAR DEALERSHIP TO SELL A VEHICLE WITH AN OPEN RECALL. I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT WAS THE CASE IN 2009. I AM PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT AS I HAVE ALWAYS FELT CONSUMERS SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM PURCHASING PRODUCTS WITH KNOWN DEFECTS

09/14/2015
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/25/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

ON 12/02/13 THE BRAKE LIGHT AND VCS SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THE WARNING LIGHT ALSO WENT ON AND A BEEP NOISE INSIDE THE CABIN, BRAKES DOES NOT FUNCTION (BREAKS NOT RESPONDING). I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER CODES (C1241 LOW OR HIGH POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE, C1256 ACCUMULATOR LOW PRESSURE, AND C1391 ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR) MUST BE REPLACED THE ACTUATOR ASSY, B PART NO. 4405048190. ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED ON 12/28/13 AT $1,495 WITH TAX FOR $ 1,600 AND LABOR COST OF $333.84. UST BE REPLACED. ON 05/25/15 AGAIN THE BRAKE LIGHT AND VCS SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THE WARNING LIGHT ALSO WENT ON AND A BEEP NOISE INSIDE THE CABIN, BRAKES DOES NOT FUNCTION (NO BREAK). I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND I PAY $64.20. AGAIN THEY MENTIONED THAT FOR A SECOND TIME THE ACTUATOR ASSY, B PART NO. 4405048190 NEEDS A REPLACEMENT. I ASK FOR THE GUARANTEE AND ONLY WAS VALID FOR 1 YEAR. DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES REPORT (ABS/VSC/TRAC), CODES (C1252 BREAK BOOSTER PUMP MOTOR ON TIME ABNORMALLY LONG, C1256, ACCUMULATOR LOW PRESSURE, C1391, ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR). I THINK THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE SINCE IS IN A 6 YEARS PERIOD THE ACTUATOR ASSY WAS REPLACED AND LESS THAN 1.5 YEAR AGAIN THE SAME PART (ACTUATOR ASSY) NEEDS REPLACEMENT, CURRENT PRICE IS $2,000. I CANNOT USE THE CAR THE BRAKES ARE NOT RESPONDING AND I CAN HAVE AN ACCIDENT.

09/14/2015
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 09/01/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE BRAKES AND IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE FAILING SO I WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT WAS QUOTED AT $3200.00. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED NOT JUST ONCE BUT MANY TIMES ON NUMEROUS TOYOTA VEHICLES OVER MANY YEARS. I ALSO DETERMINED THAT EVEN IF I WERE TO PAY TO REPAIR THIS CONDITION THAT IT WOULD REOCCUR DO TO THE DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THIS PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN ADDRESSED AND A RECALL ISSUED?

09/09/2015
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 09/05/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN WARNING LIGHTS FOR ABS AND SKID CONTROL CAME ON. CHECK VSC SYSTEM IN DASH. WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED RIGHT FRONT TIRE LOCKS AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO SPIN. SLOW SPEED IS THE ONLY REASON FOR NO ACCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD "BRAKE ACCUATOR " ELECTRONICS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $3800. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE ON THE HIGHLANDER, THE LEXUS AND THE CAMRY SO WHY HAVE THE HIGHLANDERS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL?

09/08/2015
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 08/31/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE TRAFFIC CAME TO A SLOW AS I WAS BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN I NOTICED ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD SUDDENLY LIT UP, ALL THE FOLLOWING ENGINE, ABS, BRAKES AND CHECK VSC LIGHTS CAME ON. I TOOK TO A DEALERSHIP, PIERCEY TOYOTA AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND CAME BACK WITH CODES C1391 AND B1281.

09/07/2015
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 08/03/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN NORMAL FREE-FLOWING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON THE FREEWAY, SEVERAL LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH INDICATING BRAKE ISSUES INCLUDING VSC, ABS, SKID, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT. CONTINUED TO CAUTIOUSLY DRIVE HOME, BRAKES SEEMED OK. HAD OUR NON-DEALER MECHANIC LOOK AT THE BRAKES ALL WERE FINE AND HAD RECENTLY BEEN REPLACED. HE COULD NOT FIND A BRAKE ISSUE. TOOK TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND ONE CODE CAME UP C1391 "ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR" AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW BRAKE ACTUATOR AT THE COST OF $3273.00. DIAGNOSTIC COST $138.00. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSTIC PAPERWORK FROM DEALER SAYS, "CHECK FOR DTC'S FOUND C1391, CHECK FOR FLUID LEAKS, COULD NOT FIND LEAKS, CHECK ACCUMULATOR PRESSURE VOLTAGE (3.5 V), DEPRESSED PEDAL 4-5 TIMES ACCUMULATOR PRESSURE DROPS BELOW 3.0 V, RECOMMEND REPLACE BRAKE/ABS ACTUATOR". OTHER NOTES, SOME PART OF HYBRID SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE CYCLING EVERY FEW MINUTES. OVER THE YEARS, WHEN BRAKING, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE THEY "JUMP" OR DON'T GRAB DURING BRAKE PRESSURE AND AFTER READING HAVE FOUND THIS COMPLAINT WITH OTHER OWNERS. I SEE THAT THE CAMRY AND THE LEXUS HAVE BOTH HAD THIS PART RECALLED/REPLACED BY TOYOTA AND WONDERING WHY, WHEN THIS IS LIKELY THE SAME HYBRID SYSTEM AND COMPONENT, THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND OFFER THIS REPLACEMENT PART FOR OWNERS FOR FREE OR AT A DISCOUNT? THE OTHER VEHICLES HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS PART AND TOYOTA SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE ON THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID.

09/03/2015
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 08/19/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A560******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED A "VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL" ERROR MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACCUMULATOR PUMP REMAINED ACTIVATED AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

07/23/2015
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 05/02/2015
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

CONSUMER STATED HE WAS REAR ENDED BY A DRUNK DRIVER. *BF THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

07/16/2015
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 07/12/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

THE SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WITH 112,000 MILES HAS BEEN TURNING ON AND OFF WHILE TRAVELLING. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO ARRANGE AND PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR SINCE MY VIN IS NOT IN THE RECALL LIST FOR AIRBAG RECALL. IT HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED.

07/07/2015
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/24/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A960******
Summary

WHILE IN THE MOUNTAINS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE ALL THE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AND THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. WHILE NEGOTIATING THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I BARELY AVOIDED AN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT RESTARTED AND DROVE IT TO A MECHANIC WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND ALL OF THE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS DISAPPEARED AND IT DROVE FINE. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE INCLUDING TODAY (JULY 7, 2015). WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT WAS LIKELY AN INVERTER THAT WOULD COST ABOUT $10,000. WHILE CHECKING THE TOYOTA RECALL WEBSITE, I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OTHER RECALLS INVOLVING INVERTERS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS IN 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS BUT WAS TOLD THAT THESE DID NOT IMPACT THIS VIN #.

07/06/2015
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 07/05/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGP21A460******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE STEERING SEIZED AND MADE STEERING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC CLEANED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

06/26/2015
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 06/13/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A460******
Summary

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR BEGAN TO FAIL ON JUNE 13, 2015 WHERE IT WOULD NOT STAY IN ITS INTENDED POSITIONS, SNUG AGAINST THE ROOF OR WINDSHIELD, BUT COULD BE KEPT OUT OF THE WAY. ON JUNE 22, IT NOT LONGER STAYED IN EITHER FIXED POSITION BUT REMAINED DOWN, IMPAIRING MY VISION SIGNIFICANTLY. IT HAD TO BE HELD UP BY HAND UNTIL I COULD GET HOME TO REMOVE IT.

06/24/2015
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 06/15/2015
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID NORTH ON US 41 AND A DODGE CARAVAN MADE A LEFT TURN AT WEST COUNTY LINE ROAD IN FRONT OF MY TRAVEL POSITION. I COULD NOT AVOID HIM AND I HIT HIM IN HIS RIGHT REAR NEAR THE WHEEL WITH THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE CAUSING THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO DEPLOY. WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED THERE WERE SPARKS AND POSSIBLE FRAGMENTS THAT HIT MY LEFT ARM AND WRIST CAUSING FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS...UPDATED 09/15/15 *BF UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN

06/24/2015
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 06/20/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A260******
Summary

MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELLING ON I-95 (SOUTHBOUND) TOWARDS RICHMOND, VA. MY WIFE WAS THE DRIVER. WE WERE STEADILY TRAVELLING AT A SPEED... BETWEEN 65 AND 70 IN THE LEFT LANE (REQUIRED SPEED LIMIT). ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITH NO WARNING, THE PANEL LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING AND THE POWER TO THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. MY WIFE WAS SCREAMING BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL OR EFFECTIVELY APPLY BRAKES. SHE TRIED AND PULLED CAR OFF THE ROAD BARELY AND WE PUSHED IT OFF TO A SAFE SIDE. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF WE WERE TRAVELLING IN THE MIDDLE LANE. THE CAR WAS LEFT OVERNIGHT AND TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER CALLED BACK AND GAVE A QUOTE OF $10000 BECAUSE THE HYBRID INVERTER HAVE TO REPLACED. I MENTIONED THE RECALL ON THE INVERTER. THE DEALER SAID THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER MY ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE -WHAT ACTION OR RECOURSE DO I HAVE. THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR REPLACED THE INVERTER AT 16200 MILES. EVIDENTLY ALL THE 2006 INVERTERS ARE DEFECTIVE. MY QUESTION IS THIS ---WHY YOUR DEPARTMENT IS TOYOTA TO GET AWAY WITH SUCH A SERIOUS DEFECT?

06/02/2015
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/31/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEHW21A360******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

05/11/2015
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 07/25/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

ENGINE MECHANICAL ~|~CHECK AND REPORT...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC LIGHT ON DASH, ,,CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING, HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET THE VEHICLE TOWED IN TO THE DEALERSHIP... ~|~TECH PULLED CODE P0A05,P0A08,P0A93, ...FOUND INVERTER PUMP NOT WORKING PROPERLY ~|~REPLACED INVERTER WATER PUMP

05/11/2015
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/09/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

ENGINE MECHANICAL ~|~CHECK AND REPORT...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC LIGHT ON DASH, .FOUND INVERTER PUMP NOT WORKING PROPERLY ~|~REPLACED INVERTER WATER PUMP

04/17/2015
Components: STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,ENGINE
Incident Date: 04/17/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A560******
Summary

I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY BETWEEN 45 -50 MPH. SUDDEN A BUNCH OF LIGHTS AND WARNINGS CAME UP IN THE DASHBOARD. I LOST POWER STEERING AND MOTOR PROPULSION TOO. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. ALTHOUGH I HAD THE ABILITY TO BRAKE, IT SEEMED THAT THE BRAKING WAS ALSO IMPAIRED. HOWEVER BECAUSE I WAS GOING UP AN INCLINE I DID NOT NEED STRONG BRAKING. I MANAGED TO COAST OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. LUCKILY THERE WERE ONLY A COUPLE OTHER CARS NEAR ME SO IT WASN'T TOO DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER BY THEM AND COAST TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE BREAKDOWN LANE WAS. ONCE I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED I SHUT THE CAR DOWN COMPLETELY AND RESTARTED IN THE NORMAL HYBRID STARTUP MANNER. THE CAR PROPULSION AND STEERING CAME BACK BUT NOW THE MESSAGE WAS ALTERNATING BETWEEN "MAINTENANCE NEEDED" AND "CHECK VSC SYSTEM", AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SYMBOL WAS ON. I SHUT OFF EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL TO MINIMIZE ELECTRICAL DRAIN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ANOTHER 8-10 MILES TO GET HOME BUT I WAS CONSTANTLY LOOKING TO SEE WHERE I COULD PULL OVER IF THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN. I MADE IT HOME. TOMORROW BRING IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. SIGNIFICANTLY, I RECENTLY HAD THE BRAKE ACTUATOR REPLACED AT A COST OF AROUND $2700, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY WARNED ME THAT I COULD LOSE BRAKING AND OTHER ELECTRONIC FACILITIES UNPREDICTABLY. I THOUGHT THAT EXPENSIVE REPAIR WOULD AVOID THIS. UNFORTUNATELY IT APPEARS THAT WHAT THEY WERE PREDICTING COULD HAPPEN DID HAPPEN, BUT AFTER THE REPAIR! I WAS ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR DIED BUT WITH NOT MUCH TRAFFIC AND AN EASY ACCESS BREAKDOWN LANE. HAD IT BEEN 10 MINUTES LATER I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON A MUCH BUSIER HIGHWAY IN A PLACE WHERE A BREAKDOWN LANE IS MUCH HARDER TO REACH. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD IT BEEN DAYTIME AND IN A SAFER AREA I WOULD HAVE STOPPED AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. *TR

04/02/2015
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 03/27/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

DRIVING FROM AUSTIN TO SAN ANTONIO MOSTLY AT 70MPH. NOTICED BRAKE, ABS, SLIP INDICATOR AND LOW PRESSURE TIRE INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. STOPPED TO CHECK UNDER HOOD, BRAKING WAS NORMAL. BRAKE FLUID LEVELS WERE NORMAL BUT ABS ACTUATOR SEEM TO BE CYCLING EVEN WHILE MOTIONLESS. TESTED BRAKING AND EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEM. DROVE BACK TO AUSTIN. TOOK CAR TO DEALER THE NEXT DAY, WAS TOLD IT WAS A LEAK IN THE ACTUATOR BODY AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. COST $3580.00. HAVE DEFERRED REPAIRS.

03/30/2015
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 03/19/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

AFTER AN SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE AND REAR BRAKE JOB AT FIRESTONE A FEW DAYS EARLIER IN ATLANTA, I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND MY CHECK VSC SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. I THEN TOOK IT BACK TO FIRESTONE AND THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND THERE WERE NO CODES; SUBSEQUENTLY THEY SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DIAGNOSIS AT THE DEALER REVEALED THAT I NEEDED A NEW ABS ACCUMULATOR AND THIS COULD BE REPAIRED FOR $3,118. I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN SPENDING THIS AMOUNT SINCE THE PART HAS A KNOW DESIGN MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON CLEARING THE CHECK VSC SYSTEM LIGHT AND FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE CODE CLEARED FOR ABOUT 9 DAYS AND REAPPEARED ON YESTERDAY FOR SOME REASON. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

03/27/2015
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/28/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A560******
Summary

I HAD CLOSED THE WINDOWS TO DISCOVER THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. I HAD WRITTEN TO TOYOTA REGARDING THIS ON 08/29/2012 THEIR RESPONSE -THEY HAD NO DATA TO SHARE ON WHAT COMPLAINTS THEY RECEIVE TO PROVIDE TO THE PUBLIC AS THAT IS PROPRIETARY. TOYOTA SENT IT TO THEIR NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, GIVING ME A FILE #. THE WINDOW IS NOW STUCK AGAIN. AND HAPPENED ANOTHER TIME SINCE 08/28/2012 I JUST SEARCHED TOYOTA POWER WINDOW CONTROLS, THERE IS A RECALL, DATED ANNOUNCED OCTOBER 10, 2012, THEY ARE SAYING CERTAIN MODELS 2007-2009 HIGHLAND AND MORE. IF TOYOTA DID SEND MY COMPLAINT TO THEIR HEADQUARTERS A MONTH AND A HALF EARLIER, THEY SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THEIR RECORDS, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER 2006 HIGHLANDERS. *TR

03/27/2015
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 02/17/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A560******
Summary

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, STOPPED WAITED FOR TRAFFIC,BACKED UP, GOT STUCK ON A SMALL PILE OF SNOW, LEFT REAR TIRE STARTED TO SPIN I PULLED FORWARD AND BACK AGAIN THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON, HAD NO TRACTION. IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

03/16/2015
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 03/05/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

LIGTHS CAME ON FOR ABS AND BRAKE WHILE TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE. TOYOTA DEALER HERE IN FLORIDA WANTS TO REPLACE ACTUATOR BRAKING SYSTEM AT MY COST $ 2,850 INCLUDING LABOR. *TR

03/12/2015
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 02/26/2015
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS AND HIGH BEAM BULB MELTED. AS A RESULT, THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL POWER TRAVELING TO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,250.

02/19/2015
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/14/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEHD21A560******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE BRAKES FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED. PER TOYOTA, THE VIN # FOR THE CAR IS NOT IN THE "BATCH" INVOLVED IN A RECALL IN 2010 INVOLVING THE MASTER CYLINDERS FOR HIGHLANDERS, AND THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THIS CAR. *TR

01/07/2015
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 01/05/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN AN ALARM SOUNDED AND SEVERAL DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIT UP. CENTER DISPLAY SAID "CHECK VSC SYSTEM". I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST $2,800. OTHER THAN A VIBRATION UNDER THE HOOD WHILE SLOWING DOWN THE CAR APPEARS TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT IS ON WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE ABS MAYBE DISABLED. I WAS ABLE TO RUN A VSC DIAGNOSTIC AND PULLED CODE 45. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED INCIDENTS FOR THIS FAILURE IT APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. *TR

12/29/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 12/23/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

WHILE TRAVELING ON A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER STARTED MAKING AN EXTREMELY LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. I LOST BRAKING POWER AND PEDAL WENT EXTREMELY HARD. VEHICLE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE GOING DOWNHILL AND VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. ALMOST HIT AN ONCOMING VEHICLE COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. BRAKES HAVE BEEN MALFUNCTIONING SINCE, VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT BEING DRIVEN. *TR

12/22/2014
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 02/22/2013
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Summary

I SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND HIT A CONCRETE ABUTMENT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS TOTALED .THE HIGHLANDER AIRBAG DID NOT WORK PROPERLY; I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN VERY HARD AND RECEIVED A CONCUSSION. ALSO A DAMAGED DISK IN MY NECK, WHIPLASH, CHEST CONTUSIONS, AND FACIAL ABRASIONS. *TR

12/17/2014
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 10/31/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A360******
Summary

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NORMAL SPEED, I NOTICED THE CAR OVERHEATING. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED. PULLING INTO A 70 YEAR OLD SERVICE CENTER IN CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, I LEFT THE CAR WITH RELIABLE SERVICE PEOPLE AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT. IT SEEMS THAT THE BOLTS HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE ENGINE AND FLUID WAS GOING INTO THE PISTONS,THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT THE THREADS IN THE ENGINE WERE FAULTY, I THINK THEY SAID ALUMINUM, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN METAL. I AM NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE HEAD WAS NOT SECURE AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER TOYOTA ENGINES. ANYWAY, AT 70 YRS OLD, IT TOOK ALL THE MONEY I HAD TO REPAIR IT AND THEY INSISTED THAT I LOOK FOR A RECALL, BECAUSE THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. $1842.00 LATER, THE CAR IS RUNNING LIKE IT SHOULD NOW. IF TOYOTA DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF ME, I WILL SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE SPREADING THE WORD. I WILL START AT THE RHODE ISLAND DEALERS, GO ON LINE AND CONTACT ALL THE PROPER AREAS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO MY TOYOTA.THIS IS THE CAR THAT THEY ADVERTISE WILL LAST 265000 MILES IF MAINTAINED PROPERLY. I BOUGHT THE CAR AT EARL STEWART TOYOTA IN LAKE PARK, FLORIDA. [XXX] TOLD ME HE WAS SORRY THAT THIS HAPPENED, TO REPORT IT TO TOYOTA. MY WIFE PASSED AWAY AND IT MOVED BACK TO MY HOME STATE IN RHODE ISLAND. THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED BY TOYOTA ALWAYS THRU MY WARRANTY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

11/24/2014
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 11/24/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A760******
Summary

I AM IN THE MILITARY AND HAD MY CAR IN STORAGE FROM 2008-2012 WHILE STATIONED OVERSEAS. I JUST TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE 60,000 MILE SERVICE AND WAS TOLD MY HEADLIGHT COVER WAS FOGGY. WHEN I GOT HOME AFTER PICKING UP MY CAR I HAD NOTICED THERE WHERE TWO BURN MARKS THAT HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS WHERE THE HIGH-BEAM LIGHTS ARE. I HAD CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY REFERRED ME TO THE HAWAII DEALERSHIP SINCE THEY COULD NOT LOCATE MY VIN NUMBER. I CALLED THE HAWAII DEALERSHIP, AND HAD NO LUCK THERE EITHER. THIS IS UNSAT AND IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR OF TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A HAZARD. I DO NOT KEEP MY HEADLIGHTS ON 24 HOURS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, SO WHY IS THIS HAPPENING. IN ADDITION, MY CAR ONLY HAS 66,600 MILES FOR BEING A 2006 MODEL. AS I SAID THIS CAR WAS IN STORAGE FOR 4.5 YEARS DUE TO MY OVERSEAS DUTY ASSIGNMENT. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SINCE I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THIS AND, IT IS A DEFECT IN THE MODEL / YEAR OF THE HIGHLANDER. *TR

11/17/2014
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 11/11/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

11/13/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 11/12/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW210600******
Summary

ABS BRAKE ACCUMULATOR FAILURE AT 98,958 MILES. DEALER WANTS $3000 FOR REPAIR. IT LOOKS LIKE ALL 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS, SOME LEXUS MODELS ARE IMPACTED. TOYOTA KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON AND THEY HAVE EVEN REDESIGNED THE ACCUMULATOR FOR THE NEW HIGHLANDER WITH A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER. TOYOTA WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT COST OF ACCUMULATOR. *TR

11/03/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/03/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID WAS CALIBRATING AND WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VSC AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR AND THE HYBRID PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

11/02/2014
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/28/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR SOME TIME , TURNED OFF FOR 5 MINUTES AND THEN IT WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER SITTING FOR A FEW HOURS IT RESTARTED. SOME TIMES IT HAD TO BE JUMPED AND THE CODE READ "SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ALREADY IN PARK. I TOOK IT IN AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT AND OF COURSE THEY SAID THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. *TR

10/24/2014
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 09/15/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEHP21AX60******
Summary

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAR BROKE DOWN AND STOPPED FUNCTIONING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS CHARGED $4259.81 TO REPLACE TRANSFER CASE. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATING, I DISCOVERED THAT TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A TSB (TC008-07) TO REPLACE THE RIGHT-HAND BEARING SEAL THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS. MY CAR WAS IN SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES PRIOR WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS BY REPLACING THE SEAL. *TR

10/23/2014
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 10/22/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

WE HEARD ON THE NEWS THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON AIR BAGS ON DIFFERENT MAKE CARS, AND TOYOTA WAS ON THE LIST. THIS WAS ON NEWS OCTOBER 22,2014. THE AIR BAG WAS CALLED TAECOTA, OR TAYCOTA. *TR

10/08/2014
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 04/18/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A360******
Summary

COMPLAINT: 2006 BASE HIGHLANDER, FWD, 4 CYLINDERS. BRAKE SYSTEM (VSC, TRAC OFF, ABS & BRAKE) AND TPMS LIGHTS ON, DISABLING SAFETY FEATURES. 1)TPMS FLASHING LIGHT. ISSUE MAY HAVE BEEN IN-PROCESS SINCE DAY 1. IT REGULARLY CAME ON, RESET BY DEALERS AND EVENTUALLY SHOWED US HOW TO RESET OURSELVES. 2)BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS. ALL (4) CAME ON, DIAGNOSED AS LEFT REAR WHEEL SENSOR. DEALER QUOTED COST: $1000. REPLACEMENT DIDN'T WORK, WOUND UP REPLACING WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY PIGTAIL. LASTED TWO (2) WEEKS, RE-DIAGNOSED AS ABS PUMP/CONTROL MODULE ASSEMBLY. DEALER QUOTED COST: $2500. WHILE THIS ITSELF IS RIDICULOUS, THE REPAIR COSTS WOULD EXCEED 1/8TH (13%) THE COST OF THE VEHICLE NEW! NOW, IN 2014, IT'S APPROXIMATELY (50%) OF THE CURRENT VEHICLES VALUE. THIS ISSUE HAS RECENTLY RESULTED IN SCREECHING TO A HALT IN DANGEROUS TRAFFIC. IT ESSENTIALLY NEGATES THE STAR SAFETY SYSTEM FEATURES, FOR VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS ISSUE CANNOT BE IGNORED ANY LONGER, SINCE IT'S THE TOPIC ON NUMEROUS WEB SITE FORUMS AND INQUIRIES AND EVEN SALVAGED USED PARTS ARE BEING SOLD BY MANY SITES FOR THIS PROBLEM. RECOMPENSE: REMUNERATION OF EXPENSES TO DATE AND FUTURE REPAIRS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IS REQUESTED. REVIEW OF TSB AND/OR INVESTIGATION INTO RECALL CAMPAIGN TO FIX ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TR

10/03/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/24/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

AFTER THE DATE OF THE CRASH THE CAR IS FAILING TO STOP PROPERLY. THE CAR WILL BUMP CONSTANTLY BEFORE A COMPLETE STOP. IT IS UNSAFE TO USE THE CAR AT HIGHER SPEED OR IN SUDDEN STOP SITUATIONS. IT IS ALSO MAKING A CONSTANT NOISE WHEN THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL HYBRID SHOP AND THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS QUICK IN JUST MINUTES. THEY SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL TOYOTA HYBRIDS. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS BUT NOT ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY. THEY SAID THAT PART SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFE OF EVERY CAR BUT NOT FOR THE HYBRIDS. IT WAS A BAD DESIGN AND TOYOTA HAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR JUST DIAGNOSE BUT NOT REPAIR OR PREVENT. THE PART COST $2400 INCLUDING LABOR. I CALLED TOYOTA PR AND MAKE A COMPLAINT. THEY HAVE FAILED TO HELP ME NEITHER THEY PROVIDE STATUS ON THE COMPLAINT.

09/27/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 09/27/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

I ALREADY REPLACE THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WITH A COST OF $2,600.00, AFTER A YEAR IT FAIL AGAIN. AS RESEARCHING IN THE INTERNET I FOUND OUT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE ACTUATOR IS PRIMING EVERY 15 SECONDS. *TR

09/22/2014
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 09/22/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

BOTH REAR WINDOWS KEEP COMING OFF TRACK. *TR

09/18/2014
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 09/11/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION, CHECK ENGINE, AND VHC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT COOLANT FLUID WAS LEAKING AND AN ENGINE KIT NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

09/16/2014
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 09/13/2014
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PLANTER POT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V112000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC ).THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,160.

09/09/2014
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 09/09/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

IN JUNE 2014 WE HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN WE PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHILE WE WERE ON A TRIP. TWO DAYS AFTER WE RETURNED THE"CHECK VSC SYSTEM" CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START.. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE BATTERY. WE REPLACED IT AND THE WARNING LIGHT WENT AWAY. HOWEVER, THREE MONTHS LATER THE NOISE IS BACK. THE DEALER (DIFFERENT ONE) SAID THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDS REPLACEMENT. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR COSTING $3,600. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, I SAW MANY COMPLAINTS (AND A RECALL) FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART IN OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES. TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO A RECALL FOR THE HIGHLANDER AS WELL. OUR CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. WE BOUGHT IT NEW. VERY UNHAPPY. *TR

08/04/2014
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 04/11/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

TOOK 2006 TOYOTA HYBRID HIGHLANDER IN FOR A POPPING SOUND AND VSC LIGHT , ABS BRAKE LIGHTS ON. THE TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME IT NEEDED A NEW ABS ACCUMULATOR FOR $ 28881.71 . I WAS TOLD THIS WAS DANGEROUS THAT BRAKES COULD FAIL !!! UPON LOOKING I FIND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHERS ... TIME FOR A RECALL !!!!!!!!!! *TR

07/10/2014
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 07/10/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A260******
Summary

2006 HIGHLANDER GENERATES ROARING TYPE NOISE HEARD FROM THE FRONT END WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HUMMING NOISE HEARD AFTER 40MPH. TOYOTA SERVICE DEALER FOUND THAT FRONT DIFFERENTIAL IS BAD. ESTIMATE $4,500 TO REPAIR. *TR

07/09/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/07/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS BEEN MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE AT THE END OF A MODERATELY HARD STOP. IT ALSO MAKES THE SAME SOUND SOMETIMES WHEN BEGINNING TO MOVE AFTER START-UP AND THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A SHOP TO HAVE THEM INSPECT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT WAS THE ABS ACTUATOR CONTROL MODULE MAKING THE NOISE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING IT, BUT THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SAID THAT ANY PROBLEM INVOLVING THE ABS SYSTEM WAS A POTENTIAL HAZARD IF THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY AS A RESULT. AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE PART IS OVER $2700 TO REPLACE. WITH LABOR, THE COST IS ABOUT $3200. I READ ONLINE THAT ABS ACTUATORS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE IN HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY TOYOTA. *TR

06/24/2014
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 06/17/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEADLIGHTS ARE MELTED, BURNED AND GREY IN FRONT OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULBS. GOOGLE SEARCH INDICATES THAT IT IS A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE. CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR

06/16/2014
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Incident Date: 06/15/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

WHILE DECELERATING TO TURN INTO OUR DRIVE WAY THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT STOPPED BY USING THE BRAKES, ENDING UP IN THE YARD/SIDEWALK. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET OF SKID MARKS. THE ENGINE WAS RACING WHILE THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT INVOLVED. THE INCREASED ENGINE RPM WAS NOT INITIATED NOR CONTROLLABLE BY THE OPERATOR. THIS WAS TRULY AN UNCONTROLLED RUN AWAY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. *TR

06/13/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/13/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

STEP ON BRAKE PEDAL, HIT A SMALL BUMP IN ROAD, BRAKES LET GO FOR A SECOND AND THEN GRAB. IT'S LIKE YOU HIT A PATCH OF ICE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I GOT THE CAR. I WENT ONTO THE EDMUNDS FORUM HTTP://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/5357/TOYOTA/HIGHLANDER-HYBRID/HIGHLANDER-HYBRID-BRAKE-PROBLEMS/P5 AND COUNTED OVER 350 EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS FOR 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS, INCLUDING MANY FENDER BENDERS. *JS

06/09/2014
Components: AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 05/26/2014
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

VEHICLE A RAN A RED LIGHT WHILE BEING DISTRACTED BY PUTTING ON HER SHOE AND RAN A RED LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. VEHICLE B CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE A AND VEHICLE B HAS BODY DAMAGE TO FRONT BUMPER FENDERS AND HOOD AND BODY RAILS. VEHICLE B WAS TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE CO. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN NEITHER VEHICLE. MILEAGE WAS AROUND 25-30 MILES PER HOUR AND NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT. WHY HAVE AIR BAGS FOR SAFETY IF THEY DO NOT DEPLOY? NEED STIFFER PENALTIES FOR DISTRACTED DRIVING, DRIVER A WAS CITED FOR RUNNING THE RED LIGHT. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT INDUSTRY TOOK OUT BODY FRAMES TO CUT GAS MILEAGE. WHERE IS THE SAFETY WHEN LIVES ARE AT RISK? *TR

06/05/2014
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/14/2014
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

THERE WAS FIRE IN THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY. THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE INVERTER AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE COMPLETELY COOKED AND MELTED. THE PROFESSIONAL OPINION OF A TOYOTA NATIONAL ENGINEER IS THAT THE GENERATOR IN THE TRANS AXLE SURGED AND CAUSED A FIRE MELTING THE COMPONENTS. HOW CAN THIS GO UN-INVESTIGATED WITH SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. MY FAMILY AND I COULD HAVE BEEN BURNED ALIVE OR IN A FATAL CRASH DUE TO THIS COMPLETELY UNSAFE SYSTEM. HOW CAN TOYOTA CONTINUE TO SAY THEY ARE ALL ABOUT SAFETY WHEN THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT ISSUES LIKE THIS. THEY HAVE SENT ME A $16,000 BILL FOR THIS ISSUE THAT IS COMPLETELY A PRODUCT OF THEIR POOR AND UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR

06/05/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/02/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MAD AWARE OF PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS 131,326.

05/29/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 03/03/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

ABS BRAKE ACCUMULATOR FAILURE. VSC WARNING LIGHT. CODE C1391 90K MILES. $3000 REPAIR. ABS PUMP FAILS SO YOU HAVE LESS BRAKING FORCE ON HEAVY SUV AT HIGHWAY SPEED... ALL 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND LEXUS 400H IMPACTED. TOYOTA INTERNALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AND REDESIGNED THE ACCUMULATOR FOR THE NEW HIGHLANDER. NO RECALL DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT COST OF ACCUMULATOR. *TR

05/27/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/27/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD OR ACCELERATE UNTIL THE BRAKE IS APPLIED HARDER/PEDAL PUSHED DOWN FURTHER. THIS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS AS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. IT ALSO FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN, HOWEVER, ONCE IT SLOWS TO ABOUT 10-15 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR ACCELERATES FORWARDS OR THE BRAKES SOME RELEASE THEMSELVES EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL IS CONTINUOUSLY HELD DOWN. *TR

05/22/2014
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 05/14/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

TOYOTA HEATER CONTROL UNIT HAS MALFUNCTIONED SO THAT TEMPERATURE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKS AND NOW AIRBAG, AC SWITCH, REAR DEFROSTER, AND VENT CONTROL NO LONGER WORKING. ENTIRE UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UNFIXED THIS HAS POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES. *TR

05/21/2014
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/15/2014
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL WORK. ONCE THE TECHNICIAN OPENED THE INVERTER CASE WE FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS FOR BOTH THE INVERTER AND TRANSMISSION WERE COMPLETELY MELTED AND COOKED DUE TO A FIRE INSIDE THE INVERTER. I AM NOW LOOKING AT A $15000 REPAIR BILL WITH TOYOTA AND LUCKILY MY FAMILY AND I WERE NOT BURNED ALIVE OR IN AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN FATALITIES. *TR

05/21/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/07/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES WHERE DEPRESSED WHEN SUDDENLY THE ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULATOR VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

05/11/2014
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 06/12/2007
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR AT THE END OF A RAMP. SEVERE DAMAGE TO OTHER CAR. I WONDERED AT THE TIME WHY THE AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF, EVEN THOUGH MY BUMPER AND HOOD WAS DAMAGED. BUT, POLICE SAID IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE I WENT UNDER THE SMALLER CAR? I DIDN'T QUESTION HIS JUDGMENT, BUT NOW THAT I HEAR OF SO MANY OTHER TOYOTA CAR AIRBAGS NOT GOING OFF, I THINK THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

05/10/2014
Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/10/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

I HAVE OWNED THIS HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2006, FOR EXACTLY 1 WEEK. THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS LEADING UP TO THIS ONE WHILE OWNER DROVE VEHICLE THAT WEEK. OWNER STARTED CAR ON SATURDAY MORNING TO GET KIDS TO SOCCER GAME AND VOCAL CLASS, BOTH MISSED. UPON STARTING VEHICLE DRIVER NOTICED P/S WARNING SENSOR LIGHT ON DASHBOARD. THEN PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND REALIZED THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING IN VEHICLE? THIS WAS THE ONE AND ONLY LIGHT THAT CAME ON. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP WHO SAYS THEY WILL CONTACT OWNER ON MONDAY. *TR

04/20/2014
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Incident Date: 04/16/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT 70MPH, ENGINE/HYBRID SYSTEM DID NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR CRUISE CONTROL - NO WARNING LIGHTS. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF FREEWAY SAFELY. I TURNED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE CAR, VEHICLE RAN FLAWLESSLY AFTERWARDS. *TR

04/10/2014
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 11/04/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A560******
Summary

IN NOVEMBER, 2013, THE VSC SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AND SEVERAL OTHER LIGHTS ("ABS")CAME ON IN THE CAR. A WARNING NOISE REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES SINCE THEN...THE SAME SOUND THAT COMES ON IF YOU FAIL TO FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELT. THE DEALERSHIP TESTED THE SYSTEM AND DETERMINED IT NEEDS A NEW BRAKE ACTUATOR PART WHICH WITH LABOR COMES TO OVER $2,000.00. I FILED COMPLAINTS WITH TOYOTA AND OTHER NATIONAL GROUPS TO NO AVAIL. I RECENTLY WAS NOTIFIED OF ANOTHER TOYOTA RECALL AND CAME ON THIS SITE AND DISCOVERED AN IDENTICAL INCIDENT (NHTSA ID NUMBER:10562656.) PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER AND ADVISE OF THE FINDINGS AS IT APPARENTLY IS A GROWING ISSUE AND RISK EXPERIENCED AND DOCUMENTED BY OWNERS. *TR

04/09/2014
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 03/21/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21AX60******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGERS SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE SIGNAL WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

04/04/2014
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 04/03/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

STARTED VEHICLE, POWER STEERING FAULT INDICATOR CAME ON. NO POWER STEERING. DOES STEER WHILE IN MOTION BUT EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN, IMPOSSIBLE WHILE STANDING STILL. *TR

03/30/2014
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 03/30/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 2 WEEKS AGO (3/17/14) AND IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 500 MILES WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT. LAST NIGHT I PARKED IN MY USUAL SPOT ACROSS THE ROAD FROM MY HOUSE. ON THE MORNING OF SUNDAY (3/30/14) I WENT TO TURN ON MY CAR AND I NOTICE A P/S RED LIGHT CAME ON AND DID A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND REALIZED IT WAS MY POWER STEERING FAILING. DID A QUICK TEST, CONFIRMED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. I DID SOME FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND REALIZE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HIGHLAND HYBRID AND THERE WAS ALREADY A NHTSA ACTION (PE06055) FILED PREVIOUSLY BUT HAD NO CONCLUSION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT UP AGAIN, THAT IT HASN'T GONE AWAY, IT IS DANGEROUS AND I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS WEB BLOG ABOUT THIS: HTTP://WWW.GREENHYBRID.COM/DISCUSS/F12/2006-HCH-LOST-POWER-STEERING-BRIEFLY-25044/ HTTP://ANSWERS.EDMUNDS.COM/QUESTION-POWER-STEERING-FAILURE-ON-2006-HIGHLANDER-HYBRID-9455.ASPX IT IS ABSURD THAT TOYOTA REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT A BAD QUALITY PRODUCT THEY PRODUCE. IF THEY DON'T WANT TO RECALL, AT LEAST FIX THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM RATHER THEN HAVE PEOPLE SHELLING OUT THEIR MONEY (ON TOP OF WHAT THEY ALREADY PAID TO PURCHASE THE CAR) TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA CREATED IN THE OUTSET. *TR

02/15/2014
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 10/01/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN AND BLOCKS MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN POSITION. IT IS TOO HEAVY. *TR

02/03/2014
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 02/03/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

IN OCTOBER 2013 I HAD A "CHECK VSC SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHT. UPON TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE BATTERY AND REPLACED IT AND THE WARNING LIGHT WENT AWAY. HOWEVER, OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, WE STARTED NOTICING A "SQUEAKING" SOUND COMING FROM THE AREA UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE BUT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. YESTERDAY, THE SAME "CHECK VSC SYSTEM" WARNING POPPED UP, ONLY NOW IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A NUMBER OF OTHER LIGHTS ON THE DASH, INCLUDING "ABS" "BRAKE" THE "TIRE PRESSURE (!)" AND ONE OTHER LIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE TO THE UPPER RIGHT OF THE "READY" TEXT. THE DEALER HAS JUST TOLD ME THERE WERE TWO COMPUTER CODES, ONE IS C1241. THEY SAID THE PREVIOUS DEALER DID NOT DIG DEEP ENOUGH INTO THE ISSUE IN OCTOBER, AND THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH PRESSURE. THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDS REPLACEMENT, THE PART IS $1,800 AND WITH LABOR AND TAXES THE BILL COMES TO OVER $2,400. BASED ON OTHER RESEARCH I HAVE DONE TODAY THIS SEEMS TO BE A GROWING ISSUE THAT MANY OWNERS ARE FACING. *TR

01/31/2014
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 01/12/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21AX60******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WITH SUNROOF, SUNSHADE AND WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED, THE SUN ROOF AND SUNSHADE WAS RIPPED OUT OF THE CAR. THE PIECES WENT FLYING INTO THE ROAD AND SIDE OF THE ROAD BEHIND ME. THANKFULLY NOT HITTING OTHER CARS. WE HAD NO NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL, OR PROBLEM WITH SUNROOF UNIT. *TR

01/28/2014
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 02/01/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A460******
Summary

DRIVE SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN POSITION. WHEN I WANT IT DOWN TO BLOCK THE SUN FROM MY EYES, IT HANGS IN THE MIDDLE AND WON'T STAY UP AGAINST THE WINDOW, IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. *TR

01/18/2014
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 01/12/2014
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

I WAS TURNING RIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN A WOMAN WALKING HER DOG BEGAN CROSSING THE STREET. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HER AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED SOUNDLESSLY FORWARD (CAR IS HYBRID BUT PRESSING ACCIDENTALLY ON THE GAS PEDAL WITH FORCE WOULD HAVE CAUSED REVVING NOISE) AND I COULD NOT CONTROL IT.. I RAN OVER THE WOMAN'S FOOT AND ALSO HER DOGS FEET. I DROVE THE CAR UP OVER A CURB WHICH RESULTING IN A FLAT TIRE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. THERE WAS NO INJURY TO THE CAR OR MYSELF. THE WOMAN WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BUT HAD NO BROKEN BONES. THE DOG HAD BRUISING AND DISCOMFORT BUT NO SERIOUS INJURIES EITHER. TOOK THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD FIND NO ALERTS, WARNINGS, OR ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT TO ACCELERATE UNINTENTIONALLY. *TR

11/24/2013
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/12/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

THE CASE WAS STOPPED AND PLACED IN PARKING WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING FORWARD AT ABOUT 3 MPH. I ALMOST HIT A CAR 5 FEET IN FRONT OF ME(AT THE TIME I PLACED THE HIGHLANDER IN PARKING GEAR) AND IT ENDED 6 INCHES AWAY FROM THE CAR IN THE FRONT. I HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKE SHIFT GEARS FROM PARKING TO DRIVE. SHIFT AGAIN TO PARKING AND WHILE KEEPING THE BRAKES ON I PRESSED ON THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THERE WAS NO INCLINE IN THE STREET OR ANY DECLINE OBSERVABLE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ORIGINAL FAILURE. MY WIFE AND MY 1 YEAR OLD CHILD WERE INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

10/23/2013
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/20/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE HYBRID INVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.-

09/24/2013
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 09/20/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

AS I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT OF A HOTEL THE CHECK VCS SYSTEM, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK AWD SYSTEM WARNINGS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AND ALTERNATE. THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT, SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND THE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WERE ALL ILLUMINATED AS WELL. THE CAR WOULD DRIVE, HOWEVER, THE POWER STEERING AND ABS WERE NOT WORKING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT THE CAR SIMPLY NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. ONCE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ECU FOR THE ABS SYSTEM HAD DIED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $2000. WHEN I MENTIONED THE RECALL AND THE FACT THAT THE SYMPTOMS WERE DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IMP I WAS TOLD THAT WHILE MY VIN FELL UNDER THE BOJ RECALL, THE SPECIFIC SERIAL # OF MY IMP DID NOT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM MY CAR WAS HAVING. WHEN I ASKED WHETHER THE SERIAL NUMBERS OF THE D1M RECALL WERE CHECKED I WAS TOLD THIS WAS AN "INTERIM RECALL" AND THAT THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DO REPAIRS ON THIS ONE YET SO THEY COULDN'T CHECK. RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT AN IMP FAILURE CAN CAUSE AND ECU FAILURE. FURTHERMORE, AN ECU FAILURE WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE SYSTEM TO GO INTO FAIL SAFE MODE AS IT DID. I HAVE A TOYOTA CASE #, BUT THEY HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *JS

09/20/2013
Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Incident Date: 09/15/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING AND THE CAR JUST QUIT. SHE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED ME. I ARRIVED AND TRIED TO START THE CAR WITH NO LUCK. FINALLY CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THEY INSPECTED THE CAR ON TUESDAY (SEP 17,2013) AND SAID THE INVERTER WAS BAD AND THAT A REPLACEMENT WOULD BE $8,500. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK RECALLS ETC... WITH THE REGIONAL REP. THEY ARE AWAITING A SMALL PART TO SEE IF THAT WILL CAUSE THE INVERTER TO WORK PROPERLY. MY BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THE CAR JUST QUIT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD! *TR

09/10/2013
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE FROM ABS ACTUATOR EVERY TIME BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. WAS TOLD $2,000+ TO FIX AND NOW I HEAR IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. TIME FOR A RECALL! *TR

09/09/2013
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 09/09/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A760******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AND DROPS DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY BLOCKING VISION AHEAD, VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

08/27/2013
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/03/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

VEHICLE DIED WHILE GOING DOWN STREET. HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF ROADWAY. *TR

08/27/2013
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/26/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. SHE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR FORWARD OR BACKWARD TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE LANE OF TRAFFIC. WE GOT THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY INFORMED US THAT THE INVERTER WAS BAD AND WE NEEDED A NEW ONE. WE HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT REPLACING AN "INTELLIGENT POWER MODULE" AND HAD THE REPAIRS DONE JAN 9TH 2013. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS SAID THAT THE REPLACED PART IS WORKING AND THAT IT IS THE INVERTER ITSELF THAT HAS GONE BAD. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT SHE WASN'T GOING HIGHWAY SPEED WITH OUR CHILD IN THE CAR WHEN SHE LOST POWER. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

08/22/2013
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 08/21/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A560******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROX. 60 MILES PER HOUR THE BRAKE LIGHT AND VCS SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THE WARNING LIGHT ALSO WENT ON. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OWNER'S MANUAL, I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO THE AUTOMOBILE STATUS REPORT, THE ABS-HYDRAULIC CONTROL ASSEMBLY: WITH ECU MUST BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO COMPLAINTS I RESEARCHED ON-LINE, SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED RELATING TO THIS MAKE, MODEL AND ABS SYSTEM. I FILED AN INCIDENT WITH TOYOTA (REFERENCE NUMBER: [XXX]). THE INTAKE REPRESENTATIVE WHO CHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WASN'T A RECALL ITEM AND NO SUPPORT WAS AVAILABLE TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE PART. SHE CONFIRMED THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT IN THE WORKMANSHIP. I ASKED [XXX] (THE PERSON I SPOKE TO) IF I COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR A SECOND OPINION RELATING TO THE ABS PART. I ALSO ASKED FOR VERIFICATION THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY CHECKED THE PART FOR A DEFECT OR IS QUALIFIED TO DETERMINE IF IN FACT IT IS A MANUFACTURERS' DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED THAT THE ABS PART; BRAKE FLUSH/FLUID EXCHANGE/BF; ENGINE AIR FILTER REPLACEMENT;A/C SERVICE-ACS; COOLANT FLUSH (PREMIUM)-CF; AND FUEL INJECTION SERVICE WOULD COST $2,250. I ALSO ASKED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHAT THE BATTERY EXPECTANCY ON THE CAR IS AND WHETHER THE MANUFACTURER OFFERS ANY SUPPORT IN TERMS OF THE COSTS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE BATTERY CAN COST $5,000.00 TO REPLACE BUT THE MANUFACTURER MAY OFFER SOME SUPPORT. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH AND FILLING OF THIS COMPLAINT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

08/16/2013
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 08/01/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR UNEXPECTEDLY DROPPED DOWN. OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, DANGEROUSLY OBSCURING VISIBILITY. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMEDY, IT JUST HANGS DOWN. EITHER HAVE TO DUCK DOWN WHILE DRIVING TO SEE OR HOLD UP VISOR WITH HAND THAT SHOULD BE ON STEERING WHEEL. HAVE GATHERED A NUMBER OF QUOTES TO REPAIR RANGING FROM $236 TO $425. RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, AND I BELIEVE, SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS I LEARNED THROUGH RESEARCH, IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

08/10/2013
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 08/07/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A760******
Summary

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FAILURE, WILL NOT RETURN TO UPRIGHT POSITION. *TR

08/08/2013
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 08/03/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A760******
Summary

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PEDAL SUDDENLY FELT 'SOFT' AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. AFTER STOMPING ON THE BRAKE AGAIN THE VEHICLES' BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED WITH A JERK AND BEGAN WORKING NORMALLY AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF A FEW DAYS BEFORE TAKING THE VEHICLE INTO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER ASSEMBLY - BOTH OF WHICH ARE COVERED UNDER A LIMITED RECALL ON 2004 - 2006 HIGHLANDERS. UNFORTUNATELY NOT ALL 2006 HIGHLANDERS ARE COVERED EVEN THOUGH THEY EXPERIENCE THE EXACT SAME MALFUNCTION. *TR

08/07/2013
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 06/29/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

ON JUNE 29TH, 2013 I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON INTERSTATE 95, JUST NORTH RICHMOND VA, WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE AND "HYBRID ENGINE FAIL", OR SOMETHING SIMILAR FLASHED ON THE DISPLAY. I PULLED TO THE LEFT SHOULDER WHICH WAS VERY NARROW. CHECKING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, WHERE IT DIED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO SAID THE HYBRID SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $9,200. WE OPTED TO SELL THE CAR FOR SCRAP AND RECEIVED $3,600. IF I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN A SITTING DUCK AND THAT BUSY SECTION OF ROAD. *TR

07/01/2013
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 06/18/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A460******
Summary

DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR IS BROKEN AND WILL NOT STAY FULLY UPRIGHT OR FULLY DOWN, IT HANGS MIDWAY BLOCKING VISION OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND UPPER FIELD OF VISION, I HAVE TO HOLD THE VISOR UP WITH MY HAND TO SEE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. I FREQUENTLY BUMP MY FOREHEAD INTO THE VISOR WHEN TURNING MY HEAD TO LOOK TO THE REAR OVER MY LEFT SHOULDER AS I AM DRIVING. I CONTACTED MY TOYOTA DEALER, GIVEN A BALLPARK ESTIMATE OF $300-500 TO REPAIR. *TR

06/25/2013
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 05/01/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

THE SUN VISOR ON THE RSIDE WILL NO LONGER STAY UP. IT FALLS DOWN AND IMPEDES VISION. IT WILL NOT STAY UP NOR STAY FLUSH AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD EITHER SO IT SERIOUSLY BLOCKS VISION. IT JUST KEEPS COMING DOWN AND THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. *TR

06/10/2013
Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 06/09/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE NJ TURNPIKE. SUDDENLY, THE CAR STALLED AND THE STEERING LOCKED. LUCKILY, WE JUST STARTED THE HOUR LONG DRIVE AND WERE ON THE SLOW LANE AND WAS ABLE TO GLIDE THE CAR OVER SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER. THE CHECK "CSV" AND "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE HYBRID BATTERY SHOWED NO ENERGY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS ABOUT BATTERY ERRORS OR PROBLEMS BEFORE COMPLETELY STALLING. IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE PROBLEMS WILL ARISE, BUT WITH NO WARNING AND A CAR STALLING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

06/10/2013
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 11/01/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

CHECK VSC SYSTEM CAME ON, THEN OFF, IT HAPPENS A LOT TOOK IT TO A DEALER THEY FOUND NOTHING NOW THE WARNING IS ON ALL THE TIME, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND NOW THEY WANT $2,600.00. *TR

06/03/2013
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 05/30/2013
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDD21A360******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED CONTINUOUSLY HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND BRUISED THE CONTACT'S LEFT ARM, CHEST AND NECK. THE CONTACT ALSO SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BRUISES FROM THE SEAT BELT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER FOR INSPECTION OF THE MASSIVE FRONT END DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

05/20/2013
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 05/06/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INVERTER/CONVERTER HYBRID SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE COIL PACK THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000. *TR

05/09/2013
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 05/04/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR STOPPED. UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN ANY GEAR- THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON BUT WOULD NOT DRIVE OR REVERSE. HAD IT TOWED TO SERVICE STATION, DIAGNOSED AS AN INVERTER FAILURE MINIMUM 7,000 COST TO REPAIR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE ROADSIDE WITHOUT BEING HURT. THE CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT WORTH REPAIRING. *TR

05/07/2013
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 04/01/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A960******
Summary

WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ABOUT 75MPH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ROSE ABOVE THE READ LINE (HOT). BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A PARKING AREA IT CONTINUOUSLY ROSE AND FELL, HOWEVER, IT NEVER DROPPED AS LOW AS THE MIDDLE LINE ON THE GAUGE. AFTER CHECKING THE FLUIDS I HAD TO ADD WATER. I TOOK MY HIGHLANDER TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING COOLANT($700 TO REPAIR THIS). I HAD THIS FIXED AND HAD NOT TAKEN IT OUT OF TOWN UNTIL APR 27, 2013 AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE THREADS WERE STRIPPED AND THE BOLTS WERE COMING OUT "THE HEAD IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE BLOCK AND COOLANT IS LEAKING. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND HAVE EVERY RECEIPT FOR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD THAT I MAY NEED A NEW ENGINE ($6000 TO FIX THIS) AND AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. COOLANT IS DANGEROUS TO HUMANS, ANIMALS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT SO THIS CAN BE A SAFETY CONCERN. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ERROR I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND TOYOTA IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE WITH THIS TOYOTA AND THEY HAVE LOST A LOYAL CUSTOMER OVER THIS. THIS ISSUE IS OBVIOUSLY HAPPENING MORE AND MORE EVERYDAY AND IT IS FRUSTRATING. ANY ADVISE IS WELCOME!!! *TR

05/03/2013
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 05/02/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A660******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ROSE ABOVE THE READ LINE (HOT). BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A PARKING AREA IT CONTINUOUSLY ROSE AND FELL, HOWEVER, IT NEVER DROPPED AS LOW AS THE MIDDLE LINE ON THE GAUGE. AFTER CHECKING THE FLUIDS WE HAD TO ADD WATER. WE TOOK THE HIGHLANDER AND WERE TOLD THAT IT HAD A COOLANT LEAK. FROM THERE WE TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACING. I CLAIMED THAT THIS HAD TO BE SOME SORT OF FACTORY DEFECT BECAUSE HE EXPLAINED THAT THE THREADS WERE STRIPPED AND THE BOLTS WERE COMING OUT "THE HEAD IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE BLOCK". WE HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GREAT CARE OF OUR VEHICLE AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO ANY WELL MADE VEHICLE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE SUFFERED WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO HELP WITH THEIR SITUATION. PLEASE SEE THE WEB PAGE BELOW. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2006/TOYOTA/HIGHLANDER/ENGINE+AND+ENGINE+COOLING+SYSTEM THIS IS ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL THAT I HAVE FOUND. WHILE I AM NOT SURE IF THERE ARE ANY SAFETY ISSUES HERE BUT MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED WHEN OBVIOUSLY TOYOTA IS NEGLECTING THIS ISSUE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO BUT ANY ADVICE WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU. *TR

05/01/2013
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 04/10/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

SUN VISOR ON DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT STAY UP. - BLOCKS VIEW/VISIBILITY. *TR

04/11/2013
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 04/04/2013
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISING TO THE CHEST. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000......UPDATED 06-19-13 *BF UPDATED 06/27/2013 *JS

04/11/2013
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 03/16/2013
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21AX60******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRAC OFF AND VSC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN WHERE THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE. A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF SMOKE EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE GRASSY AREA UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 05/28/13*LJ UPDATED 06/11/2013 *JS

04/10/2013
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 03/29/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A160******
Summary

I WAS ADVISED THAT MY HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 80,000 MILES AND WHEN THEY WENT TO FIX IT THEY FOUND THE THREADS WERE STRIPPED AND I NEED A NEW ENGINE? AT 80,000 MILES, THIS IS INSANE. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WITH THESE BOLTS. NO WAY THE THREADS SHOULD BE STRIPPLED AND A HEAD GASKET BLOWN AT 81,000. *TR

03/27/2013
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 08/02/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A560******
Summary

VEHICLE HESITATES OR STALLS ON ACCELERATION. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN IF PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE. VEHICLE WILL ALSO LUNG OR OVER ACCELERATE ON SOME OCCASIONS AFTER HESITATION. *TR

03/19/2013
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 03/18/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A260******
Summary

HIGH ENGINE RPM AT IDLE, THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 48,000. *TR

02/25/2013
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
Incident Date: 10/31/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

THERE'S AN ENGINE SURGE, SLIGHT BUT STILL CAN BE FELT, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE SURGE IS INTERMITTENT BUT THE SURGE IS FELT OFTEN. EXAMPLE: AFTER TAKE OFF FROM A STOP THE NEXT TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE'LL BE A SLIGHT BUMP, AS IF THE ACCELERATOR IS STEPPED ON AT THE SAME TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THERE'S NO HIGH REV, JUST A BUMP. *TR

02/22/2013
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/20/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INVERTER/CONVERTER HYBRID SYSTEM WOULD SHUT DOWN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INVERTER/CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM WITHIN A FEW DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

02/20/2013
Components: STEERING,ENGINE
Incident Date: 02/15/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGLANDER HYBRID ON I 95 IN 4 LANES OF DENSE TRAFFIC ALL GOING AT LEAST 60-70MPH, WHEN I NOTICED THAT I WAS LOSING POWER AND MY CAR WAS STARTING TO SLOW DOWN. I GLANCED AT THE DASH TO SEE MULTIPLE WARNING SIGNALS - CHECK HYBRID, CHECK VSC AND OTHERS. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A BIG ENOUGH GAP ON THE LEFT FOR ME TO PULL ACROSS THE LEFT MOST LANE BECAUSE I KNEW IF I DID NOT I WAS GOING TO STALL AND LIKELY BE IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. IT WAS A VERY SCARY MOMENT. I COULD NOT RESTART MY CAR AND HAD TO WAIT TO GET TOWED, ( DC RUSH HOUR). THE DEALER SAID MY INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER HEARING THE NEWS I REMEMBERED THAT I HAD A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA, A RECALL FOR PART OF THE INVERTER. INITIALLY, I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD NOT COVER WHAT I NEEDED. IN THE END, I WAS COVERED . I AM THANKFUL TO ALL WHO REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES SO THAT THIS WOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

02/19/2013
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/16/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. ACCELERATING FROM STOPLIGHT TO ENTER HIGHWAY RAMP. LOUD BANG AND ALL LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON. ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING BUT NO PROPULSION. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER AND INFORMED IT WAS A HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE, AND WOULD COST $10,000 TO REPAIR. WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. *TR

02/05/2013
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 01/26/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

MY 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON I-5 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. SHE HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70MPH AND WAS TRAVELING UP HILL WHEN CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY POPPED OFF AND CAR WENT DEAD. SHE HAD NO POWER, AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT. SHE MANAGED TO COAST TO THE CREST OF THE HILL AND DOWN THE OTHER SIDE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, BUT WAS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION NEAR TRUCK WEIGH STATION WITH BIG RIGS PULLING ON AND OFF HIGHWAY. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. WE WERE INFORMED THAT HYBRID INVERTER WAS DEAD AND WOULD COST $8,000.00+ TO REPAIR. CONTACTED CORPORATE AND WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN REPAIR COSTS. HAVE SINCE HEARD OTHER SIMILAR STORIES REGARDING 2006 TOYOTA HYBRIDS. *TR

01/29/2013
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 01/27/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: GDEEP21A260******
Summary

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS THE SECOND TOYOTA VEHICLE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. TOYOTA GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER [XXX] TO REFERENCE. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA WINDSHIELDS CRACKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

01/09/2013
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 06/01/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A960******
Summary

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION AGAINST THE CEILING. IMPAIRS DRIVER'S VISION. *TR

12/18/2012
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 12/14/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE BRAKE SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND WOULD HAVE TO DIAGNOSED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,100.

12/15/2012
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/01/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

BRAKES STARTED MAKING LOUD GRUNTING NOISES AND FELT ODD AND A BIT LESS RESPONSIVE; EXTREMELY LOUD NOISES WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED HARD; LOTS OF BUZZING WHEN DOORS WERE OPENED (RELATED TO THE ABS); TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER WHO FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THEN TOOK TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN SEEN SOMEWHAT FREQUENTLY IN TOYOTA HYBRIDS. THERE WAS EVEN A TOYOTA BULLETIN ABOUT THE ISSUE. HAD TO REPLACE THE ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT - ISSUE WAS ALSO WITH THE BRAKE ACTUATOR. *TR

12/07/2012
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 12/07/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A460******
Summary

DAY RUNNING LIGHTS ARE BURNING THROUGH THE LENSES OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE LENSES HAVE LARGE WHITE SPOTS ON THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE RUNNING LIGHT BULBS. THE BULBS OF THE RUNNING LIGHTS ARE BULGING . THERE MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

11/27/2012
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 11/26/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,994.

11/19/2012
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 11/10/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

MY SON WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING OR POWER STEERING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE HYBRID GENERATOR HAD SHORTED AND NEEDED $7,300.00 WORTH OF REPAIRS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS, IF HE WAS ON A VERY BUSY ROAD AND THIS VEHICLE WERE TO HAVE STOPPED ON HIM AS SUDDENLY AS IT DID THAT DAY HE COULD OF POSSIBLY BEEN REAR-ENDED AND SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A PART OF SEVERAL RECALLS WITH THIS SAME TYPE OF ISSUE, BUT TOYOTA HAS REFUSED MY REQUEST FOR THIS VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED OR ISSUE A RECALL WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

11/15/2012
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 01/25/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGP21A060******
Summary

THE WEBASTO SUNROOF HAD A SAFETY RECALL THAT I DIDN'T RESPOND TO IN TIME. THE SERIAL NUMBER IS 6256887. THE FORM SAID IF I WAITED TO LONG I WOULD NEED TO FILE A CLAIM...I SHOULD HAVE PAID MORE ATTENTION TO THE FINE PRINT! *TR

11/14/2012
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 11/01/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MADE NOISE WHENEVER IT WAS THE ROLLED UP OR DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE MASTER WINDOW SWITCH HAD FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

10/24/2012
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 10/13/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A060******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE COMPUTER HAD DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE DEALER RESET THE AIR BAG AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES LATER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS WEIGHT LIMIT ON THE SEAT THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

10/23/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/19/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE DISPLAY STARTED INDICATING ERROR CODES INCLUDING CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. AFTER DRIVING APPROX 1/2 MILE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN/STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC. FORTUNATE, I RECEIVED SOME HELP FROM AN ON-LOOKER TO HELP ME MANUALLY STEER THE CAR OVER SLIGHTLY ON TO THE SIDEWALK AREA AS TRAFFIC IS CONGESTED IN THAT AREA. TOYOTA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEIR RECALL NOTICE INDICATES "INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH". ADDITIONALLY, THEY WILL NOT HONOR THEIR RECALL NOTICE FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM INVERTER STATING THE INTELLIGENT POWER MODULE LOCATED ON THE INVERTER WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE EVEN THOUGH THE CONDITIONS WERE EXACTLY WHAT IS STATED ON THE RECALL NOTICE. *TR

10/17/2012
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 05/02/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A160******
Summary

THE SUN VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT STAY UP. IT JUST KEEPS COMING DOWN AND THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING. I'VE HAD 5 DIFFERENT TOYOTAS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. *TR

10/17/2012
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 10/17/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A460******
Summary

OVERHEATING OF DRL/HIGH BEAM HEADLAMP BULBS, CAUSING MELTING/ DISTORTION OF CLEAR HEADLAMP HOUSINGS AND OPAQUE WHITE AREAS TO FORM IN HOUSINGS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF INBOARD BULBS. THE INVOLVED BULBS ARE ALSO OBSERVED TO BE DEFORMED AND BULGING. FIRST NOTED AT 65K MILES. THIS ISSUE IS SEEN TO BE COMMONLY REPORTED FOR HIGHLANDER 2001-2007, AND THUS REPRESENTS A CONSISTENT DESIGN DEFECT AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IS NOW DETERMINING WHETHER TOYOTA WILL COVER REPAIR OF THIS DESIGN DEFECT UNDER OUR COMPREHENSIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

10/02/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 09/25/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SHOULDERS AS ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED HAT THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS CORRODED. THE CORROSION HAD TO BE CLEANED OFF FROM THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

08/22/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/05/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

08/21/2012
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/22/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID, 34,000 MILES BOUGHT USED. FAIRLY OFTEN WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AT LOWER SPEEDS, THE SUV SURGES FORWARD LIKE THE BRAKES HAVE RELEASED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN HAVE REAPPLIED. IT IS DANGEROUS. I TOOK THE CAR TO LEE'S TOYOTA (ON 03/03/12) FOR RECALL NOT RELATED TO THIS. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS SOME AIR IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM, THE MECHANIC FIXED. AND I WILL NOT BE CHARGED FOR. THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE CUT AND PADS CHANGED. WHEN I GOT HOME I TOOK THE WHEELS OFF AND THE ROTORS AND PADS ARE FINE. THE DEALER DID NOT GENERATE THE TICKET NUMBER FOR THE PROBLEM. I DID NOT MAKE ANYTHING OF IT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT CHARGE ME. JUST THE OTHER DAY WHILE BACKING UP THE SUV DID JUST THAT AND THE BUMPER ENDED UP ON THE STOP SIGN POLE. I DID ONLINE RESEARCH & NOW I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT'S DEFIANTLY DANGEROUS AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

08/14/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/11/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING ON I40 JUST AFTER LEAVING I17 AT FLAGSTAFF, AZ, DURING HEAVY RAINSTORM, VEHICLE DECELERATED ABRUPTLY TO ABOUT 45 MPH (WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65), MANAGED TO PULL OFF AT NEXT OFF RAMP AND CAR DIED COMPLETELY ABOUT HALFWAY UP OFFRAMP (COUNTRY CLUB ROAD EXIT). WARNING MESSAGES INCLUDED "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM", "CHECK 4WD SYSTEM", AND "CHECK AVS SYSTEM". AFTER CALLING FINDLAY TOYOTA IN FLAGSTAFF AND WHILE WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK, TURNED SYSTEM OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED RESTART WHICH WAS SUCCESSFUL AND DROVE TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. AFTER 2 DAYS OF DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS AND TECHNICIAN CALLS WITH TOYOTA, THEY TRIED TO TELL ME PROBLEM WAS DIRTY MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THIS VEHICLE HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AND HAD INVERTER AND AVS SYSTEM REPLACED AT A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD WITH POWER SYSTEM FAILURE ON INTERSTATE IN RAINSTORM SURROUNDED BY 18 WHEELERS. *TR

08/09/2012
Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Incident Date: 04/30/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

AS I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP AT A SIDE STREET TO ENTER HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY A LARGE TRUCK WHEN THE HH INVERTER FAILED. THE CAR SIMPLY SUDDENLY FAILED TO RESPOND WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. SEVERAL DASHBOARD SYMBOLS LIT UP, INCLUDING CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM,'AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STEER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CHECKED FOR RECALLS AND SAID THERE WERE NONE. I MENTIONED THE JUNE 2011 NOTICE WE'D RECEIVED, AND THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JAN. 2012. WE DID NOT RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION FROM TOYOTA AND CALLED THE DEALER IN JAN. FOR AN APPOINTMENT. AFTER A BRIEF INSPECTION, WE WERE TOLD THE PART WAS NOT DEFECTIVE AND NO REPLACEMENT NECESSARY.' WE HAD BEEN EXTRA CAUTIOUS AND LIMITED THE USE OF OUR HH FOR MONTHS, AND WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE WAS NO EFFORT TO EXAMINE THE PART EARLIER OR VERIFY THE CONDITIONS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED IN APRIL 2012, THE DEALER SAID WE NEEDED A PART, WHICH THEY ORDERED AND INSTALLED AT NO COST TO US WITHIN A FEW DAYS. THE MANAGER SAID THAT IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART, TOOK A LONG TIME TO INSTALL, AND THAT WE WERE "LUCKY TO HAVE THE WARRANTY."' THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE INVERTER RECALL BUT THE INVOICE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A "BOJ RECALL." THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN EARLIER CLUE: ON DEC. 1, 2011 THE SAME DASHBOARD INDICATORS (CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND VRC) LIT UP IN THE MORNING WHEN I WENT TO START IT AND COULDN'T. WE ASKED DEALER ABOUT RECALLS, MENTIONED THE UPCOMING SCHEDULED NOTIFICATION (JAN. 2012), BUT WERE TOLD THERE WERE NONE, AND THAT PROBLEM WAS THE BATTERY. THIS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN RELATED, BUT I WONDER IF THE DEALERSHIP EVER CONSIDERED THE INVERTER ISSUE IN ITS ANALYSIS. THIS 2006 HH HAD ONLY 25,259 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE, ONLY 1 OWNER, AND RCVD REGULAR MAINTENANCE FROM DEALER. *TR

06/21/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/20/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE FROM A RESIDENTIAL DRIVE WAY, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INVERTER AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

06/18/2012
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 10/17/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A160******
Summary

THREE MONTHS AND 6000 MILES PAST THE WARRANTY (66,000 MILES) OUR HIGHLANDER FAILED (OVERHEATED). I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND THERE WERE MANY SIMILAR OCCURRENCES WITH THIS ENGINE. OOLANT LEAKED FROM ENGINE ONTO FLOOR IN LARGE AMOUNTS. OUR MECHANIC SAID THREADS WERE STRIPPED AND THREE HEAD GASKET BOLTS HAD PULLED OUT. ONLY SOLUTION, NEW ENGINE OR POSSIBLE REBUILD BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. TOYOTA REFUSED TO HELP US. THEY DENIED THAT THIS PROBLEM EVEN EXISTED. BUT WHY WOULD TOYOTA PUT OUT A BULLETIN ON HOW BEST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM , IF THE PROBLEM DIDN'T EVEN EXIST? TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DID NOT OFFER TO HELP. WE HAD OUR LOCAL DEPENDABLE TOYOTA MECHANIC REBUILD THREADS FOR $2,700.A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND ON A TOYOTA WITH UNDER 70,000 MILES. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA'S RESPONSE. THEY NOT ONLY LOST MY FUTURE BUSINESS BUT ALSO MY DAUGHTER'S. CAR WORKS FINE NOW. BUT I NO LONGER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE. THAT LOSS OF FEELING OF DEPENDABILITY IS THE WORST PART. *TR

06/01/2012
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 09/04/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

DRIVING IN 6 LANES OF HEAVY TRAFFIC WE HEARD A 'THUNK' AND LOST ALL POWER. I WRESTLED THE VEHICLE TO GET IT TO COAST OFF OF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. COST WAS $7600, AFTER A SUBSTANTIAL DISCOUNT FROM THE DEALER, WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY EMBARRASSED ABOUT CHARGING SO MUCH FOR A SINGLE PART. THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, SINCE ALL POWER AND ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED DRIVING FUNCTIONS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. FORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T. SUBSEQUENTLY I FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAD UPGRADED THEIR INVERTERS BEGINNING IN 2007. WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED IN 2011 FROM TOYOTA AN "INTERIM SAFETY RECALL NOTICE" FOR THE INVERTER, BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING SINCE. *TR

05/11/2012
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 03/22/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WILL NO LONGER RELIABLY STAY UP, SO THE VISOR SOMETIMES FALLS DOWN SUDDENLY AND BLOCKS MY VIEW. WHEN IT DOES STAY UP, IT ONLY STAYS UP PART WAY. *TR

04/05/2012
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/14/2009
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 04/02/13*LJ UPDATED 04/12/2013 *JS

03/26/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/20/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

MY HH HAS ABOUT 160,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AND CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP 3 TO 5 TIMES, EACH TIME WAS PUT OVER TO "RECALL CENTER", WHICH EQUALS VOICE MAIL WITH NO RETURN CALL. EVER. LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING AND WAS FLASHING ERROR MESSAGES ON DASHBOARD, INCLUDING CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. IT ENDED UP AT THE DEALER AS CLOSEST MECHANIC DID NOT HAVE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO CHECK IT. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK AND REPAIR THE RECALL(S) WHILE THEY REPAIRED THE CAR. THEY ENDED UP TELLING ME THAT THE ISSUE, WHILE RELATED TO A RECALL INVOLVING PART OF THE INVERTER, THAT THE PARTS REQUIRED FOR THE REPAIR WOULD COST $9000 OVER WHAT THE RECALL INVOLVED, BUT THAT, THEY WOULD BE SO NICE AS TO ONLY CHARGE ME $4000 FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES UP TO 100,000 MILES AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I SEE THAT THOUSANDS OF 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID OWNERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND, IN FACT, TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM NOT ONLY BY CHANGING THE INVERTER IN 2007 MODELS, BUT ALSO BY DOING THIS COMPLETE REPAIR JOB THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDS FOR MANY, MANY OWNERS FOR UNDER $1000. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INADEQUATELY RESPONSIVE TO THESE ISSUES; I HAVE NOW CONTACTED TOYOTA'S "CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER" AND AM AWAITING THEIR RESPONSE. *TR

03/21/2012
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 10/12/2011
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS WERE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THERE WAS NOT A DEFECT FOUND IN THE VEHICLE. THE REGIONAL MANAGER ALSO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

03/06/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/05/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS BUT THE DEALER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES IN PERFORMING THE REMEDY FOR THE RECALL DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 5/11/12 *LJ

03/01/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/01/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID . THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE NOT ADVISED THE CONTACT OF WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE RECALL WAS REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

02/24/2012
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/21/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

FOR THE PAST MONTH OR SO, THE HIGHLANDER HAS BEEN MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE AT THE END OF A MODERATELY HARD STOP. IT ALSO MAKES THE SAME SOUND SOMETIMES WHEN BEGINNING TO MOVE AFTER START-UP AND THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED. I WENT TO THE DEALER ON FEB. 21, 2012, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ABS ACTUATOR MAKING THE NOISE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THE NOISE WAS NO PROBLEM, HE SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR ONLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IF I DID NOT WANT TO PUT UP WITH THE SOUND. IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE, AND SHOULD BE EXPECTED NOT TO FAIL OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I READ ONLINE THAT ABS ACTUATORS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE IN HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS, SO I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT. *TR

02/23/2012
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 02/03/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDD21A660******
Summary

COOLANT LEAKED FROM ENGINE ONTO FLOOR IN LARGE AMOUNTS. OUR MECHANIC SAID THREADS WERE STRIPPED AND HEAD GASKET BOLTS HAD PULLED OUT. ONLY SOLUTION, NEW ENGINE OR POSSIBLE REBUILD BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WE WERE UNDER 60,000 MILE WARRANTY BUT OVER 60 MONTHS. TOYOTA REFUSED TO HELP US. SADLY I'VE BEEN CHANGING MY OWN OIL AND DIDN'T KEEP ALL RECEIPTS FOR A MAINTENANCE RECORD. LESSON LEARNED. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP OFFERED NEW ENGINE FOR $7,300 OR REBUILD FOR $4,600. WE HAD NON-TOYOTA MECHANIC REBUILD THREADS FOR $2,300. CAR WORKS FINE NOW. WAY MORE MONEY THAN WE EXPECTED TO SPEND ON A TOYOTA WITH UNDER 60,000 MILES. *TR

02/13/2012
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 06/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A760******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND EXITING, THE FRONT DRIVER'S WINDOW ROLLED DOWN INTO THE DOOR PANEL. NEITHER THE DEALER, NOR THE MANUFACTURER, WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

02/02/2012
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/02/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A460******
Summary

I SWERVED AND STOPPED SUDDENLY WHEN SOMEONE PULLED OUT FROM A SIDE STREET TO AVOID A COLLISION. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, I COULDN'T. EVERYTHING "SEIZED" UP. I JUST COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY INVESTIGATED AND SAID THAT THE ACTUATOR WAS STUCK OPEN AND ALLOWING BRAKE FLUID TO CONTINUALLY ENTER THE WHEELS, THEREBY ENGAGING THE BRAKES. IN FACT, THE MECHANIC COULD ONLY MOVE THE CAR ONCE HE DISABLED EITHER THE BRAKES OR THE ACTUATOR, HE WASN'T SPECIFIC. FROM READING OTHER CUSTOMER DISCUSSIONS ONLINE, IT APPEARS THAT THIS PART IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. MY DEALERSHIP LOOKED UP THE GENERAL WARRANTY AND SAID THAT THIS WOULDN'T BE COVERED. MY CAR HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I THINK A PART LIKE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR *KB

01/21/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/19/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A560******
Summary

DRIVING HOME AND CAR LOST POWER. "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" LIGHT CAME ON. LUCKILY, IT WAS LATE, SO THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC, AS THE CAR JUST DIED. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT INTO PARK BEFORE ROLLING BACK DOWN HE HILL WE WERE DRIVING UP. CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE INVERTER FAILED, AND WOULD COST $9,000 TO REPAIR, WHICH IS NOT MUCH LESS THAN WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH WHEN IT IS RUNNING. CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT DEALER SAYS THE PARTS SERIAL NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE WHO HAS ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER WHO IS TO CONTACT ME WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY. *TR

01/20/2012
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 07/31/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

WHEN I BRAKE AND HAVE MY FOOT FIRMLY AND GRADUALLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR SLOWS BUT THERE ARE THESE ONE SECOND INSTANCES WHEN THE CAR CONTINUES TO COAST/LUNGE FORWARD AS IF IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP. THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR BETWEEN 25 MPH AND 30 MPH AND ALSO SOMETIMES AT 5 MPH. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE FEELING THAT I AM NOT IN CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TT

01/17/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 12/13/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE WITHOUT GIVING REASONABLE EXPLANATION TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND SIDED WITH THE DEALER, ADVISING THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD RELEASE ANOTHER NOTICE TO INFORM CONSUMERS WHEN THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE WORK RECALL WORK ON SELECTED VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

01/16/2012
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 11/23/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A060******
Summary

I PURCHASED A USED 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM A FERNELIUS DEALERSHIP IN MICHIGAN IN APRIL 2011 - IT WAS IN MINT CONDITION WITH 56210 MILES ON IT - THOUGHT I HAD MADE THE BEST DEAL EVER - THEN THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING WHILE DRIVING IT OVERHEATED. THOUGHT I HAD BLOWN A HEAD GASKET ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE THREAD BOLTS ON THE SHORT BLOCK HAD STRIPPED OUT AND LEAKED RADIATOR FLUID EVERYWHERE CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT. AT THAT TIME THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TOO BAD I BOUGHT A USED VEHICLE IF I WANTED TO TOW IT TO THEM THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. I THAN CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATION ONLY TO BE TOLD PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING, SINCE I WASN'T THE ORIGINAL OWNER THEY WEREN'T GOING TO HELP ME EITHER. SO NOW I'M STUCK TRYING TO FIND AN ENGINE BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CAN ONLY OFFER ME ONE WITH 58000 MILES ON IT INSTALLED FOR ABOUT $7,000, AND FROM WHAT I'M READING ON THE INTERNET THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN THE ENGINE REACHES RIGHT OUT OF THE WARRANTY AT 60,000 MILES. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATION WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND FIX THE ENGINE OR AT LEAST OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE. WHY SHOULD THEIR FAULTY ENGINE PART BE MY PROBLEM? NOW OF COURSE BEING JUST A WORKING STIFF AND RETIRED MILITARY MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES AND I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE, SO I HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. I WON'T BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA AGAIN SINCE THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR OWN PRODUCT, BUT I'M STUCK WITH THIS ONE FOR NOW. *TR

12/29/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 12/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

THE FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER AND HEATER CONTROLLER POTENTIOMETER ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. ICE BUILD-UP ON THE FRONT WINDOW IS KNOWN TO IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE NUT ON MY TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER WAS SEVERAL TURNS LOOSE! THE ORIGINAL MULTI-STRANDED WIRES SOLDERED TO THE TEMP-CONTROLLER POTENTIOMETER WERE RIGID BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO WELL TINNED WITH SOLDER AND BROKE FROM VIBRATION FATIGUE; DUE TO THE LOOSE NUT ON THE TEMP-CONTROLLER POTENTIOMETER SHAFT. TOYOTA OR SUMITOMO (VENDOR) SHOULD COVER THIS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO THE LOOSE NUTS (POOR WORKMANSHIP)! THE PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED WITH PHOTOS AT "HTTP://WWW.DEVALCOURT.COM/2010/03/FIXING-2004-TOYOTA-HIGHLANDER-AC-AND-HEAT-ISSUE/#IDC-COVER". OVER 385 PEOPLE HAVE LEFT COMMENTS THERE; SEVERAL OTHER WEBSITES DOCUMENT THE SAME PROBLEM. *KB

12/22/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 12/19/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK HYBRID AND VRC SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST RESULT SHOWED A DEFECT IN THE HYBRID BATTERY. THE CONTACT DID NOT AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO PERFORM ANY MORE TESTS OR REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

12/16/2011
Components: STEERING,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 11/30/2011
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND THE HYBRID COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

12/12/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 12/12/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ THE DEALER REPLACED THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY. UPDATED 02/29/12

12/10/2011
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 10/04/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEHW21A360******
Summary

WHEN RUNNING AND DECELARATING WHEN ARRIVING AT A STOP, I APPLIED A REGULAR PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES. AT SOME POINT IN THE BREAKING THE SYSTEM STOP BRAKING AND TRUCK KEEPS RUNNING. AFTER FEW SECONDS AND EXTRA PRESSUR THE TRUCK STAR BRAKING AGAIN. TWO MONTHS LATER I HAVE TO CHANGE BOTH BEARINGS ON MY TRUCK. AS A PROFESSIONNAL ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, I WOULD SAY THAT THE HYBRID SYSTEM SEEMS DEFECTIVE AND SOME CURRENT IS FLOWING TO THE GROUND. THIS RESULT IN BEARING DISCHARGE. THIS NON-BRAKING BEHAVIOR IS OCCURING FREQUENTLY AROUND 3 TO 4 TIMES A WEEK. *TR

11/29/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 11/13/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A460******
Summary

THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALER SERVICE NOTES THAT INVERTER FAILED ALONG WITH COMPONENT THAT GOES WITH IT. VEHICLE NON-FUNCTIONAL. *KB

11/23/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 03/25/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. HE DROVE APPROX 2 MILES FROM OUR HOUSE AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 35 MPH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SUDDENLY WENT PAST THE RED LINE. HE DROVE OUR CAR APPROX 2 MILES BACK TO OUR HOUSE. WE THEN HAD IT TOWED TO SAVANNAH TOYOTA WHERE THEY CHECKED THE ENGINE AND FOUND THE HEAD WARPED AND THE BOLTS STRIPPED . I WENT TO SAVANNAH TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM THAT I HAD JUST HAD THE CAR THERE FOR AN OIL CHANGE A MONTH PRIOR. AT THE TIME OF OIL CHANGE, SERVICE WRITER NOTED UNDER THE HOOD THAT HE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE WATER PUMP MAY BE LEAKING AS THERE WAS FLUID ON THE UPPER PART OF HOOD. THERE WAS NO NOTIFICATION OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE WATER PUMP. A MONTH LATER, THE ABOVE OVERHEAT CONDITION OCCURRED. WHEN WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BURNED UP AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 5000.00. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE BLOCK, JUST THE HEAD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. 2200.00.SAVANNAH TOYOTA DID CHARGE US $600 TO CHECK WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND IF THE ENGINE COULD BE SAVED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND COULD NOT BE RE-INSTALLED. AFTER DIS-ASSEMBLING THE ENGINE TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM THEY DID NOT EVEN REASSEMBLE OUR ENGINE. THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AT 70,000 MILES. WE HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED THE PROBLEM CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE 3-20-11 TO DATE 11-22-2011 . *TR

11/15/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/02/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

TOYOTA IS NOT FOLLOWING CRA (CORRECTIVE REPAIR ACTION) FOR PRE-NOTIFICATION REMEDIES. ACCORDING TO THE DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT DATED JUNE 29, 2011 REGARDING INVERTER FAILURE RECALL, ITEM 7 "THE OWNER LETTER WILL INSTRUCT VEHICLE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS CONDITION REMEDIED PRIOR TO THIS CAMPAIGN TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT PURSUANT TO TOYOTA'S GENERAL REIMBURSEMENT PLAN." HOWEVER, THE 'INTERIM' RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER TO OWNERS DID NOT SUPPLY INSTRUCTIONS TO VEHICLE OWNERS WHO PAID TO HAVE THE CONDITION REMEDIED. THE INVERTER IN MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID FAILED. I REPLACED THE INVERTER AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTORS CORP CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY REQUESTED THAT I HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DOCUMENT THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, MAIL OR FAX THE PAID INVOICE FOR THE INVERTER, PROOF OF OWNERSHIP AND THE INSPECTION REPORT IN FOR PAYMENT. THIS INFORMATION WAS FAXED AND SENT VIA US MAIL ON OCTOBER 19, 2011. I WAS CONTACTED VIA PHONE BY TOYOTA MOTORS CORP ON 11/10/11 AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE "TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL" ON THE INVERTER . I REFERRED THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE. I WAS TOLD MY CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE LETTER WAS AN 'INTERIM LETTER" AND NOT A RECALL. I WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE PART IS NOT OFFICIALLY RECALLED, I WOULD NEED TO WAIT UNTIL IT WAS OFFICIAL BECAUSE TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE 'INTERIM' LETTER IS ALMOST 4 MONTHS OLD AND TOYOTA DOES NOT OFFER RELIEF TO OWNERS. FURTHER, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PART. *TR

11/14/2011
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 10/28/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHT CASINGS MELTED AFTER USING "BRIGHTS". *TR

11/13/2011
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 11/10/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

THE DRIVER SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AND FALLS DOWN OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW WHILE DRIVING. WHILE DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET THERE SEEMS TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME DEFAULT OF TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS SUN VISORS FALLING DOWNING AND NOT REMAINING SEATED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THERE IS NOT ANY GARAGE DOOR OPENERS OR ANY OTHER DEVICES ON THE VISOR TO CAUSE EXTRA HEAVINESS THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE FAILING OF THE VISOR. I HAVE TO PUT TAPE ON THE VISOR TO PROVIDE MYSELF WITH AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW TO SAFELY DRIVE. *TR

11/10/2011
Components: STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS
Incident Date: 11/10/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

I BROUGHT 2006-1007 HIGHLANDER HYBRID VEHICLE IN 2005 FROM THE BEGINNING I AM HAVING DIFFICULTIES WITH THE STEERING I TOLD DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, TOYOTA COMPANY MULTIPLE TIMES ABOUT THE STEERING PROBLEM. AS SOON AS I DRIVE ABOVE 25 MPH MY CAR PULLS TOWARDS RIGHT VERY BADLY I HAVE TO APPLY LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE STEERING TO PUT ON THE ROAD. DUE TO THIS I SPENT 1000S OF DOLLARS TO DO WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND STEERING CHECK DUE TO THIS I SPENT 1000S OF DOLLARS ON MY TIRES I HAVE TO CHANGE MY TIRES EVERY TWO YEARS EVEN THOUGH THE MANUFACTURER GIVES WARRANTY FOR 6 YEARS 65K MILES. *TR

11/08/2011
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 11/06/2011
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BECAME EXCESSIVELY HOT AND MELTED THE COVER. THE DEALER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS BUT NOT THE LABOR COSTS. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,900.

10/12/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

I WAS PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR STOPPED AND BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH A WARNING ON THE LCD PANEL THAT STATED "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" AND "CHECK VSC". IT WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER AND ESU HAD FAILED AND THEY REPLACED THEM. THE VEHICLE STILL DISPLAYED SEVERAL WARNINGS AND AFTER SEARCHING FOR ALMOST 1 WEEK, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING ESU WAS ALSO BAD ALTHOUGH THIS WAS NOT THE CASE PRIOR TO THE HYBRID FAILURE. THEY SAID THAT THE 12 VOLT BATTERY ALSO NEEDED REPLACING ALTHOUGH IT WAS ONLY 8 MONTHS OLD AND WAS PURCHASED AT THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN I ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING! OCTOBER 1, 2011 IN OUR STATE WAS A BEAUTIFUL, CLEAR DAY AS IT HAD BEEN FOR A WHILE. I SUGGESTED THAT THE INVERTER AND ESU FAILURE CAUSED THE POWER STEERING ESU FAILURE, NOT A PHANTOM LIGHTNING STRIKE. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP AS I AWAIT THEIR REPLY. HYBRID COMPONENTS ARE COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED HYBRID WARRANTY BUT THE STEERING ESU IS NOT AND WILL COST $1,000 TO REPLACE UNLESS TOYOTA WILL ACCEPT THAT THE FAILURE OF THE HYBRID COMPONENTS COULD HAVE CAUSED A POWERFUL ELECTRICAL SURGE THAT DAMAGED THE POWER STEERING ECU AS WELL AS THE 12 VOLT BATTERY. *KB

10/08/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 09/21/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

DRIVING THE UPPER ROADWAY OF THE QUEENSBORO 59TH ST BRIDGE THE CAR JUST DIED. FLASHING ON THE PANEL READ CHECK THE VSC SYSTEM WAITED FOR A TOW AROUND A DANGEROUS CURVE, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. OTW TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WILL HONOR THE RECALLED INVERTER PART. *TR

09/27/2011
Components: SUSPENSION,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 03/03/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS USED ON STANDARD SUBURBAN AND HIGHWAY PAVED ROADS. NO DIRT OR SPECIAL CONDITION DRIVING. IN MARCH 2011 AT ABOUT 82,000 MILES, THE FRONT WHEELS STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHICH WAS NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS OF 35MPH OR GREATER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THEN AT 87,943 MILES IN SEPTEMBER 2011, THE SAME GRINDING NOISE HAPPENED TO THE REAR WHEELS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR HUB ASSEMBLIES AND BEARINGS. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT HAD 3 OUT OF 4 WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES AND BEARINGS BREAK. *TT

09/21/2011
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 08/06/2011
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE. WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIANS PERFORMED THE REPAIR UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V253000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FAILURE. THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THERE WAS NO ABNORMAL FAILURE AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

09/13/2011
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/08/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

I WENT TO THE DEALER RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V34200. THE DEALER CHECK THE HIGHLANDER AND SAID THAT THE RECALL NOT APPLY AND DID NOT NEED TO BE INSTALLED OR REPAIR THE INVERTER. THE NEXT WEEK LL THE PANEL WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON(BRAKE, SLIP, VCS WARNING, EXCLAMATION SING AND ABS). THEN A RETURN TO DEALER, THEY CHECK THE HIGHLANDER. NOW THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE ABS MODULE. HOW I CAN CORROBORATE THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL. *TR

09/08/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 07/09/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

I WAS DRIVING IN MY HIGHLANDER WITH MY DAUGHTERS IN THE BACK SEAT WHEN SUDDENLY OUT OF NO WHERE ALL THE ALERT LIGHTS CAME ON AND THERE WAS NO POWER AT ALL - THE GAS PEDAL WAS NON FUNCTIONAL - I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF A AN INTERSTATE AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND PULL THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC AS IT ROLLED TO A STOP. I WAITED ON THE CROWDED INTERSTATE FOR TWO HOURS FOR A TOW. I WAS TOLD THAT THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER HAD FAILED - THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART THAT WEEK AND THE CAR DRIVES NORMALLY NOW. I WAS ADVISED THAT IN FACT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. ONE MONTH LATER IRONICALLY I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA THAT MY MODEL OF HIGHLANDER IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE INVERTER REPLACEMENT THAT HAD JUST CAUSED THIS EXTREMELY UNSAFE VEHICLE FAILURE JUST ONE MONTH PRIOR. *TR

09/07/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 09/02/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A460******
Summary

THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR INCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE IN WHICH THE HYBRID SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN. THE FIRST THREE TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS FINE WHEN I TURNED IT OFF, BUT WOULD NOT RESTART. WITH ALL THREE OF THESE INCIDENTS THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITH NO ISSUES AFTER A FEW HOURS. THE CSV AND THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHTS AS WELL AS MOST OF THE PANEL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT TWO TIMES AND SAID IT WAS FINE. IN THE MOST RECENT EVENT, I WAS WAITING AT THE BOTTOM OF A DRIVEWAY. WHEN I WENT TO PROCEED I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD SOUND THAT SEEMED EQUIVALENT TO IT RUNNING AT A HIGH RPM. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, IT MADE THE SAME SOUND AND AGAIN DID NOT MOVE. THE CSV AND THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" LIGHTS AS WELL AS THE PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON. I ROLLED THE CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND TURNED IT OFF AGAIN. DUE TO THE PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED HISTORY OF THE CAR, I CHOSE TO WAIT AN HOUR BEFORE TRYING TO RESTART IT. AFTER WAITING AN HOUR, I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR AND THE EXACT SAME THINGS HAPPENED. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR ON THE SCOPE THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I WAS CALLED AFTER TWO DAYS OF THE DEALER RUNNING MANY TESTS AND TOLD IT WAS THE INVERTER. THE PRICE QUOTED TO ME WAS $8000. I INSISTED THAT THEY NEEDED TO LOOK INTO THE TOYOTA RECALL OF THE HYBRID INVERTERS. I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 15,2011, AND IT WAS "CLEARED." I ASKED THEM TO RECHECK THIS RECALL TO SEE IF MY CAR FIT INTO THE CATEGORY. I WAS INFORMED THEY WERE NOT GOING TO RECHECK IT, BUT THEY WOULD INSTEAD CONTACT TOYOTA. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING UP OR DOWN MY DRIVEWAY, I WOULD MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE GONE OVER THE 50 FOOT EMBANKMENT ON MY DRIVEWAY OR THE CLIFF DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE. *TR

09/02/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 09/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE AND ABRUPT HALT. COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. *TR

08/29/2011
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 12/29/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A360******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD MOMENTARILY SURGE FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A BRAKE MODULE AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT CLIPS ON THE FLOOR MATS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

08/24/2011
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 03/08/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A960******
Summary

DRIVERS SIDE SUNVISOR ON TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WILL NOT STAY UP. SUNVISOR FALLS AND BLOCKS VIEW OF THE ROAD. FORCED TO HOLD SUNVISOR UP WITH LEFT HAND WHILE DRIVING. *TR

08/07/2011
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 08/05/2011
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

I WAS DRIVING OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID UP THE DRIVEWAY AND AROUND TO THE BACK OF OUR HOME WHERE WE HAVE A REAR ENTRY GARAGE. AS I TURNED IN THE DRIVEWAY I STARTED TO SLOW/STOP THE CAR SO I COULD BACKUP TO PULL INTO THE GARAGE THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY STRIKING A SMALL TREE IN THE YARD DOING A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT, LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND LEFT QUARTER PANEL. IT'S POSSIBLY TOTALLED. IT WAS AS IF A SOMETHING SIEZED THE CAR AND SUDDENLY PULLED IT FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. IF THE TREE HAD NOT STOPPED THE CAR I WOULD HAVE STRUCK THE HOUSE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I AM BRUISED AND SORE BUT OTHERWISE OK. I HAD BEEN RUNNING ON BATTERY THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND UP THE DRIVEWAY BUT AFTER IT HAPPENED I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS NOW RUNNING SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE SURGE WAS THE RESULT OF THE GAS ENGINE KICKING IN OR SOME OTHER SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. *TT

08/05/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 07/23/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTELLIGENT POWER MODULE LOCATED IN THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,010.

08/03/2011
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 07/14/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE BRAKING DISTANCE HAD INCREASED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE BRAKES DID NOT FEEL SAFE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS STILL FAULTY AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

08/01/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 07/24/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH VIRGINIA FOOTHILLS, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON MY HYBRID STOPPED WORKING. I HAD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY, NO POWER STEERING AND WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS INCIDENT IF I HAD TO STOP FOR AN EMERGENCY. I SLOWLY PULLED OVER SHUT THE SYSTEM DOWN AND AFTER A WHILE THE WARNING LIGHTS AND WARNING BUZZER WENT OFF. *KB

07/31/2011
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 07/04/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

THE SUN VISOR IN MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID DROOPS DOWN FROM THE CEILING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND YOU HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, YET TOYOTA HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. *TR

07/30/2011
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 07/26/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM TEMPORARILY RELEASES WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR UNEVEN ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS PROBLEM ORIGINALLY STARTED IN WINTER, WHEN TEMPS WERE BELOW FREEZING. IT IS NOW HAPPENING NO MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY SAY THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE FAULT, NOR DO THEY FIND ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT WHEN THEY SEARCH THEIR DATABASE. THE INCIDENT DATE CITED IN THIS COMPLAINT IS THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT. *TR

07/22/2011
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 07/09/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS LENS WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE 3M PLASTIC COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE PLASTIC WAS REMOVED FROM THE LENS AND THE VEHICLE WAS FURTHER INSPECTED WHERE THERE WERE NO ELECTRICAL FAILURES FOUND. THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE LIGHT BULB WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY DENIED THE CLAIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000. UPDATED 10/12/11*LJ UPDATED 3/22/12 *CN

07/19/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 07/15/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD MAKE A LOUD SOUND WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT SOMETHING WAS BLOCKING THE CRANK SHAFT AND VARIOUS PIECES OF THE ENGINE COULD POSSIBLY BE OUT OF PLACE. A FULL DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT PROVIDED BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN APART TO DO SO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 87,000. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE ENGINE AND NOT THE HYBRID SYSTEM. IT WAS DETERMINED A VALVE SPRING BROKE IN THE ENGINE. SOMEHOW, THERE WAS A WEAKENING IN THE VALVE SPRING IN THE CYLINDER HEAD THAT CAUSED THE VALVE SPRING TO BREAK AND CAUSE INTERNAL DAMAGE. TOYOTA STATED THE SHORT BLOCK AND BOTH CYLINDER HEADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH NEW PARTS AND LABOR, THE ESTIMATED COST WAS $11,000. UPDATED 08/31/11*JB UPDATED 9/16/11 *CN UPDATED 2/9/2012 *CN

07/13/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 07/12/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. IN JULY 2010, THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH, WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN JULY 2011, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY FAILED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,600. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,072. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED TOYOTA FINALLY ADMITTED THE VEHICLE WAS APART OF A RECALL. THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL PART THAT WAS RECALL, WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE JANUARY 2012. UPDATED 11/18/11

07/05/2011
Components: AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 07/04/2011
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

I WAS PARKING MY HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN A PARKING GARAGE , IT STARTED TO ACCELERATE AS I STARTED TO PUT ON BY BRAKES. I HIT THE CONCRETE WALL. THE RADIATOR,BUMPER AND HOOD AS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *KB

07/05/2011
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 07/05/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A560******
Summary

TOYOTA OR THE DEALER HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THE DEFECT (ACCELERATOR PEDAL) WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FOR MY 2006 HIGHLANDER. *KB

07/02/2011
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 06/20/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A060******
Summary

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE, HAS BEGUN DROPPING DOWN OBSCURING MY VISION WHILE DRIVING. *TR

06/29/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/25/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID FROM VIRGINIA TO OHIO. WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE OH TURNPIKE JUST BEFORE MILE MARKER 218 TO CHANGE DRIVERS AS THE PAST FEW SERVICE STOPS WERE CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS. WE DID NOT TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE NEW DRIVER PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO RETURN TO THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR MADE A FUNNY SOUND THEN THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH ALTERNATING ERRORS FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND VSC SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS FROZEN AND WOULD NOT MOVE. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT BEDFORD TOYOTA IN OH BEING AWAITING DELIVERY & REPLACEMENT OF THE INVERTER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. IN FACT, IT HAD JUST BEEN IN FOR ITS 65,000 MILE CHECK-UP TWO WEEKS EARLIER. *TR

06/29/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/03/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID POWER INVERTER FAILURE - A $9,000 REPAIR. MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID CAME TO A DEAD HALT LAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON GOING JUST OVER 40 MPH ON A BUSY STREET IN AUSTIN, TX. THE ENGINE WOULD RUN, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ON I-35 AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILED POWER INVERTER - A $9,000 REPAIR. IT HAS 70K MILES AND I JUST PURCHASED IT FOR $18K A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. THE ORIGINAL OWNER PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100K MILES, SO VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR WAS COVERED INCLUDING A FREE RENTAL CAR FOR THE WEEK IT WAS IN THE SHOP. I WILL DEFINITELY PURCHASE ANOTHER WARRANTY WHEN THIS ONE EXPIRES AS WHO CAN AFFORD THIS TYPE OF REPAIR ON A USED VEHICLE! I AM CONSIDERING SELLING THIS VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE SAME TOYOTA DEALER THAT REPLACED THE POWER INVERTER TO GIVE ME A TRADE IN APPRAISAL. THEY RAN A CAR FAX HISTORY REPORT ON IT AND THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE CAR HAS HAD THE POWER INVERTER REPLACED! THEY SHOW IT SERVICED ON THE DATE OF THE REPAIR, BUT DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE POWER INVERTER HAD BEEN REPLACED - ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE THIS PROBLEM????? *TR

06/28/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/26/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THEY WERE DRIVING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD FORCING THE CONTACT TO DRIVE ONTO THE SERVICE LANE. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND AFTER THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED, THE DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT FIND ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF THE PART BUT I DID NOT GET A LETTER IN THE MAIL YET. UPDATED 09/08/2011 *LN *TR

06/28/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/26/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

DRIVING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 75 NEAR WARNER ROBINS, GA IN OUR 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID. GOING 75 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE WHEN THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH VSC, CHECK HYBRID, AND ESP LIGHTS. IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER. NO POWER STEERING, LIMITED BRAKING, NO ACCELERATION. BARELY AVOIDED A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT (4 PEOPLE IN MY CAR) AND MADE IT TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. TOWED TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER BY AAA. CAR HAS 85000 MILES ON IT AND TOYOTA DIAGNOSED A FAULTY INVERTER. IT IS BEING COVERED AS A WARRANTY REPAIR. WAITING FOR COMPLETION OF REPAIRS IN GEORGIA TO COMPLETE DRIVE HOME TO NEBRASKA (ALL THE WHILE INCURRING NON-TRIVIAL EXPENSES FOR HOTEL, RENTAL CAR, ETC.). *TR

06/22/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/18/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE CAUSED A COMPLETE POWER SHUT DOWN AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO POWER, NO BRAKES, NO STEERING. I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY CARS IN FRONT OR BEHIND. LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY GOING 70 MPH. THE FAILURE HAD NO WARNING NOR ANY SYMPTOMS. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, I DROVE THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES EARLIER DURING THE DAY. *TR

06/21/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/09/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

ON JUNE 9, 2011 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00PM CENTRAL TIME, MY FAMILY (WIFE, TWO DAUGHTERS, ONE SON AND I) WERE DRIVING OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLAND HYBRID DOWN I65 ABOUT 20 MILES NW OF LAFAYETTE, INDIANA. WE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR. WE WERE GOING ABOUT 70MPH AND LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND US AT THE TIME, AS WE HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN STEERING THE CAR AND STRUGGLED TO PULL IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT SAID SOMETHING ON THE SCREEN ABOUT CHECK VSD AND HYBRID SYSTEM. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO WHIRL, BUT WE COULD NOT START CAR OR DO ANYTHING WITH IT. WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK & WAITED IN THE DARK ON SIDE OF INTERSTATE 65 TO WAIT FOR THEM TO PICK US UP. IT TOOK ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO GET THE TOW TRUCK THERE AND FOR SOMEONE TO COME PICK US UP. WE DEFINITELY FELT LUCKY TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT GETTING HURT AS THIS AREA HAD NO LIGHTS AND WAS VERY DARK (EXCEPT FOR THE RED LIGHTS ON THE WIND MILLS ALL AROUND US). WE WENT TO A HOTEL IN LAFAYETTE AND THE TOW TRUCK DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT MORNING, THE DEALERSHIP SENT A COURTESY CAR TO PICK ME UP & TAKE ME OVER THERE. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. I TOLD HIM IT MIGHT BE THE INVERTER, AS MY FATHER OWNED A LEXUS RX400 HYBRID AND THE INVERTER ON HIS CAR FAILED AND LEXUS GAVE HIM THE PART. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT HE PERSONALLY HAD NEVER CHANGED AN INVERTER, SO HE DID NOT THINK IT WAS THAT. I RENTED A CAR AND MY FAMILY AND I CONTINUED OUR TRIP TO FLORIDA. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND SAID THEY HAD TO TAKE THE ENGINE APART AND IT COULD BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR JUST TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE RODENT DAMAGE. DAYS LATER HE CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE INVERTER AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST ME $9,600.00. I WENT ONLINE & DETERMINED THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS HYBRIDS WITH VIN# SIMILAR TO MINE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

06/20/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/13/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

AT 0130 I WAS ACCELERATING QUICKLY FROM A STOP IN MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WITHOUT WARNING THE ACCELERATION OF MY CAR CEASED; PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN HAD NO RESPONSE. [FORTUNATELY, I HAD NOT YET TURNED IN FRONT OF THE LARGE TRUCK I WAS ABOUT TO PASS, BECAUSE IF I HAD CUT IN FRONT OF HIM THEN SUDDENLY DE-ACCELERATED, A COLLISION WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LIKELY RESULT.] THE DASH HAD LIT UP SEVERAL CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. I WAS 1/2 WAY THROUGH AN INTERSECTION HEADED TOWARDS THE ON-RAMP TO HIGHWAY 96. THE CAR WAS STILL ROLLING, I STEERED IT AWAY FROM THE ON-RAMP AND ONTO THE SERVICE DRIVE, WHERE I COASTED TO A STOP. ALL OTHER ELECTRIC SYSTEMS WERE TO BE WORKING: LIGHTS, RADIO, BRAKES, WIPERS, FAN, SIGNALS, LOCKS. MY GAS TANK WAS MORE THAN HALF FULL. MY DISPLAY WAS ALTERNATING 'CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" AND "CHECK VSC.' I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE SUV SEVERAL TIMES, WITH THE SAME RESULT. A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER HAD TO USE HIS VEHICLE TO PUSH MY SUV OFF THE ROAD FOR SAFETY. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED, AND IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE, FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY 30 MINUTES FROM MY DEALERSHIP- AS I DOUBT MANY OTHER MECHANICS COULD HAVE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY, MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER CALLED TO TELL ME THE INVERTER WAS BROKEN, AND THE INVERTER WOULD COST $7000 PLUS LABOR. THE PART WOULD HAVE TO BE SHIPPED FROM CORPORATE. MY CAR WAS BEYOND THE 100,000 MILE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY (100K MIGHT BE MICHIGAN SPECIFIC), AND WAS AT 105,000 MILES. VIN [XXX] A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE HIGHLANDER HYBRID. ONE OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES CONFIRMED MY VIN WAS 'BEFORE THE PRODUCTION BREAK' IN 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS WHEN A 'NEW AND IMPROVED' INVERTER WAS USED INSTEAD OF THE 'DEFECTIVE' ONE. **TT UPDATED 07/10/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

06/19/2011
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 06/19/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUN VISOR DROPS DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY HINDERING DRIVERS VIEW. COULD NOT SEE TRAFFIC LIGHT WHICH CHANGED TO RED. FORTUNATELY NO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE INTERSECTION. VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

06/18/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/08/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

ON A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 4X4. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE COASTED TO SIDE AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME AND ENGINE STILL WILL NOT START. WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT TO DEALER. *TR

06/16/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/15/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A260******
Summary

OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID SIMPLY STOPPED RUNNING YESTERDAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY STREET. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US THAT THE INVERTER ( PART OF THE HYBRID PORTION OF THE VEHICLE ) WAS FINISHED AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE $7800.00. THEY ALSO TOLD US THAT THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR OF THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS EXEMPT FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA REQUIREMENT OF A 150,000 WARRANTY ON HYBRID VEHICLES . TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THIS VEHICLE ALTHOUGH IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR THAT THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND HAVE MADE CORRECTIONS TO. THIS IS A SERIOUS, DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM FOR WHICH TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THE CAR AS EASILY HAVE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY OR SOME OTHER MORE DANGEROUS SPOT. *TR

06/15/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/08/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE INVERTER HAD FAILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

06/15/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/11/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2006 MODEL HAS 58,212 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOPLIGHT ON A BUSY STREET WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. WE HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED, WITH NO MOTIVE POWER WHATSOEVER. THE POLICE CAME AND ASSISTED, WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A HYBRID INVERTER (A COMMON PART CITED IN NHTSA ACTION PE11005. *TR

06/15/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/08/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JN8AZ08W23W******
Summary

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY 101 DURING RUSH HOUR AT 70+ MILES AN HOUR, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING SOUND AND SUDDENLY STALLED. I SWERVE ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF HIGHWAY WHILE COASTING TO A STOP NEARLY COLLIDING WITH TWO VEHICLES WHILE CHANGING LANES TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY REMOVE IT FROM THE HIGHWAY. SEVERAL ATTEMPT TO RESTART IT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE ERROR MESSAGE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THE FOLLOWING DAY INFORMED ME THE INVERTER HAD FAILED. THEY ESTIMATED THE COST OF REPAIRS AT NEARLY $10,000.00. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND COST OVER $45,000 NEW, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. *TR

06/15/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 05/31/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21AX60******
Summary

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. SHE DROVE APPROX 1/2 MILE FROM OUR HOUSE AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 35 MPH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SUDDENLY WENT PAST THE RED LINE. WE HAD OUR CAR TOWED TO CROWN TOYOTA WHERE THEY TORE DOWN THE ENGINE AND FOUND WATER PUMP LEAKING AND HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL . THEY REMOVED ENGINE HEAD AND FOUND WARPED BLOCK AND BUT HEAD WAS OKAY. WE THEN TOWED THE HIGHLANDER TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC TO HAVE BLOCK REPLACED AND WE WERE INFORMED THE BLOCK WAS NOT WARPED BUT INSTEAD THE BOLTS ON THE ENGINE ARE STRIPPED/DEFECTED. TOYOTA WANTS $5,400 TO REPAIR VEHICLE BY INSTALLING A USED ENGINE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HELP WITH THE COST EVEN THOUGH IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND HAS ALREADY CHARGED US $654 TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT EVEN REASSEMBLE OUR ENGINE. THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AT 68,970 MILES. WE HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *TR

06/13/2011
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 05/10/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

WHEN BRAKING MODERATE TO HARD, USUALLY GOING DOWNHILL AT ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 40 MPH, BRAKES WILL OCCASIONALLY "RELEASE", CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD, AND REQUIRING REAPPLICATION OF BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH USUALLY THEN FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. FAILURE OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, BUT NOT DAILY. HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED IN 2009. HAVE NOT REPORTED IT TO DEALER, BUT KEEP EXPECTING A RECALL FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. *TR

06/12/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/10/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. *TR

06/08/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I PURCHASED A 206 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUV HYBRID IN DEC 2005 1ST GENERATION. MY CAR HAS 166K MILES. THE SUV STOP RUNNING WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON THE HIGHWAY AS I PROCEEDED ON A SUNDAY MORNING GOING TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE AVON BREAST CANCER WALK, 1 MAY 11. I CONDUCT REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKS ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS QUITE SURPRISE TO LEARN THAT THE PART COST OVER $9K TO REPLACE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. THE PART TO REPLACE IS CALLED INVERTER ASSEMBLY. I CONTACTED HQ'S TOYOTA TO ASK FOR SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART. I WAS REFUSED HELPED. I PROCEEDED TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS WEBSITE: A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST TOYOTA FOR THIS SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AS MINES. SEE WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.COURTHOUSENEWS.COM/2011/03/14/TOYOTA.PDF. I WAS QUITE SURPRISE TO SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PART ONCE YOU REACHED OVER 100K AND TOYOTA WAS NOT PROVIDING A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART SINCE IT USED THE SAME TECHNOLOGY AS THE PRIUS WHICH EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WAS RECALLED. I SEEK HELP WITH OBTAINING TOYOTA TO PAY FOR PART. HERE ARE OTHER WEBSITES CONCERNING THIS ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?HL=EN&SOURCE=HP&IE=ISO-8859-1&Q=2006+HIGHLANDER+HYBRID+INVERTER&RLZ=1R2ADBR_EN&AQ=1B&AQI=G-V1G-B1&AQL=&OQ=2006+HIGHLANDER+INVER. THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN ADVANCE. HAVE A MARVELOUS DAY! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

06/04/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/30/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 HYLANDER HYBRID @ 55 MPH, AT NIGHT, THERE WAS A LOUD POP / THUD AND LURCH, THEN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND THE DASH BOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND SEVERAL TIMES AS VEHICLES STEERED AROUND ME. HONKING THEIR HORNS AND FLASHING THEIR LIGHTS AT ME. AS I CRAWLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD @ 10:30 AT NIGHT. I FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 40,000 MILE ON IT AND HAS HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. TURNED OUT TO BE THE HYBRID INVERTER FAILED. THIS IS A NON SEVICABLE PART. *TR

06/02/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/18/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

ON MAY 18, 2011, MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID STALLED WITH A LOUD POP AND NO POWER WHILE PULLING OUT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE CAR WAS ON A HILL AND I HAD TO LET IT "COAST" IN NEUTRAL BACKWARD DOWN THE HILL TO TURN INTO A LESS BUSY STREET. IT WOULD NOT START NOR WOULD THE ENGINE RUN. I HAD TO TOW IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE ALL MY SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THE SCHEDULED BASIS. IT TOOK OVER A WEEK TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AS AN INVERTER FAILURE WITH AN ESTIMATED REPAIR AT APPROXIMATELY $9000. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD WITH 160,000 MILES BUT IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. UPON RESEARCH, I NOTED THAT THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THE 2006 MODEL HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER SYSTEM THAT MAY WARRANT INVESTIGATION/RECALL. *TR

05/31/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/28/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER INVERTER SIMILAR TO THOSE REPORTED BY OTHERS WHERE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND AND THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER MOVE FORWARD NOR BACKWARDS ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WAS ON. THE VEHICLE DASH TURNED ON WARNING LIGHTS WITH "CHECK VSC HYBRID SYSTEM" THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING OF THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO REGULAR MAINTENANCE IN THE DEALER A MONTH OR TWO AGO. NO-ONE WAS HURT BUT THE COMPLETE SUDDEN LACK OF PROPULSION COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WAS FORCED TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR TO CONTINUE ON MY REGULAR DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES. AFTER INVESTIGATION I WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER 7,000 FOR PARTS, PLUS EXTRA COSTS FOR LABOR. THIS SEEMS UNREASONABLY HIGH. I RECOMMEND THIS IS INVESTIGATED AND TOYOTA BE ASKED TO: 1. INITIATE A RECALL FOR THIS PART. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS INJURED OR DIES. 2. OFFER FREE REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART TO ALL TOYOTA OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, INCLUDING PART, LABOR, TOWING AND ANY RENTAL CAR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DOWN TIME CAUSED FOR THIS. 3. ISSUE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR ANY CUSTOMER WHO HAVE HAD TO SUFFER THROUGH THIS PROBLEM AND PAID FOR IT FROM THEIR OWN MONEY. 4. EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE HYBRID RELATED PROBLEMS TO AT LEAST 150,000 MILES ACROSS ALL STATES - AS IT CURRENTLY IS BY LAW IN CALIFORNIA. 5. OFFER A FREE AND COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF ALL HYBRID SYSTEMS COMPONENTS FOR EVERYONE WITH A HIGHLANDER HYBRID THAT IS OVER OR NEAR 100,000 MILES, AND REPLACE ANY COMPONENTS THAT ARE CLOSE TO FAILURE. 6. TRAIN YOUR SERVICE PROFESSIONALS TO LOOK FOR POTENTIAL HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURES AS PART OF ANY REGULAR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND I DON'T THINK TOYOTA IS HANDLING IT IN A FAIR AND REASONABLE WAY. UPDATED 06/09/11 *TR

05/30/2011
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 01/08/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A260******
Summary

I RECEIVED YOUR RESPONSE TO MY LETTER OF COMPLAINT DATED FEB 24, 2011. IT DID NOT ADDRESS MY CONCERN WITH THE DELAYED RESPONSE BETWEEN THE DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR AND A DELAYED ENGINE RESPONSE. RATHER I WAS INFORMED BY A FORM LETTER THAT NY COMPLAINT WOULD BE SATISFIED WITH A "FLOOR MAT ADJUSTMENT". I WAS ADDITIONALLY NOTIFIED THAT A 2ND LETTER FROM TOYOTA WOULD ARRIVE BY EARLY MAY 2011 WHEN "PARTS ARE READY AND PREPARATIONS ARE COMPLETE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS NOTIFICATION AS OF THIS DATE. I REPEAT; MY ACCELERATOR DOES NOT STICK". SOMETIMES THERE IS A ONE OR TWO SECOND DELAY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE RESPONDS CAUSING A FAST "LURCH FORWARD" RATHER THAN A GRADUAL INCREASE FORM THE CURRENT SPEED OR SOMETIMES FROM A COMPLETE STOP IT WILL HAPPEN. THE DELAYED ENGINE RESPONSE TO A DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES. SINCERELY, *TR

05/26/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/24/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

THE POWER INVERTER ON MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID FAILED AT ON A HIGH SPEED US HIGHWAY CAUSING MY CAR TO SHUT DOWN AT THAT HIGH SPEED. THE ROAD IN QUESTION DID NOT HAVE A SHOULDER AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. *TR

05/25/2011
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 04/01/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGP21A460******
Summary

VEHICLE HAS ORIGINAL HEADLIGHTS THAT WERE IN IT WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR.THE BULBS ARE BURNING THE LENS OVER THE LIGHTS.I "DO NOT" DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON AS THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO INSINUATE.NO DUMBASS DRIVES WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON ALL THE TIME. TOYOTA CLAIMS BULBS ARE AN EXCLUSION ON THE WARRANTY.THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM.THEY WANT TO CHARGE THE PURCHASER TO REPLACE THE BULBS WHICH SHOW EVIDENCE OF OF DEFECT AS WELL AS THE LENS COVER.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TOYOTA OR THE MANUFACTURER OF THE BULB REPLACE THESE ITEMS AT NO COST TO THE PURCHASER.EVEN IF THEY DON'T REPLACE THE LENS COVER AT LEAST REPLACE THE BULB WITH THE PROPER BULB.CAR HAS ALWAYS JERKED FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED IT.I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION BUT TOYOTA CLAIMS THEY DIDN'T DETECT ANYTHING WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS ISSUE.

05/25/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/24/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE INVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DECIDED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

05/23/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/20/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAD SUDDEN INVERTER FAILURE WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE OUT OF A TOLL PLAZA. AFTER PAYING TOLL, I PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD. AFTER JUST A COUPLE MOMENTS OF ACCELERATION, THERE WAS A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND I LOST ALL DRIVE POWER TO THE WHEELS. THERE WAS A FAINT BURNT RUBBER SMELL. THE DASH BOARD FLASHED MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING "CHECK VSC SYSTEM" AND SOMETHING LIKE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM." I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE TOLL PLAZA. THE GASOLINE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING AND THE CAR HAD ELECTRICAL POWER AND AIRCONDITIONING. IT WOULD NOT, HOWEVER, MOVE IN EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IF I WAS PULLING ON TO A BUSY STREET OR ENTERING AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. *TR

05/19/2011
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 04/20/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGP21A460******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BURNED THROUGH THE LENS AND BOTH THE LENS AND BULBS WERE BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE HIGH BEAMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

05/17/2011
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 03/13/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

I HAVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2006. WHEN I AM BRAKING TO A STOP AT LESS THEN 15MPH I OFTEN FEEL THE CAR "LURCH" FORWARD FOR AN INSTANT AS IF THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING FOR AN INSTANT. I SEARCHED ON THE WEB AND FOUND FORUMS WHERE OTHER OWNERS OF HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES. I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE THE BRAKING SWITCHES FROM REGENERATIVE TO HYDRAULIC AND THERE IS A LITTLE PAUSE OR LOSS OF PERFORMANCE FOR THIS INSTANCE WHICH FORCES YOU TO ADD MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PAD TO MAINTAIN SMOOTH BRAKING. TOYOTA HAS NOT STATED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ON THEIR HYBRIDS BUT MOST OF THE OTHER DRIVERS HAVE HAD MY EXPERIENCE. I WOULD LIKE CONFIRMATION THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE AND A DETERMINATION IF THIS IS A SAFETY OR DESIGN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY NHTSA OR TOYOTA. *TR

05/13/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/08/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 5-8-11 WITH 67K MILES AT APPROX 35 -40 MPH, WE WERE FORCED TO BRAKE TO CONFORM WITH TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. WE ACCELERATED FROM 10 - 15 MPH UPON ACCELERATION WE HEARD A LARGE POP, AS I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS REVVING UP WITH NO FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AS WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WE HAD TWO MESSAGES APPEAR ON THE DASH BOARD "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM " & "CHECK VSC SYSTEM". WE CONSULTED OUR OWNERS MANUAL AND FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE SERVICED BY A TOYOTA DEALER AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. *TR

05/13/2011
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 03/10/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

THE HEADLAMP COVERS ON MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLAND HYBRID SHOW SIGNIFICANT MELTING EXACTLY WHERE THE DAY LIGHTS SHINE THROUGH THE PLASTIC. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE MATERIALS, AS THE LIGHTS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF BY THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE HAS JUST 75000 MILES, & THE LENS COVERS & BULBS ARE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THIS WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM TOYOTA. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE LAMPS AND/OR THE LENS COVERS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED FIRES STARTED BY THE OVERHEATED LENSCOVERS. ANOTHER HAZARD IS THAT AS THE LENSES FURTHER DETERIORATE, THEY WILL ALLOW WATER AND MOISTURE TO SEEP IN, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALTHOUGH THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE ADMITTING THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A MFG DEFECT, AND REPLACE THE LIGHT UNITS. INSTEAD, TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES HAVE REPEATEDLY STATED THAT THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, AND WILL NOT TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. *TR

05/12/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/11/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

MY WIFE AND I ARE OWNERS OF A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND EXPERIENCED THE STALL WITH NO RESTART ISSUE YESTERDAY. I HAD NOTICED FOR 6MTHS - 1 YEAR THAT ON MORE THAN GENTLE ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE MAY PAUSE (LOSE POWER) FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE CONTINUING. DURING THIS PAUSE, A WARNING WOULD BE DISPLAYED ALONG WITH ALARM SOUND REPORTING "WATER TEMP" EVEN THOUGH THE WATER TEMP GAUGE IS STILL HOLDING IN MIDDLE OF RANGE WITHOUT MOVING. I HAD HOPED THAT SUBSEQUENT SERVICING WOULD ADDRESS UNTIL IT WOULD OCCUR AGAIN AT A LATER TIME. IT OCCURRED REGULARLY ENOUGH TO BE A CONCERN, BUT AS THE CAR PROCEEDED A SEC OR TWO LATER THE URGENCY WAS LOST. IN RETROSPECT IF IT WAS KNOWN THAT THIS WAS A SIGN OF POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT FUTURE ENTIRE ENGINE POWER LOSS, MY CONCERN TO HAVE THIS REPORTED AND ADDRESSED WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER. YESTERDAY AFTER DISPLAYING THE SAME MESSAGE AND SOUND, THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, ALONG WITH OTHER WARNINGS MESSAGES. WE HAD BARELY ANY POWER (VERY SLOW WALKING PACE AT BEST) TO MOVE FROM STOP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ENGINE APPEARED TO STILL BE ACTIVE TO SOME DEGREE WHEN PUSHING ACCELERATOR BUT EXTREMELY MINIMAL POWER PROVIDED TO WHEELS. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP. REPORT FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT INVERTER FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $7000+ AND LABOR, ETC. VEHICLE HAS APPROX 108,000 MILES. *TR

05/12/2011
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/27/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A960******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY THE INVERTER/CONVERTER FAILED THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. NOW AGAIN ON 04/28/2011 WITH 88,856 MILES ON THE VEHICLE THE SAME FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WHILE ACCELERATION UP-HILL ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH. MOST OF THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS (INVERTER/CONVERTER & AN ECU) WHERE COVERED BY WARRANTY. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE AND MY WIFE CONTINUING TO DRIVE IT EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN.

05/11/2011
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 05/28/2009
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER ANKLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN FINGER. THE REAR PASSENGER WHO WAS PREGNANT WAS KILLED AND ANOTHER PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR INTERNAL BLEEDING. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE THREE SURVIVING PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ARE AWAITING AN INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

05/03/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/18/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

ENGINE LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED FAILURE IN INVERTER. ESTIMATE OVER $9000. *TR

05/02/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 04/29/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE TEST RESULTS CONCLUDED THAT THE INVERTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11005 ( HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER) FOR AN INVESTIGATION FOR THE FAILURE BUT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

05/02/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 05/02/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

ON MAY 2, 2011 THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY BROKE DOWN.

04/25/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 04/22/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP BEFORE BEING TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW INVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,252.

04/20/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 04/13/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED IT WITH CONVERTERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,311.

04/18/2011
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 04/17/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

THE HEADLIGHT BULB ON 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID IS SO HOT THAT IT HAS DISCOLORED AND SLIGHTLY MELTED THE LENS COVER. THIS PLASTIC GETS SO HOT THAT TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD CAUSE BURNS TO INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT COME IN CONTACT WITH THE LENS AND/OR THE SPUER HEATED LENS PLASTIC COULD BECOME A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

04/14/2011
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 03/21/2011
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

WHEN BRAKING, THE VEHICLE OFTEN "SLIPS" FOR A MOMENT. THERE IS A MOMENT OF ACCELERATION WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO BUMP INTO THE SHELVES IN MY GARAGE. IT HAS ALSO CAUSED ME TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT SOME TRAIN TRACKS AND ROLLED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SUFFERED NO DAMAGE, BUT MY BUMPER WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED FROM THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE OTHER CAR. THE BRAKING IS INCONSISTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE. I AM JUST GLAD NO ONE GOT HURT. *TR

04/12/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 04/12/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

04/12/2011
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 02/02/2011
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A760******
Summary

I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA 2006 HIGHLANDER BECAUSE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TR

04/11/2011
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 01/01/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A960******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKES BEFORE THEY WOULD RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN WHICH THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE ROTORS WERE REPAIRED ONCE BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,623.

04/08/2011
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 08/01/2007
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEHD21A960******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BUMPER OF HER VEHICLE WAS NOT STURDY. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO COLLISIONS WHERE THE BUMPER DID NOT PROTECT AGAINST ANY DAMAGE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE A SAFEGUARD. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 05/05/11*LJ UPDATED 05/13/11

04/07/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 02/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

04/06/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/21/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

THE 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID WAS PARKED ON A STEEP HILL. TURNED ON THE IGNITION, PUT IT INTO REVERSE, AND WENT ABOUT ONE FOOT (UPHILL) WHEN IT MADE A LOUD "CLANK" SOUND AND STOPPED. "CHECK VSC", "CHECK HYBRID", AND "CHECK AWD" WARNING MESSAGES WERE THEN DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I COULD NOT TURN THE ENGINE ON AND DRIVE IT, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING AN INVERTER FAILURE. WITHIN 4 DAYS, THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.

03/31/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/19/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WAS RUNNING NORMALLY WITH 68,791 MILES ON IT. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR ON 1/19/2011 AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, I HEARD A POP, THE DASH LIT UP WITH MANY ERROR MESSAGES, THE CAR RAN ROUGHLY, AND WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL I BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL IS WAS PARKED ON BACKWARDS. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, BUT THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONAL. I PLACED THE CAR INTO PARK AND CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO THE DEALER. TOYOTA INFORMED ME THAT THE INVERTER HAD FAILED, THE AIR BOX WAS CRACKED, POWER STEERING LINK WAS UNDER RECALL, THE INDUCTION SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED, AND THE BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP A FEW WEEKS EARLIER (12/31/2010) FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION, OIL CHANGE, AND 68,000 MILE SERVICE. TOYOTA REPLACED THE INVERTER WITH ANOTHER 2006 INVERTER STATING THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OF THE ORIGINAL INVERTER. THE WORK WAS DONE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CAR HAS BE RUNNING NORMALLY SINCE THE REPAIR. *TR

03/29/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 07/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEHD21A860******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED THE INSPECTOR INFORMED THE CONTACT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED UP AND THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR COST WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

03/24/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/16/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND CVC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A FAULTY INVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

03/23/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/24/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I LOST ALL POWER AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF I HAD TO COST THE VEHICLE ACROSS THREE LANES OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE ALMOST GETTING HIT BY A PASSENGER BUS. ALL POWER WAS GONE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. WAS INFORMED THE POWER INVERTER SYSTEM HAD OVER HEATED AND FRIED. JUST THE PARTS FOR A NEW INVERTER WERE QUOTED AT $9,000. *TR

03/20/2011
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 03/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2WD. I TRIED TO START THE CAR ONE DAY AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS CAME UP ON PANEL. I TOOK A TEST DRIVE AROUND THE BLOCK AND NOTICED I DID NOT HAVE POWER BRAKE ASSIST, ABS OR VSC. THE FAILURE NEVER WENT AWAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE BRAKE ACTUATOR AND SKID CONTROL COMPUTER, TWO PARTS I WOULDN'T EXPECT TO FAIL. *TR

03/10/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 04/01/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE DECELERATED TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE DRIVEN EVERY DAILY IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

03/09/2011
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 03/07/2011
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT HEADLAMP COVERS WERE MELTING ABNORMALLY AND CAUSING THE BULBS TO BLOW. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER BUT WHEN CONTACTED, THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000.

03/09/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/26/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK ESC SYSTEM AND CHECK ALL WHEEL DRIVE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE APPROXIMATELY 172,000.

03/08/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 03/06/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATION ACTION NUMBER: PE11005 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER) AND BELIEVED THE INVERTER WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

03/07/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/04/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND VSC WARNING INDICATORS. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11005 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. UPDATED 03/29/11*LJ THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/22/11

03/07/2011
Components: POWER TRAIN,HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/05/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN SEABROOK TEXAS ON MARCH 5, AFTER ACCELERATING TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE CAR THEN HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION OPEN INTO THIS ISSUE. NHTSA # PE11005. *TR

03/04/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/04/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID CONSUMER STATES THAT TOYOTA SOLD HER A VEHICLE IN UNSAFE CONDITION AND WRITES REGARDING AN ENGINEERING DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HER SON DROPPED A CUP WITH LIQUID INSIDE AND MANAGED TO GET INTO THE HYBRID'S BATTERY THAT WAS LOCATED BENEATH THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND CHECK VSC SYSTEM LIGHTS ILLUMINATED.

03/03/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/18/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

I WAS BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET & THE VEHICLE DIED. IT COULDN'T BE STARTED & THE GEARSHIFT COULD NOT BE MOVED INTO ANY OTHER GEAR, THEREFORE IT REMAINED IN REVERSE. NOTHING ELECTRICAL WOULD WORK EITHER & THE CAR'S INTERIOR IS FULLY ELECTRIC , (WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS, NAV, SEATS, RADIO ECT). THE "CHECK ENGINE" MESSAGE WAS ON. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, AS PER TOW TRUCK DRIVER . THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. FIRST TOWED THE CAR TO GET A NEW BATTERY BUT AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE NEWLY PURCHASED BATTERY, THE CAR STILL WAS INOPERABLE & HAD TO BE TOWED AGAIN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THIS WAS AN ADDITIONAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE "INVERTER" & SOMETHING LISTED ON THE RECEIPT AS "SUPER LONG LIFE C". *TR

03/03/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/25/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENTIRE HYBRID SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE WHERE HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 191,000. UPDATED 03/23/11 *BF UPDATED 1/5/12 *CN

03/03/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 12/02/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A960******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,851. UPDATED 04/05/11*LJ

03/02/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/02/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

THE COMPUTER ON 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WON'T ALLOW ENGINE TO START. 12V BATTERY WILL NOT START AUTO UNTIL A SMALL CHARGE IS CONNECTED TO BATTERY I HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 1 WEEK OLD - WAS TOLD THAT I MUST HAVE LEFT A DOOR OPEN, AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. SECOND TIME TO THE DEALERSHIP - SAME PROBLEM - SAME RESPONSE, AGAIN, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED 1/1/11. STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM - CAR WILL NOT START-GET STRANDED AND CAR WILL NOT START. ON 2/22/11 I TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, ALONG WITH DOCUMENTATION ON SERVICE BULLETIN 01605, NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10015806 - SERVICEMAN SAID THAT THEY (THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT) DO NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION TO ANY OF THE NHTSA BULLETINS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. NO LIGHTS LEFT ON OR ACCESSORIES LEFT ON. HEATER, RADIO, SEATS, ARE TURNED OFF. *TR

02/28/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/08/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

IN JANUARY 2011, WE WERE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING STALL WHEN OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLAND HYBRID SHUT DOWN. WE COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR AT ALL. SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP, SUCH AS "CHECK ENGINE" AND "CHECK VSC SYSTEM." WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER'S REPAIR PLACE. AFTER THREE WEEKS, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT OUR INVERTER HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

02/26/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/27/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

HYBRID INVERTERS ON 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS ARE FAILING, VEHICLE ALL OF THE SUDDEN STOPS AND LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL GO ON. YOU TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND ITS USELESS. INVERTERS ARE FAILING AND THE COST OF THE PART ITSELF IS OVER $7000 PLUS THE COST OF LABOR. INVERTERS ARE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 MILES. MY HIGHLANDER HAS 107,000. I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET IT REPAIRED. I THINK THAT TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN 2006 HIGHLANDERS AND SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE THERE IS A TRAGEDY ON THE ROADS. *TR

02/25/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 02/10/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A260******
Summary

VEHICLE TOYOTA 2006 VIN #[XXX] HIGHLANDER LIMITED PRIOR COMPLAINT SENT TO TOYOTA & DOT 2/4/2010. AFTER A STOP WHEN ACCELERATOR SOMETIMES THERE IS A SECOND OR TWO PAUSE BEFORE THE ENGINE RESPONDS CAUSING A SUDDEN LURCH FORWARD. ADDITIONALLY WHEN DIVING AT IN TOWN SPEEDS AND THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED AND THEN A RESUMPTION OF PRESSURE ON IT THERE IS A SECOND OR TWO PAUSE BEFORE THE ENGINE ENGAGES, ALSO CAUSING A LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE LEARNED TO "EXPECT THE CONDITION" AND MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR IT, HOWEVER IT STILL CAUSES CONCERN AND POSSIBLY A DANGEROUS ACCELERATION. THE ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE ACTIVATION NEED TO BE CORRECTED FOR THIS "PAUSE AND LURCH FORWARD RESPONSE". PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

02/24/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 02/18/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: TEDWZ1A4600******
Summary

I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND WAS ACCELERATING, HEARD A POP AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE CHECK VSC LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SAID THE HYBRID INVERTER FAILED.

02/24/2011
Components: STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 02/19/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED; THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THERE WAS ALSO A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CHECK VSC AND CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INVERTER FAILED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000.

02/24/2011
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/17/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

GETTING ON FREEWAY ON RAMP HEARD "BANG" AND CAR WENT DEAD. NO BRAKES, STEERING OR ANY FUNCTION. MANAGED TO PULL OFF AND CALL TOW TRUCK. TOYOTA SAID THE "INVERTER" BLEW AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTION WAS LOST. THEY REPLACED THE INVERTER AND SAID THEY NEVER SAW THIS BEFORE. CAR HAS BEEN OK SINCE. *TR

02/23/2011
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 02/17/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UP A SLIGHT INCLINE IN THE STREET AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES, IT SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THE MESSAGE ON THE DASH WAS FIRST CHECK CSV (OR VSC) AND THEN CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. THE POLICE HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE INTERSECTION AND THE CAR WAS HAULED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM IN 6 DAYS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *TR

02/22/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/15/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A260******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE JUMPSTARTED . THE FAILURE OCCURRED BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY; THE BATTERY HAD BEEN PLACED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

02/22/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/01/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

2006 HYBRID HIGHLANDER REPORTED AND WENT TO MEDIATION WITH NOTHING DONE. CAR HAS LOTS OF ISSUES, IT JUMPS FORWARD WHEN STOPPING ABOUT 3 FEET ON OCCASION, IT WILL GO DEAD FOR NO REASON, THE GPS FAILS AND PUTS YOU IN PA WHEN IN VA, AND ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL NIGHTMARE, HAD WRITTEN TESTIMONIALS BUT THEY IGNORED IT SAYING ALL TESTS WERE FINE AND IT STARTED WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY ABOUT 3-5 MONTHS OLD. I WENT ON HTN MEDS BECAUSE OF THIS AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR AND HAD TO BUY ANOTHER FOR MY KIDS TO DRIVE AS IT IS NOT SAFE. THERE ARE WEBSITE WITH LOTS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES BEING TOLD ALL ALONG THAT NOONE ELSE REPORTED IT BUT THEY ALL DID...PLEASE HELP!! *TR

02/11/2011
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/11/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A960******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: MASTER CYLINDER). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WAS ON A MASSIVE BACKORDER IN WHICH A TIME FRAME COULD NOT BE PROVIDED FOR THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PART. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE.

02/07/2011
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 12/10/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

VISIBILITY - THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR APPEARS TO HAVE A "LOOSE SPRING". IT WON'T FULLY STAY IN THE UP POSITION AND WHEN PLACED DOWN, IT ALSO DROOPS. BOTH SITUATIONS IMPACT THE DRIVER'S VISION. *LN

01/27/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/25/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VSC LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE INVERTER HAD FAILED AND STATED THE TRANSAXLE AND THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THEY WERE AWARE OF A POSSIBLE INVERTER PROBLEM WITH THOSE MODELS AND WOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THE REPAIRS COULD BE MADE FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

01/24/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 01/08/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART SO IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INVERTER INSIDE THE ENGINE WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED TO PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

01/12/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 12/16/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

01/06/2011
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 01/06/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

LENS IS MELTING IN FRONT OF DAY TIME RUNNING LITE BULBS ON BOTH LEFT & RIGHT SIDES OF MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID.CONCERNED THIS COULD CAUSE FIRE AS THIS IS ALSO THE HIGH BEAM LITE. IF LEFT ON ACCIDENTLY THESE COULD BECOME VERY HOT AS THE HALOGEN BULBS WILL ACTUALLY MELT GLASS. *TR

12/21/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 11/25/2010
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

I WAS PARKING ON A STEEP HILL AND AS I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET AND HIT THE SIDE OF A FENCE POST AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY FRONT BUMPER. SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2007 I HAVE NOTICED THAT OFTEN TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND THEN TRYING TO BRAKE ON STEEP HILLS THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. THIS LURCHING OFTEN CAUSES ME TO END UP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION OR VERY CLOSE TO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, THUS MAKING IT A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING KIDS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MY TOYOTA SERVICE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY DENY THAT THERE IS ANY ISSUE.

12/20/2010
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 12/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE MELTING DIRECTLY OVER THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) HALOGEN BULBS ON BOTH SIDES. THE LIGHTS ARE THE SAME AS THE 'BRIGHTS' BUT SHOULD BE AT 50% POWER WHEN USED AS DRL'S. DEALER INFORMS ME THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THIS COMPLAINT AND CANNOT FIND ANY OTHER INSTANCES ON-LINE OR IN THEIR DATABASE, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT I FOUND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF SEARCHING. AT THIS POINT, IT IS ONLY COVERED UNDER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT AS THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DEFECT IN EITHER THE PLASTIC LENS COVERING OR IN THE BULB ITSELF (RUNNING TOO HOT) OR IN THE DRL RELAY THAT SHOULD BE AT 1/2 POWER, I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THIS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

12/16/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 12/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM. *JB

12/10/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 11/27/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID POWER INVERTER FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF ALL POWER, INCLUDING BRAKES, AND STEERING. $9500 REPLACEMENT COST WAS NEGOTIATED DOWN TO $4700 WITH DEALER AND TOYOTA. A NUMBER OF 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE, WITH NO ABILITY TO USE THE BATTERY TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF DANGER. *TR

12/07/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 11/29/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A260******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE BEGAN VEHICLE LOOSING POWER. THE HYBRID WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILURE IN THE BATTERY CELL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE BATTERY A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ENGINEER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE TOWING COMPANY CAUSED MORE DAMAGED TO THE VEHICLE BATTERY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,500.

12/07/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 12/05/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A460******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING ON MAJOR EXPRESSWAY I LOST ALL POWER AND WAS (THANK GOODNESS) ABLE TO SAFELY COAST TO SHOULDER. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP TOGETHER WITH THE ALTERNATING MESSAGES: "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE" AND "VSC FAILURE." THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. I WAS FORTUNATE IT WAS A SUNDAY MORNING AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY REACH THE SHOULDER. THE EXPRESSWAY I DRIVE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY (I-595 IN BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA) IS VERY HEAVILY TRAVELED AND, DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, HAS MANY SECTIONS WITHOUT A SHOULDER. MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAD TO BE TOWED. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER, A $7,000 PART, HAD FAILED. *TR

12/03/2010
Components: CHILD SEAT
Incident Date: 10/27/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I AM WRITING TO REPORT A DEFECT IN THE BRITAX DECATHLON CAR SEAT LOWER LATCH SYSTEM. THE BELT ON MY SYSTEM IS TWISTED AND WILL NOT PERFORM PROPERLY IN A CRASH. I HAVE NOTIFIED BRITAX AND THEY SENT ME A REPLACEMENT BELT BUT WITHOUT ANY INSTRUCTIONS AND HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE OTHER CAR SEATS ON THE ROAD AND THE CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PA TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION PROJECT (TIPP) AT THE PA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS INSPECTED THE CAR SEAT ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 26, 2010 AND FOUND THAT ?THE LOWER ANCHOR ATTACHMENT IS BACKWARDS ON ONE SIDE AND CANNOT BE USED CORRECTLY TO INSTALL CHILD SEAT USING LOWER ANCHORS.? HER NAME IS [XXX] AND SHE CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX]. SHE SAID THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THE SEATS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE IDENTIFIERS FOR THE CAR SEAT ARE: DATE OF MFG: 04-05-2007 MAKE DECATHLON MODEL E9L 4769 SERIAL NUMBER E9L4769017324 BATCH NUMBER J00088948 PURCHASED FROM BABYUNIVERSE.COM IN MAY 2007 MY CONTACT AT BRITAX IS [XXX] CONSUMER SERVICE MANAGERBRITAX [XXX] 13501 SOUTH RIDGE DRIVE CHARLOTTE NC 28273 US-CUSTOMERSERVICE@BRITAX.COM (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2006, MAKE=TOYOTA, MODEL=HIGHLANDER). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

12/01/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 11/19/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

I PULLED OUT FROM A PRIVATE PARKING LOT ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY. AS I ACCELERATED, THE CAR MAKE A NOISE AND EVERYTHING STOPPED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS.-NOTHING. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE RIGHT AND TURN IMMEDIATELY WHERE IT INTO A GAS STATION THAT ALLOWED THE CAR TO COAST DOWNHILL TO WHERE IT STOPPED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ON THE 2ND DAY, WE WERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION AND THE INVERTER CONVERTER-HYBRID SYSTEM BOTH WENT OUT. ALTHOUGH THEY TOLD US THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN - ONE OR THE OTHER CAN GO OUT BUT NOT BOTH. IT WOULD COST 14,000 DOLLARS TO FIX. NOW THEY TELL US WE CAN SELL OUR NICE 2006 CAR FOR SCRAP AT AUCTION.

11/23/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 11/22/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED AND COASTED UNTIL IT STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN INVERTER FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ UPDATED 11/30/2011 *LN

11/17/2010
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 09/07/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES DESIGN FLAW IN VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE TURN, HE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR WITH FORCE WHEN SUDDENLY A POP AND A SHUDDER CAME FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO COAST. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. ATTEMPTS TO GET THE VEHICLE GOING AGAIN WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND ULTIMATELY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A DAY LATER, THE DEALER STATED THE HYBRID INVERTER HAD BLOWN AND THAT NO REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE IN THE REGION. THE REPAIRS WERE EVENTUALLY MADE UNDER WARRANTY A WEEK LATER. *JB

11/16/2010
Components: SEATS
Incident Date: 07/10/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

IN JULY OF 2009 I NOTICED A TEAR ON BOTH FRONT LEATHER SEATS, IN ALMOST THE SAME SPOT, ON THE SIDE OF EACH SEAT. WE TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF OUR CAR AND WE ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE OR REPAIR THE SEATS. EVEN THOUGH IT IS VERY CLEAR THIS IS A DEFECT. BOTH FRONT SEATS WITH TEARS IN THE SAME LOCATION? WE PAID EXTRA FOR THE "LIMITED' EDITION WHICH INCLUDES 'HIGH QUALITY LEATHER SEATS'. WE HAVE ANOTHER CAR WITH 500,000 THOUSAND MILES ON IT (NOT A TOYOTA) AND THE SEATS SHOW NO SIGNS OF TEARING. WE HAD A TOYOTA SALESMAN CALL US AND WANTED TO KNOW IF WE WANTED TO TRADE IN OUR 2006 HIGHLANDER FOR A NEW ONE AND THE ANSWER IS NO. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY HAD MELTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HEADLIGHT DUE TO THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. TOYOTA PAID FOR THE LABOR BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. WITH TOYOTA GOING THROUGH SO MUCH BAD PRESS, ONE WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BEND OVER BACKWARDS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, DO THE RIGHT THING, SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO BUY TOYOTA AGAIN. ARE THERE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND IF SO, WHY WON'T TOYOTA HELP OUT? WE WILL NOW HAVE TO PAY A CAR INTERIOR SHOP TO REPAIR THE TEARS ON BOTH SEATS, NOT HAPPY WITH THAT. IT IS A SHAME BECAUSE ALL IN ALL WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH OUR HIGHLANDER HYBRID. *TR

11/15/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 12/18/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEHD21A660******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO HYDRAULIC PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL TRAVELED TOO FAR INTO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS EITHER AIR IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM OR A DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BRAKES WERE BLED TWICE BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

10/25/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 10/22/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, ALL OF THE SERVICE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART SO IT WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 113,000.

10/22/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 10/14/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST DID NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR; HOWEVER, THE COOLING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. ON OCTOBER 14, 2010, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE INVERTER COOLING SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 1010191147 AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD CALL HER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

10/21/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 10/14/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

I WENT THROUGH A TOLL BOOTH, CAR BEGAN TO LURCH, LIGHTS ALL WENT UP, AND THE CAR STALLED, HIGHLY DANGEROUS, BUT MANAGED TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD, APPARENTLY THE INVERTER IN MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, 102,000 MILES ON IT, WAS DEFECTIVE, IT WAS REPLACED FREE, BUT HAD TO PAY LABOR AND FOR RENTAL.. BUT I REALLY COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED SEVERELY. *TR

10/21/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 05/09/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A560******
Summary

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID THAT I PURCHASED ON APRIL 2010 WITH A LITTLE OVER 40K MILES. I NOTICED AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS\TRAIN TRACKS A SLIP IN THE BRAKING OF THE SUV FOR 1 OR 2 SECOND OR LESS. THIS ISSUE IS VERY EASY TO REPRODUCE..JUST DRIVE IT OVER A BUMPY ROAD OR TRAIN TRACKS AND THIS BRAKING ISSUE WILL OCCUR. I'VE READ ONLINE THIS ISSUE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES AND HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEMS AND THE TRANSFER BETWEEN THE TWO AT LOW SPEEDS. IF THIS IS THE CASE I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE. IF I NEED TO STOP REALLY FAST ON A BUMPY ROAD AND I HAVE A 1 OR 2 SECOND DELAY IN STOPPING I COULD END UP IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

10/20/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 01/01/1901
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

S10 DIRECT REPLY - COURTESY COPY SENT TO THE SECRETARY SENT FROM RE THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH HIS 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HE HIT A BUMP OR JUST TO SLOW DOWN, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE BRAKES WERE NO LONGER WORKING. IN ADDITION, HE EXPERIENCED AN EXTRAORDINARY NOISE FROM THE FRONT BRAKES WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS A TYPICAL SOUND FROM THE BRAKES FOR HIS MODEL/YEAR VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 11/12/10.*JB

10/19/2010
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 09/30/2010
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HV. SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A ROUND CIRCLE AROUND THE LENS AREA ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE LENS ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE MELTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,876.

10/13/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/12/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 HYBRID HIGHLANDER. WELL MAINTAINED. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. LIGHTS FLASHED THE CAR STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AREAS. TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED AT 96,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 105,000. I WAS OFFERED A LOW TRADE IN PRICE FOR AN NEW RAV 4. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I SUGGESTED THE PROBLEM WAS ABOVE THEIR FEEBLE MINDS. ILL TRAINED BRAINS CAN NOT COMPREHEND COMPLEX ISSUES. IT IS REAL EASY, PUT IN AN NEW INVERTER. NEW MONTH I WILL HAVE A LARGER SETTLEMENT CHECK FOR A BUSINESS VENTURE. LAST TOYOTA PRODUCT I BUY. I HAVE OWNED 8 VEHICLES FROM THIS DEALERSHIP. LOOKS LIKE I AM GOING BACK TO AMERICAN IT WAS VERY SCARY ON TOP OF THE INTERSTATE 12 DURING RUSH HOUR WITH A HARD RAIN FAILING.. *TR

10/12/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 09/30/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A460******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID (NA). WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE POWER INVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,128.

10/05/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 10/04/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A360******
Summary

ON MONDAY OCT.4 I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHEN I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. I LET OF THE ACCELERATOR AND STARTED TO STOP. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP ON ITS OWN AND CONTINUED TO REV UP HIGHER AND HIGHER. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT CONTINUED TO RACE TO OVER 6000 RPM BEFORE IT FINALLY KICKED OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. IT HAS 50,000 MILES . THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN TOYOTAS ACCELERATOR RECALL AND I NEVER GAVE IT ANY THOUGHT ON MINE. I ALWAYS ASSUMED MINE WAS O.K. BUT THIS EXPERIENCE HAS REALLY SHOOK ME UP. NOW I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN CASE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

09/30/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 09/16/2010
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID (N/A). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ROUTINELY MAINTENANCED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 37,000. UPDATED 02/17/11*LJ UPDATED 05/02/11

09/20/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 11/10/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE PUTS THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT SEVERAL MOMENTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD FINALLY RESPOND AND MOVE IN REVERSE. ON OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WHEN IN REVERSE WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT HE WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

09/16/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 08/16/2010
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A260******
Summary

MY WIFE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR APARTMENT BUILDING, IDLING WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GATE. BEFORE THE CAR CRASHED, SHE REPEATEDLY APPLIED THE BRAKE AND EVEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE CAR DID NOT STOP. AFTER THE IMPACT, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND ACCELERATE BEFORE FINALLY STOPPING. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. THE BODY HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT PER TOYOTA, NOTHING MECHANICAL OR ELECTRONIC HAS BEEN TOUCHED. LAST WEEK TOYOTA SENT A SPECIALIST OUT TO INSPECT THE CAR AND DOWNLOAD DATA. WE WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME, AND 5 DTC CODES DISPLAYED. THE DESCRIPTIONS DISPLAYED ON THE INVESTIGATOR'S LAP TOP MENTIONED VEHICLE SPEED SENSORS ON RIGHT WHEEL AND LEFT WHEEL, THE EMPS, BODY ECU SWITCH CIRCUIT AND "LOW OR HIGH POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE". THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN, AND NO ERRORS OR CODES WERE REPORTED. THE CAR IS NOW WAITING TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REVIEWED AND FIXED. *TR

09/14/2010
Components: SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 09/08/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

HAVE A TOYOTA 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND WAS DRIVING THE CAR LESS THAN A WEEK AGO AND WAS ON THE PARKWAY DOING 65 IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND CAR STARTED TO DECELERATE, LOST THE POWER STEERING, COULD NOT BRAKE NOR WAS I ABLE TO PUSH THE PEDAL FOR THE GAS. ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND CAR STOPPED. PUT IT IN DRIVE AND WENT TO RESTART CAR, WOULD NOT TURN ON THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK VSH, BRAKE LIGHT ETC..... BROUGHT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THURSDAY, STILL NO WORD. STATES IT MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM PART IS APPROXIMATE. 1500 TO START. THEYCANNOT EVEN EVALUATE THE CAR TILL THEY PLACE THIS PART IN. SOUNDS COSTLY TO ME . WENT ON ANOTHER WEBSITE, APPEARS THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHEN THEY ARE OVER 100,000 MILES. OCTOBER 4 EMAIL:"FINALLY GOT MY CAR BACK AFTER 3 WEEKS. THEY PUT IN A NEW CONTROL PANEL AND INVERTER, I PAID $1400 FOR THE CONTROL PANEL AND WAS COMPENSATED FOR THE $8800 INVERTER. PLUS THEY FIXED A STEERING WHEEL RECALL AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE SHOT (MY FAULT). [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

09/03/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/28/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. SHE DROVE ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND CALLED A TOW COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER HOME, THEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE INVERTER FOR THE HYBRID FAILED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER 10 DAYS BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 122,231.

09/02/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/24/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL WARNING LIGHTS HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115000.

08/26/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/25/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A REPLACEMENT OF THE HYBRID INVERTER ASSEMBLY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

08/17/2010
Components: SEATS
Incident Date: 02/17/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21AX60******
Summary

IN FEBRUARY 2010, I NOTICED MY DRIVER LEATHER SEAT WAS TORN ON ITS SIDE, I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS DEFECT, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2006. THIS IS A FULLY UPGRADE LIMITED VEHICLE. ALL I DO IS SLIP IN AND OUT OF THE SEAT AND I TAKE EXTREMELY EXCELLENT CARE OF MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THE LEATHER MATERIAL USED IN THE VEHICLE IS OF POOR QUALITY. ON 4/28/10 TOYOTA EVENTUALLY RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINT, STATING THE WARRANTY FOR THE SEAT IS 3-YEARS OR 36,000 MILES: THEIR FILE # 1003280070; INCIDENT 100426-000166. THEY SUGGESTED I CONTACT A DEALER, WHICH I DID:ON 7/27/10 I HAD A TOYOTA DEALER LOOK AT THE SEAT AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRE. I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT SATISFIED WITH TOYOTA'S RESPONSE; THEIR ESTIMATE FOR ME TO REPLACE THE SEAT CUSHION COVER IS $1123.36 INCL TAXES. I BELIEVE SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE SHOULD BE OUTFITTED WITH A HIGHER GRADE LEATHER SEAT COVER. I HAVE HAD CHEAPER VEHICLES WITH LEATHER SEATS WHICH LASTED MANY MORE YEARS THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA HAS DONE AN INJUSTICE WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THIS POOR QUALITY LEATHER AND I FEEL CHEATED BY SUCH ACTION. THERE MUST BE OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE WITH THE SEAT. THE SEAT WAS NOT DELIBERATELY TORN OR CUT AND WE ARE QUITE PETITE PEOPLE. WHEN I VIEW THE LEATHER IN MY OTHER CAR THE CORNERS WHERE THE DRIVER SLIDES IN SEEMS TO BE STRONGER AND POSSIBLY RE-ENFORCED TO FACILITATE THE DRIVER'S INITIAL WEIGHT. TOYOTA HAS NOT DONE A GOOD JOB TO ENSURE THE LASTING WEAR AND TEAR OF THE SEAT. IS THIS DELIBERATE? HOW DID THEY COME UP WITH A 3YEAR, 36000 WARRANTY? WHAT TESTING DID THEY PERFORM TO DECIDE THE SEAT WILL ONLY LAST UP TO THAT PERIOD, THEREFORE THEY WERE SURE TO MAKE A LOT OF MONIES ON REPLACEMENT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED? THIS IS UNFAIR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE TO GET TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE SEAT. THANK YOU. *TR

08/12/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 08/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKING PROBLEMS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE BRAKES WOULD MOMENTARILY FAIL WHILE BRAKING AT 35 TO 40 MPH. *TR

08/09/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 04/28/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE INVERTER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INVERTER. THE VIN INFORMATION WASN'T AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75, 000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

08/05/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 07/27/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

I HAVE AN 06 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WITH 64,900 MILES ON IT, WE WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 5 SOUTH ON CENTRAL CA, SUDDENLY VSC AND CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DEAD, TRIED TO START IT A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TOO A NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND THE PROBLEM WAS THE HYBRID INVERTER. 2 DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT THE CAR'S BATTERY WAS TOTALLY DRAINED, NOT A SINGLE LIGHT WILL TURN ON. I JUMP STARTED THE CAR TO MAKE RUN. THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED US $8200 W/O INSTALLATION TO REPLACED IT IF IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. THIS CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME AGAIN W/O WARNING AND COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS , AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE ON DRIVING THIS CAR AGAIN. *TR

08/05/2010
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 07/15/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN, OFTEN WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP, IMPAIRING VISION. THIS STARTED HAPPING AROUND 45,000 MILES AND NOW THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. *TR

08/04/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 07/23/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. IT TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS TOLD A WIRE SHORTED AND BLEW OUT THE HYBRID SYSTEM. SHE WAS TOLD THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN THE INVERTER. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ALSO INFORMED HER THIS FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURED DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 131,600. SM.

08/03/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 07/29/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 104,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ

08/01/2010
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 06/30/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A960******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER....SUN VISOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT STAY IN A LOCKED POSITION. IT FALLS DOWN AND HANGS BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VISION. *TR

07/19/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 07/18/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE A SERVICE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO CHECK THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS REPLACING THE INVERTER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,681. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

07/09/2010
Components: TIRES
Incident Date: 07/03/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WITH GOODYEAR, INTEGRITY, SIZE 225-65-R17. THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN 2009. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 15,000 MILES. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WEAR WAS ABNORMAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,778.

07/09/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 07/07/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID . WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING . SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,648.

07/08/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 07/07/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID ON A TURNPIKE. AS SHE DROVE ON EXIT RAMP THE CAR LOST POWER AND WARNING LIGHTS SIGNALED A PROBLEM WITH HYBRID SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER. WE WERE TOLD PART WOULD COST $8,200 AND $800 FOR LABOR. REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY SINCE CAR HAS 130,000 MILES. PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. *TR

07/08/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 07/02/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A560******
Summary

FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 DAYS (JUNE 23-25) WAS EXPERIENCING HONK WHEN PUSHING BRAKE PEDAL, ALMOST CONSTANT TICK OF THE ABS ACTUATOR AND STUTTERING AT STOPS IN 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (54,540 MILES). TOOK TO OWN MECHANIC WITH DIAGNOSTIC OF FAULTY ABS ACTUATOR. HOPING PART WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY MADE APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA DEALER FOR SERVICE. BEFORE MADE IT TO APPOINTMENT WAS DRIVING FORWARD WHEN ALL DASH LIGHTS AND ALARMS FOR ABS & TRACTION CONTROL WENT OFF. UPON PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WAS VERY SOFT REQUIRING MULTIPLE PUMPS BEFORE VEHICLE SLOWED. CALLED FOR TOW TO DEALERSHIP. THEY CONFIRMED ABS ACTUATOR NEEDED REPLACED AND VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PART REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. MY RESEARCH HAS REVEALED OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES, LAND CRUISER, OF SIMILAR YEAR HAVE SAME PROBLEM. SERVICE DIRECTOR OF TOYOTA AND OWN MECHANIC SAID PART GENERALLY EXPECTED TO LAST LIFE OF VEHICLE IF NOT WELL BEYOND THE 4 YEAR LIFE OF MY VEHICLE. *TR

07/07/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/07/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

THE INVERTER ( A VERY EXPENSIVE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT) ON MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID FAILED RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. IT TOOK A WEEK TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT APPLIES TO HYBRID COMPONENTS. I HAVE ASKED, BUT TOYOTA CAN/WILL NOT TELL ME HOW OFTEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAS OCCURRED; THE INTERNET HAS STORIES FROM OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON THE HIGHWAY IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. WITH TOYOTA'S REPUTATION, I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THEY DON'T WANT DISCUSSED. *TR

06/30/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 06/27/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE 85 NB, MY TOYOTA CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKING, AND ALL ENGINE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE DESPITE THE FAILURE AND COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY FROM AN INITIAL SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT MY "POWER INVERTER" HAD FAILED AND WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND INSTANCE THAT DAY OF A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAVING A FAILURE OF THE POWER INVERTER. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH VIA MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS SUCH AS EDMUNDS I DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED TO SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE PAST YEAR RESULTING IN SIMILAR CONSEQUENCES (LOSS OF CONTROL, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKING, ETC.). MY POWER INVERTER WAS COVERED UNDER THE TOYOTA WARRANTY AND IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. NONETHELESS, GIVEN THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ALL POWER BRAKING, STEERING, AND ENGINE USE WHILE AT SPEED ON AN INTERSTATE AND MULTIPLE TOYOTA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SITUATION I BELIEVE THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE FURTHER. *TR

06/28/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 06/23/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND CHECK VSF WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND GENERAL POWER INVENTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 144,000.

06/23/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/04/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

RE: 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2WD SUV 29,500 MILES. UPON ENTERING A HIGHWAY I EXPERIENCED TOTAL FAILURE OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM IN MY SUV, WHICH SLOWLY DRIFTED TO A HALT, NEARLY CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE INVERTER PORTION OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT I WAS TOLD THAT HAD IT NOT BEEN COVERED IT WOULD HAVE COST ME BETWEEN $9,000 AND $10,000! OR ABOUT 1/4 THE COST OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE NEW! *TR

06/22/2010
Components: STEERING,FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
Incident Date: 06/14/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

I EXPERIENCED TOTAL POWER LOSS TO THE ENGINE AND STEERING OF MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. TOYOTA WANTS $7000 TO REPLACE THE HYBRID POWER INVERTER. TOYOTA REFUSES TO DISCLOSE FREQUENCY OF THIS FAILURE. IDENTICAL FAILURES CAN BE FOUND IN ONLINE FORUMS, ALL WITH THE 2006 HIGHLANDER OR WITH THE 2006 LEXUS RX 400H. POTENTIALLY DEADLY FAILURE FOLLOWED BY A PRICE GOUGING REPAIR COSTS. *TR

06/21/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 06/14/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THE HYBRID CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT HIS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD EXPERIENCED SOME DIFFICULTY IN TRYING TO GET THE DEALER TO MAKE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 129,000.

06/21/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 02/28/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

(2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID) PULLING ONTO 4 LANE (2 LANES DIVIDED BY CONCRETE BARRIER) HIGHWAY MERGING INTO 55+ MPH TRAFFIC. ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 30-35 MPH AND HEARD A "CLUNK". CAR STARTED TO COAST WITHOUT ANY ACCELERATION (GASOLINE ENGINE STILL RUNNING). UNFORTUNATELY THIS WAS AT A COMPLICATED INTERSECTION WHERE SEVERAL ROADS INTERSECT WITHOUT ROOM FOR A SHOULDER. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT MOST LANE, WHERE ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM INTERSECTING ROAD USED. I WAS LEFT STRANDED WITHOUT ANY CONTROL OVER FORWARD MOVEMENT. THE REPAIR COST IS IN EXCESS OF $18,000. APPARENT NEED FOR A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM (INVERTER AND DRIVE SYSTEM). THE "BLUE BOOK" VALUE MIGHT BE IN THE $15-16,000 RANGE. *TR

06/18/2010
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 06/18/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

FUNNY HOW TOYOTA SAYS "TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS ......" BUT YET I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY KIND OF CORRESPONDENCE. THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE LABELS RECALL. *TR

06/10/2010
Components: SUSPENSION,TIRES
Incident Date: 07/11/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HV. CONSUMER WRITES TO INFORM OF COMPLAINT REGARDING JUST TIRES AND THE WORK CARRIED OUT ON HER VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES FROM JUST TIRES AT A COST OF $612.12. NINE MONTHS LATER, AFTER EXPERIENCING THE TIRES SLIDING IN THE RAIN, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY BALD AND TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON. THE CONSUMER THEN RETURNED TO JUST TIRES AND SHE WAS TOLD THE CAUSE FOR THE WEAR WAS DUE TO THE WHEELS NOT BEING ALIGNED. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL PAPERWORK, IT STATED CHECK VEHICLE FOR ALIGNMENT WHICH WAS TO BE A FREE SERVICE INCLUDED IN THE TIRE PURCHASE AND NO ONE MENTIONED TO HER THERE WAS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. *JB THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING A REFUND, HOWEVER GOODYEAR OFFERED HER $292 WHICH WAS LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT SHE SPENT. UPDATED 06/21/10.*JB

06/07/2010
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 02/27/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGP21A560******
Summary

I HAVE VIBRATION IN FRONT TWO WHEELS ON MY TOYOTA 2006 HIGHLANDER. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES, RIMS, AND TWO ALIGNMENTS, STILL THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE AND AFTER. THE LEFT REAR TIRE PUT TO THE LEFT WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE PROBLEM ALWAYS THERE. THE VEHICLE DOES GO IN A STRAIGHT LINE, SO THE ALIGNMENT IS NOT A QUESTION. I CAN FEEL THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TECH ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE WITH ME FELT THE SAME VIBRATION. THE VIBRATION STARTS AROUND 55 MPH AND INCREASES AS THE VEHICLE GOES FAST. WHEN SLOWING DOWN, THE SUV WILL WOBBLE. THE DEALERSHIP TECH PHYSICALLY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. THE AGENCY WROTE THE TICKET AS NO PROBLEMS FOUND. WHAT SHALL I DO? *TR

05/23/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 08/12/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID LURCHES FORWARD WHEN YOU FIRST APPLY THE BRAKES AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH OR LESS, GIVING THE SENSATION OF LOSING BRAKING POWER. THE BRAKES ALSO SQUEAK WHEN PEDAL APPLIED AND HAVE SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. NOW HAS 65,000 MILES. PRIUS ASIDE, THE PROBLEM CAN BE DANGEROUS AND DEALER SAYS SIMPLY KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND NO ONE ELSE COMPLAINS. JUST LOOK AT YOUR COMPLAINTS AS WELL AS HUNDREDS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. LET'S TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE THERE IS A DEATH WHICH GETS SOMEONE'S ATTENTION AT YOUR OFFICE. THANK YOU. BELOW DATE IS IRRELEVANT. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND HAS FOR YEARS. *TR

05/22/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 01/08/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. PROBLEM EXISTS WHEN BRAKING. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY WHEN BRAKING AT SPEED. SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN YOU ARE GOING OVER BUMPY SURFACES. *TR

05/22/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 05/22/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. ON BUMPY ROAD SURFACE IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES GIVE WAY FOR A SECOND BEFORE REENGAGING. AT THE DEALERSHIP I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, BUT TOYOTA DID RECALL NEWER PRIUS FOR THE VERY SAME REASON. THE BRAKES DO REENGAGE, BUT THE DELAY IS ALARMING LONG AND VERY DISCONCERTING. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS THAT I'VE OWNED THE CAR AND I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERY TIME I GO IN FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE, BUT WITH NO SATISFACTORY RESPONSE. *TR

05/21/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 05/19/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

WHEN BRAKING OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THE BRAKES SEEM TO CATCH THEN RELEASE, CATCH AND RELEASE. THIS IS ON DRY PAVEMENT. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE SAYS THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION AND IS BECAUSE THE BATTERY RECHARGING MECHANISM IS TAKING OVER. THIS MAY BE TRUE BUT I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES AND IT REACTS IN THE WAY IT DOES YOU TEND TO WANT TO EASY UP ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE CAR LURCHES A BIT BUT THAT IS THE WRONG THING TO DO! *TR

05/21/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 05/20/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

WE HAVE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM IN OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN WE ARE TRAVELING BELOW 40 MPH AND HIT A BUMP, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES STOP WORKING FOR 1 - 2 SECONDS. IT IS VERY DISCONCERTING, BUT SO FAR HAS NOT CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE, SO THE DEALERSHIP HAS TAKEN NO ACTION ON IT. *TR

05/10/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 04/16/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HV. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE INVERTER WITHIN THE HYBRID SYSTEM HAD FAILED. THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER THE CONTACT'S FACTORY WARRANTY. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,000.

05/06/2010
Components: TIRES
Incident Date: 07/11/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

JUST EIGHT MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING FOUR NEW TIRES FROM JUST TIRES, I FELT THE CAR SLIDING IN THE RAIN AND DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY BALD AND TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON. I LIVE IN LOS ANGELES, I DO NOT DRIVE ON ROAD-WEARING TERRAIN BUT RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND FREEWAYS, SO THERE IS NO OBVIOUS REASON AS TO WHY THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT JUST EIGHT MONTHS LATER. I THEN CONTACTED JUST TIRES DIRECTLY WITH MY COMPLAINT AND BROUGHT THEM THE WORN TIRES. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO THE WHEELS NOT BEING ALIGNED. HOWEVER, ON EXAMINING THE ORIGINAL WORK ORDER FROM JUST TIRES, IT SHOWS THAT THE CAR WAS 'CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT'. IF THE WORK WASN'T CARRIED OUT, I SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR JUST TIRES SHODDY WORKMANSHIP AND IF THE WORK WAS CARRIED OUT THEN THE FAULT WAS WITH THE ORIGINAL TIRES AND, AGAIN, I SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. TO SOLVE THE ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE A FULL REFUND FOR THE TIRES INCLUDING ALL 'EXTRAS' NAMELY $986 (THE COST OF REPLACING THE TIRES AND LABOR). I ORIGINALLY PAID JUST TIRES $612.12 AND THEY HAVE NOW OFFERED ME PALTRY SUM OF $292. *TR

04/29/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/10/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

WHEN I AM BRAKING MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID '06, THERE IS A 2-5 SECOND SURGE BEFORE THE BRAKES KICK IN. *TR

04/28/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 03/11/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER OCCASIONALLY FAILS TO ACCELERATE WHILE TURNING. THE MOST PREDICTABLE TIME THIS OCCURS IS WHEN SLOWING TO ALMOST A STOP INTO A LEFT TURN AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE INTO THE TURN. DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR ONLY CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE SLIGHTLY. I NORMALLY HAVE TO ACCELERATE HARD OR REACCELERATE TO GET THE CAR MOVING. THERE IS ABOUT A 2-3 SECOND DELAY BETWEEN THE TIME YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND WHEN THE CAR RESPONDS IN THE MANNER YOU EXPECT. *TR

04/20/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 04/15/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

I HAVE AN 06 HIGHLANDER HYBRID, A HAVE PROBLEM WITH ITS BRAKES IT LOSSES IT GRIP FOR 1 SECOND OR LESS ON LIGHT BRAKING AND SOMETIMES IT SURGES BEFORE THE BRAKES HOLD. THIS HAPPENED USUALLY IN THE MORNING AT COLD STARTS OCCURRING 3-4 TIMES A WEEK. I COMPLAINED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE TRANSITION FROM REGENERATIVE TO TRADITIONAL BRAKING. I JUST FELT NOT SAFE BECAUSE IT MIGHT LEAD TO ACCIDENT. *TR

04/15/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 03/04/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A860******
Summary

EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WE HAVE RANDOMLY EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. AFTER SLOWING DOWN, WE SLOWLY ACCELERATED AND WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN THRUST BUT COULD SLOW IT DOWN BY LESSENING THE PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL OR BY BRAKING. THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT RANDOM 2 OR 3 TIMES PER YEAR. WE BOTH THOUGHT IT WAS OUR FAULT UNTIL WE READ ABOUT THE TOYOTA ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. NOW, WE DON'T BELIEVE IT IS OUR FAULT AND IS A BUILT-IN PROBLEM. WE RECENTLY HAVE TALKED TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY REFERRED US TO THE TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS FOR FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. WE WERE TOLD THIS CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. SINCE OUR PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM AS BAD AS OTHER YEAR'S CAR, IT MAY BE THAT THIS IS THE YEAR THE PROBLEM DEVELOPED IN TOYOTA AND GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORST AS ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO THE CAR'S PROGRAMMING OR ENGINE. THE LAST INCIDENT INVOLVING THIS ACCELERATION WAS IN LATE FEBRUARY OR EARLY MARCH, 2010. WE HOPE THIS INFORMATION MAY BE OF SOME HELP TO YOU AND US IN SOLVING OUR PROBLEM. *TR

04/12/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 04/12/2010
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A760******
Summary

WIFE WAS BACKING UP A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED INTO THE GARAGE WHICH SHE HAS BEEN DOING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND SHE COULD NOT STOP IT. IT WENT THROUGH THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE DESTROYING THE GARAGE WALL AND THE VEHICLE. *TR

04/12/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 04/09/2010
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21AX60******
Summary

I WAS PARKING MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I BRAKED AS HARD AS I COULD AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD UNTIL I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. I MOVED A PARKED CAR COMPLETELY OUT OF THEIR PARKING SPACE AND I WENT OVER HALF WAY THRU THE SAME SPACE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP MY CAR. MY BRAKES WERE SMOKING AND I LEFT TIRE MARKS ON THE ASPHALT. THIS ALL BEGAN WHEN I WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED IN THE PARKING SPACE. *TR

04/06/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 04/04/2010
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21AX60******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. SHE SWERVED LEFT TO RIGHT IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE; INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. THE CONTACT CLIMBED OUT THE FRONT WINDOW AND SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AS NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

04/01/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL,AIR BAGS,WHEELS
Incident Date: 01/16/2010
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Summary

BASICS ARE THE WHEEL ON MY 2006 INNOVA SPLIT INHALF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 25KPH. INNOVA WAS MAINTANED BY TOYOTA SO IMPROPER WHEEL INSTALLATION WOULD ALSO BE THEIR PROBLEM. THIS WHEEL WAS RECALLED IN VIETNAM AROUND DEC. 2009, A MECHANIC AT TOYOTA OF PHILIPPINES HAS TOLD ME TOYOTA KNEW OF THE BAD PHILIPPINE WHEELS BUT THEY COULD NOT TRACK THEM AND SAME WHEELS MAY BE IN THE USA! FOR A LONGER STORY AS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND WHAT TOYOTA HAS NOT DONE CAN BE FOUND ON MY OLD SITE. WWW.FILIPINAVISA.COM/INNOVA I AM A RETIRED FAA WG-4749 SO AM WELL VERSED ON METAL FATIGUE AND MUCH MORE. I AM ALSO A 100% SERVICE CONNECTED VET. THERE ARE NO PROPER TESTING LABS IN THE PHILIPPINES. PLEASE GO TO THE ABOVE LINK TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS ONGOING. YOUR FORM DOES NOT LIST THE PROPER MODEL SO I HAD TO SELECT WHAT YOU HAVE. *TR

03/29/2010
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 03/28/2010
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

1. I WAS PARKING ALONGSIDE THE ROAD, BEHIND AN ACQUAINTANCE'S VEHICLE. WHILE ROLLING INTO POSITION BEHIND THEM, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF MY VEHICLE. 2. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS OCCURED. I SMASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF ME AT 10MPH OR SO. MINIMLA DAMAGE TO MY SUV, OTHER CAR WILL LIKELY NEED A NEW REAR BUMPER. 3. REPORTED TO TOYOTA AND AWAITING CALLBACK

03/26/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 07/08/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT, ALTHOUGH HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. HE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME BRAKE FAILURE WHEN ON FLAT PAVEMENT. ANOTHER DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE ALSO NOTICED THE BRAKE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000.

03/24/2010
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 09/20/2009
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

ONE MORNING OUR TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WOULDN'T START. AFTER TRYING TO START IT WITH MY KEY, MY WIFE TRIED USING HERS. IT STILL DIDN'T START. HOWEVER, WE BOTH NOTICED THAT IT WAS MAKING MORE THAN THE USUAL AMOUNT OF BUZZING AND HUMMING SOUNDS. WE BOTH WALKED BACK INTO THE HOUSE, LEAVING THE CAR IN PARK, THE DOORS SHUT BUT THE HOOD UP, TAKING OUR KEYS WITH US. JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER, MY WIFE SAW MOVEMENT OUT THE WINDOW AND WALKED OVER TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. IT WAS THE HIGHLANDER DRIVING ITSELF ACROSS THE LAWN. IT HAD BEEN PARKED ON THE FLAT DRIVEWAY BUT WAS NOW HALFWAY ACROSS THE YARD, HAVING ROLLED OVER A FLOWER PLANTER MADE OF RAILROAD TIES AND WAS HEADED FOR A VERY STEEP HILL. BEFORE EITHER OF US COULD EVEN GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, IT ROLLED OVER THE EDGE OF THE HILL AND DISAPPEARED. A LOUD CRASH LET US KNOW IT HAD COME TO A STOP. (IT HIT A TREE.) THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND WHEN WE LOOKED IN THE WINDOW THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN REVERSE. AFTER BEING TOWED UP THE HILL, IT WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE BILL CAME TO ABOUT $11,000. THEN IT WAS TAKEN TO STEVE LOW MIDWEST TOYOTA WHERE WE SOUGHT AN EXPLANATION AND REPAIR. THE DEALER COULD FIND NO DEFECT AND NO REPAIR WAS MADE.

03/20/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 03/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

PROBLEM: ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN SURGE WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT HAS OCCURRED 6-8 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. WHEN I HAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THERE IS A QUICK INCREASE IN SPEED THAT LASTS 1-2 SECONDS THEN STOPS. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND IS CAUSED BY THE BATTERY BEING FULLY CHARGED AND UNABLE TO ACCEPT CURRENT FROM THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS I HAVE NEARLY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NOTE: AS A FORMER DIRECTOR OF ODI I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH ISSUES REGARDING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF HUMAN ERROR (FOOT ON ACCELERATOR RATHER THAN BRAKE).

03/18/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 03/17/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

WE'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AND I BOTH WHILE DRIVING. WHILE BRAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL RISES AGAINST YOUR FOOT AND THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD THEN AS YOU APPLY MORE FORCE THE PEDAL GOES DOWN AND THE VEHICLE STOPS SUDDENLY. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND THE BRAKE WEAR AND FLUID LEVELS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FINE, IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKE MAYBE AS THE HYBRID MODEL ENGINE STARTS BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN BRAKING AFTER COASTING SO THE ENGINE WOULD BE OFF BUT AS THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE NORMAL STOP YOU FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL GET HARD AND THEN NORMAL AGAIN. DURING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDNESS THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE INCREASES WHICH REACTS IN A HARDER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE BUT BY THEN THE ASSIST IS BACK AND THE STOP IS SUDDEN. THIS COULD CAUSE BOTH AN ACCIDENT FROM HITTING SOMEONE DURING THE LOSS OF BRAKE AND FROM BEHIND BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN STOP. *TR

03/15/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 05/04/2009
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSED A CRASH. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS WAITING IN LINE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN SUDDENLY HER VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE OTHER PARTIES IN THE OTHER VEHICLE CLAIMED TO INJURED. *JB

03/14/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 10/02/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. AT SLOWER SPEEDS, THE BRAKES SEEM TO 'RELEASE' AND THEN ENGAGE, ALMOST LIKE A LITTLE SKIP OR COAST BEFORE ENGAGING. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THIS, BUT BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS CAR. WE THOUGHT IT WAS A HYBRID 'FEATURE', BUT LOOKING ONLINE, OTHERS HAVE NOTICED THIS TOO. *TR

03/12/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 09/01/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

I PURCHASED A 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED IN SEPTEMBER 2009. FAIRLY OFTEN WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AT LOWER SPEEDS, THE SUV SURGES FORWARD LIKE THE BRAKES HAVE RELEASED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN HAVE REAPPLIED. IT IS DANGEROUS AND VERY DISCONCERTING IN CLOSE TRAFFIC OR WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER OR CIRCLE. ALTHOUGH I HAVE MANAGED NOT TO HAVE A COLLISION, I HAVE COME PRETTY CLOSE WHEN DRIVING WITH A REASONABLE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT. I HAVE DESCRIBED IT TO TOYOTA, WHICH DENIES THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES BEING IDENTIFIED. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS NOTED BY MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WHO DESCRIBE THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL AS WELL AS OTHER HYBRIDS MANUFACTURED BY TOYOTA. IT IS A DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF EMERGENCY BRAKING IS NECESSARY, WHICH AT SOME POINT WE ALL NEED TO DO TO BE SAFE ON THE ROAD. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS WITH TOYOTA. *TR

03/08/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 02/11/2010
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21AX60******
Summary

SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHILE IN REVERSE RESULTING IN DEATH. UPDATED 04/22/10 *BF *TR UPDATED 07/12/10. *JB UPDATED 9/27/2011*CW

03/05/2010
Components: TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/02/2010
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

SLIPPERY CONDITION CAUSED TRACTION CONTROL IN VEHICLE TO DEACTIVATE COMPLETE 4WD DRIVE TRAIN, PREVENTING ME FROM BEING ABLE TO AVOID FROM SLIDING DOWN DIRECTLY ONTO A POST. IF IT DIDN'T COMPLETELY DISABLE THE VEHICLE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MANEUVER AWAY FROM THE OBSTACLE. *TR

03/03/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 03/14/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A660******
Summary

REFERENCE: NHTSA ODI NUMBER 10185505 DATED MARCH 14, 2007. THIS IS MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT ABOUT TOYOTA ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT HAS BEEN POSTED ON THIS SITE FOR 3 YEARS AND I'VE NEVER HAD ANY RESPONSE OF ANY KIND. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT AND SAID THAT IS JUST THE WAY TOYOTAS ACT. I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND UNDER FLORIDA LAW A LEMON IS A CAR THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR 3 TIMES AND NOT FIXED ... GUESS I GOT A LEMON. NOW I NEVER HEARD FROM YOU SO I GUESS YOU REALLY DON'T EITHER. *TR

03/02/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/10/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

BRAKES RELEASE FOR A SPLIT SECOND. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR IF APPLYING OVER A ROUGH SURFACE BUT NOT 100% CERTAIN OF THIS. WE'VE NOTICED THIS BEHAVIOR EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED THE HIGHLANDER IN 2006. NOT UNTIL HEARING OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE PRIUS DID WE FEEL IT NECESSARY TO REPORT. *TR

02/26/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 04/04/2007
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID CRASHED AFTER SUDDEN UNBREAKABLE ACCELERATION WITH $13,500 DAMAGE. TOYOTA INVESTIGATED AND SAID DRIVER HIT GAS INSTEAD OF BRAKE DESPITE VEHEMENT DENIALS BY DRIVER. *TR

02/26/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 02/17/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I HAD A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. IN FEBRUARY OF 2007, I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HAD EXPERIENCED THE CAR SURGING/ACCELERATING UPON BRAKING AND WAS UNPREDICTABLE AS TO WHEN IT MAY OCCUR. THE TECH DIDN'T EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE/ALSO RAN DIAGNOSTICS WHICH CAME BACK AS "NO CODES FOUND". SINCE I CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE, AND AFTER LEARNING OF SIMILAR ISSUES OCCURRING IN OTHER TOYOTA MODELS AND NOW THE RECALLS, I TOOK IT BACK, AND AGAIN THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND GOT THE SAME "NO CODES FOUND" WHEN DIAGNOSTICS WERE APPLIED. AFTER THESE EXPERIENCES, AND READING ABOUT OTHER 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID ISSUES, I DECIDED I NO LONGER FELT SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE, EVEN WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, I DECIDED TO TRADE MY VEHICLE. *TR

02/25/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 10/22/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID [XXX] SOMETIMES SURGES FORWARD BEFORE STOPPING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20-35 MPH. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY LOCAL DEALER, SUPERIOR TOYOTA, ERIE, PA ON 1/11/07 (MILEAGE 10,072). THEY SAID I WAS EXPERIENCING THE CHANGE FROM ELECTRONIC TO HYDRAULIC BRAKES. ON 11/07/07 I COMPLAINED AGAIN (MILEAGE 24,335). THIS TIME THEY UPDATED THE ECU LOGIC PER TSB EG030-07. ON 3/25/08 THEY SAID THERE SIMPLY WAS NO PROBLEM. IN SUMMER 2008, PALMIERO TOYOTA IN MEADVILLE, PA TOLD ME THE SENSATION WAS CAUSED BY THE "FLY BY WIRE SYSTEM", AND IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM, I BEGAN WORRYING AGAIN. I CALLED SUPERIOR TOYOTA ON 2/23/10. THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. ANY VEHICLE THAT SURGES FORWARD RATHER THAN SLOWING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM SENDING A LETTER OF COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA. *TR

02/25/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 11/22/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

FAILURE OF 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKES TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT RESISTANCE TO FORWARD MOTION. THIS FAILURE OCCURS REPEATEDLY AND CAUSES MUCH ANXIETY AND HEART PALPITATION UPON OCCURRENCE. THIS FAILURE WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR LOCAL DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED TO NOT HAVE ANY INDICATIONS OF THE PROBLEM. I ALSO BROUGHT THEM COPIES OF NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH READ THE SAME AND INDICATED EXTREMELY SIMILAR CONDITIONS. 11/22/2006 REPORTED TO LOCAL DEALER BRAKE CONCERNS. THEIR NOTES WERE:INTER. COND. MORE PRONOUNCED DURING 1ST FEW APPLICATIONS IN THE MORNING. C/S PEDAL SEEMS TO "FADE" & ENGINE HAS A SLIGHT SURGE WHEN BRAKING. CUSTOMER HAS LEFT VEHICLE FOR THE DAY & OVERNIGHT IF NECESSARY TO DUPLICATE CONCERN. RESULTS: ROAD TESTED 3 TIMES. CONCERN COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. BRAKE CALIPERS & HARDWARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT THIS TIME. NO REPAIRS MADE AT THIS TIME. WHAT I ACTUALLY TOLD THEM WAS THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES SEEMED TO FAIL . 10/02/07 BRAKE CONCERNS- PER PREVIOUS ADVISE, REPLACE FRONT PADS, RESURFACE ROTORS REMOVED AND REPLACED FRONT PADS AND RESURFACED ROTORS. CHARGE 235.04. TALKED TO SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT BRAKE CONCERNS. TALKED TO MY SALESMAN ABOUT BRAKE CONCERNS, TALKED TO DEALER MANAGER ABOUT BRAKE CONCERNS. REPORTED ON MOST SERVICE SURVEYS AND IN PERSON TO SURVEY CALLERS. IRONICALLY, DEALER SUGGESTS FRONT BRAKE PADS SHOULD BE REPLACED NOW AGAIN. TOYOTA HAS NEVER CONTACTED ME BACK AFTER ANY OF MY REPORTS TO THEM. ONLY THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER EVER CALLED ME BACK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE AFFORDED NO REMEDY. *TR

02/25/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 07/20/2007
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

DRIVER STARTED TO BACK UP A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN A PARKING LOT. IT SHOT BACK AT MAXIMUM ACCELERATION JUMPING A CURB AND STRIKING A PEDESTRIAN. BY THEN, DRIVER HAD BRAKES ON AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. SHE PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND IT AGAIN ACCELERATED TO THE MAXIMUM STRIKING HER HUSBAND. AT THE TIME, WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. WE ASSUMED, SOMEHOW THE DRIVER, WHO HAD AN IMPECCABLE RECORD, HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG. NOW, WITH ALL THE PUBLICITY, WE BELIEVE IT WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS. NOTHING ELSE SEEMS AS LIKELY BECAUSE WE HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THERE WAS AN ELECTRONIC FAILURE, NOTHING WAS DONE. *TR

02/24/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 10/01/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TOYOTA FLY BY WIRE TRANSMISSION HESITATION PROBLEM. SPECIFICALLY A 2006 HIGHLANDER- HESITATION FROM STOP OR SLOW SPEED. COMPLAINT ACROSS ALL MODELS AND SEVERAL YEARS. THE APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE MEANS NOTHING LT IS AND CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE "FLY OR DRIVE BY WIRE" SYSTEM ORIGINATED. DEALER STATES THIS IS THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. - AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN OR HAVE THEY ALREADY HAPPENED? WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO INITIATE A FIX. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE FIVE SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT. *TR

02/23/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 10/20/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD SLIP AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN UNLESS SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN. SHE NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AN AVERAGE OF 2-3 TIMES A WEEK. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. SHE ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A NORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR HYBRID VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000. UPDATED 03/15/10 *BF UPDATED 05/12/10.*JB

02/23/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 01/16/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A660******
Summary

TL- THE CALLER HAS A 20006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACTED THAT WHILE TRAVELING DONE THE DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 55MPH AND THE VEHICLE COMPLEYELY SHUT DOWN. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WHEN A DIOGNOSTIC PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD 63000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND THOSE ARE ALSO THE CURRENT MILEAGE. RL

02/23/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 04/01/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HIGHBRID, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. I HAVE NOT HAD A RUNAWAY SITUATION, BUT HAVE EXPERIENCED POWER SURGES WHILE BRAKING AND ONLY EXPERIENCED THESE DURING THE BRAKING PHASE. THE APPROXIMATE SPEEDS DURING THESE BRAKING EVENTS WERE BETWEEN 20-45 MPH. THE SURGING LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 SECONDS, WITH THE VEHICLE LUNGING FORWARD WHILE MY RIGHT FOOT BEING ON THE BRAKE. I DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH HECKER TOYOTA AND SERVICE ADVISOR . I THOUGHT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND SERVICE ADVISOR TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO PROBLEMS DETECTED. SERVICE ADVISOR ALSO STATED THERE WERE NO TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETINS FOR ANY ISSUES LIKE THIS. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS SITUATION APPROXIMATELY 10-11 TIMES SINCE NEW. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE TEMPERATURE RELATED. I DON'T RECALL ANY SURGES WHEN COLD (BELOW 20F OR COLDER) BECAUSE MN ROADS USUALLY HAVE SOME ICY OR SLIPPERY CONDITIONS AND I WOULD REMEMBER THIS SITUATION. *TR

02/19/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 12/01/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID OCCASIONALLY GET A FEELING OF "NO BRAKES" WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THEY HAVE ALWAYS STOPPED THE CAR, BUT SOMETIMES THERE IS A BRIEF FEELING THAT THEY ARE NOT WORKING I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS THAT I RECALL. THE FIRST TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS, THE SECOND TIME THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE THIRD TIME THEY SAID IT WAS DURING THE TRANSITION FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO HYDRAULIC BRAKING AND THAT "THEY'RE ALL LIKE THAT." IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER PRE-2010 TOYOTA HYBRID OWNERS, ABOUT A THIRD TO A HALF OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATELY WHEN I FIRST REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. *TR

02/18/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 02/18/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT ON MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID, I HAD THIS CAR FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS AND I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, IT HAPPENS 3- 4 TIMES A WEEK, OR MAY BE EVEN MORE SINCE I SHARE THE CAR WITH MY HUSBAND I AM NOT SURE HOW OFTEN HE GETS IT. THE LAST TIME THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENED IS TODAY, LUCKILY WE WERE NOT DRIVING CLOSE TO ANOTHER CAR. IT FEELS LIKE AS IF SOME ONE PUSHED THE CAR FROM BEHIND. THANKS FOR CONSIDERING THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY AND THIS IS NOT A PANIC REQUEST AFTER THE RECALL, IT IS A REAL AND SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

02/18/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 04/18/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HV. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND SET THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE SPEED INCREASED RAPIDLY. HE HAD TO CONTINUE TO APPLY HIS FOOT ON AND OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN HE PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ,TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE COULD NOT DUPLICATED THE FAILURE, YET THEY RESET THE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AFTER THE COMPUTER WAS RESET WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY AND INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT OFF IN INCLEMENT WEATHER TO PROTECT THE ELECTRICAL DRIVE MOTOR IN THE WHEELS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH HIS VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

02/18/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 01/15/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

WE BOUGHT A NEW 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN 2005 AND, FROM TIME TO TIME SINCE WE BOUGHT IT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL KIND OF STICKS OR SURGES IN CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS. WHEN YOU TRY TO REDUCE SPEED BY TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. IT SOMETIMES DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND, IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO REDUCE SPEED AND SOMETIMES ACTUALLY SURGES A LITTLE, WHICH IT ALSO DOES SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT A CONSISTENT SPEED. I THOUGHT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE HYBRID FEATURE AND JUST SORT OF LEARNED TO BE SENSITIVE TO IT AND HIT THE BRAKES IF IT NEEDED IT, BUT THIS SOUNDS LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OTHER MODELS SUBJECT TO THE RECALL AND, AS OUR MODEL IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IT. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

02/17/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

I HAVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID PURCHASED JAN 2006. PERIODICALLY I EXPERIENCE BRAKE SURGING AS I'VE READ DESCRIBED BY PRIUS OWNERS. THIS IS A RANDOM EVENT THAT OCCURS WHEN FIRST APPLYING THE BRAKE. I'VE REPORTED IT SEVERAL TIMES TO MY DEALER AND THE REPLY IS "TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES." THE LAST TIME WAS TWO WEEKS AGO. SINCE TOYOTA HAS A FIX FOR THE PRIUS I HOPE YOU'LL WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO ADDRESS THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID PROBLEM. BY THE WAY, I AM AN ENGINEER AND RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM WHEN I EXPERIENCE IT. *TR

02/17/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

THIS IS AN ON-GOING OCCURRANCE. I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID THAT IS HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL MY VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND THEN ENGAGE THE BRAKES. IF I WOULD BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO ANOTHER VEHICLE I WOULD END UP REAR-ENDING THE VECHILE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

02/17/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/12/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

MY WIFE OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. LIKE THE PRIUS, THIS CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENCE A MOMENTARY PAUSE IN ITS BRAKING SEQUENCE AS IT SWITCHES FROM ITS REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM TO ITS HYDRAULIC ONE. HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN? IT IS INFREQUENT, OCCURRING APPROXIMATELY ONCE WEEKLY OR SO. NEVERTHELESS, IT IS NOTICEABLE. TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS GLITCH, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT, EVENTUALLY, IT MIGHT. THE PAUSE IS VERY SHORT--A SECOND OR LESS. *TR

02/16/2010
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 01/15/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 HYBRID TOYOTA HIGHLANDER - ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEEMS TO DEPRESS ON ITS OWN WHEN DRIVER'S FOOT IS ON IT; FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS STEPPING ON YOUR FOOT AND PUSHING IT DOWN FURTHER. MY WIFE AND I HAVE EACH EXPERIENCED THIS INDEPENDENTLY ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE CAR IS CONTROLLABLE AND THE BREAKS WORK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

02/15/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 02/13/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

IN OUR 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID WE HAVE HAD A REPEATED FEELING THAT THE BRAKES ARE GIVING WAY. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR THE 10 MONTHS WE'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. THE CONDITION SEEMS TO OCCUR REGARDLESS OF CONDITIONS. I DON'T NOTICE IT AFTER HITTING A BUMP LIKE IS REPORTED WITH OTHER TOYOTAS. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO RESOLVE ITSELF WITHIN A MOMENT OR TWO OF THE GIVE WAY. IT DEFINITELY IS A CONCERN WHEN BRAKING IN TRAFFIC AT A RED LIGHT OR COMING DOWN A HILL TO A STOP. THERE IS DEFINITELY A GREATER CHANCE FOR REAR-ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US WHEN THIS OCCURS. I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WEEKLY, IF NOT DAILY. SO FAR, THE PROBLEM DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GETTING WORSE - IT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU CAN COUNT ON. I'VE SEEN THIS PROBLEM REPORTED ON MULTIPLE CAR FORUMS. IT'S ALSO BEEN DESCRIBED AS A LURCH, FEELING OF BRIEF ACCELERATION, GIVE-WAY, BRAKE GAP AND OTHERS. I HAVEN'T READ ANYWHERE YET THAT TOYOTA HAS A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. WOULD LIKE INFO IF THERE IS. *TR

02/15/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 01/15/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

I HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY INSTANCES OF LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, PARTICULARLY WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INCLINE, DECLINE, OR OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE. I HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE I BEGAN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN 2006. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP ON ONE OF THESE SURFACES, THERE IS A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING POWER AND THE SUV SEEMS TO LURCH FORWARD FOR AN INSTANT BEFORE BRAKING POWER RETURNS AND THE VEHICLE STOPS. *TR

02/15/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/15/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE PROBLEM RESEMBLES THAT REPORTED BY PRIUS DRIVERS. SPECIFICALLY WHEN I AM RIDING THE BRAKES, ON AN DOWNHILL, AS I APPROACH A STOP, ETC, IF I HIT A POTHOLE OR A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE BRAKES SUDDENLY RELEASE AND THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS LURCHING FORWARD FOR A MOMENT. IT IS A FRIGHTENING SENSATION OF LOSING CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. I LIVE AT THE TOP OF A STEEP HILL AND EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM EVERYTIME I LEAVE HOME. IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT I BELIEVE IT COULD IN AN EMERGENCY STOPPING SITUATION. *TR

02/14/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 12/15/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A960******
Summary

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS ON A NEARBY STREET TO OUR HOUSE. IT ONLY HAPPENS FOR A SECOND OR TWO AND THEN NORMAL SLOWING CONTINUES. *TR

02/12/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/12/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME BRAKE CONDITIONS AS CAUSED THE RECENT RECALL, SPECIFICALLY, THE BRAKES "SKIP" WHEN BRAKING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 25 MPH WHEN THEY SWITCH FROM REGEN TO REGULAR BRAKING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE CAR DOES NOT CONTINUE TO SLOW DOWN AT THE SAME RATE AND I HAVE ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SEVERAL TIMES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON CONDITION AND MAY BE MORE FREQUENT WHEN HITTING A SHARP BUMP, BUT IT HAPPENS ONCE OR TWICE A DAY IN ALL CONDITIONS. *TR

02/11/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 02/10/2010
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID LOSES ALL POWER ON ICE OR ANY SLIPPERY SURFACE. THIS HAS CAUSED MY CAR TO "DIE" ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS INCLUDING ENTERING AND EXITING HIGHWAYS, DRIVING ON HILLS, DRIVING IN SNOW. I HAVE SLID OFF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I ENCOUNTERED AN ICY PATCH. I HAD NO CONTROL. UPON ENTERING A FREEWAY VIA AN ICY ENTRANCE RAMP, MY CAR LOST ALL POWER WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC AND I WAS FORCED TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

02/11/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/11/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I OWN TWO 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE BRAKING RECALL ISSUED RECENTLY FOR THE PRIUS, WE ARE NOW BOTH 100% SURE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN BOTH OF OUR VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY LUNGE FORWARD FOR ABOUT A SECOND WHEN BRAKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS BUMPY. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN IT OFF TO OUR IMAGINATION, BUT THE PROBLEM DEFINITELY EXISTS IN THE 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WONDERING WHEN THE RECALL WILL BE... *TR

02/11/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 04/20/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A760******
Summary

CRUISE CONTROL. IF CRUISE IS SET AT 70 MPG AND YOU RELEASE IT BY THE BRAKE THEN TRY TO RESUME THE CRUISE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS GONE TO 65 IT WILL ACCELERATE TO 72 OR 74 THEN DROP TO 70. I WILL NOT LET THIS HAPPEN NOW BY LETTING THE SPEED GET TO WHATEVER I HAD BEFORE, THEN RESUME TO THE ORIGINAL SPEED. I CAN DUPLICATE THIS ANY TIME. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS THE WAY IT NOW WORKED. MY 1998 AVALON DOES NOT DO THIS WHEN CRUISE IS TURNED ON. *TR

02/10/2010
Components: AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 02/07/2010
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A960******
Summary

1. I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON BOLSA AVE. GOING STRAIGHT, AND THE OTHER DRIVER WAS COMING OUT OF THE ABC MARKET DRIVEWAY. SHE MADE A RIGHT TURN. 2. MY CAR MADE A LOUD SOUND AND THEN DROVE INTO THE OTHER DRIVER'S CAR. 3. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR WENT FORWARD LIKE IT WAS A RACING CAR. THEN THE CAR WENT IN REVERSE AND LANDED FROM THE STREET ONTO THE SIDEWALK. 4. MY CAR IS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 5. I BELIEVED THE PEDAL GOT STUCK AND THE CAR ACCELERATED TOWARDS THE OTHER CAR. 6. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING 100 MILES AN HOUR. *TR

02/10/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/01/2006
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Summary

MY HIGHLANDER HYBRID (2006) WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD WHEN AN INCIDENT OCCURRED WHERE MY BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AS ANTICIPATED IN A NORMAL DISTANCE CAUSING ME TO BUMP THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME (NO INJURIES). I THOUGHT MY FOOT HAD SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE MOMENTARILY. HOWEVER, I DISCOVERED THIS TO BE AN OCCURRENCE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS - TYPICALLY 25MPH OR LESS AND HITTING A BUMP. I CONTACTED THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MANAGER INDICATED HE WAS AWARE THAT SOME OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR OCCURRENCES. THE SENSATION IS LIKE THE BRAKING FRICTION SUDDENLY "SLIPS" CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP AT A FURTHER DISTANCE THAN ANTICIPATED. I'VE SENSE FOUND THAT THERE IS A SUDDEN TRANSITION FROM HYBRID REGEN BRAKING TO STANDARD HYDRAULIC BRAKING. SOME HAVE INDICATED THAT IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE ABS SYSTEM. WHEN CONTACTED BY A TOYOTA REP ABOUT THE PROBLEM HE SIMPLY INDICATED THAT IT DIDN'T EXIST. THIS WAS NOT TRUE SINCE THE DEALER MECHANIC KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BACK THEN. AND, AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK I SPOKE TO A MECHANIC WHO SERVICED MY CAR AT THE TOYOTA DEALER AND HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PROBLEM IS REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS. A DISAPPOINTING RESPONSE. NOW WE FIND THAT THE PRIUS HYBRID IS PRODUCING SIMILAR ECCENTRICITIES IN BRAKING. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED ALL HYBRIDS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN THEIR RECALL REPAIR. *TR

02/09/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/06/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID- A DELAY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED IN COLD CONDITIONS AND ON SOME BUMPY ROADS. *TR

02/09/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 02/09/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

MY HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2006 MODEL HAS TROUBLE WITH SLIPPAGE WHEN I BRAKE. I NOTICE IT MAINLY AT LOW SPEED, LEAVING MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE MORNING. IT IS HAPPENING A LOT LATELY, AND THIS COULD BE BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER WE ARE HAVING IN CHARLOTTE (BASED ON WHAT I HAVE READ IN THE FORUMS, COLD WEATHER COULD BE A FACTOR). THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT I AM NOTICING THAT THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT MORE OFTEN LATELY. *TR

02/09/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/09/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

PLEASE DO NOT LIMIT YOUR BRAKE INVESTIGATION TO NEW PRIUSES. WE HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID THAT HAS EXTRA BRAKE FADING WHEN BRAKING ON BUMPY SURFACES. ONE PARTICULAR STREET IS VERY RUFF AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL WHERE WE BRAKE TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, AND ON THIS STREET THE BRAKES ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE "LETTING GO" BUT IF YOU KEEP PRESSING THE PEDAL THE VEHICLE DOES SLOW DOWN. WE HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS BEHAVIOR, WE HAVE JUST GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO THIS QUIRK. *TR

02/09/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 02/03/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

WE HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT'S BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD THE HIGHLANDER CAUSE ME GREAT WORRY ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE OCCASIONS ARE ALL THE SAME. WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP, AND HAVE STOPPED THE CAR, THE HIGHLANDER WILL ACCELERATE FORWARD. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE MY BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR SO FAR. THE INCIDENCES HAVE BEEN NERVE WRACKING TO SAY THE LEAST. I HAVE CALLED MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND THE MANAGER SAID HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY MAKE AND YEAR. I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. I USE MY HIGHLANDER TO DRIVE MY TWO YOUNG SONS TO ALL OF THEIR ACTIVITIES. PLEASE HELP ME IN REPORTING THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR

02/09/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 01/12/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2006 MODEL HAS HAD MOMENTARY FAILURE OF BRAKES ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS OVER LAST 2 YEARS. *TR

02/09/2010
Components: STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 02/09/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

MY HIGHLANDER HYBRID 06 SEEMS TO HAVE A LOW BRAKING POWER MOSTLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND IT SLIP, I TRIED TO SHIFT TO N AND THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NOTE THAT THE PROBLEM IS FREQUENTLY HAPPENS BUT NOT ALWAYS. AND NOBODY CAN RESOLVE IT. *TR

02/09/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 02/09/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

HYBRID BRAKES SLIP WHEN HITTING A BUMP, SIMILAR TO WHAT IS REPORTED WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. WE HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN JULY 2005. SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE BRAKING FINE, HIT A BUMP WHILE BRAKING AND MOMENTARILY LOSE BRAKING. *TR

02/09/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/01/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID 4WD. SURGE WHEN BRAKING AND GOING OVER BUMPS. SINCE 2007, ON MANY REPEATED OCCASIONS, WHEN I GO OVER BUMPY ROADS AND BRAKING, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT ACCELERATION SURGE WHEN BRAKING. EVERY TIME I BRING MY HIGHLANDER INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER I ASK IF THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHAT CAUSES IT, AND IF THERE IS ANY SERVICE INFORMATION OR BULLETIN ON IT. FORM NOTES>>I CHECKED SERVICE BRAKES..THIS APPLIES TO THE REGULAR BRAKING SYSTEM-THIS TERM IS NOT CLEAR. AS TO WHAT MILEAGE--THIS IS A CONTINUING ONGOING PROBLEM SO THERE IS NO WAY TO INDICATE THAT ANSWER IN YOUR BOXES. SIMILARLY THIS HAS HAPPENED AT A WIDE RANGE OF SPEEDS, 15-35 MPH SO YOUR FORM DOES NOT PROVIDE A WAY TO INDICATE THAT. *TR

02/08/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 11/10/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

ON BUMPY ROADS OR DITCHES, MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE OR THE BRAKE SLIPS. IT FEELS LIKE IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WITH BRAKING BECOMING INEFFECTIVE.

02/08/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 02/05/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

I HAVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INCONSISTENT BRAKE FEEL SINCE THE TIME I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE JUST GOES FORWARD AT TIMES WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKE AS IF THERE IS NO BRAKE, IT HAPPENS ONLY FOR A SECOND OR 2 BUT I ALMOST HAD HAD A FEW ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ALSO TO TOYOTA AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THE DEALERSHIP DISMISSES MY CLAIMS SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND IT'S THE ABS AND SINCE I CANNOT RECREATE IT AT THE DEALERSHIP ITS BEEN A TOUGH. IT IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS MENTIONED WITH PRIUS. *CN

02/08/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 05/01/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKES MALFUNCTION ON ROUGH ROADS, RAIN, BUMPS. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY TO AND FROM WORK OR DRIVING AROUND TOWN. TOYOTA SAID THIS IS HOW A HYBRID DRIVES, NO ACTION TAKEN BY TOYOTA. I DRIVE SLOW TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. *CN

02/07/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 06/15/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A060******
Summary

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN JUNE OF 2006. THE PROBLEM WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED IS WHEN THE CAR IS SLOWING DOWN WHEN BRAKED AND THE REAR END GETS BOUNCED BY ROUGH PAVEMENT. THE BRAKES WILL FADE AND THE STOPPING TAKES A FEW FEET LONGER THAN EXPECTED. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER "KERRY TOYOTA", AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. WE WILL BOTH SAY THAT THE PANIC "HEAVY BRAKE PEDAL" BRAKING MODE ON THIS VEHICLE IS AMAZING AND WORKS QUITE WELL. WE LOVE THIS CAR AND HAVE ADJUSTED TO IT; BUT WITH ANTICIPATED LONGER STOPS ON ROUGH ROADS, OR POTHOLES! WE LIKE THE CAR SO WELL THAT WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THE 2010 PRIUS. AFTER THE 1ST SERVICING OF THE PRIUS, WE DID NOTICE A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL IN THE REAR BRAKES. WE ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING SOLUTIONS TO THE TOYOTA BRAKING PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TW

02/07/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 02/03/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

BRAKE HESITATION SIMILAR TO 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TW

02/07/2010
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 06/15/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID'S BRAKES APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT IS ATTRIBUTED TO DESIGN FAULT IN THE BRAKES OF THE PRIUS MODEL. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED, LAST JUNE 2009. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY "FAIL" WHEN I HIT A POT HOLE OR DRIVE OVER A BUMPY ROAD -- IN OTHER WORDS IF I START BRAKING AND HIT A BUMP, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD FOR A SECOND BEFORE CONTINUING TO SLOW DOWN. (THIS IS NOT ANTILOCK BRAKING ENGAGING -- I KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.) I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM REPORTED WITH ANY TOYOTA MODELS OTHER THAN THE PRIUS, BUT THE DESCRIPTIONS I READ/HEAR IN THE MEDIA ARE EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN MY CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR ROAD TESTED BY MY MECHANIC -- BUT I COULD NOT PRODUCE OR SIMULATE THE CONDITIONS THAT LEAD TO THE PROBLEM. BUT THAT WAS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. I EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM WEEKLY, IF NOT DAILY -- AND IT IS ALARMING! IN A PANIC STOP ON A BUMPY ROAD, RESULTS COULD BE DISASTROUS. PLEASE ADVISE THOSE INVESTIGATING PRIUS BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT IT MAY NOT JUST BE A PRIUS PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF THERE IS OTHER ACTION I CAN TAKE TO NOTIFY INVESTIGATORS OR TOYOTA. THANKS *TW

02/07/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 11/07/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

I PURCHASED A TOYOTA HILANDER HYBRID IN MARCH 2006. SINCE THAT YEAR, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH BRAKING. WHEN I BRAKE (EXAMPLE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN) I NOTICE THAT THE CAR BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN, BUT FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND, THE CAR APPEARS TO COAST OR CONTINUE TO LUNGE FORWARD AND I GET A FEELING THAT THE CAR IS NOT UNDER MY CONTROL ANY MORE. IT IS A TERRIBLE FEELING TO EXPERIENCE WHEN I AM FIRMLY AND GRADUALLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, AND I SENSE THAT THE CAR IS MOVING AND THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP!!! IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN IN COLD WEATHER, AND NO, IT IS DEFINITELY NOT ICE OR WET ROAD THAT IS THE CAUSE. THE ROAD COULD BE DRY, AND FREE OF ICE, AND I EXPERIENCE IT. PLEASE READ AN MSNBC ARTICLE ON PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM AND I CAN RELATE TO THE DESCRIPTION IN THAT ARTICLE. I HAVE GOT MY CAR CHECKED OUT AT TWO DEALERS - ONE IN MASON ,OH AND THE OTHER IN BROOKFIELD, WI. BOTH DEALERS SAY THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA IN LATE 2006 OR EARLY 2007, BUT TOYOTA DENIES ANY PROBLEM WITH THE HYBRID HILANDER SUV BRAKING SYSTEM. TOYOTA AND THE DEALERS TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE NEVER EVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM FROM ANY OWNER OF A TOYOTA HYBRID CAR. IF YOU VISIT HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0D8058 YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF HYBRID CUSTOMERS (TOYOTA AND LEXUS) WHO ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS OCCASIONALLY, BUT IT IS DISTINCT AND A TERRIBLE ONE TO EXPERIENCE. PLEASE DIRECT TOYOTA TO THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE AND RESOLVE 2006 HILANDER HYBRID BRAKING PROBLEM. *TW

02/06/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/03/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

WE OWN AN 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND WE HAVE HAD TIMES WHERE THE BREAKS APPEAR TO CUT OUT FOR A SECOND WHEN SLOWING THE CAR TO TURN A CORNER. THE CAR WILL SURGE AHEAD WHILE THE BREAK IS BEING USED DURING THE TURN WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT. WE HAVE LEARNT TO EXPECT IT AND TAKE EXTRA CAUTION NOW WHEN MAKING TURNS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT HAPPENS A FEW TIMES EACH WEEK. *CN

02/06/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/05/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. PROBLEM WITH NON LINEAR HAND OFF FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO REGULAR BRAKING THAT OCCURS ROUTINELY. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, BUT NOW SEE THAT FORD HAS A RECALL OF ITS HYBRIDS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. DO OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM? IS THIS AT ALL RELATED TO THE CURRENTLY REPORTED 2010 PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEMS? *CN

02/05/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 07/01/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRIVING OVER THE BUMP. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 50 TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT WAS A NORMAL RESPONSE FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51000. UPDATED 4/5/10 *CN UPDATED 06/04/10

02/05/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 02/04/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID EXHIBITS SAME BRAKING PROBLEM DESCRIBED FOR PRIUS. I OWNED ONE FOR THREE YEARS AND MADE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I TRADED ON A RAV 4 IN MARCH 2009. THIS CAR HAS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM WITH JUMPING FORWARD WHEN BRAKING AND HIT A POTHOLE ETC. *TR

02/05/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 07/30/2009
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTDKB20U863******
Summary

MOVING A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2006 HAD FINISHED BACKING UP AND WAS PREPARING TO MOVE FORWARD INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THE CAR CONTINUED BACKWARD AND HIT A PEDESTRIAN AND ANOTHER CAR. ALL OBSERVERS AGREE THAT THE CAR ACCELERATED AFTER MY FOOT WAS OFF THE PEDAL AND I HAD NO CHANCE TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE BEFORE IT HAPPENED. I HIT A PEDESTRIAN WHO WAS HOSPITALIZED AND RECEIVED A LARGE GASH IN HER LEG WHICH REQUIRED MANY STITCHES AND PHYSICAL THERAPY REHABILITATION AND ANOTHER AUTO WHICH WAS TOTALED DUE TO THE DAMAGE. *TR

02/05/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 05/01/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS SURGE IN SPEED DURING BRAKING. HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY WHEN GOING FROM DESCEND TO ASCEND. *TR

02/05/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/01/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

BRAKING PROBLEM - 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, ELECTRICAL REGENERATION BEGINS. BUT, IF YOU GO OVER A BUMP THE REGENERATION DROPS OUT. THIS RESULTS IN AN ESTIMATED (BY ME) 25% REDUCTION IN BRAKING POWER. THE DRIVER MUST THEN APPLY ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE TO REGAIN STOPPING POWER. THIS OCCURS CONSTANTLY AND HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO MY DEALER. WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED TO WORK. *TR

02/05/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 07/09/2009
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID - I WAS STOPPED IN A RIGHT TURN ONLY LANE. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BEGAN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON A RED LIGHT. AS HE MOVED FORWARD, I SLIGHTLY RELEASED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES AND MY VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHICH HAD STOPPED SUDDENLY. THIS "LUNGING" IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS TOYOTA VEHICLE. WE HAD THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AN IDIOSYNCRASY OF THE HYBRID VEHICLE. HOWEVER, MY BROTHER HAS A NEWER MODEL HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND HE DOES NOT EXPERIENCE THIS LUNGING. WHAT I MEAN BY LUNGING IS THAT THE VEHICLE, AT TIMES, WILL LUNGE FORWARD AS YOU RELEASE THE BRAKE AT HIGHER SPEED THAN AN IDLE. IN THE SIMPLE ACCIDENT MENTIONED ABOVE, MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED OVER $3000 IN DAMAGE, WHICH IS QUITE AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 02/03/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE, THERE IS A 1-2 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKE WORKS. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. NO CRASHES, NO INJURIES, NO REPAIR. CONSEQUENCE: I GET FRIGHTENED THE CAR WILL NOT STOP. I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR YEARS. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 01/15/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKES DO NOT GRAB IMMEDIATELY WHEN I AM DRIVING FORWARD AND GOING OVER A POT HOLE OR TRAIN TRACKS WHILE BRAKING TO REDUCE MY SPEED. THIS OCCURS ANY TIME I AM IN THAT SITUATION. IT IS EVEN MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN TURNING AND BRAKING WHILE GOING OVER A POT HOLE OR TRAIN TRACKS. I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK THIS OUT 2-3 TIMES. THEY DON'T SEEM TO TEST DRIVE IT, JUST TEST THE BRAKES AND SAY THEY ARE OKAY. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 01/10/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A060******
Summary

DURING CONSTANT BRAKING OF MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID (SUCH AS WHEN APPROACHING A RED LIGHT), THERE IS SOMETIMES A MOMENTARY, BUT NOTICEABLE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES (WHICH CAUSES SLIGHT ACCELERATION), BEFORE THE CONDITION RESOLVES ITSELF ON ITS OWN. AT THE MOMENT OF FAILURE, IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THEN THE CONDITION SELF-CORRECTS BEFORE THERE IS TIME TO REACT. I HAVE NOTICED THIS PERHAPS 30 TIMES IN THE NEARLY THREE YEARS THAT I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE HAS ALSO NOTICED THIS CONDITION. ABOUT A YEAR AGO I RECEIVED A SERVICE LETTER FROM TOYOTA WHICH, I THOUGHT, WAS INTENDED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEAL TO HAVE IT SERVICED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 01/15/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

LAG BETWEEN REGENERATIVE AND HYDRAULIC BRAKING UNDER ALL CONDITIONS. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 06/10/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

PURCHASED 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID NEW IN 2006. COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER THAT JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKES SEEMED TO RELEASE AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR HYBRIDS AS THE ELECTRONIC BRAKING SWITCHED TO HYDRAULIC BRAKING AND NO FIX WAS AVAILABLE. I NOW HAVE A 2010 PRIUS WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER INCLUDED AND ALSO INVESTIGATED FOR THIS PROBLEM ALONG WITH THE 2010 PRIUS INVESTIGATION. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 12/13/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 10 MPH DOWNHILL OR ON A RAMP, THE VEHICLE RESPONDED AS IF THE BRAKES HAD FAILED AND LUNGED FORWARD. WITHIN MINUTES, THE BRAKES BEGAN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,118 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNDER 30,000.

02/04/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 03/03/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

WE HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MINOR BUT ANNOYING PROBLEMS: 1) BATTERY DEAD IN MORNING 4 OR 5 TIMES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. 2) AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE AND OPENING DOOR, BUZZER OCCASIONALLY GOES OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. 3) SOME RADIO STATIONS PICK UP A LOT OF STATIC WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED. 4) DVD CAROUSEL PLAYER PICKS UP ERRORS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PLAY DISKS FOUR OR FIVE. WROTE A LETTER TO TOYOTA IN 2007 REGARDING SOME OF THESE ISSUES BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE RELATED TO THE ELECTRONIC ISSUES WE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN HEARING ABOUT. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 01/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

WE HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. I SHOULD START OFF BY STATING THAT WE LOVE THIS VEHICLE. WE HAVE, HOWEVER, NOTICED A "GLITCH" THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE PRIUS HAS AND THOUGHT WE SHOULD REPORT IT. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN WE STEP ON THE BRAKE, AND AFTER THE CAR IS SLOWING DOWN, THE ENGINE WILL SURGE FORWARD AS IF IT WANTS TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. PUMPING THE BRAKES WORKS AND THE CAR STOPS. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PEDAL PROBLEM BUT A COMPUTER PROBLEM. SINCE WE NEVER TAILGATE AND WE ALWAYS ALLOW FOR DISTANCE TO STOP, THIS HAS NEVER POSED A PROBLEM FOR US BUT IT IS AN ISSUE WORTH NOTING. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 02/03/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A260******
Summary

VEHICLE TOYOTA, 2006 HIGHLANDER LIMITED LETTER SENT TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA INC WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION. "AFTER COMING TO A STOP WHEN I DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO RESUME A FORWARD MOTION THERE IS SOMETIMES A ONE OR TWO SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE ENGINE RESPONDS. AND THAT RESUMPTION OF ENGINE SPEED IS NOT A NORMAL RATE BUT AT A HIGHER RATE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO "JUMP A LITTLE FORWARD" BEFORE RESUMING A NORMAL INCREASE IN ACCELERATOR SPEED. IN A GENERAL SENSE I WOULD DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM AS A "DELAYED ACCELERATOR RESPONSE" THAT HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 09/22/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING POWER ON UNEVEN SURFACE. AUTOMOBILE: 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. DEALER STATES IT IS 'NORMAL' AND THAT THE NEWER HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/04/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. REPEATEDLY SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, AND AS RECENTLY AS TODAY, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME TYPE OF BRAKING ISSUES NOW BEING INVESTIGATED WITH RESPECT TO THE TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN BRAKING ON AN UNEVEN OR WET SURFACE, THE CAR WILL JERK FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AND I WILL FEEL AS IF THE BRAKES ARE FAILING. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND TO SERVICE AND THEY DENY THE PROBLEM. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/04/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED 2WD - SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE JUST ANNOUNCED PRIUS BRAKE RECALL. IF I AM BRAKING AND HIT A POTHOLE, THE BRAKES RELAX AND I MUST PUSH MUCH HARDER TO GET THE SAME BRAKING FORCE. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS NEW, BUT HAVE ADAPTED TO IT. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS THE FIX IS LIKELY A SOFTWARE UPDATE. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/30/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID NEW INSTALLED A CAR ALARM AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE LEFT HAND PASSENGER "DOOR AJAR" ALARM WILL BEGIN GOING OFF. THIS IS VERY DISTURBING AND DANGEROUS AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE THE DOME LIGHTS TO FLASH ON AND OFF AS WELL AS THE DINGING OF THE BELL. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN HITTING POT HOLES - BUT I DO NOT ALWAYS FEEL ANY BUMP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY FINALLY TRACED IT TO A CAUSE OF "THE KNOCK SENSOR FOR THE ALARM IS TIED TO THE GROUND IN THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR", THEY SAID THAT THE CONNECTION WAS LOOSE. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE ALARM, THE SECOND AND THIRD, AND ... TIMES THEY SAID THE WIRE WAS LOOSE. THE LAST TIME I ADVISED THEM TO CHANGE WHERE THE ALARM KNOCK SENSOR WAS GROUNDED AND THEY SAID THAT THEY SOLVED THE PROBLEM WITH A BETTER CONNECTION. GRANTED THE PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN MUCH ANYMORE, BUT IT STILL CONTINUES. ON A RECENT TRIP FROM SAN DIEGO TO CORPUS CHRISTIE THE ALARM WENT OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES ON THE SECOND MORNING OF OUR TRIP. IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS IN WHAT SEEMS TO ME AS COOLER DAMPER WEATHER. AGAIN, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT HAS BEEN LARGELY IGNORED BY THE DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA OF POWAY IN POWAY, CA) THE LAST TIME, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY... I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THEM AFTER THIS LAST INCIDENT IN DECEMBER ON OUR TRIP, THEN AGAIN LAST WEEKEND (SATURDAY NIGHT) WHEN DRIVING HOME FROM A CASINO - ABOUT 15 DINGS AND ASSOCIATED FLASHING LIGHTS OVER A FEW SECONDS. *TR

02/04/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/04/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

DURING BRAKING I EXPERIENCED A "SLIPPING" OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN THE CAR HITS ROUGH ROAD OR BUMPS.

02/03/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 11/15/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD WHENEVER SLOW BRAKING (GAS PEDAL NOT PUSHED) EVER SINCE PURCHASE IN 2006, AND STILL BEHAVES THIS WAY NOW. WE HAVE CONTACTED OUR DEALER ON AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT OCCASION, AND ONE ADDITIONAL TIME AFTER THE RECALL BEING ISSUED. EACH TIME, THE DEALER SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE DEALERS MOST RESENT RESPONSE (02/02/2010) WAS THAT OUR CAR IS NOT IN THE RECALLED LIST, AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH OUR CAR. THE DEALER CAN CHECK AGAIN BUT IF THEY STILL FINDS NOTHING WRONG, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CHECK UP. BUT WE HEAR SO MANY REPORTS OF IDENTICAL EXPERIENCE TO OURS IN TOYOTA HYBRID CARS (PRIUS, CAMRY AND HIGHLANDER) THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR LURCHES OR ACCELERATE WHEN SLOW BRAKING!!! *TR

02/03/2010
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

LIVE IN NORTHERN US, 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID, IM FEELING ELECTRICITY ON AND OFF AS IM DRIVING MY CAR, FEEL ELECTRICITY IN QUICK BURSTS THRU LEGS AND THRU SEAT. I TOOK TO DEALER AND SHOWED NOTHING, I THINK THIS IS COVER UP.. *TR

02/01/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 05/22/2007
Crash: Yes
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGP21A560******
Summary

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR INTO AN UNDERGROUND PARKING LOT. I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I TRIED AGAIN. I EVENTUALLY SLAMMED INTO THE WALL AT THE END OF THE PARKING LOT. MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND I WAS HURT, TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND TO HAVE NO BRAKE PROBLEMS, SO I WAS DEEMED AT FAULT FOR THE ACCIDENT. THIS WAS BEFORE WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE FLOOR MAT AND ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTAS. MY INCIDENT WAS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF A RUNAWAY CAR. IT WAS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *TR

01/31/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 01/05/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL LONGER TOWARDS THE FLOOR BEFORE IT WILL STOP. IT FEELS LIKE IT WILL NOT STOP. BATTERY DRAINS OUT AFTER SITTING IN A GARAGE. *TR

01/27/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 05/15/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A660******
Summary

CAR JERKS AS MOVING INTO THE WRONG GEAR. ALSO STUMBLES AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND THEN JERKS INTO A GEAR LURCHING FORWARD. THE CAR ALSO SURGES AT TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. TOLD REPEATEDLY AT DEALER THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*CW

01/23/2010
Components: TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/10/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

THIS INPUT WILL SHOW THE COMMONALITY BETWEEN COMPLAINTS #10139802, 10194711, 10256617, 10259470, 10280157, & 10289084 WHICH ARE FOR MULTIPLE TOYOTA/LEXUS MODELS. ALL THESE COMPLAINTS SAY SAME THING IN DIFFERENT WORDS. PROBLEM IS A VSC ALARM WHICH SETS OFF INDICATORS FOR SKID, ABS, AND OTHER SYSTEMS WITH THE ECU COMPUTER CAUSING AN AUDIBLE ALARM AND MESSAGE TO CHECK VSC SYSTEM. ALARM SEEMS TO PARTIALLY DISABLE BRAKING SYSTEM. BRAKES BECOME MUSHY AND I BELIEVE FRONT BRAKES ARE DISABLED. I KNOW REAR BRAKES STILL OPERATE MECHANICALLY, AND BECAUSE ABS IS DISABLED, REAR BRAKES CAN LOCK UP AND SKID IF BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED HARD ENOUGH. STANDARD RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA/LEXUS IS TO REPLACE ECU COMPUTER. HOWEVER, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM ABOVE COMPLAINTS, THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY OWN COMPLAINT IS FOR MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 4WD-I WITH APPROXIMATELY 54,000 MILES. I EXPERIENCED A ONE TIME VSC ALARM OVER 1 YEAR AGO WHEN THE ENGINE START BATTERY WAS DYING. TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME TO REPLACE BATTERY AND SEE IF PROBLEM CONTINUED. I REPLACED BATTERY AND ALSO HAD ALL FOUR TIRES ROTATED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I STARTED EXPERIENCING MORE VSC ALARMS AT A HIGHER RATE. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AS WELL AS AT LOW SPEED. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED BOTH WITH AND WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. 2 DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO "ADJUST" SYSTEM TO STOP ALARMS WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HAVE GONE AS LONG AS 4 MONTHS WITHOUT AN ALARM AND THEN FOR NO REASON (NO SKID EVENT) ALARM RECURS. SOLUTION BOTH DEALERS HAVE NOW GIVEN IS TO REPLACE ECU. DUE TO FINANCES, I CAN NOT AFFORD NEW COMPUTER, SO I HAD A TOYOTA MECHANIC WITH 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE INSTALL TWO DIFFERENT USED COMPUTERS WITH NEITHER ONE SOLVING PROBLEM. AFTER EXAMINING THE INTERNET AND YOUR COMPLAINT BOARD I NOW REALIZE THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ACROSS TOYOTA'S PRODUCT LINE AND THAT THERE IS NO CLEAR SOLUTION. I BELIEVE TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY HAVE AN ECU COMPUTER PROBLEM. *TR

01/22/2010
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 05/08/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID SOMETIMES SURGES FORWARD ON BRAKING. SEEMS UNPREDICTABLE AS TO WHEN IT MIGHT HAPPEN. BOTH MY WIFE & MYSELF HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I WONDER IF IT IS RELATED TO THE OTHER SUDDEN ACCELERATION RECALL OF OTHER MODEL YEARS. I SEE THE 2007 TO 2010 CAMRY IS PART OF THE RECALL. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE HIGHLANDER SHARES A LOT OF PARTS WITH THAT MODEL. *TR

01/08/2010
Components: TIRES
Incident Date: 01/05/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A260******
Summary

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED HYBRID, BOUGHT NEW, CURRENTLY WITH 40,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES. THE ORIGINAL TIRES, GOODYEAR INTEGRITY TIRES, WERE UNDER WARRANTY FOR 50,000 MILES, WERE REPLACED AT 23,390 MILES. AT THE TIME, I CONTACTED BOTH TOYOTA AND GOODYEAR TO ADVISE THEM OF THE PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. TOYOTA WAS DISMISSIVE, SAYING IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. GOODYEAR HONORED THEIR WARRANTY AND ISSUED CREDIT ON A REPLACEMENT SET OF GOODYEAR INTEGRITY TIRES. THE SECOND SET OF TIRES WAS REPLACED ON JANUARY 5, 2010 WITH ONLY 15,579 MILES ON THEM. IN THE FIRST REPLACEMENT, MY OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS WERE $445.62; RECENT COSTS WERE $547.12; TOTAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS FOR REPLACING PREMATURELY WORN GOODYEAR TIRES: $992.74 I AM BRINGING THIS MATTER TO YOUR ATTENTION FOR THREE REASONS: 1) UNLESS I AM THE ONLY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED HYBRID OWNER WITH THIS ISSUE, I BELIEVE THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT THE SPECIFIED TIRES ARE INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE VEHICLE, AND THEY MAY PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, A GREAT INCONVENIENCE TO THE OWNER; (2) I BELIEVE HAVING TO REPLACE TIRES TWICE ON A VEHICLE WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT IS BOTH HIGHLY UNUSUAL AND ONEROUS; (3) GOODYEAR MAY BE OVERSTATING THEIR TIRE MILEAGE ESTIMATES, A WARRANTY FOR A TIRE WITH 50,000 MILES WHEN IN FACT, IT MAY ONLY GET HALF THAT IF NOT LESS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER, IN THE INTEREST OF CONSUMER SAFETY AND SATISFACTION. AS FOR MYSELF, I SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FROM BOTH TOYOTA AND GOODYEAR FOR HAVING TO REPLACE TWO SETS OF TIRES ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES ON IT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME SHOULD YOU REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *TR

12/29/2009
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 12/24/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

I PURCHASED A 2006 TOYOTA HYBRID HIGHLANDER FROM ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA. ALEXANDRIA, VA. OVER THE YEARS SINCE PURCHASE, I HAVE NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH A PECULIAR "FORWARD THRUST MOVEMENT" WITH ACTIVE BREAKING AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS IN 2007, AS WELL AS MENTIONED IT AT ALL MANUFACTURER CHECKUP TIMES.THE DEALER DOWNLOADED SOME NEW TOYOTA ?DRIVE TRAIN COMPUTERIZED PROGRAM ONCE (?2007) TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM INTERMITTENTLY CONTINUES. HERE IS A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE WHICH OCCURRED CHRISTMAS EVE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PRIOR TO THE STOP SIGN AT THE END OF OUR STREET. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP, INSTEAD IT "THRUST ITSELF", FOR LACK OF BETTER WORD, FURTHER FORWARD WHILE BREAKS WERE APPLIED, FORCING ME TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID BUSY CROSS STREET ONCOMING TRAFFIC. UPON SLAMMING THE BREAKS ALL THE WAY DOWN AND HOLDING, THE CAR REACTED CORRECTLY AND STOPPED. INCHES AWAY FROM A CAR TRAVELING AT 35 MPH OR MORE. OUR STREET ROAD WAS NOT WET NOR DID IT HAVE ICE: THE CAR MOTION WAS NOT ONE OF A SLIPPERY SLIDE. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS 40F. MY TEENS WERE IN THE CAR, AND THE PASSENGER SEATED TEEN OBSERVED THE SITUATION. SHE HAS SIMILARLY REPORTED THIS TENDENCY TO "GO FORWARD" WITH BRAKING RATHER THAN SLOW, AND THE NEED TO PRESS HARD. I WAS NATURALLY UPSET AT THIS NEAR MISS OCCURRENCE CHRISTMAS EVE. I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AT LEAST A HALF A DOZEN TIMES AS I CAN RECALL SINCE PURCHASE. I CALLED TOYOTA WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED TO REPORT IT WITHOUT SATISFACTION. I WENT TO MY DEALER WITHOUT CORRECTION OR RECOGNITION OF IT BEING A PROBLEM. THE RECENT REPORTS ON FELLOW TOYOTA BRANDS HAVE ME WORRIED. ANY CAR THAT GOES FORWARD RATHER THAN STOP UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHEN BREAKS ARE APPLIED IS WORRISOME. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR EVALUATION OF THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN YOUR REVIEW. IS TOYOTA AWARE AND NOT TELLING US? I WANT NHTSA TO KNOW ABOUT THIS AND I APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU HAVE TO OFFER. *TR

12/10/2009
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 12/10/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A460******
Summary

TODAY MY REAR WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE CONNECTING TAB OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN, I AM THE SOLE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE, SO EXPLAIN TO ME HOW A 3 YEAR OLD AUTO THAT IS NOT ABUSED,THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAVE A BILL FOR $160.89 TO COGGIN TOYOTA AT THE AVENUES, JACKSONVILLE,FL. I AM RECENTLY WIDOWED, ON A FIXED INCOME AND IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING WITH ONE OF MY CHILDREN. LOVE THE CAR, DRIVES LIKE A DREAM, NO PREVIOUS MAJOR PROBLEMS. I WOULD APPRECIATE CONSIDERING SOME COMPENSATION REGARDING THIS BILL THAT COMES AT A VERY EMOTIONAL TIME OF MY LIFE. PLEASE CONSIDER MY REQUEST. *TR

11/27/2009
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 09/16/2009
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A260******
Summary

I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, MADE A RIGHT TURN TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE. I SLOWED DOWN BUT IT SEEMED THE CAR ACCELERATED. IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, THE CAR WENT THROUGH A ROW OF BUSHES AND SLAMMED INTO A TREE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

11/13/2009
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 07/15/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

I OWN TWO HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS, 2006. ONE WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2005, THE OTHER IN SEPTEMBER 2006. ON THE OLDER OF THE TWO, IN FRONT OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS I HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME MELTED PLASTIC SHOWN IN MULTIPLE PICTURES I FOUND ONLINE. ON THE NEWER ONE, YOU CAN SEE IMPERFECTIONS FORMING ON ONE SIDE, AND A SMALLER FULLY MELTED AREA IN THE OTHER. I AM IN TOUCH WITH TOYOTA AND THEY ARE OFFERING NEW LENS PARTS AND I MUST PAY LABOR. I PUSHED BACK AND TOLD THEM I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, AND THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY BOTH MY ORIGINAL WARRANTY AND THE NEARLY $2000 TOYOTA ASSURANCE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS DEFECT WILL ULTIMATELY OBSCURE THE LIGHT AND MAKE MY VEHICLE HARDER TO SEE ON THE ROAD, WHICH PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. AS THE PROBLEM PROGRESSES, A HOLE WILL FORM IN THE LENS ALLOWING CHILDREN TO TOUCH THE EXTREMELY HOT HALOGEN LIGHTS, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS BURNS. IT WILL ALSO EXPOSE THE HEADLAMPS TO DAMAGE FROM ROCKS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY THE MELTED PART. FROM THE TWO HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2006'S I HAVE, IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA'S MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM BECOMES APPARENT BETWEEN 40,000 AND 60,000 MILES. RELATED ODI NUMBERS FOR MY OTHER 2006 HIGHLANDER, WHICH IS A YEAR OLDER AND HAS A MORE PRONOUNCED PROBLEM DUE TO THE ADDITIONAL TIME WITH THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON: 10292093 MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM EXIST ON THE HIGHLANDER 2005 MODEL COMPLAINT FILED 20070816, CROWNSVILLE, MD (RESULTED IN FIRE IN HEADLAMP) COMPLAINT FILED 20060712, SETAUKET, NY. *TR MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM EXIST ON THE HIGHLANDER 2004 MODEL COMPLAINT FILED 20050409, MEDWAY MA COMPLAINT FILED 20081222, QUINCY, WA COMPLAINT FILED 20071203, SPARKS, MD

11/13/2009
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 07/15/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

I OWN TWO HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS, 2006. ONE WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2005, THE OTHER IN SEPTEMBER 2006. ON THE OLDER OF THE TWO, IN FRONT OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS I HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME MELTED PLASTIC SHOWN IN MULTIPLE PICTURES I FOUND ONLINE. ON THE NEWER ONE, YOU CAN SEE IMPERFECTIONS FORMING ON ONE SIDE, AND A SMALLER FULLY MELTED AREA IN THE OTHER. I AM IN TOUCH WITH TOYOTA AND THEY ARE OFFERING NEW LENS PARTS AND I MUST PAY LABOR. I PUSHED BACK AND TOLD THEM I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, AND THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY BOTH MY ORIGINAL WARRANTY AND THE NEARLY $2000 TOYOTA ASSURANCE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS DEFECT WILL ULTIMATELY OBSCURE THE LIGHT AND MAKE MY VEHICLE HARDER TO SEE ON THE ROAD, WHICH PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. AS THE PROBLEM PROGRESSES, A HOLE WILL FORM IN THE LENS ALLOWING CHILDREN TO TOUCH THE EXTREMELY HOT HALOGEN LIGHTS, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS BURNS. IT WILL ALSO EXPOSE THE HEADLAMPS TO DAMAGE FROM ROCKS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY THE MELTED PART. FROM THE TWO HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2006'S I HAVE, IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA'S MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM BECOMES APPARENT BETWEEN 40,000 AND 60,000 MILES. *TR

10/02/2009
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 09/30/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A260******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH HE LOST POWER STEERING. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE RACK AND PINION, AND ELECTRICAL MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 61,000.

09/16/2009
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 03/16/2009
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Summary

TODAY, ANOTHER LEXUS /TOYOTA HAS AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM WHICH FINALLY CAUSED 4 DEATHS. MANY OF US HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. YOU HAVE 3 AT LEAST ALREADY LISTED IN YOUR COMPLAINTS. 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS (3) JUST TOOK OFF AND DRIVERS COULDN'T STOP THEM (I AM ONE) UNTIL THE CAR HIT SOMETHING. LEXUS TOO, MADE BY TOYOTA. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS. I WROTE TOYOTA TO EXPLAIN THAT I DID NOT PUT MY FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. I GOT A GENERIC LETTER BACK, WITHOUT HELP OR EXPLANATION. WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS , SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATIONS.. MY CAR FLEW THROUGH THE AIR WITH ME SCREAMING , TRYING TO STOP IT. I HIT HEADON INTO A CEMENT SIDE OF AN IRRIGATION DITCH. PASSENGER IS STILL IN REHAB SINCE MARCH OF THIS YEAR. IS IT JUST THE MATS, AS THE SAN DIEGO PRESS IS SUGGESTING WITH THE DEATH OF THE CHP AND HIS 3 FAMILY MEMBERS? I THINK NOT. SOMETHING IN ONE OF THE SYSTEMS, CODES, CRUISE CONTROL, COMPUTER OR ??? PLEASE CHECK THESE OUT. TOYOTA HAS KEPT QUIET LONG ENOUGH. FARMERS INSURANCE IS CODING MY ACCIDENT AS MY FAULT, YET I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND DID NOT CAUSE THIS ONE. *TR

06/25/2009
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 03/31/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

4 RO'S; 3 REPAIRS; AND 25 DAYS DOWN AIR BAG LIGHT TOYOTA HAS REPAIRED ALL WARRANTY CONDITIONS WE SUMMITED A HEARING WITH THE CALIFORNIA DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROGRAM (CDSP) AND TOYOTA "SEEKS FOR CUSTOMER'S REQUEST OF A BUYBACK/REPLACEMENT BE DENIED. *TR

04/28/2009
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 03/28/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER W/ 3.4 LITER ENGINE HAS HESITATION WHEN SHIFTING DOWN TO 2ND OR 1ST GEAR, E.G., STEPPING ON THE GAS FROM A COMPLETE STOP TO TURN AGAINST ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THERE IS A DISCONCERTING MOMENT OF HESITATION BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO ENGAGE. DEALER TOLD ME IT IS NORMAL DUE TO THE FLY-BY-WIRE TECHNOLOGY. I DON'T BELIEVE IT AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IT'S SAFETY. I AM ALSO WORRIED THAT I WAITED THIS LONG TO BRING IT UP BECAUSE THE CAR HAS 35,550 MILES ON IT AND THE WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO RUN OUT. I HAVE HEARD THIS FROM OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS TOO. *TR

04/26/2009
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 10/16/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A260******
Summary

WE OWN A 2006 HIGHLANDER WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW. IT HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN GOING DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY (185 FEET AT 35 DEGREE SLOPE) WHEN THE BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED TO STOP BEFORE ENTERING A CROSS STREET, ON OCCASION THERE IS LITTLE TO NO BRAKING. IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO QUICKLY PUMP THE BRAKE TO ACCOMPLISH BRAKING. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. DISCUSSIONS WITH THE TOYOTA DEALER RESULTED IN NO RESOLUTION. THE EXPLANATION WAS THAT THE VEHICLE'S COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM OR ABS WAS SENSING THE SLOPE AS A DECELERATION AND WAS REACTING ACCORDINGLY. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO REPORTED PROBLEMS (RECALLS) PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE AND WE SHOULD JUST CONTINUE TO BE READY TO PUMP THE BRAKE OR PUMP THEM BEFORE WE START DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. *TR

03/18/2009
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 03/15/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

FROM A PARKED POSITION, I STARTED ENGINE ON 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CAR MOVED FORWARD FOR A FEW SECONDS AT SLOW SPEED, THEN VERY RAPIDLY ACCELERATED SO THAT I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. SERIOUS INJURIES OCCURRED. CAR FLEW THROUGH AIR AND ONLOOKERS HEARD ENGINE REV UP.WE LANDED IN A WATER CANAL. *TR

02/02/2009
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 01/25/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID PERIODICALLY LUNGES FORWARD UPON BRAKING AND WHEN STOPPED. *TR

01/30/2009
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 01/29/2009
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A160******
Summary

COMMENTS: DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. IN AUGUST OF 2008 WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER & CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO BRAKE NOR STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS DONE. MY HUSBAND WRESTLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ALLEYWAY & THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE "ELECTRIC LINK ASSEMBLY" & THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. YESTERDAY MORNING AT 6AM I GOT INTO THE CAR & TURNED THE KEY, THE "READY" LIGHT CAME ON & I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE & PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE GAS ENGINE CAME ON FULL POWER & THE CAR FLEW BACKWARD. I TRIED FRANTICALLY TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TRYING TO STOP THE CAR & STEER THE CAR WHILE CAREENING IN REVERSE. THE CAR SLAMMED INTO OUR REAR NEIGHBORS VEHICLE (WHICH IS TO THE BACK & RIGHT OF OUR GARAGE ACROSS THE ALLEY) OUR CAR PUSHED THEIRS OVER 4-6 FEET & CONTINUED TRYING TO REVERSE FULL POWER OVER THEIR BUSHES I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO SO I SLAMMED THE CAR INTO THE "PARK" POSITION. THE CAR STOPPED BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. I SHUT IT OFF & JUMPED OUT. I WAS NOT INJURED, HOWEVER OUR CAR & OUR NEIGHBORS WAS DAMAGED. THE CAR WAS AGAIN TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I CONVEYED TO THEM WHAT HAPPENED & THE CAR IS THERE NOW GETTING CHECKED. I CALLED THEM IN THE EVENING TO ASK WHAT THEY HAD FOUND & THEY STATED THEY WERE TRYING TO "REENACT" WHAT HAPPENED. THEY MUST FIND WHAT IT IS IN THIS CARS COMPUTER THAT CONTINUES TO CAUSE THESE CATASTROPHIC MALFUNCTIONS. HAD I BEEN AT A SCHOOL OR SHOPPING LOT SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I AM A PERSON WHO BELIEVES IN ACCOUNTABILITY & OWNERSHIP OF RESPONSIBILITY & IF THIS WERE MY FAULT IN ANY WAY I WOULD NOT BE WRITING YOU TODAY. I FEEL YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SO NO ONE IN THE FUTURE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

01/28/2009
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 01/20/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, 54,248 MILES I BROUGHT MY 2006 HIGHLANDER INTO A DEALER FACILITY FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND TO INVESTIGATE A V.S.C. WARNING LIGHT INDICATION THAT HAD APPEARED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE OBD TEST REVEALED A C1241 CODE. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. I FOLLOWED THE SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED THE V.S.C /ABS/CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ON. RETURNED TO DEALER WHERE OBD TEST INDICATEDC1300 FAILED SKID CONTROL ECU. VEHICLE APPEARS TO OPERATE WITHOUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKE, VEHICLE SKID CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY. VEHICLE HANDLING IS VERY UNSTABLE. NEAR CRASH ON FREEWAY WHEN LEFT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP. *TR

01/13/2009
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 12/18/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A660******
Summary

AFTER 10,000 MILE SERVICE AND NEW BATTERY AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS USE THE CAR'S STEERING FAILED TO RESPOND IN STORE PARKING LOT . I HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THE CAR'S THREE YEAR WARRANTY ENDED IN SEPT. AND I DID NOT PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALER ADVISED AFTER 3 DAYS THAT PARTS FOR RACK & PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE ORDERED THEY WERE $1500 AN A DEPOSIT WAS REQUIRED. IN 3 WEEKS THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED REQUESTED SOME TYPE ASSISTANCE SO DEALER TOOK OFF $200.00 THE BILL. *TR

01/12/2009
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 01/10/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A460******
Summary

I WAS PULLING UP TO SUBWAY AND I NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WAS A LITTLE TIGHT. I WENT AND ATE AND THEN HEADED TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE IN ORLANDO. WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY I ALMOST HIT A CAR BECAUSE THE STEERING STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND LEFT. I MADE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ORLANDO BECAUSE IT WAS RIGHT NEXT TO ME, BUT AS I WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING THE WHEEL WOULDN'T STOP MOVING BACK-IN-FORTH. THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS FOR FREE, EVEN THOUGH I COULD OF KILLED OR INJURED MYSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE AROUND ME. TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND FIX IT!!! *TR

12/31/2008
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 12/29/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

PULLING AWAY FROM PARKED POSITION. STEERING SYSTEM FAILED,MAKING VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT TOWN&COUNTRY TOYOTA IN CHARLOTTE NC. HAD THIS FAILURE HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED A FATAL ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. *TR

12/17/2008
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 12/16/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A560******
Summary

HI, THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKING, THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY AND AND VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD AND THIS IS INTERMITTENT. IT BEEN RECURRING FOR SOME TIME AND THE DEALERSHIP(TOYOTA OF HACKENSACK) WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AD ARE DISMISSIVE TO DOWNRIGHT DISRESPECTFUL . WHEN YOU BRAKE ST TIMES THE VEHICLE CONTINUES FORWARD LIKE THE BRAKES ARE NOT HOLDING OR NO BRAKES BEING APPLIED. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LINKS BELOW ITS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.HYBRIDCARS.COM/FORUMS/TOYOTA-HIGHLANDER-HYBRID-T404.HTML HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0D8058/3 HTTP://WWW.HYBRIDCARS.COM/FORUMS/BRAKE-FAILURE-2007-T1013.HTML HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS04/2007/09/PRIUS_ACCELERATE.HTML THANKS MANOJ DAS *TR

12/14/2008
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 12/06/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

I TURNED ON THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP OR WAS NOT POWERSTEERING ANY LONGER AND FOR A 55 YEAR OLD WOMAN DRIVING THIS CAR IS IMPOSSIBLE. *TR

12/11/2008
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Incident Date: 03/09/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD GET 35 MILES PER GALLON IN THE CITY; HOWEVER, IT ONLY GETS 21 MILES. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY APPRECIATED HIS INPUT AND COMMENTS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

11/09/2008
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 11/08/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

THE STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING, DIDN'T LOCK, BUT IT TOOK RAW MUSCLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO AVOID HITTING A TREE. NO INDICATION OF ANYTHING THAT WAS WRONG PRIOR LOSS OF STEERING. MY WIFE WAS ON A WINDING ROAD AND SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN (THE PREVIOUS TURN ON THE ROAD WAS A LEFT) AND THE WHEEL STARTED TO, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, BUCK BACK AND FORTH. SHE HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME TO STOP BEFORE THE NEXT TURN IN THE ROAD. NO CRASH AND NO INJURY, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED. *TR

10/23/2008
Components: POWER TRAIN,TIRES
Incident Date: 10/15/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. IT HAS THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE "I"SYSTEM. ANY TIME THE VEHICLE SENSES SLIPPING IN THE TIRES IT CUTS POWER TO ALL WHEELS. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN VERY MANAGEABLE CONDITIONS. NOT ONLY DO YOU NOT GET 4 WHEEL DRIVE TO HELP OUT OF ADVERSE CONDITIONS, YOU GET NO DRIVE TO ANY WHEELS AND ARE LEFT STUCK. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO DO THIS TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THERE IS NO INFORMATION IN ANY OF THE LITERATURE PROVIDED WHEN PURCHASING A VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE SOLD TO ANYONE WHO DRIVES IN SNOW OR ON ANY THING OTHER THAN AN IMPROVED ROAD. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE BUT WILL NOT CORRECT IT, NOR INFORM BUYERS ABOUT IT'S DESIGN. THIS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY STRAND DRIVERS IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS THEY DEEM MANAGEABLE. *TR

10/08/2008
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 10/06/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WITH 43058 MILES. ON OCTOBER 6, 2008, AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ONE HOUR, I DECIDED TO VISIT MY PARENTS, WHILE BACKING-UP TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET, I LOSS ALL THE POWER STEERING. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE, FINALLY I REACH A SAVE AREA. A SIGNAL WAS LIGHTED ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL, AFTER READING THE OWNERS MANUAL, I FIND A PAGE WERE STATES THAT THE EPS SYSTEM CAN PROTECT ITSELF FROM OVERHEATING CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. IN A HIGHLIGHTED SECTION OF THE OWNERS MANUAL, IT ASK THE OWNER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER IF A EPS FAILURE HAPPENS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AS RECOMMENDED BY THE OWNERS MANUAL. THEY ARE AWARE THAT THE EPS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING BUT WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. BY THE SIMILAR CASES FOUND IN THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME EPS ISSUE I CAN FORECAST THAT THE COST OF THE REPAIR WILL BE ANYWHERE FROM $2,000 TO $3,000 PLUS THE FACT THAT SPARE PARTS ARE ABOUT 20% HIGHER COST IN PUERTO RICO THAN THE REST OF THE US, IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE.I DO NOT AGREE THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND QUALITY ISSUE THAT IS THE MANUFACTURERS (TOYOTA) RESPONSIBILITY. WHY DO I NEED TO PAY FOR A REPAIR THAT IS A MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBILITY? NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP OR THE TOYOTA DISTRIBUTOR ON PUERTO RICO HAS BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY OR PROVIDE SUPPORT TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE EPS FAILURE. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE EPS FAILURE IN THE 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID.

10/07/2008
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 10/07/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID (43,058 MILES) - LOSS OF ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST AFTER DRIVING ONE HOUR IN THE HIGHWAY, I STOPPED AT MY PARENTS HOUSE, WHEN I WAS MANEUVERING TO PARK THE SUV IN THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I LOST THE EPS ASSIST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT IN THE HIGHWAY AND THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE SUV TO A SAVE SPOT AFTER THE LOSS OF THE EPS ASSIST. I TOOK MY HIGHLANDER TO TOYOTA AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER, AT THE BEGINNING THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED AN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE ISSUE, EVEN WHEN I HAVE FOUND INFORMATION IN THIS SITE THAT MORE THAN 109 SIMILAR CASES HAS BEEN REPORTED (INVESTIGATION#PE 06-055). IT IS TOTALLY UNFAIR THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIR THAT IS CLEARLY IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT YOUR CONVENIENCE. THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE SOLVED ASAP. THERE IS PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK. *TR

10/05/2008
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 10/05/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A160******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. POWER STEERING FAILED PULLING AWAY FROM HOUSE. IMMEDIATE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING SIGNS. I THINK THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY WIFE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE IS SO HARD TO STEER, I WOULD HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY WIFE WERE DRIVING ANYWHERE. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 52,000 MILES. I TYPICALLY KEEP A VEHICLE UNTIL IT HAS 250, 000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER SUFFERED A FAILURE LIKE THIS IN THE 32 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING. *TR

09/09/2008
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 09/08/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A960******
Summary

UPON ACCELERATION THE 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2 WD SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. THIS HAPPENED ONCE IN REVERSE AND ONCE IN DRIVE BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT ONSET. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN THUS FAR (2 DAYS AGO). THE SUV WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY WHERE THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I AM NOW AWARE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA'S, ESP THE CAMRY, UPON WHICH THE HIGHLANDER IS BASED. *TR

09/08/2008
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 09/06/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUDDENLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE CAR WAS LATER TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN HANFORD,CA. THE CAR HAS 140 MILES OVER 100,000 MILES AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM WAS LATER POINTED OUT TO THE INVERTER AND IT WILL COST ME ROUGHLY $5,000. *TR

08/05/2008
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 08/04/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A260******
Summary

DASH BOARD DWSCRIPTION: CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. CHECK VSC SYSTEM THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2006 HYBRID FAILURE. SUV JUST STOPPED CAUSING ME TO HAVE WHIP LASH. VERY DANGEROUS. EMAIL BELOW EXPLAINS MORE... EMAIL: YESTERDAY 08/04/08 AROUND 05:17 PM, MY HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUV HYBRID SYSTEM FAILED. IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND 30 MPH. THE CAR JUST HALTED. IT ACTED LIKE IF YOU WENT FROM 5TH GEAR TO 2ND GEAR, A BIG JOLT; CAUSING ME TO HAVE A WHIP LASH. MY LEFT SIDE OF MY NECK REALLY HURTS AND I CANNOT TURN MY HEAD TO MY RIGHT....MY QUESTION TO TOYOTA IS WHY DIDN'T THE SYSTEM DEFAULT TO THE GAS ENGINE INSTEAD OF JUST STOPPING? YOU KNOW IF THIS HAPPENED TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY, I MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR EVEN KILLED. I THINK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE. WHAT WILL TOYOTA DO TO MAKE ME FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH MY FAMILY? I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME AGAIN, BECAUSE WHO KNOWS IF I WILL SURVIVE IT OR NOT. *TR

07/24/2008
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 07/17/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A360******
Summary

I BOUGHT AN '06 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN JUNE OF '07. FOR THE LAST 9 MONTHS I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY MAIN CONCERN IS IT STALLS OUT IN TRAFFIC. IT HAS STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE, HIGHWAYS, WAITING TO MAKE TURNS AND SITTING IN TRAFFIC. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN IS TO TURN IT OFF AND RESTART IT. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS REGARDING THIS BUT BECAUSE IT IS NOT REGISTERING AN "ERROR" CODE THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS "NOTHING THEY CAN DO." IT HAS BECOME SO BAD THAT I FEAR FOR MY FAMILY, MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS SURROUNDING ME. ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES AT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS HE BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP MAKES ME FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE GETTING HURT OR KILLED BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! WHY SHOULD IT COST MY FAMILY OR THE SURROUNDING PUBLIC THEIR LIFE OR INJURY FOR DEALERSHIPS TO REALLY MAKE AN EFFORT TO WORK ON A VEHICLE? I PUT THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT DOWN AS THE INCIDENT DATE BUT IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

07/19/2008
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 01/28/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A960******
Summary

DRIVER'S SUNVISOR CONSTANTLY FALLS WAY FROM GLASS AND POINTS ALMOST STRAIGHT DOWN, BLOCKING MOST VISION OF THE ROAD. HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE NEW (12/2006) UNDER WARRANTY, AND NOW THE 4TH VISOR IS FAILING. THEY ONLY SEEM TO LAST ABOUT 3-9 MONTHS BEFORE ROD SLEEVE TENSION BUSHING WEARS OUT. I DO NOT HANG OR CLIP ANYTHING TO THE VISOR. "DATE OF INCIDENT" IS NOT MEANINGFUL; BLOCKED VISION HAPPENS EVERY DAY UNTIL I GET A NEW SUNVISOR. THIS IS ON A LIGHTED VISOR; IT IS NOT THE VISOR WITH THE TOYOTA HOMELINK FEATURE. *TR

07/02/2008
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 07/01/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WITH OVER 50K MILES ON IT. ON 1 JULY, 2008 I STARTED MY CAR IN THE MORNING TO DRIVE TO MY COMMUTER LOCATION AND FOUND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING HAD BEEN FINE WHEN I PULLED IN THE EVENING BEFORE AND SOMEHOW JUST FAILED SITTING STILL OVER NIGHT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND RESORTED TO CALLING TOYOTA TECHNICIAN'S IN CALIFORNIA. THEY'VE NOW TOLD ME TODAY THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RACK AND SINCE MY CAR IS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY TERMS (OVER 36K) IT WILL COST $1,840. IN MY INTERNET RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE I'VE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS OCCURRING ON BOTH THE 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND THE 2006 LEXUS RX400 HYBRID. YOUR AGENCY EVEN INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE (#PE06055) BUT UNFORTUNATELY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT SINCE IT ONLY SEEMED TO OCCUR AT LOW OR NO SPEED AND NO ONE HAD BEEN HURT OR KILLED THAT IT DIDN'T WARRANT A RECALL. I THINK THAT TOYOTA AND YOUR AGENCY HAVE JUST BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES UP TO THIS POINT. YOU RISK SERIOUS PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT IF TOYOTA IS NOT FORCED TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. *TR

06/16/2008
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 06/10/2008
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Summary

I WAS HIT AT APPROX 40-50 MPH FORCING MY CAR INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME IN TRAFFIC BOTH OF US AD A DEAD STOP ON RTE 1 SOUTH SAUGUS MA. I HAVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED AND LOOKS LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERING THE IMPACT THAT I MADE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AFTER I WAS HIT. I HAVE NECK, SHOULDER AND BACK INJURIES. *TR

06/07/2008
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 05/12/2008
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

WE DROVE OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HOME FROM TOWN AT ABOUT 7:00 P.M. ON A COOL EVENING, (SIX MILES) 1/2 MILE IS A FAIRLY STEEP HILL TO CLIMB. ON PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND STOPPING I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND TOLD MY HUSBAND I THOUGHT THE BRAKES WERE HOT. AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE HOOD. HE OPENED IT AND THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE LOWER CENTER AREA OF THE ENGINE UNDER THE RADIATOR HOSE. HE GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE GARAGE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER IN UKIAH. THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 22 DAYS. AFTER THE FIRST DAY THEY REPORTED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD SET THE MOTOR MOUNT ON FIRE AND THAT TOYOTA WAS SENDING A TEAM OF ENGINEERS TO LOOK INTO THE CAUSE. THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT, THE RADIATOR HOSE, AIR FUEL SENSOR, FRONT WIRING HARNESS, SEALS AND GASKETS WERE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERS SERVICE SUMMARY, "THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. NO MANUFACTURERS DEFECTS WERE FOUND. " WE FIND IT STRANGE THAT A TWO YEAR OLD TOYOTA WITH 24,000 MILES AND HAVING BEEN SERVICED ONE WEEK BEFORE THE INCIDENT SHOULD CATCH ON FIRE AFTER DRIVING 6 MILES. THEY CLAIM THE CAR IS RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION BUT WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE WE DON'T KNOW IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

05/30/2008
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/28/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A060******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO APPLY THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKES BECOME UNRESPONSIVE, AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

05/29/2008
Components: TIRES
Incident Date: 05/29/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF MY VEHICLE, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARATING AND THAT ALL OF THEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE ON THE TIRES WAS LESS THAN 16,000 MILES. THE TIRE MODEL IS TOYO TRANSPATH A11. *TR

05/27/2008
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 05/27/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGP21A560******
Summary

FRIDAY EARLY MAY 2008, I CARRIED MY HIGHLANDER FOR IT'S 30K SERVICE AT 28K, DUE TO HESITATION, LURCHING, BACKFIRING AT TIMES AND POOR GAS MILEAGE. AT THE SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THEY CLEAN THE ACCELERATOR SENOR. THE VEHICLE RAN FINE GETTING 28 MILES PER GALLON, BUT NOTICE A CHANGE IN THE VEHICLE GROUNDING. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE NOISE THOUGH THE RADIO SOMETIMES IN THE MORNING. THE ENGINE NOISE WAS ADDED FEATURE. I NOTICED THE ENGINE SHIFTING WAS SMOOTH UNTIL THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY. IT WAS RAIN TRAFFIC MEDIUM DRIVING 65 MPH. THE HIGHLANDER CONSUMED A QUARTER OF A TANK WITHIN 20 MILES. MY HIGHLANDER IS KEPT IN GARAGE NIGHTLY AND MOST OF THE DAY. I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO MY NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER ON 16MAY08 31K. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP RESET MY VEHICLE?S COMPUTER BY CONNECTING THE BATTERY AND RECONNECTION. I WAS TOLD 2 WEEKS BEFORE HAND AT THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS A POSSIBLY OF VEHICLE ?S COMPUTER SOFTWARE NEEDING UPGRADING WHEN THEY CLEANED THE ACCELERATOR SENOR. TODAY, THE VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE THE SMOOTH ACCELERATING POWER. FOR THIS VEHICLE, RIDING IN TRAFFIC CAUSES SERIOUS PROBLEMS DUE LACK OF POWER LURCHING, POOR GAS MILEAGE OR THE POSSIBLE OF LOSING CONTROL. NO COMPUTER TEST WAS COMPLETED. I CHANGE GAS STATION TYPES AND VARIOUS GAS TREATMENTS, IT ?S NOT THE GAS. I HAVE DRIVING AND WORKING ON CARS SINCE 1978 FROM ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND BRAKES. I EVEN NOTICED WHEN THE HIGHLANDER IS FULL WITH GAS. THE VEHICLE SOMETIME COUGH OR DELAY. IS THERE A LEMON LAW THIS? *TR

05/04/2008
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 04/27/2008
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A460******
Summary

VEHICLE STARTED TO LOOSE BRAKE PRESSURE WHEN GOING DOWN HILL OR MOVING AHEAD SLOWLY AS IN A FAST FOOD REST LINE. THE BRAKES WOULD HOLD AT FIRST THEN LOOSE PRESSURE TO A POINT WERE YOU HAD TO PUSH HARDER ON THE PEDAL TO MAKE THEM WORK. THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON A HILL WHICH WOULD TAKE YOU BY SURPRISE AND CAUSE THE CAR TO BE OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL YOU PUSHED HARDER ON THE BRAKE. IF A CAR WAS COMING FROM ANOTHER INTERSECTION YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TIME TO STOP YOUR CAR AND COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT. WHILE IN A LINE AT THE DRIVE THRU THE BRAKE PRESSURE LET GO AND MY CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AND THE OTHER DRIVER WAS NICE ENOUGH TO FORGIVE ME BUT THAT MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE THE WAY. THE CAR WAS GOING IN FOR SERVICE THE NEXT DAY OR SO AND I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS A NORMAL CONDITION OF THE HYBRID. THIS WAS AFTER THE TECH. PERSON DROVE THE CAR AND SAID HE FELT IT, HE ALSO DROVE ANOTHER HYBRID AND HE SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHICH TO ME PROVES MY POINT. I CALLED TOYOTA THEY AND THE DEALER SAY THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I TOLD THEM IT DID NOT DO THIS WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IT ONLY STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO WHICH PROVES IT IS NOT A NORMAL CONDITION. *TR

04/30/2008
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Incident Date: 04/27/2008
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SLOW SPEED DUE TO TRAFFIC, AROUND 20 MPH. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME UNEXPECTEDLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I HAD 2 CAR LENGTHS AND PUT ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR NEVER "GRABBED"--I JUST SLOWED AND COASTED INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. BECAUSE THE ABS ON A HYBRID DOES NOT KICK IN UNTIL THE CAR REACHES 25 MPH, MY CAR WAS BUSY REGENERATING POWER FROM THE BRAKES RATHER THAN DOING A QUICK, EMERGENCY STOP. NOW I AM LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME THAT I REAR-ENDED, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT I WOULD NOT STOP PROPERLY IF A CHILD RAN IN FRONT OF ME ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. THIS HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AS A PROBLEM WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS AS WELL ON HYBRIDCARS.COM FORUM. *TR

04/09/2008
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 04/08/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING ON THREE SEPARATE EPISODES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED BY DEALER. BRAKES AGAIN SERVICED BY DEALER, BUT I AM NOT AWARE OF WHAT WAS DONE. BY LUCK ONLY, THE FAILURES OCCURRED IN LOCATIONS WHERE TRAFFIC COULD SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING US, OR WE HAD ROOM TO GO OFF OF THE ROAD AND HIT A SNOW BANK OR COAST TO A STOP. *TR

01/23/2008
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 01/06/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4WD. THE TRANSMISSION IS A 5 SPEED AND IT CONTINUOUSLY DOWNSHIFTS EVEN ON THROTTLE WHEN UPHILL AND ON FLAT ROAD HIGHWAYS THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUOUSLY GEAR HUNTING. WHEN I NEED IT TO MOVE WITH FULL THROTTLE IT SEEMS EVEN TO SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR AND ALWAYS GET A FEELING I MAY GET REAR ENDED. IF THE THROTTLE IS PUSHED FURTHER THE VEHICLE BUCKS INTO HIGH GEAR MAKING IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE AS TO THE RESPONSE TO HIGHER THROTTLE. *TR

12/25/2007
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 12/24/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE LEFT IN THE DIRECTION OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THEN TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT VERY QUICKLY. MY HUSBAND HAD TO STEER WITH HIS ARMS BRACED AGAINST HIS KNEES TO DRIVE IT DOWN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE STEERING ASSIST MOTORS WERE NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION FROM THE DRIVER PROPERLY AND SO WERE PULLING THE CAR IN RANDOM DIRECTIONS. IF SOMEONE WITH LESS UPPER BODY STRENGTH (LIKE ME) HAD BEEN DRIVING, THE CAR WOULD HAVE GONE RIGHT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE HIGHLANDER WILL BE AT THE DEALER FOR A WHILE; THEY CAN'T TELL US HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO FIX IT. WE ARE HOPING THAT THE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY WILL NOT DO THE SAME THING. *TR

10/30/2007
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 07/08/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21A560******
Summary

I ACCELERATED TO AVOID A COLLISION AT LOW SPEED IN AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR HESITATED ABOUT 2 SECONDS AFTER I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, THEN LURCHED FORWARD, SPINNING THE DRIVE WHEELS. THE LENGTH OF DELAY OR HESITATION IN RESPONSE TO ACCELERATOR INPUT IS FREQUENTLY THERE, BUT IS SOMEWHAT UNPREDICTABLE, MAKING STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC PERFORMANCE DANGEROUS. POOR PERFORMANCE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION IS PROBABLY RELATED TO THIS DEFECT. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AT 1500 MILES. THE DEALER DID A THOROUGH CHECK OF THE EQUIPMENT AND FOUND NO DEFECTIVE PARTS. DEALER STATES THAT THERE ARE NO SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THIS PROBLEM, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM AND PROMISED TO FIX IT SINCE DECEMBER 2004. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. HAD THE PAVEMENT BEEN WET, I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, IN THE INCIDENT DESCRIBED, THE OTHER DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. NEXT TIME, I MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *TR

10/24/2007
Components: STEERING,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 10/14/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

LAST SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2007, I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AT HORMIGUEROS, PR (ZIP CODE 00660), WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE'S STEERING GOT REALLY STIFF. IT ALL HAPPENED AT A CRUISING SPEED OF 40-45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE'S TURNING WHEEL GOT HARD AND IT GOT REALLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I SURELY GOT THE SCARE OF MY LIFE. I EXPERIENCED SOME DIFFICULTIES WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PARK IT IN A SAFE PLACE. THE VEHICLE'S CONTROL PANEL INDICATED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE: VERIFY THE HYBRID SYSTEM. WE TOOK IT THE SAME DAY TO THE NEAREST DEALER (THE ONE THAT I ALSO BOUGHT THE VEHICLE) TOYOTA DEL OESTE, LOCATED AT HORMIGUEROS, PR (00660). MY VEHICLE HAS RECEIVED EVERY SERVICE RECOMENDED BY TOYOTA SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IN OCTOBER 19, 2007 TOYOTA DEL OESTE GAVE ME A QUOTE (NUMBER PQ2105) FOR $5,957.45 FOR THE REPAIRING COSTS OF MY VEHICLE. THE QUOTE SPECIFIED A TRANSAXLE ASSY FOR $4867.71, PLUS $700 FOR 14 LABOR HOURS AND A LOCAL TAX OF $389.74. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT ONCE THE TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED IT WILL HAVE ONE YEAR ONLY WARRANTY. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THE TRANSAXLE ASSY WAS NOT PART OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM SO THE WARRANTY CAN NOT COVER THE REPAIR COSTS (MY VEHICLE HAD APROX. 66,000 MILES. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, WARRANTY FOR HYBRID COMPONENTS IS 8 YEARS / 80,000 MILES). MY CONCERNS: 1) HOW I, AS A CONSUMER, MAKE SURE THAT TOYOTA IS NOT MAKING ME PAY FOR A DEFECT THAT MY VEHICLE MAY HAVE FROM THE FACTORY? 2) HOW I AM GOING TO BE SURE THAT IF THEY REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE ASSY I WILL NOT BE EXPOSED AGAIN TO AN UNSAFE SITUATION RELATED WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM (REMEMBER THAT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF ROADS ACROSS THE ISLAND OF PUERTO RICO ARE BUILT OVER MOUNTAINS). 3) HOW DO I REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THE DEALER IS TRULY MAKING ME PAY FOR A COMPONENT THAT IS NOT PART OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND CAN NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY (REMEMBER THAT, ALTHOUGH OTHER MANUFACTURERS MAYBE AVAILABLE, HYBRID TECHNOLOGY IN PUERTO RICO IS DOMINATED BY TOYOTA. *TR

08/20/2007
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 07/03/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A560******
Summary

ELECTRONIC PEDAL POSITION SENSOR DOES NOT RESPOND TO DRIVER INPUT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFT RESPONSE BECOMES DELAYED FOR 2 OR MORE SECONDS, AND IN CERTAIN DRIVER SITUATIONS POSES A DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. A SHIFT AND/OR ACCELERATION DELAY OCCURS WHEN FULL RAPID THROTTLE RESPONSE IS REQUIRED OR NEEDED IN CERTAIN TYPES OF TRAFFIC SCENARIOS SUCH AS ENTERING FREEWAYS , NEGOTIATING TRAFFIC , CHANGING LANES, STOP AND GO AND EMERGENCY TYPE BRAKING/ACCELERATION MANEUVERS. THE DEALER AND TOYOTA USA HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS BEHAVIOR, AND NO SUCH FIX HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. I HAVE RECEIVED MANY DEALER/MFR.OPINIONS ON THIS . THE DEALER JUST SAYS THAT THERE IS NO INFORMATION FROM TOYOTA ON HOW TO ADJUST OR FIX THIS COMMON COMPLAINT. I AM NOT ALONE ON THIS. AND COMPLAINTS REGARDING DRIVEABILITY OF VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED BY OWNERS OF MY2004-2007 HIGHLANDERS. *TR

07/24/2007
Components: TIRES
Incident Date: 07/21/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A860******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE VEHICLE'S CORRECT TIRE INFORMATION IS GOODYEAR INTEGRITY 101 S TIRES, SIZE 225/65 R-17. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO A SERVICE STATION. APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS BEFORE THE TIRE FAILED, HE HEARD A RUMBLING SOUND. THE TOW SERVICE ARRIVED AND PLACED THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL WELL WAS FOUND TO BE DAMAGED. THE FUEL SYSTEM AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12,043. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF

06/15/2007
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/11/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21AX60******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH DRAINS THE BATTERY. *MC THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED 6 TIMES AND THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE DEALER DID FIND AN INTERNAL SHORT BY THE ENGINE AND THE THEFT DETERRENT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE STALLING PROBLEM.*JB

05/16/2007
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 07/20/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 3-3V-6 5 SPEED AUTO. VERY ERRATIC SHIFTING AND HESITATION WHEN AT SLOW SPEEDS. HAPPENED MOSTLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND BRAKES NEEDED TO BE APPLIED MUCH HARDER THAN ONE WOULD LIKE. COULD NEVER BE SURE WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC HOW THE CAR WILL RESPOND. VERY DANGEROUS. HAD A 2002 HIGHLANDER BEFORE THIS ONE AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN JULY 2006. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS TO ADJUST TO MY DRIVING STYLE. UNLESS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON THEY WON'T EVEN TRY TO FIX ANYTHING. I EVEN HAD THE REGIONAL REP DRIVE IT (5 MILES) AND PROCLAIM THE CAR TO BE NORMAL. IF THIS IS NORMAL, YOU CAN KEEP IT. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS CAR. TOYOTA IS WAITING FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO OCCUR. I INTEND TO FILE A CLAIM WITH THE NJ LEMON LAW. *AK

04/15/2007
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 11/29/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGP21A760******
Summary

ERRATIC SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION,HESITATION,SEARCHING FOR GEARS .TRANSMISSION DOES NOT IDLE DOWN WHEN COMING TO A STOP, CAUSING HARD BRAKING WHEN IT SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY.TOYOTA REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 9,500 MILES, IT IS HAVING SOME ISSUES JUST NOT AS SEVERE AS THE OLD TRANSMISSION. *AK

03/19/2007
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 03/14/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21A660******
Summary

I BOUGHT THIS CAR 6 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM. THERE IS A UNPREDICTABLE 2-3 SECOND HESITATION ON ACCELERATION WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC STREAM FROM A PARKING LOT OR ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN I AM DRIVING RELATIVELY SLOW AND WANT TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I HAVE TO SCOOT IT STUMBLES BEFORE PICKING UP SPEED SO I AM NOT SCOOTING AS WELL AS I SHOULD BE TO KEEP FROM INTERFERING WITH OTHER ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT ACTS AS IF THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF FOR AN INSTANT CAUSING ME TO LURCH FORWARD MOMENTARILY AS THE CAR DECELERATES BEFORE THE ENGINE CATCHES AND LUNGES FORWARD IN ACCELERATION. THIS HESITATION THROWS OFF MY BALANCE AND TIMING CAUSING A SENSATION OF STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND BECOMING A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND IS A PROBLEM. TODAY I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE INVOICE STATES: "CUSTOMER STATES THERE IS A HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AS IF THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF AND THEN IT LUNGES ?????????" THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AS THIS IS AN INHERENT TOYOTA DESIGN FEATURE BECAUSE IT HAS ELECTRONIC THROTTLE AND THEY COULD HAVE SAVED ME A TRIP TO SEE THEM IF I HAD CALLED AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE INVOICE STATES: "TEST DROVE VEHICLE, PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TEST. NO DEFECT OF PARTS OR CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE." THEY SAID I HAVE JUST A FEW THOUSAND MILES ON THE CAR AND THE COMPUTER IS LEARNING MY DRIVING HABITS AND MAY SETTLE DOWN AFTER A WHILE. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS AND THINK I AM AWARE OF WHEN A CAR TENDS TO HESITATE ON ACCELERATION. I ASKED THEM WHAT THEY WILL TELL ME WHEN I COME BACK IN A FEW WEEKS AND TELL THEM I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY WILL TELL ME THE SAME THING. IF WHAT THEY SAY IS TRUE THEN ALL TOYOTAS SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY RECALLED AS A SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

02/26/2007
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 10/30/2006
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Summary

I NOTICED HESITATION IN GEAR SHIFTING AND SOME LUNGING WHEN MY FOOT WAS OFF THE BRAKE AFTER I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 HIGHLANDER IN JULY 2006 AND MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO HAVE IT CHECKED AT THE FIRST FOLLOW-UP SERVICE. IN OCTOBER 2006, I WAS PULLING OUT OF A POST OFFICE PARKING LOT WHILE AWARE OF 2 CARS AT A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY. WHEN IN THE INTERSECTION, 1 OF THE 2 CARS WAS TRAVELING MUCH FASTER THAN ANTICIPATED. WHEN I ACCELERATED QUICKLY, THE CAR JUST SEEMED TO CHOKE, AND THE CAR COLLIDED INTO MY REAR SIDE (DRIVER'S SIDE). I AND THE OTHER DRIVER HAD ONLY MINOR INJURIES, BUT THE COLLISION WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I ALSO FELT THAT SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR THAN I HAD THOUGHT. AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE BODY REPAIR SHOP (7 WEEKS LATER), I TOOK IT INTO TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD ALL OF THE HIGHLANDERS HAVE THAT HESITATION IF THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED HARD. I WAS TOLD TO PRESS DOWN ONLY GRADUALLY. SINCE THEN, I CONTINUE TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. IT MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND AM NOT SURE HOW TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OTHER THAN TO SELL THE CAR. I AM WORRIED HOWEVER THAT OTHERS MAY BE AT RISK BECAUSE OF THIS FEATURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *NM

01/18/2007
Components: STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 09/30/2006
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AND STEERING GOING OUT AT THE SAME TIME**NAR** THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES THERE WAS NO PULSATING SENSATION, AS EXPECTED WHEN THE ABS ACTIVATES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE COASTED ABOUT 150 FEET UNTIL IT IMPACTED ANOTHER VEHICLE.

01/04/2007
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 02/09/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A860******
Summary

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LOST POWER WHEN HE USED THE VEHICLE FOR TOWING. WEATHER CONDITIONS VARIED, ROAD CONDITIONS WERE PRIMARILY ICY, GRAVEL, AND DIRT. THE ONLY WAY HE COULD GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE WAS BY UN-HITCHING THE TRAILER. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED, AND IT WILL LOSE POWER TO PROTECT THE VEHICLE IF THE LOAD WAS TOO HEAVY. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AT 3,500 MILES AND AT 17,500 MILES. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS BEFORE OR AFTER POWER LOSS. THE VEHICLE STARTED UP AND DROVE NORMALLY ONCE THE TRAILER WAS UNHITCHED. AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. UPDATED 01/29/07. *JB

12/11/2006
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 08/30/2006
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Summary

HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKING PROBLEMS ... DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP FAIRLY QUICKLY (I.E. STOP SIGN), THE BRAKE ENGAGES ... LETS GO FOR A SECOND... CATCHES, CAR STOPS. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT IT BEGAN HAPPENING QUITE FREQUENTLY ... TOOK IT TO TOYOTA. THEY CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON THE FRONT ... SINCE THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE NEWER MODEL, BUT NOT MINE. RIVING ON A SERVICE ROAD ... 55-60 MPH ... THE CAR STARTS SLOWING DOWN BY ITSELF ... CONSTANTLY.. KEPT SPEEDING UP AND IT KEPT SLOWING DOWN, AS IF BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED... NO BRAKE LIGHTS THOUGH. TODAY I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ... GOING DOWN A GRADUAL SLOPE ... ON A TURN ... BRAKED ... THE CAR SPED UP .. WENT FROM 30 MPH TO ABOUT 35 MPH, WHILE BRAKING ... CAR SKIDED OFF THE ROAD, SKID LIGHT CAME ON, BEEPING NON STOP ... HIT A POLE... SHATTERED MY MIRROR AND SCRATCHED THE SIDE ... CAR WOULDN'T STOP ... THREW IT INTO PARK AND FINALLY SKIDDED TO A STOP. DRIVING ON THURSDAY, ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP AND .... IT DOES THIS SHORT STOP THING RECENTLY.. WHERE IT BRAKES RATHER FORCEFULLY AND ABRUPTLY WHEN IT IS COLD... SO AFTER THAT HAPPENS ...THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF... AND COMES TO A FULL STOP. NO LIGHTS. NO ENGINE. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CAR IS STILL IN DRIVE, KEY STILL IN IGNITION ...PUSH IT INTO PARK, TAKE OUT KEY... RESTART.... DRIVING AGAIN. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHT DOESN'T TURN ON ANYMORE NOW. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE LAST THURSDAY NOW. THERE ARE ALOT MORE INCIDENCES AND DIFFERENT FAILURES. *JB

12/04/2006
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 12/02/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDP21AX60******
Summary

I PURCHASED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SPORT 4 MONTHS AGO. I BOUGHT THE V6 ENGINE. I BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT A HESITATION PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR HOLDS BACK WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP AND THEN LURCHES. THIS IS DANGEROUS AT STOP LIGHTS AND ENTERING FREEWAYS. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THE CAR DOES THIS ON PURPOSE BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHY. THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN EXCISE FOR A FLAW IN THE DESIGN. I CHECKED WWW.CARSURVEY.COM, WHICH LISTS CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS IGNORING!! PLEASE DO SOMETHING AND CHECK THE ABOVE SITE TO SEE MORE COMPLAINTS. THANK YOU GARY MACKMAN. *NM

11/20/2006
Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,EQUIPMENT
Incident Date: 11/17/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A060******
Summary

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY FOB ONLY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY TO OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A SECOND SERVICE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE KEY FOB WAS RECEIVING INTERFERENCE FROM THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB

11/17/2006
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 10/23/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A760******
Summary

IN MY HIGHLANDER HYBRID, WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 0-15 MILES PER HOUR HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT AND FIRMLY WITH BOTH HANDS IF FULL THROTTLE IS UTILIZED, THE VEHICLE WILL PULL UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE RIGHT THEN BACK TO THE LEFT. ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, I ALMOST SIDE SWIPED A VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MY DEALER AND THEN TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO TEST DRIVE AND VERIFY THE PROBLEM, WHICH THEY DID. THE DEALER RESPONSE WAS" IT IS JUST THE WAY THE VEHICLE IS AND THEY ALL DO THIS" AND "UNLESS A WARNING LIGHT COMES ON THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO". SO NOW I AM AFRAID TO ACCELERATE WHEN NEEDED DUE TO LACK OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA IS SENDING A FACTORY REP OUT TO EVALUATE THE VEHICLE. *NM

10/18/2006
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 08/14/2006
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY WITH DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ENTERED INTO AN INTERSECTION WITH A GREEN LIGHT AND WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL, FORCED ACROSS TWO LANES AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CONCRETE LIGHT POLE, HEAD ON. THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN, BUT THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND THE INSURANCE CLAIMS ADJUSTER HAD PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 12/26/06. *JB

10/13/2006
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 10/11/2006
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEGD21AX60******
Summary

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON RAINY, WET AND SLIPPERY CONDITIONS, AN APPROACHING VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN AND WAS THROWN ONTO THE CURB. THE CONTACT LOST CONSCIOUSNESS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. A SEATBELT WAS WORN AND NONE OF THE 6 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY WRECKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROMISED A CALL BACK WITHIN 2 BUSINESS DAYS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT THE FORCE WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. UPDATED 10/30/06. *JB

10/02/2006
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,STEERING
Incident Date: 09/30/2006
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING AN EMERGENCY STOP AFTER TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE STEERING REMAINED LOCKED AFTER THE COLLISION, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT DAMAGE TO INTERFERE WITH THE WHEELS. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AN INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/30/06. *JB *NM THE CONSUMER THE ECU HAS BEE REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE LAST REPLACEMENT OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 9, 2009. THE CONSUMER ALSO REMEMBERED WHEN HE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE, THERE WAS NO PULSATING SENSATION IN THE PEDAL AS THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAS ABS. UPDATED 04/08/10.*JB

09/19/2006
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 09/28/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21AX60******
Summary

SINCE I OWNED THE CAR IN SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH THERE IS A HESITATION BACK AND FOURTH THIS IS A HYBRID HIGHLANDER 2006 REPORTED IT TWICE NO FIX YET. *NM

09/18/2006
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Incident Date: 09/15/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A760******
Summary

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH A METAL SHEET HIT THE GAS TANK CREATING A HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE GAS TANK WAS OBSERVED TO BE 3/4 COVERED IN METAL AND 1/4 COVERED IN PLASTIC. THE HOLE WAS CREATED IN THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE GAS TANK. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE GAS TANK MET THE NHTSA FMVSS THEREFORE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO ALERTED. *NM

08/29/2006
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 08/19/2006
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21A360******
Summary

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED AT 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND JUMPED OVER A CURB WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS WHILE CONSTANT BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE WHERE IT CAME TO A FINAL STOP. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE PANEL OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

08/04/2006
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 07/02/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A260******
Summary

2006-TOYOTA HIGHLANDER-3.3V-6 WITH 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ERRATIC SHIFTING AND HESITATION AT SLOW SPEED WHEN LETTING OFF ACCELERATOR AND THEN REAPPLYING TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE STAYS IN BETWEEN GEARS AND HESITATES. ONCE IT GETS INTO GEAR THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD, MAKING IT NECESSARY TO APPLY THE BRAKES HARD. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I GET NERVOUS WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW THE ACCELERATOR WILL RESPOND AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME TO WORK THROUGH THE DEALER. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. AFTER READING THE MANY POSTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, IT SEEMS TOYOTA AND THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE TELLING CUSTOMERS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO ACT THIS WAY. THE DEALERSHIPS THAT TRY TO REPROGRAM THE CHIP THAT CONTROLS ACCELERATION ARE NOT HAVING ANY LUCK FIXING THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM RETURNS SOMETIMES WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE. AT PRESENT THERE IS NO RECALL AND NO TSB. THE 'FIX' SEEMS TO BE BASED ON EXPERIMENTATION NOT FACT. I WILL GIVE THE DEALER A CHANCE BUT I HAVE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE. SINCE THERE IS NO FIX AND TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO ADMIT TO DEFECT, I FEAR I WILL BE FACING MANY VISITS TO THE DEALER GETTING A LOT OF LIP SERVICE WITHOUT ANY ACTION. I AM SURPRISED THAT TOYOTA, THE BEACON OF QUALITY, IS IGNORING THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. LETS NOT WAIT FOR THE ACCIDENT TO SPURN A RECALL OR INVESTIGATION. HOW ABOUT CAR COMPANIES GET PROACTIVE FOR A CHANGE. *JB

05/31/2006
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 05/04/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A460******
Summary

WHEN I USE THE A/C AND TURN IT OFF A BAD ODOR COMES FROM THE VENT . THIS IS A NEW 2006 HIGHLANDER, THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER HE SAID TAKE FOR SERVICE , THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW MORE DAYS . I PUT 1500 MILES AND THE ODOR IS STILL THERE . I TOOK IT FOR SERVICE AGAIN . THE MECHANIC SAID TO USE A DEODORIZER ON THE VENT. I AM NOT A SATISFIED CUSTOMER. I WANT THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. I PAID FOR THE HIGHLANDER NOT THE SMELL THAT CAME WITH IT. *NM

04/14/2006
Components: EQUIPMENT,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 04/11/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

NEW 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID 7200 MILES, WELL UNDER BOTH FACTORY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY. NO A/C -AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING- FOUND THAT SMALL PEBBLE/ROCK HAD DAMAGED AC CONDENSER ASSEMBLY, AND ALL COOLANT LOST. UNLIKE GAS VERSION OF HIGHLANDER, HYBRID HIGHLANDER HAS ZERO PROTECTION FROM ANY ROCK/BUG/ OBJECTS FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE -- THERE IS NO MESH OR PROTECTION AT ALL. IT IS VERY ACCESSIBLE, BEING LESS THAN 1 FOOT AWAY FROM GROUND, AND COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO FRONT AIR TRAFFIC DEALER IS CHARGING ME OVER 950$ TO REPLACE ENTIRE SYSTEM. THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS UNDER ANY WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM CAN/WILL EASILY HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE NOT/DO NOT TRAVEL DIRT ROADS, MOSTLY HIGHWAY -- SO THIS PROBLEM WILL MOST LIKELY REOCCUR UNLESS MESH/GRATE PROTECTION IS FITTED TO FRONT OF LOWER ASSEMBLY. TOYOTA HAS NO FRONT-BRA PARTS AVAILABLE. I HAVE CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE AT TOYOTA AND THEY ONLY SYMPATHIZE. *NM

03/28/2006
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 03/28/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A460******
Summary

2006-TOYOTA HIGHLANDER-3.3V-6 WITH 5-SPEED AUTO-ERRATIC SHIFTING AND HESITATION AT SLOW SPEED WHEN LETTING OFF ACCELERATOR AND THEN REAPPLYING TRANSMISSION IS IN BETWEEN GEARS AND HESITATES THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR AND TAKES OFF,GENERALLY A LOT FASTER THAN YOU WANTED TO. ALSO UNDER ACCELERATION IT SOMETIMES ACTS LIKE IT DON'T KNOW WHAT GEAR IT WANTS TO BE IN. FROM COMPLAINTS OF OTHER CUSTOMERS AND AFTER TALKING TO TECH. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS ENGINE AND TRANS. PACKAGE SINCE 2004 AND STILL NO FIX. I WAS TOLD TOYOTA PROGRAMMED IT THIS WAY CAUSE THEY GOT THE BEST MPG, HECK WITH THE DRIVER HAVING COMPLETE CONTROL AND FEELING CONFIDENT THAT WHEN YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR IT'S GOING TO GO. *JB

03/23/2006
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Incident Date: 12/30/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEP21A260******
Summary

FIRST STARTUP IN MORNINGS. SOMETIMES VEHICLE FAILS TO START ON FIRST ATTEMPT. SECOND ATTEMPT IT STARTS BUT FOR SEVERAL MILES AFTER, A STRONG ODOR OF GAS IN CABIN AREA. MUST ROLL WINDOW DOWN TO ALLOW VENTILATION. WIFE FIRST COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND I ASSUMED IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WHILE TRYING TO START VEHICLE. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I ATTEMPTED ON SEVERAL OCCASION AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. *NM

02/26/2006
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 02/22/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A760******
Summary

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4WD HYBRID STALLED DURING LEFT TURN (IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC) WHEN TRAVELING TO WORK. BOTH THE GAS AND ELECTRIC ENGINE STALLED - I.E. I PUSHED THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED, AND EVERYTHING HAS WORKED WELL SINCE (4 DAYS). *NM

02/24/2006
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 02/18/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG HAS TO BE REPLACED IN 3 MONTH OLD TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WARNING LIGHT DID ACTIVATE INDICATING PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP INDICATED UNTIL REPAIR IS DONE AIR BAG SHOULDN'T DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY BUT PROBABLY WON'T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *NM

10/15/2005
Components: STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 10/12/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEEW21A660******
Summary

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID-I HAVE LOST ABS BRAKES, STABILITY CONTROL AND POWER STEERING ALONG WITH THE HYBRID ENGINE ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH MY 2 WEEK OLD 2006 HIGHLANDER. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TWICE-THE FIRST TIME THEY FOUND "MALFUNCTION CODES" AND "REBOOTED" THE COMPUTER AND TOLD ME IT WAS OPERATING AS "DESIGNED," ONLY TO HAPPEN AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER. CURRENTLY, THEY ARE REPLACING A COMPUTER. DATE OF INCIDENT AND PURCHASE OF VEHICLE IS ACTUALLY 2006 BUT IS NOT AN OPTION BELOW. I AM CONCERNED IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. *JB

08/23/2005
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 08/17/2005
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: JTEDW21AX60******
Summary

DT: CONSUMER WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 17, 2005 AND SIDE/CURTAIN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS SIDE IMPACT AT 45 MPH. HAD NOT CONTACTED TOYOTA AT THIS POINT. *AK

6 Recalls

for 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID
13/07/2006
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V253000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THIS CONDITION MAY INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Campaign Number: 06V253000
Manufacture: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
Summary

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.

Notes

TOYOTA RECALL NO. 60F AND LEXUS RECALL NO. 6LD. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

15/06/2009
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V223000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Campaign Number: 09V223000
Manufacture: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Summary

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."

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

24/02/2011
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V112000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
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.
Campaign Number: 11V112000
Manufacture: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
Summary

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.

Notes

TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL BOA LEXUS SAFETY RECALL NO. BLC. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

29/06/2011
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V342000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Campaign Number: 11V342000
Manufacture: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary

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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

09/11/2011
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V539000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
Campaign Number: 11V539000
Manufacture: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary

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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

04/09/2013
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V396000
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
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.
Campaign Number: 13V396000
Manufacture: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Components: HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
Summary

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

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