2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AND THE HYBRID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE PREVIOUS TIMES BY NAGUABO AUTO TOYOTA (CARRETERA 31 KM 3.9, NAGUABO, PR 00718) REGARDING THE HYBRID MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON, THERE IS A HIGH BEEPING SOUND, AND THE BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE BRAKES EITHER NEED TO BE MATCHED WITH EXTREME FORCE OR THE BRAKES WILL SLAM BY BARELY TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE AND OFFERED A WARRANTY EXTENSION TO OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE EXTENSION WAS OFFERED AND HAVEN'T HAD ISSUES UNTIL RECENTLY. I AM CONCERNED FOR NOT ONLY MY SAFETY BUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I HAVE BEEN A TOYOTA FAN FOR ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE. HOWEVER, AFTER DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AND BEING QUOTED $2000 TO FIX IT, I WOULD OFFER ADVICE TO ANYBODY OR NOT TO BUY A TOYOTA OR AT LEAST NOT A TOYOTA HYBRID. BUYER AND DRIVER BEWARE!

Mileage: 175,000

FIRST A LOUD RINGING HAPPENED AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. WE HAVE SERVICED CAR REGULARLY, BRAKES ARE NEW, BUT CAR DOES NOT STOP. TRYING TO BRAKE AT THE INTERSECTION, STOP LIGHT AND HIGHLANDER WOULD NOT STOP. PUT US IN DANGER ALMOST LED ME INTO ACCIDENT, WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ABS SYSTEM AND THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY DESIGN ISSUE AND EXPENSIVE FIX TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THEIR DESIGN FLAWS. THERE IS NOT PHYSICAL CONTACT OR WEAR AND TEAR ON THE PART FOR IT TO FAIL. MS. DEBORAH HUSTON AT TOYOTA STONE WALLS THE PROCESS TO GET THIS RESOLVED. SHE CLAIMS TOYOTA IS NOT AWARE OF THESE ISSUES, BUT THE NHTSA RECORDS SHOW CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING FOR A LONG TIME AND THAT THEY KNOW.

I WAS PREGNANT AND DRIVING WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN WHEN THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON ABOUT VSC AND A LOUD RINGING HAPPENED AND THEN I TRIED TO BRAKE AT THE STOP LIGHT AND THEY WERE SO DIFFICULT TO PUSH I BARELY STOPPED IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ABS SYSTEM AND THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS BUT PUT STIPULATIONS ON AN EXTENDED WARRANTY RATHER THAN RECALL SO IT'S TOO LATE FOR MOST TO GET FIXED AND BE COVERED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND EXPENSIVE FIX TOYOTA NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND.

Mileage: 130,000

CAR HAS 84,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER A 40 MINUTE HIUGHWAY DRIVE, CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED. ENGINE LIGHTS "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" "CHECK ABS" AND "CHECK VCS" CAME ON. TOWED TO DEALER, DIAGNOSTIC CHECK SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH A WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HYBRID ELECTRICAL CABLE, WHICH SUFFERED FROM CORROSION AND THUS WAS LEAKING VOLTAGE. COST TO FIX MINIMUM OF $3500. FAULTY DESIGN??

Mileage: 84,000

2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK VSC LIGHT, BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT ALL ON PERMANENTLY AND MY BRAKES AREN'T WORKING. I WAS FORTUNATE NOONE GOT HURT.. IT WAS REALLY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKE AND IT DOESN'T STOP. ... FROM WHAT I READ ABS ACCUMULATOR WHICH COST 3K+ TO REPLACE AND THE HYBRID INVERTER WHICH COST 5K+ TO REPLACE. NHTSA PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUES.

Mileage: 149,500

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 65MPH THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER,THE CHECK HYBRID LIGHT WAS FLASHING, WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP. WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE AND DRIVE 110 MILE HOME.

Mileage: 200,000

ABS SYSTEM FAILED AT 137,000 MILES , MECHANICS STATED THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN,I WAS DRIVING WHEN ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND CONTINUES TO STAY ON, AND ON 09/17 MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT IS ON,AND WHEN I PUSH BRAKE PETAL DOWN , MY CAR DOES NOT STOP. UNABLE TO GET CAR TO COME TO A STOP. I RECENTLY CHANGE MY BRAKE PADS IN AUGUST AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PERFECTLY UNTILL SEPTAMBER 20TH 2017

Mileage: 138,000

I AM ABOUT TO PURCHASE AN 06 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4X4 HYBRID. I RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT THE 06 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS, AND THAT THE COST TO FULLY REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IS HUGE. I WOULD LIKE TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM POTENTIAL PROBLEMS (LIKE THIS) BY NOT PURCHASING ANY SUCH VEHICLE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW (IF THIS ISSUE IS VALID) WHETHER DEALERSHIPS HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE INFORMED OF ANY SUCH VEHICLE PROBLEMS, BEFORE THEY SELL IT ON THEIR LOT?

WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND IN THE FAST LANE GOING APPROXIMATELY 75/80 MPH MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID DIED AND FAILED TO DRIVE. THE PANEL ON THE DASH HAD A RED ! EXCLAMATION POINT, AND SAID CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND CHECK VSC SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE MY VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT BREAKDOWN SHOULDER TO CALL FOR A TOW. TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD NOT START, BUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTINUED TO LIGHT GIVING EVIDENCE MY NEW 12V BATTERY WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. CALLED TOYOTA MOTOR USA AND ASKED WHAT RECALLS THEY HAVE LISTED FOR MY VEHICLE AND THEY ASKED FOR MY VIN. THEY TOLD ME THE ELECTRICAL INVERTER ASSEMBLY WAS COVERED FOR MY VIN. THEY GAVE ME THE NUMBER OF A TOW COMPANY TO CALL AND TOLD ME IT WAS COVERED BY TOYOTA AND I'D HAVE A RENTAL WAITING FOR ME. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AS DIRECTED, THEY FIXED SEVERAL OTHER RECALL ISSUES BUT NOT THIS ONE, SO WHEN I DROVE OFF THE LOT THE CAR DIED AGAIN. I MANAGED TO START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT BACK ACROSS THE HIGHWAY INTO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER SPEAKING WITH TOYOTA CORPORATION USA AGAIN, THEY APOLOGIZED AND SAID THEY MISINFORMED ME AND THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. HOWEVER, THEY PAID FOR MY TOW AND FOR MY RENTAL FOR 5 DAYS (THUS FAR). MY CASE NUMBER GIVEN FROM TOYOTA CORP IS 1607053248. I READ ONLINE THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE. KARL AND IRINA GAAL VS. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION. VIA ATTY MIKE ARIAS. TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE HAS PUT IN A REQUEST FOR ME TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP'S GM IN MY AREA IS ALSO WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AS IT'S STILL PENDING.

Mileage: 135,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

Mileage: 175,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AN UNKNOWN DOOR FAILED TO OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY EXPLODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 04/13/16*LJ

Mileage: 110,000

ON 12/02/13 THE BRAKE LIGHT AND VCS SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THE WARNING LIGHT ALSO WENT ON AND A BEEP NOISE INSIDE THE CABIN, BRAKES DOES NOT FUNCTION (BREAKS NOT RESPONDING). I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER CODES (C1241 LOW OR HIGH POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE, C1256 ACCUMULATOR LOW PRESSURE, AND C1391 ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR) MUST BE REPLACED THE ACTUATOR ASSY, B PART NO. 4405048190. ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED ON 12/28/13 AT $1,495 WITH TAX FOR $ 1,600 AND LABOR COST OF $333.84. UST BE REPLACED. ON 05/25/15 AGAIN THE BRAKE LIGHT AND VCS SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THE WARNING LIGHT ALSO WENT ON AND A BEEP NOISE INSIDE THE CABIN, BRAKES DOES NOT FUNCTION (NO BREAK). I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND I PAY $64.20. AGAIN THEY MENTIONED THAT FOR A SECOND TIME THE ACTUATOR ASSY, B PART NO. 4405048190 NEEDS A REPLACEMENT. I ASK FOR THE GUARANTEE AND ONLY WAS VALID FOR 1 YEAR. DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES REPORT (ABS/VSC/TRAC), CODES (C1252 BREAK BOOSTER PUMP MOTOR ON TIME ABNORMALLY LONG, C1256, ACCUMULATOR LOW PRESSURE, C1391, ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR). I THINK THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE SINCE IS IN A 6 YEARS PERIOD THE ACTUATOR ASSY WAS REPLACED AND LESS THAN 1.5 YEAR AGAIN THE SAME PART (ACTUATOR ASSY) NEEDS REPLACEMENT, CURRENT PRICE IS $2,000. I CANNOT USE THE CAR THE BRAKES ARE NOT RESPONDING AND I CAN HAVE AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 195,450

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN NORMAL FREE-FLOWING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON THE FREEWAY, SEVERAL LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH INDICATING BRAKE ISSUES INCLUDING VSC, ABS, SKID, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT. CONTINUED TO CAUTIOUSLY DRIVE HOME, BRAKES SEEMED OK. HAD OUR NON-DEALER MECHANIC LOOK AT THE BRAKES ALL WERE FINE AND HAD RECENTLY BEEN REPLACED. HE COULD NOT FIND A BRAKE ISSUE. TOOK TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND ONE CODE CAME UP C1391 "ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR" AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW BRAKE ACTUATOR AT THE COST OF $3273.00. DIAGNOSTIC COST $138.00. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSTIC PAPERWORK FROM DEALER SAYS, "CHECK FOR DTC'S FOUND C1391, CHECK FOR FLUID LEAKS, COULD NOT FIND LEAKS, CHECK ACCUMULATOR PRESSURE VOLTAGE (3.5 V), DEPRESSED PEDAL 4-5 TIMES ACCUMULATOR PRESSURE DROPS BELOW 3.0 V, RECOMMEND REPLACE BRAKE/ABS ACTUATOR". OTHER NOTES, SOME PART OF HYBRID SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE CYCLING EVERY FEW MINUTES. OVER THE YEARS, WHEN BRAKING, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE THEY "JUMP" OR DON'T GRAB DURING BRAKE PRESSURE AND AFTER READING HAVE FOUND THIS COMPLAINT WITH OTHER OWNERS. I SEE THAT THE CAMRY AND THE LEXUS HAVE BOTH HAD THIS PART RECALLED/REPLACED BY TOYOTA AND WONDERING WHY, WHEN THIS IS LIKELY THE SAME HYBRID SYSTEM AND COMPONENT, THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND OFFER THIS REPLACEMENT PART FOR OWNERS FOR FREE OR AT A DISCOUNT? THE OTHER VEHICLES HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS PART AND TOYOTA SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE ON THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID.

Mileage: 162,000

MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELLING ON I-95 (SOUTHBOUND) TOWARDS RICHMOND, VA. MY WIFE WAS THE DRIVER. WE WERE STEADILY TRAVELLING AT A SPEED... BETWEEN 65 AND 70 IN THE LEFT LANE (REQUIRED SPEED LIMIT). ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITH NO WARNING, THE PANEL LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING AND THE POWER TO THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. MY WIFE WAS SCREAMING BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL OR EFFECTIVELY APPLY BRAKES. SHE TRIED AND PULLED CAR OFF THE ROAD BARELY AND WE PUSHED IT OFF TO A SAFE SIDE. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF WE WERE TRAVELLING IN THE MIDDLE LANE. THE CAR WAS LEFT OVERNIGHT AND TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER CALLED BACK AND GAVE A QUOTE OF $10000 BECAUSE THE HYBRID INVERTER HAVE TO REPLACED. I MENTIONED THE RECALL ON THE INVERTER. THE DEALER SAID THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER MY ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE -WHAT ACTION OR RECOURSE DO I HAVE. THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR REPLACED THE INVERTER AT 16200 MILES. EVIDENTLY ALL THE 2006 INVERTERS ARE DEFECTIVE. MY QUESTION IS THIS ---WHY YOUR DEPARTMENT IS TOYOTA TO GET AWAY WITH SUCH A SERIOUS DEFECT?

Mileage: 180,000

ENGINE MECHANICAL ~|~CHECK AND REPORT...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC LIGHT ON DASH, ,,CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING, HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET THE VEHICLE TOWED IN TO THE DEALERSHIP... ~|~TECH PULLED CODE P0A05,P0A08,P0A93, ...FOUND INVERTER PUMP NOT WORKING PROPERLY ~|~REPLACED INVERTER WATER PUMP

Mileage: 71,893

ENGINE MECHANICAL ~|~CHECK AND REPORT...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC LIGHT ON DASH, .FOUND INVERTER PUMP NOT WORKING PROPERLY ~|~REPLACED INVERTER WATER PUMP

Mileage: 161,359

WHILE DECELERATING TO TURN INTO OUR DRIVE WAY THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT STOPPED BY USING THE BRAKES, ENDING UP IN THE YARD/SIDEWALK. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET OF SKID MARKS. THE ENGINE WAS RACING WHILE THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT INVOLVED. THE INCREASED ENGINE RPM WAS NOT INITIATED NOR CONTROLLABLE BY THE OPERATOR. THIS WAS TRULY AN UNCONTROLLED RUN AWAY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. *TR

Mileage: 119,167

THERE WAS FIRE IN THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY. THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE INVERTER AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE COMPLETELY COOKED AND MELTED. THE PROFESSIONAL OPINION OF A TOYOTA NATIONAL ENGINEER IS THAT THE GENERATOR IN THE TRANS AXLE SURGED AND CAUSED A FIRE MELTING THE COMPONENTS. HOW CAN THIS GO UN-INVESTIGATED WITH SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. MY FAMILY AND I COULD HAVE BEEN BURNED ALIVE OR IN A FATAL CRASH DUE TO THIS COMPLETELY UNSAFE SYSTEM. HOW CAN TOYOTA CONTINUE TO SAY THEY ARE ALL ABOUT SAFETY WHEN THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT ISSUES LIKE THIS. THEY HAVE SENT ME A $16,000 BILL FOR THIS ISSUE THAT IS COMPLETELY A PRODUCT OF THEIR POOR AND UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 107,500

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL WORK. ONCE THE TECHNICIAN OPENED THE INVERTER CASE WE FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS FOR BOTH THE INVERTER AND TRANSMISSION WERE COMPLETELY MELTED AND COOKED DUE TO A FIRE INSIDE THE INVERTER. I AM NOW LOOKING AT A $15000 REPAIR BILL WITH TOYOTA AND LUCKILY MY FAMILY AND I WERE NOT BURNED ALIVE OR IN AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN FATALITIES. *TR

Mileage: 107,500

AS I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT OF A HOTEL THE CHECK VCS SYSTEM, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK AWD SYSTEM WARNINGS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AND ALTERNATE. THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT, SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND THE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WERE ALL ILLUMINATED AS WELL. THE CAR WOULD DRIVE, HOWEVER, THE POWER STEERING AND ABS WERE NOT WORKING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT THE CAR SIMPLY NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. ONCE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ECU FOR THE ABS SYSTEM HAD DIED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $2000. WHEN I MENTIONED THE RECALL AND THE FACT THAT THE SYMPTOMS WERE DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IMP I WAS TOLD THAT WHILE MY VIN FELL UNDER THE BOJ RECALL, THE SPECIFIC SERIAL # OF MY IMP DID NOT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM MY CAR WAS HAVING. WHEN I ASKED WHETHER THE SERIAL NUMBERS OF THE D1M RECALL WERE CHECKED I WAS TOLD THIS WAS AN "INTERIM RECALL" AND THAT THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DO REPAIRS ON THIS ONE YET SO THEY COULDN'T CHECK. RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT AN IMP FAILURE CAN CAUSE AND ECU FAILURE. FURTHERMORE, AN ECU FAILURE WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE SYSTEM TO GO INTO FAIL SAFE MODE AS IT DID. I HAVE A TOYOTA CASE #, BUT THEY HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *JS

Mileage: 140,250

VEHICLE DIED WHILE GOING DOWN STREET. HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF ROADWAY. *TR

MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. SHE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR FORWARD OR BACKWARD TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE LANE OF TRAFFIC. WE GOT THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY INFORMED US THAT THE INVERTER WAS BAD AND WE NEEDED A NEW ONE. WE HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT REPLACING AN "INTELLIGENT POWER MODULE" AND HAD THE REPAIRS DONE JAN 9TH 2013. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS SAID THAT THE REPLACED PART IS WORKING AND THAT IT IS THE INVERTER ITSELF THAT HAS GONE BAD. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT SHE WASN'T GOING HIGHWAY SPEED WITH OUR CHILD IN THE CAR WHEN SHE LOST POWER. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROX. 60 MILES PER HOUR THE BRAKE LIGHT AND VCS SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THE WARNING LIGHT ALSO WENT ON. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OWNER'S MANUAL, I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO THE AUTOMOBILE STATUS REPORT, THE ABS-HYDRAULIC CONTROL ASSEMBLY: WITH ECU MUST BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO COMPLAINTS I RESEARCHED ON-LINE, SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED RELATING TO THIS MAKE, MODEL AND ABS SYSTEM. I FILED AN INCIDENT WITH TOYOTA (REFERENCE NUMBER: [XXX]). THE INTAKE REPRESENTATIVE WHO CHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WASN'T A RECALL ITEM AND NO SUPPORT WAS AVAILABLE TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE PART. SHE CONFIRMED THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT IN THE WORKMANSHIP. I ASKED [XXX] (THE PERSON I SPOKE TO) IF I COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR A SECOND OPINION RELATING TO THE ABS PART. I ALSO ASKED FOR VERIFICATION THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY CHECKED THE PART FOR A DEFECT OR IS QUALIFIED TO DETERMINE IF IN FACT IT IS A MANUFACTURERS' DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED THAT THE ABS PART; BRAKE FLUSH/FLUID EXCHANGE/BF; ENGINE AIR FILTER REPLACEMENT;A/C SERVICE-ACS; COOLANT FLUSH (PREMIUM)-CF; AND FUEL INJECTION SERVICE WOULD COST $2,250. I ALSO ASKED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHAT THE BATTERY EXPECTANCY ON THE CAR IS AND WHETHER THE MANUFACTURER OFFERS ANY SUPPORT IN TERMS OF THE COSTS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE BATTERY CAN COST $5,000.00 TO REPLACE BUT THE MANUFACTURER MAY OFFER SOME SUPPORT. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH AND FILLING OF THIS COMPLAINT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 149,405

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE NJ TURNPIKE. SUDDENLY, THE CAR STALLED AND THE STEERING LOCKED. LUCKILY, WE JUST STARTED THE HOUR LONG DRIVE AND WERE ON THE SLOW LANE AND WAS ABLE TO GLIDE THE CAR OVER SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER. THE CHECK "CSV" AND "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE HYBRID BATTERY SHOWED NO ENERGY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS ABOUT BATTERY ERRORS OR PROBLEMS BEFORE COMPLETELY STALLING. IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE PROBLEMS WILL ARISE, BUT WITH NO WARNING AND A CAR STALLING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. ACCELERATING FROM STOPLIGHT TO ENTER HIGHWAY RAMP. LOUD BANG AND ALL LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON. ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING BUT NO PROPULSION. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER AND INFORMED IT WAS A HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE, AND WOULD COST $10,000 TO REPAIR. WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. *TR

Mileage: 124,000

MY 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON I-5 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. SHE HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70MPH AND WAS TRAVELING UP HILL WHEN CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY POPPED OFF AND CAR WENT DEAD. SHE HAD NO POWER, AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT. SHE MANAGED TO COAST TO THE CREST OF THE HILL AND DOWN THE OTHER SIDE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, BUT WAS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION NEAR TRUCK WEIGH STATION WITH BIG RIGS PULLING ON AND OFF HIGHWAY. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. WE WERE INFORMED THAT HYBRID INVERTER WAS DEAD AND WOULD COST $8,000.00+ TO REPAIR. CONTACTED CORPORATE AND WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN REPAIR COSTS. HAVE SINCE HEARD OTHER SIMILAR STORIES REGARDING 2006 TOYOTA HYBRIDS. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

MY SON WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING OR POWER STEERING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE HYBRID GENERATOR HAD SHORTED AND NEEDED $7,300.00 WORTH OF REPAIRS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS, IF HE WAS ON A VERY BUSY ROAD AND THIS VEHICLE WERE TO HAVE STOPPED ON HIM AS SUDDENLY AS IT DID THAT DAY HE COULD OF POSSIBLY BEEN REAR-ENDED AND SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A PART OF SEVERAL RECALLS WITH THIS SAME TYPE OF ISSUE, BUT TOYOTA HAS REFUSED MY REQUEST FOR THIS VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED OR ISSUE A RECALL WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 123,000

AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE DISPLAY STARTED INDICATING ERROR CODES INCLUDING CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. AFTER DRIVING APPROX 1/2 MILE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN/STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC. FORTUNATE, I RECEIVED SOME HELP FROM AN ON-LOOKER TO HELP ME MANUALLY STEER THE CAR OVER SLIGHTLY ON TO THE SIDEWALK AREA AS TRAFFIC IS CONGESTED IN THAT AREA. TOYOTA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEIR RECALL NOTICE INDICATES "INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH". ADDITIONALLY, THEY WILL NOT HONOR THEIR RECALL NOTICE FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM INVERTER STATING THE INTELLIGENT POWER MODULE LOCATED ON THE INVERTER WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE EVEN THOUGH THE CONDITIONS WERE EXACTLY WHAT IS STATED ON THE RECALL NOTICE. *TR

Mileage: 114,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SHOULDERS AS ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED HAT THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS CORRODED. THE CORROSION HAD TO BE CLEANED OFF FROM THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

WHILE DRIVING ON I40 JUST AFTER LEAVING I17 AT FLAGSTAFF, AZ, DURING HEAVY RAINSTORM, VEHICLE DECELERATED ABRUPTLY TO ABOUT 45 MPH (WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65), MANAGED TO PULL OFF AT NEXT OFF RAMP AND CAR DIED COMPLETELY ABOUT HALFWAY UP OFFRAMP (COUNTRY CLUB ROAD EXIT). WARNING MESSAGES INCLUDED "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM", "CHECK 4WD SYSTEM", AND "CHECK AVS SYSTEM". AFTER CALLING FINDLAY TOYOTA IN FLAGSTAFF AND WHILE WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK, TURNED SYSTEM OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED RESTART WHICH WAS SUCCESSFUL AND DROVE TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. AFTER 2 DAYS OF DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS AND TECHNICIAN CALLS WITH TOYOTA, THEY TRIED TO TELL ME PROBLEM WAS DIRTY MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THIS VEHICLE HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AND HAD INVERTER AND AVS SYSTEM REPLACED AT A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD WITH POWER SYSTEM FAILURE ON INTERSTATE IN RAINSTORM SURROUNDED BY 18 WHEELERS. *TR

Mileage: 124,512

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE FROM A RESIDENTIAL DRIVE WAY, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INVERTER AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

Mileage: 113,000

DRIVING IN 6 LANES OF HEAVY TRAFFIC WE HEARD A 'THUNK' AND LOST ALL POWER. I WRESTLED THE VEHICLE TO GET IT TO COAST OFF OF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. COST WAS $7600, AFTER A SUBSTANTIAL DISCOUNT FROM THE DEALER, WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY EMBARRASSED ABOUT CHARGING SO MUCH FOR A SINGLE PART. THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, SINCE ALL POWER AND ELECTRICALLY ASSISTED DRIVING FUNCTIONS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. FORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T. SUBSEQUENTLY I FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAD UPGRADED THEIR INVERTERS BEGINNING IN 2007. WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED IN 2011 FROM TOYOTA AN "INTERIM SAFETY RECALL NOTICE" FOR THE INVERTER, BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING SINCE. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

MY HH HAS ABOUT 160,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AND CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP 3 TO 5 TIMES, EACH TIME WAS PUT OVER TO "RECALL CENTER", WHICH EQUALS VOICE MAIL WITH NO RETURN CALL. EVER. LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING AND WAS FLASHING ERROR MESSAGES ON DASHBOARD, INCLUDING CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. IT ENDED UP AT THE DEALER AS CLOSEST MECHANIC DID NOT HAVE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO CHECK IT. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK AND REPAIR THE RECALL(S) WHILE THEY REPAIRED THE CAR. THEY ENDED UP TELLING ME THAT THE ISSUE, WHILE RELATED TO A RECALL INVOLVING PART OF THE INVERTER, THAT THE PARTS REQUIRED FOR THE REPAIR WOULD COST $9000 OVER WHAT THE RECALL INVOLVED, BUT THAT, THEY WOULD BE SO NICE AS TO ONLY CHARGE ME $4000 FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES UP TO 100,000 MILES AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I SEE THAT THOUSANDS OF 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID OWNERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND, IN FACT, TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM NOT ONLY BY CHANGING THE INVERTER IN 2007 MODELS, BUT ALSO BY DOING THIS COMPLETE REPAIR JOB THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDS FOR MANY, MANY OWNERS FOR UNDER $1000. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INADEQUATELY RESPONSIVE TO THESE ISSUES; I HAVE NOW CONTACTED TOYOTA'S "CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER" AND AM AWAITING THEIR RESPONSE. *TR

Mileage: 165,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS BUT THE DEALER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES IN PERFORMING THE REMEDY FOR THE RECALL DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 5/11/12 *LJ

Mileage: 96,000

I SWERVED AND STOPPED SUDDENLY WHEN SOMEONE PULLED OUT FROM A SIDE STREET TO AVOID A COLLISION. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, I COULDN'T. EVERYTHING "SEIZED" UP. I JUST COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY INVESTIGATED AND SAID THAT THE ACTUATOR WAS STUCK OPEN AND ALLOWING BRAKE FLUID TO CONTINUALLY ENTER THE WHEELS, THEREBY ENGAGING THE BRAKES. IN FACT, THE MECHANIC COULD ONLY MOVE THE CAR ONCE HE DISABLED EITHER THE BRAKES OR THE ACTUATOR, HE WASN'T SPECIFIC. FROM READING OTHER CUSTOMER DISCUSSIONS ONLINE, IT APPEARS THAT THIS PART IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. MY DEALERSHIP LOOKED UP THE GENERAL WARRANTY AND SAID THAT THIS WOULDN'T BE COVERED. MY CAR HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I THINK A PART LIKE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR *KB

Mileage: 72,000

DRIVING HOME AND CAR LOST POWER. "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" LIGHT CAME ON. LUCKILY, IT WAS LATE, SO THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC, AS THE CAR JUST DIED. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT INTO PARK BEFORE ROLLING BACK DOWN HE HILL WE WERE DRIVING UP. CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE INVERTER FAILED, AND WOULD COST $9,000 TO REPAIR, WHICH IS NOT MUCH LESS THAN WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH WHEN IT IS RUNNING. CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT DEALER SAYS THE PARTS SERIAL NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE WHO HAS ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER WHO IS TO CONTACT ME WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY. *TR

Mileage: 117,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE WITHOUT GIVING REASONABLE EXPLANATION TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND SIDED WITH THE DEALER, ADVISING THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD RELEASE ANOTHER NOTICE TO INFORM CONSUMERS WHEN THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE WORK RECALL WORK ON SELECTED VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

Mileage: 13,600

THE FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER AND HEATER CONTROLLER POTENTIOMETER ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. ICE BUILD-UP ON THE FRONT WINDOW IS KNOWN TO IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE NUT ON MY TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER WAS SEVERAL TURNS LOOSE! THE ORIGINAL MULTI-STRANDED WIRES SOLDERED TO THE TEMP-CONTROLLER POTENTIOMETER WERE RIGID BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO WELL TINNED WITH SOLDER AND BROKE FROM VIBRATION FATIGUE; DUE TO THE LOOSE NUT ON THE TEMP-CONTROLLER POTENTIOMETER SHAFT. TOYOTA OR SUMITOMO (VENDOR) SHOULD COVER THIS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO THE LOOSE NUTS (POOR WORKMANSHIP)! THE PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED WITH PHOTOS AT "HTTP://WWW.DEVALCOURT.COM/2010/03/FIXING-2004-TOYOTA-HIGHLANDER-AC-AND-HEAT-ISSUE/#IDC-COVER". OVER 385 PEOPLE HAVE LEFT COMMENTS THERE; SEVERAL OTHER WEBSITES DOCUMENT THE SAME PROBLEM. *KB

Mileage: 75,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK HYBRID AND VRC SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST RESULT SHOWED A DEFECT IN THE HYBRID BATTERY. THE CONTACT DID NOT AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO PERFORM ANY MORE TESTS OR REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

TOYOTA IS NOT FOLLOWING CRA (CORRECTIVE REPAIR ACTION) FOR PRE-NOTIFICATION REMEDIES. ACCORDING TO THE DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT DATED JUNE 29, 2011 REGARDING INVERTER FAILURE RECALL, ITEM 7 "THE OWNER LETTER WILL INSTRUCT VEHICLE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS CONDITION REMEDIED PRIOR TO THIS CAMPAIGN TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT PURSUANT TO TOYOTA'S GENERAL REIMBURSEMENT PLAN." HOWEVER, THE 'INTERIM' RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER TO OWNERS DID NOT SUPPLY INSTRUCTIONS TO VEHICLE OWNERS WHO PAID TO HAVE THE CONDITION REMEDIED. THE INVERTER IN MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID FAILED. I REPLACED THE INVERTER AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTORS CORP CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY REQUESTED THAT I HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DOCUMENT THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, MAIL OR FAX THE PAID INVOICE FOR THE INVERTER, PROOF OF OWNERSHIP AND THE INSPECTION REPORT IN FOR PAYMENT. THIS INFORMATION WAS FAXED AND SENT VIA US MAIL ON OCTOBER 19, 2011. I WAS CONTACTED VIA PHONE BY TOYOTA MOTORS CORP ON 11/10/11 AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE "TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL" ON THE INVERTER . I REFERRED THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE. I WAS TOLD MY CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE LETTER WAS AN 'INTERIM LETTER" AND NOT A RECALL. I WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE PART IS NOT OFFICIALLY RECALLED, I WOULD NEED TO WAIT UNTIL IT WAS OFFICIAL BECAUSE TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE 'INTERIM' LETTER IS ALMOST 4 MONTHS OLD AND TOYOTA DOES NOT OFFER RELIEF TO OWNERS. FURTHER, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PART. *TR

I WAS PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR STOPPED AND BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH A WARNING ON THE LCD PANEL THAT STATED "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" AND "CHECK VSC". IT WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY INDICATED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER AND ESU HAD FAILED AND THEY REPLACED THEM. THE VEHICLE STILL DISPLAYED SEVERAL WARNINGS AND AFTER SEARCHING FOR ALMOST 1 WEEK, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING ESU WAS ALSO BAD ALTHOUGH THIS WAS NOT THE CASE PRIOR TO THE HYBRID FAILURE. THEY SAID THAT THE 12 VOLT BATTERY ALSO NEEDED REPLACING ALTHOUGH IT WAS ONLY 8 MONTHS OLD AND WAS PURCHASED AT THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN I ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING! OCTOBER 1, 2011 IN OUR STATE WAS A BEAUTIFUL, CLEAR DAY AS IT HAD BEEN FOR A WHILE. I SUGGESTED THAT THE INVERTER AND ESU FAILURE CAUSED THE POWER STEERING ESU FAILURE, NOT A PHANTOM LIGHTNING STRIKE. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP AS I AWAIT THEIR REPLY. HYBRID COMPONENTS ARE COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED HYBRID WARRANTY BUT THE STEERING ESU IS NOT AND WILL COST $1,000 TO REPLACE UNLESS TOYOTA WILL ACCEPT THAT THE FAILURE OF THE HYBRID COMPONENTS COULD HAVE CAUSED A POWERFUL ELECTRICAL SURGE THAT DAMAGED THE POWER STEERING ECU AS WELL AS THE 12 VOLT BATTERY. *KB

Mileage: 92,100

DRIVING THE UPPER ROADWAY OF THE QUEENSBORO 59TH ST BRIDGE THE CAR JUST DIED. FLASHING ON THE PANEL READ CHECK THE VSC SYSTEM WAITED FOR A TOW AROUND A DANGEROUS CURVE, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. OTW TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WILL HONOR THE RECALLED INVERTER PART. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR INCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE IN WHICH THE HYBRID SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN. THE FIRST THREE TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS FINE WHEN I TURNED IT OFF, BUT WOULD NOT RESTART. WITH ALL THREE OF THESE INCIDENTS THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITH NO ISSUES AFTER A FEW HOURS. THE CSV AND THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHTS AS WELL AS MOST OF THE PANEL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT TWO TIMES AND SAID IT WAS FINE. IN THE MOST RECENT EVENT, I WAS WAITING AT THE BOTTOM OF A DRIVEWAY. WHEN I WENT TO PROCEED I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD SOUND THAT SEEMED EQUIVALENT TO IT RUNNING AT A HIGH RPM. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, IT MADE THE SAME SOUND AND AGAIN DID NOT MOVE. THE CSV AND THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" LIGHTS AS WELL AS THE PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON. I ROLLED THE CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND TURNED IT OFF AGAIN. DUE TO THE PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED HISTORY OF THE CAR, I CHOSE TO WAIT AN HOUR BEFORE TRYING TO RESTART IT. AFTER WAITING AN HOUR, I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR AND THE EXACT SAME THINGS HAPPENED. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR ON THE SCOPE THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I WAS CALLED AFTER TWO DAYS OF THE DEALER RUNNING MANY TESTS AND TOLD IT WAS THE INVERTER. THE PRICE QUOTED TO ME WAS $8000. I INSISTED THAT THEY NEEDED TO LOOK INTO THE TOYOTA RECALL OF THE HYBRID INVERTERS. I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 15,2011, AND IT WAS "CLEARED." I ASKED THEM TO RECHECK THIS RECALL TO SEE IF MY CAR FIT INTO THE CATEGORY. I WAS INFORMED THEY WERE NOT GOING TO RECHECK IT, BUT THEY WOULD INSTEAD CONTACT TOYOTA. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING UP OR DOWN MY DRIVEWAY, I WOULD MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE GONE OVER THE 50 FOOT EMBANKMENT ON MY DRIVEWAY OR THE CLIFF DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE. *TR

Mileage: 114,500

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH VIRGINIA FOOTHILLS, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON MY HYBRID STOPPED WORKING. I HAD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY, NO POWER STEERING AND WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS INCIDENT IF I HAD TO STOP FOR AN EMERGENCY. I SLOWLY PULLED OVER SHUT THE SYSTEM DOWN AND AFTER A WHILE THE WARNING LIGHTS AND WARNING BUZZER WENT OFF. *KB

Mileage: 79,950

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. IN JULY 2010, THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH, WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN JULY 2011, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY FAILED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,600. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,072. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED TOYOTA FINALLY ADMITTED THE VEHICLE WAS APART OF A RECALL. THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL PART THAT WAS RECALL, WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE JANUARY 2012. UPDATED 11/18/11

Mileage: 79,072

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.

Mileage: 7,270

ON MAY 2, 2011 THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY BROKE DOWN.

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.

Mileage: 125,000

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.

Mileage: 61,186

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.

Mileage: 145,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE DECELERATED TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE DRIVEN EVERY DAILY IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

Mileage: 200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK ESC SYSTEM AND CHECK ALL WHEEL DRIVE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE APPROXIMATELY 172,000.

Mileage: 172,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND VSC WARNING INDICATORS. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11005 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. UPDATED 03/29/11*LJ THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/22/11

Mileage: 55,000

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID CONSUMER STATES THAT TOYOTA SOLD HER A VEHICLE IN UNSAFE CONDITION AND WRITES REGARDING AN ENGINEERING DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HER SON DROPPED A CUP WITH LIQUID INSIDE AND MANAGED TO GET INTO THE HYBRID'S BATTERY THAT WAS LOCATED BENEATH THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND CHECK VSC SYSTEM LIGHTS ILLUMINATED.

I WAS BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET & THE VEHICLE DIED. IT COULDN'T BE STARTED & THE GEARSHIFT COULD NOT BE MOVED INTO ANY OTHER GEAR, THEREFORE IT REMAINED IN REVERSE. NOTHING ELECTRICAL WOULD WORK EITHER & THE CAR'S INTERIOR IS FULLY ELECTRIC , (WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS, NAV, SEATS, RADIO ECT). THE "CHECK ENGINE" MESSAGE WAS ON. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, AS PER TOW TRUCK DRIVER . THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. FIRST TOWED THE CAR TO GET A NEW BATTERY BUT AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE NEWLY PURCHASED BATTERY, THE CAR STILL WAS INOPERABLE & HAD TO BE TOWED AGAIN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THIS WAS AN ADDITIONAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE "INVERTER" & SOMETHING LISTED ON THE RECEIPT AS "SUPER LONG LIFE C". *TR

Mileage: 55,803

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENTIRE HYBRID SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE WHERE HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 191,000. UPDATED 03/23/11 *BF UPDATED 1/5/12 *CN

Mileage: 191,000

THE COMPUTER ON 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WON'T ALLOW ENGINE TO START. 12V BATTERY WILL NOT START AUTO UNTIL A SMALL CHARGE IS CONNECTED TO BATTERY I HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 1 WEEK OLD - WAS TOLD THAT I MUST HAVE LEFT A DOOR OPEN, AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. SECOND TIME TO THE DEALERSHIP - SAME PROBLEM - SAME RESPONSE, AGAIN, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED 1/1/11. STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM - CAR WILL NOT START-GET STRANDED AND CAR WILL NOT START. ON 2/22/11 I TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, ALONG WITH DOCUMENTATION ON SERVICE BULLETIN 01605, NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10015806 - SERVICEMAN SAID THAT THEY (THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT) DO NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION TO ANY OF THE NHTSA BULLETINS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. NO LIGHTS LEFT ON OR ACCESSORIES LEFT ON. HEATER, RADIO, SEATS, ARE TURNED OFF. *TR

I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND WAS ACCELERATING, HEARD A POP AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE CHECK VSC LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SAID THE HYBRID INVERTER FAILED.

Mileage: 109,486

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE JUMPSTARTED . THE FAILURE OCCURRED BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY; THE BATTERY HAD BEEN PLACED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VSC LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE INVERTER HAD FAILED AND STATED THE TRANSAXLE AND THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THEY WERE AWARE OF A POSSIBLE INVERTER PROBLEM WITH THOSE MODELS AND WOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THE REPAIRS COULD BE MADE FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Mileage: 125,000

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM. *JB

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID POWER INVERTER FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF ALL POWER, INCLUDING BRAKES, AND STEERING. $9500 REPLACEMENT COST WAS NEGOTIATED DOWN TO $4700 WITH DEALER AND TOYOTA. A NUMBER OF 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE, WITH NO ABILITY TO USE THE BATTERY TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF DANGER. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

2006 HYBRID HIGHLANDER. WELL MAINTAINED. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. LIGHTS FLASHED THE CAR STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AREAS. TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED AT 96,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 105,000. I WAS OFFERED A LOW TRADE IN PRICE FOR AN NEW RAV 4. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I SUGGESTED THE PROBLEM WAS ABOVE THEIR FEEBLE MINDS. ILL TRAINED BRAINS CAN NOT COMPREHEND COMPLEX ISSUES. IT IS REAL EASY, PUT IN AN NEW INVERTER. NEW MONTH I WILL HAVE A LARGER SETTLEMENT CHECK FOR A BUSINESS VENTURE. LAST TOYOTA PRODUCT I BUY. I HAVE OWNED 8 VEHICLES FROM THIS DEALERSHIP. LOOKS LIKE I AM GOING BACK TO AMERICAN IT WAS VERY SCARY ON TOP OF THE INTERSTATE 12 DURING RUSH HOUR WITH A HARD RAIN FAILING.. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

MY WIFE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR APARTMENT BUILDING, IDLING WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GATE. BEFORE THE CAR CRASHED, SHE REPEATEDLY APPLIED THE BRAKE AND EVEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE CAR DID NOT STOP. AFTER THE IMPACT, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND ACCELERATE BEFORE FINALLY STOPPING. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. THE BODY HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT PER TOYOTA, NOTHING MECHANICAL OR ELECTRONIC HAS BEEN TOUCHED. LAST WEEK TOYOTA SENT A SPECIALIST OUT TO INSPECT THE CAR AND DOWNLOAD DATA. WE WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME, AND 5 DTC CODES DISPLAYED. THE DESCRIPTIONS DISPLAYED ON THE INVESTIGATOR'S LAP TOP MENTIONED VEHICLE SPEED SENSORS ON RIGHT WHEEL AND LEFT WHEEL, THE EMPS, BODY ECU SWITCH CIRCUIT AND "LOW OR HIGH POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE". THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN, AND NO ERRORS OR CODES WERE REPORTED. THE CAR IS NOW WAITING TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REVIEWED AND FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 40,384

HAVE A TOYOTA 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND WAS DRIVING THE CAR LESS THAN A WEEK AGO AND WAS ON THE PARKWAY DOING 65 IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND CAR STARTED TO DECELERATE, LOST THE POWER STEERING, COULD NOT BRAKE NOR WAS I ABLE TO PUSH THE PEDAL FOR THE GAS. ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND CAR STOPPED. PUT IT IN DRIVE AND WENT TO RESTART CAR, WOULD NOT TURN ON THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK VSH, BRAKE LIGHT ETC..... BROUGHT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THURSDAY, STILL NO WORD. STATES IT MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM PART IS APPROXIMATE. 1500 TO START. THEYCANNOT EVEN EVALUATE THE CAR TILL THEY PLACE THIS PART IN. SOUNDS COSTLY TO ME . WENT ON ANOTHER WEBSITE, APPEARS THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHEN THEY ARE OVER 100,000 MILES. OCTOBER 4 EMAIL:"FINALLY GOT MY CAR BACK AFTER 3 WEEKS. THEY PUT IN A NEW CONTROL PANEL AND INVERTER, I PAID $1400 FOR THE CONTROL PANEL AND WAS COMPENSATED FOR THE $8800 INVERTER. PLUS THEY FIXED A STEERING WHEEL RECALL AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE SHOT (MY FAULT). [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 124,500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. SHE DROVE ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND CALLED A TOW COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER HOME, THEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THE INVERTER FOR THE HYBRID FAILED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER 10 DAYS BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 122,231.

Mileage: 122,231

I HAVE AN 06 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WITH 64,900 MILES ON IT, WE WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 5 SOUTH ON CENTRAL CA, SUDDENLY VSC AND CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DEAD, TRIED TO START IT A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TOO A NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND THE PROBLEM WAS THE HYBRID INVERTER. 2 DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT THE CAR'S BATTERY WAS TOTALLY DRAINED, NOT A SINGLE LIGHT WILL TURN ON. I JUMP STARTED THE CAR TO MAKE RUN. THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED US $8200 W/O INSTALLATION TO REPLACED IT IF IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. THIS CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME AGAIN W/O WARNING AND COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS , AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE ON DRIVING THIS CAR AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 64,879

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. IT TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS TOLD A WIRE SHORTED AND BLEW OUT THE HYBRID SYSTEM. SHE WAS TOLD THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN THE INVERTER. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER ALSO INFORMED HER THIS FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURED DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 131,600. SM.

Mileage: 131,600

THE INVERTER ( A VERY EXPENSIVE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT) ON MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID FAILED RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. IT TOOK A WEEK TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT APPLIES TO HYBRID COMPONENTS. I HAVE ASKED, BUT TOYOTA CAN/WILL NOT TELL ME HOW OFTEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAS OCCURRED; THE INTERNET HAS STORIES FROM OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON THE HIGHWAY IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. WITH TOYOTA'S REPUTATION, I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THEY DON'T WANT DISCUSSED. *TR

Mileage: 38,000

WE HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MINOR BUT ANNOYING PROBLEMS: 1) BATTERY DEAD IN MORNING 4 OR 5 TIMES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. 2) AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE AND OPENING DOOR, BUZZER OCCASIONALLY GOES OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. 3) SOME RADIO STATIONS PICK UP A LOT OF STATIC WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED. 4) DVD CAROUSEL PLAYER PICKS UP ERRORS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PLAY DISKS FOUR OR FIVE. WROTE A LETTER TO TOYOTA IN 2007 REGARDING SOME OF THESE ISSUES BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE RELATED TO THE ELECTRONIC ISSUES WE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN HEARING ABOUT. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID NEW INSTALLED A CAR ALARM AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE LEFT HAND PASSENGER "DOOR AJAR" ALARM WILL BEGIN GOING OFF. THIS IS VERY DISTURBING AND DANGEROUS AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE THE DOME LIGHTS TO FLASH ON AND OFF AS WELL AS THE DINGING OF THE BELL. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN HITTING POT HOLES - BUT I DO NOT ALWAYS FEEL ANY BUMP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY FINALLY TRACED IT TO A CAUSE OF "THE KNOCK SENSOR FOR THE ALARM IS TIED TO THE GROUND IN THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR", THEY SAID THAT THE CONNECTION WAS LOOSE. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE ALARM, THE SECOND AND THIRD, AND ... TIMES THEY SAID THE WIRE WAS LOOSE. THE LAST TIME I ADVISED THEM TO CHANGE WHERE THE ALARM KNOCK SENSOR WAS GROUNDED AND THEY SAID THAT THEY SOLVED THE PROBLEM WITH A BETTER CONNECTION. GRANTED THE PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN MUCH ANYMORE, BUT IT STILL CONTINUES. ON A RECENT TRIP FROM SAN DIEGO TO CORPUS CHRISTIE THE ALARM WENT OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES ON THE SECOND MORNING OF OUR TRIP. IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS IN WHAT SEEMS TO ME AS COOLER DAMPER WEATHER. AGAIN, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT HAS BEEN LARGELY IGNORED BY THE DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA OF POWAY IN POWAY, CA) THE LAST TIME, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY... I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THEM AFTER THIS LAST INCIDENT IN DECEMBER ON OUR TRIP, THEN AGAIN LAST WEEKEND (SATURDAY NIGHT) WHEN DRIVING HOME FROM A CASINO - ABOUT 15 DINGS AND ASSOCIATED FLASHING LIGHTS OVER A FEW SECONDS. *TR

Mileage: 1,000

LIVE IN NORTHERN US, 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID, IM FEELING ELECTRICITY ON AND OFF AS IM DRIVING MY CAR, FEEL ELECTRICITY IN QUICK BURSTS THRU LEGS AND THRU SEAT. I TOOK TO DEALER AND SHOWED NOTHING, I THINK THIS IS COVER UP.. *TR

Mileage: 30,000