This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I have had to replace the brake actuator on my 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid 3 times since 2014. Replacing this part is a $2500 - $3000 repair. The first time, we paid out of pocket. The second time, I was told I would have to pay out of pocket and I declined. Parked the vehicle for about a year and then received notice from Toyota that the part was being offered an extended warranty under letter ZG1. At that point, I had the part replaced under the extended warranty. Now the part has failed again. This is a very serious issue as it controls the ABS braking system and failure can have devastating consequences. I think Toyota recognized the issue, made adjustments, but did not make proper adjustments and still has issues with this part. Particularly - this issue may be related to the fact that the hybrid vehicles rely on the braking system to regenerate the battery.
While attempting to make a stop at an intersection during city driving the brake pedal became very hard to press down and several warning lights came on my vehicle dashboard. At first, the problem was intermittent but progressively got worst over continued driving. I took my vehicle to my local Toyota dealer for inspection. The service manager informed me that I had a problem with the ABS brake system module and the repair was about $2,600. I parked the vehicle because it was no longer safe to drive and to many close calls. Later I found out that this 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid and several proceeding model years had a very extensive consumer complaint number for this very same ABS brake system concern. I contacted the service manager at the same local Toyota dealership about a warranty at which time the service manager informed me that my warranty expired which I never was informed. It seems to me personally this is how the air bag safety problem was over looked on these vehicles until consumers lost their lives on faulty consumer products that got progressively worst over time. Several of the other import manufacture have offered recalls on the very same ABS system brake concern. Toyota has yet to offer a recall several model years into this safety concern with the ABS brake system. If we as consumers can't stop our vehicles while driving on the city streets or highways accidents happen and people die. This safety concern has gone on long enough with thousands of complaints over the years for the same ABS brake system concern. There must be a much better job at protecting the consumer safety from continued safety concerns not being addressed by Toyota. All the other import manufactures have step up with recalls, whats taking Toyota manufactures so long after years of the same safety concerns. Please help us with this ABS brake system concern.
I purchased the vehicle used in August 2018. In January, warning lights indicated a 'vsc system' problem. The event occurred while I was driving. I researched car repair websites and forums, and discovered that this is often a simple problem with a sensor for the fuel door, or a linkage in the accelerator assembly. I followed instructions, and the light turned off. Over the past six weeks, the lights have returned, usually in association with refueling the vehicle. I took the vehicle to a dealer today, and was informed that an ABS actuator was failing. The part is $1700 from Toyota, with labor totaling $600. Further research revealed the problem was widespread, but the only remedy was a 'warranty enhancement' that has already expired. I cannot afford this repair, and I was not informed of this issue at purchase. Because this issue was critical for vehicle safety, I felt the need to alert the NHTSA to a continuing problem.
The brake actuator pump failed and was replace under the warrantee extension ZG1. The replacement brake actuator pump failed but Toyota will not cover it. It is a very expensive defective part. When the part fails many systems are impacted especially the brakes.
Intermittently, while driving down the road, all of the dash lights come on, there is a high beeping sound, and the brakes stopped functioning properly. The brakes either need to be matched with extreme force or the brakes will slam by barely touching the brake pedal. Toyota acknowledges that this is an issue and offered a warranty extension to owners of this vehicle. I purchased the vehicle after the extension was offered and haven't had issues until recently. I am concerned for not only my safety but the safety of my family. I have been a Toyota fan for all of my adult life. However, after dealing with this issue and being quoted $2000 to fix it, I would offer advice to anybody or not to buy a Toyota or at least not a Toyota hybrid. Buyer and driver beware!
- Rocky Mount, VA, USA
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While driving on a residential road the brake system failed to properly stop the car. This issue first happened in January 2017. At that time I took the car in and had the brake actuator assembly replaced under a limited service recall by Toyota and the replacement actuator assembly also failed within 18 months. While driving through a residential area the brakes again failed to stop the car, making a grinding noise and jerking to a halt after pressure applied to the brake pedal. Because the actuator assembly was replaced under the limited service recall Toyota denies any culpability in the failure of the replacement part and refuses to offer further assistance.
I am getting a "check vsc system" on the dashboard along with a red triangle, orange ABS light, orange traction control light, red brake light and orange exclamation mark inside a circle. I have been hearing weird popping noises when braking also.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid. While driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle stability control and anti lock brake system warning indicators illuminated. The contact stopped and pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road. The contact stated that the failure occurred sporadically. The vehicle was repaired by Toyota of hattiesburg (6461 us-98, hattiesburg, ms 39402) in February of 2017, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired for the recent failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
Dashboard warning lights came on all at the same time and stayed on. Went to diagnose repair and they said it needs a new brake actuator. Upon investigating, I see that Toyota extended the warranty for 10 years but it expired on Dec 31 2017. Upon reflection, we have felt the brakes occasionally become very stiff and hard to stop the vehicle while in motion. The mechanic says it is because of the actuator issue. I feel this safety issue, albeit rather old, is a known issue to Toyota and they should provide some recourse for the repair. I have included the diagnostic showing diagnostic codes and mechanic evaluation.
I bought my car 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid from a non-Toyota dealership last year August. And few months later I started noticing sqeezing noise and since last few months I have noticed a tapping noise whenever I apply break even when car is in stationary. I took car to Toyota dealership and they said it seems to be an actuator problem and needs to investigated in detail. I feel it is very dangerous to drive the car as whenever I apply breaks I hear tapping noise. I have also seen post related to same problem from many customers.
"takata recall" my 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid has been making a loud scrapping screeching noise from the left rear brakes. Brake discs and emergency brakes were replaced, but the noise persists. It feels almost as if emergency brakes are activated but the car can still move forward. Sound lessens when driving and does not appear when car is in reverse.
Having problems with the ABS module actuator. Brakes are soft and locking up at lower speeds. This seems to be a known problem with the hybrids both highlander and prius.
When applying the brake pedal the car produces a chirping / crunch noise and it slips a tad. This happens when the car is on or off, moving or stopped. On a recent service visit, the dealer said that it's likely the brake actuator and to just drive with it until it produces an error code. Online, I read that Toyota had created an "extended warranty for this issue, but would only fix it if it produced an error code. That "extended warranty" is now passed and my car still hasn't produced the code. This has got to be a safety issue.
Was going 50 miles an hour and all my ABS and break lights went on. I was lucky I was on a straight away with plenty of space between the me and the car in front of me. What kills me is my children were in the car. I was able to stop eventually and waited hours for a tow truck and ride. I received no information about the warranty extension that Toyota supposedly got out to all those who purchased vehicles with this malfunction.
Brake actuator failure. My 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid limited just had a failure of the brake actuator that was diagnosed by Texas Toyota grapevine. Unfortunately this failure happened after the time that was covered under a warranty enhancement program from Toyota for this defective part. I called Toyota usa and they said since the part did not fail during the time of the warranty enhancement they will not help. Fortunately no one in my family was injured during the failure nor was there any property or bodily injury to anyone else. As expected, I will not buy another Toyota since they placed my family's lives in danger due to a known defective part that should have been replaced under a recall.
Anti lock brake actuator making a rapid clicking sound and vehicle displays check vsc systems warning light. This seems to be a common malfunction with Toyota hybrid vehicles. The warranty needs to be extended to correct this issue.
Brake actuator was making a lot of noises starting in 8/2017 when I bought the car. Actuator problem lights came on in 3/2018, I don't know if they came on before I owned car. When I took car into dealer on 9/8/2017 they told me noise was normal and there was no problems with brakes. On 4/2/2018 vsc/ABS/brake/traction lights came on and Toyota told me I had to replace brake actuator. I opened case # 1804022826 with Toyota who told me I was responsible to pay for repair. Thousands of dollars later I have a new brake actuator that doesn't make any sounds at all.
I was stopped at a traffic light at the off-ramp of East-bound 202/mcqueen rd exit. My right foot was on the brake pedal, when the vehicle began to accelerate unexpectedly and hit the rear of vehicle stopped in front of me. As I realized the collision, I pressed the brake harder deliberately (while the car in front of me had started to move further), and to my horror my car continued to accelerate despite my depressing the brake pedal. I consciously checked my feet to ensure I was pressing the brakes and not the accelerator. My car continued to strangely & unexpectedly accelerate until it hit the same car in front of me again the 2nd time at the traffic intersection. After the 2nd collision, my car stopped and I pulled over to the side of the mcqueen road.
First a loud ringing happened and car would not stop. We have serviced car regularly, brakes are new, but car does not stop. Trying to brake at the intersection, stop light and highlander would not stop. Put us in danger almost led me into accident, was told it was the ABS system and that Toyota is aware of this. This is a huge safety design issue and expensive fix Toyota needs to fix their design flaws. There is not physical contact or wear and tear on the part for it to fail. Ms. Deborah huston at Toyota stone walls the process to get this resolved. She claims Toyota is not aware of these issues, but the NHTSA records show customers have been complaining for a long time and that they know.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Texarkana, AR, USA