Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||||
| TSB-0047-10 | 01/28/2010 | 10033553 | Toyota: some vehicles equipped with 2gr-fe engines may exhibit a mil on condition with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0351, p0352, p0353, p0354, p0355, p0356 (ignition coil primary/secondary circuit) stored in the engine control module/ecm | 08/23/2010 | |
| TSB-0184-09 | 06/24/2009 | 10032729 | Toyota: vehicles with 2gr fe engines may exhibit a mil on condition with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0505 stored in the engine control module or ecm (sae term: powertrain control module/pcm). *pe | 05/05/2010 | |
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT | |||||
| TSB-0031-11 | 04/27/2011 | 10038978 | Ready | 06/29/2011 | |
| TSB-0031-11 | 04/27/2011 | 10038978 | Toyota: 2008-2011 highlander. there may be an oil leak in the front gears due to a manufacturing process. *rm | 06/29/2011 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||
| 03/01/2008 | 100 | 1 | |
| 2008 toyota highlander fails to shift into gear. most occurrences at low speed after slowing to 5mph vehicle does not respond to gas pedal - or will not engage into gear and move forward. this occurs or is most noticeable at slow speeds when the gas pedal is pushed after having slowed down or in the midst of a slow down (not a complete stop) usually to wait for traffic to clear. occurred with every driver of the vehicle (4). most notable (scary) while my daughter was turning and trying to get out of the way of traffic. car would not engage in gear, rpm increase, car reves up, but will not move forward out of the way of traffic. my daughter screamed. taken to dealer at least twice. and continue to call and complain. dealer states they had experts look at car, rebooted computer (because car responds to driver that drives the most!). said nothing is wrong or can be done. dealer has admitted that engaging is slow, noticeable. failure to engage occurs daily. consequence - in danger of not being able to move car out of the way of oncoming traffic. nothing was done to repair. computer re-set. (this is what i was told) vehicle also has experienced trouble while driving up hill. rpm went to 4000 + and would not change gears. on freeway and slowing down. had 6 high school girls in car. also has dropped into gear heavily. *tr | |||
| 03/01/2008 | 100 | 1 | |
| This is an intermittent problem with acceleration we have had with our toyota highlander since we purchased the vehicle. when accelerating, the vehicle will periodically over-rev before the automatic transmission shifts into the appropriate gear. this results in a momentary lack of acceleration. again this is an intermittent problem. when taken to the toyota dealer, they say they cannot recreate the problem and that there is nothing that they can see that is wrong with the vehicle. *tr | |||
| 05/02/2009 | 2000 | 1 | |
| 2008 low mileage toyota highlander sticking accelerator pedal. my accelerator got stuck at full throttle. i'm sure it was not the mats; i did not have any. the mileage was very low at the time, unlike what the recall is addressing. it has not happened since. *tr | |||
| 04/13/2008 | 4000 | 1 | 12/01/2007 |
| Tl*the contact leases a 2008 toyota highlander. while driving approximately 20 to 25 mph, the brakes failed. the contact had to swerve to avoid striking other vehicles. he then heard a loud bang. there were no warning lights. he pulled off the road and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the dealer stated that the transmission axle failed. the manufacturer will send an investigator to inspect the vehicle. the current and failure mileages were 4,000. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 11/14/2010 | 12000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. the contact stopped at a stop sign and the engine started to race. the engine at this point only raced, the contact was unable to go forward or backwards. the contacts mechanic came and was able to get the vehicle to the contacts home. the vehicle was then towed to the dealer and the dealer said the transmission dropped out of the vehicle because the front axle had broken. the vehicle was being repaired at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage and the current mileages was 12000.rl | |||
| 01/12/2010 | 31077 | ||
| 2008 toyota highlander purchased used toyota certified 9-3-09 fails to shift into gear. most occurrences at low speed after slowing to 5mph vehicle does not respond to gas pedal - or will not engage into gear and move forward. this occurs or is most noticeable at slow speeds when the gas pedal is pushed after having slowed down or in the midst of a turn into a parking spot. wife has also complained about transmission not engaging into gear when car is first started up acts like you didn't shift it into gear. we have also noted transmisson doesn't always seem to disengage when slowing from highway speeds 55 mph. feels like it is draging car to stop. there is a noticeable whine between 55 - 62 mph. talked to dealer mechanic and he said that was normal everything is controled by computers. we are going to take it back in this week and complain about the transmission slipage. we have also had a issue with the toyo tires. at 28,345 they were down to 5/32 to 4/32. they have major problems in snow and heavy rain with loss of traction. when esc kicks on in the snow on a turn do to sliding at slow speed it makes matters worse be better off with it turned off. | |||
| 09/14/2009 | 12000 | 1 | 08/07/2008 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. the contact was backing out of the residence driveway on a slight incline. the driver stepped out of the vehicle while the gear shifter was placed in the reverse position and within three seconds the vehicle rolled over top of the driver. the ambulance was called to the scene. the driver was transported to the hospital and sustained severe injuries to the left leg and chest area. there was no damage to the vehicle. the cause of failure has not been determined. the failure mileage and vin were unknown. updated 4/5/10 *cn the consumer stated she stepped out of the vehicle not realizing it was in gear. it stayed stationary for several seconds before running her over. updated 05/11/10. | |||
| 12/05/2009 | 20000 | 1 | |
| I am leasing two toyota vehicles ... a 2008 toyota highlander and a 2009 toyota camry. during december 2009 i experienced problems with the 2008 toyota highlander transmission and sudden acceleration while braking. details include a transmission noise rattle while driving on a california freeway at about 60 mph. this transmission noise continued for 3-4 minutes, sounding louder as if a part was loose inside of the transmission. i shifted the transmission on the 2008 highlander between gears and the noise eventually stopped. the second complaint on the 2008 toyota highlander occurred on december 5, 2009, while i was parking the vehicle. as i approached the parking place, with my foot covering the brake pedal, i experienced unexpected acceleration while braking. the 2008 toyota highlander suddenly lurched without warning and would have continued to accelerate through a plate glass window at the bank if i didn't apply full force of the brake! i was able to apply the brake firmly enough to overcome the sudden acceleration in order to stop the vehicle in time. carlsbad, california toyota of carlsbad was notified on december 9, 2009 in writing regarding these two issues. i had personally delivered a two page document detailing both of these complaints to the toyota of carlsbad service department. i have not received any response from my complaint by toyota of carlsbad or the toyota motor corporation. *tr | |||
| 01/02/2009 | 14000 | 1 | |
| When the front of the car is on a downward slope and it is shifted into reverse it will roll forward the same as a manual transmission will do when the clutch is depressed. the brake has to be applied with one foot while the other foot is pressing on the accelerator. the could cause injury and or property damage if parked close to person or property. the slope angle does not have to be a steep incline for this to occur. the toyota dealership was notified of the issue and stated they were not aware of this as a problem and it was a normal occurrence for the car to roll forward. *tr | |||
| 04/12/2009 | 5000 | 1 | |
| 2008 toyota highlander. the vehicle will roll forward when the vehicle and transmission are positioned in reverse, if the front of the vehicle is on a downward slope. *tr | |||
| 03/01/2008 | 1 | ||
| 2008 toyota highlander with transmission problems. consumer states that the vehicle will roll forward when the vehicle and transmission are positioned in reverse, if the front of the vehicle is on a downward slope. he also states that the hill holder feature doesn't work on a downward slope. *kb | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||
| 02/10/2010 | 9000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. while driving at speeds of 5 mph in snowy weather, the vehicle began to loose traction, causing the vehicle to spin. the contact stated that he engaged the brakes and was able to stop the vehicle with the suspension traction control. the traction control had to be shut off before he was able to accelerate. the contact stated that he believed that the failure was contributed to the weight distribution axle. there were no repairs made to the vehicle and the manufacturer had not been contacted. the failure mileage was 9,000 and the current mileage was 12,000. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE | |||
| 12/21/2009 | 3792 | 1 | |
| Sudden acceleration of new highlander 2008 model. i had reported for the first time i feb 19, 2009 when i took the car for service that there is something wrong with acceleration, as it runs at a higher speed. they checked & i was told there is nothing wrong by the dealer.my wife who never had any accidents got involved in an accident on dec. 21,2009 when as she was parking the car accelerated suddenly & hit the building in front. the impact was so great the people that were working in that building came out to see what happened. inspite of wearing seat belts, her chest hit the steering wheel she was in severe pain. after emergency visit, she did not have any fractures, but bruises of ribs. she was so scared she was afraid to drive for weeks. it took more than 8k for repairs.the car still has the same problems &we are at a loss what to do. she is driving with caution locally until this problem is resolved. when we contacted 2 dealers, we are told the car is manufactured in japan & it is not on recall list. we try to contact numerous times without success. need help in returning this car to toyota , as it is a serious hazard . *tr | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||
| 12/21/2009 | 3792 | 1 | |
| Sudden acceleration of new highlander 2008 model. i had reported for the first time i feb 19, 2009 when i took the car for service that there is something wrong with acceleration, as it runs at a higher speed. they checked & i was told there is nothing wrong by the dealer.my wife who never had any accidents got involved in an accident on dec. 21,2009 when as she was parking the car accelerated suddenly & hit the building in front. the impact was so great the people that were working in that building came out to see what happened. inspite of wearing seat belts, her chest hit the steering wheel she was in severe pain. after emergency visit, she did not have any fractures, but bruises of ribs. she was so scared she was afraid to drive for weeks. it took more than 8k for repairs.the car still has the same problems &we are at a loss what to do. she is driving with caution locally until this problem is resolved. when we contacted 2 dealers, we are told the car is manufactured in japan & it is not on recall list. we try to contact numerous times without success. need help in returning this car to toyota , as it is a serious hazard . *tr | |||