Toyota Highlander Complaints (2006)

648 consumer complaints on file.

#10319353March 12, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I PURCHASED A 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED IN SEPTEMBER 2009. FAIRLY OFTEN WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AT LOWER SPEEDS, THE SUV SURGES FORWARD LIKE THE BRAKES HAVE RELEASED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN HAVE REAPPLIED. IT IS DANGEROUS AND VERY DISCONCERTING IN CLOSE TRAFFIC OR WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER OR CIRCLE. ALTHOUGH I HAVE MANAGED NOT TO HAVE A COLLISION, I HAVE COME PRETTY CLOSE WHEN DRIVING WITH A REASONABLE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT. I HAVE DESCRIBED IT TO TOYOTA, WHICH DENIES THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES BEING IDENTIFIED. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS NOTED BY MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WHO DESCRIBE THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL AS WELL AS OTHER HYBRIDS MANUFACTURED BY TOYOTA. IT IS A DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF EMERGENCY BRAKING IS NECESSARY, WHICH AT SOME POINT WE ALL NEED TO DO TO BE SAFE ON THE ROAD. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS WITH TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317808March 8, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10317259March 5, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
SLIPPERY CONDITION CAUSED TRACTION CONTROL IN VEHICLE TO DEACTIVATE COMPLETE 4WD DRIVE TRAIN, PREVENTING ME FROM BEING ABLE TO AVOID FROM SLIDING DOWN DIRECTLY ONTO A POST. IF IT DIDN'T COMPLETELY DISABLE THE VEHICLE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MANEUVER AWAY FROM THE OBSTACLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316389March 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
REFERENCE: NHTSA ODI NUMBER 10185505 DATED MARCH 14, 2007. THIS IS MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT ABOUT TOYOTA ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT HAS BEEN POSTED ON THIS SITE FOR 3 YEARS AND I'VE NEVER HAD ANY RESPONSE OF ANY KIND. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT AND SAID THAT IS JUST THE WAY TOYOTAS ACT. I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND UNDER FLORIDA LAW A LEMON IS A CAR THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR 3 TIMES AND NOT FIXED ... GUESS I GOT A LEMON. NOW I NEVER HEARD FROM YOU SO I GUESS YOU REALLY DON'T EITHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315540March 2, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES RELEASE FOR A SPLIT SECOND. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR IF APPLYING OVER A ROUGH SURFACE BUT NOT 100% CERTAIN OF THIS. WE'VE NOTICED THIS BEHAVIOR EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED THE HIGHLANDER IN 2006. NOT UNTIL HEARING OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE PRIUS DID WE FEEL IT NECESSARY TO REPORT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314581February 26, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID CRASHED AFTER SUDDEN UNBREAKABLE ACCELERATION WITH $13,500 DAMAGE. TOYOTA INVESTIGATED AND SAID DRIVER HIT GAS INSTEAD OF BRAKE DESPITE VEHEMENT DENIALS BY DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314741February 26, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314135February 25, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID [XXX] SOMETIMES SURGES FORWARD BEFORE STOPPING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20-35 MPH. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY LOCAL DEALER, SUPERIOR TOYOTA, ERIE, PA ON 1/11/07 (MILEAGE 10,072). THEY SAID I WAS EXPERIENCING THE CHANGE FROM ELECTRONIC TO HYDRAULIC BRAKES. ON 11/07/07 I COMPLAINED AGAIN (MILEAGE 24,335). THIS TIME THEY UPDATED THE ECU LOGIC PER TSB EG030-07. ON 3/25/08 THEY SAID THERE SIMPLY WAS NO PROBLEM. IN SUMMER 2008, PALMIERO TOYOTA IN MEADVILLE, PA TOLD ME THE SENSATION WAS CAUSED BY THE "FLY BY WIRE SYSTEM", AND IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM, I BEGAN WORRYING AGAIN. I CALLED SUPERIOR TOYOTA ON 2/23/10. THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. ANY VEHICLE THAT SURGES FORWARD RATHER THAN SLOWING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM SENDING A LETTER OF COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314415February 25, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FAILURE OF 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKES TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT RESISTANCE TO FORWARD MOTION. THIS FAILURE OCCURS REPEATEDLY AND CAUSES MUCH ANXIETY AND HEART PALPITATION UPON OCCURRENCE. THIS FAILURE WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR LOCAL DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED TO NOT HAVE ANY INDICATIONS OF THE PROBLEM. I ALSO BROUGHT THEM COPIES OF NUMEROUS REPORTS WHICH READ THE SAME AND INDICATED EXTREMELY SIMILAR CONDITIONS. 11/22/2006 REPORTED TO LOCAL DEALER BRAKE CONCERNS. THEIR NOTES WERE:INTER. COND. MORE PRONOUNCED DURING 1ST FEW APPLICATIONS IN THE MORNING. C/S PEDAL SEEMS TO "FADE" & ENGINE HAS A SLIGHT SURGE WHEN BRAKING. CUSTOMER HAS LEFT VEHICLE FOR THE DAY & OVERNIGHT IF NECESSARY TO DUPLICATE CONCERN. RESULTS: ROAD TESTED 3 TIMES. CONCERN COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. BRAKE CALIPERS & HARDWARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AT THIS TIME. NO REPAIRS MADE AT THIS TIME. WHAT I ACTUALLY TOLD THEM WAS THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES SEEMED TO FAIL . 10/02/07 BRAKE CONCERNS- PER PREVIOUS ADVISE, REPLACE FRONT PADS, RESURFACE ROTORS REMOVED AND REPLACED FRONT PADS AND RESURFACED ROTORS. CHARGE 235.04. TALKED TO SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT BRAKE CONCERNS. TALKED TO MY SALESMAN ABOUT BRAKE CONCERNS, TALKED TO DEALER MANAGER ABOUT BRAKE CONCERNS. REPORTED ON MOST SERVICE SURVEYS AND IN PERSON TO SURVEY CALLERS. IRONICALLY, DEALER SUGGESTS FRONT BRAKE PADS SHOULD BE REPLACED NOW AGAIN. TOYOTA HAS NEVER CONTACTED ME BACK AFTER ANY OF MY REPORTS TO THEM. ONLY THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER EVER CALLED ME BACK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE AFFORDED NO REMEDY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314436February 25, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVER STARTED TO BACK UP A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN A PARKING LOT. IT SHOT BACK AT MAXIMUM ACCELERATION JUMPING A CURB AND STRIKING A PEDESTRIAN. BY THEN, DRIVER HAD BRAKES ON AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. SHE PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND IT AGAIN ACCELERATED TO THE MAXIMUM STRIKING HER HUSBAND. AT THE TIME, WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. WE ASSUMED, SOMEHOW THE DRIVER, WHO HAD AN IMPECCABLE RECORD, HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG. NOW, WITH ALL THE PUBLICITY, WE BELIEVE IT WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS. NOTHING ELSE SEEMS AS LIKELY BECAUSE WE HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE THERE WAS AN ELECTRONIC FAILURE, NOTHING WAS DONE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10313834February 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TOYOTA FLY BY WIRE TRANSMISSION HESITATION PROBLEM. SPECIFICALLY A 2006 HIGHLANDER- HESITATION FROM STOP OR SLOW SPEED. COMPLAINT ACROSS ALL MODELS AND SEVERAL YEARS. THE APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE MEANS NOTHING LT IS AND CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE "FLY OR DRIVE BY WIRE" SYSTEM ORIGINATED. DEALER STATES THIS IS THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. - AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN OR HAVE THEY ALREADY HAPPENED? WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO INITIATE A FIX. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE FIVE SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313102February 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD SLIP AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN UNLESS SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN. SHE NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AN AVERAGE OF 2-3 TIMES A WEEK. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. SHE ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A NORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR HYBRID VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000. UPDATED 03/15/10 *BF UPDATED 05/12/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313316February 23, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL- THE CALLER HAS A 20006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACTED THAT WHILE TRAVELING DONE THE DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 55MPH AND THE VEHICLE COMPLEYELY SHUT DOWN. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WHEN A DIOGNOSTIC PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD 63000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND THOSE ARE ALSO THE CURRENT MILEAGE. RL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313407February 23, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HIGHBRID, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. I HAVE NOT HAD A RUNAWAY SITUATION, BUT HAVE EXPERIENCED POWER SURGES WHILE BRAKING AND ONLY EXPERIENCED THESE DURING THE BRAKING PHASE. THE APPROXIMATE SPEEDS DURING THESE BRAKING EVENTS WERE BETWEEN 20-45 MPH. THE SURGING LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 SECONDS, WITH THE VEHICLE LUNGING FORWARD WHILE MY RIGHT FOOT BEING ON THE BRAKE. I DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH HECKER TOYOTA AND SERVICE ADVISOR . I THOUGHT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND SERVICE ADVISOR TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO PROBLEMS DETECTED. SERVICE ADVISOR ALSO STATED THERE WERE NO TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETINS FOR ANY ISSUES LIKE THIS. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS SITUATION APPROXIMATELY 10-11 TIMES SINCE NEW. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE TEMPERATURE RELATED. I DON'T RECALL ANY SURGES WHEN COLD (BELOW 20F OR COLDER) BECAUSE MN ROADS USUALLY HAVE SOME ICY OR SLIPPERY CONDITIONS AND I WOULD REMEMBER THIS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311979February 19, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID OCCASIONALLY GET A FEELING OF "NO BRAKES" WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THEY HAVE ALWAYS STOPPED THE CAR, BUT SOMETIMES THERE IS A BRIEF FEELING THAT THEY ARE NOT WORKING I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS THAT I RECALL. THE FIRST TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS, THE SECOND TIME THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE THIRD TIME THEY SAID IT WAS DURING THE TRANSITION FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO HYDRAULIC BRAKING AND THAT "THEY'RE ALL LIKE THAT." IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER PRE-2010 TOYOTA HYBRID OWNERS, ABOUT A THIRD TO A HALF OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATELY WHEN I FIRST REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311680February 18, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311673February 18, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HV. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND SET THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE SPEED INCREASED RAPIDLY. HE HAD TO CONTINUE TO APPLY HIS FOOT ON AND OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN HE PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ,TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE COULD NOT DUPLICATED THE FAILURE, YET THEY RESET THE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AFTER THE COMPUTER WAS RESET WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY AND INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT OFF IN INCLEMENT WEATHER TO PROTECT THE ELECTRICAL DRIVE MOTOR IN THE WHEELS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH HIS VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311842February 18, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE BOUGHT A NEW 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN 2005 AND, FROM TIME TO TIME SINCE WE BOUGHT IT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL KIND OF STICKS OR SURGES IN CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS. WHEN YOU TRY TO REDUCE SPEED BY TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. IT SOMETIMES DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND, IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO REDUCE SPEED AND SOMETIMES ACTUALLY SURGES A LITTLE, WHICH IT ALSO DOES SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT A CONSISTENT SPEED. I THOUGHT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE HYBRID FEATURE AND JUST SORT OF LEARNED TO BE SENSITIVE TO IT AND HIT THE BRAKES IF IT NEEDED IT, BUT THIS SOUNDS LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OTHER MODELS SUBJECT TO THE RECALL AND, AS OUR MODEL IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IT. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311314February 17, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID PURCHASED JAN 2006. PERIODICALLY I EXPERIENCE BRAKE SURGING AS I'VE READ DESCRIBED BY PRIUS OWNERS. THIS IS A RANDOM EVENT THAT OCCURS WHEN FIRST APPLYING THE BRAKE. I'VE REPORTED IT SEVERAL TIMES TO MY DEALER AND THE REPLY IS "TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES." THE LAST TIME WAS TWO WEEKS AGO. SINCE TOYOTA HAS A FIX FOR THE PRIUS I HOPE YOU'LL WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO ADDRESS THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID PROBLEM. BY THE WAY, I AM AN ENGINEER AND RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM WHEN I EXPERIENCE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311361February 17, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THIS IS AN ON-GOING OCCURRANCE. I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID THAT IS HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL MY VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND THEN ENGAGE THE BRAKES. IF I WOULD BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO ANOTHER VEHICLE I WOULD END UP REAR-ENDING THE VECHILE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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