Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC | |||
| 05/09/2010 | 42300 | ||
| I have a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid that i purchased on april 2010 with a little over 40k miles. i noticed at low speeds and when going over bumpstrain tracks a slip in the braking of the suv for 1 or 2 second or less. this issue is very easy to reproduce..just drive it over a bumpy road or train tracks and this braking issue will occur. i've read online this issue had something to do with the regenerative brakes and hydralic braking systems and the transfer between the two at low speeds. if this is the case i feel that this is a manufacture defect and a safety issue. if i need to stop really fast on a bumpy road and i have a 1 or 2 second delay in stopping i could end up in an accident. | |||
| 08/16/2010 | 40384 | ||
| My wife was parked in front of our apartment building, idling with her foot on the brake, when our 2006 toyota highlander hybrid suddenly accelerated and crashed into a gate. before the car crashed, she repeatedly applied the brake and even put the car in park. the car did not stop. after the impact, the engine continued to rev and accelerate before finally stopping. this had never happened before. the body has been repaired, but per toyota, nothing mechanical or electronic has been touched. last week toyota sent a specialist out to inspect the car and download data. we were present at the time, and 5 dtc codes displayed. the descriptions displayed on the investigator's lap top mentioned vehicle speed sensors on right wheel and left wheel, the emps, body ecu switch circuit and low or high power supply voltage. the car was test driven, and no errors or codes were reported. the car is now waiting to be taken to a dealer to be reviewed and fixed. | |||
| 08/01/2010 | 40000 | ||
| 2006 toyota highlander hybrid braking problems occurred on several occasions. the brakes would momentarily fail while braking at 35 to 40 mph. | |||
| 04/15/2010 | 59166 | ||
| I have an 06 highlander hybrid, a have problem with its brakes it losses it grip for 1 second or less on light braking and sometimes it surges before the brakes hold. this happened usually in the morning at cold starts occuring 3-4 times a week. i complined to a toyota dealeship and they told me that it is because of the transition from regenerative to traditional braking. i just felt not safe because it might lead to accident. | |||
| 03/17/2010 | 67063 | ||
| We've owned the car for about a year and this problem has happened to my wife and i both while driving. while braking the brake pedal rises against your foot and the vehicle surges forward then as you apply more force the pedal goes down and the vehicle stops suddenly. it happens intermittently and the brake wear and fluid levels have always been fine, it seems to be a problem with the power assist to the brake maybe as the hybrid model engine starts because it seems to happen when braking after coasting so the engine would be off but as the brakes are applied about halfway through the normal stop you feel the brake pedal get hard and then normal again. during the brake pedal hardness the speed of the vehicle increases which reacts in a harder brake pedal pressure but by then the assist is back and the stop is sudden. this could cause both an accident from hitting someone during the loss of brake and from behind because of the sudden stop. | |||
| 02/09/2010 | 1 | ||
| My highlander hybrid 2006 model has trouble with slippage when i brake. i notice it mainly at low speed, leaving my neighborhood in the morning. it is happening a lot lately, and this could be because of the cold weather we are having in charlotte (based on what i have read in the forums, cold weather could be a factor). this has been happening for a very long time, but i am noticing that this is happening a lot more often lately. *tr | |||
| 02/03/2010 | 0 | ||
| Brake hesitation similar to 2010 toyota prius. *tw | |||
| 01/15/2010 | 35000 | 1 | |
| My 2006 highlander hybrid brakes do not grab immediately when i am driving forward and going over a pot hole or train tracks while braking to reduce my speed. this occurs any time i am in that situation. it is even more noticeable when turning and braking while going over a pot hole or train tracks. i have asked the dealer to check this out 2-3 times. they don't seem to test drive it, just test the brakes and say they are okay. *tr | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||
| 08/12/2008 | 10000 | 1 | |
| My 2006 toyota highlander hybrid lurches forward when you first apply the brakes at about 20-25 mph or less, giving the sensation of losing braking power. the brakes also squeak when pedal applied and have since i purchased the car. now has 65,000 miles. prius aside, the problem can be dangerous and dealer says simply knows nothing about the problem and no one else complains. just look at your complaints as well as hundreds all over the internet. let's try to fix the problem before there is a death which gets someone's attention at your office. thank you. below date is irrelevant. happens all the time and has for years. *tr | |||
| 09/01/2009 | 1 | ||
| I purchased a 2006 highlander hybrid limited in september 2009. fairly often when i apply the brakes at lower speeds, the suv surges forward like the brakes have released for a moment and then have reapplied. it is dangerous and very disconcerting in close traffic or when going around a corner or circle. although i have managed not to have a collision, i have come pretty close when driving with a reasonable distance from the car in front. i have described it to toyota, which denies there is any problem. i have had it serviced without any problem with the brakes being identified. this is a problem that is noted by many people on the internet who describe the exact problem with my model as well as other hybrids manufactured by toyota. it is a defect that could cause a serious accident if emergency braking is necessary, which at some point we all need to do to be safe on the road. please address this with toyota. *tr | |||
| 10/22/2006 | 7000 | 1 | |
| Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) my 2006 toyota highlander hybrid [xxx] sometimes surges forward before stopping at speeds between 20-35 mph. i reported the problem to my local dealer, superior toyota, erie, pa on 1/11/07 (mileage 10,072). they said i was experiencing the change from electronic to hydraulic brakes. on 11/07/07 i complained again (mileage 24,335). this time they updated the ecu logic per tsb eg030-07. on 3/25/08 they said there simply was no problem. in summer 2008, palmiero toyota in meadville, pa told me the sensation was caused by the fly by wire system, and it was not a problem. when i heard about the prius braking problem, i began worrying again. i called superior toyota on 2/23/10. they told me my car was not part of the recall, and there was nothing they could do for me. any vehicle that surges forward rather than slowing when the brakes are applied is a safety issue. i am sending a letter of complaint to toyota motor sales usa. *tr | |||
| 10/20/2008 | 29000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated that while braking at various speeds, the brake system would slip and the vehicle failed to slow down unless she depressed the brake pedal again. she noticed that the failure occurred an average of 2-3 times a week. she took the vehicle to the dealership twice and the dealer stated that they could find nothing wrong with the braking system. she also called the manufacturer and was told that it was a normal behavior for hybrid vehicles. the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. the current mileage was approximately 40,000. the failure mileage was approximately 29,000. updated 03/15/10 *bf updated 05/12/10.*jb | |||
| 02/01/2010 | 46000 | 1 | |
| I have a toyota highlander hybrid purchased jan 2006. periodically i experience brake surging as i've read described by prius owners. this is a random event that occurs when first applying the brake. i've reported it several times to my dealer and the reply is toyota says there is no problem with the brakes. the last time was two weeks ago. since toyota has a fix for the prius i hope you'll will encourage them to address the highlander hybrid problem. by the way, i am an engineer and recognize a problem when i experience it. *tr | |||
| 02/15/2010 | 60000 | 1 | |
| My 2006 toyota highlander hybrid has a persistent problem with the brakes. the problem resembles that reported by prius drivers. specifically when i am riding the brakes, on an downhill, as i approach a stop, etc, if i hit a pothole or a bump in the road the brakes suddenly release and the vehicle feels like it is lurching forward for a moment. it is a frightening sensation of losing control. this problem happens on a daily basis. i live at the top of a steep hill and experience the problem everytime i leave home. it has not caused an accident but i believe it could in an emergency stopping situation. *tr | |||
| 02/11/2010 | 1 | ||
| I own two 2006 toyota highlander hybrids. after hearing about the braking recall issued recently for the prius, we are now both 100% sure that the same problem exists in both of our vehicles. the vehicle will suddenly lunge forward for about a second when braking, especially when the road surface is bumpy. we had previously written it off to our imagination, but the problem definitely exists in the 2006 highlander hybrid. wondering when the recall will be... *tr | |||
| 02/01/2007 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2006 highlander hybrid 4wd. surge when braking and going over bumps. since 2007, on many repeated occasions, when i go over bumpy roads and braking, i have been experiencing a slight acceleration surge when braking. every time i bring my highlander into the toyota dealer i ask if they know about the problem, what causes it, and if there is any service information or bulletin on it. form notes>>i checked service brakes..this applies to the regular braking system-this term is not clear. as to what mileage--this is a continuing ongoing problem so there is no way to indicate that answer in your boxes. similarly this has happened at a wide range of speeds, 15-35 mph so your form does not provide a way to indicate that. *tr | |||
| 02/06/2010 | 1000 | 1 | |
| 2006 toyota highlander hybrid- a delay when the brakes were pressed in cold conditions and on some bumpy roads. *tr | |||
| 06/15/2006 | 100 | 1 | |
| We purchased a new 2006 highlander hybrid in june of 2006. the problem we have encountered is when the car is slowing down when braked and the rear end gets bounced by rough pavement. the brakes will fade and the stopping takes a few feet longer than expected. we took the car back to the dealer kerry toyota, and were told that they did not find any problems. we will both say that the panic heavy brake pedal braking mode on this vehicle is amazing and works quite well. we love this car and have adjusted to it; but with anticipated longer stops on rough roads, or potholes! we like the car so well that we recently purchased the 2010 prius. after the 1st servicing of the prius, we did notice a high pitched squeal in the rear brakes. we are anxiously awaiting solutions to the toyota braking problems that have been reported by their customers. *tw | |||
| 02/05/2010 | 60000 | 1 | |
| 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. problem with non linear hand off from regenerative braking to regular braking that occurs routinely. i was told that it was nothing to worry about, but now see that ford has a recall of its hybrids with similar problem. do other highlander owners have a similar problem? is this at all related to the currently reported 2010 prius braking problems? *cn | |||
| 02/01/2006 | 5000 | 1 | |
| Braking problem - 2006 toyota highlander hybrid when applying brakes, electrical regeneration begins. but, if you go over a bump the regeneration drops out. this results in an estimated (by me) 25% reduction in braking power. the driver must then apply additional brake pressure to regain stopping power. this occurs constantly and has been reported numerous times to my dealer. was told that this is the way it was designed to work. *tr | |||
| 07/01/2006 | 500 | 1 | 06/10/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. while driving 20 mph over a bump in the road and applying the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated. the brakes began operating normally immediately after driving over the bump. the failure has occurred approximately 50 times. the dealer was contacted and stated that was a normal response for a hybrid vehicle. no repairs have been made to the vehicle. the failure mileage was 500 and the current mileage was 51000. updated 4/5/10 *cn updated 06/04/10 | |||
| 02/04/2010 | 71014 | 1 | |
| During braking i experienced a slipping of the braking system when the car hits rough road or bumps. | |||
| 02/04/2010 | 1 | 1 | |
| I have a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. repeatedly since i purchased this vehicle, and as recently as today, i have experienced the exact same type of braking issues now being investigated with respect to the toyota prius. when braking on an uneven or wet surface, the car will jerk forward unexpectedly and i will feel as if the brakes are failing. i have complained to the dealer and to service and they deny the problem. *tr | |||