2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID Complaints

I AM ABOUT TO PURCHASE AN 06 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 4X4 HYBRID. I RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT THE 06 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS, AND THAT THE COST TO FULLY REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IS HUGE. I WOULD LIKE TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM POTENTIAL PROBLEMS (LIKE THIS) BY NOT PURCHASING ANY SUCH VEHICLE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW (IF THIS ISSUE IS VALID) WHETHER DEALERSHIPS HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE INFORMED OF ANY SUCH VEHICLE PROBLEMS, BEFORE THEY SELL IT ON THEIR LOT?

WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT THE POWER STEERING FOR BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT GOES OUT. IF THERE IS NO HARD TURN TO THE RIGHT THE STEERING REMAINS FUNCTIONAL. HAPPENED WHILE ON WINDING ROAD NEARLY RAN OFF THE ROAD. RESTART THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARS UNTIL THE NEXT RIGHT TURN. DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH THE POWER STEERING ECU AND THE POWER STEERING CONVERTER AND GIVE ME A BILL FOR OVER $1000.

BRAKES DISENGAGE MOMENTARILY WHILE BRAKING AT SLOW SPEED. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, AND IS VERY DISCONCERTING. THE OTHER DAY IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY AND CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION AT LOW SPEED. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN AN ACTUAL BRAKE FAILURE, BUT AFTERWARD THE BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. WE ARE NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, AND THE DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE HE CAN'T 'REPLICATE' THE SITUATION. ONLINE, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE POSTED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH NO REMEDY.

MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS BURN MARKS ON THE HEADLIGHT LENS WHERE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE GOTTEN SO HOT THAT THEY ACTUALLY MELT THE PLASTIC ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT LENS. THIS HAS REDUCED MY VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IF IT IS GETTING HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE HEADLIGHT LENS IT CREATES A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL. WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE, IT DIDN'T CREATE A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN DRIVING VISIBILITY BUT AS THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE AND THE SPOT GETS LARGER THERE IS A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE. IF I AM DRIVING IN AN AREA WITHOUT CITY LIGHTING IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE WITH THE LO-BEAMS ON AND DRIVING WITH THE HI-BEAMS ON POSES A DANGER TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OF BLINDING THEM AND CAUSING THEM TO CRASH INTO ME OR RUN OFF THE ROAD. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CONSUMER CANNOT TURN OFF AND IT IS OBVIOUS FROM INTERNET FORUMS THAT THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE THAT IS LIMITED TO MY VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN A WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR HIGHLANDER. I HAVE OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO THEM PERSONALLY BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. IN MY OPINION, THIS SHOWS NOT ONLY A LACK OF SUPPORT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO PAY HARD-EARNED MONEY FOR THEIR VEHICLES BUT A LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE SAFETY AND LIVES OF NOT ONLY THEIR CUSTOMERS BUT ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SHARE THE ROADS WITH THESE VEHICLES. I AM TURNING TO THE NHTSA IN THE HOPES OF FINALLY HAVING MY VOICE AND THE VOICE OF THE MANY OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION HEARD AND SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN RENDER!

THE CHECK VSC WARNING SIGN IS ON. THE DEALER RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS THAT INDICATED THE ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR AND PUMP SHOULD BE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING AND FATIGUE FAILURE.

CATASTROPHIC FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FAILURE AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE I-35. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A HALT SAFELY FORTUNATELY. THE MAIN TIRE WAS COMPLETELY GONE, WITH JUST THE RUBBER ALONG THE EDGE OF EACH SIDE OF THE RIM REMAINING. $1300 IN DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL HOUSING, BUMPER AND WASHER RESERVOIR. TIRES ACTUALLY KELLY EDGE AS (NOT KELLY EXPLORER AS), WHICH WAS NOT AN OPTION IN THE DROP DOWN LIST PROVIDED.

THE VEHICLE HEATING SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK AT ALL TIMES AT WHICH TIME IT SEEMS TO SWITCH TO AIR CONDITIONING. THE DIGITAL DISPLAY ALSO FADES THE LONGER THE SYSTEM IS SWITCHED ON OR THE LONGER THE DRIVE. THIS CAN CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS.

FRONT HEADLIGHT ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE BURNT OUT, IN DOING SO THE OUTSIDE LENS WAS BURNED WITH A QUARTER SIZE WHITE SPOT. PLASTIC LENS WAS MELTED.

BRAKES STOPPED WORKING THEN GRABBING. VERY DANGEROUS! NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE ACTUATOR.

WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND IN THE FAST LANE GOING APPROXIMATELY 75/80 MPH MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID DIED AND FAILED TO DRIVE. THE PANEL ON THE DASH HAD A RED ! EXCLAMATION POINT, AND SAID CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND CHECK VSC SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE MY VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT BREAKDOWN SHOULDER TO CALL FOR A TOW. TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD NOT START, BUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTINUED TO LIGHT GIVING EVIDENCE MY NEW 12V BATTERY WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. CALLED TOYOTA MOTOR USA AND ASKED WHAT RECALLS THEY HAVE LISTED FOR MY VEHICLE AND THEY ASKED FOR MY VIN. THEY TOLD ME THE ELECTRICAL INVERTER ASSEMBLY WAS COVERED FOR MY VIN. THEY GAVE ME THE NUMBER OF A TOW COMPANY TO CALL AND TOLD ME IT WAS COVERED BY TOYOTA AND I'D HAVE A RENTAL WAITING FOR ME. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AS DIRECTED, THEY FIXED SEVERAL OTHER RECALL ISSUES BUT NOT THIS ONE, SO WHEN I DROVE OFF THE LOT THE CAR DIED AGAIN. I MANAGED TO START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT BACK ACROSS THE HIGHWAY INTO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER SPEAKING WITH TOYOTA CORPORATION USA AGAIN, THEY APOLOGIZED AND SAID THEY MISINFORMED ME AND THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. HOWEVER, THEY PAID FOR MY TOW AND FOR MY RENTAL FOR 5 DAYS (THUS FAR). MY CASE NUMBER GIVEN FROM TOYOTA CORP IS 1607053248. I READ ONLINE THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE. KARL AND IRINA GAAL VS. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION. VIA ATTY MIKE ARIAS. TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE HAS PUT IN A REQUEST FOR ME TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP'S GM IN MY AREA IS ALSO WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AS IT'S STILL PENDING.