2007 Toyota HIGHLANDER: complaints, problems and recalls

2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER - UNCONTROLLED TRANSMISSION SURGES CAUSE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. TRANSMISSION ALWAYS SHIFTING DOWN TO 5TH GEAR AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, PUSHING CAR FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN NOT DESIRED. TAKING FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, CAR MAINTAINS SPEED (LIKE ON CRUISE CONTROL). CAR WILL DRIVE AND MAINTAIN SPEEDS WITHOUT GAS PEDAL INPUT. DRIVER MUST FIGHT TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. SLOWING DOWN, COMING TO A STOP SIGN, CAR STILL ALWAYS WANTS TO SHIFT DOWN INTO 5TH GEAR, PUSHING CAR FORWARD FASTER JUST BEFORE FULL STOP, RISKING REAR …

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176069 at NHTSA ↗

HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 473 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176219 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT ALSO PURCHASED A TOWING PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES A HITCH. THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE HITCH IN STOCK AND THE CONTACT WAS SENT TO ANOTHER STORE TO RETRIEVE THE PART. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A BILL FOR THE HITCH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 41 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187309 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING IN THE SUNLIGHT, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ARE DIFFICULT TO READ. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER TEST THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THAT IS HOW IT WAS MANUFACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS DURING THE DAYTIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37.

Owner-reported narrative. 37 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193154 at NHTSA ↗

2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED WITH STALLING CONCERNS CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CARS IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE AND IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE HAD TO BE REPLACED**CC

Owner-reported narrative. 48,239 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196960 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE DAYTIME. HE STATED THAT THE LENSES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE TINTED, WHICH HE BELIEVES IS THE REASON FOR THE POOR VISIBILITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED HIM TO CALL TOYOTA. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH TOYOTA AND THE CONTACT WAS ISSUED COMPLAINT NUMBER 200707203477. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197552 at NHTSA ↗

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! *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,062 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204479 at NHTSA ↗

NOTIFIED BY FELLOW TRAVELER THAT TIRE WAS LOW. CHECKED DASH FOR WARNING LIGHT - NO WARNING. TOOK AUTO TO TIRE DEALERSHIP. MADE ME REPLACE TIRE - TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE. SAID SENSORS WERE REQUIRED IN AUTO AS OF 2006. HAD SENSOR IN PREVIOUS HIGHLANDER. CALLED TOYOTA. TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT HYBRID HAD SENSOR. TOOK AUTO TO DEALERSHIP. HAD CHECKED. NO SENSOR!! WAS TOLD BY THEM THAT IT WAS NOT REQUIRED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 6,341 miles reported. Look up ODI 10207094 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

Reported: 2014-11-19 (November 19, 2014)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

Consequence: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Reported: 2016-06-02 (June 2, 2016)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.