Toyota / Highlander Hybrid / 2006
2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems
Owners have filed 481 complaints about the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with NHTSA. Service brakes account for 15.8% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of electrical system at 15.4%.
Complaints481
Crashes45
Fires12
Injuries10
Deaths2
What owners report breaking
Service brakes 15.8% · 76
Electrical system 15.4% · 74
Hybrid propulsion system 9.4% · 45
Service brakes, hydraulic 8.7% · 42
Vehicle speed control 6.9% · 33
Engine and engine cooling 5.8% · 28
Steering 5.2% · 25
Engine 5.2% · 25
Severity
Of those complaints, 45 describe a crash, 12 describe a fire, 10 report an injury and 2 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 3 model years of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid in this data, 2006 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 6 in the last three years against 74 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 100,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Step on brake pedal, hit a small bump in road, brakes let go for a second and then grab. It's like you hit a patch of ice. This has been happening since I got the car. I went onto the edmunds forum http://forums.Edmunds.Com/discussion/5357/Toyota/highlander-hybrid/highlander-hybrid-brake-problems/p5 and counted over 350 exact same complaints for 2006 highlander hybrids, including many fender benders. Service brakes · reported at 12,000 miles
Vehicle stability control warning light came on. Nothing in manual about it. Called Toyota dealer said no rush to bring it in. Snowstorm delayed me. Went in - told dangerous to drive. Have to replace the automatic braking actuator - part costs $1800 and 3 hours labor - around $2400 - the car only has 130k on it. Brake was slipping day I got to the dealer unless I pressed harder than normal. Service brakes · reported at 130,000 miles
2006 Highlander Hybrid, check hybrid system, check vsc light, brake and abs light all on permanently and my brakes aren't working. I was fortunate noone got hurt.. It was really dangerous when you press the brake and it doesn't stop. ... From what I read abs accumulator which cost 3k+ to replace and the hybrid inverter which cost 5k+ to replace. Nhtsa please issue a recall on this issues. Service brakes · reported at 149,500 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…