2008 Toyota Highlander Complaint Log

2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM. *LD *TR

EVERY TIME YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT BUT IT GETS WORST IN THE RIGHT IT WILL MAKE A THUD SOUND AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL , I NOTICED THAT 4 YEARS AGO AND IT'S GOES NOTICED ON AND OFF BUT NOWADAYS IT IS MORE FREQUENT AND A FRIEND OF MINE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINT COZ WE HAD BOTH THE SAME CAR CAR BUT MINE IS 2 YEARS OLDER AND ASSEMBLED IN JAPAN ... PROBABLY THE STEERING COLUMN THAT THEY USED.

2008 HIGHLANDER CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED TO A COMPLETE LOSS. NONE OF THE NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS WORKED CORRECTLY TO ALERT MY WIFE. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION MOVING APPX 20 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE AND WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. OIL SPRAY WAS NOTED AND PICTURES TAKEN ON THE ROADWAY BEHIND THE VEHICLE TO THE BURN SITE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON AN OIL LINE FOR THIS VEHICLE IN THE PAST.

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SPORT AWD 2008 MAKES CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. RESEARCHED ISSUE ONLINE AFTER TAKING TO MULTIPLE SHOPS THINKING IT WAS TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND LEARNED ABOUT FAULTY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. I HAVE TO PAY $536 THROUGH LOCAL MECHANIC FOR FIX BECAUSE TOYOTA WONT ISSUE RECALL OF KNOW DEFECTIVE PART DESIGN.

THIS VEHICLE HAS A KNOCKING/CLUNKING/CLANKING/THUMPING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT SOUNDS DANGEROUS AND I WONDER IF THE STEERING COLUMN WILL BREAK APART WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE, BUT THE DEALERS ARE ALWAYS UNABLE TO REPLICATE IT, SOME SAY THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT HAS BECOME WORSE RECENTLY.

AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I HAVE NOTICED THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND TOYOTA ISSUED RECALLS OUT FOR 2006 & 2007 BUT HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED 2008 AS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT AND NOTICED THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS. WHY IS IT THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS? FIRST, I HEARD AN AIRY SOUND WHEN BRAKING THEN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE ALMOST COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. THE HIGHLANDER TRULY FELT LIKE IT WAS NOT STOPPING. I LITERALLY HAD TO PUT MY COMPLETE BODY WEIGHT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO FINALLY GET IT TO STOP AS IT KEEPS SURGING FORWARD. IT WAS SCARY, TO SAY THE LEAST. I WAS IN A HEAVY POPULATED PARKING LOT. I COULD'VE HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR HIT ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO STOP FROM SURGING FORWARD. AFTER ALL THIS, FINALLY, LIGHTS APPEARED. (ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, VSC LIGHT & SKID LIGHTS CAME ON). WOULDN'T YOU THINK AFTER JUST BEING FULLY SERVICED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, SOMETHING WOULD'VE BEEN NOTICEABLE? I REACHED OUT TO TOYOTA CORP. AND AGAIN I WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT COMMON AND NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. I SAW A VERY COMMON DENOMINATOR THAT ONCE THE HIGHLANDER HITS A CERTAIN MILEAGE THIS HAPPENS AND A VERY COSTLY MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. A PARKING LOT AND IN MOTION.

GOODYEAR FORTERA HL TIRES PURCHASED AT SAMS CLUB IN WV IN NOVEMBER 2018. TIRES ARE 245/65/R17 WITH DOT CODE M71TJA2R1918. TIRES APPEARED TO HAVE SOME CRACKING ON THE SIDES OF TREADS SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION BY SAMS CLUB. BY APPROXIMATELY 20K MILES WITH EVEN TREADWEAR AND PROPER MAINTENANCE TIRES BECAME MORE CRACKED ON THE SIDES OF THE TREADS AND SMALL CUTS BEGAN APPEARING ON SURFACES AND IN TREAD GROOVES. TIRE WOULD GET SMALL AIR LEAKS THROUGH SOME OF THESE CUTS. SAMS WOULD OFFER TO PATCH THE TIRES UNDER ROAD HAZARD AND CLAIMED GLASS ON ROADWAYS WOULD CAUSE THIS. SOME PATCHES WOULD TEAR LARGER AND LEAK AROUND THE PATCHES PUT IN PLACE. ATTEMPTING STANDARD BLACK PLUG PATCHES WOULD RESULT IN HOLE TEARING LARGER THAN IT BEGAN. SAMS APPLIED A FLAT SEAL/PLUG FROM INSIDE THE TIRE THAT ALSO HAD TEARS FORM ON THE EDGE AND HAD FURTHER LEAKS FROM SAME HOLE. TWO TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED BY DIFFERENT SUPPLIER 9/15/19 AND ANOTHER TIRE OF THE TWO REMAINING HAVE BEGAN LEAKING AROUND PLUGS 9/19/19.

SUNROOF SHATTERED

DROVE TO STORE, WHEN VEHICLE IN PARK, WENT TO DRIVE HOME. WHEN I WENT TO ADJUST TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL VIA LITTLE LEVER, THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF THE COLUMN INTO MY HANDS, TRIED PUTTING IT BACK IN PLACE, GOT IT ON COLUMN, THE ANTI SKID LIGHT LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING INITIATING THE BRAKING SYSTEM,ANTI-SKID, CANNOT DRIVE ABOVE 5 MPH BECAUSE IT ACTIVATES ANTI SKID, MAKES A LOT OF NOISE, SLOWS THE VEHICLE BACK DOWN APPROX.75200 MILES ON VEHICLE,

The engine burns Coolant and yet doesn't overheat. The engine on cyl 4 misfires. Changing the head gasket didn't repair the issue, replacing all fuel Injectors and ignition parts didn't either. Heads inspected and passed. Compression testing passed. Always misfires on cyl 4. No repair aside from an ecu reflash or replacement seems to be possible. 4 shops looks at it and couldn't find any reason why it was misfiring and no traces of water were found in the interior, on the floor, in the oil or exhaust in the cooling system.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND AVOID A CRASH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF STAMFORD, 909 E MAIN ST, STAMFORD, CT 06902, (203) 348-3751) STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT COVERED BY A RECALL AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 265,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AND AN ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED ALONG WITH A LOUD RINGING SOUND. THE MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN SAID TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND CALL A DEALER BECAUSE THERE IS A BRAKE MALFUNCTION. IT ALSO SAID TO CHECK THE ABS AND THE VSC. I COULD FEEL THE MY BRAKE PEDAL WASN'T REACTING WHEN I PRESSED ON IT. I HAD TO PRESS THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN REALLY HARD TO GET THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN.

STEERING WHEEL IS MAKING CLUNKY NOISES WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT

OIL COOLER PIPE MALFUNCTION. WHILE DRIVING, THE OIL COOLER PIPE STARTED TO LEAK FROM A HOLE IN THE RUBBER SECTION BETWEEN THE METAL CLAMPS. ALL THE ENGINE OIL CAME OUT WITHIN A FEW MINUTES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. TOYOTA HAD A RECALL IN 2011 FOR THIS EQUIPMENT, BUT NO LONGER ALLOWS REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT UNDER RECALL.

WE WERE DRIVING ON WA14 GOING ABOUT 55MPH WHEN OUR RIGHT SIDE AIRBAG CURTAIN EXPLODED. WE WERE NOT IN A COLLISION. NO BODY DAMAGE. THE AIRBAGS EXPLODED OUT OF THIN AIR.

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING A SIDE CITY STREET, ON A SLIGHT CURVE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED. AS A RESULT, MY DAUGHTER HIT A TREE. MY DAUGHTER WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND THE IMPACT WAS IN THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

UPPER STEERING COLUMN DETACHED FROM STEERING SHAFT WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRIVER ADJUSTED THE TILT FEATURE. VEHICLE WAS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TRAVELING 70 MPH WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN AND REATTACH STEERING WHEEL. NO CRASH OR INJURIES RESULTED. AFTER INCIDENT, DRIVER VISITED TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TO INQUIRE ABOUT ANY BULLETINS OR NOTICES REGARDING THE ISSUE. BOTH DEALERS COULD NOT FIND ANY BULLETINS OR NOTICES. VEHICLE APPEARS TO HAVE PREVIOUS FRONT-END DAMAGE FROM PREVIOUS CRASH, AS EVIDENCED BY MISALIGNED FRONT BUMPER COVER.

ABS ACTUATOR NOT WORKING. BRAKE MALFUNCTION WARNING ON DISPLAY SCREEN.

VEHICLE WOULD NOT GET OUT OF 1ST GEAR WHEN IN MOTION. WHEN ACCELERATING, IN EITHER MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC, VEHICLE WOULD GO IN NEUTRAL AND COAST WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. REVERSE WORKED FINE. WOULD ALSO NOT START OUT IN A HIGHER GEAR WHEN SHIFTED INTO 2-4 GEARS.

BRAKE BOOSTER AND ACTUATOR PER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP OF FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS FAILED ON THIS CAR ALTHOUGH SAME SYSTEM USED ON SAME YEAR CAMRY THAT WERE TECALLED

I RECENTLY LEARNED IT IS A "KNOWN" ISSUE BY TOYOTA THAT THE OIL COOLER LINE COULD RUPTURE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AS I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY 3-LANE HIGHWAY. MY ONLY INDICATION WAS WHEN THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING AN URGENT NEED FOR ME TO PULL OVER. LUCKILY I WAS ALREADY IN THE RIGHT LANE GETTING READY TO GET OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT, HOWEVER ONLY 5 MINUTES EARLIER I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, KEEPING UP WITH THE 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC. I FEEL THIS ISSUE IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE I BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO EXIT THE ROAD QUICKLY AND SINCE THIS HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO CEASE THE ENGINE, I FEEL IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WHEN MY SUV WAS CHECKED MY THE MECHANIC HE INFORMED ME THAT I HAD VERY LITTLE OIL LEFT IN MY ENGINE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO STATED THEY DID NOT SEE HOW THIS WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. I DISAGREE.

SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY SECONDARY TO LOUD ENGINE NOISE, DECREASED POWER, AND FEAR OF CAUSING MORE ENGINE DAMAGE. LOCAL MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE OIL COOLING TUBE BURST AND DUMPED ALL THE OIL. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE FORCED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER ON A BUSY ROAD AND LEFT STRANDED AS WELL AS THE FIRE RISK WHEN ALL THE OIL NOW COVERS THE ENGINE/UNDERBODY/BACK OF VEHICLE.

THE CAR BLEW THE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE LEAKING PROFUSELY I DROVE IT AT NIGHT CAME HOME AND THERE WAS A 12 X 12 OIL LEAK IN MY GARAGE. I PULLED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING AND THERE WAS ANOTHER 12 X 12 OIL SPILL ON MY DRIVE WAY. I HAVE A LINE ALL THE WAY DOWN MY STREET OF THE OIL SPEWING OUT OF THE ENGINE . I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED THE FOLLOWING DAY TO TOYOTA WHO KNEW ABOUT THE PART AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED 10 YEAR WARRANTY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS ONLY 2 QUARTS OF OIL LEFT IN THE CRANK CASE. NO LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I WOULD HAVE BLOWN MY MOTOR FOR SURE IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE IS A VIDEO FROM TOYOTA ABOUT THE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE LEAKING AND THAT THEY CHANGED THE PART FROM RUBBER HOSES TO METAL. WHY WAS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS PART. IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF IT WILL FAIL BUT WHEN. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS SITUATION!

DRIVING ON A RURAL 2 LANE ROAD THE CAR STARTED KNOCKING AND THE LIGHT FOR THE VSC CAME ON. IT SAID TO BRING TO THE DEALER. GOT HOME AND CHECKED THE OIL AND THERE WAS NOT ONE DROP ON THE DIP STICK. (MY OIL WAS CHANGED AT THE DEALER TWO WEEKS PRIOR). THE OIL WAS HOWEVER SPRAYED UNDER THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE PART THAT IS THE PROBLEM IS THE OIL COOLER LINE.

WHEN DRIVING IN ROUTINE CITY DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP DASH. "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, CHECK VSC SYSTEM, CHECK ABS SYSTEM, PULL TO SIDE AND GO TO DEALER" DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BRAKE ACCUMULATOR PUMP ASSEMBLY. PART ALONE COST ABOUT 2,000.00 PLUS LABOR. PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND UNLESS YOU FIX IT, IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS PART HAS FAILED IN OTHER TOYOTA MODELS THAT HAS RESULTED IN A RECALL. ,

AT 5:00 PM ON MAY 16, 2017 I DROVE HOME FROM WORK (15 MINUTES OF IN-TOWN DRIVING) EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND WENT INSIDE TO PREPARE TO LEAVE WITH MY FAMILY FOR MY SON'S SENIOR HONORS NIGHT. AT 5;45 PM WE GOT INTO THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY MY MOM AND MY HUSBAND SAID, "WHAT'S BURNING?". IT SMELLED LIKE PAPER BURNING. BEFORE LEAVING THE HOUSE, MY HUSBAND POPPED THE HOOD TO MAKE SURE THERE WASN'T A WIRE OR SOMETHING ELSE BURNING UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. WE DOVE 10 MINUTES TO TOWN TO EAT. WE STAYED IN RESTAURANT 30 MINUTES. WHEN WE RETURNED TO MY CAR, MY MOTHER GOT IN THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT AND AND MY HUSBAND IN BACK AND WE ALL SMELLED A STRONG SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. I LOOKED AT MY MOM BEFORE STARTING THE CAR AND SAW THE BLACK, BURNT HEADREST. IT APPEARS THERE WAS AN ACTUAL FLAME AT SOME POINT. EVERYONE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, WE REMOVED THE HEADREST, BUT THE BACK LEFT SIDE OF THE PASSENGERS SEAT WAS STILL VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH. MY HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE FIRE STATION NEARBY, SINCE THE TOYOTA DEALER WAS ALREADY CLOSED. THE FIREFIGHTERS UNPLUGGED THE WIRES FROM THE SEAT. THE SEAT COOLED BACK DOWN.

TURNING MY CAR RIGHT OR LEFT THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE AND I CAN'T GET A GOOD TURN. IT SEEMS THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL POWERING STEERING. I HAVE RESEARCHED TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS AND THE ONLY THING I HAVE FOUND IS OTHER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. I BOUGHT MY CAR BASED ON RESEARCH AND THE DURABILITY OF TOYOTA, ALSO I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THE CAR. I HAVE GONE IN FOR ALL THE RECALLS. BUT THE ISSUE WITH EPS HAS ME VERY CONCERNED.

IT WAS RAINING AND THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS TAKING IN WATER. TOYOTA CLAIMED FROM CRACKED TAIL LIGHT BUT TAIL LIGHT HAD NOT BEEN LEAKING BEFORE. WATER IN BACK OF CAR RUINED HYBRID BATTERY AND TRANSITORS. AFTER LOOKING UP ISSUE. FOUND OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF AFTER THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. LUCKY MY WIFE HAD JUST PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

UNDETECTED BRAKE FLUID LEAK WHILE IN USE. VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS CHECKED FOR LEAKS BUT NOT VISIBLE.

SUN VISOR DOE NOT STAY UP.

THE STEER WHEEL MAKES A KLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTIONS AT LOW SPEED. THIS PROBLEM DEVELOPED AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES AND THE NOISE HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN MORE FREQUENT AND LOUDER. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 110,000 MILES NOW.

AS I WAS MAKING A SLOW RIGHT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET, THE STEERING WHEEL GAVE OUT AND I HIT A PARKED CAR. THEN MY DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATOR FOR THE STEERING WHEEL LIT UP.

BRAKING BECAME ERRATIC. PEDAL WAS SQUISHY AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL MONTHS BUT ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF FOR A WHILE THEN COME BACK ON.

RE: NHTSA RECALL 14V168000, AKA SC-E0M141007, (10/07/14) 'A NUMBER OF VEHICLES INCLUDING THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2008-2010, WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY CONTAINS ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG MODULE HOUSED IN A SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES A FLEXIBLE FLAT CABLE (FFC). DUE TO THE SHAPE AND LOCATION OF THE FFC'S RETAINER, THE FFC COULD BECOME DAMAGED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. CONSEQUENCE: IF THE FFC IS DAMAGED, CONNECTIVITY TO THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MODULE COULD BE LOST AND THE AIR BAG DEACTIVATED. 2 YRS AGO OUR '08 HIGHLANDER SPORT THE CRUISE CONTROL STARTED ACTING ERRATICALLY, NOT ENGAGING/NOT TURN/OFF USING THE COLUMN MOUNTED STALK. OUR WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, & TIME PASSED, & THE CC BECAME UNRELIABLE, ON A FEW OCCASIONS WAS UNSAFE WHEN IT DID NOT 'CANCEL' PULLING BACK ON THE STALK. I'M HANDY SO I PULLED OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND TOOK APART THE CLOCK SPRING, DISCOVERED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE WAS COATED IN A WAXY DIRTY LOOKING BUILDUP & THERE WERE ABRASIONS ON THE FLAT WIRE TAPE, EXPOSING THE COPPER BENEATH, WHICH CRACKED. THIS TO ME IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO THE WIRE TAPE FOR THE VEHICLES IN THE AIRBAG RECALL MENTIONED ABOVE, ONLY THE DAMAGE ON MINE HAPPENED TO THE CC WIRING PORTION AND NOT THE AIRBAG PORTION (OR THE HVAC CONTROLS OR HORN WIRING). I FEEL OUR VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN AND THAT OUR CLOCK SPRING SHOULD BE REPLACED AS WELL. PLEASE REFER TO THE 2 PHOTOS I ATTACHED. THE ONE SHOWING THE WEAR SPOT, IF YOU DOWNLOAD IT AND ZOOM IN, SHOWS THE EXPOSED COPPER AND CRACK IN IT. THE OTHER PHOTO SHOWS THE LOOP IN THE FLAT ELECTRICAL TAPE WHERE THE WEAR SPOT HAPPENED AS WELL AS THE DIRTY WAXY BUILDUP ON THE TAPE. THIS SAME WEAR COULD CREEP DOWN TO THE AIRBAG MODULE WIRES IN THIS FLAT TAPE AND MAKE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, CAUSING MORE UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR MY WIFE AND I. MY VIN SHOULD BE ADDED

PURCHASED THIS 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID NEW FROM GREENTREE TOYOTA IN DANBURY CT. WE SELECTED THE HYBRID VERSION TO SAVE ON GAS. LITTLE DID WE KNOW OUR SAVINGS IN GAS WOULD BE SUCKED UP IN OIL CONSUMPTION. I NEED TO CARRY A CASE OF OIL IN THE CAR AT ALL TIMES. ASKED TOYOTA SERVICE IN DANBURY CT TO INVESTIGATE AND THEY CONDUCTED THE SAME OIL TEST OTHERS SPEAK ABOUT. ALTHOUGH THEY SAY OUR HIGHLANDER PASSED THE TEST I END UP ADDING ABOUT 2 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN EVERY OIL CHANGE. THIS CAR WAS SERVICED IN EXACT COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE SCHEDULE. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN DANBURY CT JUST SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR A CAR WITH 135,000 MILES ON IT TO BURN OIL. THIS WAS A HUGE INVESTMENT. I WOULD EXPECT AT LEAST 200K MILES ON A CAR BEFORE EXPERIENCING THIS SORT OF PROBLEM. VERY DISAPPOINTING. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TOYOTA TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. INSTEAD WE GET A WELL ORCHESTRATED DON'T ADMIT ANY WRONGDOING RESPONSE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR PRODUCING A SUBSTANDARD PRODUCT.

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN THE INITIAL RECALL, TOYOTA REPLACED THE AIRBAG IN SEPTEMBER 2015. IN OCTOBER 2016 MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE THE SAME ISSUE I HAD BEFORE - AIRBAG ISSUE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX THE CAR AGAIN STATING THEY ONLY HAVE A ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON WARRANTY WORK WHICH THIS ISSUE IS JUST OUT OF THAT PERIOD. I HAVE TRIED TO REACH A MANAGER AT THE TOYOTA WARRANTY CENTER NUMEROUS TIMES BUT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT (SHE BELIEVES SHE WAS TRAVELING UNDER 25 MPH AS SHE CAME TO A RED LIGHT) ON A BUSY ROAD THE VEHICLE MADE A BEEPING ALERT SOUND AND THE DISPLAY ROTATED THROUGH THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES: " (!) CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM- HAVE YOUR VEHICLE CHECKED BY A DEALER, BRAKE BRAKE MALFUNCTION- STOP THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACT DEALER, ABS CHECK ABS- HAVE YOUR VEHICLE CHECKED BY A DEALER, CHECK VSC SYSTEM- HAVE YOUR VEHICLE CHECKED BY A DEALER." LUCKILY SHE WAS WITHIN A MILE OR TWO OF MY HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT THERE SAFELY. SHE TOOK PHOTOS OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WITH HER CELL PHONE. THEY ARE ATTACHED. WE DROVE IT TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THE ABS ACCUMULATOR/ACTUATOR WAS INTERNALLY LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE DROVE IT HOME WHERE WE PARKED IT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. IN THE MEANTIME, I CALLED TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE AND THAT I HAD SEEN RECALLS ONLINE FOR THE PREVIOUS TWO YEAR MODELS AND ASKED IF THE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE COVERED ON OUR 2008. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AGREED TO SUBMIT INFORMATION TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO COVER $1000.00 OF THE COST AS A WARRANTY SERVICE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IF THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS AND A RECALL ISSUED THAT WE COULD LATER BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REMAINING AMOUNT. I UNDERSTOOD THAT MY INFORMING THEM OF THE ISSUE WOULD BE PASSED ON TO THOSE WHO INVESTIGATE THESE MATTERS TO DETERMINE WHAT WOULD BECOME A RECALL ITEM BUT WE NOW SEE THAT OUR COMPLAINT IS NOT LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THUS THE SLOW REPORTING OF THIS ISSUE. THE REPAIR COST WAS $3273.78 FOR PARTS (AFTER THE $1000.00 ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT) AND $490.50 FOR LABOR, PLUS A $40 ENVIRO FEE AND TAX.

CAR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED MY YOUNG CHILD IN THE CAR. I USED THE FOB TO UNLOCK THE CAR. THEN I OPENED THE BACK DOOR TO PUT MY CHILD IN HIS CARSEAT AND PLACED MY KEYS ON THE DRIVER SEAT TO HAVE ACCESS TO BOTH MY HANDS FOR THE TASKS. ONCE MY CHILD WAS STRAPPED IN I SHUT THE BACK RIGHT DOOR TO GO GET IN THE DRIVER FRONT DOOR. AS SOON AS I SHUT THE BACK DOOR I HEARD A BEEP AND ALL THE DOORS LOCKED DOWN, LOCKING MY CHILD INSIDE WITH THE KEYS. AS IT WAS A HOT DAY IN MY TOWN, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE POLICE, WHO HAD TO COME AND JAMMED THE THE DOOR SO I COULD GET OUT MY SON. WE HAVE SINCE CHANGED THE KEYS IN THE FOB AND ON 9/25/2016 WHILE SEATED IN THE CAR IT AGAIN LOCKED ITSELF BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION

DRIVING AT A SLOWER SPEED AND DURING A TURN - MY POWER STEERING SHUT OFF- THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR APPEARED ON MY DASH BUT THEN DISAPPEARED. AS A RESULT I LOST ACCESS TO POWER STEERING. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS HAPPENED AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. I CHECKED THE RECALL NOTIFICATIONS AND IDENTIFIED I HAD 3 SEPARATE RECALLS RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE HOW THE POWER STEERING CONCERN WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. I SOON DISCOVERED THIS ARTICLE WHICH EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE EXACTLY HTTP://WWW.TECHTIMES.COM/ARTICLES/39149/20150312/TOYOTA-RECALLS-112-500-VEHICLES-DUE-TO-POWER-STEERING-AND-SOFTWARE-ISSUES.HTM .

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCUMULATOR AND ACTIVATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY OR RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. EVERY TIME A TURN WAS MADE, THE STEERING SHAFT MADE A NOISE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2016. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE TO BE REPAIRED UNDER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 0034-13. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BEEN ADJUSTED TO A SETTING FOR A SHORTER DRIVER, AND WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF RE-SETTING IT FOR A TALLER DRIVER, THE STEERING WHEEL AND ITS HOUSING CAME COMPLETELY OFF OF THE SHAFT THAT REACHES INTO THE ENGINE. TO SAFELY GET OFF THE ROAD, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO STICK IT BACK ON, AND IT WAS UNABLE TO STAY IN THE CORRECT POSITION. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, TO TRY TO REATTACH IT, THE DRIVER AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO SEAT THE HOUSING ON THE SHAFT. THIS MANEUVER WAS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY, BUT UPON ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE AGAIN, THE "SLIPPERY WHEN WET" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WHATEVER ENGINE MECHANISM THAT ALERTS BEGAN TO ENGAGE, AFFECTING THE BRAKES, ACCELERATOR, AND STEERING. THIS ALL HAPPENED AS WE WERE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO MANEUVER INTO THE ROADWAY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX M/S TIRES, SIZE: P245/65/R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE THREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR BUMPER AND REAR WHEEL WELL LINER WERE PARTLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE OTHER THREE TIRES HAD CRACKED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13T012000 (TIRES), BUT THE TIRE SIZE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,800.

FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS OR LONGER, THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THIS CAR HAS BEEN OPERATING ERRATICALLY, WHEN IT WANTS TO IT SEEMS. THE PROBLEM ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE THAT I COULDN'T TURN THE SYSTEM ON. NOW, HOWEVER, WHEN I AM SOMETIMES ABLE TO TURN IT ON, AND SET THE SPEED, THE PROBLEM BECOMES THAT THE STALK ON THE LOWER RIGHT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOSE IT'S CONNECTION AND THE MOVEMENTS OF THE STALK BECOME INACTIVE. THIS IS VERY SURPRISING IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO SLOW DOWN, SPEED UP OR MORE IMPORTANTLY HIT THE CANCEL BUTTON. THE ONLY THING TO DO IS HIT THE BRAKES. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH. ON THURSDAY, FEB.11,2016 AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE AIRBAG WARNINGS LIGHT CAME ON. THE INFO SCREEN SAID TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND THERE WERE 2 WARNING SIGNALS ON THE DASH AS WELL. MY CAR HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT. I CALLED OUR LOCAL DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW. ATKINSON TOYOTA IN BRYAN, TEXAS. I SPOKE TO CHRIS IN SERVICE AND HE SAID HOW QUICK CAN I GET IT THERE. NATURALLY MY HUSBAND WAS OUT OF TOWN SO I SAID IT WOULD BE MONDAY, FEB15,2016 BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN. I HAVE SINCE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS, INJURIES AND BEWILDERMENT AS TO WHY THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN I SPOKE TO GAVE ME NO INFORMATION AS TO THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING IN OTHER HIGHLANDERS,SAID HE WOULD NEED MY CAR FOR AN ENTIRE DAY AND THAT I COULD RENT A CAR ONSITE AT MY ON EXPENSE. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA IS BEING EXTREMELY NEGLIGENT AND PUTTING PASSENGERS LIVES AT STAKE. I PLAN TO CALL THE DEALER TOMORROW. PLEASE REPORT THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE THEIR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WOULD CALL THIS GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF TOYOTA AS IT IS CLEARLY EVIDENT THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU.

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS SURGED FORWARD WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKE. TONIGHT, AND ON AT LEAST TWO OTHER OCCASIONS, IT HAS OCCURRED WHILE EXITING THE LOCAL WENDY'S RESTAURANT. THE EXIT SLOPES DOWNWARD FOR TEN FEET OR SO BEFORE REACHING THE MULTI-LANE ONE WAY ROAD. TONIGHT, AS I WAS COMING DOWN THE EXIT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN SURGED FORWARD AND OUT INTO THE ROAD. I ALMOST RAN INTO THE SIDES OF SEVERAL CARS THAT WERE PASSING BY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED RIGHT BEFORE IT GOT FAR ENOUGH OUT IN THE ROAD TO HIT THEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW CLOSE MY FRONT END WAS TO HITTING THEM, BUT IT WAS VERY CLOSE. THAT'S WHY I'M FILING THIS COMPLAINT. I'VE CHECKED THE MAT AND IT'S NOT THE MAT. I BELIEVE IT IS SOMETHING IN THE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL, BUT AS YOU KNOW, TESTS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED ON TOYOTA VEHICLES BEFORE FOR THIS ISSUE, AND NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT I'M AWARE OF. BUT I'M TELLING YOU NOW, AND I HAVE A DEGREE IN ASTRONOMY (I'M TECHNICALLY MINDED), THERE IS SOMETHING MORE THAN MATS AND DRIVER ERROR GOING ON WITH UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION AND TOYOTA VEHICLES. I DID A SEARCH TONIGHT ONLINE, AND I FOUND A NUMBER OF REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS, NOT TO MENTION A MYRIAD OF OTHER REPORTS FROM OWNERS OF OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES. MY VEHICLE HAS ALSO SURGED FORWARD WHILE TURNING INTO PARKING SPACES AT GROCERY STORES, ONCE AGAIN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. SO FAR, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT RAN OVER THE PARKING BLOCK OR HIT ANOTHER CAR, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND AS YOU KNOW TOYOTA IS NO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. MY VEHICLE IS PAID FOR, AND I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER ONE RIGHT NOW OR I WOULD TRADE IT IN. BUT EVEN THEN, I WOULD FEEL UNEASY NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NEXT OWNER. PLEASE DO SOMETHING NOW BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE HURT OR KILLED.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN ITS UPRIGHT FLAT POSITION. IT FALLS PARTWAY DOWN TO THE POINT OF BEING AIMED DIRECTLY AT THE FOREHEAD. THIS NOT ONLY IMPEDES VISIBILITY BUT ALSO IS DANGEROUS IF YOU INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH WOULD THROW YOU FORWARD. IT ALSO WILL NOT STAY DOWN AND PUSHED ALL THE WAY FORWARD IN ORDER TO AVOID THE HAZARD OF HAVING IT ANGLED AT YOUR FOREHEAD. HAVING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION ON STATIONARY HAS NOT EFFECT OF THIS PROBLEM.

THE PRIMARY ISSUE OF CONCERN IS REGARDING THE VEHICLES VALVE SPRINGS. AS A RESULT OF THE VALVE SPRING WHICH WAS IN PLACE, THE VEHICLE IN WHICH I DROVE, STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET IT CHECKED. IN ORDER TO RECTIFY THIS IT COST OVER $2,000.00 IN REPAIRS. THIS ISSUE IS OF GRAVE CONCERN, AS A FAULTY VALVE SPRING, IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY, COULD RESULT IN THE DEATH OF A DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND OTHER VEHICLES. THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO THE 2010 VALVE SPRING ISSUE WHICH AFFECTED LEXUS VEHICLES. IN THAT 2010 ISSUE, TOYOTA ADMITTED FAULT AND RECALLED ISSUES FOR 2006 TO 2008 LEXUS MODELS. GIVEN THAT THE ISSUE HAPPENED TO OTHER BRANDS OWNED BY TOYOTA THE DOT SHOULD SEE WHETHER THE ISSUE IS MORE WIDESPREAD, AND WHETHER MY VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THIS ISSUE AS WELL. *JS

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY LOCKED IN THE UP POSITION AND THEREFORE PARTIALLY BLOCKS THE DRIVERS VISION WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.