2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid complaints

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

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

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

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. *TR

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

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

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

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 CALIFO

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

ON MAY 2, 2011 THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY BROKE DOWN.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.