2006 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

TOYOTA OR THE DEALER HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THE DEFECT (ACCELERATOR PEDAL) WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FOR MY 2006 HIGHLANDER. *KB

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE, HAS BEGUN DROPPING DOWN OBSCURING MY VISION WHILE DRIVING. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. SHE DROVE APPROX 1/2 MILE FROM OUR HOUSE AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 35 MPH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SUDDENLY WENT PAST THE RED LINE. WE HAD OUR CAR TOWED TO CROWN TOYOTA WHERE THEY TORE DOWN THE ENGINE AND FOUND WATER PUMP LEAKING AND HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL . THEY REMOVED ENGINE HEAD AND FOUND WARPED BLOCK AND BUT HEAD WAS OKAY. WE THEN TOWED THE HIGHLANDER TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC TO HAVE BLOCK REPLACED AND WE WERE INFORMED THE BLOCK WAS NOT WARPED BUT INSTEAD THE BOLTS ON THE ENGINE ARE STRIPPED/DEFECTED. TOYOTA WANTS $5,400 TO REPAIR VEHICLE BY INSTALLING A USED ENGINE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HELP WITH THE COST EVEN THOUGH IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND HAS ALREADY CHARGED US $654 TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT EVEN REASSEMBLE OUR ENGINE. THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AT 68,970 MILES. WE HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. HE DROVE APPROX 2 MILES FROM OUR HOUSE AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 35 MPH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SUDDENLY WENT PAST THE RED LINE. HE DROVE OUR CAR APPROX 2 MILES BACK TO OUR HOUSE. WE THEN HAD IT TOWED TO SAVANNAH TOYOTA WHERE THEY CHECKED THE ENGINE AND FOUND THE HEAD WARPED AND THE BOLTS STRIPPED . I WENT TO SAVANNAH TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM THAT I HAD JUST HAD THE CAR THERE FOR AN OIL CHANGE A MONTH PRIOR. AT THE TIME OF OIL CHANGE, SERVICE WRITER NOTED UNDER THE HOOD THAT HE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE WATER PUMP MAY BE LEAKING AS THERE WAS FLUID ON THE UPPER PART OF HOOD. THERE WAS NO NOTIFICATION OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE WATER PUMP. A MONTH LATER, THE ABOVE OVERHEAT CONDITION OCCURRED. WHEN WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BURNED UP AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 5000.00. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE BLOCK, JUST THE HEAD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. 2200.00.SAVANNAH TOYOTA DID CHARGE US $600 TO CHECK WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND IF THE ENGINE COULD BE SAVED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK BOLTS WERE STRIPPED AND COULD NOT BE RE-INSTALLED. AFTER DIS-ASSEMBLING THE ENGINE TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM THEY DID NOT EVEN REASSEMBLE OUR ENGINE. THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AT 70,000 MILES. WE HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED THE PROBLEM CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE 3-20-11 TO DATE 11-22-2011 . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGERS SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE SIGNAL WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: MASTER CYLINDER). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WAS ON A MASSIVE BACKORDER IN WHICH A TIME FRAME COULD NOT BE PROVIDED FOR THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PART. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE.

VEHICLE TOYOTA 2006 VIN #[XXX] HIGHLANDER LIMITED PRIOR COMPLAINT SENT TO TOYOTA & DOT 2/4/2010. AFTER A STOP WHEN ACCELERATOR SOMETIMES THERE IS A SECOND OR TWO PAUSE BEFORE THE ENGINE RESPONDS CAUSING A SUDDEN LURCH FORWARD. ADDITIONALLY WHEN DIVING AT IN TOWN SPEEDS AND THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED AND THEN A RESUMPTION OF PRESSURE ON IT THERE IS A SECOND OR TWO PAUSE BEFORE THE ENGINE ENGAGES, ALSO CAUSING A LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE LEARNED TO "EXPECT THE CONDITION" AND MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR IT, HOWEVER IT STILL CAUSES CONCERN AND POSSIBLY A DANGEROUS ACCELERATION. THE ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE ACTIVATION NEED TO BE CORRECTED FOR THIS "PAUSE AND LURCH FORWARD RESPONSE". PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA 2006 HIGHLANDER BECAUSE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART SO IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INVERTER INSIDE THE ENGINE WHICH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED TO PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I RECEIVED YOUR RESPONSE TO MY LETTER OF COMPLAINT DATED FEB 24, 2011. IT DID NOT ADDRESS MY CONCERN WITH THE DELAYED RESPONSE BETWEEN THE DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR AND A DELAYED ENGINE RESPONSE. RATHER I WAS INFORMED BY A FORM LETTER THAT NY COMPLAINT WOULD BE SATISFIED WITH A "FLOOR MAT ADJUSTMENT". I WAS ADDITIONALLY NOTIFIED THAT A 2ND LETTER FROM TOYOTA WOULD ARRIVE BY EARLY MAY 2011 WHEN "PARTS ARE READY AND PREPARATIONS ARE COMPLETE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS NOTIFICATION AS OF THIS DATE. I REPEAT; MY ACCELERATOR DOES NOT STICK". SOMETIMES THERE IS A ONE OR TWO SECOND DELAY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE RESPONDS CAUSING A FAST "LURCH FORWARD" RATHER THAN A GRADUAL INCREASE FORM THE CURRENT SPEED OR SOMETIMES FROM A COMPLETE STOP IT WILL HAPPEN. THE DELAYED ENGINE RESPONSE TO A DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES. SINCERELY, *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD MOMENTARILY SURGE FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A BRAKE MODULE AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT CLIPS ON THE FLOOR MATS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

VISIBILITY - THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR APPEARS TO HAVE A "LOOSE SPRING". IT WON'T FULLY STAY IN THE UP POSITION AND WHEN PLACED DOWN, IT ALSO DROOPS. BOTH SITUATIONS IMPACT THE DRIVER'S VISION. *LN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE BEGAN VEHICLE LOOSING POWER. THE HYBRID WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILURE IN THE BATTERY CELL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE BATTERY A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ENGINEER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE TOWING COMPANY CAUSED MORE DAMAGED TO THE VEHICLE BATTERY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED AND COASTED UNTIL IT STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN INVERTER FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ UPDATED 11/30/2011 *LN

I AM WRITING TO REPORT A DEFECT IN THE BRITAX DECATHLON CAR SEAT LOWER LATCH SYSTEM. THE BELT ON MY SYSTEM IS TWISTED AND WILL NOT PERFORM PROPERLY IN A CRASH. I HAVE NOTIFIED BRITAX AND THEY SENT ME A REPLACEMENT BELT BUT WITHOUT ANY INSTRUCTIONS AND HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE OTHER CAR SEATS ON THE ROAD AND THE CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PA TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION PROJECT (TIPP) AT THE PA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS INSPECTED THE CAR SEAT ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 26, 2010 AND FOUND THAT ?THE LOWER ANCHOR ATTACHMENT IS BACKWARDS ON ONE SIDE AND CANNOT BE USED CORRECTLY TO INSTALL CHILD SEAT USING LOWER ANCHORS.? HER NAME IS [XXX] AND SHE CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX]. SHE SAID THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THE SEATS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE IDENTIFIERS FOR THE CAR SEAT ARE: DATE OF MFG: 04-05-2007 MAKE DECATHLON MODEL E9L 4769 SERIAL NUMBER E9L4769017324 BATCH NUMBER J00088948 PURCHASED FROM BABYUNIVERSE.COM IN MAY 2007 MY CONTACT AT BRITAX IS [XXX] CONSUMER SERVICE MANAGERBRITAX [XXX] 13501 SOUTH RIDGE DRIVE CHARLOTTE NC 28273 US-CUSTOMERSERVICE@BRITAX.COM (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2006, MAKE=TOYOTA, MODEL=HIGHLANDER). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WENT THROUGH A TOLL BOOTH, CAR BEGAN TO LURCH, LIGHTS ALL WENT UP, AND THE CAR STALLED, HIGHLY DANGEROUS, BUT MANAGED TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD, APPARENTLY THE INVERTER IN MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, 102,000 MILES ON IT, WAS DEFECTIVE, IT WAS REPLACED FREE, BUT HAD TO PAY LABOR AND FOR RENTAL.. BUT I REALLY COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED SEVERELY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST DID NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR; HOWEVER, THE COOLING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. ON OCTOBER 14, 2010, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE INVERTER COOLING SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 1010191147 AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD CALL HER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

ON MONDAY OCT.4 I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHEN I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. I LET OF THE ACCELERATOR AND STARTED TO STOP. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP ON ITS OWN AND CONTINUED TO REV UP HIGHER AND HIGHER. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT CONTINUED TO RACE TO OVER 6000 RPM BEFORE IT FINALLY KICKED OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. IT HAS 50,000 MILES . THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN TOYOTAS ACCELERATOR RECALL AND I NEVER GAVE IT ANY THOUGHT ON MINE. I ALWAYS ASSUMED MINE WAS O.K. BUT THIS EXPERIENCE HAS REALLY SHOOK ME UP. NOW I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN CASE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID (NA). WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE POWER INVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,128.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID (N/A). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ROUTINELY MAINTENANCED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 37,000. UPDATED 02/17/11*LJ UPDATED 05/02/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A REPLACEMENT OF THE HYBRID INVERTER ASSEMBLY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL WARNING LIGHTS HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 104,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ

SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN, OFTEN WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP, IMPAIRING VISION. THIS STARTED HAPPING AROUND 45,000 MILES AND NOW THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID . WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING . SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,648.

FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 DAYS (JUNE 23-25) WAS EXPERIENCING HONK WHEN PUSHING BRAKE PEDAL, ALMOST CONSTANT TICK OF THE ABS ACTUATOR AND STUTTERING AT STOPS IN 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (54,540 MILES). TOOK TO OWN MECHANIC WITH DIAGNOSTIC OF FAULTY ABS ACTUATOR. HOPING PART WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY MADE APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA DEALER FOR SERVICE. BEFORE MADE IT TO APPOINTMENT WAS DRIVING FORWARD WHEN ALL DASH LIGHTS AND ALARMS FOR ABS & TRACTION CONTROL WENT OFF. UPON PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WAS VERY SOFT REQUIRING MULTIPLE PUMPS BEFORE VEHICLE SLOWED. CALLED FOR TOW TO DEALERSHIP. THEY CONFIRMED ABS ACTUATOR NEEDED REPLACED AND VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PART REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. MY RESEARCH HAS REVEALED OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES, LAND CRUISER, OF SIMILAR YEAR HAVE SAME PROBLEM. SERVICE DIRECTOR OF TOYOTA AND OWN MECHANIC SAID PART GENERALLY EXPECTED TO LAST LIFE OF VEHICLE IF NOT WELL BEYOND THE 4 YEAR LIFE OF MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED THE INSPECTOR INFORMED THE CONTACT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED UP AND THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR COST WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER....SUN VISOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT STAY IN A LOCKED POSITION. IT FALLS DOWN AND HANGS BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VISION. *TR

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE 85 NB, MY TOYOTA CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKING, AND ALL ENGINE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE DESPITE THE FAILURE AND COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY FROM AN INITIAL SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT MY "POWER INVERTER" HAD FAILED AND WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND INSTANCE THAT DAY OF A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAVING A FAILURE OF THE POWER INVERTER. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH VIA MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS SUCH AS EDMUNDS I DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED TO SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE PAST YEAR RESULTING IN SIMILAR CONSEQUENCES (LOSS OF CONTROL, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKING, ETC.). MY POWER INVERTER WAS COVERED UNDER THE TOYOTA WARRANTY AND IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. NONETHELESS, GIVEN THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ALL POWER BRAKING, STEERING, AND ENGINE USE WHILE AT SPEED ON AN INTERSTATE AND MULTIPLE TOYOTA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SITUATION I BELIEVE THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE FURTHER. *TR

FUNNY HOW TOYOTA SAYS "TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS ......" BUT YET I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY KIND OF CORRESPONDENCE. THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE LABELS RECALL. *TR

RE: 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2WD SUV 29,500 MILES. UPON ENTERING A HIGHWAY I EXPERIENCED TOTAL FAILURE OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM IN MY SUV, WHICH SLOWLY DRIFTED TO A HALT, NEARLY CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE INVERTER PORTION OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT I WAS TOLD THAT HAD IT NOT BEEN COVERED IT WOULD HAVE COST ME BETWEEN $9,000 AND $10,000! OR ABOUT 1/4 THE COST OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE NEW! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND EXITING, THE FRONT DRIVER'S WINDOW ROLLED DOWN INTO THE DOOR PANEL. NEITHER THE DEALER, NOR THE MANUFACTURER, WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. ON BUMPY ROAD SURFACE IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES GIVE WAY FOR A SECOND BEFORE REENGAGING. AT THE DEALERSHIP I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, BUT TOYOTA DID RECALL NEWER PRIUS FOR THE VERY SAME REASON. THE BRAKES DO REENGAGE, BUT THE DELAY IS ALARMING LONG AND VERY DISCONCERTING. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS THAT I'VE OWNED THE CAR AND I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERY TIME I GO IN FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE, BUT WITH NO SATISFACTORY RESPONSE. *TR

WE HAVE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM IN OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN WE ARE TRAVELING BELOW 40 MPH AND HIT A BUMP, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES STOP WORKING FOR 1 - 2 SECONDS. IT IS VERY DISCONCERTING, BUT SO FAR HAS NOT CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE, SO THE DEALERSHIP HAS TAKEN NO ACTION ON IT. *TR

WHEN BRAKING OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THE BRAKES SEEM TO CATCH THEN RELEASE, CATCH AND RELEASE. THIS IS ON DRY PAVEMENT. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE SAYS THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION AND IS BECAUSE THE BATTERY RECHARGING MECHANISM IS TAKING OVER. THIS MAY BE TRUE BUT I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES AND IT REACTS IN THE WAY IT DOES YOU TEND TO WANT TO EASY UP ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE CAR LURCHES A BIT BUT THAT IS THE WRONG THING TO DO! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID WAS CALIBRATING AND WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VSC AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR AND THE HYBRID PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE INVERTER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INVERTER. THE VIN INFORMATION WASN'T AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75, 000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

WIFE WAS BACKING UP A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED INTO THE GARAGE WHICH SHE HAS BEEN DOING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND SHE COULD NOT STOP IT. IT WENT THROUGH THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE DESTROYING THE GARAGE WALL AND THE VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS PARKING MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I BRAKED AS HARD AS I COULD AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD UNTIL I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. I MOVED A PARKED CAR COMPLETELY OUT OF THEIR PARKING SPACE AND I WENT OVER HALF WAY THRU THE SAME SPACE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP MY CAR. MY BRAKES WERE SMOKING AND I LEFT TIRE MARKS ON THE ASPHALT. THIS ALL BEGAN WHEN I WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED IN THE PARKING SPACE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. SHE SWERVED LEFT TO RIGHT IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE; INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. THE CONTACT CLIMBED OUT THE FRONT WINDOW AND SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AS NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER OCCASIONALLY FAILS TO ACCELERATE WHILE TURNING. THE MOST PREDICTABLE TIME THIS OCCURS IS WHEN SLOWING TO ALMOST A STOP INTO A LEFT TURN AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE INTO THE TURN. DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR ONLY CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE SLIGHTLY. I NORMALLY HAVE TO ACCELERATE HARD OR REACCELERATE TO GET THE CAR MOVING. THERE IS ABOUT A 2-3 SECOND DELAY BETWEEN THE TIME YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND WHEN THE CAR RESPONDS IN THE MANNER YOU EXPECT. *TR

EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WE HAVE RANDOMLY EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. AFTER SLOWING DOWN, WE SLOWLY ACCELERATED AND WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN THRUST BUT COULD SLOW IT DOWN BY LESSENING THE PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL OR BY BRAKING. THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT RANDOM 2 OR 3 TIMES PER YEAR. WE BOTH THOUGHT IT WAS OUR FAULT UNTIL WE READ ABOUT THE TOYOTA ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. NOW, WE DON'T BELIEVE IT IS OUR FAULT AND IS A BUILT-IN PROBLEM. WE RECENTLY HAVE TALKED TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY REFERRED US TO THE TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS FOR FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. WE WERE TOLD THIS CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. SINCE OUR PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM AS BAD AS OTHER YEAR'S CAR, IT MAY BE THAT THIS IS THE YEAR THE PROBLEM DEVELOPED IN TOYOTA AND GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORST AS ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO THE CAR'S PROGRAMMING OR ENGINE. THE LAST INCIDENT INVOLVING THIS ACCELERATION WAS IN LATE FEBRUARY OR EARLY MARCH, 2010. WE HOPE THIS INFORMATION MAY BE OF SOME HELP TO YOU AND US IN SOLVING OUR PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE VIBRATION IN FRONT TWO WHEELS ON MY TOYOTA 2006 HIGHLANDER. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES, RIMS, AND TWO ALIGNMENTS, STILL THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE AND AFTER. THE LEFT REAR TIRE PUT TO THE LEFT WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE PROBLEM ALWAYS THERE. THE VEHICLE DOES GO IN A STRAIGHT LINE, SO THE ALIGNMENT IS NOT A QUESTION. I CAN FEEL THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TECH ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE WITH ME FELT THE SAME VIBRATION. THE VIBRATION STARTS AROUND 55 MPH AND INCREASES AS THE VEHICLE GOES FAST. WHEN SLOWING DOWN, THE SUV WILL WOBBLE. THE DEALERSHIP TECH PHYSICALLY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. THE AGENCY WROTE THE TICKET AS NO PROBLEMS FOUND. WHAT SHALL I DO? *TR

HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT ON MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID, I HAD THIS CAR FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS AND I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, IT HAPPENS 3- 4 TIMES A WEEK, OR MAY BE EVEN MORE SINCE I SHARE THE CAR WITH MY HUSBAND I AM NOT SURE HOW OFTEN HE GETS IT. THE LAST TIME THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENED IS TODAY, LUCKILY WE WERE NOT DRIVING CLOSE TO ANOTHER CAR. IT FEELS LIKE AS IF SOME ONE PUSHED THE CAR FROM BEHIND. THANKS FOR CONSIDERING THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY AND THIS IS NOT A PANIC REQUEST AFTER THE RECALL, IT IS A REAL AND SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR

I HAD A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. IN FEBRUARY OF 2007, I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HAD EXPERIENCED THE CAR SURGING/ACCELERATING UPON BRAKING AND WAS UNPREDICTABLE AS TO WHEN IT MAY OCCUR. THE TECH DIDN'T EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE/ALSO RAN DIAGNOSTICS WHICH CAME BACK AS "NO CODES FOUND". SINCE I CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE, AND AFTER LEARNING OF SIMILAR ISSUES OCCURRING IN OTHER TOYOTA MODELS AND NOW THE RECALLS, I TOOK IT BACK, AND AGAIN THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND GOT THE SAME "NO CODES FOUND" WHEN DIAGNOSTICS WERE APPLIED. AFTER THESE EXPERIENCES, AND READING ABOUT OTHER 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID ISSUES, I DECIDED I NO LONGER FELT SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE, EVEN WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, I DECIDED TO TRADE MY VEHICLE. *TR

IN FEBRUARY 2010, I NOTICED MY DRIVER LEATHER SEAT WAS TORN ON ITS SIDE, I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS DEFECT, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2006. THIS IS A FULLY UPGRADE LIMITED VEHICLE. ALL I DO IS SLIP IN AND OUT OF THE SEAT AND I TAKE EXTREMELY EXCELLENT CARE OF MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THE LEATHER MATERIAL USED IN THE VEHICLE IS OF POOR QUALITY. ON 4/28/10 TOYOTA EVENTUALLY RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINT, STATING THE WARRANTY FOR THE SEAT IS 3-YEARS OR 36,000 MILES: THEIR FILE # 1003280070; INCIDENT 100426-000166. THEY SUGGESTED I CONTACT A DEALER, WHICH I DID:ON 7/27/10 I HAD A TOYOTA DEALER LOOK AT THE SEAT AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRE. I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT SATISFIED WITH TOYOTA'S RESPONSE; THEIR ESTIMATE FOR ME TO REPLACE THE SEAT CUSHION COVER IS $1123.36 INCL TAXES. I BELIEVE SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE SHOULD BE OUTFITTED WITH A HIGHER GRADE LEATHER SEAT COVER. I HAVE HAD CHEAPER VEHICLES WITH LEATHER SEATS WHICH LASTED MANY MORE YEARS THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA HAS DONE AN INJUSTICE WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THIS POOR QUALITY LEATHER AND I FEEL CHEATED BY SUCH ACTION. THERE MUST BE OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE WITH THE SEAT. THE SEAT WAS NOT DELIBERATELY TORN OR CUT AND WE ARE QUITE PETITE PEOPLE. WHEN I VIEW THE LEATHER IN MY OTHER CAR THE CORNERS WHERE THE DRIVER SLIDES IN SEEMS TO BE STRONGER AND POSSIBLY RE-ENFORCED TO FACILITATE THE DRIVER'S INITIAL WEIGHT. TOYOTA HAS NOT DONE A GOOD JOB TO ENSURE THE LASTING WEAR AND TEAR OF THE SEAT. IS THIS DELIBERATE? HOW DID THEY COME UP WITH A 3YEAR, 36000 WARRANTY? WHAT TESTING DID THEY PERFORM TO DECIDE THE SEAT WILL ONLY LAST UP TO THAT PERIOD, THEREFORE THEY WERE SURE TO MAKE A LOT OF MONIES ON REPLACEMENT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED? THIS IS UNFAIR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE TO GET TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE SEAT. THANK YOU. *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHILE IN REVERSE RESULTING IN DEATH. UPDATED 04/22/10 *BF *TR UPDATED 07/12/10. *JB UPDATED 9/27/2011*CW

HYBRID BRAKES SLIP WHEN HITTING A BUMP, SIMILAR TO WHAT IS REPORTED WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. WE HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN JULY 2005. SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE BRAKING FINE, HIT A BUMP WHILE BRAKING AND MOMENTARILY LOSE BRAKING. *TR

MY HIGHLANDER HYBRID 06 SEEMS TO HAVE A LOW BRAKING POWER MOSTLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND IT SLIP, I TRIED TO SHIFT TO N AND THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NOTE THAT THE PROBLEM IS FREQUENTLY HAPPENS BUT NOT ALWAYS. AND NOBODY CAN RESOLVE IT. *TR