10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
114,205 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #24

Jan 262020

Highlander Hybrid

  • 230,000 miles
We were driving down the highway I-30 East up a hill going appt 70 mph when the car went into limp mode and slowed down to 10 mph. Then went to only 1 mph. We checked the battery connection, fuel cap, everything we found online to check.

- Columbia, MO, USA

problem #23

Apr 222019

Highlander Hybrid 6-cyl

  • miles
Currently, the vehicle in motion, however it potentially causes unsafely if not fixed as requested. The reason I come to you for complaint, I do have a situation with carlson Toyota and/or Toyota motor groups. Here the situation what happens. I do have 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid. I drove this SUV since 2009. I have a number of records from the same dealer to maintain the SUV safe. However, couple month ago on 04/22/2019, I got some of the dashboard light indicates anti-lock braking system (ABS) check light is on. I took the car to the carlson Toyota dealer pay diagnosed fee $149 and the results is unpredictable prices. See the lists: 1) break actuator assembly----------------------------$2225 2) right rear wheel bearing and harness ----------$1156 total------------------------------------------------------$3,381 the reason I am complaining today not because of the price to high. However, I found Toyota published letter on April 19, 2016, to all Toyota dealer principals, general managers, service managers, and parts managers. Under the subject line warranty enhancement program ?ZG1, for all 2006-2007 model year Highlander hybrid, and others type included. Also, down the last three paragraph (see attached letter) indicates under owner letter mailing date, said "Toyota will begin to notify owners in late April, 2016 and will be mailed over several months. A sample of the owner notification letter has been included for your reference." After I found the published notice, I went to the carlson Toyota dealer on 06/18/2019. I described the situation and I showed the recipes of where I get from during inspection, and finally they told me this warranty enhancement program is expired. I ask them how is expired, nobody told me about this recall or warranty enhancement program. I need help to resolve this situation. See attached documents.

- Coon Rapids , MN, USA

problem #22

Apr 222018

Highlander Hybrid

  • 95,000 miles
I purchased the vehicle used in August 2018. In January, warning lights indicated a 'vsc system' problem. The event occurred while I was driving. I researched car repair websites and forums, and discovered that this is often a simple problem with a sensor for the fuel door, or a linkage in the accelerator assembly. I followed instructions, and the light turned off. Over the past six weeks, the lights have returned, usually in association with refueling the vehicle. I took the vehicle to a dealer today, and was informed that an ABS actuator was failing. The part is $1700 from Toyota, with labor totaling $600. Further research revealed the problem was widespread, but the only remedy was a 'warranty enhancement' that has already expired. I cannot afford this repair, and I was not informed of this issue at purchase. Because this issue was critical for vehicle safety, I felt the need to alert the NHTSA to a continuing problem.

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #21

Apr 092019

Highlander Hybrid

  • 130,000 miles
The brake actuator pump failed and was replace under the warrantee extension ZG1. The replacement brake actuator pump failed but Toyota will not cover it. It is a very expensive defective part. When the part fails many systems are impacted especially the brakes.

- Youngsville, LA, USA

problem #20

Jan 212019

Highlander Hybrid

  • 120,000 miles
While driving on a residential road the brake system failed to properly stop the car. This issue first happened in January 2017. At that time I took the car in and had the brake actuator assembly replaced under a limited service recall by Toyota and the replacement actuator assembly also failed within 18 months. While driving through a residential area the brakes again failed to stop the car, making a grinding noise and jerking to a halt after pressure applied to the brake pedal. Because the actuator assembly was replaced under the limited service recall Toyota denies any culpability in the failure of the replacement part and refuses to offer further assistance.

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

problem #19

Oct 082018

Highlander Hybrid

  • 135,000 miles
I am getting a "check vsc system" on the dashboard along with a red triangle, orange ABS light, orange traction control light, red brake light and orange exclamation mark inside a circle. I have been hearing weird popping noises when braking also.

- Baldwin Park, CA, USA

problem #18

Jan 012019

Highlander Hybrid

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid. While driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle stability control and anti lock brake system warning indicators illuminated. The contact stopped and pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road. The contact stated that the failure occurred sporadically. The vehicle was repaired by Toyota of hattiesburg (6461 us-98, hattiesburg, ms 39402) in February of 2017, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired for the recent failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

- Petal, MS, USA

problem #17

Apr 092018

Highlander Hybrid

  • 245,000 miles
Takata recall in 3 times the light "ready '' disappear and appear "check hybrid system" and then engine need to start again..

- Niamey, AL, USA

problem #16

Jun 052018

Highlander Hybrid

  • miles
First a loud ringing happened and car would not stop. We have serviced car regularly, brakes are new, but car does not stop. Trying to brake at the intersection, stop light and highlander would not stop. Put us in danger almost led me into accident, was told it was the ABS system and that Toyota is aware of this. This is a huge safety design issue and expensive fix Toyota needs to fix their design flaws. There is not physical contact or wear and tear on the part for it to fail. Ms. Deborah huston at Toyota stone walls the process to get this resolved. She claims Toyota is not aware of these issues, but the NHTSA records show customers have been complaining for a long time and that they know.

- Dc, DC, USA

problem #15

Feb 192018

Highlander Hybrid

  • 149,500 miles
2006 Highlander hybrid, check hybrid system, check vsc light, brake and ABS light all on permanently and my brakes aren't working. I was fortunate noone got hurt.. it was really dangerous when you press the brake and it doesn't stop.... from what I read ABS accumulator which cost 3K+ to replace and the hybrid inverter which cost 5K+ to replace. NHTSA please issue a recall on this issues.

- Martinez, CA, USA

problem #14

Jan 092018

Highlander Hybrid

  • 180,000 miles
Most of dashboard lights went on and brakes failed to engage when 17 Y/O son driving vehicle as pulling into parking spot. Able to use emergency brake as in parking lot and stop the vehicle. Took to Toyota and told actuator needed to be replaced to cost of about $2400. This occurred on 01/09/2018. We found out after the fact the extended warranty on this expired on 12/31/2017 just 9 days before our son had this incident. Luckily in parking lot as we live in the mountains and could have been a fatality/serious injury in another setting. We have filed complaint w/ Toyota.

- Asheville, NC, USA

problem #13

Apr 012017

Highlander Hybrid

  • 223,000 miles
ABS system fault

- Falls Church, VA, USA

problem #12

May 282017

Highlander Hybrid

  • 122,000 miles
I was driving my car and when I brake to slow down I heard a chime and a check vcs system warning came with ABS, brake and slip indicator, master warning light and electronic controlled brake system warning light came on too. I have found that in 2013 there was a safery recall dlf(D2F) on certain highlander hv 2006-2010.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #11

May 022016

Highlander Hybrid

  • 200,090 miles
ABS acuator is not working!

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #10

Apr 172015

Highlander Hybrid 6-cyl

  • 49,936 miles
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.

- San Juan, PR, USA

problem #9

Apr 112014

Highlander Hybrid 6-cyl

  • miles
Took 2006 Toyota hybrid highlander in for a popping sound and vsc light, ABS brake lights on. The Toyota dealer told me it needed a new ABS accumulator for $ $28881.71. I was told this was dangerous that brakes could fail !!! upon looking I find this to be a problem with others... time for a recall !!!!!!!!!!

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #8

Sep 202013

Highlander Hybrid 6-cyl

  • 140,250 miles
As I pulled out of the parking lot of a hotel the check vcs system, check hybrid system, check AWD system warnings began to illuminate and alternate. The master warning light, slip indicator light, check engine warning light and the electronically controlled brake system warning light were all illuminated as well. The car would drive, however, the power steering and ABS were not working. I was able to drive the car to the closest Toyota dealership. I was originally told that the car simply needed a new battery. Once the battery was replaced, I was told that the ECU for the ABS system had died and would need to be replaced at the cost of $2000. When I mentioned the recall and the fact that the symptoms were directly in line with the recall notice for the imp I was told that while my VIN fell under the boj recall, the specific serial # of my imp did not. I was also told that this was not the problem my car was having. When I asked whether the serial numbers of the D1M recall were checked I was told this was an "interim recall" and that they were not authorized to do repairs on this one yet so they couldn't check. Research has indicated that an imp failure can cause and ECU failure. Furthermore, an ECU failure would not have caused the system to go into fail safe mode as it did. I have a Toyota case #, but they have told me there is nothing they can do.

- Allen, TX, USA

problem #7

Nov 012012

Highlander Hybrid 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
Check vsc system came on, then off, it happens a lot took it to a dealer they found nothing now the warning is on all the time, took it to the dealer and now they want $2,600.

- Bayamon, PR, USA

problem #6

Sep 212011

Highlander Hybrid

  • 120,000 miles
Driving the upper roadway of the queensboro 59th St bridge the car just died. Flashing on the panel read check the vsc system waited for a tow around a dangerous curve, we could have been killed. Otw to the Toyota dealer to see if they will honor the recalled inverter part.

- Bellerose, NY, USA

problem #5

Mar 012011

Highlander Hybrid 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
I have a 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid 2wd. I tried to start the car one day and multiple warning lights came up on panel. I took a test drive around the block and noticed I did not have power brake assist, ABS or vsc. The failure never went away. I took the vehicle to the dealership and they are replacing the brake actuator and skid control computer, two parts I wouldn't expect to fail.

- Kyle, TX, USA

Read the next 4 complaints »