2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 25-30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IMMEDIATELY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED AND THE AUTOMATIC WINDOW SWITCH EXHIBITED SEVERE MELTING. THE WIRES WERE DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH TOYO OPEN COUNTRY AT TIRES, SIZE P245/55R19. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CHIPPING AWAY ON THE SHOULDER OF THE INSIDE. WHILE DRIVIGN 35 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND THE CHIPPING WAS DISCOVERED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THEIR TIRE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WITH THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE TIRES HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.

WHEN I BRAKE IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY ACCELERATES A LITTLE BEFORE THE BRAKE KICKS IN. ALMOST AS IF I WERE STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN BUT OFTEN ENOUGH THAT I NOTICE IT. ALSO REAR BRAKE PADS WORN DOWN TO METAL AFTER ABOUT 36,000 MI. ALSO PRE- MATURE TIRE WEAR OUT. HAD TO GET NEW TIRES AT 20K. *TR

GREETINGS. I AM WRITING TO YOU REGARDING MY 2008 HIGHLANDER SPORT, SERIAL NUMBER [XXX]. SPECIFICALLY, I AM WRITING ABOUT THE OEM TIRES, TOYO OPEN COUNTRY, DOT CXHH, DK82508. AS OF TODAY, I HAVE 23, 897 MILES ON THE VEHICLE; AND THE TIRES ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT TO A POINT BELOW THE WEAR BARS, WHICH INDICATES THAT THEY MUST BE REPLACED NOW. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2008, I PURCHASED THE TOYOTA MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, SO THE TIRES ARE ROTATED AND BALANCED (IF NECESSARY) EVERY 5,000 MILES WHEN I ALSO CHANGE THE OIL. I AM A 46 YEAR OLD FATHER OF THREE SMALL CHILDREN, WITH NO MOVING VIOLATIONS, TICKETS OR ACCIDENTS. I TELL YOU THIS ABOUT MY LIFE TO INDICATE THE TYPE OF CONSERVATIVE DRIVER THAT I AM. I HAVE CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE IDENTIFIED THE LOWEST PRICE FOR A SET OF FOUR TIRES AT $759.88, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY MORE EXPENSIVE DURING THE BUY DUE TO THE TPMS SYSTEM, THE NECESSITY FOR AN ALIGNMENT WHEN REPLACING FOUR TIRES, AND TAX. I REALIZE THAT TIRE REPLACEMENT IS JUST ONE PART OF THE OVERALL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT FOR A VEHICLE. HOWEVER, TIRES ON A $33,000 VEHICLE SHOULD PROVIDE FAR MORE MILEAGE THAN 24,000 MILES. IN FACT, IF YOU HAVE THE TIME-I INVITE YOU TO GO THE BLOG TITLED TOYOTA NATION, WHERE ALL OF THE WRITERS CONSISTENTLY MAKE DISPARAGING REMARKS ABOUT TOYOTA?S CHEAP TIRE SELECTION. SO MUCH IN FACT, WRITERS DISCUSS VARIOUS METHODS FOR OVERCOMING THE BURDEN OF FINDING A SUITABLE, WELL-PRICED REPLACEMENT WHEN THERE ARE ONLY THREE COMPANIES WHO MAKE THE 245/55-R19. THOSE COMPANIES ARE TOYO, BRIDGESTONE AND HANKOOK. MOST WRITERS CONVERT TO A LARGER TIRE OR A SMALLER TIRE WITH NEW WHEELS, WHICH OF COURSE AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER READINGS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY PERFORMANCE AND POSSIBLY SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID EQUIPPED WITH TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A20 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THREE OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES (EXCLUDING THE FRONT PASSENGER BY ANOTHER TIRE MANUFACTURER) ON THE VEHICLE WERE BEGINNING TO SHRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT SEEMED AS IF SOMEONE TOOK A "CHEESE GRATER" TO THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE OR THE TIRES; THEY DID STATE THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE TWO OF THE TIRES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.

VEHICLE, TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2008, WOULD NOT START USING THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION PUSHBUTTON. ON 7/22/2010 VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER AND THE IGNITION/POWER SWITCH WAS REPLACED, CODE FOUND B2275. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND DEALER REPLACED NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH PER T-SB-0348-09. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND WAS TOWED TO DEALER ON 8/16/2010. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FURTHER FROM THEM AS OF 8/23/2010. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING, THE LAST TIME AT 9:00 PM ON SUNDAY, 8/15/2010. *TR

I RECEIVED A VSC ERROR CODE, ON A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, NOT THE HYBRID MODEL, BUT A LIMITED TOP OF THE LINE MODEL. THE VEHICLE STARTS TO ACCELERATE BY ITSELF & THEN WHEN YOU SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO TRY TO STOP IT, IT FAILS TO STOP. IN ORDER TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME & TO THE RIGHT OF ME, I CHOSE TO TURN LEFT HARD & RUN INTO THE CONCRETE DIVIDER. THIS WAS THE 2ND OCCASION THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO ME. THE 1ST TIME WAS ON DECEMBER 15, 2010 & I ALSO CHOSE TO TURN LEFT HARD & STRIKE THE DIVIDER INSTEAD OF REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF OR SIDE SWIPING THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT OF ME. ON THE 1ST OCCASION, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED & BECAUSE OF THAT I ENDED UP STRIKING MY HEAD ON THE EITHER THE DRIVERS SIDE GLASS OR SOME HARD OBJECT AND LOSING MY SHORT TERM MEMORY. THE VEHICLE & THEN CROSSED 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC, FINALLY OFF OF AN EXIT RAMP & CAME TO REST AFTER STRIKING A FENCE POLE. THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ON AUGUST 16, 2010. I ALSO CHOSE TO STRIKE THE CONCRETE DIVIDER AS OPPOSED TO STRIKING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME OR TO THE RIGHT OF ME. THEN SOMEHOW I ALSO CROSSED 3 LANES OF HIGHWAY & FINALLY COMING TO REST AFTER STRIKING A LIGHT POLE. THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DID DEPLOY THIS TIME SO I DID NOT LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS NOR DID I LOSE MY SHORT TERM MEMORY. IT WAS AT THAT POINT THAT I NOTICED THAT A 2ND ERROR CODE ALSO CAME UP STATING BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

WENT TO LOCAL DEALER TO GET OIL CHANGE, 15 MINUTES LATER OIL LEAK ALL OUT FROM BOTTOM. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS A HOSE MALFUNCTION, BUT NO RECALL, CAR IS ONLY TWO YRS OLD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH TOYO OPEN COUNTRY TIRES, SIZE P245/55/R19. THE CONTACT STATED ALL 4 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE SPARE, EXHIBITED TREAD SEPARATION. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE MANUFACTURERS WERE CONTACTED AND NEITHER WOULD PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000.

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE SALES PERSON SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WHEN SOMEONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND SUPPOSEDLY THIS WAS CHECKED. ON 5/23/10, THE VEHICLE WAS ON, BUT "PARKED" AND BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, IT WAS INSPECTED BY A TOYOTA ENGINEER AND BOTH THE DEALER AND ENGINEER HAVE REFUSED TO DISCLOSE THE CAUSE FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIRBAGS WHICH CAUSED INJURIES AND DAMAGES. *TR