2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF THE FAILURE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WITH THE FLICKERING OF THE POWER BUTTON INDICATOR LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS A FAULTY BATTERY INVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE STOPPED AT A RAILROAD CROSSING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING A TRAIN TO HIT IT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING INSPECTION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ARRANGED AN INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

I HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT ON INTRASTATE HIGHWAY DAMAGING WHEEL. THAT HIGHWAY IS RECENTLY REPAIRED AND THERE WERE NO ROAD HAZARDS IN SIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE BLOWOUT. TIRE HAD ONLY 15,000 MILES OF WEAR AND IS FILLED WITH NITROGEN. I PERSONALLY INSPECTED THIS TIRE AND THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE THREAD. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED TWICE CONSISTENT ON AVERAGE WITH TIRE MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDATION OF EVERY 7500 MILES. ALSO AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE WEATHER 50 DEGREES AND THE ROADWAY WAS CLEAN AND DRY. THE TIRE LINE IS OPEN COUNTRY A20 AND CANNOT BE ENTERED BECAUSE ITS NOT ON THE DROP DOWN LIST. A BRAND NEW TIRE AND WHEEL MUST BE PURCHASED. *TR

TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A20 TIRES 245/55/19 WHICH CAME AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WORE SIGNIFICANTLY AND PREMATURELY. AT 18000 MILES THESE TIRES WERE WORN NEARLY TO THE WEAR BARS RESULTING IN EXTREMELY POOR WET AND SNOW TRACTION LEADING TO SLIDING AND HYDROPLANING. THE TREAD ALSO BEGAN TO PEEL ON ONE TIRE. I DID NOT NOTICE THE WEAR UNTIL IT WAS POINTED OUT BY A MECHANIC AS THEY LOOKED GOOD FROM A DISTANCE AND I DIDN'T THINK TO CHECK THE TREAD ON A 60,000 MILE WARRANTY TIRE AT ONLY 18000 MILES. TOYOTA STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TOYO DOES NOT HONOR A MILEAGE WARRANTY ON OEM TIRES. THESE ARE DANGEROUS TIRE AS THEY WERE SOLD ON ONE OF THE BEST SELLING FAMILY VEHICLES IN THE INDUSTRY AND COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY COMING INTO THE WINTER MONTHS AS OWNERS OF LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THE TIRES ARE ACTUALLY COMPLETE WORN OUT ALREADY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 25-30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IMMEDIATELY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED AND THE AUTOMATIC WINDOW SWITCH EXHIBITED SEVERE MELTING. THE WIRES WERE DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

WHEN I BRAKE IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY ACCELERATES A LITTLE BEFORE THE BRAKE KICKS IN. ALMOST AS IF I WERE STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN BUT OFTEN ENOUGH THAT I NOTICE IT. ALSO REAR BRAKE PADS WORN DOWN TO METAL AFTER ABOUT 36,000 MI. ALSO PRE- MATURE TIRE WEAR OUT. HAD TO GET NEW TIRES AT 20K. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID EQUIPPED WITH TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A20 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THREE OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES (EXCLUDING THE FRONT PASSENGER BY ANOTHER TIRE MANUFACTURER) ON THE VEHICLE WERE BEGINNING TO SHRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT SEEMED AS IF SOMEONE TOOK A "CHEESE GRATER" TO THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE OR THE TIRES; THEY DID STATE THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE TWO OF THE TIRES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.

2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, PROBABLY DUE TO SUSPENSION PROBLEM. *TGW

MY 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED HAS ABOUT 16K MILES ON IT. I JUST HAD MY TIRES INSPECTED BY A SHOP THAT CHANGES MY OIL. MY TIRES ARE ALMOST WORN DOWN TO 2/32'S! THEY MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS VERY ABNORMAL AND THESE TIRES WERE NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE ON. *TR

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WHILE PARKING CAR. FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME, EASED UP ON BRAKE TO COAST INTO PARKING SPACE AND ACCELERATOR ENGAGED. STOMPED ON BRAKE AND CAR STOPPED, BY THEN HAD CLIMBED UP CURB ONTO SIDEWALK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY SURGES FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

MY SUV STARTS ITSELF WITHOUT ANYONE OR THE KEY FOB BEING ANYWHERE NEAR THE VEHICLE. IT HAS DONE THIS AT LEAST 9 TIMES AND HAPPENS ANYWHERE AND AT ANY TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT. IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO PARK IN MY GARAGE SO I LEAVE IT OUTSIDE ALL THE TIME. TOYOTA FACTORY NOR DEALER HAVE OFFERED ANY SUGGESTIONS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WANT IT RECALLED OR BOUGHT BACK. IT IS UNSAFE TO HAVE A CAR THAT DOES THIS. CAR HAS DONE THIS SINCE NOV 2009 THAT I HAVE NOTICED. *TR

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2008 REQUIRES FREQUENT JUMPING DUE TO DEAD BATTERY, THIS HAS BEEN SINCE I BOUGHT IT, BUT MORE RECENTLY I HAVE HAD TO JUMP THE CAR ONCE A WEEK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE DEALER HAS TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO REPAIR THE MIDDLE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AND THE PASSENGER WAS NOT SECURE IN THE VEHICLE. IN ORDER FOR THE SEAT BELT TO BE CLOSED, IT HAD TO BE EXTENDED TO THE FULL LENGTH IN ORDER TO RETRACT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK BECAUSE THE PASSENGER WAS NOT SECURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55000. UPDATED 07/01/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. UPDATED 07/02/10.*JB

I HAVE A 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND EVER SINCE A FEW HUNDRED MILES, THERE HAS BEEN A KNOCK IN MY STEERING WHEEL. IT IS INTERMITTENT, BUT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS COMING OUT OF A TURN, USUALLY A RIGHT TURN. AS THE WHEEL COMES BACK TO CENTER (TURNING COUNTER-CLOCKWISE) THERE A MOMENTARY KNOCK WHICH IS AUDIBLE AND CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. MY DEALER INITIALLY REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AFTER I NOTICED MANY PEOPLE ON THE TOYOTA FORUMS REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. AT ANY RATE, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AFTER 500 MILES OF THE 1ST REPAIR. I RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN, AS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND I FELT HAD GOTTEN WORSE. AFTER A WEEK OF ARGUING WITH THE LAME SERVICE DEPT MANAGER ( MARINA DEL REY TOYOTA ), I TURNED UP THE HEAT AND SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP. THE PART WAS REPLACED AGAIN, AND AFTER ONE WEEK, THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE...THE STEERING HAS BECOME LOOSE AND SLOPPY, AND NOWTOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO GO ANY FURTHER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH OVER BUMPY ROADS WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD HESITATE TO ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING. HE CONFIRMED THAT THE FEELING WAS AS IF HE HAD REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IN FACT, HE HAD NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE; HOWEVER A CLAIM WAS FILED APPROPRIATELY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING - TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2008 (NOT RECALLED!) ON 2/18/10, MY ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 YEARS, AND I KNOW HOW TO DRIVE, SO PLEASE SPARE ME TOYOTA! ALSO, MY CAR IS NOT EVEN ON THE RECALL LIST YET!!!! I ACCELERATED QUICKLY FROM A STOPPED POSITION. ONCE THE ACCELERATOR WAS RELEASED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RACE. I HIT THE BRAKE, PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING. ABOUT 3 SECONDS LATER, AND WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR, (THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT STUCK TO THE MAT, AND IN ITS RELEASED POSITION) I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE. THE CAR ONCE AGAIN BEGAN TO RACE FORWARD. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AGAIN (IT STOPPED ONCE AGAIN), WAITED 20 SECONDS, AND BACK IN DRIVE, IT WAS THEN OK. THE PEDAL DID NOT GET STUCK TO THE FLOOR MAT AS TOYOTA CLAIMS COULD HAPPEN. THE FLOOR MAT IN MY CAR WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE PATH OF THE PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME, ALBEIT VERY CAREFULLY! THE SCARY PART, IS THAT TOYOTA DID NOT RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM! I BOUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE SAME DAY, AND THEY WERE A BIT NONCHALANT ABOUT THIS, AND ALSO TOLD ME THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT, WHICH REALLY CONCERNS ME! ALSO, MY CALL TO TOYOTA CORPORATION WAS TAKEN VERY LOOSELY, AND THEY DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE MUCH CONCERN, EXCEPT TO TELL ME TO REMOVE MY FLOOR MATS. *TR

IN AUGUST, I PURCHASED A USED PRE-CERTIFIED 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FROM STEVINSON TOYOTA IN AURORA, CO. ABOUT A MONTH AGO I NOTICED RUST SPOTS FORMING ON THE HOOD AS WELL AS THE TAILGATE. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BEING THAT ALL THREE WARRANTIES WERE STILL IN EFFECT. I ALSO BROUGHT IT TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RUST WAS DUE TO CONTAMINATED PAINT AND THAT THEY SEE A LOT OF THIS DAMAGE ON 2008 TOYOTA MODELS. AFTER TWO DAYS OF ARGUING WITH TOYOTA ABOUT WHETHER THE RUST WAS FROM GRAVEL OR DEFECTIVE PAINT, THEY DECIDED TO COVER THE DAMAGE AND HAVE THE HOOD AND TAILGATE REPAINTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN AND THERE WAS A POTHOLE THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IT WAS RELATED TO THE COMPUTER ELECTRONICS BUT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE OR REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, WITH SMALL CHILD IN BACK, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE IMMINENT DANGER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THEY STATED STOP THE CAR IN THE NEAREST SAFE AREA AND CALL DEALER. I FEARED BACK TO AN ACCELERATION ISSUE IN 1985 WITH AN OLDER CAR AND LOOKED FOR A LESS CROWDED AREA TO PULL OVER. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. I PHONED THE NEAREST DEALER, THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OTHER THAN I NEEDED TO GET THERE OR PULL OVER AND STOP. I WAS LESS THAN 15 MILES AWAY SO I CHOSE TO TRY AND GET THERE SINCE I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR WITH BREAKS. I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER AND SAT 3 HOURS BEFORE I HAD ANY DETAIL, WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD. THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THEY ESCALATED THE ISSUE UP THE TOYOTA SERVICE LEVELS. FINALLY, THEY CAME BACK THAT THERE WAS A SMALL (HAIRLINE)BREAK FLUID LEAK IN THE CAR AND THAT PART WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AT 41,000 MILES AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE PART AND LABOR TO INSTALL. AFTER 5 HOURS, THEY GAVE ME A RIDE HOME AND DID NOT OFFER A RENTAL CAR. THE DETAILS I RECEIVED BACK WERE VERY VAGUE AND TO THIS DAY I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE ISSUE BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, AFTER MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE ISSUE - TOYOTA AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PART $1500 BUT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR LABOR $600. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY MAY HAVE PAID FOR ALL THE REPAIR (A YEAR AGO) BUT THE FLOOR MAT ISSUE WAS COSTING THEM SO MUCH MONEY THEY WERE NOT PAYING FOR LABOR ANY LONGER. I FEEL A RE

2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 4WD - THE ANTISKID MECHANISM FOR ICE IS VERY EFFECTIVE BUT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN IN SNOW. ON THIS MODEL, THERE IS NO MANUAL OVERRIDE. I LIVE IN RURAL NORTH DAKOTA AND BLOWING SNOW OR RURAL ROADS ARE A PART OF LIFE HERE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I GOT STUCK IN A MINOR DRIFT ON THE ROAD BUT IN TEMPERATURE OF DOUBLE DIGIT BELOW WIND CHILLS. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS IS WHEN THE CAR SENSE WHEEL SLIPPAGE. THIS TURNS ALL POWER OFF TO THE WHEELS. 'FLOORING THE PEDAL" RESULTS IN NO REVVING OF THE ENGINE. (THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM ONLY ON THE HYBRID, I AM NOT SURE.) AS THE POWER GETS TURNED OFF, IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO 'ROCK' THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIFT. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I THOUGHT THAT I BROKE THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WAS OFF. NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. I NEEDED TO SHOVEL COMPLETELY SO THERE WAS NO WHEEL SLIPPAGE. YESTERDAY, IT CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE ELEMENTS AND THE CAR NOT RECEIVING POWER TO THE WHEELS. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME AND FOUND OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. ONE PERSON DESCRIBED THE VEHICLE WHEN STUCK IN SNOW AS "A GIGANTIC BOAT ANCHOR." I CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEN THE '800 NUMBER' FOR TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DID NOT GET ANYWHERE. I THINK THE SAFETY SOLUTION IS A MANUAL OVERRIDE SWITCH. *TR

2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED ACCELERATED WHILE PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND BEFORE I COULD STOP VEHICLE I HIT A FROZEN SNOW DRIFT WITH THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE. DAMAGE OCCURRED TO VEHICLE AND I HURT MY BACK. THIS HAPPENED ONCE. *TR

MY CRUISE CONTROL ZOOMS OUT OF CONTROL WITHOUT ANY INITIATIVE FROM ME. IT'S A VERY RANDOM PROBLEM, BUT DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING. *TR

MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID '08 HAS ALWAYS HAD A UNNERVING BRAKING ISSUE. OFTEN, ESPECIALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS, WHEN I FIRST APPLY THE BRAKES, INSTEAD OF BRAKING, THE CAR ACTUALLY JUMPS FORWARD. I HAVE ASKED THE TOYOTA SERVICE (WHERE I GET MY OIL CHANGED) ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAY IT'S JUST THE WAY THE HYBRID BRAKE SYSTEM WORKS. WHILE I HAVEN'T GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS DELAYED BRAKE RESPONSE (KNOCK ON WOOD), IT REALLY DOES NOT SEEM LIKE AN APPROPRIATE WAY FOR BRAKES TO WORK. DO THE PRIUS HYBRIDS AND THE HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS SHARE THE SAME BRAKING SOFTWARE? *TR

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. SOMETIMES WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES, THE CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS ACTUALLY ACCELERATING AND NOT DECELERATING. THIS "GAP" IN DECELERATING DOES NOT LAST A LONG TIME, BUT IS DISCONCERTING AND MY NORMAL REACTION IS TO HIT THE BRAKES HARDER. MY DAUGHTER HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS. THE TOYOTA DEALER HAS DENIED THAT THERE IS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THIS HAS OCCURRED REGULARLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN APRIL 2008. *TR

2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID - EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT TAKES A SECOND BEFORE THE BRAKES CATCH. THE PROBLEMS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS REPORTED WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS MODELS AND LIKELY THE SAME SOFTWARE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, TOYOTA HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER COMMENCING BRAKING, BRAKES BRIEFLY SEEM TO "LET GO" OR SLIP. THE SENSATION IS OF THE CAR LURCHING FORWARD, ALMOST ACCELERATING. THEN BRAKING RESUMES. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A ONE-TIME INCIDENT; I NOTICE IT EVERY TIME I DRIVE AT SLOW OR MODERATE SPEEDS, AND THEN NEED TO BRAKE--MOST RECENTLY, TODAY. 2008 MODEL HIGHLANDER HYBRID WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH 2009; WE HAVE OWNED IT FOR 11 MONTHS. *TR

SINCE THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH TALK ABOUT THE TOYOTA HYBRIDS I THOUGHT I WOULD FILE A QUICK COMPLAINT THAT MAY NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED. JUST LIKE ON THE FORD FUSION HYBRIDS AND SOME OF THE TOYOTA HYBRIDS UNDER RECALL, MY 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS A BIT OF A FUNNY BRAKE FEELING WHEN GOING FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO MECHANICAL BRAKING. I CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM EASILY AND IT OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES DAILY. I'VE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT, BUT THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT STARTLED ME. LONG STORY SHORT, WHEN TRAVELLING DOWN HILL AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE FIRST BRAKING IS THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING. WHEN IT CHANGES OVER TO MECHANICAL BRAKING THE VEHICLE SORT OF LURCHES FORWARD AND REQUIRES MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO CONTINUE SLOWING DOWN AT THE SAME RATE. AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE LEARNED TO EXPECT AND I ALWAYS LEAVE PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN ME AND ANY CAR IN FRONT.

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA HYBRID HIGHLANDER.I HAVE EXPERIENCED A "LAG" BEFORE THE BRAKES KICK IN AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR IS ACCELERATING AS I AM BRAKING. IT IFEELS AS IF WHEN IT HAPPENS I AM HITTING THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. IT IS SOMEWHAT FRIGHTENING. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. I BELIEVE IT IS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE PREIUS. IT FEELS LIKE A BRIEF SURGE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS TOYOTA IS NOT RECALLING THE HYBRID HIGHLANDER. I BELIEVE IT IS THE SAME TECHNOLOGY AND ISSUE THE PREIUS IS EXPERIENCING

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. EVER SINCE IT WAS NEW, IT HAS INCONSISTENT BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS, AROUND 25 MPH AND SLOWER. WHEN BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS, HITTING A SMALL BUMP OR POTHOLE WILL SHUT DOWN THE REGEN BRAKES, THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY RELEASE, AND THEN WILL REAPPLY WITH THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES ACTIVATED, BUT WILL REQUIRE MUCH GREATER PEDAL PRESSURE TO GET THE SAME BRAKING FORCE. *TR

HIGHLANDER 2008 BRAKING GAP. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE HIGHLANDER IN THE FIRST WEEK WE HAD THE CAR. SHE WAS DRIVING IN SLOW MOVING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN CAMBRIDGE MA AT LESS THAN 15 MPH. WHEN A CAR IN FRONT OF HER STOOPED QUICKLY, SHE HIT THE BRAKES WHICH INITIALLY STOPPED, BUT ON THEIR OWN RELEASED FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND AND THEN RE-ENGAGED. THIS CAUSED HER TO HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR. INITIALLY WE REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA AND WERE TOLD THAT IT HAD TO WITH THE HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS TYPE OF BRAKE RELEASE HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND BUT IS NOT CONSISTENT. WE HAVE BOTH LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE THE CAR MORE CONSERVATIVELY BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE. TODAY THE CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THIS BEHAVIOR WAS CONFIRMED BY TOYOTA AFTER DRIVING OUR CAR, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO THE BRAKING PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE PRIUS AS WELL. A LOW BATTERY WAS CHANGED, IN HOPE OF HELPING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. ON APPROXIMATELY FOUR OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ICY WEATHER CONDITIONS. SHE ALSO STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE WHEN SHE TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

MY 2008 TOYOTA HYBRID HIGHLANDER HAS ON NUMEROUS OCCCASIONS LOST BRAKING POWER WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I FIRST NOTICED THIS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. *TR

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2008... BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT CATCHING, ESPECIALLY IF GOING OVER A BUMP. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY SINCE FIRST GOT THE CAR NEW, ONE YEAR AGO. NO ACCIDENT. *JB

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. EVER SINCE IT WAS NEW, IT HAS INCONSISTENT BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS, LIKE 20 MPH AND SLOWER. WHEN BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS, IF I HIT EVEN A SMALL BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY RELEASE, AND THEN WILL RE-APPLY BUT WILL REQUIRE MUCH GREATER PEDAL PRESSURE TO GET THE SAME BRAKING FORCE. I HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT IT BUT SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. *JB

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A BUSY STREET I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR HARD AT WHICH TIME IT BECAME STUCK. I TRIED BRAKING HARD BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT WHICH TIME I REMEMBERED HEARING ABOUT A RECALL INVOLVING FLOOR MATS. I YANKED THE FLOOR MAT BACK WHILE CONTINUING TO BRAKE AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. I WOULD ESTIMATE IT WAS STUCK FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS, MAYBE A QUARTER MILE DISTANCE. AFTER RETURNING HOME AND MOVING THE FLOOR MAT AROUND I DO NOT SEE HOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN UP UNDER THE GAS PEDAL AND IF IT WAS HOW IT COULD HAVE INTERFERED WITH THE OPERATION OF THE GAS PEDAL. THE FLOOR MAT IS A VINYL/PLASTIC, RIGID, RELATIVELY THIN AND BOUGHT AFTERMARKET (NOT THE CARPET FLOOR MAT THAT CAME WITH THE CAR). I REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT ALTOGETHER. READING ABOUT THE LATEST RECALL PROMPTED ME TO FILE THIS REPORT EVEN THOUGH NO ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED NOR DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE.*CW

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID(NA). HE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE TREAD WEAR ON THE TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE HIS SET OF TIRES. HOWEVER HE SPECULATES THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS CAUSING THE TIRES TO FAIL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2009 WE DROVE FROM ORANGE COUNTY TO KERNVILLE FOR A WEEKEND TRIP. 120 MILES INTO OUR JOURNEY WE WERE O IN THE MOJAVE DESERT ON HIGHWAY 395 WHEN I OVERTOOK ANOTHER CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 75MILES PER HOUR. AS I GOT BACK INTO LANE, I ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE TO SLOW BACK DOWN BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. MY WIFE WAS SITTING BESIDE ME. PERPLEXED, I LOOKED DOWN AT THE PEDALS AND TOLD MY WIFE THE CAR WOULD NOR SLOW DOWN, AS I CONTINUED TO TRY AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. AT EACH ATTEMPT TO DECELERATE THE ENGINE WHINED ALARMINGLY BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO PRESS AND RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR FOLLOWED BY RETURNING MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE. AT NO TIME DID THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL APPEAR TO BE HINDERED OR RESTRICTED IN ANYWAY. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AT 95MILES PER HOUR I FORCED DOWN BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE EMERGENCY/ HAND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME FORCING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN, ALL THE WHILE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UP. AS WE APPROACHED STOPPING SASKIA PUSHED THE GEAR STICK INTO PARK AND WE BOUNCED AND SHUDDERED TO A HALT. IT WAS TERRIFYING. THE CHILDREN DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WERE COMPLETELY PANICKED BY THE SITUATION, SCREAMING AND CRYING AS WE TRIED TO STOP THE CAR. BOTH SASKIA AND I WERE VISIBLY SHAKEN. WE TOOK A SHORT BRAKE AND THEN GINGERLY ATTEMPTED TO MOVE FORWARD AGAIN. THE CAR APPEARED TO BE WORKING AND WE SLOWLY ACCELERATED BACK ON TO THE HIGHWAY ATTEMPTING SEVERAL

I PURCHASED A 2008 HIGHLANDER BY TOYOTA. AFTER DRIVING 20K MILES , I NOTICED A VIBRATION IN MY STEERING. I THEN NOTICED MY TIRES BELTS WERE SEPARATING AND THE TREAD ON ALL WAS WORN DOWN TO ALMOST ZERO. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO MILEAGE WARRANTY. YET MY UNDERSTANDING WAS 60 MONTHS. WHEN I READ IT AGAIN IT SAID 60 MONTHS OR THE AMOUNT OF TREAD LEFT. NEW TIRES $900. THESE TIRES ARE A HAZARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A NEW VEHICLE NEED NEW TIRES WHEN IT IS BARELY ONE YEAR OLD. THE TIRES WERE REMOVED BEFORE I HAD AN INCIDENT. I HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TIRES ON VARIOUS WEB SITES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN DECEMBER OF 2008. THE CONTACT NOTICED PAINT CHIPPING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND REAR DOOR. SHE ALSO NOTICED CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE PAINT. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CORROSION WAS CAUSED BY BRAKE DUST. THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD GIVE THE VEHICLE AN ACID WASH. THE CONTACT WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

MY CAR, TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2008, TIRE (245/55 19R) WARE OUT TO 2/32 ~ 3/32 AT 17500 MILES. WHEN IT WENT DON TO 4/32, GARAGE WARN ME ABOUT TIRE NEED TO CHANGE VERY SOON, I CONTACTED MY TOYOTA DEALER AND TOYO TIRE BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. ALMOST ALL OF HIGHLANDER OWNER COMPLAIN ONLINE AT CAR FORUM. WE DIDN'T GET ANY ACTION FROM BOTH CAR AND TIRE DEALER. ONLY ONE OWNER GET FREE REPLACEMENT BY DEALER FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK. TOYO 245/55 R19 TIRE IS NOT GOOD AT HANDLING ON SNOW AND ICE. WHEN THERE WAS SNOW, I HAVE TO DRIVE VERY CAREFULLY AND SLOWLY. EVEN THOUGH I DRIVE VERY CAREFULLY, I SLIP AND SKID TWO OR THREE TIMES. MOST OF THE OWNER OF 2008 AND 2009 HIGHLANDER WHICH COME WITH 245/55 R19 SIZE TIRE COMPLAINT ABOUT POOR HANDLING ON SNOW AND ICE EVEN ON WET SURFACE. THERE ARE ONLY TWO CHOICES FOR THAT KIND OF SIZE TIRE AND BOTH DO NOT HAVE GOOD RESULT OF HANDLING ON WET OR ICE. I HOPE THIS REPORT CAN GIVE SOME HELP TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE CAR WHICH COME WITH 245/55 R19. THANKS. *TR

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VEHICLE AND THE FRONT TIRES HAVE ALMOST ALL TREADS WORN DOWN ALREADY AFTER JUST 10,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHICH INDICATES THIS VEHICLE IS JUST CHEWING TIRES RIGHT UP SO I AM WORRIED ABOUT EARLY TIRE FAILURE. OTHER OWNERS MUST HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN NHTSA CHECK THIS OUT FOR ALL OWNERS? *TR

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. DURING THE SNOW DAYS WE WERE TRYING TO DRIVE IT UP MY SNOW COVERED ROAD BUT COULD NOT DUE TO THE SLIGHT INCLINE AND THE COMPACT SNOW. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND GRANDPA WAS IN THE BACK. ONCE WE STOPPED THE CAR WAS PUT INTO 'PARK', I GOT OUT AND WAS WALKING AROUND THE BACK. BY THEN MY WIFE AND GRANDPA WERE JUST OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE DOORS STILL OPEN. THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS BUMPING INTO ME AND KNOCKING ME OVER ALMOST RUNNING OVER ME. MY WIFE AND GRANDPA WERE BEING PUSHED OVER BY THE OPEN DOORS. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO CLIMB BACK IN AND HIT THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. GRANDPA WAS KNOCKED OVER ONTO THE GROUND AND BROKE HIS GLASSES. OTHER THAN FREAKING US ALL OUT WE WERE OK. I AM SURE THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE HIGH TECH TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A CAR IN 'PARK' SHOULD NOT START ROLLING NO MATTER WHAT. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS. IS THIS NORMAL BEHAVIOR? HAVE OTHER PEOPLE SUBMITTED THIS PROBLEM? *TR

THERE IS A "CLICKING SOUND" IN THE STEERING COLUMN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION, AND WORSE IF TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE GOING OVER A BUMP. FEELS AS IF SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. ALMOST FEELS LIKE A LOOSE CV JOINT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PICKED THE CAR UP FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A "CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE". PROBLEM HAS BEEN PERSISTING, AND I SHOWED THIS TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND IS WORKING ON IT. SPOKE WITH TOYOTA, WHO DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE, BUT OFFERED A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE TO MEET WITH ME AND TO TEST THE CAR. AWAITING MY APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE. *TR

CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET TO ALLOW A CAR OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY. MY 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HIGHLANDER HYBRID (WITH 8000 MILES) MADE A HISSING OR WHISTLING TYPE SOUND AND JUST ACCELERATED. ( I WAS AT A STOP) WE WENT ABOUT 150 FT (ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR) AND WENT RIGHT INTO A TREE. I WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL THAT EVENING BUT MY PASSENGER IS SEVERELY INJURED. MY INS INVESTIGATOR SUGGEST I ASK YOU IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS.?? THE TRUCK IS TOTALED. MY INVESTIGATOR WANTS TO GET A COURT ORDER TO HAVE THE "BLACK BOX" RELEASED THAT GATHERS INFORMATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT PURCHASED HIS VEHICLE FIFTEEN DAYS AGO. THE WINDSHIELD REMAINS FOGGED. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN HE ACTIVATED THE DEFOGGER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WOULD NOT MAKE THE REPAIR FOR FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500.