2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid fuel system problems

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V396000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER). WHILE IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO FAIL SAFE LIMP HOME MODE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEWARK TOYOTA WORLD (230 E CLEVELAND AVE, NEWARK, DE 19711, (302) 368-6262) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ADDITIONALLY, DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WOULD COST $600. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA complaint #11244155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VEHICLE HYBRID/ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP INCLUDING VSC, HYBRID SYSTEM, AND CHECK ENGINE. I WAS FORCED TO CHANGE LANES WITH THE CAR OFF BUT MOVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND PULL OVER ON A SIDE STREET. I AS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE MY DRIVE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, EVEN THOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ALL WARNINGS HAD CLEARED, THE CAR TURNED OFF AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND BREAKING AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTART AFTER THIS SECOND INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHICH SPECIFIED THAT THE ISSUE IS THE HYBRID INVERTER. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABOUT 81,000 MILES AND ACCORDING TO TOYOTA A RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE INTELLIGENT POWER MODULE FOR THE INVERTER IN 2014.

NHTSA complaint #11114691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SLIP, BRAKE, AND MASTER WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER TWENTY FIVE MINUTES. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE INITIAL START UP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR LOCATE THE FAILURE. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V396000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10818361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THOUGH I HAD NO PROBLEMS, IN NOVEMBER 2013, THE INVERTER WAS RECALLED AT 79,000 MILES, AND REPLACED. WE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR FOR THE NEXT 22 MONTHS. ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2015, THE CAR STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED 55 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP. INVESTIGATION OF THE CAR OVER 2 DAYS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN DISCOVERING THE CAUSE. ON SEPTEMBER 9, I ASKED IF IT WAS THE INVERTER. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD CONTACTED TOYOTA, WHO RECOMMENDED TAKING APART THE HYBRID SYSTEM TO LOOK FOR A SHORTED WIRE. ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY FOUND A WIRE, WOULD BUT THE SYSTEM BACK TOGETHER, AND WOULD TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, THE CAR STALLED AND DIED ON THE THIRD TEST DRIVE. AT THIS TIME, I WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE INVERTER. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED WITH ME IN FEELING THAT SINCE TOYOTA HAD TAKEN OUT AN INVERTER THAT WAS SEEMINGLY WORKING FINE, AND REPLACED WITH ONE THAT FAILED IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS, THAT TOYOTA WOULD TAKE CARE OF ME. ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE COST FOR THE PART WAS $8800, AND THAT THE REGIONAL SERVICE/PARTS MANAGER, OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF THE COST FOR REPLACEMENT. I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THIS OFFER, AS IT STILL LEFT ME WITH A BILL OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A PART THAT FAILED IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER THE RECALL. AT THIS TIME, I HAVE NOT ACCEPTED THE OFFER. I WAS TOLD TO CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE REGIONAL MANAGER HAD MADE ME AN OFFER, THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE SHE COULD DO. MY FRUSTRATION IS THAT TOYOTA RECALLED MY VEHICLE FOR THE INVERTER. AND I BELIEVE A BAD INVERTER WAS PUT IT THE CAR INSTEAD. THIS CURRENT INVERTER, THAT TOYOTA TOLD ME TO PUT IN THE CAR, LASTED APPROXIMATELY 29,000 MILES AND 22 MONTHS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A FAR CRY FROM THE EXPECTED LIFE OF AN INVERTER.

NHTSA complaint #10765062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE TRYING TO GET BACK ON THE FREEWAY, THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR THE ABS SYSTEM, THE VSB SYSTEM, THE 4WD SYSTEM AND ANTI-SKID SYSTEM CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL DRIVE POWER. IT DEFAULTED TO FAILSAFE/LIMP MODE EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE CAR WILL START AND MOVE BUT WITHIN 60 SECONDS REVERTS TO FAIL SAFE MODE.

NHTSA complaint #10761919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V396000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE REMEDY PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY 7, 2014. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10552745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

WE WERE ACCELERATING UNDER FULL POWER ONTO US 101 ON THE NORTHBOUND ON RAMP FROM CA 41 WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, STEERING AND AIR CONDITIONING. ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS ABLE TO STEER AROUND US TO AVOID COLLISION AND WE WERE ABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND ROLL TO A STOP ON THE NEXT OFF RAMP. WARNING INDICATORS ON: HYBRID SYSTEM, BRAKES, STABILITY CONTROL, AND RETURN TO TOYOTA DEALER. TOWED TO DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED WITH TOYOTA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT INVERTER ASSEMBLY (G92A0-48100) FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILAGE. WE WERE CHARGED $8244.77 FOR A NEW INVERTER ASSEMBLY PLUS INSTALLATION. WE WERE LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS KIND OF FAILURE IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10542145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP SIGN TO 45 MPH. JUST AS I REACHED SPEED I HEARD A POP COME FROM THE FORWARD ENGINE BAY AND GOT ALL DIFFERENT WARNING LIGHTS IN THE DISPLAY. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF IMMEDIATE DANGER. THE LIGHT SAID CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, AND CHECK SVS. I GOT VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WERE IT TOOK THEM 3 DAYS TO TELL ME IT WAS THE HYBRID INVERTER WHICH COSTS AROUND $8500. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, SO I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND FILED A COMPLAINT.

NHTSA complaint #10534969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

I ENTERED A GAS STATION AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO NORTHRIDGE TOYOTA (NORTHRIDGE,CA) WHERE I WAS INFORMED THE "INVERTER" FAILED, AND ONLY REPLACEMENT BY A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER MAY BE MADE DUE TO INTERNAL COMPONENT HIGH VOLTAGE PARTS, AT A COST OF $8,244.00 + LABOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $660.00. I INVESTIGATED ON-LINE AND DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME "INVERTER FAILURE". FOLLOWING UP WITH TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, I WAS INFORMED THEY KNEW OF THE "INVERTER FAILURES IN THE 06-07 MODELS AND ISSUED A RECALL FOR THOSE HYBRID MODELS AFFECTED BY THIS COMPONENT HOWEVER NO FURTHER RECALL HAS OCCURRED TO DATE. I FEEL LUCKY I WASN'T IN AN INTERSECTION OR A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE COMPLETE POWER TRAIN FAILURE CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME WITH THIS FAILED TOYOTA COMPONENT.

NHTSA complaint #10534678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

WHILE AT THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER TOOK THE CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE PRIOR TO THE SERVICE AND UPON RETURNING TO THE DEALER LOT THE CAR DIED - NO POWER. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS A BAD INVERTER, BALLPARK REPAIR COST IS $9500. BESIDES BEING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW A MODERN CAR CAN CONTAIN A CRITICAL COMPONENT THAT COSTS $10K TO REPLACE THAT HAS NO MAINTENANCE IN THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE OR OTHER DIAGNOSTICS TO ALERT THE DRIVER OF PENDING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT MAY STRAND THEM IN AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE LOCATION (I.E. MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY). I HOPE THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATES THE 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER FAILURES DOCUMENTED ON THIS SITE AND TOYOTA IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND EXTREMELY COSTLY DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10532153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK HYBRID AND CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,860. KMJ

NHTSA complaint #10514810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

HIGHLANDER HYBRID LOST COMPLETE POWER WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF THE POWER INVERTER. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR QUOTED AS $9,140.

NHTSA complaint #10510311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

MY WIFE AND THREE SMALL KIDS WERE ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT, CAR JUST SHUT OFF WHILE WE WERE IN MOTION DRIVING ON A 40MPH STREET. DISPLAY SAYS CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. LUCKILY WE DID NOT GET HIT AND WERE ABLE TO SWERVE TO SIDE OF ROAD (ALTHOUGH IT WAS ALL THE WAY FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD) AS IT IS A VERY BUSY STREET, LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR IN THE RIGHT LANE AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS AN HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND I THINK THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED LIKE THE MODELS FROM 2006 AND 2007, FROM ALL THE COMPLAINTS I AM SEEING NOT ONLY ON THIS WEBSITE, BUT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SOMEONE SHOULD TAKE ACTION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT BADLY. THANKS.

NHTSA complaint #10509523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVING, WITHOUT ANY WARNING! LUCKILY, THE DRIVER WAS NOT REAR- ENDED!! THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE INVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $9000! THE CAR IS IN OTHERWISE GREAT SHAPE AND HAS BEEN SERVICED AT TOYOTA REGULARLY . THE LAST CHECK UP WAS LAST MONTH AT 118,000 MILES! THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED FOR THE 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID, WHICH WAS RECALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10499789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.