Toyota / Highlander / 2006
2006 Toyota Highlander problems
Owners have filed 346 complaints about the 2006 Toyota Highlander with NHTSA. Service brakes account for 19.7% of them — the clear leader, ahead of vehicle speed control at 12.7%.
Complaints346
Crashes38
Fires4
Injuries37
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Service brakes 19.7% · 68
Vehicle speed control 12.7% · 44
Electrical system 7.5% · 26
Service brakes, hydraulic 6.6% · 23
Power train 6.4% · 22
Engine and engine cooling 6.1% · 21
Engine 5.5% · 19
Steering 4.6% · 16
Severity
Of those complaints, 38 describe a crash, 4 describe a fire, 37 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 23 model years of the Toyota Highlander in this data, 2006 sits 7th by complaint volume. 2019 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 14 in the last three years against 37 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 68,970 miles.
In owners' own words
While driving the car, the brakes failed. I was able to stop the car without an accident, but it had to be towed. The repair shop found the master cylinder had failed. Per Toyota, the vin # for the car is not in the "batch" involved in a recall in 2010 involving the master cylinders for highlanders, and they refuse to honor the recall for this car. Service brakes · reported at 103,362 miles
I was driving the car then as I hit the brakes it felt like they were not engaging until I applied more pressure. Then as I was almost home the abs and traction control lights came on. Took it to a specialist and they said that the abs module would have to be replaced. There are tons of people apparently with my same year and model with the same concern Service brakes
The ABS Module on the vehicle continually go bad. A newly never used one was purchased 2yrs 4 months ago. A genuine Toyota part ($1300) and it has already gone bad. This is causing safety issues as the brakes make a loud thumping sound when pressed. The car also starts rolling in reverse when turned on if the engine hasnât started as yet. Service brakes
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…