2009 Toyota HIGHLANDER HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls

BRAKES FADE FOR A BRIEF MOMENT -- PERHAPS HALF OF A SECOND -- AND THEN COME BACK. ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT, THE SENSATION IS AS IF THE DRIVER WERE EASING OFF THE BRAKE AND THEN COMING BACK ON WITH MORE PRESSURE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303845 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID, PURCHASED NEW IN AUG. 2009. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A FEW INCIDENTS RELATED TO BRAKING THAT ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT'S BEING DESCRIBED BY PRIUS OWNERS. ON CERTAIN ROAD SURFACES/CONDITIONS, I HAVE FELT WHAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS A PAUSE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SLIDING SENSATION ON ICE, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS NOT SLIDING. THE DURATION IS FOR PROBABLY LESS THAN A SECOND IN DURATION, BUT ENOUGH TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE DRIVER. IT HAS HAPPENED ONLY IN ISOLATED CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THE MAJORITY OF THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305276 at NHTSA ↗

I WRITE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR EXHIBITED BY MY 2009 HYBRID HIGHLANDERS BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH I PURCHASED IN MAY 2009. IN SHORT, IN CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THERE IS A SLIGHT DELAY/PAUSE BETWEEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ANY BRAKING FORCE APPLIED BY THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE DELAY IS MOMENTARY AND I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS TO LAST NO MORE THAN HALF SECOND (.5 SEC.) AT MOST I'VE NOTICED THAT THIS OCCURS MOSTLY IN A SITUATION WHERE I HAVE FORCEFULLY APPLIED THE BRAKE. IT HAS SEEMED TO RECUR MOSTLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN A DECLINE. IT DO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10305650 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. IT HAS HAD THREE INSTANCES OF UNINTENDED LOW SPEED ACCELERATION SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN JUNE 2009. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT WAS SO UNEXPECTED AND UNCONVENTIONAL THAT I THOUGHT IT MUST HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE IN MY PERCEPTION. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS MORE AWARE BECAUSE IT HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. AND THE THIRD TIME EVEN MORE SO. NOW I AM ALERT FOR THE EVENT AND WILL TRY TO RECORD IT AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. AS BEST I CAN DESCRIBE IT, I WAS SLOWING DOWN, ALMOS…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10306266 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2009 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND AM CONCERNED THAT I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING THAT ARE NOW BEING REPORTED FOR THE PRIUS. SOMETIMES, WHEN BRAKING IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE NOT ENGAGING AND THERE IS A SENSATION THAT THE CAR IS SPEEDING UP. CONTINUED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL FINALLY SLOWS THE CAR DOWN. I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT WHEN I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE QUICKLY ENOUGH WHEN APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. THE SENSATION THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGING WAS EXPERIENCED…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307266 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKE WOULD RELEASE ON ITS OWN AT A DISTANCE; HOWEVER, WHEN HIS SPEED INCREASED THE BRAKES PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN HE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN IN COLDER WEATHER. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM SENT POWER TO THE BATTERY AND THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. HE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,773. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100.

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307746 at NHTSA ↗

2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. I HAD NOTICED BRAKING ISSUES AND HEARD ABOUT THE PRIUS RECALL. THIS DESCRIBES EXACTLY THE ISSUE I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY BRAKES. FROM THE TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 RECALL: "SOME OWNERS HAVE REPORTED EXPERIENCING INCONSISTENT BRAKE FEEL DURING SLOW AND STEADY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON ROUGH OR SLICK ROAD SURFACES WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) IS ACTIVATED IN AN EFFORT TO MAINTAIN TIRE TRACTION." *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10308577 at NHTSA ↗

WE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH OUR 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID AS BEEN REPORTED IN THE TOYOTA PRIUS RECALL. AT TIME THE BRAKING SEEMS TO STOP FOR LESS THAN A SECOND. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310291 at NHTSA ↗

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: 2013-01-16 (January 16, 2013)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

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.