NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Toyota Highlander. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
THE CAR KEEPS LUNGING FORWARD AS THE BRAKE IS BEING PRESSED AT TIMES. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IN SNOWY AND SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. I WAS FORCED ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AS THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A STOP. THE CAR BRAKE STOPPED WORKING BRIEFLY AND THE CAR INSTEAD JERK FORWARD. I CALLED TOYOTA ON 3/1/2021 WHO CLAIMED IT IS PART A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM TO REPAIR AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND NOT CLASSIFIED AS A RECALL AND WILL THEY WILL NOT MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THIS IS A DEFINITE RECALL AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ASAP. I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD, SNOWY CONDITIONS, AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP GOING DOWNHILL WHEN THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AS THE BRAKE WAS BEING APPLIED.
On January 19, 2021, after driving for about two hours, I suddenly started to hear an unusual knocking noise from the engine. I slowed down, but I was unable to pull over immediately because I was driving on a very dark two lane highway, with no safe shoulder. After the same noise continued for about five to ten minutes, a light began to flash indicating extremely low oil pressure, and warning that the car should stop immediately. At that point, fortunately, I was able to pull over at a gas station, where I discovered that oil was gushing from my engine onto the ground. I checked my oil dipstick and noted that the car had no oil, and was thus inoperable. I was extremely concerned that the engine had been damaged while being driven with little to no oil. In 2014, Toyota issued a notice of a Warranty Enhancement Program – ZE2, related to extending warranty coverage for repairs related to a leaking or seeping engine oil cooler pipe. I never received any owner notification of this issue in 2014. Toyota refused to pay for the repair in 2021, and now in November 2021, the engine has quit due to the damage incurred in January 2021. The engine oil cooler pipe is defective and my family could have been seriously injured or killed by its catastrophic failure.
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A SHORT TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHEN A HOSE ON THE ENGINE OIL COOLING ASSEMBLY BURST. THIS RESULTED IN ALL OF THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE BEING DRAINED IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. NO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS A RESULT OF THIS. I DIDN'T DISCOVER THE ISSUE UNTIL PULLING BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY IN WHICH THERE IS AN INCLINE. THEN THE LIGHT INDICATING LOW OIL PRESSURE FINALLY CAME ON. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE DIPSTICK TO BE COMPLETELY DRY. I ALSO FOUND A SLOW DRIP OF OIL UNDER THE CAR (ONLY SLOW SINCE IT WAS ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL REMAINING). I THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE BACK HATCH OF THE VEHICLE WERE COVERED WITH OIL. MY DAUGHTER AND I ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE OIL THAT COVERED THE VEHICLE DID NOT CATCH FIRE AND AS FAR AS I KNOW THE OIL SLICK ON THE HIGHWAY DID NOT CAUSE ANY ACCIDENTS. I AM NOW BEING TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT IT IS NOT LISTED AS A RECALL. NOT ONLY DID THEIR KNOWN ENGINEERING ISSUE PUT MY FAMILY AND OTHER FAMILIES' LIVES IN DANGER, THEY ARE ALSO NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THAT THEIR KNOWN DEFECT CAUSED. THERE IS A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT" THAT WAS ISSUED BY TOYOTA FOR THIS DEFECT. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE WAS ISSUED TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF MY VEHICLE AND I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO HAD OTHER WORK PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THEN AND WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT OR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT. I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW A MANUFACTURER CAN KNOW A DEFECT EXISTS THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE ENGINE SEIZURE, FIRE AND ACCIDENTS, BUT NOT ISSUE A RECALL. INSTEAD THEY LIMIT THE NOTICE TO A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT" WHICH ISN'T CAUGHT BY THE DEALERSHIP FROM A VIN CHECK.
STEERING WENT OUT ALL OF ASUDDEN WITHOUT NOTICE,ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH,,MY SPEED WAS LEGAL SPEED IN TEXAS 80MPH,,,ALSO A THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND FELT LIKE BRAKES WERE GOING TO BE APPLIED,,TURNED ENGINE OFF, RESTARTED CAR AND ABS BRAKE LIGHT WENT OFF
WHILE DRIVING ON I40 NEAR TEXAS/NM STATE LINE, OIL COOLER LINE FAILED RESULTING IN THE HIGHLANDER DUMPING OIL ON THE ROADWAY FOR OVER A MILE BEFORE IT WAS NOTICED. PULLED OFF IMMEDIATELY, SAW OIL POURING OUT FROM BOTTOM PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE COVER. EXTERIOR LOWER PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR OF VEHICLE WERE ALSO COVERED IN OIL. NO DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS EVER WARNED OF ISSUE. THIS LEFT US STRANDED ON SIDE OF BUSY INTERSTATE WITH HEAVY SEMI TRAFFIC FOR HOURS WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TO A SHOP FOR REPAIRS, WHERE WE HAD TO WAIT A DAY FOR THE PART. COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE TOYOTA KNEW OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN THAT COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND DEATH, AND CHOSE NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL! WILL BE SEEKING LEGAL ACTION.
THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY NORTH ON INTERSTATE 81 AT 1:00 AM. WE WERE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 75 MPH. IN MY DRIVER-SIDE MIRROR, I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE A MIST GETTING KICKED UP BEHIND THE CAR AND COVERING THE REAR WINDOW. IN THE DARK, I COULDN'T TELL IF IT WAS WATER OR SOME OTHER LIQUID. THE ROAD WAS DRY SO MY WIFE AND I PLANNED TO GET OFF ON THE NEXT EXIT AND INSPECT THE CAR, WE HAD CHILDREN IN THE CAR, AND STOPPING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DID NOT SEEM SAFE. WHILE WE WERE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT EXIT, I KEPT LOOKING FOR INDICATOR LIGHTS TO COME ON AND CHECKING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO SEE IF I COULD DISCERN IF THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STAYED WITHIN NORMAL LEVELS. THEN AFTER A FEW MINUTES, ABOUT 5-6 MINUTES, THE ENGINE SEIZED. ALL OF THE INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DISPLAY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VSC SYSTEM. THANKFULLY THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN ON THE EMERGENCY BLINKERS AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. WHEN FINALLY WE GOT THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE OIL COOLANT LINE HAD "BLOWN" AND OUR ENGINE HAD SEIZED FROM A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL. TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT THE CAR ALSO DISPLAYED THE VSC WARNING SO WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO BEAMAN TOYOTA WHERE WE PAID 1818.60 TO HAVE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE WATER PUMP AND DRIVE BELT REPLACED. KNOWING WE WERE GOING ON THE ABOVE TRIP WE HAD ALL THE RECOMMENDED REPAIRS PERFORMED SO WE COULD BE CONFIDENT IN THE CAR DURING OUR TRIP.
THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THE PULSATE WGEN YOU START TO PRESS ON THEM. THEN WHILE ENGAGING THE BRAKES IT WILL FEEL LIKES ITS GRABBING THEN IT RELEAES AND THE PEDAL FEELS LIKE IT HAS NO PRESSURE IN IT. THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, ALL THE LIGHTS ARE ON FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AND NOW IT HAS A LONG HIGH PITCH BEEP WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON OR APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BREAK PEDAL.
2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SHOWED CODE P0A1B - DRIVE MOTOR 'A' CONTROL MODULE, THE CODE WAS CLEARED MANUALLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF, THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 3 MILES THEN PARKED. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WENT OFF ON ITS OWN AS WE TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND HAS NOT BEEN BACK ON SINCE DRIVING IT THERE AND BACK, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DROVE AROUND A LITTLE AND THE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, WE BROUGHT IT HOME AND HAVE DRIVEN ABOUT 7 MILES WITHOUT THE LIGHT COMING ON. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE TOYOTA THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR OUR VIN BUT IT IS SHOWING ALL SIGNS OF THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY RECALL THAT AFFECTED 235,000 VEHICLES IN THE RECALL. TOYOTA QUOTED THE REPAIR AT $9000+ AND EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES THEY WILL NOT FIX IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE REPAIR COST IS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR.
I HAD AN ENGINE OIL COOLER HOSE RUPTURE AT 131000 MILES. I LEFT AN OIL SLICK A MILE LONG ON THE STREET CAUSING A HAZARD IN THE ROAD AND A MESS IN MY GARAGE. ENGINE OIL HAD SPRAYED ALL OVER THE LOWER HALF OF THE ENGINE AND ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH WAS HEAVILY SMOKING AND I NOTICED A SMALL FIRE DOWN IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SO I HAD TO POUR WATER ON THE FIRE. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR A GOOD 7 YEARS BECAUSE I RECEIVED A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE" (ZE2) IN 2014 STATING THAT THE OIL COOLER HOSE COULD SPRING A "LEAK" AND THEY WERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR SAID PART TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. BUT TOYOTA PLAYED DOWN THE SEVERITY OF THE ISSUE STATING THAT A MAJORITY OF VEHICLES WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART WOULDN'T FAIL. TOYOTA KNEW THAT THE RUBBER HOSE WILL FAIL ON ALL VEHICLES DUE TO THE HEAT/COOL CYCLE BY ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (ABOUT 6 INCHES AWAY) SO THEY REDESIGNED THE OIL COOLER LINES TO BE ALL METAL. ALL TOYOTA/LEXUS VEHICLES WITH THE 2GR-FE ENGINE (2007-2011) WILL EXPERIENCE THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE RUBBER OIL COOLER HOSE(S) OVER TIME AND I'M SURE VEHICLE FIRES HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED DUE TO THIS KNOWN DESIGN FLAW.
MILEAGE ON 2008 HIGHLANDER SPORT IS 159226. WIFE ADJUSTED STEERING TELESCOPE/TILT WHEN SLOWING TO STOP SIGN. STEERING WHEEL COLUMN CAME OFF IN HER LAP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SMOKE WAS SUDDENLY PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT HOOD BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. AFTER STOPPING AND EXAMINING UNDER THE HOOD IT WAS DISCOVERED NO OIL WAS PRESENT IN THE ENGINE AND OIL HAD SPILLED ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE OIL COOLER LINE HAD BURST CAUSING OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,652.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRACTION SENSOR CAME ON. FOLLOWED BY A WARNING OF CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND VCS SYSTEM. AND CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.
HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2008 WE WERE DRIVING ON A COUNTRY BACK ROAD. IN IDAHO, WE HAD JUST STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND WENT TO DRIVE FORWARD AFTER GOING AROUND 100-200 METERS AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THEN THE SCREEN WITH ALL THE WARNINGS BEGAN GOING OFF. ALL OF THEM SAYING PULL OVER TOT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THAT ALL THE SYSTEMS WERE FAILING. ALL THE WARNINGS SAID THINGS TO TAKE THE CAR TO DEALER. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TRIED TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD BY PUTTING IT IN DRIVE AND YOU COULD HEAR THE CAR TRYING TO DO SOMETHING BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR DID TURN ON BUT THAT WAS IT.
CLUNKING NOISE FROM STEERING COLUMN STARTED IN JULY OF 2020 AND IS GETTING WORSE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 130000. I MOSTLY HERE THE NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALSO FEEL THE CLICK IN THE STERRING WHEEL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE RUPTURED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, SHUTOFF THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE OIL WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE INSPECTION CONFIRMED THE DRIVER'S ASSESSMENT. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A MANUFACTURER'S EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE ON SIMILAR VEHICLES HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,156.
DEAR SIR/MADAM THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER /CAMRY AND SIENNA HAVE A OIL COOLER LINE WHICH IS MADE OF RUBBER AND EXPLODE DUE TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF THE OIL. ALL THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN CAUSING OIL TO BE LEAKED ALL OVER THE ROADS OF AMERICA WITH TOYOTA NOT HAVING ISSUED A RECALL. YEARS 2008 - 2013 .THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS. *TR
I HAVE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2008. MY CAR IS MAKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WHENEVER I HIT THE BRAKE REGARDLESS OF IF THE CAR IS MOVING OR HALT. INITIALLY TOYOTA SERVICE GUYS SAID THAT THE SOUND IS EXPECTED AND NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY CAR BUT DURING MY LAST VISIT TO THEM THEY MENTIONED MY ABS ACTUATOR AND MOTOR HAS GONE BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS AROUND $3200. I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT THE SIMILAR CASES AND I REQUEST TOYOTA TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL TO REPLACE THE PAT 'ABS ACTUATOR AND MOTOR'. PRIOR MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND ALTHOUGH 2008 USES THE SAME COMPONENTS , IT HAS NOT BEEN RE-CALLED.
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASHED AND THEN THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. IT SAID THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM TO PULL OVER AS SOON AS YOU COULD SAFETY AND TO CONTACT THE DEALER. WELL THE ENGINE DIED ABRUPTLY AND LOSS POWER IMMEDIATELY. LUCKILY I WAS ON A ONE LANE ROAD WITH A SHOULDER AND NO ONE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS A LOWER END MOTOR FAILURE BUT REALLY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. IN FACT IT IS STILL AT THE MECHANIC'S AND THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. IT APPEARS THAT IT MAY BE THE ENGINE INVERTER BUT STILL NOT SURE. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AND TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE ADDRESS THIS. MY CAR IS A 2008 HIGHLAND HYBRID WITH 119,000 MILES ON. *TR
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
THE RUBBER OIL COOLER LINE (PART NUMBER: 040004-29131) OF OUR 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BURST AT 139,000 MILES CAUSING AN OIL SPILL AND COMPLETE AND IRREVERSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN HIGH-SPEED MOTION IN A CONGESTED HIGHWAY DURING ICY-AND FOGGY CONDITIONS. DRIVER MANAGED TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROAD, NOT CAUSING ANY ACCIDENTS, JUST BEFORE THE ENGINE IRREVERSIBLY BROKE AND SHUT DOWN. TWO DAYS PRIOR THE INCIDENT, OIL-CHANGE SCHEDULED SERVICE WAS PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA-CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP SHOWING NO SIGNS OF ENGINE/ENGINE OIL-COOLING LINE ABNORMALITIES. DEFECTIVE SOFTWARE DISPLAYED WARNINGS ON THE DASHBOARD OF LOW ENGINE OIL/PRESSURE SECONDS BEFORE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THIS DEFECTIVE PART HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE TOYOTA'S 2014 "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, ZE2" FOR REPAIRS AT NO COST UNTIL JANUARY 31, 2016 OR PAST THAT DATE FOR "10 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF FIRST USE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST." TOYOTA CLAIMS THEY MAILED A LETTER FOR "SEVERAL MONTHS" AFTER "LATE JULY 2014" FOR ZE2 TO OWNERS BUT THE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE NEITHER EVER RECEIVED SUCH LETTER NOR WAS NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA CORP./DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNDER *CONSISTENT, SCHEDULED, AND REGULAR CAR SERVICES* SINCE ITS ORIGINAL AND SOLE PURCHASE IN 2008. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL TO THE NHTSA UPON *UNREASONABLY DANGEROUS DESIGN* FOR USING RUBBER PRESSURIZED PIPES IN V6 ENGINES INSTEAD OF METAL-BASED MATERIALS, DEFECTIVE PART AWARENESS, INCIDENT HISTORY, AND THE EXTENT OF THE HIGH HAZARD RISK THAT INVOLVES THIS PART FAILURE: OIL SPILL (NOT OIL LEAKING AS STATED IN ZE2) CAN OCCUR AT HIGH RESULTING IN A NON-OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT VEHICLE LOSS AND HIGH PROBABILITIES OF CRASH, INJURIES, FIRE, AND/OR FATALITIES. THIS IS ALSO EXACERBATED BY THE EMBEDDED DEFECTIVE SOFTWARE IN TERMS OF POOR TIMING TO DISPLAY ENGINE FAILURE.
THE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE ON MY 2008 HIGHLANDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND LEAKED AT 124,000 MILE/12 YEARS (IN FEB 2020). HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON A HIGHWAY & SMOKE IN MY CABIN. TOYOTA HAS SET A LIMIT OF EXTENDED LIMITED WARRANTY (LCS-ZE2) TO FIX THIS DEFECT BUT ONLY IF IT OCCURS AT < (OR EQUAL) 10 YRS OR 150,000 MILES. MANY REPORTS ON THE WEB INDICATE CARS PAST THE TOYOTA ARBITRARY CUT OFFS FOR TIME AND MILES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT/RISK BECAUSE ALL OF THE OIL COULD LEAK OUT FROM A DEFECTIVE PIPE & ENGINE COULD CATCH FIRE OR FREEZE. I HAD SMOKE IN THE CABIN AND A LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. OF NOTE, MY CAR WAS SERVICED (OIL CHANGE) AND A MULTIPOINT INSPECTION BY TOYOTA 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO OIL LEAK (IN JAN 2020) AND THE OIL LEAK WAS NOT NOTED. THIS MEANS THAT THE LEAK OCCURRED RECENTLY AND WELL PAST THE ARBITRARY TIME INTERVAL/MILEAGE LIMIT SET BY TOYOTA. AT NO TIME DID MY TOYOTA DEALER NOTIFY ME REGARDING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT OR THAT THIS COULD E A PROBLEM OR NOR DID MY TOYOTA DEALER SPECIFICALLY LOOK FOR THIS PROBLEM ON MY CAR DURING INSPECTION. A FULL SCALE RECALL IS REQUIRED FOR THIS DEFECT, NOT A LIMITED WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT LETTER. ATTACHED ARE 1- THE INVOICE TO FIX THE OIL ENGINE PIPE LEAK 2- THE INSPECTION FROM TOYOTA DEALER WITH NO EVIDENCE OF AN OIL LEAK (JAN 2020) 3-WARRANTY & WEBCHAT OTHER OWNERS COMPLAIN OF SIMILAR DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF THE OIL LEAK AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THAT OCCURRED PAST THE TOYOTA ARBITRARY LIMITS 4. INVOICE DOCUMENTING THE OIL CHANGE (JAN 2020) SHOWING NO EVIDENCE OF A LEAK WHEN TOYOTA SET THE LIMITS ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES, THEY HAD NO IDEA IF THAT WOULD BE SUFFICIENTLY IN LENGTH TO CATCH ALL THE PROBLEMS. BECAUSE TOYOTA OWNERS KEEP THEIR VEHICLES FOR A LONG TIME, THESE ARBITRARY INTERVALS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. THEREFORE A FULL RECALL IS REQUIRED.
ABS FAILURE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL BASED ON AN ONLINE SEARCH. PRIOR MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE, AND ALTHOUGH THE 2008 USES THE SAME COMPONENTS, IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE GIVEN THAT THE BRAKES CAN FAIL. FIXING THE ISSUE BEFORE IT BECOMES A DISASTER COSTS $4000 +
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE'S CABIN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAUSING THE RUGS TO BECOME DRENCHED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DRAINING SYSTEM FOR THE SUNROOF WAS CLOGGED THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HER SHOES GETTING WET AND APPLYING THE WRONG PEDAL WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT THE CONTACT OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND NOTICED THAT THE CARPET WAS DRENCHED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2020. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT DETERMINED THAT THE WATER WAS ENTERING THE CABIN THROUGH THE SUNROOF. THE CHANNEL THAT DRAINED THE SUNROOF WAS CLEARED, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,450.
WHEN ACCELLERATING INTO TRAFFIC AFTER STOPPING FOR A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT THE CAR MOVES INTO THE TRAFFIC BUT DOES NOT ACCELLERATE BUT COASTS DISPITE FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL. AFTER 2 TO 5 SECONDS THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE. THE TECH AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE COMPUTER THROTTLE CONTROL THAT SETS ACCORDING TO DRIVING HABITS. THIS STALL WHEN ACCELLERATION IS NEEDED HAS ALMOST CAUSED MANY COLLISIONS FROM TRAFFIC COMING UP BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THIS STALL HAPPENS ALSO WHEN TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON ROADS, PULL OUT FROM BEHIND VEHICLE BEING PASSED, DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND NO ACCELERATION FOR 2 TO 5 SECONDS THEN THE ACCELLERATION HAPPENS. THIS COMPUTER FLAW IS SUCH A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT IF I LET ANYONE ELSE DRIVE MY VEHICLE, I HAVE TO WARN THEM ABOUT THE ACCELERATION DELAY AND TO MAKE SURE THERE IS BEYOND NORMAL CLEAR SPACE BEFORE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. I TRY TO DRIVE SMOOTHLY AND AVOID FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL. IN ORDER AVOID A SAFETY ISSUE THIS COMPUTER THROTTLE PROBLEM REQUIRES THE GAS PEDAL TO BE CONSTANTLY FLOORED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN ACCELERATION IS REALLY NEEDED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN. I AM SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER DOING A DRIVING WORK AROUND OF THIS ISSUE. THIS HAS HAPPEND CONSISTANTLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2009.
WHEN ACCELLERATING INTO TRAFFIC AFTER STOPPING FOR A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT THE CAR MOVES INTO THE TRAFFIC BUT DOES NOT ACCELLERATE BUT COASTS DISPITE FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL. AFTER 2 TO 5 SECONDS THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE. THE TECH AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE COMPUTER THROTTLE CONTROL THAT SETS ACCORDING TO DRIVING HABITS. THIS STALL WHEN ACCELLERATION IS NEEDED HAS ALMOST CAUSED MANY COLLISIONS FROM TRAFFIC COMING UP BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THIS STALL HAPPENS ALSO WHEN TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON ROADS, PULL OUT FROM BEHIND VEHICLE BEING PASSED, DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND NO ACCELERATION FOR 2 TO 5 SECONDS THEN THE ACCELLERATION HAPPENS. THIS COMPUTER FLAW IS SUCH A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT IF I LET ANYONE ELSE DRIVE MY VEHICLE, I HAVE TO WARN THEM ABOUT THE ACCELERATION DELAY AND TO MAKE SURE THERE IS BEYOND NORMAL CLEAR SPACE BEFORE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. I TRY TO DRIVE SMOOTHLY AND AVOID FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL. IN ORDER AVOID A SAFETY ISSUE THIS COMPUTER THROTTLE PROBLEM REQUIRES THE GAS PEDAL TO BE CONSTANTLY FLOORED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN ACCELERATION IS REALLY NEEDED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN. I AM SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER DOING A DRIVING WORK AROUND OF THIS ISSUE. THIS HAS HAPPEND CONSISTANTLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2009.
RECENTLY WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD OF OUR CAR INDICATING A BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND URGING US TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE LOCATION. THE BRAKES WERE STILL WORKING AND WE WERE ABLE TO CAREFULLY AND SAFELY DRIVE HOME. AFTER SCANNING THE CAR FOR ABS ERROR CODES AND DOING A QUICK ONLINE SEARCH, I REALIZED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY FAILED IN OUR CAR.
BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY (PROBLEM KNOWN TO TOYOTA FOR THIS AND OTHER MODELS,) FAILED, LEADING TO DASH MESSAGES: MASTER WARNING, ABS WARNING, BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING (BRAKE MALFUNCTION: STOP THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACT A DEALER), SLIP INDICATOR. BRAKE PEDAL FUNCTION SEEMS LIMITED, AND DANGEROUS. ALL WARNINGS COME BACK UPON SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING VEHICLE.
ON MY WAY HOME ON SATURDAY NIGHT, ABOUT 2 TO 3 STREETS FROM MY HOUSE, MY DASH STARTED TO SAY LOW FUEL. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME BECAUSE I WAS SO CLOSE. I GET HOME AND JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO LISTEN TO MY CAR AND EVERYTHING SOUNDED GOOD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF. ON MONDAY MORNING, I WALKED OUT AND NOTICED ALL THE OIL IN THE CAR HAD LEAKED OUT OF THE CAR ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND A TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED AND CHECKED THE OIL WITH THE DIP STICK. SINCE THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE, WE DID NOT START THE ENGINE. HE TOWED THE CAR TO TOYOTA (WHERE I HAVE ALL MY WORK DONE INCLUDING INSPECTIONS-WHICH THE LAST ONE WAS DONE 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT). THE TOYOTA MECHANICS LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID A HOSE UNDER THE ENGINE HAD CRACKED CAUSING THE OIL TO LEAK OUT. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART AND IT WOULD FIXED AND READY BY TUESDAY. THE PART DIDN'T COME IN AS EXPECTED AND THE CAR WAS NOT FIXED UNTIL WEDNESDAY. I LEFT WORK ON MY BREAK TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT WHEN THEY CALLED AND SAID IT WAS READY. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM TOYOTA AND DROVE BACK TO WORK. ON THE WAY, I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BUT ASSUMED IT WAS OK SINCE IT WAS JUST FIXED. AFTER MY SHIFT (THURSDAY MORNING), I CAME OUT AND STARTED THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD BANGING NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. I CALLED TOYOTA AND HAD THEM TOW THE VEHICLE BACK TO TOYOTA. THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND CALLED ME AND STATED THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN AND THAT IT WOULD COST $7000 TO REPLACE. THEY SAID I COULD KEEP THE VEHICLE THERE UNTIL I DECIDE WHAT TO DO.
TOYOTA JUST DENIED OUR CLAIM FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM (MALFUNCTION OF THE BREAK ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY IN 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID). SUPPOSEDLY THE REPAIR PERFORMED ON OUR VEHICLE "DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR REIMBURSEMENT". INTERESTING. PROBLEM WITH OUR VEHICLE WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM ZKC IS FOR. THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING GAMES WITH US FOR ALMOST 3 MONTHS. WE SENT THEM THE COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION SEVERAL TIMES (THEY TRIED TO CLAIM SOMETHING WAS ALWAYS MISSING). NOTHING WAS MISSING. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVE KEPT EVERY RECEIPT, EVERY DMV DOCUMENT, EVERY CREDIT CARD STATEMENT... WE KEPT RE-SENDING THEM THE DOCUMENTS; SOME OF THEM AS MANY AS 4 TIMES. INTERESTING, WHEN I CALLED THEM, THEY HAD THE DOCUMENTS ON FILE. THEY JUST DO NOT WANT TO PAY; WAY TOO OBVIOUS. TOYOTA REPS ARE HORRIBLE ACTORS... WE ARE NOT GIVING UP. WE WILL BE CALLING AND E-MAILING THEM UNTIL THEY REIMBURSE US. IF THEY DO NOT, WE (AND OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR VERY EXTENDED FAMILY) WILL NOT BUY A TOYOTA VEHICLE AGAIN. SO SHORTSIGHTED BY TOYOTA: SAVE $3700 BUT LOSE SEVERAL CUSTOMERS... THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN DECEMBER 2015. IT TOOK TWO TRIPS TO TOYOTA DEALER (AND $3700) TO HAVE THIS FIXED.
I SENT A LETTER TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA AFTER BEING REFUSED SERVICE AT A LOCAL DEALER TO RESOLVE A SAFETY ISSUE, WITH NO REPLY. WHILE PRESSING BRAKE WHEN STARTING I GOT A COUPLE OF ERROR MESSAGES THAT SAID TO CONTACT A TOYOTA DEALER. I DID SOME VERY DETAILED RESEARCH INTO THIS PROBLEM AND WHAT OTHERS HAD ENCOUNTERED. I FOUND THE ERRORS WOULD ONLY SHOW WHEN THE 12 VOLT BATTERY WAS GETTING LOW ON CHARGE. THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP IS ONE OF THE SUSPECT ITEMS DRAINING THE BATTERY BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO RUN LONG AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. SINCE I DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS TO CHECK THE CURRENT DRAW ON THIS OR IF IT IS EVEN SUPPOSED TO RUN LONG AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF, I WANTED MY TOYOTA DEALER TO CHECK THIS. THERE IS A " CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM NOTIFICATION - ZKC" RELATED TO THIS FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY. I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT THEY CHECK OUT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP EVEN IF NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I ALSO TOLD THEM ABOUT THE ERRORS ONLY OCCURRING ON A LOW 12 VOLT BATTERY CHARGE. THEIR DIAGNOSIS SHOWED AN ERROR CODE OF POAA6 AND ONLY THE WARNING LIGHTS AND ERROR MESSAGE IN THE CAR DISPLAY. THEY NOT ONLY DECIDED THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT ALSO IGNORED MY SPECIFIC REQUEST TO TEST THE BRAKE SYSTEM AT MY EXPENSE. NO ATTEMPT AT CHECKING BRAKES OR 12 VOLT CHARGING SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO OPEN THE INVERTER TO CHECK THAT WITH THE KNOWN OUTCOME THAT THIS INVERTER IS NOT REPAIRABLE BUT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $10,000.. NEW 12V BATTERY INSTALLED. COMPUTERS CAN MALFUNCTION IF NOT GIVEN THE DESIGN OPERATING VOLTAGE! I HAVE TROUBLE BELIEVING THAT THERE IS A "HYBRID BATTERY VOLTAGE SYSTEM ISOLATION FAULT" DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ON BOARD COMPUTER DOES NOT REPORT THIS MESSAGE WHEN OPERATING ON A FULLY CHARGED 12 VOLT SYSTEM - IN OTHER WORDS OPERATING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS.
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A CITY STREET, THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED ENTIRELY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. IN THE MOMENT OF FAILURE, THE ABS WARNING SYSTEM ALERT SHOWED ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY. EVENTUALLY, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN, AND I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATORS SHOWED AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM APPEARED TO BE SOMEWHAT FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. THE MECHANIC WE BROUGHT IT TO WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM IN THE SAME CONDITIONS, BUT IS AS YET UNCLEAR ON WHAT IS CAUSING THE FAILURE.
ABS AND VSC SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON SUDDENLY FOR THE FIRST TIME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I PARKED THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS STRANDED AND SUDDENLY HAD A CRITICAL BRAKE FAILURE WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. MY VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE AT APPROX. 70,000. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FAILURE WHICH HAS BEEN COVERED BY WARRANTY IN PREVIOUS MODELS AND IS STILL A PROBLEM.
AT TOYOTA, WE ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING VEHICLES OF OUTSTANDING QUALITY AND VALUE. AS PART OF OUR CONTINUAL EFFORTS TO ENSURE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, TOYOTA WOULD LIKE TO ADVISE YOU OF A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN INITIATED FOR YOUR VEHICLE. TOYOTA HAS RECEIVED REPORTS REGARDING CERTAIN INTERNAL MALFUNCTIONS OF THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY IN CERTAIN 2008-2010 MODEL YEAR HIGHLANDER HYBRID VEHICLES. IN THESE REPORTS, CUSTOMERS HAVE NOTED VARIOUS BRAKE SYSTEM RELATED WARNING LAMPS ARE ILLUMINATED. THIS CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM PROVIDES COVERAGE AS IT APPLIES TO THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY. THE SPECIFIC CONDITION COVERED BY THIS PROGRAM IS FOR CERTAIN INTERNAL MALFUNCTIONS OF THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. IF THE CONDITION IS VERIFIED, THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED WITH NEW BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. IF THE FOLLOWING WARNING LAMPS ARE ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE MAY BE EXPERIENCING A CONCERN WITH THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY THAT IS COVERED BY THIS CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. THE PART IS BACK ORDERED AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. I JUST PICKED THE VEHICLE FOR THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WILL NOTIFY ME WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE. I'M STILL DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I FIRST FILED 7 MONTHS AGO. IT'S FUNNY HAS THE PART IS AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE, BUT IT'S ON BACK ORDER FOR MY VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. LOOKS LIKE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AGAIN. THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER.
ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75 MILES/HOUR (WITH MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT), LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE. DIAGNOSED AS THE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE, OIL WAS EVERYWHERE WITHOUT ANY IN THE ENGINE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON MANY ENGINES WHICH WAS COVERED BY TOYOTA FOR A LIMITED TIME/MILEAGE WITH A LIMITED EXTENDED WARRANTY UNDER A "CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM (ZE2)." WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE, AS WE WOULD HAVE ELECTED TO FIX THIS PRIOR TO AN OIL BLOWOUT, TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WITH LOSS OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING, PARTICULARLY WITH OUR CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE.
THE DRIVER SIDE SUNVISOR WILL NOT STAY UP OUT OF PLACE WHEN NOT NEEDED. WHEN DRIVER IS DRIVING ESPECIALLY IF BRAKES ARE USED THE VISOR FALLS BLOCKING VIEW AND IS QUITE DANGEROUS. VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP.
THE STEERING SHAFT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE DURING LOW SPEED TURNS. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS OVER THE YEARS, BUT NO RECALL. MEANWHILE, TOYOTA IS CHARGING AROUND $800 TO MAKE THE REPAIR.
WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BREAKS THERE IS A CHIRPING SOUND. TOYOTA HAS DEEMED THIS AN ABS ACTUATOR FAILING ISSUE; WHICH IS AN ISSUE I HAVE SEEN REPEATEDLY ONLINE POSTED BY OTHER HY HI DRIVERS. I AM ALSO SEEING 2 YEARS PREVIOUS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. WHY IS THE RECALL NOT EXTENDED AND IS THERE ANY WAY FOR IT TO BE? THE COST OF THE VEHICLE TO THE COST OF REPAIR IS SO GREAT AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT A NORMAL FAILURE THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED. ITS TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A COMPLETE FAILURE CAN CAUSE A VERY UNAVOIDABLE FATAL CRASH AS THE BREAKING SYSTEM FAILURE WOULD LOCK UP ALL BREAK FUNCTION. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST TOO WITH VEHICLES UNDER FURTHER DETERIORATION OF THE ABS ACTUATOR. WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE HEAVY THOUGHT TO AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY TO COVER THIS ISSUE FOR THE 2008 MODELS? ITS A GREAT RISK TO HIGHLANDER DRIVERS AND THOSE AROUND US.
2008 HIGHLANDER, ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE FAILED, DROPPED 4 QTS OF OIL ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH LED TO A SLIPPERY SITUATION, I PULLED OVER BUT A CAR BEHIND ME SKIDDED THROUGH THE OIL AND REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM DUE TO THE OIL LEFT ON THE ROAD IMPACTING THEIR SAFE STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS FAILED PART WAS A RUBBER HOSE HOLDING HOT MOTOR OIL NEXT TO THE CATATLYTIC CONVERTER, TERRIBLE DESIGN, TOYOTA REPLACED THIS ORIGINAL RUBBER HOSE WITH PART 04004-29131 THAT WAS METAL PIPES NOT HOSES. THIS PART WAS ELIGIBLE FOR A TOYOTA EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE (TOYOTA WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT ZE2) TILL 2016 OR SO, BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED VIA MAIL OF THE ISSUE, THEREFORE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL AFTER MY CAR BROKE DOWN. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED ISSUES OF THIS PART FAILING, AND ALSO MANY DOCUMENTED ISSUES OF TOYOTA FAILING TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO LINK VIN TO MAILING ADDRESS PRIOR TO 2014. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA DIDN'T NOTIFY ME PROPERLY, WHICH CAUSED AN UNSAFE SITUATION FOR ME AND OTHER MOTORISTS. HAD THIS BEEN A RECALL, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN OBLIGATED TO MORE FORMALLY NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THIS HAZARD, AND WOULD HAVE TO FIX THEM ALL, VS. THE RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER THAT THEY DID FIX. I CALLED TOYOTA MOTOR CORP CUST SERVICE, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY NO LONGER HAD ANY FINANCIAL OR NOTIFICATION OBLIGATION FOR THIS DESIGN & SAFETY DEFECT AS THE 'WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT' HAD EXPIRED. PLEASE REQUIRE A RECALL! THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CARS ON THE ROAD TODAY WITH THIS UNSAFE CONDITION READY TO CAUSE PROBLEMS!
FOUND STEERING SHAFT NOISY/ WORN/LOOSE
THE ENGINE IS EMITTING SMOKE, CREATES RATTLING SOUND. AT START TIMING CHAIN SOUNDS SCARED KIDS. WHILE DRIVING YOU CAN HEAR KNOCKING SOUND AND IF SOMETHING CAN BREAK WHILE DRIVING.
I HAVE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2008. MY CAR IS GIVING A SOUND UNDER THE HOOD WHENEVER I HIT THE BRAKE. NO MATTER THE CAR IS HALT OR MOVING. INITIALLY TOYOTA SERVICE GUYS SAID THAT THE SOUND IS EXPECTED AND NOTHING WRONG MY CAR. YESTERDAY THEY WERE TELLING THAT THE "ABS ACTUATOR" IS BAD AND HAS TO BE REPLACED NOW OR LATER. THE ESTIMATED COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS $3000. I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT THE SIMILAR CASES. I REQUEST TO TOYOTA TO RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE AND ISSUE A RECALL TO REPLACE THE PART "ABS ACTUATOR ASSY". THE ATTACHED URL DESCRIBE THE SIMILAR ISSUE AND AT YOU CAN HEAR THE SOUND IN THE YOUTUBE URL: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=WVFUMDZLE4Y&FEATURE=YOUTU.BE
RECENTLY ALL THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. THE WARNING NOTE ON THE SCREEN SAID TO TAKE IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALER TO FIX. AFTER THEIR DIAGNOSTIC THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT BOTH THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP AND ABS ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3,064 INCLUDING THE 3-4 HOURS LABOR COST AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE APPARENTLY IT IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THESE VEHICLES.FOR SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS THIS I'M SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON VEHICLE MONITOR ALARMS ONCE THE CAR IS STARTED AND REMAINS ALARMED AT ALL TIME.
ABS MODULE FAILURE, SAME US OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING. GOT DASH LIGHTS ON AND THE CAR LOST COMPLETE BRAKE POWER. ABS ACTUATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE PRICE FOR THE PART IS UNBELIEVABLE HIGH AND SEEMS TO BE RECALLED ON EARLIER MODELS
This vehicle has had ongoing issues with the O2 sensors not working, I have researched online for years and have read that there are several online forums of 2008 Highlander owners complaining of the same issue. The problem that I (we all) face with this, is that it constantly fails, never being able to know if there is an actual issue becuase of the faulty sensors or wiring causing the sensors to go out. I am always frightened that something is wrong with the car and spent hundreds and continue to spend having my car checked. I am a single mom who lost my job at the beginning of the pandemic, I have two school aged kids. Having them in a car that I can not be sure we are safe in, is scary. The cost to replace the sensors as there are 3 that have been a constant pain of not working correctly is insane! It is going to be in upwards of $600 to repair! I absolutely can't afford that, being an unemployed single mother of two. Even when I was employed, living paycheck to paycheck to have to pay out almost a thousand dollars when from what I've read from others that replacing will still result in it failing again. So I have to drive around in a car that has all the sensor lights on, something really bad could happen to the car and since all the sensor lights remain on, I'll never know if something is wrong with the car- something bad could happen to me and my children while we are driving in the car. How can someone replace the sensors only for them to keep going out. This is a serious problem, I've dealt with this for years, only today did I learn that I could report this after receiving a recall letter from Toyota today regarding the paint on my car.
VVT-I OIL LINE FAILURE CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED ON A HIGHWAY. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND REPAIRED DUE TO LACK OF QUALITY PARTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. TOYOTA IDENTIFIED THIS PROBLEM INTERNALLY YET FAILED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURE TO IDENTIFY ALL MODELS EQUIPPED WITH SUBSTANDARD OIL LINES AND, LIKEWISE, DID NOT ATTEMPT IN EARNEST TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF AFFECTED MODELS. THE RESULT OF TOYOTA'S LACK OF APPROPRIATE EFFORT IN NOTIFYING OWNERS RESULTED IN OIL LINE PARTS FAILURES OCCURRING OUTSIDE OF AN EXTENDED COVERAGE PERIOD INSTITUTED BY TOYOTA. BECAUSE TOYOTA DID NOT ACT IN GOOD FAITH, OWNERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY PUT AT RISK OF OIL LINE PARTS FAILURES RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE OR EVEN ENGINE FAILURE. MANY OF THE AFFECTED MODELS ARE STILL IN OPERATION AND THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL HAVE NO IDEA UNTIL THE PART FAILS DUE TO TOYOTA'S LACK OF APPROPRIATE ACTION. TOYOTA OFFERS NO SUPPORT FOR THIS DEFECT OUTSIDE OF A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT OR LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN WHICH OWNERS WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY MADE AWARE OF.
THE CAR WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY I NOTICED SMOKE COMING UP FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND IN THE PROCESS NOTICED THE ENGINE SOUNDING DIFFERENT AND PERFORMANCE LEVEL QUICKLY DROPPING. I THEN NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT COME ON, SO I CONTINUED TO FIND THE FIRST SAFE SPOT AVAILABLE TO PULL OVER. I THEN CALLED AAA AND THEY HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CAR HAD EVIDENTLY DRAINED ALL OF ITS OIL, LEAVING A PUDDLE. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO NEIGHBORHOOD CAR CARE IN MISSION VIEJO. IT WAS NOTICED AT THE SHOP THAT THE ENGINE AND COMPARTMENT WERE COVERED IN OIL. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE OIL COOLER LINE HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH AN UPGRADED PART. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT HAVING THE ENGINE COATED IN OIL IS A FIRE HAZARD, AND HE TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY MY ENGINE DIDN'T CATCH FIRE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. HE TOLD ME AFTER THE REPAIR, THAT I WOULD NEED TO GET THE ENGINE AND COMPARTMENT CLEANED TO AVOID A FIRE. OUT OF CONCERN OF THE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION I WAS IN, I CONTACTED TOYOTA. THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBABLE FAILURE OF THE PART, AND SAID THERE WAS A WARRANTY, BUT THEY DON'T INFORM CUSTOMERS UNLESS THEY HAVE A FAILURE WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. HAD I BEEN INFORMED OF THIS POTENTIAL DANGER, I WOULD HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE PUTTING MYSELF AND FAMILY AT RISK.
Unable to buckle 3rd row passenger side seat belt buckle. Safety of my children were put at risk as I didn’t realize this until recently since our family grew. No warning indicating lights are on.
THE STEERING MAKES A LOUD KNOCK WHEN TURNED TO LEFT OR RIGHT.
ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. PUMP KEEPS COMING ON EVERY 5 SECONDS OR SO. SCREEN TELLS YOU TO STOP THE CAR AND CONTACT THE DEALER. TOYOTA NEEDS TO COVER THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR OR AT LEAST SOME PORTION OF IT.