2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid complaints

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKING PROBLEMS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE BRAKES WOULD MOMENTARILY FAIL WHILE BRAKING AT 35 TO 40 MPH. *TR

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

(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

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

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

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.

WHEN I AM BRAKING MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID '06, THERE IS A 2-5 SECOND SURGE BEFORE THE BRAKES KICK IN. *TR

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 EV

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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