2004 Toyota Highlander complaints

WE WERE TRAVELING IN THE VEHICLE, APPROX. 20-25 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED FOR A FEW SECOND, RELEASED AND THEN ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER, LOCKED AND RELEASED ONCE AGAIN. IT WAS AS IF WE HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, ONLY ON THE RIGHT DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THE CODES LEAD THE TECHNICIAN TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT ON THE ABS ACTUATOR, HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY COMPANY WOULDN'T FIX OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE 1) THEY COULDN'T REDUPLICATE THE PROBLEM; AND 2) THE PART IN QUESTION IS A SMALL PART WITHIN A $3,500 LARGER PART, OF WHICH THE ENTIRE $3,500 PART WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD US TO WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. APPROX. ONE MONTH LATER, THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING, HOWEVER, IT WAS ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX. 70 MPH. THE IMPACT WAS LESS HARD AS THE SPEED WOULDN'T ALLOW THE BRAKE TO FULLY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE WARRANTY AGENT AGAIN DENIED RESOLVING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT IN THEIR PRESENCE AND THE CODES WERE DEEMED INCOMPLETE AND THEREFORE, NO REPAIR. I AM CONCERNED THIS MIGHT CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND/OR DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED UNWANTED TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVITY, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE EXCESSIVELY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC REPROGRAMMED THE PCM MEMORY, WHICH REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. CURRENTLY, THE FAILURE HAS NOT RESURFACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,450. UPDATED 01-26-09 *BF UPDATED 01/27/09. *JB

THE CAR'S VSC (VEHICLE SKID CONTROL) SYSTEM ACTIVATED ON A DRY STRAIGHT ROAD. THE BRAKES WENT ON AND REDUCED THE SPEED TO ABOUT 5MPH, MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. GLAD THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN IN TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED, AND I COULD GET IT TO ABOUT 10MPH, AND THEN IT WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES QUICKLY AND REDUCED POWER NO-MATTER WHAT THE THROTTLE POSITION WAS, AND THE CAR WAS LIMITED TO ABOUT 5MPH. ONCE THIS HAPPENED THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, UNLESS THE FUSES FOR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE REMOVED. I DID THIS JUST TO GET IT TO THE DEALER... IT HAD BUZZERS AND WARNING LIGHTS GOING OFF. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE & VSC "ECU", WHICH WAS GOING TO COST $2,400, BUT THERE COULD BE EXTRA SENSORS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TOO. THIS SEEMED VERY EXCESSIVE SO I DIDN'T HAVE THE WORK DONE. NOW THE CAR IS SITTING. I'VE HEARD THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND IT. I'VE HEARD THAT IT CAN BE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, OR THE WHEEL ROTATIONS SENSORS, OR THE G-CENTER (ACCELEROMETER). EACH ONE IS SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS APIECE. A FAILURE IN THE SKID CONTROL SYSTEM SHOULD JUST STOP WORKING AND NOT CAUSE THE BRAKES TO BE SLAMMED ON, LEAVING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. AND THE REPAIR COST SHOULD NOT BE $2,500 TO OVER $4,000. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

COMPLETE LOST OF HEAT FROM DEFROSTER AND HEATER. SEEM TO BE A GENERIC PROBLEM WILL ALL TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS OR MANY. *TR

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2004, I WOULD HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE CLOCK - SOMETIMES IT WOULD SHOW OTHER TIMES NOT. I HAVE A NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN THE CAR AND THE TIME IS TIED INTO IT. THIS YEAR, THE GPS STOPPED WORKING, AND WOULD KNOCK OUT THE RADIO, HEAT AND DEFROSTER. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO TOYOTA, THEY SAID IS WAS A GPS FAILURE AND SINCE I WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE, IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $1600.00 TO REPLACE IT. I WOULD THINK THAT SOMETHING I COMPLAINED ABOUT FROM THE BEGINNING WOULD BE LOOKED NOT AND THAT A RECALL SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF THE DEFROSTING SYSTEM DIDN'T WORK. THAT IS A DRIVING DANGER. I HAD TO PAY FOR IT FOR THE WINTER BUT AM NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR AND WILL SURELY NOT BE LOOKING AT A TOYOTA EVER AGAIN. SINCE I GOT THE REFURBISHED GPS, MY TIME IS ALWAYS THERE. *TR

NAVIGATION SYSTEMS SAYS EXTERNAL SYSTEM IS DISCONNECTED CAUSING THE HEAT/ AIR CONDITIONER & DEFROSTER TO BE DISABLED NEW SYSTEM WILL COST 5795.00 USED PART WILL COST 1500-1700.00 CAR ONLY HAS 41,864 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *TR

HEARD A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON BUSY HIGHWAY THE STEERING OF MY TOYOTA BECAME IMPOSSIBLE I MANAGED TO GET CAR OFF OF ROAD . HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR HAD GONE BAD THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SENT OUT ON THIS SITUATION. I JUST FEEL THAT THE OWNERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION AND TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DANGEROUS DEFAULT. *TR

AFTER STARTING MY CAR AND DRIVING IT TWO BLOCKS, THE VSC LIGHT AND AUDIBLE WARNING BUZZER WENT ON AT THE SAME TIME MY CAR LOST TRACKING AND STARTED VEERING TO THE LEFT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME, BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED AS SOON AS I DROVE IT 3 BLOCKS TO A SERVICE STATION. DIAGNOSTICS DISCOVERED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE PART WAS REPLACED FOR $630.11. I SEE THIS AS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY RESULTED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. *TR

THE GPS IN MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER GOES ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN IT DOES IT DISABLES THE DEFROSTER, AC AND HEAT. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE GPS, BUT WHEN IT DISABLES MY DEFROSTER, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. TOYOTA HAS INFORMED ME A NEW GPS WILL COST $5,000.00. I CAN PUT A USED ONE IN FOR $1,500.00. THIS IS AN UNFAIR PRICE TO HAVE A NECESSARY SAFETY FUNCTION, THE DEFROSTER, TO WORK. DEFROSTER ARE REQUIRED FOR STATE INSPECTION. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR TOYOTA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH APPROXIMATELY 70K MILES. FOR THE SECOND TIME THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE (ALL OVER THE WEB). I BELIEVE ANYTHING RELATED TO THE DRIVABLE/STEERING IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA SHOULD FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE FAILURES. *TR

I WANTED TO OPEN MY SUNROOF. I STARTED TO SLIDE BACK AND GOT STUCK. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP JUST TO HAVE THEM CLOSE IT. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS 8TH ONE THAT WHERE THE SUNROOF BROKE. THEY HAD TO DISCONNECT THE SUNROOF JUST TO CLOSE IT. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY EMISSION SYSTEM/CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED TWICE NOW. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 2004, WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE AND THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS MAY 2008. *TR EACH TIME THE SYMPTOM WAS A SULFUR SMELL THAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE DEALER HAPPENS TO SOME 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS.

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLAND AND BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT OR MANUFACTURING FLAW WITH REGARD TO THE LENS COVERS TO THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHT COVERS. BOTH HAVE SIGNIFICANT MELTING FROM THE LIGHT BULBS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH ON FIRE. ALL PRODUCTS INVOLVED ARE ORIGINAL TOYOTA PARTS. THE LENS COVERS EACH HAVE A LARGE (BIGGER THAN A QUARTER) CIRCULAR SPOT WHERE THE MELTING TOOK PLACE FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THERE IS A BUBBLE ON EACH. THE SAME HAS HAPPENED WITH THE FOG LIGHTS AND THEY ARE NOW CRACKED FROM THE HEAT. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY WILL NOT FIX, REPLACE, REPAIR THE LENS COVERS AND SAY THAT THERE IS NO RECALL. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT ANYTHING MELTING ON A VEHICLE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CATCH FIRE. THIS HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE OVER SEVERAL YEARS SO THE INCIDENT DATE IS NOT EXACT. IT IS EVIDENT THAT EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE HOLES IN THESE COVERS FROM THE HEAT/MELTING AS THE DAYLIGHTS RUN CONSTANTLY AND CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. *TR

TRANSFER ASSY FAILED AT 74,000 MILES AND FAILED AGAIN AT 101,000 MILES. *TR

VSC SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND STARTED APPLYING BRAKES WHEN THE AUTO WAS ON DRY ROADS. SYSTEM HAS NO DISCONNECT SWITCH IN ORDER TO DISABLE SYSTEM. DROVE AUTO HOME AT ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR BECAUSE SYSTEM WOULD NOT DIS-ENGAGE. THE AUTO ONLY HAS 25,000 MILES. HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE AT 4,000 MILES. *TR

I WAS LEAVING MY HOME GOING TO WORK TODAY AND NOTICED THAT MY WIFE'S TOYOTA 2004 HIGHLANDER HEADLIGHT LENSES HAD STARTED TO MELT WHERE THE DAY TIME RUNNING LAMPS ARE. *TR

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED STEERING SYSTEM LOOSENESS, CLUNKING. THE STEERING SYSTEM EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE FREEPLAY AND CLUNKING. A DEFECTIVE PART WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BUT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

HIGHLANDER RECENTLY RECEIVED 30K SERVICE AT TOYOTA DEALER. CAR MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29K. THE SERVICE ADVISOR REPORTED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS MAKING A CLUNK TYPE SOUND AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. HE BELIEVED HIGHLANDERS AND TACOMA'S HAD BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM. HE DID NOT THINK THE PART WOULD BREAK BUT THAT THE PART HAD BEEN REDESIGNED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

ONE WEEK AGO, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WOULD HAPPEN. I SCHEDULED A APPOINTMENT WITH GOODYEAR TO HAVE MY BRAKES CHECKED. 2 DAYS BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT DATE, I ALSO HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. I FREAKED OUT AND WENT STRAIGHT TO GOODYEAR FOR THE REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RUBBER ON THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD BEEN EATEN AWAY BY THE BRAKE FLUID AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE WAS A RECALL IN 2001 FOR THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2004 HIGHLANDER. *TR

SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THE ENGINE, VSC, AND TRACKING LIGHT BEGAN GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. MARIETTA TOYOTA PERSONNEL TOLD ME THAT THE GAS CAP WAS NOT ON TIGHT ENOUGH AND I SHOULD TIGHTEN IT. CALLS WERE MADE NUMEROUS TIMES TO THEM. SINCE MAY, 2007 THE LIGHTS ARE ON CONSTANTLY AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I KEEP GETTING THE SAME REPLY AND THEY DO NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT IT AT ALL! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVATED ON DRY SURFACE AND ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AFFECTS THE STEERING AND OCCURS EVERY FEW FEET. SINCE THAT TIME, THE SYSTEM ATTEMPTS TO ACTIVATE AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING 15-20 MPH. THE VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT FULL SPEED WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IN THE MICROTRIP THAT CONTROLS THE VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY ATTEMPTING TO HAVE IT REPROGRAMMED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 39,000.

I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE AND "SENSATION" IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS OR ON A BUMPY ROAD. IN DECEMBER, 2007 I TOOK THE HIGHLANDER TO THE DEALER AND WAS FIRST TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND JUST NEEDED SOME LUBRICATION. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE MANAGER FURTHER ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING DANGEROUS, I WAS TOLD THAT IT "COULD BE A PROBLEM AND THAT THE STEERING SHAFT SHOULD BE CHANGED". I WAS TOLD THAT THE COLUMN COULD "LOCK UP", CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. AFTER FURTHER QUESTIONING, THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A COPY OF THE TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN DATED FEBRUARY 2006, OBVIOUSLY TOYOTA WAS WELL AWARE OF THE POSSIBLE DANGER, I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM. THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $450 TO ME SINCE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN MAY OF 2007, ALMOST A YEAR AFTER THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA PURPOSELY HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL IN ORDER TO SAVE MONEY. THOSE OF US WHO OWN A 2004 HIGHLANDER ARE NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND OUT OF LUCK. SINCE THIS IS A POTENTIAL DANGER AND TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR WELL OVER A YEAR, I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL NEEDED REPAIRS AND A RECALL ISSUED. *TR

BOUT MY 2004 HIGHLANDER 3 MONTHS AGO, USED, WITH 46K MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC LAST WEEK TO GET THE OIL CHANGED AND TIRES ROTATED. HE TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AND SAID THAT IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION IN 3 MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE STEERING. THERE IS A CLUNK IN THE STEERING, WHICH I NEVER THOUGHT WAS ABNORMAL BUT HE SAID IT IS. HE ALSO SAID THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON IT. I CALLED THE DEALER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR NEXT WEEK. I SERIOUSLY HAD BETTER NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. *TR

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HEADLAMP MATERIAL COVER FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. CONSUMER STATED THE MECHANIC DID NOT OFFER A CORRECTIVE ACTION. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE LENS MATERIAL HAD MELTED AND A FOG SPOT WAS PRESENT. WHEN THE LAMP WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, A BULGE WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE LAMP IN THE UP POSITION. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 25-40 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING SIGNAL ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES PULSATED. THE TRAFFIC CONTROL LIGHT SHOULD HAVE ILLUMINATED WHEN THERE WAS WHEEL SLIPPAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING DRY ROAD CONDITIONS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,700. UPDATED 03/10/08. *LJTHE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING.

I PURCHASED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4DR 4WD 4ECT AS A PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLE WITH A PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLE WARRANTY. AFTER OWNING AND USING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MONTHS WHILE DRIVING IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION, THE RIGHT SIDE REAR BRAKE SUDDENLY LOCKED UP INTERMITTENTLY ACCOMPANIED BY SWERVING, BY PANEL VSC LIGHT FLASHES AND AN AUDIBLE WARNING. THIS SITUATION FORTUNATELY OCCURRED NEAR OUR RESIDENCE ON DRY PAVEMENT. BY DRIVING VERY SLOWLY WE MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND THE FOLLOWING DIAGNOSIS OR SIMILAR WAS PROVIDED: CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE VSC LIGHTS ARE COMING ON AND THE BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP, YAW RATE SENSOR IS OUT OF CALIBRATION. RECALIBRATED YAW RATE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO US AS REPAIRED. THE PRECISE SAME VSC FAILURE SITUATION OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 11TH OF THIS YEAR AND AGAIN WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN IN A REASONABLY SAFE LOCATION AND DRIVING UNDER GOOD ROAD CONDITION WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP AND TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALER FACILITY FOR ANALYSIS AND REPAIR. WE RECEIVED THE DIAGNOSIS: ?ELECTRICAL REPAIR, CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE VSC LIGHTS ARE COMING ON, AND THE BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP, YAW RATE SENSOR IS OUT OF CALIBRATION. RECALIBRATED YAW RATE SENSOR?. I WAS TOLD BY TELEPHONE THAT ?THE PREVIOUS REPAIR LASTED TWO YEARS?. ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD CONSIDER THAT THE POTENTIAL USEFUL LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE SHOULD EXCEED TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS. FURTHERMORE, THE FAIL

OUR SUV STARTED SERIOUSLY SKIDDING ON THE ROAD SURFACE WHILE DRIVING, CHECK THE TREAD AND FOUND INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF TIRES EDGES BALD, AND CENTER OF TIRE ALSO POOR TREAD. SO FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND FAMILY I HAD ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED. *TR

STEERING. *TR

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BRAKES ENGAGED WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE WAS IN A PARKING LOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKES APPLIED, AND THAT MADE THE ENGINE STALL. HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. *KB THE DEALER FOUND THE STEERING ANGEL SENSOR WAS NOT OUT PUTTING CORRECTLY WHICH CAUSED THE VSC TO ACTIVATE. *JB

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH AWD AND 4 CYL. VEHICLE IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AT 67,500 MILES. DEALERSHIP SAY THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM AS IT AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXPECTED RELIABILITY OF A TOYOTA PRODUCT, BUT IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. MY OTHER VEHICLE IS A LEXUS RX 300 WHICH I LOVE, BUT I WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA PRODUCT IN THE FUTURE AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE. *TR

MOON ROOF BEGAN MAKING SLIGHTLY FUNNY SOUND ON OCCASION, THEN WAS FINE AND STOPPED MAKING NOISE, THEN VERY SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP IT STOPPED OPENING AND WON'T SHUT.*JB

ACCELERATION LAGS ALL THE TIME, BUT IS ESPECIALLY APPARENT WHEN "FLOORING IT" UPON FREEWAY ENTRY, PASSING, ETC. I SEE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT 04 HIGHLANDERS. OVERALL, QUITE DISAPPOINTED IN MY OVERPRICED SUV. *TR

VARIATION IN BRAKE PRESSURE. SOMETIME BRAKES FEEL FINE AND BRAND NEW AND OTHER TIMES, BRAKE ALMOST GOES TO FLOOR. *TR

THE STEERING SENSOR ON THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO ENGAGE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THIS CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAR HAD TO BE PULLED OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC ENVIRONMENT. CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGING. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I ASKED THE DEALER TO DISCONNECT THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM, BECAUSE THIS SYSTEM WAS MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE PROBLEM IT WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS. THE DEALER SAID THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND IF THE STEERING SENSOR WAS NOT REPLACED, THE CAR WOULD NOT BE DRIVABLE. IF A SENSOR IN A CONTROL SYSTEM FAILS, IT SHOULD NOT CAUSE A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. IF A SENSOR FAILS, THE BRAKES SHOULD NOT ENGAGE, THE SYSTEM SHOULD JUST BECOME INOPERABLE. THE LOGIC IN THEIR CONTROL SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND THE COMPUTER SHOULD BE RE-PROGRAMMED TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA MOTORS WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY CHOOSE TO IGNORE MY COMPLAIN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STIRRING SENSOR FOR A RIDICULOUS PRICE AND THE CAR IS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AGAIN WITHOUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGING. MY WIFE IS AGAIN DRIVING A CAR WHICH IS INHERENTLY UNSAFE. WE ARE CONSIDERING SELLING THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING SAFETY PROBLEMS. *TR

I BOUGHT USED 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND NOTICED A HEARD A THUMPING SOUND THAT COULD ALSO BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT SLOW SPEEDS. HAD AN ACCIDENT A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHERE ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT MY FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THE THUMPING GOT WORSE SO I MENTIONED IT TO THE BODY REPAIR SHOP. THEY HAD IT TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER EVEN THOUGH I HAD DRIVEN IT FOR 6 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WHERE THEY WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR , 85,000 MILE,) ON THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $380 +. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS NOT ACCIDENT RELATED. I STILL HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED. *AK

1 MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE TOYOTA THE HESSITATION ON ACCELERATION BEGAN. I HAD THE COMPUTER PROGRAM FLASHED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY COULD. ENTERING HIGHWAYS OR TURNING CORNERS THE CAR STALLE D UNTILL THE THROTTLE GRABBED, AND THEN TOOK OFF. IT JOLTED THE BODY AND MADE DRIVING THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VERY DIFFICULT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK PULLED UP TO STOP LIGHT WITH MANY OTHER CARS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I GOT UP TO 20 MPH AND THE BRAKES KICKED ON SLOWING ME DOWN TO ALMOST A STOP, AND CREATING A LOUD NOISE. THE CAR BEHIND HIT ME, BUT DID NOT CAUSE ANY DAMAGE. HE SAID I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. IT WILL ONLY GO 15 MPH BEFORE THE VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL WENT ON AND STOPPED THE CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN FOR THE PROBLEM. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS IN A RECALL BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY , ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH ACTIVATED FOR NO REASON AND NO BRAKE LIGHTS WENT ON. *AK

STEERING SHAFT ON THE 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DID NOT FEEL SAFE, FELT LOOSE AND NOISY WHEN TURNING. TOYOTA REFUSESD TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY, A TSB WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY 2006, WHICH INDICATED TOYOTA'S AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT WANT TO PUBLICLY ADMIT IT. WHILE DRIVING IT FELT LIKE THE STEERING COLUMN COUD BREAK OFF, AND IF THAT HAPPENED, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MANY DEATHS.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE SWERVED WHILE DRIVING FORWARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE CLICKING STOPPED, HOWEVER, THE SWERVING CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 46,000 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. *AK

NOISY STEERING SHAFT CAUSED ME TO TAKE CAR TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE I WAS TOLD THE SHAFT WAS 'WORN' (TINY BEARINGS WITHIN THE SHAFT WERE WORN) AND THE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. DEALER INFORMED ME THEY'D SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS, AND ON THEIR ECONOMY TOYOTA PRISMS AS WELL, BUT MANUFACTURER HAD NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS. I PAID THE BILL USING MY EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

LOOSE AND NOISY STEERING SHAFT, DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. *JB

2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BEGAN MAKING A NOISE WHICH COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, PARTICULARLY WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER A BUMP AT SLOW SPEED. TOYOTA HAS A TSB OUT ON THIS BUT IT IS NOT KNOW TO OWNERS, AND IS NOT WELL KNOW AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS DESPITE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. FURTHERMORE, TOYOTA REPS AND THE DEALER'S SERVICE WRITERS WILL TELL YOU FACE TO FACE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT WON'T PUT IT IN WRITING. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY REPAIRED BY REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING SHAFT, I BECAME AWARE THAT PRIOR TO THE REPAIRS THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN AS THE VEHICLE NOW TRACK STRAIGHT AND THE WHEEL EASY TO TURN. WITH SUCH SYMPTOMS I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO NOTIFY VEHICLE OWNERS. *NM

I HAD A TIRE GO VERY NEARLY FLAT AND THE LOW TIRE INDICATOR ON MY 04 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER NEVER ILLUMINATED. A PASSING MOTORIST MADE ME AWARE OF THE TIRE CONDITION. I BARELY WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A STATION WITHOUT RUINING THE ALMOST NEW TIRE. I HAD JUST CAME INTO TOWN, AND WAS PREVIOUSLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH 2 ELDERLY PASSENGERS BESIDES MYSELF. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER HERE IN MCKINNEY TX SAID THAT TOYOTA TECH SUPPORT SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST DRIVEN ABOUT 5 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH ONE TIRE PURPOSELY UNDER INFLATED BY 10 POUNDS TO PROVE TO THEM THAT IT WAS NOT WORKING, THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, EXCEPT TO VERIFY THAT THERE IS NO CODES SET IN THE COMPUTER! *JB

TRANSMISSION SHIFT HESITATION ON ACCELERATION AT LOWER SPEEDS. JUST ENOUGH LAG TIME TO SCARE ME A FEW TIMES THAT I WOULDN'T MAKE IT ACROSS TRAFFIC. *JB

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM DIFFERENTIAL - 2000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY - DEALER SAID THEY HAVE AT LEAST TWO OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS THIS VEHICLE IS A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED ERRATICALLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAD REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.*AK

DEALER (GREEN'S TOYOTA, LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY) MAKING RECALL REPAIRS ON MY 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (RECALL # 06V253000) FAILED TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF NHTSA RECALL, BY REPLACING DEFECTIVE RETAINING CLIPS WITH VELCRO. NO REPLACEMENT CLIPS WERE USED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, WHILE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM, YET WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE BRAKES DUE TO THE DESIGN. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE CONTACT NEEDED TO WARM UP THE ENGINE BEFORE DRIVING, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 11/9/2006 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO SAID THE ARE STILL WORKING ON A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. *NM

DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE IN MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4X4 2004 WITH A 20000 MILES, THE DEALERSHIP INFORM ME THAT THE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACE AND TOLD ME THAT WARRANTY DOES NOT INCLUDE TIRES. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT TIRES SHOULD HOLD MORE THEN 15000 MILES. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 687. *NM