2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid complaints

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

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

BOTH REAR WINDOWS KEEP COMING OFF TRACK. *TR

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.-

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

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

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

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

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

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 MANUFA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.