2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact’s son stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 196,000.

NHTSA ID

11449033

Incident

Jan 24, 2022

Mileage

196,000 mi

CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND WAS STATIONARY. WARMING CAR UP TO GET RID OF FROST ON WINDSHIELD. THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE - TOTAL LOST. 3 TO 4 FEET FLAMES COMING OUT OF ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11044702

Incident

Nov 6, 2017

Mileage

87,842 mi

DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE RECEIVED A CHECK HYBRID LIGHT THEN THE ENGINE POWERED DOWN AND THEN SHUT DOWN. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF INTERSTATE WITHOUT CRASHING. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS THE IVS, INVERTER SYSTEM, WHICH OVERHEATED AND SHUT ENGINE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN 2014 FOR BAD SOLDERING IN THE IVS SYSTEM. CAR HAS ONLY 72,000 MILES ON IT, BUT OVER 8 YEARS ON WARRANTY. SO I AM WAITING ON TOYOTA TO DECIDE IF THEY ARE GOING TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR $9,500 REPAIR. I AM NOW AWARE OF LAWSUITS AND COMPLAINTS ON THE INVERTER SYSTEM OF THE HYBRID HIGHLANDER.

NHTSA ID

10855302

Incident

Mar 19, 2016

Mileage

71,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND IT HAD MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INCLUDING THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE CHECK CSV WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY WITH CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10823477

Incident

Jan 28, 2016

Mileage

105,000 mi

ON THE APPROXIMATE DATE WRITTEN ABOVE, I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL FROM TOYOTA RELATED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PART NOTED ABOVE [IPM]. THE NOTICE INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT MY TOYOTA DEALER AND INDICATED THAT THE IPM "WOULD BE REPLACE." THE NOTICE WENT ON TO SAY "...IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE FUSE OF THE POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT COULD BLOW, CAUSING THE HYBRID SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN AND RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE STOPPING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THIS CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH." BEING SOMEWHAT RISK ADVERSE, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WHICH OCCURRED EARLIER TODAY. AT THAT APPOINTMENT, I WAS TOLD "THE PART WOULD BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED." CLEARLY, THIS INFORMATION WAS DIFFERENT THAN THAT PROVIDED BY THE NOTICE. WORSE, HOWEVER, IS THE FACT THAT THE DEALER, HAVING DETERMINED THAT THE PART DID INDEED NEED TO BE REPLACED, THEN INFORMED ME THAT THE PART WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED AND SINCE THEY WERE ON BACKORDER THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD TELL ME WHEN THE PROMISED REPAIR MIGHT ACTUALLY OCCUR. AS A RESULT OF THE ABOVE, THIS HIGHLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IS BEING ALLOWED TO CONTINUE UNTIL TOYOTA GETS ITS ACT TOGETHER. SOMEHOW, THAT DOESN'T SEEM QUITE RIGHT AND I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10553885

Incident

Nov 14, 2013

Mileage

66,000 mi

NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE11005 EXACT SAME SITUATION. THIS ISSUE KILLS THE CAR IMMEDIATELY WITH NO TIME TO PREPARE. I WAS VERY LUCKY AS I WAS JUST ENTERING ONTO THE FREEWAY. I DRIFTED OVER TO THE RIGHT MEDIAN. IF I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OR FAR LEFT LANE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THERE ARE MORE HIGHLANDERS HYBRIDS IN MY VIN RANGE THAT ARE COMING OF AGE AND SHOULD HAVE THESE DEFECTIVE INVERTER ASSEMBLY PARTS REPLACED ASAP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10520344

Incident

Jun 11, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

I WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT ONTO THE STREET. I SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE I WAS WAITING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. MY CAR WAS IN DRIVE BUT I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN MY CAR WENT DEAD. THERE WERE WARNINGS FLASHING AT ME FROM MY DASHBOARD. I PUT MY CAR IN PARK. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED MY CAR BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED PLUS I BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS DO TO THE SLIGHT INCLINE IN THE PARKING LOT EXIT. I QUICKLY PUT MY CAR IN PARK AGAIN, TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, AND WAIVED THE CARS BEHIND ME TO GO AROUND. I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE AND BACK IT UP TO A SAFE AREA IN THE PARKING LOT. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CHARLOTTE WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AT AND CONTINUED HAVING IT SERVICED. THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT TEAM TOYOTA MALL OF GA TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS BRINGING IT IN. AFTER THEIR MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS THE FAULTY INVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME $8,000 TO FIX IT. I STILL OWED $15,000 ON THE CAR. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL ON 2006-2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS FOR THE SAME FAULTY INVERTER. THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR WAS INELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL SINCE THE VIN WAS NOT LISTED. I CALLED TOYOTA AS ADVISED AND OPENED A CASE NUMBER. I RECEIVED THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CONSTANT RUN AROUND FROM TOYOTA. THEY OFFERED TO GIVE ME $1,000 TOWARDS THE REPAIRS OR $2,500 FOR A NEW OR TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. I'M STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT WHY MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED ON THE LIST THOUGH IT MET THE CRITERIA. I AM TRULY SHOCKED BY THE DISMISSIVE ATTITUDE I'M CURRENTLY GETTING FROM TOYOTA AS IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE FAULTY INVERTER. MY CAR BROKE DOWN ON MY WAY HOME TO NORTH CAROLINA. NOW I'M TRAPPED IN GEORGIA WITH NO WAY OF GETTING HOME TO MY HUSBAND AND CHILDREN. I'M STILL WAITING ON TOYOTA'S DECISION ABOUT MY CASE, IN GA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501902

Incident

Mar 2, 2013

Mileage

106,083 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAULTY SPARK PLUG COIL PACK CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,162. UPDATED 10/19/12 *CN UPDATED 10/23/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10477370

Incident

Sep 3, 2012

Mileage

40,162 mi

WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON RT 138 IN NEWPORT RI, I WAS ACCELERATING AND SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE TRAVEL PORTION OF THE ROADWAY. VEHICLE REQUIRED A FLATBED TOW TRUCK TO BRING IT TO BALISE TOYOTA IN WARWICK RI. SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THE INVERTER HAD FAILED AND THAT THE REPAIR ESTIMATE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $9400. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 AND 2007 MODELS AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR CERTAIN MODELS. MY VEHICLE'S VIN DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL AND THE INVERTER. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE OFFICE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, NEITHER CORPORATE NOR THE DEALER OFFERED UP THE INFORMATION THAT NEARLY 100,000 OF THESE VEHICLES HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. I ASKED THE PEOPLE IN SERVICE IF THERE WAS A CHANCE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THEY LOOKED UP THE PART NUMBER FOR MY INVERTER P/N G9200-48031 S/N PH09YM084 AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM. THE FAILURE MODE RESEMBLES THE MULTITUDE OF FAILURES THAT WERE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT BROAD ENOUGH IN ITS SCOPE. I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM TOYOTA ON WHAT IF ANYTHING THEY ARE GOING TO DO TO ABSORB THIS OUT OF CONTROL REPAIR COST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456197

Incident

Apr 18, 2012

Mileage

124,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 65MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER CAR OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD, NARROWLY AVOIDING ACCIDENT. THE CAR DID RESTART, BUT THIS STALLING AND POWER SHUT OFF REOCCURRED ONCE MORE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED CAR; TEST DROVE IT; AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A REAL PROBLEM AND SAFETY CONCERN. AFTER MY PRODDING, THEY ADMINTTED THAT THERE WAS, IN FACT, A VOLUNTARY RECALL, BUT THE NEEDED PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. IT IS ONE THING TO POSTPONE TREATING A CAR FOR A VOLUNTARY RECALL WHEN THAT CAR HAS NOT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. MY CAR, HOWEVER, HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD FIND THE NEEDED PART TO REPAIR THE CAR TO ENSURE ITS SAFETY. I ASKED TO HAVE THE SERVICE MANAGER CALL ME BACK BUT I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THAT CALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

NHTSA ID

10427761

Incident

Sep 25, 2011

Mileage

19,300 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HV. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THREE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ID

10342598

Incident

Jul 11, 2010

Mileage

24,000 mi