2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid complaints

I TRY TO START THE CAR AND IT DID NOT START. ALL LIGHT WAS ON INCLUDING VSC/HYBRID SYSTEM CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER. THEY BLEED THE BRAKE AND ERASED THE CODE. DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE NEXT 2 DAYS. CAR FAILED TO START AGAIN ALL LIGHT ON VSC/HYBRID CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER. DIAGNOSIS IS FAILED INVERTER ASK $8357.82 FOR REPAIR BECAUSE THE RECALL IS NOT LAUNCHED AND I CALL TOYOTA MOTORS CANADA TELL ME THEY WILL NOT REPAIR RECALL FOR USA VEHICLE . TOYOTA MOTORS USA WILL NOT AUTHORIZE FOR REPAIR IN CANADA OF SAFETY DEFECT (TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL 13V-396) ALSO REFUSING TO REPAIR IN THE USA IF I BRING THE CAR TO TOYOTA CAR DEALER IN NEW YORK STATE BECAUSE RECALL NOT LAUNCHED. THE CAR HAVE BEEN TOWED TO MY HOUSE. *TR

ON SEPT 5, 2013, I PUT MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN REVERSE TO STRAIGHTEN IT UP IN A PARKING SPACE, BEFORE I COULD EVEN BREATHE, IT TOOK OFF IN REVERSE GOING OVER 60 MI. AN HOUR AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. IT FINALLY HIT A GARAGE FROM BEHIND AND TOOK DOWN THE WHOLE SIDE OF THE GARAGE AND THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I WAS NOT INJURED EXCEPT FOR A SORE NECK AND RIGHT SHOULDER. THEY ARE JUST NOW PULLING THE BLACK BOX FROM MY CAR. NO RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA YET.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED TIRE ISSUE!!!! I MAINTAIN MY VEHICLE VERY WELL ROTATE MY TIRES SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2007 NEW! I HAVE APPROX. 81000 MILES CURRENTLY AND HAVE JUST PUT MY (4TH) SET OF TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE TIRES DON'T LAST THE MILEAGE WARRANTY THAT THE DEALERS PLACE ON THERE TIRES 60-65 K TIRES! I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I CHECKED MY TIRES AND EVERY TIME FOUND THAT MY TIRES ARE GOING BELOW THE TREAD MAX ALLOWED (BALD) AT 19-21K ON THEM ONLY!!! TOYOTA STATED TO ME ON THE FIRST SET OF REPLACEMENTS THAT THEY DON'T WARRANTY TIRES... OKAY THEN WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MISENGINEERING SCREW UP ON THE TIRES TO THIS VEHICLE. I ALSO SPOKE WITH OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THIS AND FOUND OUT THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, AND SOMEONE SOMEWHERE IS TO BLAME. I HAD A 2004 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB 4X4 FOR MY LAST VEHICLE AND HAD 90 K ON IT AND WAS ONLY ON MY 2ND SET THE FIRST SET FINALLY WORE OUT AT 66K SO IF THAT TRUCK CAN GO SO MANY MILES THEN HOW CAN AN HIGHLANDER GET SO LITTLE MILEAGE OUT OF THE SAME WEIGHT RATIO... IT'S OBVIOUSLY A TIRE SIZE MANUFACTURING ISSUE WITH THE SPECS BEING ALL WRONG FOR THIS VEHICLE. ONE OTHER THING IS THAT TOYOTA PUTS THE SAME TIRES ON OTHER TOYOTA'S FOR THAT YEAR ( RAV 4, SIENNA, CAMRY,AND THE STANDARD HIGHLANDER). OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ISSUE FROM THE GET GO BECAUSE THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED IS A LOT HEAVIER THEN THE OTHER CARS MENTIONED, SO HOW CAN THEY HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF TIRE!!! THIS IS A MISTAKE, OVERLOOK, AND OR CRIME. THE AMERICAN CONSUMER SHO

AT SLOW SPEED, ENTERING MY DRIVEWAY, BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN SLIGHT ACCELERATION, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH OUR OTHER VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY ON BOARD ON 680-S BETWEEN WALNUT CREEK AND SAN RAMON. I WAS GOING AROUND 65-70 MPH IN THE FAST LANE WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD POP SOUND FROM THE FRONT AND ALL THE POWER FROM ENGINE DIED DOWN. I HAD TO SWITCH LANES WITH THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON AS THE SPEED KEPT DECREASING WITH NO ACCELERATION. THIS WAS ON A BUSY FREEWAY WITH HIGH SPEEDS. WE WERE LUCKY TO PULL OVER WITHOUT BEING HIT. I PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT COULD ONLY GO ANOTHER 10 FEET TO A SAFER LOCATION. I HAD TO GET MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS NO SERVICE AVAILABLE UNTIL TODAY. I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP TELLING ME THAT THE INVERTER IS THE CAUSE OF THIS AND WILL COST OVER $8,000 TO REPLACE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE INVERTERS OF THE 2006 AND SOME 2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS, MINE WAS NOT ON THE LIST. I PURCHASED MY 2007 HIGHLANDER IN OCTOBER 2006. I THINK THE RECALL SHOULD EXTEND TO ALL 2007 HIGHLANDERS AS THERE IS A GROWING NUMBER OF THESE CARS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES THIS YEAR AS WELL AS PREVIOUS YEARS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON I15 NEAR LAKE ELSINORE ON THE WAY HOME FROM A TRIP AND THE CAR LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR AND BIG RIG TRAFFIC. WE WERE LUCKY TO ROLL OFF TO THE RIGHT AND ESCAPE DEATH BY A 40 WHEELER CRASH. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA CARLSBAD WHERE ALL MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED PER SCHEDULE SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THE LAST SERVICE WAS AT 108,800 ON JUNE 23, 2013. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS $8200 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR. TOYOTA WOULD ONLY OFFER TO PAY 1/2 OF THE INVERTER COST BUT THE CAR WAS NOT WORTH PUTTING THAT KIND OF MONEY INTO AND I WAS FORCED TO BUY A NEW CAR. TOYOTA CORPORATE HAS MY CASE AND THEY ARE TERRIBLE. THEY ARE OFFERING $1000 "GOOD WILL" AND $500 FOR THE TOWING. THIS IS A HIGHLY DANGER DEFECT AND THERE SHOULD BE GOVERNMENT ACTION AGAINST TOYOTA. *TR

I WAS LEAVING MY CONDO DRIVING UP HILL WHEN MY CAR LOST POWER AND ROLLED BACKWARDS . I PANICKED DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND ROLLED INTO ANOTHER CAR . I HAD TO ROLL DOWNHILL AND CALL AAA TO TOW TO HOOMAN TOYOTA LONG BEACH. TOYOTA KNOWINGLY SOLD A CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE HYBRID SYSTEM BUT WANT ME TO PAY $8000 FOR REPAIR .NEVER WAS INFORMED ABOUT RECALL. *TR

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A BUSY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FREEWAY WHEN I HEAR A POPPING SOUND AND MY CAR DIED. WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND HAD TO MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. DANGEROUS!!! COULD HAVE GOTTEN IN A ACCIDENT, BUT MADE IT OK. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. WAS TOLD THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER NEEDED REPLACING. NEVER KNEW THAT TOYOTA WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE INVERTER, AND HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME 2007'S, BUT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THEREFORE NOT COVERED. COST TO REPLACE INVERTER $9,000 TO $11,000. WHY WASN'T MY CAR INCLUDED IN THE RECALL!! VERY OBVIOUS THAT THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE GONE FURTHER TO INCLUDE MINE. MY PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE IS HAVING. PLEASE CONSIDER EXTENDING THE RECALL. *TR

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT AND DRIVING IN A 45MPH ZONE, OUR 2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRID BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE ENGINE REVVED AS IF SOMEONE WERE FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL. NEITHER MY HUSBAND NOR I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THEN WE HEARD A LOUD THUD SOUND FROM THE BACK SEAT AND WE LOST POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND WE STARTED TO DECELERATE. TRAFFIC WAS AVERAGING 45-50MPH AROUND US. THANKFULLY, MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST US INTO THE RIGHT LANE, THEN INTO A PARKING LOT, AND THEN INTO A PARKING SPOT. AFTER THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND WE HAD MULTIPLE ERROR MESSAGES FLASH ACROSS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL: "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" & "CHECK VEHICLE STABILITY". WE WERE TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT OUR ERROR CODES INDICATED THAT THE INVERTER "BLEW UP" & NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THEY DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE RECALL WHICH I FOUND WHILE RESEARCHING. WE ARE 13 VIN NUMBERS AFTER THE RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. WE WERE TOLD THE PART COSTS $10,000 BEFORE TAXES & INSTALLATION. TOYOTA WON'T HONOR THE EARLIER RECALL AND SO I'VE TOWED THE VEHICLE HOME. :( *TR

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING OUT OF STATE WHEN IT SUDDENLY STALLED AND LOSS ALL POWER. FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A REST STOP WHICH WAS 100 MILES FROM MY HOME. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN HATTIESBURG, MS AND THEY STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE INVERTER AND IT WOULD COST APPROX. $8000 TO FIX. TOYOTA HAS HAD A RECALL ON THE EXACT SAME INVERTER FOR MODEL YEARS 2006 AND 2007. I CONTACTED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VIN NUMBER ALTHOUGH IN READING COMPLAINTS BY OTHERS ONLINE, MY VEHICLE AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM AND DIAGNOSIS BY THE DEALER ALL FIT. TOYOTA KNEW IT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE INVERTER SYSTEM AND I WAS NEVER ALERTED TO A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM AS I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I AM LUCKY THAT MY CHILD WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME AND ALSO LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS MY CONCERNS OR PAY FOR THE REPAIRS FOR THIS DEFECTIVE SYSTEM WHICH THEY KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *TR

AFTER PARKING ON AN INCLINE, IN COLD WEATHER, WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, THEN STARTING UP THE CAR AND DRIVING SLOWLY, THE REAR TIRES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER TWICE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, AND THEY HAVE COMPLETELY REPLACED ALL THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT AND STILL THE ISSUE CONTINUES. THEY HAVE SUGGESTED THAT I DON'T NEED TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE WHEN PARKING THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TR

DRIVING MY BELOVED 2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRID (HH) HOME FROM WORK, I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IN THE SLOW LANE AND HEARD A LOUD "POP" SOUND. I IMMEDIATELY SAW NUMEROUS WARNING MESSAGES FLASH ON THE DASHBOARD - "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM", "CHECK VCS SYSTEM", AND "CHECK POWER STEERING." THANKFULLY MY CAR DID NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY ON THE FREEWAY AS OTHERS HAVE BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND TO MY TRUSTED MECHANIC BEFORE THE SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT NOW HAS MY CAR, THE INVERTER HAS FAILED BUT THIS VIN NUMBER WAS NOT IN THE TOYOTA RECALL OF 2006/2007 HH CARS. I HAVE 146,000 MILES AND THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. THOUGH I PURCHASED THE CAR USED JUST 2 YEARS AGO, I HAVE MAINTAINED IT EXACTLY AS DIRECTED AND THE CARFAX ON THE CAR SHOWED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ALL OF THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE DONE AT A DEALERSHIP USING THE TOYOTA MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. THOUGH THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE WILL NOT BE DETERMINED UNTIL AFTER THE INVERTER IS REPLACED (IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME AND THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR OTHER DAMAGE AS WELL), THE INVERTER ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES CONTINUE TO PLACE PEOPLE IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT IN ONE OF THE FAST LANES AND THAT THE CAR DIDN'T STOP WORKING; I WAS FORTUNATE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND TO A SAFE LOCATION. I KNOW THAT THE NHTSB HAD A HAND IN THE 2011 RECALL OF THE 2006/2007 HH VEHICLES AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE STILL VEHICLES ON THE ROA

NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE11005 EXACT SAME SITUATION. THIS ISSUE KILLS THE CAR IMMEDIATELY WITH NO TIME TO PREPARE. I WAS VERY LUCKY AS I WAS JUST ENTERING ONTO THE FREEWAY. I DRIFTED OVER TO THE RIGHT MEDIAN. IF I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OR FAR LEFT LANE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THERE ARE MORE HIGHLANDERS HYBRIDS IN MY VIN RANGE THAT ARE COMING OF AGE AND SHOULD HAVE THESE DEFECTIVE INVERTER ASSEMBLY PARTS REPLACED ASAP. *TR

THE HYBRID ABRUPTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING, LIGHT AND ALARMS ALL AROUND. DEALER STATES ITS THE POWER INVERTER, HE MENTIONED IT WAS A RECALL, BUT NOT COVERING MY CAR. THE SYMPTOMS ARE IDENTICAL. *TR

THE VEHICLE DID NOT START WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED. THE DASHBOARD FLICKERED, MANY LIGHTS WERE LIT AND THEN THE FLICKERING STOPPED AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

I WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT ONTO THE STREET. I SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE I WAS WAITING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. MY CAR WAS IN DRIVE BUT I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN MY CAR WENT DEAD. THERE WERE WARNINGS FLASHING AT ME FROM MY DASHBOARD. I PUT MY CAR IN PARK. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED MY CAR BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED PLUS I BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS DO TO THE SLIGHT INCLINE IN THE PARKING LOT EXIT. I QUICKLY PUT MY CAR IN PARK AGAIN, TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, AND WAIVED THE CARS BEHIND ME TO GO AROUND. I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE AND BACK IT UP TO A SAFE AREA IN THE PARKING LOT. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CHARLOTTE WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AT AND CONTINUED HAVING IT SERVICED. THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT TEAM TOYOTA MALL OF GA TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS BRINGING IT IN. AFTER THEIR MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS THE FAULTY INVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME $8,000 TO FIX IT. I STILL OWED $15,000 ON THE CAR. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL ON 2006-2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS FOR THE SAME FAULTY INVERTER. THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR WAS INELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL SINCE THE VIN WAS NOT LISTED. I CALLED TOYOTA AS ADVISED AND OPENED A CASE NUMBER. I RECEIVED THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CONSTANT RUN AROUND FROM TOYOTA. THEY OFFERED TO GIVE ME $1,000 TOWARDS THE REPAIRS OR $2,500 FOR A NEW OR TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. I'M STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT WHY MY CAR WASN'T INC

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE ALL BEGAN FLASHING TO CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. I WAS UNABLE TO USE ANYTHING BUT THE BRAKES AS THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT EVEN WORK TO DECELERATE OR ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE TO VEER OUT OF TRAFFIC TO SAFETY. I HAD ONE OTHER PASSENGER IN THE CAR AND WE WERE SCARED FOR OUR LIVES AS THE WHOLE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN AND COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. EVENTUALLY THE BATTERY ALSO DIED AND WE WERE STUCK ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT WAITING ON A TOW TRUCK. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH TOYOTA AND CORPORATE TOYOTA FOR THE PAST 6 WEEKS ON A RESOLUTION. WE WERE TOLD THE INVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST IS $9000. WE WERE ALSO TOLD BY THE SERVICEMAN AT TOYOTA THAT THE CAR IS NOT WORTH FIXING AS IT STILL WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY AFTER THE PART IS REPLACED AS IT COULD HAVE LEAD TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS IS A FAULTY PART THAT WAS RECALLED IN SOME OF THEIR 06 AND 07 HIGHLANDERS BUT NOT OTHERS. WE WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND AM STILL WAITING FOR HELP. THIS PART SHOULD BE FIXED BY TOYOTA COMPLETELY AS IT IS FAULTY OR TOYOTA SHOULD AT LEAST REIMBURSE FOR WHAT THE CAR WAS WORTH BEFORE THE INCIDENT. *TR

WHEN STARTING AFTER STOP AT THE END OF A FREEWAY EXIT RAMP A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN LOST ALL POWER AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND CHECK VSC SYSTEM ERROR LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSED WITH FAILURE OF THE INVERTER. MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 2011 RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS QUOTED AS $8000 AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE THEY OFFERED A $1500 CUSTOMER APPRECIATION REBATE. BASED ON ONLINE RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. ANOTHER LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SAID THEY HAVE REPAIRED 4 OF THESE IN THE PAST WEEK. TOYOTA CAN NOT ASSURE US THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THIS INVERTER HAS BEEN SOLVED OR IF THE NEW ONE WILL BE MORE RELIABLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THE CAR HAD ALWAYS PERFORMED WELL AND GAVE NO WARNING BEFORE THIS COMPLETE FAILURE. IF MY CAR HAD FAILED 60 SECONDS EARLIER I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON I-81 GOING 70 MPH SURROUNDED BY TRACTOR TRAILERS AND WOULD PROBABLY BE DEAD. HAVE NOT DECIDED WHETHER OR NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE REPAIR. *TR

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 55 MPH THE CAR, WITHOUT WARNING, DIED. NO POWER, LIGHTS, BRAKES, STEERING, NOTHING WORKED. AT SIDE OF ROAD TRIED TO RESTART. ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, WOULD NOT RESTART, EVERYTHING THEN WENT DEAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. IT WAS CLAIMED TO BE A COIL PACK, HOWEVER UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND OUT IT WAS ACTUALLY THE POWER INVERTER THAT CONVERTS 12VDC TO AC TO POWER THE ELECTRIC MOTORS ON THE CAR. WHEN THE INVERTER SHORTED OUT, IT KILLED THE ENTIRE ELECTRIC BATTERY SYSTEM, THE HYBRID BATTERIES AND THE GAS ENGINE BATTERY CAUSING ALL SYSTEMS TO SHUT DOWN. THE CAR IS A DEATH TRAP. TOYOTA KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THEY SOLD ME THE CAR AND DID NOT TELL ME. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF HIGHLANDER HYBRID OWNERS, MOSTLY 2006, 2007 AND SOME 2008. IF THE CAR IS OVER 7 YEAR/100,000 WARRANTY TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX IT. IT COST OWNERS $10,000 TO $15,000 TO FIX. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT WILL, MAY HAVE, KILLED THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS. THE PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS OVER 40MPH, WHICH IS USUALLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO MY WIFE. ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH IN THE CENTER LANE. CAR DIES WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS FORTUNATE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. NO BRAKES AND NO STEERING. TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS; THEY HAVE A DESIGN FLAW THAT WILL KILL SOMEONE IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAULTY SPARK PLUG COIL PACK CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,162. UPDATED 10/19/12 *CN UPDATED 10/23/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 106,000.

WHILE DRIVING SUN VISOR CONTINUES TO DROP DOWN PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTING VIEW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CHECK VSC WARNING AND POWER STEERING WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,990 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON RT 138 IN NEWPORT RI, I WAS ACCELERATING AND SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE TRAVEL PORTION OF THE ROADWAY. VEHICLE REQUIRED A FLATBED TOW TRUCK TO BRING IT TO BALISE TOYOTA IN WARWICK RI. SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THE INVERTER HAD FAILED AND THAT THE REPAIR ESTIMATE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $9400. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 AND 2007 MODELS AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR CERTAIN MODELS. MY VEHICLE'S VIN DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL AND THE INVERTER. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE OFFICE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, NEITHER CORPORATE NOR THE DEALER OFFERED UP THE INFORMATION THAT NEARLY 100,000 OF THESE VEHICLES HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. I ASKED THE PEOPLE IN SERVICE IF THERE WAS A CHANCE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THEY LOOKED UP THE PART NUMBER FOR MY INVERTER P/N G9200-48031 S/N PH09YM084 AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM. THE FAILURE MODE RESEMBLES THE MULTITUDE OF FAILURES THAT WERE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT BROAD ENOUGH IN ITS SCOPE. I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM TOYOTA ON WHAT IF ANYTHING THEY ARE GOING TO DO TO ABSORB THIS OUT OF CONTROL REPAIR COST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID . THE CONTACT STATED THAT BRAKING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,866 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,883. UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF UPDATED 05/14/12

TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER, ELECTRONIC UNIT, ELECTRICAL WIRING, CIRCUIT BOARDS AND OTHER COMPONENTS HAVE OR MAY HAVE MALFUNCTIONED (BURNED OUT/OVERHEATED). I WAS PREPARING TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE OR "POP" FROM UNDER MY CAR. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND IMMEDIATELY ASKED MY DAUGHTER TO GET MY GRAND DAUGHTER OUT OF THE BACK SEAT AND WAIT UNTIL I COULD DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I ATTEMPTED TO RE-START IT BUT IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, YET THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING. THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WOULD NOT ENGAGE. SEVERAL ERROR CODES FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY BEFORE I TURNED IT OFF. A FRIEND AND I PUSHED THE CAR BACK INTO THE PARKING SPACE WHERE I ATTEMPTED TO RE-START IT UNSUCCESSFULLY. WHEN THE AAA TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR WITH SIMILAR RESULTS. HE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND REFUSED TO TRY TO START IT AGAIN. AFTER TOWING THE CAR TO POWAY TOYOTA, IT WAS DETERMINED, VIA ERROR CODES, THAT THE INVERTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND MUST BE REPLACED. INVERTER SERVICE DONE JAN 02,2010. CAR HAS REMAINED AT POWAY TOYOTA FOR 6 WEEKS. THE INVERTER PART COSTS $4,000.00 AND THE LABOR CHARGES TOTAL AN $6,000-$8,000, I'M TOLD. IT IS NOT DETERMINED IF THE EU NEEDS REPLACEMENT OR WHAT OTHER PARTS MAY ALSO BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. TOTAL REPAIRS ESTIMATED BETWEEN 10,000 - 15,000 IF THE HYBRID BATTERY SYSTEM IS ALSO DAMAGED. TOYOTA CORP. HAS OFFERED TO "PARTICIPATE" IN 50% REPLACEMENT COST

VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND WOBBLING, ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT WITH LOSS OF CONTROL, WHILE IN MOTION AND DISPLAYED WARNING MESSAGES FOR BRAKE AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WITH CODE P0A7A AND POSSIBLE OTHER CODES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TYSON'S TOYOTA WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A DEFECTIVE HYBRID INVERTER AND REQUIRES $8000+ IN REPAIRS. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND 2 DAYS LATER THEY CONCLUDED THAT THIS IS NOT A DEFECT AND NO ASSISTANCE WILL BR PROVIDED FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR/IDENTICAL TO ANOTHER TOYOTA RECALL NUMBER 11V342000. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 65MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER CAR OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD, NARROWLY AVOIDING ACCIDENT. THE CAR DID RESTART, BUT THIS STALLING AND POWER SHUT OFF REOCCURRED ONCE MORE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED CAR; TEST DROVE IT; AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A REAL PROBLEM AND SAFETY CONCERN. AFTER MY PRODDING, THEY ADMINTTED THAT THERE WAS, IN FACT, A VOLUNTARY RECALL, BUT THE NEEDED PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. IT IS ONE THING TO POSTPONE TREATING A CAR FOR A VOLUNTARY RECALL WHEN THAT CAR HAS NOT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. MY CAR, HOWEVER, HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD FIND THE NEEDED PART TO REPAIR THE CAR TO ENSURE ITS SAFETY. I ASKED TO HAVE THE SERVICE MANAGER CALL ME BACK BUT I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THAT CALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

DRIVING ON THE 94 FREEWAY WEST, THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. CAR SUDDENLY DIED UNEXPECTEDLY. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE NEARBY EXIT - NEARLY HIT BY NUMEROUS VEHICLES. AT THE EXIT, THE CAR WAS BLOCKING TRAFFIC. PEOPLE HELPED PUSH THE HIGHLANDER TO THE SIDE, WHERE I CALLED AAA. THE HIGHLANDER WAS TOWED TO THE TOYOTA EL CAJON DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. TOYOTA INFORMED ME THE INVERTER HAD DIED. IT WOULD COST $9600.00 TO REPAIR BECAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY. TOYOTA HEAD OFFICE REFUSES TO HELP. AT 3.5 YEARS OLD, THE REPAIR IS WORTH MORE THAN THE CAR. OTHER HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS FROM 2007 WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR COST $40,000.00 NEW AT PURCHASE IN 2007. IT SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 3.5 YEARS. THE INVERTER PROBLEM COULD HAVE HAD DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 119,500.

WHILE ACCELERATING TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH FROM A STANDING STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN A ZONE MERGING 2 LANES TO 1, MY 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID (`48,000 MILES ON ODOMETER, I AM ORIGINAL OWNER) EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND TOTAL POWER LOSS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. THEY REPORTED A FAILED INVERTER IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND I AM AWAITING THE PART AND REPAIR. FROM MY ONLINE RESEARCH I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 AND EARLY 2007 MODELS AND THAT NHTSA MAY BE INVESTIGATING. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT ENSUED THIS FAILURE AT SPEED IN A LANE MERGE WAS FRIGHTENING, OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLAND HYBRID. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, THE HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DETECTED AN ACCUMULATION OF WATER WITHIN THE HYBRID BATTERY. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE WATER ORIGINATED FROM THE REAR SUB FRAME AREA AND AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE FRAME EXHIBITED TWO CRACKS AND TWO HOLES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE AND AS HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE REAR BRAKES EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL CLANKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE SOUND WAS NORMAL AND DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

I OWN 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 4WD CAR WOULD NOT START 56,300. MLS VSC LITE ON -PUT IN PARK (WAS IN PARK) 12V BATTERY DEAD WHEN RESEARCHING HAVE FOUND KNOWN PROBLEM,MY CAR HAS LEXUS ENGINE, KNOWN PROBLEMS, MOST PEOPLE TOLD BATTERY DEAD..REAL PROBLEM BAD INVERTER,SOME HAVE ALMOST DIED HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING SOME MAY HAVE TOYOTA LOOKING OTHER WAY, TELL PEOPLE BAD BATTERY ..HM LAST TOYOTA BATTERY I HAD IN DIF CAR LASTED 7 YRS,PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW I WILL BE IN AFIGHT WITH LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER , PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT I AM A NURSE AND PEOPLE COULD DIE WITH THIS DEFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

WHILE CHANGING TIRES, ONE OF THE FIVE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STUDS BROKE OFF. INSPECTION REVEALS A FAULTY VOID (AIR BUBBLE) IN THE CENTER OF THE STUD WHERE IT BROKE OFF. I HAVE THAT PIECE. I BOUGHT A NEW REPLACEMENT STUD AND WHEEL NUT FROM BIGHORN TOYOTA IN GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO. THEY WILL REPLACE IT FOR ME IN APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS UNLESS I CAN FIND ANOTHER AUTO SHOP THAT CAN REPLACE IT BEFORE THEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HV. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THREE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. ON 1/26/2009 I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE, WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE. I HADN'T BEEN DOING ANYTHING BUT SITTING THERE, WAITING FOR THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO START MOVING, WHEN MY VEHICLE WENT FORWARD (LURCHED) AND I REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME! I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT IN MY LIFE. MY CAR HIT THE VEHICLE - A MINIVAN, IN FRONT OF ME VERY HARD, (FELT LIKE 10-15 MPH) CAUSING A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE REAR CARGO DOOR. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE EVENT WAS SO ODD, AND HAPPENED SO FAST, (AND THIS HAPPENED BEFORE TOYOTA EVER RECALLED ANYTHING EXCEPT THE PRIUS), I ASSUMED I MUST'VE DONE SOMETHING TO CAUSE IT. SO WHEN THE POLICE GOT THERE, I TOLD THEM MAYBE I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION, AND MAYBE I ACCELERATED BEFORE THE LIGHT CHANGED (BUT EVEN AT THE TIME, IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME, BECAUSE I WASN'T FIRST IN LINE AT THE LIGHT, I WAS WAITING, PATIENTLY, BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE). IN FACT, I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER LOOKING AT THE LIGHT, I WAS JUST WAITING FOR THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME TO MOVE, AS I USUALLY DO - DID. I WENT IN TO MY TOYOTA DEALER A FEW MONTH AGO (MARCH 2010) AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED, AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS A HYBRID, SOMETIMES, WHEN YOU'RE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, IT SWITCHES FROM THE ELECTRIC MOTOR TO GAS, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PETAL HARD ENOUGH, IT CAN LURCH FORWARD. PLEASE CAN YOU LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER, IT WAS QUITE SCARY. I BET ALLSTATE AND OTHER INSURANCE COM

RE. TOYOTA 2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKING FAILURE RESULTING IN A HIGH SPEED COLLISION. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON THRUWAY 87 IN THE STATE OF NY WHICH WAS LARGELY THE RESULT OF THE BRAKES ON MY HIGHLANDER HYBRID NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHAT HAPPENED: I WAS HEADING NORTHBOUND TRAVELING 65 MPH WITH TRAFFIC ON THE THRUWAY A LITTLE MORE TOWARDS THE HEAVY SIDE BUT TRAFFIC WAS MOVING SMOOTHLY. APPARENTLY, SEVERAL VEHICLES A HEAD OF ME, A GOAT RAN ONTO THE THRUWAY AND A TRACTOR TRAILER LOCKED HIS BRAKES UP AND CAME TO A STOP. THERE WERE PROBABLY THREE VEHICLES BETWEEN THE TRUCK AND MYSELF AND FIRST TWO VEHICLES QUICKLY MOVED INTO THE LEFT LANE WITH THE LAST VEHICLE PRACTICALLY SWERVING INTO A SPACE THAT HARDLY FIT HIS VEHICLE AT THE LAST MOMENT. THIS QUICK MOVEMENT ALERTED ME TO BE ON GUARD AND I MOVED MY FOOT OVER TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE TRUCK DIDN'T HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS OR FLASHERS ON NOR HAD THERE BEEN ANY BRAKE LIGHTS VISIBLE TO ME TO INDICATE SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC AHEAD SO I WAS STILL TRAVELING AT 65 MPH BEFORE REALIZING AFTER A SHORT DELAY THAT THE TRUCK WAS AT A STAND STILL. I QUICKLY DECIDED THAT THE LEFT LANE WAS FULL SO I COULDN'T SWERVE LEFT, THE RIGHT LANE HAD A GUARD RAIL THERE BUT LOOKED LIKE THERE MIGHT BE ENOUGH ROOM TO SQUEEZE BY ON THE SHOULDER ALBEIT WITH A HIGH RISK OF FLIPPING, SO I CHOSE TO BRAKE AND SQUARE UP ON THE TRUCK'S BUMPER. I WAS ABOUT 90 TO 100 YARDS OUT WHEN I STARTED BRAKING. I FELT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES PULSING HARD AND THE VEHICLE W

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE TOYOTA COMPLAINT RE FORT'S TOYOTA OF PEKIN FM OWNER OF A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *TGW 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HV. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT LEATHER SEAT CRACKS ON THE DRIVERS SEAT. AFTER A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE CRACKS WERE FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND WAS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

A MONTH OR TWO AFTER I BOUGHT MY 2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN MARCH OF 2007, I HAD TWO INCIDENTS WHERE MY CAR ACCELERATED FOR ME. BOTH TIMES I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. BOTH TIMES, I FELT A SURGE OF POWER FOR ABOUT 7 - 8 SECONDS. THE TWO INCIDENTS HAPPENED MAYBE A MONTH APART. I TOLD MY HUSBAND ABOUT IT AT THE TIME AND HE ASSURED ME IT WAS JUST BECAUSE I WASN'T USED TO MY NEW CAR. I KNOW FOR SURE THAT WASN'T THE REASON. ALMOST THREE YEARS LATER I HAVEN'T HAD ANY MORE SURGES BUT I DO HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN. I AM HYPER AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES AND THEY HAVE YET TO FIGURE IT OUT. IF WE COULD AFFORD IT, WE'D GET RID OF THIS CAR IMMEDIATELY AND GET A NEW ONE. BUT WE CAN'T. *TR

COPY OF A NOTE SENT TO TOYOTA VIA THEIR WEBSITE REGARDING SUDDEN, SHORT-LIVED DECREASE IN BRAKING POWER IN A HIGHLANDER HYBRID: "ON MONDAY FEB. 8, I STOPPED BY LIA TOYOTA OF NORTHAMPTON, MA TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT -- 25,000 MILE SERVICE AND REQUESTED THEY CHECK THE BRAKES, AS I HAD EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN, SHORT-LIVED (A SECOND OR SO) DECREASE IN BRAKING POWER ON RANDOM OCCASIONS. I KNOW ZIP ABOUT CARS, BUT I SAID IT FELT LIKE AN AIR BUBBLE OR SOME SUCH IN THE BRAKE LINES. IT APPEARED ENTIRELY RANDOM, HAPPENING AT IN-TOWN AS WELL AS HIGHWAY SPEEDS (ONCE). A DAY OR TWO LATER TOYOTA ANNOUNCED THE RECALL FOR 2010 PRIUS'S. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT IT AND THE REASON I THOUGHT, "AH, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE HIGHLANDER DOES, AND IT'S A HYBRID." SO, TODAY I WENT IN FOR SERVICE, DISCUSSED THE BRAKES, AND WAS TOLD THAT UNLESS FELLAS IN THE SHOP CAN DRIVE THE CAR AND EXPERIENCE THE BRAKING ISSUE, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO -- THEY CANNOT EVEN FILE A REPORT WITH TOYOTA, IE. THEY CANNOT GET INFORMATION UP THE CHAIN TO FOLKS WHO ACTUALLY MAKE THE CARS. THAT IS A LUDICROUS POLICY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT) A KNOWN PROBLEM EXISTS IN A HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM AND B) (AND I ASSUME A BIT HERE) THE HIGHLANDER BRAKING SYSTEM IS PROBABLY A NEAR COUSIN OF THE PRIUS'S. IN ANY EVENT, HERE'S A REPORT FROM A CONSUMER -- A HIGHLANDER HYBRID OWNER HAS EXPERIENCED ON MULTIPLE, RANDOM OCCASIONS A SUDDEN, SHORT LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WHEN APPLY THE BRAKES. IT'S NOT LED TO ANY ACCIDENTS; IT IS SIMPLY DISQUIETING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE AND A BEDROOM. SHE THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE IT ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID AN ADDITIONAL INCIDENT, SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BUT NO ONE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO FIND OUT WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED. SHE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. SHE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MORE ACCELERATION FAILURES WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.

ABS SYSTEM ON 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FAILED. RESULTING COST FROM DEALER WILL BE OVER 1500 AND THAT IS WITH A FRIEND IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HELPING US OUT. *TR

WHEN BRAKING, IF A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD IS HIT, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME WHEN BRAKING ON A BUMPY SURFACE. *TR

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2007. THE BRAKES HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE. I WAS DRIVING ON ICE, HIT THE BRAKES, AND THE BRAKE CALIPERS DID NOTHING. I DROVE STRAIGHT INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND FORCED ANOTHER ONE TO HIT ME. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHEN BRAKING OVER BUMPY ROADS OR POTHOLES (EVEN SMALL BUMPS), THE SENSATION I GET IS THAT THE BRAKES ARE NO LONGER ENGAGED. THE CAR FEELS TEMPORARILY OUT OF CONTROL. THIS SENSATION IS STRONGER IF THE BUMPS ARE ENCOUNTERED DURING A TURN OR IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE BUMPS ABOUT A FOOT OR TWO APART (AS OFTEN LEFT BY BUSES REPEATEDLY STOPPING IN THE SAME AREAS ON CITY STREETS). ON FAMILIAR ROADS, I KNOW WHERE THE BUMPS ARE AND CAN DRIVE/BRAKE ACCORDINGLY. UNFAMILIAR ROADS MAKE THIS PROBLEM LESS PREDICTABLE AND MORE DANGEROUS. THIS PROBLEMS SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTA PRIUS' BRAKING. MY VEHICLE IS NOT CURRENTLY PART OF THE RECALL AND I WONDER IF TOYOTA IS BEING EVASIVE ABOUT HOW EXTENSIVE THE PROBLEM TRULY IS. TEMPORARY LOSS OF BRAKING OVER BUMPY ROADS HAS EXISTED SINCE I TOOK POSSESSION OF MY NEW HIGHLANDER IN JUNE 2007. I CAN PREDICT OCCURRENCE WITH NEAR 100% ACCURACY ON CERTAIN FAMILIARLY BUMPY ROADS. I SEE ON THIS FORM THAT I MUST PICK A DATE FOR "THE" INCIDENT (THERE HAVE BEEN MANY). I'LL PICK A DATE OF RECENT PARTICULARLY MEMORABLE/SCARY OCCURRENCE. NOTE: THIS ONLINE REPORTING SYSTEM REQUIRES ME TO CHOOSE "ELECTRIC BRAKES" OR "HYDRAULIC BRAKES." I DON'T KNOW WHICH TO CHOOSE: I THINK IT IS A HYBRID OF BOTH, SO NEITHER CHOICE IS ACCURATE. NHTSA: YOU CAN DO BETTER! *TR

I BELIEVE MY 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE DAY ONE OF PURCHASE AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. HERE IS MY DESCRIPTION OF MY BRAKING PROBLEM. WHEN I AM TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY OR CITY DRIVING, WHENEVER I PUSH ON THE BRAKE PEDAL YOU CAN FEEL NORMAL BRAKING ALSO YOU CAN SEE THE DASH GAUGE NEEDLE POINTING TO THE BLUE AS IT RECHARGES THE BATTERIES AND THEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP. EVER SO OFTEN, WHEN I AM BRAKING I CAN FEEL THE VEHICLE LETTING UP ON THE BRAKING, HOWEVER I HAVE NOT DECREASED MY FOOT PRESSURE AND THE NEEDLE ON THE DASH GOES FROM THE BLUE TO NORMAL AND THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD WITH MOMENTUM AND I MUST INCREASE MY FOOT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY QUICKLY TO RE-GAIN MY ORIGINAL BRAKING PRESSURE. THIS HAPPENS TO ME ABOUT ONCE A WEEK, AND I HAVE LOOKED A THE BATTERY STATUS AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE BATTERY STILL NEEDS MORE CHARGING. IT WAS VERY SCARY AT FIRST BUT NOW I AM USE TO IT. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS IS NORMAL OR NOT, HOWEVER THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIUS PROBLEMS SOUNDS JUST LIKE MINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THEY BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED 20 TO 30 TIMES . THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,859. UPDATED 3/30/2010 THE CONSUMER STATED OCCASIONALLY WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE AT LOW SPEEDS, IT WOULD FEEL LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL. BUT, JUST A FRACTION OF A SECOND IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY. UPDATED 05/10/10*JB