2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid engine problems

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #11502242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. FRED HAAS TOYOTA WORLD (20400 INTERSTATE 45 N, SPRING, TX 77373) WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE TEST WAS NOT FREE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

NHTSA complaint #11221174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TAKATA RECALL IN 3 TIMES THE LIGHT "READY '' DISAPPEAR AND APPEAR "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" AND THEN ENGINE NEED TO START AGAIN..

NHTSA complaint #11139744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #11048624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10875309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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?

NHTSA complaint #10727019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #10715789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #10715792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY BETWEEN 45 -50 MPH. SUDDEN A BUNCH OF LIGHTS AND WARNINGS CAME UP IN THE DASHBOARD. I LOST POWER STEERING AND MOTOR PROPULSION TOO. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. ALTHOUGH I HAD THE ABILITY TO BRAKE, IT SEEMED THAT THE BRAKING WAS ALSO IMPAIRED. HOWEVER BECAUSE I WAS GOING UP AN INCLINE I DID NOT NEED STRONG BRAKING. I MANAGED TO COAST OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. LUCKILY THERE WERE ONLY A COUPLE OTHER CARS NEAR ME SO IT WASN'T TOO DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER BY THEM AND COAST TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE BREAKDOWN LANE WAS. ONCE I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED I SHUT THE CAR DOWN COMPLETELY AND RESTARTED IN THE NORMAL HYBRID STARTUP MANNER. THE CAR PROPULSION AND STEERING CAME BACK BUT NOW THE MESSAGE WAS ALTERNATING BETWEEN "MAINTENANCE NEEDED" AND "CHECK VSC SYSTEM", AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SYMBOL WAS ON. I SHUT OFF EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL TO MINIMIZE ELECTRICAL DRAIN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ANOTHER 8-10 MILES TO GET HOME BUT I WAS CONSTANTLY LOOKING TO SEE WHERE I COULD PULL OVER IF THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN. I MADE IT HOME. TOMORROW BRING IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. SIGNIFICANTLY, I RECENTLY HAD THE BRAKE ACTUATOR REPLACED AT A COST OF AROUND $2700, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY WARNED ME THAT I COULD LOSE BRAKING AND OTHER ELECTRONIC FACILITIES UNPREDICTABLY. I THOUGHT THAT EXPENSIVE REPAIR WOULD AVOID THIS. UNFORTUNATELY IT APPEARS THAT WHAT THEY WERE PREDICTING COULD HAPPEN DID HAPPEN, BUT AFTER THE REPAIR! I WAS ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR DIED BUT WITH NOT MUCH TRAFFIC AND AN EASY ACCESS BREAKDOWN LANE. HAD IT BEEN 10 MINUTES LATER I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON A MUCH BUSIER HIGHWAY IN A PLACE WHERE A BREAKDOWN LANE IS MUCH HARDER TO REACH. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD IT BEEN DAYTIME AND IN A SAFER AREA I WOULD HAVE STOPPED AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10706384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10598449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT 70MPH, ENGINE/HYBRID SYSTEM DID NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR CRUISE CONTROL - NO WARNING LIGHTS. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF FREEWAY SAFELY. I TURNED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE CAR, VEHICLE RAN FLAWLESSLY AFTERWARDS.

NHTSA complaint #10583775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THE CASE WAS STOPPED AND PLACED IN PARKING WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING FORWARD AT ABOUT 3 MPH. I ALMOST HIT A CAR 5 FEET IN FRONT OF ME(AT THE TIME I PLACED THE HIGHLANDER IN PARKING GEAR) AND IT ENDED 6 INCHES AWAY FROM THE CAR IN THE FRONT. I HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKE SHIFT GEARS FROM PARKING TO DRIVE. SHIFT AGAIN TO PARKING AND WHILE KEEPING THE BRAKES ON I PRESSED ON THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THERE WAS NO INCLINE IN THE STREET OR ANY DECLINE OBSERVABLE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ORIGINAL FAILURE. MY WIFE AND MY 1 YEAR OLD CHILD WERE INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10553576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING AND THE CAR JUST QUIT. SHE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED ME. I ARRIVED AND TRIED TO START THE CAR WITH NO LUCK. FINALLY CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. THEY INSPECTED THE CAR ON TUESDAY (SEP 17,2013) AND SAID THE INVERTER WAS BAD AND THAT A REPLACEMENT WOULD BE $8,500. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK RECALLS ETC... WITH THE REGIONAL REP. THEY ARE AWAITING A SMALL PART TO SEE IF THAT WILL CAUSE THE INVERTER TO WORK PROPERLY. MY BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THE CAR JUST QUIT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD!

NHTSA complaint #10544680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10537610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

ON JUNE 29TH, 2013 I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON INTERSTATE 95, JUST NORTH RICHMOND VA, WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE AND "HYBRID ENGINE FAIL", OR SOMETHING SIMILAR FLASHED ON THE DISPLAY. I PULLED TO THE LEFT SHOULDER WHICH WAS VERY NARROW. CHECKING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, WHERE IT DIED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO SAID THE HYBRID SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $9,200. WE OPTED TO SELL THE CAR FOR SCRAP AND RECEIVED $3,600. IF I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN A SITTING DUCK AND THAT BUSY SECTION OF ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10534003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10515984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INVERTER/CONVERTER HYBRID SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE COIL PACK THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA complaint #10512877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR STOPPED. UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN ANY GEAR- THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON BUT WOULD NOT DRIVE OR REVERSE. HAD IT TOWED TO SERVICE STATION, DIAGNOSED AS AN INVERTER FAILURE MINIMUM 7,000 COST TO REPAIR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE ROADSIDE WITHOUT BEING HURT. THE CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT WORTH REPAIRING.

NHTSA complaint #10511211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THERE'S AN ENGINE SURGE, SLIGHT BUT STILL CAN BE FELT, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE SURGE IS INTERMITTENT BUT THE SURGE IS FELT OFTEN. EXAMPLE: AFTER TAKE OFF FROM A STOP THE NEXT TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE'LL BE A SLIGHT BUMP, AS IF THE ACCELERATOR IS STEPPED ON AT THE SAME TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THERE'S NO HIGH REV, JUST A BUMP.

NHTSA complaint #10499904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGLANDER HYBRID ON I 95 IN 4 LANES OF DENSE TRAFFIC ALL GOING AT LEAST 60-70MPH, WHEN I NOTICED THAT I WAS LOSING POWER AND MY CAR WAS STARTING TO SLOW DOWN. I GLANCED AT THE DASH TO SEE MULTIPLE WARNING SIGNALS - CHECK HYBRID, CHECK VSC AND OTHERS. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A BIG ENOUGH GAP ON THE LEFT FOR ME TO PULL ACROSS THE LEFT MOST LANE BECAUSE I KNEW IF I DID NOT I WAS GOING TO STALL AND LIKELY BE IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. IT WAS A VERY SCARY MOMENT. I COULD NOT RESTART MY CAR AND HAD TO WAIT TO GET TOWED, ( DC RUSH HOUR). THE DEALER SAID MY INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER HEARING THE NEWS I REMEMBERED THAT I HAD A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA, A RECALL FOR PART OF THE INVERTER. INITIALLY, I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD NOT COVER WHAT I NEEDED. IN THE END, I WAS COVERED . I AM THANKFUL TO ALL WHO REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES SO THAT THIS WOULD BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA complaint #10499369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,994.

NHTSA complaint #10486230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10485149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

AS I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP AT A SIDE STREET TO ENTER HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY A LARGE TRUCK WHEN THE HH INVERTER FAILED. THE CAR SIMPLY SUDDENLY FAILED TO RESPOND WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. SEVERAL DASHBOARD SYMBOLS LIT UP, INCLUDING CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM,'AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STEER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CHECKED FOR RECALLS AND SAID THERE WERE NONE. I MENTIONED THE JUNE 2011 NOTICE WE'D RECEIVED, AND THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JAN. 2012. WE DID NOT RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION FROM TOYOTA AND CALLED THE DEALER IN JAN. FOR AN APPOINTMENT. AFTER A BRIEF INSPECTION, WE WERE TOLD THE PART WAS NOT DEFECTIVE AND NO REPLACEMENT NECESSARY.' WE HAD BEEN EXTRA CAUTIOUS AND LIMITED THE USE OF OUR HH FOR MONTHS, AND WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE WAS NO EFFORT TO EXAMINE THE PART EARLIER OR VERIFY THE CONDITIONS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED IN APRIL 2012, THE DEALER SAID WE NEEDED A PART, WHICH THEY ORDERED AND INSTALLED AT NO COST TO US WITHIN A FEW DAYS. THE MANAGER SAID THAT IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART, TOOK A LONG TIME TO INSTALL, AND THAT WE WERE "LUCKY TO HAVE THE WARRANTY."' THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE INVERTER RECALL BUT THE INVOICE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A "BOJ RECALL." THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN EARLIER CLUE: ON DEC. 1, 2011 THE SAME DASHBOARD INDICATORS (CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND VRC) LIT UP IN THE MORNING WHEN I WENT TO START IT AND COULDN'T. WE ASKED DEALER ABOUT RECALLS, MENTIONED THE UPCOMING SCHEDULED NOTIFICATION (JAN. 2012), BUT WERE TOLD THERE WERE NONE, AND THAT PROBLEM WAS THE BATTERY. THIS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN RELATED, BUT I WONDER IF THE DEALERSHIP EVER CONSIDERED THE INVERTER ISSUE IN ITS ANALYSIS. THIS 2006 HH HAD ONLY 25,259 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE, ONLY 1 OWNER, AND RCVD REGULAR MAINTENANCE FROM DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10469943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10460253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10429648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10424023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTELLIGENT POWER MODULE LOCATED IN THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,010.

NHTSA complaint #10417184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD MAKE A LOUD SOUND WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT SOMETHING WAS BLOCKING THE CRANK SHAFT AND VARIOUS PIECES OF THE ENGINE COULD POSSIBLY BE OUT OF PLACE. A FULL DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT PROVIDED BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN APART TO DO SO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 87,000. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE ENGINE AND NOT THE HYBRID SYSTEM. IT WAS DETERMINED A VALVE SPRING BROKE IN THE ENGINE. SOMEHOW, THERE WAS A WEAKENING IN THE VALVE SPRING IN THE CYLINDER HEAD THAT CAUSED THE VALVE SPRING TO BREAK AND CAUSE INTERNAL DAMAGE. TOYOTA STATED THE SHORT BLOCK AND BOTH CYLINDER HEADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH NEW PARTS AND LABOR, THE ESTIMATED COST WAS $11,000. UPDATED 08/31/11*JB UPDATED 9/16/11 *CN UPDATED 2/9/2012

NHTSA complaint #10413555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED IT WITH CONVERTERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,311.

NHTSA complaint #10396955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.