Toyota Highlander Complaints (2006)

648 consumer complaints on file.

#10400779May 13, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLAMP COVERS ON MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLAND HYBRID SHOW SIGNIFICANT MELTING EXACTLY WHERE THE DAY LIGHTS SHINE THROUGH THE PLASTIC. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE MATERIALS, AS THE LIGHTS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF BY THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE HAS JUST 75000 MILES, & THE LENS COVERS & BULBS ARE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THIS WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM TOYOTA. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE LAMPS AND/OR THE LENS COVERS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED FIRES STARTED BY THE OVERHEATED LENSCOVERS. ANOTHER HAZARD IS THAT AS THE LENSES FURTHER DETERIORATE, THEY WILL ALLOW WATER AND MOISTURE TO SEEP IN, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALTHOUGH THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE ADMITTING THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A MFG DEFECT, AND REPLACE THE LIGHT UNITS. INSTEAD, TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES HAVE REPEATEDLY STATED THAT THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, AND WILL NOT TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10400627May 12, 2011
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
MY WIFE AND I ARE OWNERS OF A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND EXPERIENCED THE STALL WITH NO RESTART ISSUE YESTERDAY. I HAD NOTICED FOR 6MTHS - 1 YEAR THAT ON MORE THAN GENTLE ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE MAY PAUSE (LOSE POWER) FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE CONTINUING. DURING THIS PAUSE, A WARNING WOULD BE DISPLAYED ALONG WITH ALARM SOUND REPORTING "WATER TEMP" EVEN THOUGH THE WATER TEMP GAUGE IS STILL HOLDING IN MIDDLE OF RANGE WITHOUT MOVING. I HAD HOPED THAT SUBSEQUENT SERVICING WOULD ADDRESS UNTIL IT WOULD OCCUR AGAIN AT A LATER TIME. IT OCCURRED REGULARLY ENOUGH TO BE A CONCERN, BUT AS THE CAR PROCEEDED A SEC OR TWO LATER THE URGENCY WAS LOST. IN RETROSPECT IF IT WAS KNOWN THAT THIS WAS A SIGN OF POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT FUTURE ENTIRE ENGINE POWER LOSS, MY CONCERN TO HAVE THIS REPORTED AND ADDRESSED WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER. YESTERDAY AFTER DISPLAYING THE SAME MESSAGE AND SOUND, THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, ALONG WITH OTHER WARNINGS MESSAGES. WE HAD BARELY ANY POWER (VERY SLOW WALKING PACE AT BEST) TO MOVE FROM STOP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ENGINE APPEARED TO STILL BE ACTIVE TO SOME DEGREE WHEN PUSHING ACCELERATOR BUT EXTREMELY MINIMAL POWER PROVIDED TO WHEELS. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP. REPORT FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT INVERTER FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $7000+ AND LABOR, ETC. VEHICLE HAS APPROX 108,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401668May 12, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY THE INVERTER/CONVERTER FAILED THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. NOW AGAIN ON 04/28/2011 WITH 88,856 MILES ON THE VEHICLE THE SAME FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WHILE ACCELERATION UP-HILL ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH. MOST OF THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS (INVERTER/CONVERTER & AN ECU) WHERE COVERED BY WARRANTY. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE AND MY WIFE CONTINUING TO DRIVE IT EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10400023May 11, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER ANKLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN FINGER. THE REAR PASSENGER WHO WAS PREGNANT WAS KILLED AND ANOTHER PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR INTERNAL BLEEDING. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE THREE SURVIVING PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ARE AWAITING AN INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
2
#10398718May 3, 2011
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
ENGINE LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED FAILURE IN INVERTER. ESTIMATE OVER $9000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399060May 2, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON MAY 2, 2011 THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY BROKE DOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398615May 2, 2011
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE TEST RESULTS CONCLUDED THAT THE INVERTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11005 ( HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER) FOR AN INVESTIGATION FOR THE FAILURE BUT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397377April 25, 2011
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP BEFORE BEING TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW INVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,252.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396955April 20, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED IT WITH CONVERTERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,311.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396700April 18, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHT BULB ON 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID IS SO HOT THAT IT HAS DISCOLORED AND SLIGHTLY MELTED THE LENS COVER. THIS PLASTIC GETS SO HOT THAT TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD CAUSE BURNS TO INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT COME IN CONTACT WITH THE LENS AND/OR THE SPUER HEATED LENS PLASTIC COULD BECOME A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395835April 14, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHEN BRAKING, THE VEHICLE OFTEN "SLIPS" FOR A MOMENT. THERE IS A MOMENT OF ACCELERATION WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO BUMP INTO THE SHELVES IN MY GARAGE. IT HAS ALSO CAUSED ME TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT SOME TRAIN TRACKS AND ROLLED INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SUFFERED NO DAMAGE, BUT MY BUMPER WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED FROM THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE OTHER CAR. THE BRAKING IS INCONSISTENT AND UNPREDICTABLE. I AM JUST GLAD NO ONE GOT HURT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395650April 12, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395661April 12, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA 2006 HIGHLANDER BECAUSE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#10395496April 11, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKES BEFORE THEY WOULD RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN WHICH THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE ROTORS WERE REPAIRED ONCE BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,623.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395248April 8, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BUMPER OF HER VEHICLE WAS NOT STURDY. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO COLLISIONS WHERE THE BUMPER DID NOT PROTECT AGAINST ANY DAMAGE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE A SAFEGUARD. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 05/05/11*LJ UPDATED 05/13/11
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395176April 7, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395098April 6, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID WAS PARKED ON A STEEP HILL. TURNED ON THE IGNITION, PUT IT INTO REVERSE, AND WENT ABOUT ONE FOOT (UPHILL) WHEN IT MADE A LOUD "CLANK" SOUND AND STOPPED. "CHECK VSC", "CHECK HYBRID", AND "CHECK AWD" WARNING MESSAGES WERE THEN DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I COULD NOT TURN THE ENGINE ON AND DRIVE IT, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING AN INVERTER FAILURE. WITHIN 4 DAYS, THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393910March 31, 2011
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WAS RUNNING NORMALLY WITH 68,791 MILES ON IT. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR ON 1/19/2011 AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, I HEARD A POP, THE DASH LIT UP WITH MANY ERROR MESSAGES, THE CAR RAN ROUGHLY, AND WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL I BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL IS WAS PARKED ON BACKWARDS. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, BUT THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONAL. I PLACED THE CAR INTO PARK AND CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO THE DEALER. TOYOTA INFORMED ME THAT THE INVERTER HAD FAILED, THE AIR BOX WAS CRACKED, POWER STEERING LINK WAS UNDER RECALL, THE INDUCTION SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED, AND THE BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP A FEW WEEKS EARLIER (12/31/2010) FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION, OIL CHANGE, AND 68,000 MILE SERVICE. TOYOTA REPLACED THE INVERTER WITH ANOTHER 2006 INVERTER STATING THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OF THE ORIGINAL INVERTER. THE WORK WAS DONE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CAR HAS BE RUNNING NORMALLY SINCE THE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393586March 29, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392730March 24, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND CVC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A FAULTY INVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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