Home/JTEEW21A470049814
VIN REPORT

JTEEW21A4700498142007 TOYOTA HighlanderSTD/Base

Risk Score
39
MODERATE RISK
out of 100
4 Found
4 campaigns
123
Reported to NHTSA
Not Tested
See iihs.org/ratings
19 yrs
Made in JAPAN
D
Score: 61/100
Verdict & Risk Assessment
📄

Executive Summary

2007 TOYOTA Highlander was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. There are 4 open recalls on record — verify these have been repaired before purchase. 123 owner complaints include 7 reported injuries, indicating real-world safety incidents beyond normal wear.

  • 4 open recalls — verify these have been repaired before purchase
  • 7 injuries reported across 123 owner complaints
  • 11 complaints involved a crash — unusually high incident rate
  • Manufacturer delayed recall by 3.2 years after first complaints — pattern of slow response to known defects
39/100
Moderate Risk
3 moderate risk signals detected. Negotiate accordingly and verify service history.
LOWMODERATEHIGHCRITICAL
Contributing Risk Factors — 3 detected
Critical deferred maintenance — safety-critical components overdue
+20
4 model-wide recalls on record
+12
Elevated fire risk signals detected
+7
Critical Alerts

No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.

Vehicle
Make
TOYOTA
Model
Highlander
Year
2007
Trim / Series
STD/Base
Body Style
Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Vehicle Type
MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)
Drive Type
4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Fuel Type
Gasoline
Engine
6-cyl 3.3L
Doors
5
Manufacturer
TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
Assembly
MIYAWAKA, FUKUOKA, JAPAN
GVWR
Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Electrification
Strong HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)
CQuality55/100
Standard📍 MIYAWAKA, FUKUOKA

No specific quality data available for this plant. No documented recall or complaint concentrations on record.

Safety
D
Score: 61/100
Crash Test Rating20/40
Recall Safety24/30
Complaint History17/30
20/100Moderate

✓ No high-risk recall components found

2/100
Basic
1 of 20 safety features detected
Missing: Automatic Emergency Braking, Pedestrian AEB, Forward Collision Warning, Electronic Stability Control
Elevated
  • 1 complaint(s) involved a fire
  • 1 EV battery fire/thermal complaint(s)
Elevated
  • 2 recalls on same component: HVAC
  • 2 recalls on same component: Exterior/Other
  • 7 injuries reported in complaints

Lemon law eligibility depends on state law, number of repair attempts, and days out of service. Consult an attorney for actual eligibility.

Forward Collision Warning?Unknown
Automatic Emergency Braking?Unknown
Pedestrian AEB?Unknown
Rear AEB?Unknown
Lane Departure Warning?Unknown
Lane Keep Assist?Unknown
Lane Centering Assist?Unknown
Blind Spot Monitoring?Unknown
Rear Cross Traffic Alert?Unknown
Adaptive Cruise Control?Unknown
Adaptive Headlights?Unknown
Auto High Beam?Unknown
Parking Assist?Unknown
Backup Camera?Unknown
Electronic Stability Control?Unknown
Tire Pressure Monitoring?Indirect
Event Data Recorder?Unknown
Crash Notification?Unknown
Dynamic Brake Support?Unknown
Keyless Ignition?Unknown
Recalls
82/100
Critical Deferred Risk
Critical deferred failure risk — 5 safety-critical or high-cost components are past their service interval. Without immediate attention, repair costs will compound significantly.
No odometer data on record. Mileage is estimated at ~228,000 mi based on average annual driving. Items marked EST. OVERDUE may already be due — verify service history with the seller. Items marked OVERDUE are confirmed past-due based on vehicle age alone.
EST. OVERDUECriticalTiming Chain Tensioner
Service interval: 10 yr · Vehicle age: 19 yr · Past due by age
Service Timing Chain Tensioner immediately — already past the 120,000 mi / 10 yr interval
Worn chain tensioners cause timing chain skip or snap — common on GM 5.3L/6.2L, Ford EcoBoost, VW/Audi EA888, BMW N47/N63. Listen for cold-start rattles.
EST. OVERDUECriticalWater Pump
Service interval: 8 yr · Vehicle age: 19 yr · Past due by age
Service Water Pump immediately — already past the 100,000 mi / 8 yr interval
Water pump failure causes rapid overheating. If the engine overheats even once, head gasket damage is likely — turning a $400 part into a $3,000+ repair.
EST. OVERDUEHighTransmission Fluid / Service
Service interval: 5 yr · Vehicle age: 19 yr · Past due by age
Service Transmission Fluid / Service immediately — already past the 60,000 mi / 5 yr interval
Degraded transmission fluid destroys clutch packs and solenoids. CVT transmissions are especially sensitive — neglected fluid can result in a $4,000–$8,000 replacement.
EST. OVERDUEHighDifferential / Transfer Case Fluid
Service interval: 4 yr · Vehicle age: 19 yr · Past due by age
Service Differential / Transfer Case Fluid immediately — already past the 50,000 mi / 4 yr interval
On 4WD/AWD vehicles, neglected differential or transfer case fluid causes metal-on-metal wear. Replacement costs $1,500–$4,000.
EST. OVERDUEHighCoolant Flush
Service interval: 5 yr · Vehicle age: 19 yr · Past due by age
Service Coolant Flush immediately — already past the 100,000 mi / 5 yr interval
Degraded coolant loses corrosion inhibitors and attacks aluminum engine components. Can cause head gasket failure and water pump corrosion.
EST. OVERDUEModerateSpark Plugs (iridium/platinum)
Service interval: 8 yr · Vehicle age: 19 yr · Past due by age
Service Spark Plugs (iridium/platinum) immediately — already past the 100,000 mi / 8 yr interval
Worn spark plugs cause misfires that can foul and crack catalytic converters. A $150 tune-up can prevent a $1,200 catalytic converter replacement.
EST. OVERDUEModerateFuel Injectors
Service interval: 10 yr · Vehicle age: 19 yr · Past due by age
Service Fuel Injectors immediately — already past the 120,000 mi / 10 yr interval
Dirty or failing injectors cause rough idle, reduced fuel economy, and increased emissions. Cleaning costs $100–$200; replacement $800–$1,600.
44 RECALLS

NHTSA VIN-specific recall lookup returned no data for this VIN. The 4 recalls below are model-wide and may or may not apply to this exact vehicle depending on production date. Verify at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Estimated Repair Completion (Statistical)

Average repair completion across 4 recalls is ~57%. Always ask the seller for dealer service records confirming each repair.

57%
avg repaired

Statistical model based on recall age, component type, and manufacturer. Not a repair confirmation. Demand dealer service records.

TOYOTA Recall Completion Rate — Industry Context
95%Excellent

TOYOTA has an excellent recall completion rate (95%) — owners typically receive a remedy within 14 months.

Avg time to remedy open recall: ~14 months · Source: NHTSA Recall Completion Rate Reports

Avg Fix Time
14mo
#14V743000
Invalid Date

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

SummarySoutheast 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.
Read full details...
ConsequenceDamage 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.
Est. Repair Completion~58%

~42% chance this recall was never fixed

Moderate Risk

Source: NHTSA statistical model by recall age & component type

#16V396000
Feb 2016

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

SummarySoutheast 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.
Read full details...
ConsequenceIf damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Est. Repair Completion~58%

~42% chance this recall was never fixed

Moderate Risk

Source: NHTSA statistical model by recall age & component type

#10V035000
Mar 2010

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

SummaryGULF 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.
Read full details...
ConsequenceTHIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Est. Repair Completion~56%

~44% chance this recall was never fixed

Moderate Risk

Source: NHTSA statistical model by recall age & component type

#10V036000
Mar 2010

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

SummarySOUTHEAST 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.
Read full details...
ConsequenceA DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Est. Repair Completion~56%

~44% chance this recall was never fixed

Moderate Risk

Source: NHTSA statistical model by recall age & component type

LONG-STANDING OPEN
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
16.2yr open
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
16.2yr open
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
10.3yr open

⚠ One or more recalls have been open for over 5 years — may never have been repaired on this vehicle.

02/06/2016
4 total campaigns
HVACExterior/Other
0
Part Replacements
2
Software/OTA Updates
2
Buyback/Refund
2
High-Effort Repairs
3 recalls are over 2 years old — statistically less likely to have been completed. Verify repair status with any dealer using your VIN.
RECALL DIDN'T FIX IT

73% of complaints about "EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS" were filed AFTER recall campaign 10V035000 (2010-03-02) — the recall remedy may not have fully resolved the issue.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
73% post-recall
Recall: 2010-03-023 before · 8 after#10V035000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
73% post-recall
Recall: 2010-03-023 before · 8 after#10V036000

Continuing complaints after a recall may indicate an inadequate fix, a new failure mode, or that many vehicles never had the recall performed. Verify recall completion status directly with NHTSA.

3.2yr
Lag from first complaint to recall
First complaint: 2006-12-13 · Recall issued: 2010-03-02

First complaint was filed 3.2 years before the recall was issued — manufacturer was aware of this issue for years before acting.

1 in 17

7 injuries reported across 123 complaints — elevated injury rate for this class of vehicle.

Complaints
Brakes
30
Electrical
1 crash22
Other
6 crash6 inj17
Engine/Powertrain
15
Visibility
15
Suspension/Wheels
11
Body/Structure
1 crash4
Fuel System
1 crash4
2015
4
2016
9
2018
3
2019
5
2020
12
2021
4
2022
6
2023
2
2024
1
2025
4
68% trend in recent years (improving reliability)
Declining -29%
5
Last 24 months
7
Prior 24 months
Engine stalling12
Electrical failure6
Sudden acceleration4
Fire/smoke3
Brake failure2
Conditions Reported
Highway/high-speed (20)Parking/low-speed (9)Startup (6)Rain/wet (3)Cold weather (1)
123HIGH VOLUME
1
Fire
11
Crashes
7
Injuries
ODI #11688863ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander. The vehicle was purchased from a private seller on Facebook Marketplace on 9/3/2025. The mileage at the time of purchase was 129,950. The contact wanted a larger vehicle and called another dealer on Facebook Marketplace to trade the vehicle and was provided the most recent mileage recorded for the vehicle on November 17, 2021, at 262,597 miles. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was recorded to have over 150,000 miles over 4 years before the purchase. The contact reached out to the owner who sold the vehicle to the private seller who the contact purchased the vehicle from, and it was confirmed that on July 27, 2025, the vehicle was sold at 299,150 miles. The contact had not reported to any other agencies but had planned to.

ODI #11671239ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

2007 HYBRID ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR PROBLEM. THE PRIMER MOTOR CONTINUES TO RUN TO PRIME THE PUMP EVEN WHEN CAR IF OFF. THE HUMMING NOISE CHANGES WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKES TO LOAD KNOCKING GROANING NOISES. NO DASH WARNING SIGNS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND IT HAS ALWAYS MADE THE HUMMING NOISE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR A HYBRID. SOMETIMES BRAKE PEDAL WOULD PUSH EASILY TO FLOOR, BUT THEN GET TIGHTER. I WOULD HEAR THE KNOCKING GRINDING NOISE. NO WARNING LIGHTS, HAD BRAKES CHECKED AND THEY ARE GOOD. THOUGHT MAYBE AIR IN LINE. THIS NOISE AND LOOSE PEDAL STARTED ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO. 6/2024 IT DID NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. I ALSO HAVE A COMPANY CAR, SO I DO NOT DRIVE THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT OFTEN. NOW I CANNOT DRIVE IT AT ALL. FOR FEAR THAT THE BRAKES WOULD GO OUT. I STARTED LOOKING FURTHER ONLINE ON INFORMATION REGARDING THIS. IT SEEMS TOYOTA AND LEXUS RX 300 HYBRIDS (SAME PART MODEL NUMBER) 44510-48060 ARE ALL DOING THIS. I LOOKED UP RECALL'S AND NOTHING FOR ABS HYBRID PROBLEMS. JUST LAST WEEK ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN MY CAR BRAKE VSC. READING ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS ABS ACTUATOR PUMP, THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. 6/2025 PER ONLINE, IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA IN THE HYBRID MODELS. ALL OF THESE UNITS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. USUALLY TOYOTA'S RUN UP TO AND OVERR 300K MILES. I PLANNED ON KEEPING MINE AROUND. BUT IT IS A 2007 WITH 189K MILES ON IT. I AM NOT SURE I WANT TO INVEST $2000.00 ON JUST A PART FOR A CAR THIS OLD! JUNK YARDS SELL USED ONES FOR $800+. SAME MODEL NUMBER AND ONLY IN TIME THAT WILL FAIL. APPARENTLY TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A NEW MODEL NUMBER 44510-48061. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER NEW MODEL 44050-48191. THE REPLACEMENT PART (NO LABOR) VARIES IN PRICE 44510-48060 NEW $1200.00, 44510-48061 $1350.00, 44050-48191 $2000.00

ODI #11663740STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES

My vehicle about a year ago started to display the dash lights for the VSC, ABS, and Emergency Brake however there was no indication from the feel of the brakes as they were applied, or any indication that something was wrong with the vehicle. I had my brakes replaced on my rear tires, and for a time the lights went off. In April of 2025, the lights came back on however this time there was a distinct feeling that the brakes weren't working. I had the calipers, pads, rotors, and a tube replaced, however the lights are still on, and the vehicle now violently shakes after reaching speeds of 45 mph (mirroring the complaints from the following site: [XXX] ). Toyota has refused to acknowledge this and put consumers out thousands of dollars. This is clearly something toyota needs to honor. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ODI #11653924ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2007 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 116,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 240,126. The contact also stated that the seller had crossed out the mileage and penned in "EXEMPT" on the tile. Local authorities were notified.

ODI #11590708ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES

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.C. 552(B)(6)

ODI #11514815TIRES,WHEELS

Only six months after installation as a set of 4 new tires at Sam's Club in May 2021, multiple cracks start to develop around the rims on both inside and outside of the tires. With time, the cracks grow in size. This happens on two tires, one is on the front passage side, and the other on the rear driver side.

ODI #11500828SERVICE BRAKES

While driving a vehicle came across me and when i pressed on the brake hard, the car would stop normally, and ABS, brake, VSC came on the display along with a high pitch sound. I quickly reacted by pressing the E-Brake and shift to B - braking mode to be able to stop or slow down. The dealer said it was the Brake actuator that failed and its out of warrant, there was an enhancement warrant program that was issued by Toyota but expired. I feel the safety of people and property that this should've been a recall knowingly it can go out anytime. Contacted Toyota Corp. and they said this would be an out of pocket cost to the consumer which is around $3000. The manufacturer knew this could go out at any moment and should've made the RECALL instead. during the enhancement warranty program they would not replace it since it was still functioning.

ODI #11499542ENGINE

The VTT - I oil line leaks oil may burst

ODI #11489403SERVICE BRAKES

Driving at about 50 mph on two lane road, the VSC and ABS lights come on with a little chime warning, along with some other warnings. Check VSC is also in the small screen instead of the odometer. Toyota knows about ABS actuator issues on this vehicle, but Toyota did not extend the warranty beyond 150k miles and 10 years. This could be a safety issue with the ABS, VSC and brakes. Toyota published a "Warranty Enhancement Program - ZG1" on April 19, 2016, but only to dealers. After the initial warranty period, I've used independent repair shops, so I didn't get any notice. I did get other recall notices from Toyota on this vehicle and had them repaired by the dealer. Toyota should be more accountable for brake issues that could be safety related.

ODI #11482804SERVICE BRAKES

All of the sensors for tires were removed before I bought this car and the tire light keeps on(the pressure is good). My friend said they might adjust the mileage, I wonder if there is something wrong with this car. There was only one break working while getting this car, the mechanics from other maintenance store found this critical issue out while I asked them to fix the working one. Nobody from that car dealer told me about this issue and let me drive this car with only one break for one month. Meanwhile, they promised me there would not be any safety issue and charged me for safety checking. Thank you for your time on my case. Best Regards [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

ODI #11465596SERVICE BRAKES

While driving down the 405fwy downhill, all my lights went off and showed VSC system on my dashboard. This part of the fwy is not extremely steep but somewhat is. When applying my brakes it was hard to get my vehicle to stop especially because I’m on a freeway and when trying to slow down because I’m going downhill. I had my family in the car. I can’t imagine if my my brakes actually gave what would happen. I researched this and Toyota only called this a “warranty extension” for your Brake Actuator. I can’t believe this hasn’t been classified as an official recall. Especially since it pertains to the brakes. An essential quality mechanism to prevent death. They obviously know they were in the wrong here since the warranted this as a “warranty extension”. All these vehicles should be recalled for human safety. Shame on them.

ODI #11465292UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES

we were station in the Military base in Belle chasse LA. I'm having a SAFETY issue with the vehicle brake system and ABS.I contacted Toyota and nothing was done this vehicle has like 76000 miles and this a mayor concerned, and safety issue I believe this is a factory problem from day one. I have read thousands of same complaints on line with same problem. I also read that Toyota had the same issue with Prius and my understanding is that it was a recall on those. My car is low in millage for the year and I have been the only owner. This is a safety issue and I need help I'm very concern for our safety and others . Thank you, and your attention to this matter is appreciated.

ODI #11449605SERVICE BRAKES

The 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and certain Prius and Lexus models were equipped with an ABS actuator that could potentially fail and cause serious injuries and or death. A safety notice and enhanced warranty covered the parts and labor 10 years later; however, after the 10 years was up, the owner would be responsible for the all the costs. I noticed the vehicle making erratic noises from the engine bay and discovered it was the brake actuator but no warning lights or significant braking issues were of concern around 1/5/22. On 1/30/22 I was driving the vehicle when suddenly multiple lights came on which include the VSC, ABS, Brake, warning light, and exclamation warning light came on. The vehicle started acting erratic with unusual power loss and poor braking responsiveness. This also occurred on my 2005 Toyota Prius which I got into an accident in where the vehicle was totaled. This part should last the life of the vehicle, and if replaced in the past due to safety concerns under the enhanced warranty, all vehicles with the same old part number should be recalled and replaced at no charge to the owner.

ODI #11421687UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Was driving on highway and Check Hybrid System, Check ABS System and Check VSC system flashed on dash, lost all power. Had to manage my way and pull over on the side as I could not accelerate anymore. Sent vehicle to 3 shops/dealerships, NOBODY can figure out what is wrong and all saying it cannot be fixed. HELP PLEASE! Car starts up on battery but when engine tries to fire up it sputters and dies and gives the Check Hybrid, Check VSC System messages. Codes scanned showed all 6 coils were bad, replaced them all and still saying all 6 are bad. New coils, new plugs, nobody knows what is the issue. I'm already into this for thousands of dollars, I really, really cannot afford any more money into this! Someone please help me. Thank you so much.

ODI #11402876SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

MY VCS LIGHT,ABS,BRAKE,TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON. PLUS A HORRIBLE BUZZING NOISE ALWAYS ON. BRAKES ARE HARD TO PRESS DOWN ON. IT HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING IT.

ODI #11396205SERVICE BRAKES

WE HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED WITH APPROXIMATELY 150K MILES. IN OCTOBER 2017 WE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE BREAKING PULSING AND SQUEAKING ISSUES. UPON INSPECTION AT PRECISION TOYOTA OF TUCSON, AZ, IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE BREAK ACTUATOR. THE BREAK ACTUATOR FAILURE IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA VEHICLES BEGINNING AS EARLY AS 2004 AND THIS CAN BE EASILY SEARCHED ONLINE. THIS BREAK FAILURE CAN RESULT IN COMPLETE BREAK FAILURE WHILE DRIVING (AND REPORTS OF THIS OCCURRING ARE EASILY SEARCHED ONLINE). IN 2017, THE BREAK ACTUATOR REPLACEMENT WAS FULLY COVERED BY THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, BUT IT WAS VERBALLY ESTIMATED AT $2200 TO REPAIR AT THAT TIME. AS THE OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE FOR SINCE 2009, IT WAS ODD THAT WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY- BUT JUST 'FORTUNATE' ENOUGH TO HAVE OURS FAIL IN A TIMELY MANNER TO BE FULLY COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN NOVEMBER 2020, OUR 2007 TOYOTA HYBRID HIGHLANDER BEGAN DEMONSTRATING THE SAME BREAK ACTUATOR FAILURE 'SYMPTOMS' AS IN OCTOBER 2017 (PULSING BREAKS, REDUCED RESPONSE TO INCREASED BREAK PRESSURE, SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN BREAK DEPRESSED WHILE PARKED OR DRIVING). THIS REPAIR/REPLACEMENT IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, EVEN THOUGH THE 2008- 2010 MODELS OF OUR VEHICLE HAD AN EXTENSION UNTIL 12/31/2020. THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS SECOND REPAIR IN 3 YEARS IS ~$2500-$2800... FOR A WIDELY-KNOWN AND DANGEROUS BREAK ENGINEERING ERROR THAT TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS.

ODI #11395313SERVICE BRAKES

C1391 ' ABNORMAL LEAK OF ACCUMULATOR PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING

ODI #11384591STEERING

ALL MOTOR MOUNTS ARE ROTTED. WHILE DRIVING WHEN TAKE FOOT OFF THE GAS, THE CAR SWAYS AND PULLS. IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS.

ODI #11383602SERVICE BRAKES

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY WIFE CALLED ME FROM FAR AWAY TELLING ME THAT SHE SUDDENLY HAD BRAKE-RELATED WARMING LIGHTS. I QUICKLY READ UP ON THE ABS SYSTEM FAILURES IN THIS CAR, AND SINCE SHE DID NOT YET HAVE SYMPTOMS, I TOLD HER TO DRIVE BACK CAREFULLY. I THEN REVIEWED MY FILES ON THE CAR AND SAW THAT THEY HAD SENT ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND SUGGESTED THAT WE BRING THE CAR IN IF WE HAVE THESE WARNING LIGHTS. BUT WE NEVER HAD THE WARNING LIGHTS PREVIOUSLY, SO I MISSED THE BOAT ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE DID, HOWEVER, ALMOST FROM THE TIME THE CAR WAS JUST A FEW YEARS OLD, HAVE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON STARTUP OR SHUTDOWN. ACCORDING TO VARIOUS HIGHLANDER FORUMS, THIS IS A CLASSIC SYMPTOM OF ABS ACTUATOR FAILURE AND IF TOYOTA HAD JUST MENTIONED THIS IN THE THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE, I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN IMMEDIATELY. I HAD THE SAME SOUND FROM MY 2007 PRIUS; I MENTIONED THE NOISE TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE PEOPLE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE COOLANT THERMOS BOTTLE AND WAS OF NO CONCERN. TO FIX MY HIGHLANDER, TOYOTA WANTED AROUND THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS; I TOLD THEM THAT WAS NOT REASONABLE SINCE REPLACING IT IS SIMPLE: 2 BOLTS, 1 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, 6 BRAKE LINES, AND A BRAKE BLEED. THEY WANTED ABOUT $2000 JUST FOR THE PART. THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME I COULD STILL DRIVE THE CAR SINCE IT IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN: IF IT FAILS THE ABS SYSTEM WILL STOP WORKING BUT NOT THE BRAKES. BASED ON THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHER HH OWNERS THAT I AM READING ABOUT AT THE NHTSA WEB SITE, HOWEVER, I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE. ALSO, THE BRAKES ARE NOW GRABBING STRANGELY AND PULSATING WHEN THEY DON'T NEED TO BE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE 1.) THE PART SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR, 2. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN, AND 3. TOYOTA DID NOT GIVE ACCURATE INFORMATION IN THEIR NOTICE TO ALLOW ME TO SPOT THE PROBLEM IN TIME.

ODI #11382930FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE STRAPS SUPPORTING THE FUEL TANK BROKE. BOTH STRAPS BROKE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE, RENDERING IT UNDRIVABLE AS THE TANK WAS ON THE GROUND. WIFE HEARD A CLUNK WHEN AT A STOP, STARTED TO MOVE, HEARD SCRAPING. STOPPED, CHECKED, FOUND RIGHT SIDE OF FUEL TANK ON GROUND.

ODI #11359969UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WITH 100,000 MILES STALLED AND DIED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT APPROX 65-70MPH, ILLUMINATING MULTIPLE WARNING AND SAFETY LIGHTS ON DASH BEFORE BECOMING INOPERABLE. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP STATES THE HYBRID SYSTEM FAILED.

ODI #11341480ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHILE WE WERE DRIVING, GOING AROUND A CORNER THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM DECIDED TO DO IT ITSELF... AND MAKE MY VEHICLE SLIP SIDEWAYS. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT TOOK ME FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT IT HAPPENING AGAIN. HOW DO WE FIX THIS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE?

ODI #11340680SERVICE BRAKES

ABS ACTUATOR FAILED CAUSING ERRATIC VEHICLE BEHAVIOR AND UNCONTROLLABLE BRAKING. ABS ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED BY TOYOTA IN 2017 AS PART OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM ON A PART THAT THEY REALIZED WAS DEFECTIVE. IN 2019 WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE FREEWAY AND AGAIN TOOK TO TOYOTA WERE THEY FOUND THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR FAILED AGAIN. THIS PART IS TYPICALLY ONE THAT DOESN'T FAIL OVER THE LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE. THIS PART IS NOW NEEDING TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. I PRESUME THAT THE ORIGINAL ABS ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED WITH OLD INVENTORY OF THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART WHICH IS WHY IT QUICKLY FAILED AGAIN. TOYOTA WANTS TO CHARGE $3K TO HAVE REPAIRED. THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS AND REVIEWS OF CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE SAME YEAR MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. I'VE CONTACTED CORPORATE AND THE BEST THEY ARE WILLING TO DO IS PROVIDE A CREDIT FOR $1K OF THE REPAIR. FOR A PART THAT TYPICALLY NEVER FAILS ON A VEHICLE, NO ONE SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO SPEND $3K EVERY COUPLE YEARS CONTINUALLY REPLACING A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS A CRUCIAL SAFETY CONCERN. TOYOTA ADMITTED THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BY INITIALLY DECLARING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE PART, NOW THAT THE REPLACEMENTS ARE FAILING IN THE EXACT SAME WAY TOYOTA WANTS TO BRUSH THE ISSUE UNDER THE RUG. THIS IS AN URGENT SAFETY CONCERN.

ODI #11323417FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR DRIVING, OUR 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID (246,000 MILES) WILL STALL, LIGHTING VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WILL (COAST TO A STOP IF BEING DRIVEN AND) HAVE TO BE RESTARTED. TOYOTA DID RECALL D0M TO ADDRESS CODE P0A40 TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE WAS DONE IN 2014. THE CODE WHICH CAME UP THEN IS THE VERY SAME CODE WHICH IS SHOWING NOW WHEN SCANNED. THE RECALL ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AGAIN. THE RECALL PROVIDES A NEW INTELLIGENT POWER MODULE (PART # 04001-29148 TRANSISTOR, PWR MODULE INTELLIGENT. NO2) AND SPECIFIC GREASE (PART # 08887-02409) TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. I CHECKED AND PARTS ALONE COST THE CONSUMER AROUND $2600 (COLUMBUS OH), NOT COUNTING LABOR COSTS. TOYOTA SAID THEY WILL NOT DO THE RECALL AGAIN BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT HAD ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO JUSTIFY ONE AND IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED BACK MULTIPLE TIMES TO VERIFY THIS WAS THEIR STANCE ON THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY TO MAINTAIN POWER WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND IT WILL STALL MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHTS DURING THE DAY. *TR

ODI #11323152ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STARTS WITHOUT USING A KEY AND CANNOT BE SHUT OFF.

ODI #11307116SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE DRIVING I GOT ERROR CODES CHECK VSC SYSTEM, BRAKES LIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CAR NEEDED BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED, THE COST IS 2900$ . THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THE CAR BECAME UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THIS IS MY SECOND HYBRID TOYOTA CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HUGE COST OF REPAIR FOR A DEFECTIVE PART INSTALLED BY THE COMPANY

ODI #11303042ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WARNING LIGHT - POSSIBLE INVERTER MALFUNCTION. JUST APPEARED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

ODI #11298848SERVICE BRAKES

TOYOTA HAD PREVIOUSLY RECALLED THE ABS BRAKE MODULE ON SEVERAL TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS. THE SAME PART THAT THEY RECALLED IN OTHER MODULES HAS NOW FAILED IN MY VEHICLE WHICH HAS LESS THAN 130K MILES ON IT. PER MY MECHANICS INSTRUCTION I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE IN MONTHS BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE. THE BRAKES AREN'T FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT COMPLETELY STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FULLY ENGAGED. IT KIND OF GRABS, AND SLIPS ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD OR BACK DEPENDING ON THE GEAR THE TRANSMISSION IS IN. THE ABS MODULE REFURBISHED IS $2500, NOT INCLUDING INSTALLATION.

ODI #11292511UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES

MY BRAKES FAILED ABS ANITA BREAKING SYSTEM FAILED BECAUSE IF THAT SB'S FAILED MY HYBRID BATTERY IS NOT CHARGING AND MY CAR IS FAILED TO STOP

ODI #11278056SERVICE BRAKES

I HAD A WHEEL BEARING REPLACED IN MY 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND AS SOON AS IT WAS FIXED ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE CAR, INCLUDING THE VSC LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND SEVERAL OTHERS. IT WAS NOT SHOWING ANY CODES WHEN CHECKED SO THEY TURNED THEM OFF. OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT A YEAR THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF BUT WITH NO AFFECT TO MY BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAD BROUGHT THE CAR INTO TOYOTA (TALLAHASSEE, FL) FOR A RECALL ON THE HYBRID SYSTEM THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS READING A CODE FOR THE RECALL AND THAT WAS WHY THE LIGHTS WERE ON AND ONCE THEY FIXED THE RECALL THEY WERE OFF UNTIL THE NEXT DAY FOLLOWING PICKING THE CAR UP AND THEY ALL CAME BACK ON AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WHICH WOULD COST $3000+ TO FIX. THE BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AT ALL AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL! I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TOYOTA HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE.

ODI #11269826SERVICE BRAKES

THE BRAKE ACTUATORS MAKE WEIRD SOUND ONLY WHEN YOU HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR MAY BE IN A TURNED ON OR OFF POSITION. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PRESS THE BRAKES AND THERE IS A WEIRD SUCKING AND CHIRPING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. TALKED TO DEALER AND THEY DID A BRAKE FLUID FLUSH BUT THAT DID NOT HELP. TOYOTA REIMBURSED THE SERVICE CHARGES BUT I THINK THEY DID THAT TO SHUT ME UP. THE BRAKE ACTUATORS CAN FAIL ANYTIME AND I AM WORRIED THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN THIS PROBLEM FOR A WHILE NOW AND IS NOT FIXING THEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND THE FAULTY BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA.

ODI #11265656SERVICE BRAKES

MY 2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRID LOST IT'S POWER BRAKES LAST WEEK AND I HAD TO LIMP HOME, THEN HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALER. THEY SAID MY ABS ACTUATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT WILL COST ME $2600! MY CAR HAS 127,000 MILES ON IT, AND IS IN GOOD SHAPE, I HAVE IT SERVICED REGULARLY. WHY ISN'T MY CAR PART OF THE ACTUATOR RECALL?

ODI #11193002SERVICE BRAKES

I PURCHASED A USED 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO AND BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, I DID NOT RECEIVE AND RECALL NOTICES OR EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE NOTICES. NOW MY BRAKES ARE FAILING AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY THAT TOYOTA OFFERED TO REPAIR FREE UNDER THEIR "ENHANCEMENT" PROGRAM. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS BECAUSE I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NOW THE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM HAS EXPIRED. AVERAGE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS $2,500-$3,000 AND I DO NOT HAVE THAT TYPE OF MONEY AND YET I NEED MY CAR DAILY TO WORK. AT SOME POINT THE BRAKES, AS CURRENTLY INDICATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND FROM THE SOUND THEY ARE MAKING, ARE GOING TO FAIL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THEIR ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM WAS GOOD FOR 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST SO I AM PAST THE 10 YEAR PERIOD. WHY DO THEY PUT LIMITS ON LIFE AND DEATH SAFETY ISSUES WITH THEIR CARS ? I NEED THE NHTSA'S HELP. THANK YOU.

ODI #11165675SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

BUYING NEW CAR, POTENTIAL BUYER OF THIS CAR HAD A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT. FOUND EXTENSIVE RUST INVOLVING FRAME AND SUSPENSION. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I LIVE IN NC MOUNTAINS WITH EXTENSIVE SNOW AND ICE AND SALTED ROADS. TOYOTA HAS HAD PREVIOUS RUST ISSUES AND MECHANIC SAID HE'S SEEING THIS MORE WITH LOCAL HIGHLANDERS

ODI #11163927ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES

THE BRAKE ACTUATOR FOR THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS AND IS A KNOWN POTENTIAL PROBLEM BY THE TOYOTA COMPANY AS A RESULT OF MANY TOYOTA OWNERS REPLACING THEIR VEHICLE ACTUATORS DUE TO FAILURE BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED AND AVAILABLE FOR MY VEHICLE AS OF THIS CURRENT DATE. I FORTUNATELY DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT BUT STOP USE OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THIS WAS A VERY COSTLY EXPENSE I INCURRED BOTH IN THE ACTUATOR PART AND THE LABOR TO REPLACE IT. THE ACTUATOR AFFECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF MY VEHICLE AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.

ODI #11155946SERVICE BRAKES

IN 2015 I WAS TOLD BY THE TOYOTA DEALER THAT MY ABS PUMP AND ACCUMULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THAT WAS DONE AND I IMMEDIATELY STARTING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. TWO THINGS: (1) PER THE SERVICE REP, THIS REPLACEMENT NEEDED TO BE DONE DUE TO A PUMPING SOUND BEING EMITTED FROM THE ABS PUMP AFTER THE SUV WAS TURNED OFF. THE EXACT SAME NOISE STARTED UP WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF THE REPLACEMENT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND POINTED THE NOISE OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THAT NOISE WAS "NORMAL" (SIC) (2) IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE NEW ABS SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED, A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE BRAKES APPEARED: AS I PULLED TO A STOP THE CAR WOULD SPEED UP OR SUDDENLY MOVE FORWARD AS IF I HAD STOPPED BRAKING. I WOULD HAVE TO READJUST MY BRAKING INSTANTLY TO KEEP FROM HAVING AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS BEEN SCARY FOR YEARS. FOR YEARS BECAUSE EACH TIME I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND BROUGHT THIS UP TO TOYOTA AND TEST DRIVES WERE PERFORMED, I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T EXPERIENCE IT OR DIDN'T SEE IT OR SOME SUCH. TWICE THEY DID OTHER BRAKE WORK WHICH DID NOTHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. LASTLY, I WAS RECENTLY DRIVING ON HIGHWAY US 19 AND ALL THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNINGS CAME ON AND A LOUD SCREECH STARTED AND CONTINUED -- ABSOLUTELY EAR SPLITTING. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT WAY DOWN AND WITH EFFORT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CFAR TO SLOW DOWN. THE POWER ASSIST HAD DISAPPEARED ALONG WITH THE ABS. THE MESSAGE IN THE READOUT STATES SOMETHING LIKE "VCS PROBLEM" OR ERROR -- I DON'T REMEMBER SITTING HERE WRITING THIS, BUT IT IS A VCS PROBLEM. I CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT 6 MONTHS AFTER MY ABS SYSTEM WAS OVERHAULED, A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED STATING THAT THE OLDER (MINE) ABS PUMPS HAVE CRACKS OR A CRACK IN THEM. I BELIEVE ANY AUTO WITH AN ABS SYSTEM WITH A CRACK IN THE PUMP BODY SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THOSE ABS SYSTEMS REPLACED AT THE COST OF THE TOYOTA.

ODI #11071557ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HORN STOPPED WORKING, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET WHILE TURNING.

ODI #10936261TIRES,WHEELS

I BOUGHT FOUR GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLE TREAD TIRES ON JAN. 29, 2013. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MAINTAINING AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT THE TIRES AND THEY WOULD DO MAINTENANCE SUCH AS REMOUNTING OR REPLACING VALVE STEMS. I STILL WOULD HAVE AIR PRESSURE ISSUES. ON DEC. 9, 2016 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED A THUMPING NOISE. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AND MADE THE VEHICLE SWAY. I PULLED TO THE EMERGENCY BERM AND SAW THAT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I TOOK THE TIRE BACK TO CONRAD'S TIRE EXPRESS & TOTAL CARE WHICH WHERE I BOUGHT THE TIRES FROM. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN PUT AIR IN THE TIRE AND SAID THAT THERE WERE BROKEN BELTS IN THE SIDE WALL. HE LAID THE BLAME TO A ROAD HAZARD PROBLEM AND LAID THE BLAME OF LOSING AIR TO DEFECTIVE TOYOTA RIMS, EVEN THOUGH WITH THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE I NEVER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM OF LOSING AIR FROM THE TIRES. MY OPINION IS THAT THE TIRES MUST BE DEFECTIVE SINCE THEY CAN NOT MAINTAIN AIR PRESSURE. THIS IS A REAL CONCERN SINCE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMEONE BEING INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF A TIRE BLOW OUT. *TR

ODI #10933855ENGINE

ON MY WAY HOME, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THEN STARTS BLINKING. GOT HOME AND FIND OUT THE OILS ALL GONE AND DEAD CAR. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE OIL LINE HAS A RECALL AND THAT IT BROKE LETTING ALL OIL OUT.

ODI #10929003WHEELS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIMS ON THE VEHICLE WERE VERY RUSTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,210. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A STATUS UPDATE. UPDATED 10/04/2017*JS

ODI #10906400ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFIRE

TL* 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.

ODI #10905495UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD BANG. CHECKED WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELDS, AT THAT TIME, BUT DIDN'T THINK TO CHECK THE MOON ROOF. A FEW DAYS LATER (YESTERDAY), I TRIED TO OPEN THE MOONROOF AND DISCOVERED THAT IT HAD SHATTERED.

ODI #10904275VISIBILITY/WIPER

I RETURNED HOME IN THE LATE AFTERNOON TO FIND MY REAR WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY SHATTERED AND WITH A BASKETBALL SIZED HOLE. GLASS WAS ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS NO GLASS NOR OBJECT OF DESTRUCTION IN THE TRUNK. THE TRUCK WAS LOCKED AND THERE WASN'T ANY OTHER DAMAGE. THE WINDSHIELD APPEARED TO BE BOWED OUTWARD A BIT. IT WAS A WARM DAY BUT COOLER COMPARED TO TEMPS THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

ODI #10884049ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

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.

ODI #10861738VISIBILITY/WIPER

"SUN VISOR FAILURE!" - DRIVER'S SIDE. JUST ANOTHER TO ADD TO THE NUMEROUS OTHER CONCERNED FAMILIES. NO HELP THROUGH TOYOTA MAIN SAFETY NUMBER AT 1-800-331-4331CASE #1604262701. VERIFIED WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT I AM NOT THE FIRST TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM. WHILE THERE IS A RECALL ON 2010-2013 HIGHLANDERS, ALL PRIOR HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT. AS OF THE TIME OF THIS COMPLAINT, A LARGE AIR BAG RECALL, AMONG MANY MANUFACTURERS, IS TAKING PLACE. WHICH IS MORE DANGEROUS: THE REMOTE POSSIBILITY OF AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT? (OR) DRIVER'S LOSS OF VISION IN HEAVY TRAFFIC DUE TO A FAULTY SUN VISOR, WHICH MAY CAUSE AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT? THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE ACROSS ALL MODELS. I ALSO FOUND THAT MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE WERE REGARDING "SUN VISOR FAILURE." IN MY OPINION, SOMEONE MAYBE "ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. TOYOTA YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS.

ODI #10839876VISIBILITY/WIPER

STARTING IN OCTOBER OF 2015 AND CONTINUING TO THIS DAY, THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REFUSES TO STAY IN THE FULLY UPRIGHT/TUCKED TO THE HEADLINER POSITION PRESENTING A VISIBILITY PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. WHEN TURNING LEFT, IT GETS DRAMATICALLY WORSE AND COMPLETELY BLOCKS MY VIEW, REQUIRING ME TO REMOVE MY LEFT HAND FROM THE WHEEL TO LIFT THE VISOR OUT OF THE WAY AND COMPLETE THE TURN ONE HANDED. THIS IS SITUATION IS UNSAFE ON A MULTITUDE OF LEVELS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA.

ODI #10794337SERVICE BRAKES

2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED WAS EXPERIENCING CONCERNING BRAKES BEGINNING TO LURCH FORWARD, BRAKE PEDAL STIFFNESS, AND ASSOCIATED NOISE. IN SHORT, THE ISSUE IS A CRITICAL LOSS OF ASSISTED BRAKING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN TEXAS AND WAS INSTRUCTED THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR HAD FAILED. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THIS FAILURE IS FAIRLY COMMON IN TOYOTA HYBIRDS FROM 07 (BOTH HIGHLANDER AND CAMRY). THE HIGHLANDER ABS ACTUATOR COMPONENT IS IDENTICAL TO THE ABS ACTUATOR IN THE 2007 CAMRY HYBRID THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A NHTSA INVESTIGATION WHICH CULMINATED IN 2014 WITH TOYOTA ISSUING AN ENHANCED WARRANTY PROGRAM COVERING THE 2007 CAMRY HYBRID (NHTSA INVESTIGATION PE 14-001, CONDUCTED BY KAREEM HABIB). WAS INFORMED THAT OTHER OWNERS OF 2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE SHOWS THAT THESE ISSUES ARE QUITE UBIQUITOUS IN THE 07 HYBRID MODELS. THIS PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. I SUBSEQUENTLY RELOCATED FOR WORK TO THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA AND CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD OFFER A FIX OR COVER THE REPAIR. WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE CAR INTO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE ISSUE IS A FAULTY ABS ACTUATOR (DESIGN DEFECT) AND THE COST OF REPAIR/REPLACEMENT WOULD BE $3506.02. DEALERSHIP SENT TOYOTA CORPORATE THE INFORMATION AND REQUESTED THAT THEY REPAIR BE COVERED. TOYOTA CORPORATE DENIED COVERAGE OF THE REPAIR. WAS ALSO INSTRUCTED BY TOYOTA CORPORATE THAT DESPITE THE FACT THEY HAD REQUESTED THAT I TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, I OWED $129.95 FOR THE MECHANICAL INSPECTION. THE FAILURE OF ASSISTED BRAKING PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. THIS ISSUE WAS RECOGNIZED BY NHTSA IN IT'S AFOREMENTIONED INVESTIGATION OF IDENTICAL FAILURES IN THE 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT NHTSA INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE 07 HIGHLANDER HYBRID ABS ACTUATOR.

ODI #10785245STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

ODI #10775915SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT IT TOOK A LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VSC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

ODI #10761382ENGINE

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS CAR. WE HAVE CHANGED THE OIL AND OIL FILTER AS REQUIRED BY TOYOTA. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL THE LAST FEW MONTHS. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE ARE GOING THROUGH MULTIPLE QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. WE NEVER HAD TO ADD OIL PREVIOUSLY. SEARCHING ONLINE I SEE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I ALSO READ THAT TOYOTA WON'T FIX IT. WANTED TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS IN THE HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL BE FORCED TO FIX THIS ISSUE.

ODI #10659509VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR DROPPED FROM THE UP OR STORED POSITION TO THE DOWN POSITION WHILE MAKING A TURN, PARTIALLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THE VISOR NOW WILL NOT STAY IN THE STORED POSITION.THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR IS BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF THE SAME FAILURE. *TR

ODI #10651797SUSPENSION,ENGINE

WATER PUMP BROKE, SUSPENSION LEAKING, BEARINGS BROKEN, ENGINE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED. *TR

ODI #10649233VISIBILITY/WIPER

FAULTY 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUN VISOR. MY DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAS FALLEN DOWN, AND WONT TIGHTEN. THE SUN VISOR IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE ROD IT IS SUSPENDED FROM. CURRENTLY, THE VISOR HAS FALLEN IN FRONT OF MY LINE OF VISION WHICH OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW WHILE DRIVING. MY WIFE AS WELL AS MY YOUNG TEEN DAUGHTER HAS ALSO COMPLAINED AND ALSO STATES SOMEDAY IT MAY MAKE THEM CRASH DUE TO NO VISIBILITY WHEN IT HAPPENS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED CONCERNING TOYOTAS DEFECTIVE SUN VISORS ON 2007 HIGHLANDERS. HOW MANY MORE COMMENTS ARE NEEDED BEFORE TOYOTA WILL ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE SUN VISORS? I HOPE IT WILL BE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, AND BEFORE THERE IS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. *TR

ODI #10637949VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW FAILED TO CLOSE OR OPEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

ODI #10622577WHEELS,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES AT VARYING SPEEDS, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND WHEELS SHAKE. HAPPENS ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. HAPPENS WHEN ROADS COMPLETELY DRY. SEEMS LIKE A FLAW AND I'M WORRIED OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

ODI #10550644VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE HANGS DOWN CREATING A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. *TR

ODI #10544859VISIBILITY/WIPER

SUN VISOR DROPS AT ANY GIVEN TIME DUE TO POOR DESIGN. PROBLEM STARTED WAY BEFORE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED.

ODI #10524938VISIBILITY

THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE "LOST" IT'S SPRING AND HANGS DOWN CREATING A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. *TR

ODI #10514727VISIBILITY

I AM WRITING CONCERNING MY 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SUN VISOR. MY DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAS FALLEN DOWN, AND I SEE NO WAY TO TIGHTEN IT UP. IT APPEARS THE SUN VISOR IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE ROD IT IS SUSPENDED FROM. CURRENTLY, THE VISOR HAS FALLEN TO RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY LINE OF VISION WHICH OBSTRUCTED MY VIEW WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHICH WAS RATHER FRIGHTENING. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. I SAW ONLINE WHERE OVER 2.4 MILLION TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE POSTED COMMENTS CONCERNING THEIR DEFECTIVE SUN VISORS. HOW MANY MORE COMMENTS ARE NEEDED BEFORE TOYOTA WILL ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE SUN VISORS? I HOPE IT WILL BE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, AND BEFORE THERE IS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. *TR

ODI #10510619VISIBILITY

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAS STARTED TO DROOP DOWN, UNABLE TO BE PUT IN FULL UPWARD POSITION. THIS HAS BEEN GETTING INCREASINGLY WORSE OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. A WEBSITE I VISITED FOR HELP SUGGESTED REPORTING IT TO NHTSA. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT HANGS DOWN AT FOREHEAD LEVEL WHEN DRIVING AND CAUSES A SERIOUS DISTRACTION. THE WEBSITE CONTAINED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT REPLACING IT FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS DOES NOT PREVENT A FREQUENT RECURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM. ON THE 2007 MODEL, A LIGHTED MIRROR IS THE ONLY EQUIPMENT CONTAINED IN THE VISOR ITSELF. *TR

ODI #10511115POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, LEFT REAR AXLE SNAPPED OFF AND FELL OFF VEHICLE. THE TRANSFER ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THERE IS NO EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THIS HAPPENED AND IF THERE ARE OTHER DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE DRIVE TRAIN.

ODI #10502572STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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. ***I 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. *TR

ODI #10502569STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

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. *TR

ODI #10491637VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCRASH1 INJURY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,299.

ODI #10491537VISIBILITY

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DROPPED INTO FIELD OF VISION. DEALER SAYS THIS HAPPENS A LOT WITH HIGHLANDER MODELS. VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP OR DOWN BUT RESTS IN BETWEEN, WHICH DEFEATS ITS INTENDED USE AND INTERFERES WITH DRIVER VISION. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR AS DEFECT. *TR

ODI #10486162STRUCTURE,WHEELS

2007 HIGHLANDER WHEELS ARE RUSTING SO BAD THAT 2 OF 4 TIRES ARE LOSING AIR PRESSURE. THIS 2007 WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM TOYOTA. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED A 2002 HIGHLANDER WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I SEARCH ONLINE AND SEE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE WITH TOYOTA WHEELS. WHEELS SHOULD NOT RUST THIS BAD IN THIS SHORT A PERIOD OF TIME AND MILEAGE. LUCKILY WE HAD NO SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I MONITOR OUR VEHICLES CLOSELY. LOW TIRE PRESSURE COULD DEFINITELY CAUSE A SAFETY CONCERN FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT MONITOR THEIR CARS AS CLOSELY AS I DO. I FEEL TOYOTA HAS A QUALITY AND A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE WHEELS. *TR

ODI #10475365SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING ON DOUBLE R BOULEVARD IN RENO AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY LOSS BRAKES. I HAD TO PUSH VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL STUMPED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT IN USE AND THE BRAKE WILL FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN NOT WORK. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. I MANAGE TO PARK THE CAR AT A NEARBY SMITH'S. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE CAR TO THE RENO TOYOTA (DEALER) , WHERE THEY TOLD US IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE NEXT DAY THEY TOLD US THE REPLACEMENT DIDN'T SOLVED THE PROBLEM AND THE BOOSTER HAD TO BE REPLACED, THIS PROBLEM SOUNDS VERY FAMILIAR TO THE RECALL OF TOYOTA ON 2004-2006 MODELS BUT TOYOTA WON'T ASSIST US WITH THE REPAIRS. WE ARE JUST THANKFUL THAT WERE NOT ON THE FREEWAY WITH OUR KIDS. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION WHEN YOU REALIZE THERE ARE NO BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE DEFECTIVE PARTS ($1,750). *TR

ODI #10472390POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE THE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE TRANSMISSION INITIALLY DID NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

ODI #10471183SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE OR STOP. THE CONTACT THEN ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AGREED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 73,933.

ODI #10465935ENGINE

MY 2007 TOYOTA HIGLANDER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ENGINE SLUDGE EVEN THOUGH THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AT THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVALS. *TR

ODI #10459894ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* 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.

ODI #10454987VISIBILITY

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR DROPS AND REMAINS DOWN AT ALL TIMES PREVENTING DRIVER FULL VISABILITY. THE MECHANISM TO KEEP THE SUN VISOR PROPPED AGAINST CAR CEILING HAS FAILED. *TR

ODI #10449738STEERING

AT 68,000 MILES, MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER STEERING HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE. THE STEERING WHEEL PLAY IS ABOUT TWO INCHES. DEALER TELLS ME NO RECALLS, BUT, AFTER MAKING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE UNITS, ONE BAD ONE IS BOUND TO OCCUR. UNFORTUNATELY, I GOT THE BAD ONE. DEALER ADMITS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. IT IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I AM 73 YEARS OLD AND DRIVE VERY CAREFULLY. NO ACCIDENTS OR ABUSE OF THE VEHICLE. NO TICKETS OR ACCIDENTS IN 55YEARS. WHY WOULD A VEHICLE I HAVE MAINTAINED WELL AND TAKEN CARE OF SUDDENLY DEVELOP A BAD STEERING RACK? ESPECIALLY SINCE TOYOTA CLAIMS TO HAVE EXCELLENT RELIABILITY. I DO NOT FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE. IT WONDERS ALLOVER THE ROAD. *TR

ODI #10438010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID, V6, 4X4 --- ON NOVEMBER 23RD, 2011, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00AM, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY ON I-5 SOUTH IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, BUT NOT ENGAGED BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC WAS TOO HEAVY. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES-PER-HOUR, GOING UPHILL. UNEXPECTEDLY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO KEEP THE CAR AT THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC AND EXAMINED MY CABIN FOR CLUES OF THE PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION LEVER WAS STILL IN "D". I TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THAT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. I MOMENTARILY RELEASED THE BRAKE AND USED MY RIGHT FOOT TO ENSURE THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT STUCK. IT WAS NOT. DURING THAT TIME THE ENGINE POWER METER JUMPED UP TO FULL POWER AROUND 200 KW. I RE-APPLIED THE BRAKES TO DECELERATE AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED, I SHIFTED TO "P" AND TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. SOME SMOKE APPEARED FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS, WHICH I PRESUMED WAS FROM THE BRAKES. I THEN EXAMINED THE FLOOR MAT, BUT IT WAS NOT OUT OF POSITION. I WAITED ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND TURNED THE KEY BACK TO THE ON POSITION AND THE "READY" SIGNAL ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM WAS GONE. I DROVE ABOUT 15 MILES TO THE NEXT EXIT AND STOPPED FOR GAS. I CHECKED THE OIL, COOLANT, AND BRAKE FLUID LEVELS, WHICH WERE ALL GOOD. THE PROBLEM DID NOT RE-OCCUR DURING THE ADDITIONAL 250 MILES THAT I DROVE DURING THAT DAY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. I CALLED "CROWN TOYOTA", WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE THERE. HE TOLD ME THAT HE DID NOT KNOW OF ANY OTHER ACCELERATION PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THOSE THAT WERE FLOOR MAT RELATED. *TR

ODI #10423974ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* 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.

ODI #10402176SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WITH SLIGHT HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR ONE WEEK TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT ON THE MODEL YEARS 2004-2006 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: MASTER CYLINDER). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 06/16/11*LJ UPDATED 06/27/11

ODI #10391828VISIBILITY,TIRES

2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE GOVERNMENT HAVING A STIPULATED DEFINITION AND SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS BEFORE ANY AUTOMOBILE CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS A CERTIFIED PRE- OWNED VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SPLIT OPEN DOWN THE TREAD, DUE TO THE TIRE BEING DRY ROTTED. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER BLADE FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. *JB

ODI #10379468POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH UPHILL WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO THE CONTACTS ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AT A LOWER SPEED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOT A FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING UPHILL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

ODI #10374603SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED HE WOULD NEED TO BLEED THE BRAKES AND CHANGE THE OIL. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST, AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT HER EXPENSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

ODI #10354624STRUCTURECRASH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HOOD DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE. SHE WASN'T ABLE TO SEE THE DISTANCE OF OBJECTS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE, A PARKED VEHICLE, AND A FENCE. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE FRONT HOOD DESIGN BECAUSE OF VEHICLES THEY RECEIVED WITH FRONT END DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

ODI #10331534SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

I PURCHASED A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, HYBRID IN SEP OF 2009. I HAVE NOTICED AN INTERRUPTION IN ENGAGING THE BRAKES EVERY TIME I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. TOYOTA SAYS THIS IT A NORMAL DELAY BETWEEN THE MECHANICAL AND ABS ENGAGING. I AM A LONG TIME DRIVER AND THIS IS VERY UNSETTLING. *TR

ODI #10329319SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCRASH1 INJURY

SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKES ON A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CAR REAR ENDED A TRUCK. DRIVER BROKE RIGHT BRAKING ANKLE. NO SKID MARKS. DRIVER'S HEAD HIT STEERING WHEEL EVEN THOUGH AIR BAG DEPLOYED. BELIEVE AIR BAG ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. *TR

ODI #10325874VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TRAVELING OVER SLIGHT ROAD BUMPS, THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WOULD FALL DOWN, OBSTRUCTING HIS LINE OF VISION. THE DEALER ADVISED REPAIRS TO THE VISOR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD ONLY BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

ODI #10321819SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHEN NEW I HAD NO DIFFICULTY WITH THE BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE. THEY PERFORMED WELL, AND I NEVER FELT ANXIETY THAT MY BRAKES "WOULDN'T BE THERE" WHEN NEEDED. BUT OVER THE PAST YEAR THIS HAS CHANGED. AT FIRST I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT, AND WAS LOWER TO THE FLOOR. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO WESTBURY (NY) TOYOTA. THEY MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS WHICH APPEARED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. THEN, ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN BEGAN TO FEEL SOFT. IN ADDITION, IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SINK ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE DEPRESSED. THIS WOULD HAPPEN MAIN;Y WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE (STOP SIGN OR LIGHT), BUT OCCASIONALLY ALSO HAPPENED WHILE USING MODERATE BREAKING TO CONTROL VEHICLE SPEED WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO MARIETTA (GA) TOYOTA. THEY MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, WHICH SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, A FEW WEEKS LATER THE BRAKES BEGAN AGAIN TO EXHIBIT THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THIS BECAME EXTREMELY ALARMING WHEN, WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE, I WAS UNABLE TO FULLY STOP BEFORE MY VEHICLE TRAVELED INTO THE NEAR LANE OF CROSS TRAFFIC. I AGAIN BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MARIETTA TOYOTA. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, AND TOLD ME THE MASTER CYLINDER IS DESIGNED TO RELEASE PRESSURE WHILE THE PEDAL IS HELD. I OPENED A TICKET WITH TOYOTA (#1003232005), BUT I AM CONCERNED THEY MAY SAY THE BRAKES ARE WORKING CORRECTLY, EVEN THOUGH THEY CLEARLY SEEM UNSAFE TO ME.

ODI #10317745FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCRASH

ON MAY 9, 2007 WE PURCHASED A NEW 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. ABOUT A MONTH LATER IT UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND RAN THROUGH THE END OF OUR CARPORT WHILE BEING DRIVEN IN TO PARK. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF IT. THE AUTO SUSTAINED ABOUT $650 IN DAMAGES AND THE CARPORT RECEIVED SIMILAR MONETARY DAMAGES. ABOUT A MONTH LATER WE HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT WHILE PARKING IN A PARKING LOT. AT FIRST WE ATTRIBUTED THE INCIDENTS TO MY WIFE'S FOOT SOMEWAY SLIPPING OFF THE BRAKES AND ON TO THE ACCELERATOR. NOW, AFTER THE RECENT NATIONAL PUBLICITY, WE ARE NOT SO SURE. PERHAPS THE ACCELERATOR MECHANISIM OR SOFTWARE IN THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE IN THIS MODEL TOYOTA ALSO. IN THE MEAN TIME, I NOW WONDER IF THIS MODEL VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I WILL BRING THIS ISSUE UP TO OUR TOYOTA DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION WILL BE USEFUL IN HELPING THE GOVERNMENT AND TOYOTA TO SOLVE THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. *TR

ODI #10315290VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCRASH

PARKING MY 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IN MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK. I GO TO PARK AND MY GAS PEDAL IS STUCK AND ACCELERATED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES RESULTING IN $3000 TO MY VEHICLE AND UNKNOWN AMOUNT TO THE OTHER TWO VEHICLES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT HAS ONLY OCCURRED ONCE SO FAR. *TR

ODI #10314571POWER TRAIN

MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2007 (7 SEATS) STALLS SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL BUT IT IS BECOMING VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT STALLS FOR A SEC OR 2 EVERYTIME YOU SLOW AND TRY TO ACCELERATE AFTERWARD. IT STALL MAINLY AT YIELD SIGN, WHEN SLOWLY TRYING TO CRUISE INTERSECTIONS AND WHEN YOU TRY TO PASS ON HIGHWAYS. I READ MANY STORY ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

ODI #10313027VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN WHICH AN INCREASE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN NORMAL OPERATION. THIS WAS A ONE TIME FAILURE OCCURRENCE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

ODI #10311366VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITYCRASH

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT HAD MAT ENTRAPMENT--I HAD AFTER MARKET MATS AS NONE WERE GIVEN TO ME WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE--I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA CORPORATION AND HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AT DEALERSHIP AND REP SAID THERE WAS NO DEFECT IN MY ACCELERATOR--THE VEHICLE HAD ACCELERATED AND I HIT A PICNIC TABLE AND 2 BIRD FEEDER AND A FENCE IN MY YARD BEFORE I GOT THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT MY ACCELERATOR AS THE 2007 IS NOT ON RECALL BUT I FEEL IT SHOULD BE--THEY DID NOT EXPLAIN THAT TO ME JUST TOLD ME THAT MY FLOOR MAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN--I REALIZE THAT BUT I WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTION--I BLEW A MICHELIN TIRE AND HAVE DAMAGE TO MY BUMPER--TOTAL COST--ABOUT $600 ACCORDING TO TOYOTA GARAGE--NO ANSWER FROM THEM EXCEPT TO SAY THIS WAS MY FAULT. *TR

ODI #10310567POWER TRAIN

I CANNOT BELIEVE TOYOTA IS FINALLY BEING HELD TO TASK. IN 2007 I SENT YOU A COMPLAINT ABOUT TRANSMISSION HESITATION PROBLEMS IN THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. IT WAS SO SEVERE, MY WIFE REFUSED TO DRIVE IT, FEARING A COLLISION ON HIGHWAY ENTRY AS THE CAR HELD BACK AND THEN LURCHED FORWARD. DESPITE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET UNDER TRANSMISSION HESITATION FOR TOYOTA, TOYOTA REFUSED TO ADMIT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND STILL DOES! WITH OTHER PROBLEMS NOW COMING TO LIGHT, I HOPE YOU WILL RE-LOOK AT THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED BECAUSE OF IT, SINCE THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY THING THAT GENERATES THESE INVESTIGATIONS AS ARE NOW GOING ON. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AND THEY ARE ALL EXACTLY THE SAME- NOT LIKELY IF THE PROBLEM ISN'T REAL. *TR

ODI #10310616STRUCTURE

I PARKED THE CAR AT MY WORK AND LOCKED MY TOYOTA 2007 HIGHLANDER. EVERY TIME THERE IS A RAIN , I SEE THE WATER LEAKING INTO INTERIORS. THIS HAPPENED FEW TIMES. *TR

ODI #10307824VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 6-CYL LIMITED RUNNING UNDER CRUISE CONTROL WILL SLOWLY BEGIN TO ACCELERATE WHEN "RESUME" IS PRESSED IN ORDER TO GET BACK UP TO THE CRUISING SPEED. HOWEVER AS THE SPEED NEARS (WITHIN 4-5 MPH) THE CRUISING SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS RESULTING IN A HAZARDOUS QUICK ACCELERATION THAT REQUIRES BRAKING OR QUICKLY TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS OCCURS REGULARLY DURING HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE PROBLEM CAN ONLY BE AVOIDED BY MANUALLY RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO CRUISING SPEED BEFORE PRESSING RESUME. THE DEALER STATES THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ODI #10306258FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ACCELERATION & DE-ACCELERATION PROBLEM: WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN FORWARD MOTION, ON A HIGHWAY, AND I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO RAPIDLY SPEED UP, THERE IS AN APPROXIMATELY ONE SECOND TIME DELAY IN THE VEHICLES RESPONSE TO MY REQUEST TO ACCELERATE. FREQUENTLY, THIS DELAY HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ON THE OCCASIONS THAT I WANT TO SPEED UP TO PASS A VEHICLE, OR TO CHANGE LANES OR TO AVOID A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SITUATION, THIS DELAY IS VERY STARTLING. BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLES RESPONSE DELAY, I THEN SOMETIMES SUDDENLY TAKE MY FOOT OF THE ACCELERATOR TO CANCEL MY ACCELERATE REQUEST. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE, AFTER ITS INITIAL ACCELERATION DELAY, WILL THEN ACCELERATE FOR JUST A MOMENT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOW JUST TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. IN MY ALMOST 50 YEARS OF DRIVING MANY VEHICLES, ACCELERATORS ALWAYS RESPONDED INSTANTLY. THAT'S BECAUSE THERE WAS A LINKAGE CABLE THAT MECHANICALLY CONNECTED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE CARBURETOR. NOW, IN THIS TOYOTA, IT IS COMPUTER CONTROLLED. WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS DELAY TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, THEY TESTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED ME THAT EVERYTHING IS OPERATING NORMALLY. HOWEVER, THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE ACCELERATION IS NOW COMPUTER CONTROLLED AND THE COMPUTER IS OPERATING AS INTENDED. I INSISTED THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND THAT THE COMPUTER SHOULD NOT QUESTION MY DECISION TO ACCELERATE WHEN ==> I <== WANT TO ACCELERATE. I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS AND THAT THIS IS HOW IT IS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM A TOYOTA DEALER. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS EXISTED. *TR

ODI #10306385FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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. *TR

ODI #10306679POWER TRAIN

MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED [2007] HAS A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. IT IS NOT IN THE CURRENT RECALL. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM 6/5/08. WHEN I AM IN CRUISE CONTROL, THEN BRAKE, THEN PRESS THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM TO RETURN TO CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR SOMETIMES SURGES AHEAD AT SPEEDS MUCH FASTER THAN THE SET CRUISE CONTROL SPEED. I DO NOT TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT ALL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. HAS HAPPENED 10 - 15 TIMES. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 19,500 MILES. THE TOYOTA DEALER WENT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH ME IN JUNE 2008 BUT THE SURGING DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE TEST DRIVE. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN BUT SINCE IT WAS NOT HAPPENING AT THE TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, I WAS NOT WRITTEN UP. HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I USE CRUISE CONTROL TO RESUME SPEED. ALL INSTANCES HAVE BEEN IN HIGHWAY DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT SEEMS ELECTRONIC TO ME. |OCCURRENCE IS ERRATIC. *TR

ODI #10304405ELECTRICAL SYSTEMCRASH

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. AA

ODI #10303487SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF OUR 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WE HAVE HAD BRAKE DECELERATION ISSUES. THE BRAKES SEEM TO OCCASIONALLY SKIP, THEN LURCH FORWARD AS SOON AS THE BRAKING SYSTEM INITIATES. WHILE I HAVE NOT GOTTEN INTO ANY ACCIDENT, I HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO BRAKING EARLY IN PREPARATION FOR STOPPING. IT HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS (BETWEEN 5-45MPH) ALTHOUGH THAT IS WHEN I'M MOST LIKELY TO COME TO A FULL STOP. NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AT FULL HIGHWAY SPEED. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO THEM, THOUGH THEY WOULD TAKE A LOOK. AFTER READING POSTS OF IDENTICAL BRAKING ISSUES, AND WITH THE ACCELERATION ISSUES IN CONSIDERATION I FEEL IT BEST TO FILE A COMPLAINT FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. *TR

ODI #10296093VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCRASH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHEN ENTERING A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT INTENTION. CONSEQUENTLY SHE CRASHED INTO A SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INSTALLED A SECONDARY HOOK TO SECURE THE FLOOR-MAT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50398. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50998.

ODI #10290939VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES AT 5 MPH THE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD OVER A STONE LEDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP , BUT THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18000.

ODI #10290973ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE WOULD OCCASIONALLY REV MAKING BRAKING MORE FORCEFUL. HE SPECULATED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSTIC TESTING EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE TO DETECT THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 42,000. UPDATED 02/1710 *BF UPDATED 02/19/10 UPDATED 03/02/10 THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS ENGINE IDLE, NOT ACCELERATING OR BRAKING. UPDATED 03/22/10.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WAS NOT DUE TO A STUCK ACCELERATOR, BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALSO RUNS THE HYBRID MOTOR. THE HYBRID MOTOR IS NOT ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE LIKE THE GAS ENGINE. IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS THE PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL RUN AWAY IN ELECTRIC MOTOR. THEREFORE, IT IS DEFINITELY AN ENGINE PROBLEM, NOT AN ELECTRIC MOTOR OR ELECTRIC GENERATOR. AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE AND THE HYBRID ELECTRIC MOTOR. UPDATED 04/09/10.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AGAIN. UPDATED 05/03/10

ODI #10286638STRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. MICE ENTERED THE VEHICLE ENGINE AND CHEWED THE WIRE RELAY. AS A CONSEQUENCE, WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE IT WAS IN LIMP MODE; WHICH CAUSED SUDDEN VEHICLE DECELERATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE 29,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS AVAILABLE.

ODI #10285021VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCRASH3 INJURIES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A PARKING SPACE, THE ALL WEATHER FLOOR MATS THAT HE PURCHASED IN 2007 CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK. AS A CONSEQUENCE HE CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. HE AND THREE OTHER OCCUPANTS WERE INJURIED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,212.

ODI #10282199SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ROTORS WERE RUSTING AND THE PADS WERE WORN DUE TO THE WINTER WEATHER. THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS HAD RUST ON THEM AND THEY WERE STUCK TOGETHER DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER. WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS A PULSATING AND UNEVEN FEELING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS STATED THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE. THERE WERE RELATED RECALLS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE FOR OTHER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL TOYOTA'S. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, HE DOESN'T KNOW WHO WILL ASSUME THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28000.

ODI #10280359VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCRASH2 INJURIES

MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN MY TOES AND BOTTOM OF MY FOOT AND THE BOTTOM OF AN OPEN-TOED SHOE AND I COULD NOT PULL MYSELF FREE TO STOP MY CAR AND I RAN INTO A STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT AN INTERSECTION, WHICH WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR. I WAS TRAVELING VERY SLOWLY, BUT MY ACTIVITY IN TRYING TO FREE MY FOOT CAUSED MY CAR TO ACCELERATE SOME. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE. WHEN I TOLD A NEIGHBOR SHE SAID THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED TO HER, BUT THAT SHE WAS NOT OUT IN TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. I NOTICED THAT BOTH OF OUR VEHICLES HAVE VERY NARROW ACCELERATOR PEDALS, AND THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ANYONE. I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING WITH SANDALS SINCE THEN, BUT A GREAT MANY PEOPLE DO. *TR

ODI #10273900TIRES

AT 22,356 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE THE BRAND WAS TOYO TIRES. *TR

ODI #10263754TIRES

TOOK CAR FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT AT 12,500 MILES THE TIRES ON OUR 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHERE WORN OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE TIRES ARE A TOYO TRANPATH A11 225 70 R 16. *TR

ODI #10249647AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCRASH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, STRUCK A CURB, CROSSED THE MEDIAN, AND CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BUMPER AND DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHIN 30 DAYS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 12/15/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER THE POILCE WERE NOT CALLED. UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB

ODI #10245144TIRES

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH THE REAR TIRE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FELL APART. THE TIRE SEPARATED AT THE SIDE WALL. MY WIFE MANAGED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER WAS NO HELP. WE FEEL THAT THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND WANT TO REPLACE THEM. TIRES-TOYO P225 70R16 101S M+S 97H1407 THESE TIRES HAD ONLY 19800 MILES ON THEM. *TR

ODI #10233537ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE 12-VOLT BATTERY IN HER VEHICLE. ON AT LEAST TEN OCCASIONS, THE 12-VOLT BATTERY WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT WOULD ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER. SHE HEARD OF INSTANCES WHERE OTHER PEOPLE'S VEHICLES COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING; THEREFORE, SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT IT COULD EVENTUALLY HAPPEN TO HER. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CHARGED THE BATTERY AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

ODI #10228770TIRES

TIRE WENT FLAT DUE TO FAILURE OR BREAKDOWN OF SIDE WALL. *TR

ODI #10227128EQUIPMENT

2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID WITH 45,000 MILE ON IT. UNPROTECTED AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS - COST ME $1300 TO FIX AT DEALER. I FOUND OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS ON INTERNET WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEM. ALSO APPEARS TO BE PROBLEM ON TOYOTA COROLLA (TOYOTA ISSUED TSB AC002-06 ON THIS). CLEARLY DEFECTIVE DESIGN - ABSOLUTELY NO PROTECTION IN FRONT OF A/C CONDENSER WHICH IS MOUNTED VERY LOW WITH BIG OPEN HOLES IN SHROUD IN FRONT OF IT. ALMOST FORMS A FUNNEL FOR COLLECTING ROCKS, BROKEN TIRE CHUNK'S, ETC. FROM ROADWAYS AND HAVING THIS DEBRIS PUNCTURE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER. COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. RESPONSE ABYSMAL. AND WE WERE A TOYOTA FAMILY - CURRENTLY OWN TWO OTHER TOYOTAS. SHAME ON TOYOTA. *TR

ODI #10224430FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

SLOW THROTTLE RESPONSE UPON TAKE-OFFS. CAN BE HAZARDOUS IN A NEED TO QUICKLY GET OUT OF A SITUATION FROM A STANDING STOP OR SLOW ROLLING TAKE OFF. *TR

ODI #10214672POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SHIFT AT RANDOM TIMES. AT A STOP IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY AND THE HIGHLANDER WILL COAST TO SPEED, AT OTHER TIMES I TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR LAUNCH OFF LIKE A RACE CAR. WHEN COASTING IT SEEMS TO SHIFT AT RANDOM TIMES AND SOME TIMES SPEED UP WHEN I WANT TO SLOW DOWN BY HITTING BRAKES. THIS SEEMS TO RISK A COLLISION. *TR

ODI #10211935ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SLOW INTERMITTENT DRAIN ON TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2007 AUXILIARY BATTERY. SINCE APRIL 2007, THE BATTERY HAS DIED 5 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED WITH NEW BATTERY, NEW DVD PLAYER BUT STILL CANNOT IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE BATTERY DRAW. *TR

ODI #10210128ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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. *TR

ODI #10207094TIRES

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

ODI #10204479ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

ODI #10197552ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

ODI #10196960ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

ODI #10193154ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

ODI #10187309TRAILER HITCHES

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

ODI #10176219ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. *NM

ODI #10176069POWER TRAIN

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 END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. FIGHTING WITH CAR TO SLOW DOWN. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS CAR IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. *JB

Annual complaints and reliability score for TOYOTA Highlander — recall years marked in red
09180501002016201020062009201220152018202120242026Complaints/yrReliability (0–100)
Annual complaints (left axis)
Reliability score 0–100 (right axis, higher = safer)
Crash-involved complaints that year
Recall issued
Chart Analysis

The blue line shows 123 total NHTSA complaints filed over 19 years, with the worst year being 2010 (18 complaints, including 6 crash reports).

The amber reliability line shows an improving trend — scores have risen from the earlier years toward 75/100 more recently, suggesting the most serious issues are older and may have been addressed through repairs or recalls.

The red dashed lines mark recall issuance — the first recall came 4 years after owners began filing complaints, a lag that indicates the manufacturer was slow to formally acknowledge these problems.

Red dots on the amber line flag 4 years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2013) where complaints included crash events — these are the highest-severity incidents in the dataset.

Details & Analysis
Financial
$51,614
~$860/mo over 5 yrs
$0.2/mi
cost per mile
Fuel
$10,000
Insurance (est.)
$7,500
Maintenance
$23,000
Repair Risk Buffer
$6,000
Depreciation
$5,114

Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $51,614 (~$860/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.

4 open recalls (unverified repair status)−$2,000
3 recalls over 2 years old — likely uncompleted−$1,200
Total recommended deduction−$3,200
HIGH
Verify recall SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER has been repaired
Recall on record for: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2
HIGH
Verify recall SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER has been repaired
Recall on record for: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2
HIGH
Verify recall EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS has been repaired
Recall on record for: GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FED
HIGH
Verify recall EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS has been repaired
Recall on record for: SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT
MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic
For any used vehicle with a risk score above Low, a $100–$150 independent inspection is always worth it.
MEDIUM
Run a VIN check on NHTSA.gov to confirm all recalls are closed
Free at nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/recalls — enter the VIN and confirm all campaigns show as completed.
MEDIUM
Verify title is clean and check for salvage/rebuilt brands at your state DMV
Title washing across state lines is common — confirm with your state DMV before finalizing purchase.
15%
18-month
28%
2-year
Low Probability
Cumulative 2-year risk: 28%

15% baseline recall probability — no strong indicators of an imminent recall.

  • Multiple prior recalls — pattern of safety issues on this model

Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.

Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.

History & Auctions
Full Coverage
$1,270–$1,620/yr
~$106–$135/mo
Liability Only
$560–$710/yr
~$47–$59/mo
Category: Standard Vehicle
19-year-old vehicle: −28% (lower ACV reduces comprehensive/collision cost)

Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.

TOYOTA has been fined $1217M+ by NHTSA. Most recently in 2014: Criminal settlement — concealed unintended acceleration defects for years before recall.

2014$1200MCriminal settlement — concealed unintended acceleration defects for years before recall
2012$17MFailure to promptly notify NHTSA of power window defect

Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.

Vehicle Identity

VINJTEEW21A470049814
Model Year2007
MakeTOYOTA
ModelHighlander
TrimSTD/Base
SeriesMHU23L/MHU28L
Vehicle TypeMULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)

Body & Configuration

Body StyleSport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
Doors5
Seat Rows7
Drive Type4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
Fuel TypeGasoline

Engine

Engine Cylinders6
Displacement (L)3.3

Manufacturer

ManufacturerTOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
Assembly CityMIYAWAKA
Assembly CountryJAPAN

VIN Structure

WMI (Chars 1–3)JTE
Check Digit (Char 9)4
Model Year Code (Char 10)7
Plant Code (Char 11)0
Sequence (Chars 12–17)049814

Safety Data

NHTSA Recall Count4
NHTSA Complaint Count123
J
1
T
2
E
3
E
4
W
5
2
6
1
7
A
8
4
9
7
10
0
11
0
12
4
13
9
14
8
15
1
16
4
17
WMI (1–3)
VDS (4–8)
Check Digit (9)
Model Year (10)
Serial (11–17)
J
World Manufacturer
Country & region of manufacture
Position 1
T
Manufacturer
Specific manufacturer identifier
Position 2
E
Vehicle Type
Division or vehicle type
Position 3
EW21A
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Body style, engine type, restraint system
Position 4–8
4
Check Digit
Mathematical validation character
Position 9
7
Model Year
Year of manufacture
Position 10
0
Assembly Plant
Where the vehicle was assembled
Position 11
049814
Production Sequence
Unique serial number for this vehicle
Position 12–17
Country of Manufacture
Japan
From VIN position 1 (J)
Model Year Character
"7" → 2007
Unambiguous model year
Check Digit (Pos 9)
✓ Valid
ISO 3779 weighted-sum algorithm

Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 5/16/2026, 12:40:06 PM.