2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID Hybrid Propulsion System Problems

The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check hybrid system and two other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact managed to coast the vehicle to the side of the highway; however, the vehicle failed to restart. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test was performed. The mechanic discovered that there was a leak in the inverter cooling system. Upon investigation, the contact discovered an unknown recall that was related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but informed her that the vehicle was not included in the unknown recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 280,000.

Mileage: 280,000

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V396000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE HYBRID WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE HIGHER THAN 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V396000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

Mileage: 106,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE HYBRID INVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.-

Mileage: 130,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INVERTER/CONVERTER HYBRID SYSTEM WOULD SHUT DOWN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INVERTER/CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM WITHIN A FEW DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

Mileage: 146,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND THE HYBRID COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

Mileage: 60,000

THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALER SERVICE NOTES THAT INVERTER FAILED ALONG WITH COMPONENT THAT GOES WITH IT. VEHICLE NON-FUNCTIONAL. *KB

Mileage: 182,000

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

PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE AND ABRUPT HALT. COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. *TR

Mileage: 88,000

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

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID FROM VIRGINIA TO OHIO. WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE OH TURNPIKE JUST BEFORE MILE MARKER 218 TO CHANGE DRIVERS AS THE PAST FEW SERVICE STOPS WERE CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS. WE DID NOT TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE NEW DRIVER PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO RETURN TO THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR MADE A FUNNY SOUND THEN THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH ALTERNATING ERRORS FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND VSC SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS FROZEN AND WOULD NOT MOVE. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT BEDFORD TOYOTA IN OH BEING AWAITING DELIVERY & REPLACEMENT OF THE INVERTER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. IN FACT, IT HAD JUST BEEN IN FOR ITS 65,000 MILE CHECK-UP TWO WEEKS EARLIER. *TR

Mileage: 66,000

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID POWER INVERTER FAILURE - A $9,000 REPAIR. MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID CAME TO A DEAD HALT LAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON GOING JUST OVER 40 MPH ON A BUSY STREET IN AUSTIN, TX. THE ENGINE WOULD RUN, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ON I-35 AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILED POWER INVERTER - A $9,000 REPAIR. IT HAS 70K MILES AND I JUST PURCHASED IT FOR $18K A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. THE ORIGINAL OWNER PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100K MILES, SO VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR WAS COVERED INCLUDING A FREE RENTAL CAR FOR THE WEEK IT WAS IN THE SHOP. I WILL DEFINITELY PURCHASE ANOTHER WARRANTY WHEN THIS ONE EXPIRES AS WHO CAN AFFORD THIS TYPE OF REPAIR ON A USED VEHICLE! I AM CONSIDERING SELLING THIS VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE SAME TOYOTA DEALER THAT REPLACED THE POWER INVERTER TO GIVE ME A TRADE IN APPRAISAL. THEY RAN A CAR FAX HISTORY REPORT ON IT AND THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE CAR HAS HAD THE POWER INVERTER REPLACED! THEY SHOW IT SERVICED ON THE DATE OF THE REPAIR, BUT DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE POWER INVERTER HAD BEEN REPLACED - ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE THIS PROBLEM????? *TR

Mileage: 70,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THEY WERE DRIVING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD FORCING THE CONTACT TO DRIVE ONTO THE SERVICE LANE. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND AFTER THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED, THE DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT FIND ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF THE PART BUT I DID NOT GET A LETTER IN THE MAIL YET. UPDATED 09/08/2011 *LN *TR

Mileage: 108,000

DRIVING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 75 NEAR WARNER ROBINS, GA IN OUR 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID. GOING 75 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE WHEN THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH VSC, CHECK HYBRID, AND ESP LIGHTS. IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER. NO POWER STEERING, LIMITED BRAKING, NO ACCELERATION. BARELY AVOIDED A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT (4 PEOPLE IN MY CAR) AND MADE IT TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. TOWED TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER BY AAA. CAR HAS 85000 MILES ON IT AND TOYOTA DIAGNOSED A FAULTY INVERTER. IT IS BEING COVERED AS A WARRANTY REPAIR. WAITING FOR COMPLETION OF REPAIRS IN GEORGIA TO COMPLETE DRIVE HOME TO NEBRASKA (ALL THE WHILE INCURRING NON-TRIVIAL EXPENSES FOR HOTEL, RENTAL CAR, ETC.). *TR

Mileage: 85,000

2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE CAUSED A COMPLETE POWER SHUT DOWN AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO POWER, NO BRAKES, NO STEERING. I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY CARS IN FRONT OR BEHIND. LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY GOING 70 MPH. THE FAILURE HAD NO WARNING NOR ANY SYMPTOMS. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, I DROVE THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES EARLIER DURING THE DAY. *TR

Mileage: 69,000

ON JUNE 9, 2011 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00PM CENTRAL TIME, MY FAMILY (WIFE, TWO DAUGHTERS, ONE SON AND I) WERE DRIVING OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLAND HYBRID DOWN I65 ABOUT 20 MILES NW OF LAFAYETTE, INDIANA. WE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR. WE WERE GOING ABOUT 70MPH AND LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND US AT THE TIME, AS WE HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN STEERING THE CAR AND STRUGGLED TO PULL IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT SAID SOMETHING ON THE SCREEN ABOUT CHECK VSD AND HYBRID SYSTEM. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO WHIRL, BUT WE COULD NOT START CAR OR DO ANYTHING WITH IT. WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK & WAITED IN THE DARK ON SIDE OF INTERSTATE 65 TO WAIT FOR THEM TO PICK US UP. IT TOOK ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO GET THE TOW TRUCK THERE AND FOR SOMEONE TO COME PICK US UP. WE DEFINITELY FELT LUCKY TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT GETTING HURT AS THIS AREA HAD NO LIGHTS AND WAS VERY DARK (EXCEPT FOR THE RED LIGHTS ON THE WIND MILLS ALL AROUND US). WE WENT TO A HOTEL IN LAFAYETTE AND THE TOW TRUCK DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT MORNING, THE DEALERSHIP SENT A COURTESY CAR TO PICK ME UP & TAKE ME OVER THERE. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. I TOLD HIM IT MIGHT BE THE INVERTER, AS MY FATHER OWNED A LEXUS RX400 HYBRID AND THE INVERTER ON HIS CAR FAILED AND LEXUS GAVE HIM THE PART. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT HE PERSONALLY HAD NEVER CHANGED AN INVERTER, SO HE DID NOT THINK IT WAS THAT. I RENTED A CAR AND MY FAMILY AND I CONTINUED OUR TRIP TO FLORIDA. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND SAID THEY HAD TO TAKE THE ENGINE APART AND IT COULD BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR JUST TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE RODENT DAMAGE. DAYS LATER HE CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT IT WAS IN FACT THE INVERTER AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST ME $9,600.00. I WENT ONLINE & DETERMINED THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS HYBRIDS WITH VIN# SIMILAR TO MINE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 119,200

AT 0130 I WAS ACCELERATING QUICKLY FROM A STOP IN MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WITHOUT WARNING THE ACCELERATION OF MY CAR CEASED; PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN HAD NO RESPONSE. [FORTUNATELY, I HAD NOT YET TURNED IN FRONT OF THE LARGE TRUCK I WAS ABOUT TO PASS, BECAUSE IF I HAD CUT IN FRONT OF HIM THEN SUDDENLY DE-ACCELERATED, A COLLISION WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LIKELY RESULT.] THE DASH HAD LIT UP SEVERAL CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. I WAS 1/2 WAY THROUGH AN INTERSECTION HEADED TOWARDS THE ON-RAMP TO HIGHWAY 96. THE CAR WAS STILL ROLLING, I STEERED IT AWAY FROM THE ON-RAMP AND ONTO THE SERVICE DRIVE, WHERE I COASTED TO A STOP. ALL OTHER ELECTRIC SYSTEMS WERE TO BE WORKING: LIGHTS, RADIO, BRAKES, WIPERS, FAN, SIGNALS, LOCKS. MY GAS TANK WAS MORE THAN HALF FULL. MY DISPLAY WAS ALTERNATING 'CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" AND "CHECK VSC.' I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE SUV SEVERAL TIMES, WITH THE SAME RESULT. A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER HAD TO USE HIS VEHICLE TO PUSH MY SUV OFF THE ROAD FOR SAFETY. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED, AND IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE, FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY 30 MINUTES FROM MY DEALERSHIP- AS I DOUBT MANY OTHER MECHANICS COULD HAVE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY, MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER CALLED TO TELL ME THE INVERTER WAS BROKEN, AND THE INVERTER WOULD COST $7000 PLUS LABOR. THE PART WOULD HAVE TO BE SHIPPED FROM CORPORATE. MY CAR WAS BEYOND THE 100,000 MILE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY (100K MIGHT BE MICHIGAN SPECIFIC), AND WAS AT 105,000 MILES. VIN [XXX] A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE HIGHLANDER HYBRID. ONE OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES CONFIRMED MY VIN WAS 'BEFORE THE PRODUCTION BREAK' IN 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS WHEN A 'NEW AND IMPROVED' INVERTER WAS USED INSTEAD OF THE 'DEFECTIVE' ONE. **TT UPDATED 07/10/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 105,000

ON A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 4X4. ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE COASTED TO SIDE AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME AND ENGINE STILL WILL NOT START. WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT TO DEALER. *TR

Mileage: 286,556

OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID SIMPLY STOPPED RUNNING YESTERDAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY STREET. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US THAT THE INVERTER ( PART OF THE HYBRID PORTION OF THE VEHICLE ) WAS FINISHED AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE $7800.00. THEY ALSO TOLD US THAT THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR OF THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS EXEMPT FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA REQUIREMENT OF A 150,000 WARRANTY ON HYBRID VEHICLES . TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THIS VEHICLE ALTHOUGH IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR THAT THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND HAVE MADE CORRECTIONS TO. THIS IS A SERIOUS, DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM FOR WHICH TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THE CAR AS EASILY HAVE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY OR SOME OTHER MORE DANGEROUS SPOT. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE INVERTER HAD FAILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2006 MODEL HAS 58,212 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOPLIGHT ON A BUSY STREET WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. WE HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED, WITH NO MOTIVE POWER WHATSOEVER. THE POLICE CAME AND ASSISTED, WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A HYBRID INVERTER (A COMMON PART CITED IN NHTSA ACTION PE11005. *TR

Mileage: 58,212

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY 101 DURING RUSH HOUR AT 70+ MILES AN HOUR, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING SOUND AND SUDDENLY STALLED. I SWERVE ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF HIGHWAY WHILE COASTING TO A STOP NEARLY COLLIDING WITH TWO VEHICLES WHILE CHANGING LANES TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY REMOVE IT FROM THE HIGHWAY. SEVERAL ATTEMPT TO RESTART IT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE ERROR MESSAGE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THE FOLLOWING DAY INFORMED ME THE INVERTER HAD FAILED. THEY ESTIMATED THE COST OF REPAIRS AT NEARLY $10,000.00. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND COST OVER $45,000 NEW, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

I PURCHASED A 206 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUV HYBRID IN DEC 2005 1ST GENERATION. MY CAR HAS 166K MILES. THE SUV STOP RUNNING WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON THE HIGHWAY AS I PROCEEDED ON A SUNDAY MORNING GOING TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE AVON BREAST CANCER WALK, 1 MAY 11. I CONDUCT REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKS ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS QUITE SURPRISE TO LEARN THAT THE PART COST OVER $9K TO REPLACE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. THE PART TO REPLACE IS CALLED INVERTER ASSEMBLY. I CONTACTED HQ'S TOYOTA TO ASK FOR SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART. I WAS REFUSED HELPED. I PROCEEDED TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS WEBSITE: A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST TOYOTA FOR THIS SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AS MINES. SEE WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.COURTHOUSENEWS.COM/2011/03/14/TOYOTA.PDF. I WAS QUITE SURPRISE TO SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PART ONCE YOU REACHED OVER 100K AND TOYOTA WAS NOT PROVIDING A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART SINCE IT USED THE SAME TECHNOLOGY AS THE PRIUS WHICH EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WAS RECALLED. I SEEK HELP WITH OBTAINING TOYOTA TO PAY FOR PART. HERE ARE OTHER WEBSITES CONCERNING THIS ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?HL=EN&SOURCE=HP&IE=ISO-8859-1&Q=2006+HIGHLANDER+HYBRID+INVERTER&RLZ=1R2ADBR_EN&AQ=1B&AQI=G-V1G-B1&AQL=&OQ=2006+HIGHLANDER+INVER. THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN ADVANCE. HAVE A MARVELOUS DAY! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 166,000

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 HYLANDER HYBRID @ 55 MPH, AT NIGHT, THERE WAS A LOUD POP / THUD AND LURCH, THEN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND THE DASH BOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND SEVERAL TIMES AS VEHICLES STEERED AROUND ME. HONKING THEIR HORNS AND FLASHING THEIR LIGHTS AT ME. AS I CRAWLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD @ 10:30 AT NIGHT. I FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 40,000 MILE ON IT AND HAS HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. TURNED OUT TO BE THE HYBRID INVERTER FAILED. THIS IS A NON SEVICABLE PART. *TR

Mileage: 40,573

ON MAY 18, 2011, MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID STALLED WITH A LOUD POP AND NO POWER WHILE PULLING OUT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE CAR WAS ON A HILL AND I HAD TO LET IT "COAST" IN NEUTRAL BACKWARD DOWN THE HILL TO TURN INTO A LESS BUSY STREET. IT WOULD NOT START NOR WOULD THE ENGINE RUN. I HAD TO TOW IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE ALL MY SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THE SCHEDULED BASIS. IT TOOK OVER A WEEK TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AS AN INVERTER FAILURE WITH AN ESTIMATED REPAIR AT APPROXIMATELY $9000. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD WITH 160,000 MILES BUT IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. UPON RESEARCH, I NOTED THAT THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THE 2006 MODEL HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER SYSTEM THAT MAY WARRANT INVESTIGATION/RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER INVERTER SIMILAR TO THOSE REPORTED BY OTHERS WHERE, WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND AND THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER MOVE FORWARD NOR BACKWARDS ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WAS ON. THE VEHICLE DASH TURNED ON WARNING LIGHTS WITH "CHECK VSC HYBRID SYSTEM" THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING OF THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO REGULAR MAINTENANCE IN THE DEALER A MONTH OR TWO AGO. NO-ONE WAS HURT BUT THE COMPLETE SUDDEN LACK OF PROPULSION COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WAS FORCED TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR TO CONTINUE ON MY REGULAR DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES. AFTER INVESTIGATION I WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER 7,000 FOR PARTS, PLUS EXTRA COSTS FOR LABOR. THIS SEEMS UNREASONABLY HIGH. I RECOMMEND THIS IS INVESTIGATED AND TOYOTA BE ASKED TO: 1. INITIATE A RECALL FOR THIS PART. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS INJURED OR DIES. 2. OFFER FREE REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART TO ALL TOYOTA OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, INCLUDING PART, LABOR, TOWING AND ANY RENTAL CAR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DOWN TIME CAUSED FOR THIS. 3. ISSUE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR ANY CUSTOMER WHO HAVE HAD TO SUFFER THROUGH THIS PROBLEM AND PAID FOR IT FROM THEIR OWN MONEY. 4. EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE HYBRID RELATED PROBLEMS TO AT LEAST 150,000 MILES ACROSS ALL STATES - AS IT CURRENTLY IS BY LAW IN CALIFORNIA. 5. OFFER A FREE AND COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF ALL HYBRID SYSTEMS COMPONENTS FOR EVERYONE WITH A HIGHLANDER HYBRID THAT IS OVER OR NEAR 100,000 MILES, AND REPLACE ANY COMPONENTS THAT ARE CLOSE TO FAILURE. 6. TRAIN YOUR SERVICE PROFESSIONALS TO LOOK FOR POTENTIAL HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURES AS PART OF ANY REGULAR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND I DON'T THINK TOYOTA IS HANDLING IT IN A FAIR AND REASONABLE WAY. UPDATED 06/09/11 *TR

Mileage: 115,000

THE POWER INVERTER ON MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID FAILED AT ON A HIGH SPEED US HIGHWAY CAUSING MY CAR TO SHUT DOWN AT THAT HIGH SPEED. THE ROAD IN QUESTION DID NOT HAVE A SHOULDER AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. *TR

Mileage: 179,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE INVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DECIDED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

Mileage: 116,000

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAD SUDDEN INVERTER FAILURE WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE OUT OF A TOLL PLAZA. AFTER PAYING TOLL, I PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD. AFTER JUST A COUPLE MOMENTS OF ACCELERATION, THERE WAS A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND I LOST ALL DRIVE POWER TO THE WHEELS. THERE WAS A FAINT BURNT RUBBER SMELL. THE DASH BOARD FLASHED MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING "CHECK VSC SYSTEM" AND SOMETHING LIKE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM." I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE TOLL PLAZA. THE GASOLINE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING AND THE CAR HAD ELECTRICAL POWER AND AIRCONDITIONING. IT WOULD NOT, HOWEVER, MOVE IN EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IF I WAS PULLING ON TO A BUSY STREET OR ENTERING AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 51,456

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 5-8-11 WITH 67K MILES AT APPROX 35 -40 MPH, WE WERE FORCED TO BRAKE TO CONFORM WITH TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. WE ACCELERATED FROM 10 - 15 MPH UPON ACCELERATION WE HEARD A LARGE POP, AS I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS REVVING UP WITH NO FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AS WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WE HAD TWO MESSAGES APPEAR ON THE DASH BOARD "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM " & "CHECK VSC SYSTEM". WE CONSULTED OUR OWNERS MANUAL AND FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE SERVICED BY A TOYOTA DEALER AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

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

Mileage: 108,000

ENGINE LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED FAILURE IN INVERTER. ESTIMATE OVER $9000. *TR

Mileage: 236,000

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.

Mileage: 120,000

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.

Mileage: 110,252

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

Mileage: 68,791

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I LOST ALL POWER AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF I HAD TO COST THE VEHICLE ACROSS THREE LANES OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE ALMOST GETTING HIT BY A PASSENGER BUS. ALL POWER WAS GONE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. WAS INFORMED THE POWER INVERTER SYSTEM HAD OVER HEATED AND FRIED. JUST THE PARTS FOR A NEW INVERTER WERE QUOTED AT $9,000. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN SEABROOK TEXAS ON MARCH 5, AFTER ACCELERATING TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THE CAR THEN HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION OPEN INTO THIS ISSUE. NHTSA # PE11005. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

IN JANUARY 2011, WE WERE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING STALL WHEN OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLAND HYBRID SHUT DOWN. WE COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR AT ALL. SEVERAL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP, SUCH AS "CHECK ENGINE" AND "CHECK VSC SYSTEM." WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER'S REPAIR PLACE. AFTER THREE WEEKS, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT OUR INVERTER HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 39,800

HYBRID INVERTERS ON 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS ARE FAILING, VEHICLE ALL OF THE SUDDEN STOPS AND LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL GO ON. YOU TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND ITS USELESS. INVERTERS ARE FAILING AND THE COST OF THE PART ITSELF IS OVER $7000 PLUS THE COST OF LABOR. INVERTERS ARE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 MILES. MY HIGHLANDER HAS 107,000. I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET IT REPAIRED. I THINK THAT TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN 2006 HIGHLANDERS AND SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE THERE IS A TRAGEDY ON THE ROADS. *TR

Mileage: 107,000

GETTING ON FREEWAY ON RAMP HEARD "BANG" AND CAR WENT DEAD. NO BRAKES, STEERING OR ANY FUNCTION. MANAGED TO PULL OFF AND CALL TOW TRUCK. TOYOTA SAID THE "INVERTER" BLEW AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTION WAS LOST. THEY REPLACED THE INVERTER AND SAID THEY NEVER SAW THIS BEFORE. CAR HAS BEEN OK SINCE. *TR

Mileage: 40,258

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES DESIGN FLAW IN VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE TURN, HE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR WITH FORCE WHEN SUDDENLY A POP AND A SHUDDER CAME FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO COAST. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. ATTEMPTS TO GET THE VEHICLE GOING AGAIN WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND ULTIMATELY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A DAY LATER, THE DEALER STATED THE HYBRID INVERTER HAD BLOWN AND THAT NO REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE IN THE REGION. THE REPAIRS WERE EVENTUALLY MADE UNDER WARRANTY A WEEK LATER. *JB