10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
52,941 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #16

May 012024

Highlander

  • miles
Subject: Urgent Safety Concern - Recurring Issues with Toyota Highlander Hybrid Models Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, We owned the car since almost new, after repeated attempts with Toyota, like others 300K customers from their own site, I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding persistent safety issues with Toyota Highlander Hybrid models, specifically between the years 2004 and 2007. Despite previous reports and numerous attempts to seek assistance from Toyota, the response has been unsatisfactory, with the company deflecting responsibility rather than providing a resolution. **Vehicle Information:** - Make: Toyota - Model: Highlander Hybrid - Year: 2007 - VIN: [XXX] **Description of the Issue:** 1) The primary concerns involve the hybrid a) BRAKE actuators failing/loosing braking power 2) the electrical inverters, which have shown a pattern of failure across many vehicles, including my own. 3) Leaky blow back from engine into intake. 4) Seat belts are not properly retracting, These failures could compromise the safety of the vehicle but also risk to the driver, passengers, and others on the road. **Previous Reports:** I have previously reported these issues to Toyota, but the attempts to resolve the matter have been met with deflection of blame. It is imperative to note that these issues are not isolated incidents but are widely reported by other owners of the same model. **Impact on Safety:** The malfunctioning of critical components such as the braking system has led to near-miss incidents that could have resulted in severe injuries or fatalities. It is unacceptable for such critical safety issues to remain unaddressed. **Request for Action:** I urge the NHTSA to investigate these reports thoroughly and take appropriate action to hold Toyota and its CEO accountable. The safety of countless drivers and the integrity of our transportation system depend on your prompt attention to this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #15

May 022020

Highlander

  • 135,000 miles
Starts without using a key and cannot be shut off.

- Taylors, SC, USA

problem #14

Jan 282020

Highlander

  • 110,000 miles
Warning light - possible inverter malfunction. Just appeared for the first time.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #13

Feb 062018

Highlander

  • 118,000 miles
Horn stopped working, in motion, on a city street while turning.

- Vienna, VA, USA

problem #12

Aug 042016

Highlander

  • 152,000 miles
The contact owned a 2007 Toyota Highlander. After the contact returned home and parked the vehicle, the horn started to beep. The contact walked outside and observed sparks under the vehicle. The contact attempted to extinguish the fire with the hose, but the vehicle became engulfed in flames. A fire report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

- Diboll, TX, USA

problem #11

Jul 012016

Highlander

  • 18 miles
Hazardous safety issue. Possible manufacturer defect to electrical system on 2001-2007 Toyota Highlanders. While driving at high or low rate of speed, there has been many close calls of being hit from behind due to the manufacturer defect to their electrical components or wiring in specific to rear braking lights. When depressing the brake pedal the rear passenger brake lights do not come on. Light bulbs changed, fuse was checked and connectors checked. There has been multiple identical related issues reported by consumers on many blogs and forums online. Only remedy mentioned was to have the Toyota dealer to replace the electrical braking component or circuitry. This should be a recall for the Toyota Highlander 2001-2007 on the critical braking systems on these vehicles. Why do consumers have to pay upwards of $400 to replace what appears to be a manufacturer issue. This is a accident made to happen. Also due to their poor design, the vehicle can't pass the state's vehicle safety inspection.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #10

Jul 252015

Highlander

  • 60,500 miles
On my 2007 Toyota high lander the horn has stopped working I have no horn, when I press the horn button it does not sound the horn. I took it to the dealer and they check the horn and the dealer said it was working after I left the dealer it did not work, I askedthe service adviser and he said its an intermittent problem, , the horn still does not work I still have no working horn, something is grounding out in the steering column. I still have no working horn and the dealer cant find the problem.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #9

Mar 112013

Highlander

  • miles
During driving, abruptly without warning - the Highlander hybrid during driving, without warning, just went dead - car did not respond to driver control. The dashboard started flashing lights and the vsc check, AWD check, skid light, brake lights came on. The car, and power steering stopped responding to control. Upon contacting the dealers, everyone has given us a different reason, some don't even make sense.

- Dc, DC, USA

problem #8

Mar 122013

Highlander

  • miles
I was driving and without any warning the car shutdown down, the car controls would not respond. The car continued till it lost momentum stopped, there was no/or very little braking and steering assistance/control. ** called Toyota and reported the problem, no assistance was provided*** the dashboard flashed lights, the vsc, AWD and other lights came on. Fyi - the car has been regularly maintained. There are numerous controls on these similar issues, vsc AWD ECU etc, but there seems to be no acknowledgement from Toyota.

- Reston, VA, USA

problem #7

May 292012

Highlander

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander hybrid. The contact stated that all the warning light illuminated on the instrument panel as the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic and the contact was told that the intelligent power module (ipm) needed to be replaced. The mechanic advised the contact of a recall associated with NHTSA recall campaign id number: 11V342000 (electrical system), but the manufacturer advised that the vehicle was not included in the recall campaign. The failure and the current mileages were 140,000.

- Mount Vernon, NH, USA

problem #6

Aug 302011

Highlander

  • 123,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander hybrid. The contact was driving 65 mph when the vehicle stalled. The vehicle did not restart and was towed to the dealer for diagnosis where the contact was advised that the power inverter would need replacing. The manufacturer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileages were 123,000.

- Jamul, CA, USA

problem #5

Feb 042010

Highlander

  • 0 miles
This is in follow-up to my complaint #10306258 filed earlier this morning (Feb 5, 2010). I found my previous service order of July 23, 2008, from my Toyota dealership, on which I complained about the delayed acceleration when I pressed on the gas pedal. Their response, as documented on my repair order was 'scanned for error codes. None present. Characteristic of this transmission.' On my previous report to you regarding this, I classified this as 'fuel system, gasoline' and as 'electrical system, ' it looks like Toyota classified this as a transmission problem. Regardless, the facts are as I stated them and I still view this to be a dangerous condition. For the record, my vehicle was serviced on July 23, 2008 at West ashley Toyota, 2100 savannah hwy, charleston, SC 29414. Their phone number is 843-556-9110. My customer nbr is 82921. My concern was addressed on their invoice # tocs178222. I had my vehicle in for a checkup at the above dealership this morning, after my posting on your web site. I again inquired about my previously reported acceleration problem. The maintenance representative, heather, informed me that she knows of no problem regarding this. When I asked if I was the only one who is experiencing this problem and questioned the fact that no one else has complained about this to Toyota, heather told me that she personally has no knowledge of others reporting this.

- Charleston, SC, USA

problem #4

Nov 192008

Highlander

  • miles
TL-while pulling into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The vehicle jumped the median and hit another vehicle in another parking space. The failure miles are not available. The current miles are 45,000 miles.

- Reston, VA, USA

problem #3

Aug 232007

Highlander 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,000 miles
When traveling down hill for extended periods of time the batteries charge and then start to emit noxious fumes into the cab of the vehicle. (ozone I think.) on several occasions we have had to roll the windows down or stop and exit the vehicle to allow the fumes to clear. The local dealer says that there is nothing wrong with the vehicle, and that there is nothing they can do about our complaints.

- Alcova, WY, USA

problem #2

Sep 202007

Highlander 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,062 miles
Was pulling into parking space under 5 mph and there was a sudden surge forward and the brakes did not work. Went over curb through bushes off another curb hitting underneath of car and brakes then worked again. Car was towed to dealer where they drove it put it on a machine and found nothing wrong with the car!

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #1

Dec 042006

Highlander 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 473 miles
Hybrid inverter failure.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA