2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Defect. Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.

Risk. If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A GRINDING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORTH BROOK TOYOTA (1530 FRONTAGE RD, NORTH BROOK, IL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RUBBER OIL HOSE WAS DAMAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

BREAK LIGHT WARNINGS ALL CAME ON. BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. HAD TO SHOVE BREAK PEDAL DOWN WITH BOTH FEET TO THE FLOOR GOING UPHILL TO STOP. DEALERSHIP TOLD US IT'S THE BREAK ACTUATOR PUMP AND WILL BE $5000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A SERIOUS HARDSHIP ON US. I'M A FOSTER PARENT AND NEED MY VEHICLE IN WORKING ORDER. DEALERSHIP SAID ONLY THEY CAN DO THE REPAIR DUE TO SENSOR CALIBRATIONS.

THE BACK-UP CAMERA HAS STARTED SHOWN MORE OF THE BUMPER... IT HAS STARTED POINTING MORE TO IT. THE CAMERA DID NOT SEE LOOSE. BUT I SEE THE MORE BUMPER ON THE SCREEN. WHEN I CONTACTED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE I PURCHASED INCLUDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IN 2011. I WAS TOLD THAT I STILL HAVE TO PAY THE DIAGNOSIS FEE $89.99 + TAX.

MY HIGHLANDER HYBRID: PUSHED START BUTTON, AND BEHAVED NORMALLY. UPON BEING PLACED IN GEAR, THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. ONLY HEAVY BRAKE PRESSURE PREVENTED A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUSNESS CONDITION OF FULL ACCELERATION IN A SMALL PARKING LOT. WHEN PLACED IN PARK, THE THROTTLE REDUCED TO IDLE. I REPEATED THE ACTION OF PLACING THE CAR IN GEAR (EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE), AND AGAIN, THE THROTTLE ADVANCED TO A FULL ACCELERATION MODE. AGAIN, ONLY VERY HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PREVENTED UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. I PARKED THE VEHICLE, AND CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. AFTER BEING PLACED ON HOLD SEVERAL TIMES, I LEFT A VOICE MAIL WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I ALSO WENT ONLINE TO TOYOTA TO THE CUSTOMER HOTLINE, AND LEFT A DETAILED EMAIL WITH VIN, PROBLEM DESCRIPTION, AND EXPRESSED A CONCERN FOR A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR