2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2015 THAT MAY HAD BEEN CAUSED BY BRAKE FAILURE ON SEPTEMBER 30 THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND DEALER DIAGNOSED A BRAKE ACTUATOR MALFUNCTION. ON DECEMBER 16, 2013 AT 68,490 MILES THIS CAR ALSO A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN FAILURE OF THIS SAME PART, NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED WITH THIS FAILURE. IT WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED ON HYBRIDS SINCE THE INABILITY TO BRAKE THE CAR CAN LED TO A FATAL ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 91,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES WHERE DEPRESSED WHEN SUDDENLY THE ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULATOR VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

Mileage: 72,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 04/02/13*LJ UPDATED 04/12/2013 *JS

Mileage: 48,000

FOR THE PAST MONTH OR SO, THE HIGHLANDER HAS BEEN MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE AT THE END OF A MODERATELY HARD STOP. IT ALSO MAKES THE SAME SOUND SOMETIMES WHEN BEGINNING TO MOVE AFTER START-UP AND THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED. I WENT TO THE DEALER ON FEB. 21, 2012, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ABS ACTUATOR MAKING THE NOISE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THE NOISE WAS NO PROBLEM, HE SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR ONLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IF I DID NOT WANT TO PUT UP WITH THE SOUND. IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE, AND SHOULD BE EXPECTED NOT TO FAIL OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I READ ONLINE THAT ABS ACTUATORS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE IN HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS, SO I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 129,000

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

WHEN I BRAKE AND HAVE MY FOOT FIRMLY AND GRADUALLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR SLOWS BUT THERE ARE THESE ONE SECOND INSTANCES WHEN THE CAR CONTINUES TO COAST/LUNGE FORWARD AS IF IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP. THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR BETWEEN 25 MPH AND 30 MPH AND ALSO SOMETIMES AT 5 MPH. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE FEELING THAT I AM NOT IN CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TT

Mileage: 24,000

WHEN RUNNING AND DECELARATING WHEN ARRIVING AT A STOP, I APPLIED A REGULAR PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES. AT SOME POINT IN THE BREAKING THE SYSTEM STOP BRAKING AND TRUCK KEEPS RUNNING. AFTER FEW SECONDS AND EXTRA PRESSUR THE TRUCK STAR BRAKING AGAIN. TWO MONTHS LATER I HAVE TO CHANGE BOTH BEARINGS ON MY TRUCK. AS A PROFESSIONNAL ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, I WOULD SAY THAT THE HYBRID SYSTEM SEEMS DEFECTIVE AND SOME CURRENT IS FLOWING TO THE GROUND. THIS RESULT IN BEARING DISCHARGE. THIS NON-BRAKING BEHAVIOR IS OCCURING FREQUENTLY AROUND 3 TO 4 TIMES A WEEK. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM TEMPORARILY RELEASES WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR UNEVEN ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS PROBLEM ORIGINALLY STARTED IN WINTER, WHEN TEMPS WERE BELOW FREEZING. IT IS NOW HAPPENING NO MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY SAY THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE FAULT, NOR DO THEY FIND ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT WHEN THEY SEARCH THEIR DATABASE. THE INCIDENT DATE CITED IN THIS COMPLAINT IS THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

WHEN BRAKING MODERATE TO HARD, USUALLY GOING DOWNHILL AT ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 40 MPH, BRAKES WILL OCCASIONALLY "RELEASE", CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD, AND REQUIRING REAPPLICATION OF BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH USUALLY THEN FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. FAILURE OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, BUT NOT DAILY. HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED IN 2009. HAVE NOT REPORTED IT TO DEALER, BUT KEEP EXPECTING A RECALL FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. *TR

Mileage: 68,400

I HAVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2006. WHEN I AM BRAKING TO A STOP AT LESS THEN 15MPH I OFTEN FEEL THE CAR "LURCH" FORWARD FOR AN INSTANT AS IF THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING FOR AN INSTANT. I SEARCHED ON THE WEB AND FOUND FORUMS WHERE OTHER OWNERS OF HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES. I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE THE BRAKING SWITCHES FROM REGENERATIVE TO HYDRAULIC AND THERE IS A LITTLE PAUSE OR LOSS OF PERFORMANCE FOR THIS INSTANCE WHICH FORCES YOU TO ADD MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PAD TO MAINTAIN SMOOTH BRAKING. TOYOTA HAS NOT STATED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ON THEIR HYBRIDS BUT MOST OF THE OTHER DRIVERS HAVE HAD MY EXPERIENCE. I WOULD LIKE CONFIRMATION THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE AND A DETERMINATION IF THIS IS A SAFETY OR DESIGN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY NHTSA OR TOYOTA. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

I WAS PARKING ON A STEEP HILL AND AS I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET AND HIT THE SIDE OF A FENCE POST AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY FRONT BUMPER. SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2007 I HAVE NOTICED THAT OFTEN TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND THEN TRYING TO BRAKE ON STEEP HILLS THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. THIS LURCHING OFTEN CAUSES ME TO END UP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION OR VERY CLOSE TO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, THUS MAKING IT A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING KIDS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MY TOYOTA SERVICE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY DENY THAT THERE IS ANY ISSUE.

Mileage: 51,500

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID LURCHES FORWARD WHEN YOU FIRST APPLY THE BRAKES AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH OR LESS, GIVING THE SENSATION OF LOSING BRAKING POWER. THE BRAKES ALSO SQUEAK WHEN PEDAL APPLIED AND HAVE SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. NOW HAS 65,000 MILES. PRIUS ASIDE, THE PROBLEM CAN BE DANGEROUS AND DEALER SAYS SIMPLY KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND NO ONE ELSE COMPLAINS. JUST LOOK AT YOUR COMPLAINTS AS WELL AS HUNDREDS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. LET'S TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE THERE IS A DEATH WHICH GETS SOMEONE'S ATTENTION AT YOUR OFFICE. THANK YOU. BELOW DATE IS IRRELEVANT. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND HAS FOR YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 10,000

WHEN I AM BRAKING MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID '06, THERE IS A 2-5 SECOND SURGE BEFORE THE BRAKES KICK IN. *TR

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

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

Mileage: 38,000

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

Mileage: 7,000

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

Mileage: 35

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

Mileage: 29,000

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

Mileage: 6,000

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

Mileage: 46,000

MY WIFE OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. LIKE THE PRIUS, THIS CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENCE A MOMENTARY PAUSE IN ITS BRAKING SEQUENCE AS IT SWITCHES FROM ITS REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM TO ITS HYDRAULIC ONE. HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN? IT IS INFREQUENT, OCCURRING APPROXIMATELY ONCE WEEKLY OR SO. NEVERTHELESS, IT IS NOTICEABLE. TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS GLITCH, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT, EVENTUALLY, IT MIGHT. THE PAUSE IS VERY SHORT--A SECOND OR LESS. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE PROBLEM RESEMBLES THAT REPORTED BY PRIUS DRIVERS. SPECIFICALLY WHEN I AM RIDING THE BRAKES, ON AN DOWNHILL, AS I APPROACH A STOP, ETC, IF I HIT A POTHOLE OR A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE BRAKES SUDDENLY RELEASE AND THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS LURCHING FORWARD FOR A MOMENT. IT IS A FRIGHTENING SENSATION OF LOSING CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. I LIVE AT THE TOP OF A STEEP HILL AND EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM EVERYTIME I LEAVE HOME. IT HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT I BELIEVE IT COULD IN AN EMERGENCY STOPPING SITUATION. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME BRAKE CONDITIONS AS CAUSED THE RECENT RECALL, SPECIFICALLY, THE BRAKES "SKIP" WHEN BRAKING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 25 MPH WHEN THEY SWITCH FROM REGEN TO REGULAR BRAKING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE CAR DOES NOT CONTINUE TO SLOW DOWN AT THE SAME RATE AND I HAVE ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SEVERAL TIMES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON CONDITION AND MAY BE MORE FREQUENT WHEN HITTING A SHARP BUMP, BUT IT HAPPENS ONCE OR TWICE A DAY IN ALL CONDITIONS. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

I OWN TWO 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE BRAKING RECALL ISSUED RECENTLY FOR THE PRIUS, WE ARE NOW BOTH 100% SURE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN BOTH OF OUR VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY LUNGE FORWARD FOR ABOUT A SECOND WHEN BRAKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS BUMPY. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN IT OFF TO OUR IMAGINATION, BUT THE PROBLEM DEFINITELY EXISTS IN THE 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WONDERING WHEN THE RECALL WILL BE... *TR

MY HIGHLANDER HYBRID (2006) WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD WHEN AN INCIDENT OCCURRED WHERE MY BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AS ANTICIPATED IN A NORMAL DISTANCE CAUSING ME TO BUMP THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME (NO INJURIES). I THOUGHT MY FOOT HAD SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE MOMENTARILY. HOWEVER, I DISCOVERED THIS TO BE AN OCCURRENCE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS - TYPICALLY 25MPH OR LESS AND HITTING A BUMP. I CONTACTED THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MANAGER INDICATED HE WAS AWARE THAT SOME OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR OCCURRENCES. THE SENSATION IS LIKE THE BRAKING FRICTION SUDDENLY "SLIPS" CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP AT A FURTHER DISTANCE THAN ANTICIPATED. I'VE SENSE FOUND THAT THERE IS A SUDDEN TRANSITION FROM HYBRID REGEN BRAKING TO STANDARD HYDRAULIC BRAKING. SOME HAVE INDICATED THAT IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE ABS SYSTEM. WHEN CONTACTED BY A TOYOTA REP ABOUT THE PROBLEM HE SIMPLY INDICATED THAT IT DIDN'T EXIST. THIS WAS NOT TRUE SINCE THE DEALER MECHANIC KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BACK THEN. AND, AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK I SPOKE TO A MECHANIC WHO SERVICED MY CAR AT THE TOYOTA DEALER AND HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PROBLEM IS REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS. A DISAPPOINTING RESPONSE. NOW WE FIND THAT THE PRIUS HYBRID IS PRODUCING SIMILAR ECCENTRICITIES IN BRAKING. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED ALL HYBRIDS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN THEIR RECALL REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 300

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID- A DELAY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED IN COLD CONDITIONS AND ON SOME BUMPY ROADS. *TR

Mileage: 1,000

PLEASE DO NOT LIMIT YOUR BRAKE INVESTIGATION TO NEW PRIUSES. WE HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID THAT HAS EXTRA BRAKE FADING WHEN BRAKING ON BUMPY SURFACES. ONE PARTICULAR STREET IS VERY RUFF AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL WHERE WE BRAKE TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, AND ON THIS STREET THE BRAKES ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE "LETTING GO" BUT IF YOU KEEP PRESSING THE PEDAL THE VEHICLE DOES SLOW DOWN. WE HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS BEHAVIOR, WE HAVE JUST GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO THIS QUIRK. *TR

Mileage: 52,001

2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID 4WD. SURGE WHEN BRAKING AND GOING OVER BUMPS. SINCE 2007, ON MANY REPEATED OCCASIONS, WHEN I GO OVER BUMPY ROADS AND BRAKING, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT ACCELERATION SURGE WHEN BRAKING. EVERY TIME I BRING MY HIGHLANDER INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER I ASK IF THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHAT CAUSES IT, AND IF THERE IS ANY SERVICE INFORMATION OR BULLETIN ON IT. FORM NOTES>>I CHECKED SERVICE BRAKES..THIS APPLIES TO THE REGULAR BRAKING SYSTEM-THIS TERM IS NOT CLEAR. AS TO WHAT MILEAGE--THIS IS A CONTINUING ONGOING PROBLEM SO THERE IS NO WAY TO INDICATE THAT ANSWER IN YOUR BOXES. SIMILARLY THIS HAS HAPPENED AT A WIDE RANGE OF SPEEDS, 15-35 MPH SO YOUR FORM DOES NOT PROVIDE A WAY TO INDICATE THAT. *TR

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKES MALFUNCTION ON ROUGH ROADS, RAIN, BUMPS. THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY TO AND FROM WORK OR DRIVING AROUND TOWN. TOYOTA SAID THIS IS HOW A HYBRID DRIVES, NO ACTION TAKEN BY TOYOTA. I DRIVE SLOW TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. *CN

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN JUNE OF 2006. THE PROBLEM WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED IS WHEN THE CAR IS SLOWING DOWN WHEN BRAKED AND THE REAR END GETS BOUNCED BY ROUGH PAVEMENT. THE BRAKES WILL FADE AND THE STOPPING TAKES A FEW FEET LONGER THAN EXPECTED. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER "KERRY TOYOTA", AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. WE WILL BOTH SAY THAT THE PANIC "HEAVY BRAKE PEDAL" BRAKING MODE ON THIS VEHICLE IS AMAZING AND WORKS QUITE WELL. WE LOVE THIS CAR AND HAVE ADJUSTED TO IT; BUT WITH ANTICIPATED LONGER STOPS ON ROUGH ROADS, OR POTHOLES! WE LIKE THE CAR SO WELL THAT WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THE 2010 PRIUS. AFTER THE 1ST SERVICING OF THE PRIUS, WE DID NOTICE A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL IN THE REAR BRAKES. WE ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING SOLUTIONS TO THE TOYOTA BRAKING PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TW

Mileage: 100

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. PROBLEM WITH NON LINEAR HAND OFF FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO REGULAR BRAKING THAT OCCURS ROUTINELY. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, BUT NOW SEE THAT FORD HAS A RECALL OF ITS HYBRIDS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. DO OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM? IS THIS AT ALL RELATED TO THE CURRENTLY REPORTED 2010 PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEMS? *CN

Mileage: 60,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRIVING OVER THE BUMP. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 50 TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT WAS A NORMAL RESPONSE FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51000. UPDATED 4/5/10 *CN UPDATED 06/04/10

Mileage: 500

BRAKING PROBLEM - 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, ELECTRICAL REGENERATION BEGINS. BUT, IF YOU GO OVER A BUMP THE REGENERATION DROPS OUT. THIS RESULTS IN AN ESTIMATED (BY ME) 25% REDUCTION IN BRAKING POWER. THE DRIVER MUST THEN APPLY ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE TO REGAIN STOPPING POWER. THIS OCCURS CONSTANTLY AND HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO MY DEALER. WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED TO WORK. *TR

Mileage: 5,000

PURCHASED 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID NEW IN 2006. COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER THAT JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKES SEEMED TO RELEASE AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR HYBRIDS AS THE ELECTRONIC BRAKING SWITCHED TO HYDRAULIC BRAKING AND NO FIX WAS AVAILABLE. I NOW HAVE A 2010 PRIUS WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER INCLUDED AND ALSO INVESTIGATED FOR THIS PROBLEM ALONG WITH THE 2010 PRIUS INVESTIGATION. *TR

Mileage: 10

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. REPEATEDLY SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, AND AS RECENTLY AS TODAY, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME TYPE OF BRAKING ISSUES NOW BEING INVESTIGATED WITH RESPECT TO THE TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN BRAKING ON AN UNEVEN OR WET SURFACE, THE CAR WILL JERK FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AND I WILL FEEL AS IF THE BRAKES ARE FAILING. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND TO SERVICE AND THEY DENY THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 1

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED 2WD - SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE JUST ANNOUNCED PRIUS BRAKE RECALL. IF I AM BRAKING AND HIT A POTHOLE, THE BRAKES RELAX AND I MUST PUSH MUCH HARDER TO GET THE SAME BRAKING FORCE. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS NEW, BUT HAVE ADAPTED TO IT. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS THE FIX IS LIKELY A SOFTWARE UPDATE. *TR

Mileage: 100

DURING BRAKING I EXPERIENCED A "SLIPPING" OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN THE CAR HITS ROUGH ROAD OR BUMPS.

Mileage: 71,014

I PURCHASED A 2006 TOYOTA HYBRID HIGHLANDER FROM ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA. ALEXANDRIA, VA. OVER THE YEARS SINCE PURCHASE, I HAVE NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH A PECULIAR "FORWARD THRUST MOVEMENT" WITH ACTIVE BREAKING AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS IN 2007, AS WELL AS MENTIONED IT AT ALL MANUFACTURER CHECKUP TIMES.THE DEALER DOWNLOADED SOME NEW TOYOTA ?DRIVE TRAIN COMPUTERIZED PROGRAM ONCE (?2007) TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM INTERMITTENTLY CONTINUES. HERE IS A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE WHICH OCCURRED CHRISTMAS EVE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PRIOR TO THE STOP SIGN AT THE END OF OUR STREET. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP, INSTEAD IT "THRUST ITSELF", FOR LACK OF BETTER WORD, FURTHER FORWARD WHILE BREAKS WERE APPLIED, FORCING ME TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID BUSY CROSS STREET ONCOMING TRAFFIC. UPON SLAMMING THE BREAKS ALL THE WAY DOWN AND HOLDING, THE CAR REACTED CORRECTLY AND STOPPED. INCHES AWAY FROM A CAR TRAVELING AT 35 MPH OR MORE. OUR STREET ROAD WAS NOT WET NOR DID IT HAVE ICE: THE CAR MOTION WAS NOT ONE OF A SLIPPERY SLIDE. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS 40F. MY TEENS WERE IN THE CAR, AND THE PASSENGER SEATED TEEN OBSERVED THE SITUATION. SHE HAS SIMILARLY REPORTED THIS TENDENCY TO "GO FORWARD" WITH BRAKING RATHER THAN SLOW, AND THE NEED TO PRESS HARD. I WAS NATURALLY UPSET AT THIS NEAR MISS OCCURRENCE CHRISTMAS EVE. I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AT LEAST A HALF A DOZEN TIMES AS I CAN RECALL SINCE PURCHASE. I CALLED TOYOTA WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED TO REPORT IT WITHOUT SATISFACTION. I WENT TO MY DEALER WITHOUT CORRECTION OR RECOGNITION OF IT BEING A PROBLEM. THE RECENT REPORTS ON FELLOW TOYOTA BRANDS HAVE ME WORRIED. ANY CAR THAT GOES FORWARD RATHER THAN STOP UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHEN BREAKS ARE APPLIED IS WORRISOME. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR EVALUATION OF THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID IN YOUR REVIEW. IS TOYOTA AWARE AND NOT TELLING US? I WANT NHTSA TO KNOW ABOUT THIS AND I APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU HAVE TO OFFER. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, 54,248 MILES I BROUGHT MY 2006 HIGHLANDER INTO A DEALER FACILITY FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND TO INVESTIGATE A V.S.C. WARNING LIGHT INDICATION THAT HAD APPEARED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE OBD TEST REVEALED A C1241 CODE. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. I FOLLOWED THE SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED THE V.S.C /ABS/CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ON. RETURNED TO DEALER WHERE OBD TEST INDICATEDC1300 FAILED SKID CONTROL ECU. VEHICLE APPEARS TO OPERATE WITHOUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKE, VEHICLE SKID CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY. VEHICLE HANDLING IS VERY UNSTABLE. NEAR CRASH ON FREEWAY WHEN LEFT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP. *TR

Mileage: 54,284

HI, THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID BRAKING, THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY AND AND VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD AND THIS IS INTERMITTENT. IT BEEN RECURRING FOR SOME TIME AND THE DEALERSHIP(TOYOTA OF HACKENSACK) WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AD ARE DISMISSIVE TO DOWNRIGHT DISRESPECTFUL . WHEN YOU BRAKE ST TIMES THE VEHICLE CONTINUES FORWARD LIKE THE BRAKES ARE NOT HOLDING OR NO BRAKES BEING APPLIED. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LINKS BELOW ITS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.HYBRIDCARS.COM/FORUMS/TOYOTA-HIGHLANDER-HYBRID-T404.HTML HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0D8058/3 HTTP://WWW.HYBRIDCARS.COM/FORUMS/BRAKE-FAILURE-2007-T1013.HTML HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS04/2007/09/PRIUS_ACCELERATE.HTML THANKS MANOJ DAS *TR

Mileage: 40,000

VEHICLE STARTED TO LOOSE BRAKE PRESSURE WHEN GOING DOWN HILL OR MOVING AHEAD SLOWLY AS IN A FAST FOOD REST LINE. THE BRAKES WOULD HOLD AT FIRST THEN LOOSE PRESSURE TO A POINT WERE YOU HAD TO PUSH HARDER ON THE PEDAL TO MAKE THEM WORK. THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON A HILL WHICH WOULD TAKE YOU BY SURPRISE AND CAUSE THE CAR TO BE OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL YOU PUSHED HARDER ON THE BRAKE. IF A CAR WAS COMING FROM ANOTHER INTERSECTION YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TIME TO STOP YOUR CAR AND COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT. WHILE IN A LINE AT THE DRIVE THRU THE BRAKE PRESSURE LET GO AND MY CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AND THE OTHER DRIVER WAS NICE ENOUGH TO FORGIVE ME BUT THAT MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE THE WAY. THE CAR WAS GOING IN FOR SERVICE THE NEXT DAY OR SO AND I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS A NORMAL CONDITION OF THE HYBRID. THIS WAS AFTER THE TECH. PERSON DROVE THE CAR AND SAID HE FELT IT, HE ALSO DROVE ANOTHER HYBRID AND HE SAID THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHICH TO ME PROVES MY POINT. I CALLED TOYOTA THEY AND THE DEALER SAY THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I TOLD THEM IT DID NOT DO THIS WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IT ONLY STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO WHICH PROVES IT IS NOT A NORMAL CONDITION. *TR

Mileage: 10,800

HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKING PROBLEMS ... DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP FAIRLY QUICKLY (I.E. STOP SIGN), THE BRAKE ENGAGES ... LETS GO FOR A SECOND... CATCHES, CAR STOPS. THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT IT BEGAN HAPPENING QUITE FREQUENTLY ... TOOK IT TO TOYOTA. THEY CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON THE FRONT ... SINCE THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE NEWER MODEL, BUT NOT MINE. RIVING ON A SERVICE ROAD ... 55-60 MPH ... THE CAR STARTS SLOWING DOWN BY ITSELF ... CONSTANTLY.. KEPT SPEEDING UP AND IT KEPT SLOWING DOWN, AS IF BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED... NO BRAKE LIGHTS THOUGH. TODAY I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ... GOING DOWN A GRADUAL SLOPE ... ON A TURN ... BRAKED ... THE CAR SPED UP .. WENT FROM 30 MPH TO ABOUT 35 MPH, WHILE BRAKING ... CAR SKIDED OFF THE ROAD, SKID LIGHT CAME ON, BEEPING NON STOP ... HIT A POLE... SHATTERED MY MIRROR AND SCRATCHED THE SIDE ... CAR WOULDN'T STOP ... THREW IT INTO PARK AND FINALLY SKIDDED TO A STOP. DRIVING ON THURSDAY, ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP AND .... IT DOES THIS SHORT STOP THING RECENTLY.. WHERE IT BRAKES RATHER FORCEFULLY AND ABRUPTLY WHEN IT IS COLD... SO AFTER THAT HAPPENS ...THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF... AND COMES TO A FULL STOP. NO LIGHTS. NO ENGINE. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CAR IS STILL IN DRIVE, KEY STILL IN IGNITION ...PUSH IT INTO PARK, TAKE OUT KEY... RESTART.... DRIVING AGAIN. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LIGHT DOESN'T TURN ON ANYMORE NOW. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE LAST THURSDAY NOW. THERE ARE ALOT MORE INCIDENCES AND DIFFERENT FAILURES. *JB

Mileage: 15,000