2008 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT PURCHASED HIS VEHICLE FIFTEEN DAYS AGO. THE WINDSHIELD REMAINS FOGGED. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN HE ACTIVATED THE DEFOGGER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WOULD NOT MAKE THE REPAIR FOR FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226336 at NHTSA ↗

CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET TO ALLOW A CAR OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY. MY 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HIGHLANDER HYBRID (WITH 8000 MILES) MADE A HISSING OR WHISTLING TYPE SOUND AND JUST ACCELERATED. ( I WAS AT A STOP) WE WENT ABOUT 150 FT (ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR) AND WENT RIGHT INTO A TREE. I WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL THAT EVENING BUT MY PASSENGER IS SEVERELY INJURED. MY INS INVESTIGATOR SUGGEST I ASK YOU IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS.?? THE TRUCK IS TOTALED. MY INVESTIGATOR WANTS TO GET A COUR…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234901 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A "CLICKING SOUND" IN THE STEERING COLUMN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION, AND WORSE IF TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE GOING OVER A BUMP. FEELS AS IF SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. ALMOST FEELS LIKE A LOOSE CV JOINT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PICKED THE CAR UP FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A "CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE". PROBLEM HAS BEEN PERSISTING, AND I SHOWED THIS TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND IS WORKING ON IT. SPOKE WITH TOYOTA, WHO DENI…

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244046 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. DURING THE SNOW DAYS WE WERE TRYING TO DRIVE IT UP MY SNOW COVERED ROAD BUT COULD NOT DUE TO THE SLIGHT INCLINE AND THE COMPACT SNOW. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND GRANDPA WAS IN THE BACK. ONCE WE STOPPED THE CAR WAS PUT INTO 'PARK', I GOT OUT AND WAS WALKING AROUND THE BACK. BY THEN MY WIFE AND GRANDPA WERE JUST OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE DOORS STILL OPEN. THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS BUMPING INTO ME AND KNOCKING ME OVER ALMOST RUNNING OVER ME. MY WIFE AND GRANDPA…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255226 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VEHICLE AND THE FRONT TIRES HAVE ALMOST ALL TREADS WORN DOWN ALREADY AFTER JUST 10,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHICH INDICATES THIS VEHICLE IS JUST CHEWING TIRES RIGHT UP SO I AM WORRIED ABOUT EARLY TIRE FAILURE. OTHER OWNERS MUST HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN NHTSA CHECK THIS OUT FOR ALL OWNERS? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269827 at NHTSA ↗

MY CAR, TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2008, TIRE (245/55 19R) WARE OUT TO 2/32 ~ 3/32 AT 17500 MILES. WHEN IT WENT DON TO 4/32, GARAGE WARN ME ABOUT TIRE NEED TO CHANGE VERY SOON, I CONTACTED MY TOYOTA DEALER AND TOYO TIRE BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. ALMOST ALL OF HIGHLANDER OWNER COMPLAIN ONLINE AT CAR FORUM. WE DIDN'T GET ANY ACTION FROM BOTH CAR AND TIRE DEALER. ONLY ONE OWNER GET FREE REPLACEMENT BY DEALER FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK. TOYO 245/55 R19 TIRE IS NOT GOOD AT HANDLING ON SNOW AND ICE. WHEN THERE WAS SNOW, I HAVE TO DRIVE VERY CAREFULLY AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10270250 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN DECEMBER OF 2008. THE CONTACT NOTICED PAINT CHIPPING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND REAR DOOR. SHE ALSO NOTICED CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE PAINT. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CORROSION WAS CAUSED BY BRAKE DUST. THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD GIVE THE VEHICLE AN ACID WASH. THE CONTACT WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274024 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2008 HIGHLANDER BY TOYOTA. AFTER DRIVING 20K MILES , I NOTICED A VIBRATION IN MY STEERING. I THEN NOTICED MY TIRES BELTS WERE SEPARATING AND THE TREAD ON ALL WAS WORN DOWN TO ALMOST ZERO. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO MILEAGE WARRANTY. YET MY UNDERSTANDING WAS 60 MONTHS. WHEN I READ IT AGAIN IT SAID 60 MONTHS OR THE AMOUNT OF TREAD LEFT. NEW TIRES $900. THESE TIRES ARE A HAZARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A NEW VEHICLE NEED NEW TIRES WHEN IT IS BARELY ONE YEAR OLD. THE TIRES WE…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283751 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-04-18 (April 18, 2008)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 90,189 MY 2008 HIGHLANDER AND HIGHLANDER HYBRID PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THIRD ROW SEAT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE NON-DRIVER DESIGNATED SEATING POSITIONS (DSP) ON THESE VEHICLES IS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT HAVE A FEATURE THAT CONVERTS THE RETRACTOR FROM AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR (ELR) TO AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR). THE BELTS CONVERT TO THE ALR MODE AFTER THE WEBBING HAS BEEN FULLY WITHDRAWN FROM THE RETRACTOR. THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED SO THAT AS THE BELT IS RELEASED INTO THE RETRACTOR, THE SYSTEM REMAINS IN THE ALR MODE SO THAT A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM (CRS) CAN BE TIGHTLY SECURED.

Consequence: HOWEVER, FOR THE TWO THIRD ROW DSP'S ON THESE VEHICLES, THE ALR MODE DEACTIVATES BEFORE THE WEBBING IS FULLY RETRACTED, SO THAT IT WILL NOT LOCK WHEN CERTAIN REAR-FACING CRS'S THAT HAVE A SHORT SEAT BELT ROUTING PATH ARE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SEAT BELT WEBBING TO SPOOL OUT DURING NORMAL DRIVING MANEUVERS, WHICH COULD AFFECT THE STABILITY OF A CHILD RESTRAINT INSTALLED AT THOSE SEATING POSITIONS. AS SUCH, THIS COULD DISCOURAGE THE USE OF A CHILD RESTRAINT AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED SEAT BELT COMPONENT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2009-06-15 (June 15, 2009)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 27,080 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2010 PASSENGER CARS BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO MAY 4, 2009. THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."

Consequence: INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A NEW, ACCURATE LABEL TO BE INSTALLED OVER THE INACCURATE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371.

Reported: 2011-04-21 (April 21, 2011)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 RAV4 VEHICLES. IN THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAG (CSA) SYSTEM, THERE ARE TWO SENSORS IN THE AIRBAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO DETECT VEHICLE ROLL ANGLE. IF ONE OF THESE SENSORS MALFUNCTIONS, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT: MIL) WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE ROLL DETECTION SYSTEM WILL BE SUSPENDED; HOWEVER, THE AIRBAG CSA REMAINS AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE CRASH. IF BOTH SENSORS FAIL NEARLY SIMULTANEOUSLY AFTER INITIAL AIRBAG SYSTEM CHECK, THE CSA AND THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER COULD BE INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED.

Consequence: INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE CSA AND/OR THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER CAN CAUSE INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE AIRBAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ONE CONTAINING IMPROVED ROLL RATE SENSORS, FREE OF CHARGE. TOYOTA INTENDS TO SEND AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS EARLY TO MID-MAY, 2011 WHEN SUFFICIENT PARTS AND REMEDY BECOMES AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2012-10-10 (October 10, 2012)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.

Consequence: If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.

Remedy: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. General Motors will contact the Pontiac Vibe owners affected by this recall and GM dealers will inspect and repair switches as necessary. Those owners may contact Pontiac Customer Care at 1-800-762-2737.

Reported: 2013-09-04 (September 4, 2013)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module may contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors may be heat damaged by the solder. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel.

Consequence: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342 are not affected by this campaign.

Reported: 2015-10-22 (October 22, 2015)

Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.

Consequence: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.