2006 Toyota Highlander Electrical Problems

While normally driving on the highway and without no warning the vehicle the power steering stops working , it just dies with no power and dash lights warning start to flash and Check Hybrid System turns on. I am not a mechanic nor a technician . The mechanic disconnected the ground cable after waiting about 5 minutes and it resets the system. He told me that it has something that may be caused by some electrical problem . He thinks that it has to do with a recall about some soldering electrical part in the inverter control. This has happened in 3 more occasion and I've been lucky and i have time to let it go to side of the road and i disconnect the ground wire for 5 minutes and connect it back and it resets and then starts to work normal. Since the vehicle stalls completely i fear that this could cause an accident or lost of life due to other vehicles coming behind at high speeds . Please i need help!

NHTSA ID

11440636

Incident

Nov 15, 2021

Power window failure passenger window stopped working, back passenger window was always getting stuck either halfway down or all way down ( I had the POWER DISCONNECTED for the Bk passenger window). front driver window hesitates to work, can hear window rattling part way or all the way down - Yes car available for inspection. The safety for all persons in my vehicle are at risk I have not been in an accident yet, if I do I’m worried people won’t be able to escape through the windows if needed. Dealer looked at it- too expensive to fix. Obviously no warning light This has been going on since 2012. I complained to Toyota on 8/28/2012 my incident # 120828000209 asking them if they had complaints - NO complaints regarding window failure, 2 months later toyota had a recall due to power switch failure, sticky power window switch pretty much related to catching on fire-mine has not. This has to be investigated before people get hurt !!!! I have complained to you in the past, go to Toyotanation.com and look at all the vehicles with the same issues. The date below is incorrect disregard it

NHTSA ID

11426677

Incident

Jul 27, 2021

The dashboard on my Highlander Hybrid 2006 (AWD) had all its check lights on suddenly. I was not driving then. The car was in my parking lot for a few hours before which it had no signs on. The warning message said: Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). I took it to my nearest Toyota service center for diagnosing the issue. They reported that the ABS systems have started to fail. Specifically, the ABS actuator is losing pressure and should be replaced. They quoted a price of $2700 approx. which includes about $2000 for parts. Turns out that this same part had been replaced in 2016 during a recall - but they cannot attend to this again without charging the customer. What I was never told about was that a whirring sound - which has always been an issue with this car - was always from the ABS actuator. The same service center has checked and diagnosed this car multiple times - so I am surprised that they did not find the ABS actuator noise a problem on earlier occasions. I have been reading about this on this forum and Toyotanation and this seems to be a consistent issue with the older Toyota hybrid highlanders and other hybrids as well - with the same diagnosis and approximately the same price quoted by the service centers. I have not currently fixed this issue since I cannot afford this price. It also seems that I will be paying for manufacturer's or service center's negligence since this actuator seemed to be faulty all along and I was not warned about this.

NHTSA ID

11423140

Incident

Jun 25, 2021

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AND ALL THE DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS GOING 60MPH.

NHTSA ID

11386550

Incident

Jan 4, 2021

Mileage

176,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. MY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I HAD TO PULL OVER. IT DIED THERE. I WAS ON BELFIELD AVE AND GRATZ STREET IN PHILADELPHIA, PA . I SUBSEQUENTLY HAD IT TOWEDBACK TO MY RESIDENCE.

NHTSA ID

11385175

Incident

Apr 12, 2020

Mileage

174,000 mi

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 OF THE MOTORS HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED. THE 3RD WINDOW WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS @ 88,000 MILES. THE VISORS DON'T STAY UP, ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD !!! ALSO WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID

11192100

Incident

Sep 3, 2012

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF CLEVELAND (3560 VILLAGE N BLVD, MCDONALD, TN 37353) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 259,294.

NHTSA ID

11164826

Incident

Dec 14, 2018

Mileage

259,294 mi

THE PASSENGER WINDOWS CONTINUALLY STICK IN THE DOWN POSITION. I HAVE TAKEN MY HIGHLANDER TO TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES AND PAID HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. ALSO, THE FOB QUIT WORKING ON THE DRIVER DOOR. I THINK THERE MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE IN THE DOORS.

NHTSA ID

11089665

Incident

Oct 7, 2007

Mileage

10,000 mi

TL* 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 REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. ..UPDATED 05/02/16 *BF *TR

NHTSA ID

10854853

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE IN THE MOUNTAINS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE ALL THE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AND THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. WHILE NEGOTIATING THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I BARELY AVOIDED AN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT RESTARTED AND DROVE IT TO A MECHANIC WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND ALL OF THE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS DISAPPEARED AND IT DROVE FINE. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE INCLUDING TODAY (JULY 7, 2015). WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT WAS LIKELY AN INVERTER THAT WOULD COST ABOUT $10,000. WHILE CHECKING THE TOYOTA RECALL WEBSITE, I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OTHER RECALLS INVOLVING INVERTERS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS IN 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS BUT WAS TOLD THAT THESE DID NOT IMPACT THIS VIN #.

NHTSA ID

10732511

Incident

Oct 24, 2014

Mileage

175,000 mi

I HAD CLOSED THE WINDOWS TO DISCOVER THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. I HAD WRITTEN TO TOYOTA REGARDING THIS ON 08/29/2012 THEIR RESPONSE -THEY HAD NO DATA TO SHARE ON WHAT COMPLAINTS THEY RECEIVE TO PROVIDE TO THE PUBLIC AS THAT IS PROPRIETARY. TOYOTA SENT IT TO THEIR NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, GIVING ME A FILE #. THE WINDOW IS NOW STUCK AGAIN. AND HAPPENED ANOTHER TIME SINCE 08/28/2012 I JUST SEARCHED TOYOTA POWER WINDOW CONTROLS, THERE IS A RECALL, DATED ANNOUNCED OCTOBER 10, 2012, THEY ARE SAYING CERTAIN MODELS 2007-2009 HIGHLAND AND MORE. IF TOYOTA DID SEND MY COMPLAINT TO THEIR HEADQUARTERS A MONTH AND A HALF EARLIER, THEY SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THEIR RECORDS, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER 2006 HIGHLANDERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702221

Incident

Aug 28, 2012

Mileage

63,035 mi

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 TOOK IT IN AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT AND OF COURSE THEY SAID THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651945

Incident

Oct 28, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED THIS HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2006, FOR EXACTLY 1 WEEK. THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS LEADING UP TO THIS ONE WHILE OWNER DROVE VEHICLE THAT WEEK. OWNER STARTED CAR ON SATURDAY MORNING TO GET KIDS TO SOCCER GAME AND VOCAL CLASS, BOTH MISSED. UPON STARTING VEHICLE DRIVER NOTICED P/S WARNING SENSOR LIGHT ON DASHBOARD. THEN PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND REALIZED THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING IN VEHICLE? THIS WAS THE ONE AND ONLY LIGHT THAT CAME ON. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP WHO SAYS THEY WILL CONTACT OWNER ON MONDAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587597

Incident

May 10, 2014

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID . THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE NOT ADVISED THE CONTACT OF WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE RECALL WAS REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ID

10449952

Incident

Mar 1, 2012

Mileage

42,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ THE DEALER REPLACED THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY. UPDATED 02/29/12

NHTSA ID

10439415

Incident

Dec 12, 2011

I WENT TO THE DEALER RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V34200. THE DEALER CHECK THE HIGHLANDER AND SAID THAT THE RECALL NOT APPLY AND DID NOT NEED TO BE INSTALLED OR REPAIR THE INVERTER. THE NEXT WEEK LL THE PANEL WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON(BRAKE, SLIP, VCS WARNING, EXCLAMATION SING AND ABS). THEN A RETURN TO DEALER, THEY CHECK THE HIGHLANDER. NOW THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE ABS MODULE. HOW I CAN CORROBORATE THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10425324

Incident

Aug 8, 2011

I WAS DRIVING IN MY HIGHLANDER WITH MY DAUGHTERS IN THE BACK SEAT WHEN SUDDENLY OUT OF NO WHERE ALL THE ALERT LIGHTS CAME ON AND THERE WAS NO POWER AT ALL - THE GAS PEDAL WAS NON FUNCTIONAL - I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF A AN INTERSTATE AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND PULL THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC AS IT ROLLED TO A STOP. I WAITED ON THE CROWDED INTERSTATE FOR TWO HOURS FOR A TOW. I WAS TOLD THAT THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID INVERTER HAD FAILED - THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART THAT WEEK AND THE CAR DRIVES NORMALLY NOW. I WAS ADVISED THAT IN FACT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. ONE MONTH LATER IRONICALLY I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA THAT MY MODEL OF HIGHLANDER IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE INVERTER REPLACEMENT THAT HAD JUST CAUSED THIS EXTREMELY UNSAFE VEHICLE FAILURE JUST ONE MONTH PRIOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424256

Incident

Jul 9, 2011

Mileage

62,000 mi

VEHICLE TOYOTA 2006 VIN #[XXX] HIGHLANDER LIMITED PRIOR COMPLAINT SENT TO TOYOTA & DOT 2/4/2010. AFTER A STOP WHEN ACCELERATOR SOMETIMES THERE IS A SECOND OR TWO PAUSE BEFORE THE ENGINE RESPONDS CAUSING A SUDDEN LURCH FORWARD. ADDITIONALLY WHEN DIVING AT IN TOWN SPEEDS AND THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED AND THEN A RESUMPTION OF PRESSURE ON IT THERE IS A SECOND OR TWO PAUSE BEFORE THE ENGINE ENGAGES, ALSO CAUSING A LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE LEARNED TO "EXPECT THE CONDITION" AND MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR IT, HOWEVER IT STILL CAUSES CONCERN AND POSSIBLY A DANGEROUS ACCELERATION. THE ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE ACTIVATION NEED TO BE CORRECTED FOR THIS "PAUSE AND LURCH FORWARD RESPONSE". PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10384552

Incident

Feb 10, 2011

Mileage

35 mi

2006 HYBRID HIGHLANDER REPORTED AND WENT TO MEDIATION WITH NOTHING DONE. CAR HAS LOTS OF ISSUES, IT JUMPS FORWARD WHEN STOPPING ABOUT 3 FEET ON OCCASION, IT WILL GO DEAD FOR NO REASON, THE GPS FAILS AND PUTS YOU IN PA WHEN IN VA, AND ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL NIGHTMARE, HAD WRITTEN TESTIMONIALS BUT THEY IGNORED IT SAYING ALL TESTS WERE FINE AND IT STARTED WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY ABOUT 3-5 MONTHS OLD. I WENT ON HTN MEDS BECAUSE OF THIS AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR AND HAD TO BUY ANOTHER FOR MY KIDS TO DRIVE AS IT IS NOT SAFE. THERE ARE WEBSITE WITH LOTS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES BEING TOLD ALL ALONG THAT NOONE ELSE REPORTED IT BUT THEY ALL DID...PLEASE HELP!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10384035

Incident

May 1, 2007

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

NHTSA ID

10376440

Incident

Dec 16, 2010

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE BEGAN VEHICLE LOOSING POWER. THE HYBRID WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILURE IN THE BATTERY CELL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE BATTERY A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ENGINEER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE TOWING COMPANY CAUSED MORE DAMAGED TO THE VEHICLE BATTERY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,500.

NHTSA ID

10369429

Incident

Nov 29, 2010

Mileage

29,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED AND COASTED UNTIL IT STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN INVERTER FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ UPDATED 11/30/2011 *LN

NHTSA ID

10367273

Incident

Nov 22, 2010

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL WARNING LIGHTS HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115000.

NHTSA ID

10353495

Incident

Aug 24, 2010

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A REPLACEMENT OF THE HYBRID INVERTER ASSEMBLY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID

10351957

Incident

Aug 25, 2010

Mileage

136,000 mi

RE: 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2WD SUV 29,500 MILES. UPON ENTERING A HIGHWAY I EXPERIENCED TOTAL FAILURE OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM IN MY SUV, WHICH SLOWLY DRIFTED TO A HALT, NEARLY CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE INVERTER PORTION OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT I WAS TOLD THAT HAD IT NOT BEEN COVERED IT WOULD HAVE COST ME BETWEEN $9,000 AND $10,000! OR ABOUT 1/4 THE COST OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE NEW! *TR

NHTSA ID

10339669

Incident

Jun 4, 2010

Mileage

29,500 mi