2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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 matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON 5/16/20. WE WERE DRIVING AROUND 65 MPH STRAIGHT. WE WERE DRIVING ON BLACK ASPHALT AND THEN WHEN WE DROVE OVER A BRIDGE WITH WHITE/GRAYISH CONCRETE, THE CAR'S EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND APPLIED SUDDEN BRAKING EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NORMALLY DRIVING. THE CAR JOLTED AND SLOWED DOWN AND ALL PASSENGERS WERE STOPPED BY AUTO-LOCKING SEATBELTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

11326887

Incident

May 16, 2020

Mileage

42,000 mi

BRAKE BOOSTER IS BAD. BRAKE IS SPONGY. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO TAKE TO DEALER LEAD TO NO ACTION AFTER COMPLAINING LOUDLY AND THE DEALER SAID MY WIFE JUST HAS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE, MY HIGHLANDER HAS LOW BRAKE PRESSURE NOT "HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. TOYOTA DOES NOT SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS DEFECT BY PRETENDING DEFECT DOESN'T EXIST AND NOT NOTIFYING DEALERS. CHECK PRIUS BOOSTER RECALL. SIMILAR TECHNOLOGY THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO CHANGE.

NHTSA ID

11217416

Incident

Jun 2, 2019

Mileage

52,025 mi

I WAS STOPPED AND IN PARK WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING WHEN THE "CHECK VSC SYSTEM," "CHECK ABS, BRAKE MALFUNCTION" WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THEY HAVE SINCE GONE AWAY AND RETURNED INTERMITTENTLY. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO FAILURE WHILE IN MOTION, BUT DEALER ESTIMATED $4600 FOR REPAIR. IF THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM FOR WHICH WARRANTY COVERAGE WAS EXTENDED FOR 2006-07 MODELS, THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11133443

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

Mileage

163,000 mi

STOPPED IN INTERSECTION WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ENGINE DID NOT START HYBRID WARNING STATED HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE STOP IMMEDIATELY. GLIDED TO A PARKING SPACE. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART ENGINE CONTINUE TO GET SAME WARNING. AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS CALLED AAA AND TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I WAS URGED TO TOW THE VEHICLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES, ATTEMPTED TO START AGAIN THE VEHICLE TURNED ON AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. ALL WARNING LIGHTS AT THAT TIME WERE EXTINGUISHED. DEALERSHIP FOUND A GENERAL WARNING ON VEHICLE COMPUTER. DEALERSHIP COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11124768

Incident

Sep 5, 2018

Mileage

75,170 mi

THE DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE TOP CORNER STRUCK ME IN THE TEMPLE AND CAUSED BLEEDING AND A HEADACHE. THE DOOR HAS A SHARP ANGLE. IT WAS STATIONARY I CLOSED THE DOOR AND WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE TO GO IN A CROWDED RESTAURANT. IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ID

11115033

Incident

Dec 4, 2016

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH USING THE FACTORY COMPACT SPARE TIRE, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEN DRIVING OVER GROOVED ROADS. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. *TT

NHTSA ID

11092839

Incident

May 8, 2018

Mileage

28,000 mi

This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing a rescue charge. The GRX-5100 should be used wherever the Repair Manual references the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) charger.

OBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0009-26.

Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manual and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines.

Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free. This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.

The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage and result in visible depressions in the paint surface. The following are the three major categories of acid rain damage: •Minor damage: requires only buffing to repair. •Moderate damage: usually requires neutralizing, color sanding, and buffing. •Severe damage: extending beyond 1/2 mil of clearcoat on a pearl, metallic, or solid color, requires neutralization, sanding, and repainting. In cases where acid rain damage is minor, neutralization and buffing with a liquid-type paint finessing product may provide an adequate repair. Only specially formulated products outlined in this bulletin should be used for that purpose. Unfortunately, other than minor damage, there is no simple method of determining the actual extent (depth) of acid penetration other than color sanding a representative affected area until there is no visible etching or depressions, followed by measuring the amount of paint removed with either a magnetic or digital-type film thickness gauge. The procedures in this bulletin are intended for use by qualified body/paint technicians and should not be attempted by inexperienced personnel. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. Perform frequent vehicle washing, as often as daily, during high heat and humidity periods to minimize the potential for paint damage due to acid rain exposure. This is especially important in geographical areas known for high frequency and concentration of acid rain and industrial fallout.