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2006 Toyota Highlander Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 278 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Toyota Highlander, most often about the brakes (34% of complaints, typically around 105,000 miles). It is 7th of 26 Highlander model years by number of complaints and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2006 Toyota Highlander problems
Brakes
94 complaints · 34%Half of these problems showed up before 105,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated the brake pedal extended to the floor when the brakes were applied and the braking distance had increased. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic who replaced the master cylinder. The contact stated after the vehicle was repaired the brakes did…
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…
Speed control
43 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid - I was stopped in a right turn only lane. The vehicle in front of me began to make a right turn on a red light. As he moved forward, I slightly released pressure on the brakes and my vehicle lunged forward and crashed into the vehicle in front of me which had stopped suddenly. This…
On monday oct.4 I was driving my 2006 Toyota Highlander when I was approaching a stop sign. I let of the accelerator and started to stop. Suddenly the engine started revving up on its own and continued to rev up higher and higher. I put the car in neutral and it continued to race to over 6000 RPM before it finally…
Engine
40 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 77,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid. While driving the vehicle stalled and all lights on the instrumental panel remained illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that the failure was caused by the inverter. The dealer replaced the inverter. The VIN information wasn't available. The…
I was advised that my head gasket blew at 80,000 miles and when they went to fix it they found the threads were stripped and I need a new engine? At 80,000 miles, this is insane. I googled this problem and found many people are having the same problem. There is obviously a manufacturers defect with these bolts. No way…
Electrical
26 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander. When the vehicle was started, the brake light, antilock brake light, and the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle did not accelerate and the antilock brakes did not work. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the computer core needed to be…
Our 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid would not start on several occasions. The car had been running for some time , turned off for 5 minutes and then it would not restart. After sitting for a few hours it restarted. Some times it had to be jumped and the code read "shift to park" even though it was already in park. I…
Visibility and wipers
24 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly, power window devices and controls, windshield.
When is there going to be a recall for the power windows??? There was a recall for 2007 highlanders- in 2012, 2 months before I complained to Toyota, they had no complaints !!this is a safety hazard, there are sooo many complaints. I currently have 2 windows that don't work,they were stuck in the down position, both…
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the sun roof exploded. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 66,000. Updated 03/15/16
Transmission
22 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly.
Car jerks as moving into the wrong gear. Also stumbles as if the transmission is slipping and then jerks into a gear lurching forward. The car also surges at times without warning. Told repeatedly at dealer they can't find anything wrong.
Driving on the highway, car broke down and stopped functioning. Took the vehicle to the dealership and was charged $4259.81 to replace transfer case. After some investigating, I discovered that Toyota had issued a tsb (tc008-07) to replace the right-hand bearing seal that would have prevented this. My car was in…
Steering
16 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 85,500 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist system, electric power assist system, rack and pinion.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander. While driving at 35 MPH the steering seized and made steering the vehicle very difficult. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The mechanic cleaned the power steering pump, but the failure…
Tl contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid. While driving 25 MPH he lost power steering. As a consequence, it became difficult to control the steering wheel. The dealer was notified and a technician concluded that the rack and pinion, and electrical motor needed to be replaced. The failure and current mileages…
Air bags
12 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 37,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
I was hit at approx 40-50 MPH forcing my car into the car in front of me in traffic both of US ad a dead stop on rte 1 south saugus ma. I have a Toyota Highlander, airbags were not deployed and looks like they should have considering the impact that I made to the vehicle in front of me after I was hit. I have neck…
1. I was traveling east on bolsa ave. Going straight, and the other driver was coming out of the abc market driveway. She made a right turn. 2. My car made a loud sound and then drove into the other driver's car. 3. I had my foot on the brakes, but the car went forward like it was a racing car. Then the car went in…
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 recalls
Seats: seat heater/cooler
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on july 14, 2016. Owners may contact set customer service at 1-866-405-4226. Set number for this recall is set16b.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4runner, highlander, sequoia, and sienna, 2005-2010 avalon and tundra, 2006-2008 camry solara, 2006-2010 highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 rav4 and tacoma, 2007-2010 fj cruiser, 2007-2011 camry hybrid, 2009-2010 venza, 2010-2012 prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Seats: seat heater/cooler
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in january 2015. Owners may contact set customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 prius and corolla, 2009-2011 venza, 2006-2010 avalon, 2007-2010 fj cruiser, 2005-2011 sienna and sequoia, 2006-2011 tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, camry, highlander, tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 rav4 and 4runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
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.
Brakes: master cylinder
Risk: A leak of brake fluid could lead to a change in brake pedal feel and overtime a degradation in braking performance increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seal with a newly designed one. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 15, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331 and lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 avalon, model year 2004-2006 highlander, model year 2004-2006 lexus rx, and model year 2006 lexus gs and is vehicles. Brake fluid containing polymers is used that acts as lubricants for certain brake system components. If replacement brake fluid is used that does not contain such polymers, or that contains only small amounts, a part of the rubber seal located at the rear of the brake master cylinder may become dry, and the seal may curl during movement of the piston. If this occurs, a small amount of brake fluid could slowly leak from the seal into the brake booster.
Equipment: labels
Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.
Full defect summary
Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Equipment: labels
Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
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."
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
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
Sudden loss of power steering assist
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe06-055 based on two complaints of loss of eps assist in 43,931 my 2006 toyota highlander hybrid vehicles.one of the complaints alleged that a loss in power steering assist resulted in a crash.in response to an information request letter from odi, toyota submitted information about 6 additional consumer complaints, including 2 alleging crashes, and 109 warranty claims related to the eps assembly in the subject vehicles.odi?s analysis of the crash incidents revealed that each incident of alleged loss in power steering assist occurred at very low speeds and presented minor safety consequences.toyota's response also identified three potential is
Questions about the 2006 Toyota Highlander
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Toyota Highlander?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (94 complaints, typically around 105,000 miles); speed control (43 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); engine (40 complaints, typically around 77,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Toyota Highlander have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 2, 2016 (seats). 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?
- It is 7th of 26 Highlander model years by number of complaints, with 278 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.