Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM - INVERTER | ||||||
| PE11005 | TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION | 02/15/2011 | 07/20/2011 | Hybrid inverter failure - vehicle stall | 11V342000 | |
| In a june 29, 2011 letter to nhtsa, toyota submitted a defect information report regarding a safety recall of certain toyota highlander hybrid and lexus rx400h vehicles to address a defect condition with the hybrid inverter assembly (nhtsa recall no. 11v-342).toyota's letter identified a defect related to inadequately soldered transistors on the intelligent power module (ipm) of some of the subject vehicles that could result in sudden loss of power while driving.toyota's remedy procedure instructs dealers to inspect the hybrid inverter production number to determine if the inverter contains suspect transistors.if so, the dealer will replace the ipm.the recall covers approximately 45,528 model year (my) 2006 and 2007 toyota highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured from february 16, 2005 through august 29, 2006 and approximately 36,745 my 2006 and 2007 lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured from february 23, 2005 through august 30, 2006.this preliminary evaluation is closed. | ||||||
| PE11005 | TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION | 02/15/2011 | Hybrid inverter failure - vehicle stall | |||
| The office of defects investigation has received 32 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year 2006 toyota highlander hybrid electric vehicles.approximately two-thirds (21) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more.twenty-six reported that the vehicle could not be restarted or that it was towed to the dealership.the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with all but one received within the past year.none of the complaints alleged that the incident resulted in a crash or injury.a preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM - INVERTER | |||
| 02/20/2013 | 146000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated that the inverter/converter hybrid system would shut down while the vehicle was being driven at any speed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who inspected the vehicle and advised the contact that the inverter/converter needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and advised that they would contact him within a few days. the failure mileage was 146,000. | |||
| 11/30/2011 | 60000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact was driving 10 mph when the contact crashed into a curb and the power steering failed. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the power steering and the hybrid computer system failed. the manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileages were 60,000. | |||
| 09/01/2011 | 88000 | ||
| Pulling out of a parking space at a low rate of speed. car came to an immediate and abrupt halt. could not be restarted. | |||
| 07/24/2011 | 79950 | ||
| While driving through virginia foothills, the entire electrical system on my hybrid stopped working. i had significantly reduced braking ability, no power steering and was in heavy traffic. this could have been a very serious incident if i had to stop for an emergency. i slowly pulled over shut the system down and after a while the warning lights and warning buzzer went off. | |||
| 06/03/2011 | 70000 | ||
| 2006 toyota highlander hybrid power inverter failure - a $9,000 repair. my 2006 highlander hybrid came to a dead halt last friday afternoon going just over 40 mph on a busy street in austin, tx. the engine would run, but it would not move in any gear. i had it towed to the toyota dealer on i-35 and it was diagnosed with a failed power inverter - a $9,000 repair. it has 70k miles and i just purchased it for $18k a couple of months ago. the original owner purchased an extended warranty to 100k miles, so very fortunate that this very expensive repair was covered including a free rental car for the week it was in the shop. i will definitely purchase another warranty when this one expires as who can afford this type of repair on a used vehicle! i am considering selling this vehicle and took it ti the same toyota dealer that replaced the power inverter to give me a trade in appraisal. they ran a car fax history report on it and there is no indication that the car has had the power inverter replaced! they show it serviced on the date of the repair, but did not indicate that the power inverter had been replaced - are they trying to hide this problem????? | |||
| 06/25/2011 | 66000 | ||
| We were driving our 2006 highlander hybrid from virginia to ohio. we pulled to the side of the oh turnpike just before mile marker 218 to change drivers as the past few service stops were closed for renovations. we did not turn off the vehicle. when the new driver pressed on the gas pedal to return to the highway, the car made a funny sound then the dashboard lit up with alternating errors for the hybrid system and vsc system. the car was frozen and would not move. we had to have it towed to a dealership. there were no injuries. several days later, the vehicle is still at bedford toyota in oh being awaiting delivery & replacement of the inverter. there were no prior warnings or indications of problems with the vehicle. in fact, it had just been in for its 65,000 mile check-up two weeks earlier. | |||
| 06/26/2011 | 85000 | ||
| Driving north on interstate 75 near warner robins, ga in our 2006 highlander hybrid. going 75 mph in the left lane when the dashboard lit up with vsc, check hybrid, and esp lights. immediately lost all power. no power steering, limited breaking, no acceleration. barely avoided a catastrophic accident (4 people in my car) and made it to the breakdown lane. towed to a local toyota dealer by aaa. car has 85000 miles on it and toyota diagnosed a faulty inverter. it is being covered as a warranty repair. waiting for completion of repairs in georgia to complete drive home to nebraska (all the while incurring non-trivial expenses for hotel, rental car, etc.). | |||
| 06/03/2011 | 70000 | ||
| 2006 toyota highlander hybrid power inverter failure - a $9,000 repair. my 2006 highlander hybrid came to a dead halt last friday afternoon going just over 40 mph on a busy street in austin, tx. the engine would run, but it would not move in any gear. i had it towed to the toyota dealer on i-35 and it was diagnosed with a failed power inverter - a $9,000 repair. it has 70k miles and i just purchased it for $18k a couple of months ago. the original owner purchased an extended warranty to 100k miles, so very fortunate that this very expensive repair was covered including a free rental car for the week it was in the shop. i will definitely purchase another warranty when this one expires as who can afford this type of repair on a used vehicle! i am considering selling this vehicle and took it ti the same toyota dealer that replaced the power inverter to give me a trade in appraisal. they ran a car fax history report on it and there is no indication that the car has had the power inverter replaced! they show it serviced on the date of the repair, but did not indicate that the power inverter had been replaced - are they trying to hide this problem????? | |||
| 06/25/2011 | 66000 | ||
| We were driving our 2006 highlander hybrid from virginia to ohio. we pulled to the side of the oh turnpike just before mile marker 218 to change drivers as the past few service stops were closed for renovations. we did not turn off the vehicle. when the new driver pressed on the gas pedal to return to the highway, the car made a funny sound then the dashboard lit up with alternating errors for the hybrid system and vsc system. the car was frozen and would not move. we had to have it towed to a dealership. there were no injuries. several days later, the vehicle is still at bedford toyota in oh being awaiting delivery & replacement of the inverter. there were no prior warnings or indications of problems with the vehicle. in fact, it had just been in for its 65,000 mile check-up two weeks earlier. | |||
| 06/26/2011 | 85000 | ||
| Driving north on interstate 75 near warner robins, ga in our 2006 highlander hybrid. going 75 mph in the left lane when the dashboard lit up with vsc, check hybrid, and esp lights. immediately lost all power. no power steering, limited breaking, no acceleration. barely avoided a catastrophic accident (4 people in my car) and made it to the breakdown lane. towed to a local toyota dealer by aaa. car has 85000 miles on it and toyota diagnosed a faulty inverter. it is being covered as a warranty repair. waiting for completion of repairs in georgia to complete drive home to nebraska (all the while incurring non-trivial expenses for hotel, rental car, etc.). | |||
| 06/03/2011 | 70000 | ||
| 2006 toyota highlander hybrid power inverter failure - a $9,000 repair. my 2006 highlander hybrid came to a dead halt last friday afternoon going just over 40 mph on a busy street in austin, tx. the engine would run, but it would not move in any gear. i had it towed to the toyota dealer on i-35 and it was diagnosed with a failed power inverter - a $9,000 repair. it has 70k miles and i just purchased it for $18k a couple of months ago. the original owner purchased an extended warranty to 100k miles, so very fortunate that this very expensive repair was covered including a free rental car for the week it was in the shop. i will definitely purchase another warranty when this one expires as who can afford this type of repair on a used vehicle! i am considering selling this vehicle and took it ti the same toyota dealer that replaced the power inverter to give me a trade in appraisal. they ran a car fax history report on it and there is no indication that the car has had the power inverter replaced! they show it serviced on the date of the repair, but did not indicate that the power inverter had been replaced - are they trying to hide this problem????? | |||
| 06/25/2011 | 66000 | ||
| We were driving our 2006 highlander hybrid from virginia to ohio. we pulled to the side of the oh turnpike just before mile marker 218 to change drivers as the past few service stops were closed for renovations. we did not turn off the vehicle. when the new driver pressed on the gas pedal to return to the highway, the car made a funny sound then the dashboard lit up with alternating errors for the hybrid system and vsc system. the car was frozen and would not move. we had to have it towed to a dealership. there were no injuries. several days later, the vehicle is still at bedford toyota in oh being awaiting delivery & replacement of the inverter. there were no prior warnings or indications of problems with the vehicle. in fact, it had just been in for its 65,000 mile check-up two weeks earlier. | |||
| 06/26/2011 | 85000 | ||
| Driving north on interstate 75 near warner robins, ga in our 2006 highlander hybrid. going 75 mph in the left lane when the dashboard lit up with vsc, check hybrid, and esp lights. immediately lost all power. no power steering, limited breaking, no acceleration. barely avoided a catastrophic accident (4 people in my car) and made it to the breakdown lane. towed to a local toyota dealer by aaa. car has 85000 miles on it and toyota diagnosed a faulty inverter. it is being covered as a warranty repair. waiting for completion of repairs in georgia to complete drive home to nebraska (all the while incurring non-trivial expenses for hotel, rental car, etc.). | |||