The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling or parked, the engine would suddenly seize. The failure occurred intermittently. The check engine warning light illuminated with a message that the brakes were enabled. The contact restarted the vehicle several times before the vehicle operated as needed. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer 3 times however, the dealer was unable to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 45,600.

- Buena Park, CA, USA

About once or twice a week as I'm slowly braking to make a turn or stop, the car will surge forward. I have to depress the brake harder, and it does stop or keep slowing. I'm very concerned that if this happens as I'm stopping at a cross walk, someone could be hurt. I took it to the dealer who couldn't replicate it, so said it wasn't a safety issue. There are lots of forums that describe this with highlanders. My partner can feel it happen too. I'm not sure if it's the braking system or engine. My guess is engine because it seems to be a power surge. It's inconsistent, and happens in all kinds of weather, hot/cold, dry/wet. No warning lights, or messages. Happens a lot, but I'm using the example of earlier this week. You're welcome to inspect if you want. It is a hybrid and one of my friends said it might be switching systems, but our other car is also a hybrid and doesn't have anything like this happening.

- Spencer, WI, USA

ECU system failure. Dealer ship is stating ECU system was damage from soda or coffee which is not accurate found a recall on this vehicles with the same issue our vehicle is having.

- San Francisco , CA, USA

In my 2020 Highlander I approached a stop sign at a "T" intersection behind 4 other cars. After stopping and looking to see road was clear of oncoming traffic, I pulled out and started my left turn. As I was turning into my lane the car engine turned OFF and the steering wheel was LOCKED in the left position. There was no power for the brakes, which left me jamming on the brake pedal as hard as I could only slowing the car slightly. The steering wheel was LOCKED LEFT and I thought I was going to break it trying to force it back. With no ability to move the steering wheel or brake, I braced myself as the Highlander continued turning in the left direction into the other lane. The result was a head on collision with a Mini Cooper, both cars totaled, and injuring both myself and the other driver. Highlander was investigated by forensic company in the employ of the insurance company, but they could not find any error in the cars CDR (Crash Data Retrieval) system.

- Lititz, PA, USA

Gas will not fill up to the advertised amount. Distance to empty meter is not calibrated correctly. Others on Toyota forums experience the same issue.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

I was at a stop sign in my 2020 Highlander waiting to turn left onto a busy road. Upon turning left onto pa state highway 999, the Highlander engine turned off and the steering wheel was "locked" into a left position. This caused the car to continue turning into the opposing left lane resulting in a head-on collision with an on-coming car. With the engine turned off there was no power steering, no brakes, and no way to unlock the steering wheel. The collision caused my car to bounce back and slowly free roll back to the stop sign as though I never entered the roadway.

- Lititz, PA, USA

The engine died when stopped at stop sign. And then restarted while transmission in drive.

- Georgetown, KY, USA

Driving 50 miles/ hour vehcle started loosing power and started to shake. Engine light came on and two different messages in dashboard pop out. One about hybrid malfunction and the other output power reduced.

- Ellensburg, WA, USA

We recently purchased our Highlander and it has a little over 4,000 miles. Today while driving down the road at about 45 mph, the car just lost power and the check engine light came on. 1. check engine - reduced engine power 2. secondary collision brake system malfunction we had to park and wait for the Toyota dealership to come and tow it to the service center. At this point I don't know what was wrong or why it just cut out while driving. I am very concerned and can only hope Toyota can address this or replace the car.

- Sparks, NV, USA

After leaving a shopping center on February 29 2020, we pulled out onto a road to head towards home. We were driving about 45 miles per hour in traffic and received a notification on the screen that said the engine was off, put car in park. There was also a warning light that came on for the electronic steering assist with an exclamation point. We were able to coast to the side of the road trying to maneuver through traffic of 4 lanes. We put the car in park and attempted to start the vehicle. It would turn over, but not start. We called Toyota roadside assistance and told them what happened and they said it would take about an hour to get to us and tow the vehicle. After about 15 minutes we decided to attempt to start the vehicle again. It started, and the vehicle steering warning light came on, but then went off. We called roadside assistance and told them we were going to attempt to drive to the dealership where we purchased the vehicle which was only a few miles away. We left the vehicle there to be checked and so far they say nothing has been found but are checking further and testing the vehicle but so far have been unable to duplicate the occurrence. It only has 300 miles on the odometer.

- Vinton, VA, USA