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2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 370 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, most often about the brakes (32% of complaints, typically around 103,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Highlander Hybrid model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems
Brakes
117 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 103,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
In october 2013 I had a "check vsc system" warning light. Upon taking it to the dealership, they said it was due to the battery and replaced it and the warning light went away. However, over the next few months, we started noticing a "squeaking" sound coming from the area underneath the front of the car when the car…
Abs brake accumulator failure. Vsc warning light. Code c1391 90k miles. $3000 repair. Abs pump fails so you have less braking force on heavy SUV at highway speed... All 2006 Highlander Hybrid and lexus 400h impacted. Toyota internally acknowledged this and redesigned the accumulator for the new highlander. No recall…
Electrical
74 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 114,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery, propulsion system.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact was driving 30 MPH when the vehicle stalled with the illumination of the check hybrid and vrc system warning lights. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The test result showed a defect in the hybrid battery. The contact did not…
After making a left turn at a stop sign, the vehicle display started indicating error codes including check hybrid system. After driving approx 1/2 mile, the vehicle lost power and shut down/stalled in the middle of the highway in traffic. Fortunate, I received some help from an on-looker to help me manually steer the…
Engine
53 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 105,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
We were driving on the nj turnpike. Suddenly, the car stalled and the steering locked. Luckily, we just started the hour long drive and were on the slow lane and was able to glide the car over safely to the shoulder. The check "csv" and "check hybrid system" lights came on and the hybrid battery showed no energy. The…
My wife was backing out of our driveway when the car suddenly lost power to the wheels and all of the warning lights came on. She was unable to move the car forward or backward to get the car out of the lane of traffic. We got the car towed to the local Toyota dealership. They informed US that the inverter was bad and…
Hybrid system
45 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 108,000 miles. Parts named most often: inverter.
My wife and I are owners of a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and experienced the stall with no restart issue yesterday. I had noticed for 6mths - 1 year that on more than gentle acceleration the vehicle may pause (lose power) for 1-2 seconds before continuing. During this pause, a warning would be displayed along with…
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated they were driving onto the highway and trying to accelerate when the vehicle lost power. The vehicle continued to roll forward forcing the contact to drive onto the service lane. The contact heard a popping noise and the check hybrid system light…
Speed control
33 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Check vsc system came on, then off, it happens a lot took it to a dealer they found nothing now the warning is on all the time, took it to the dealer and now they want $2,600.00.
The case was stopped and placed in parking when the vehicle started moving forward at about 3 MPH. I almost hit a car 5 feet in front of me(at the time I placed the highlander in parking gear) and it ended 6 inches away from the car in the front. I had to step on the brake shift gears from parking to drive. Shift…
Steering
25 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles. Parts named most often: electric power assist system.
I just bought the car 2 weeks ago (3/17/14) and it has been driven for 500 miles without any incident. Last night I parked in my usual spot across the road from my house. On the morning of sunday (3/30/14) I went to turn on my car and I notice a p/s red light came on and did a quick search on the internet and realized…
We were driving on the nj turnpike. Suddenly, the car stalled and the steering locked. Luckily, we just started the hour long drive and were on the slow lane and was able to glide the car over safely to the shoulder. The check "csv" and "check hybrid system" lights came on and the hybrid battery showed no energy. The…
Stability control
24 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 122,000 miles.
I was driving my car and when I brake to slow down I heard a chime and a check vcs system warning came with ABS , brake and slip indicator ,master warning light and electronic controlled brake system warning light came on too. I have found that in 2013 there was a safery recall dlf(d2f) on certain highlander hv…
Driving the upper roadway of the queensboro 59th st bridge the car just died. Flashing on the panel read check the vsc system waited for a tow around a dangerous curve, we could have been killed. Otw to the Toyota dealer to see if they will honor the recalled inverter part.
Service Brakes, Electric
21 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles.
Driving on the highway at a slow speed due to traffic, around 20 MPH. The car in front of me unexpectedly came to a complete stop. I had 2 car lengths and put on the brakes, but the car never "grabbed"--I just slowed and coasted into the back of the car ahead of me. Because the ABS on a hybrid does not kick in until…
My 2006 Highlander Hybrid brakes do not grab immediately when I am driving forward and going over a pot hole or train tracks while braking to reduce my speed. This occurs any time I am in that situation. It is even more noticeable when turning and braking while going over a pot hole or train tracks. I have asked the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid recalls
Hybrid system: inverter
Risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ipm free of charge. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their ipm replaced under recall 11v-342 are not affected by this campaign.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured february 16, 2005, through july 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured february 23, 2005, through december 2, 2008. The intelligent power module (ipm) inside the inverter module may contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors may be heat damaged by the solder. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: In some cases, the belt for the power steering pump may become detached from the pulley which could result in a loss of power steering and a sudden increase in steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the crankshaft pulley to identify whether it was produced by the u.s. Supplier. If so, the dealer will replace the pulley with a new one at no charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during early january 2012. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004 avalon vehicles; 2004 and 2005 camry, camry solara, highlander, and sienna vehicles, 2006 highlander hybrid; 2004 and 2005 lexus es330 and rx330; and 2006 lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured from june 1, 2004 through march 31, 2005, equipped with the 1mz-fe or 3mz-fe engine. The amount of adhesive agent applied between the outer ring and the torsional rubber damper (inner ring) in the crankshaft pulley may be inadequate. If the adhesive is insufficient, there is a possibility that the outer ring may become misaligned and it may not properly rotate with the inner ring, causing noise and/or illumination of the battery discharge indicator light.
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota/lexus mailed an interim owner notification on july 19, 2011 to advise owners of this recall and the fact that they will receive a future notice when parts become available to complete repairs. Toyota dealers will inspect the hybrid inverter production number to determine whether the inverter contains suspect transistors and replace the module free of charge. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 highlander hybrid and lexus rx400h passenger cars manufactured from february 16, 2005, through august 30, 2006. A module inside the inverter module may contain inadequately soldered transistors that during high-load driving, may be damaged by heat caused by the large current. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may temporarily become stuck in a partially depressed position rather than return to the idle position. A stuck accelerator pedal may result in unintended and sustained vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the floor carpet cover with a newly designed one free or charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during march 2011. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 highlander, highlander hybrid, and model year 2004-2007 lexus rx330, rx350, and rx400h vehicles. If the forward retention clip used to secure the floor carpet cover, which is located in front of the center console, is not installed properly the cover may lean toward the accelerator pedal and interfere with the accelerator pedal arm.
Equipment: labels
Risk: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on august 18, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling 27,080 model year 2005 through 2010 passenger cars built from september 1, 2005 to may 4, 2009. These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: This condition may interfere with the accelerator pedal returning to the idle position increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the two floor carpet cover retaining clips free of charge. The recall began on july 24, 2006, and should be completed by early september 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility and hybrid vehicles, the two retaining clips for the driver's side forward center console can become loose. If both clips separate from the floor carpet cover, the cover may lean toward the accelerator pedal, causing interference with the accelerator pedal rod.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Hybrid inverter failure - vehicle stall
Summary
In a june 29, 2011 letter to NHTSA, toyota submitted a defect information report regarding a safety recall of certain toyota highlander hybrid and lexus rx400h vehicles to address a defect condition with the hybrid inverter assembly (NHTSA recall no. 11v-342).toyota's letter identified a defect related to inadequately soldered transistors on the intelligent power module (ipm) of some of the subject vehicles that could result in sudden loss of power while driving.toyota's remedy procedure instructs dealers to inspect the hybrid inverter production number to determine if the inverter contains suspect transistors.if so, the dealer will replace the ipm.the recall covers approximately 45,528 mode
Unintended and uncontrolled acceleration
Summary
On february 16, 2010, NHTSA's office of defects investigation (odi) opened rq10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, toyota recalls 07e-082, 09v-388, 10v-017, and 10v-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in toyota and lexus vehicles.I. Pedal interference from floor mats, carpet covers and plastic pads in carpets.during the rq10-003 investigation, odi reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that toyota recall ad
Questions about the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (117 complaints, typically around 103,500 miles); electrical (74 complaints, typically around 114,500 miles); engine (53 complaints, typically around 105,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 4, 2013 (hybrid system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2006 a bad year for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
- It is the most complained-about Highlander Hybrid model year since 2000, with 370 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.