2006 Toyota Highlander Problems

ABS actuator/accumulator issue on 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid limited. Internal component failure there are recalls on others but not this particular year. Was driving along hit the brakes and got hard pedal. Yes there were other indicator lights on including the VSC system and traction control I came to an intersection and I couldn't stop I couldn't even kind of stop it was all hard pedal were before it was normal as if there wasn't an issue. I've done a lot of research and I've seen a lot of forums and people are complaining that Toyota isn't backing this problem my 2006 Toyota is in perfect condition not a single problem except for this break issue and if you take it to Toyota the park cost $2,200 in about roughly over $5,000 to fix it well who wants to put that kind of money into a car of that year the problem is it's just a shame and a safety deal that it put my family's life at risk we could have crashed it if I wasn't an actual driver by trade I wouldn't have known how to react in other families could be harmed in this. It's worth looking into I did not need to make her police report because I veered off into a field that saved my family's life. As of now I'm hoping to open a recall campaign and just have that part replaced I could have a car that could drive another 100,000 miles and give and keepToyota good name

The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle failed to decelerate while the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that excessive pressure was needed on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The ABS and ESC warning lights were illuminated. In addition, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic for a second opinion, and it was confirmed that the ABS unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake actuator needed to be upgraded. The vehicle was diagnosed, and parts were ordered for the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 195,000.

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.

THE BRAKE ACTUATOR IS FAILING AND IS MAKING LOUD NOISES. THE CAR DOES NOT BRAKE NORMALLY. I HAVE REPORTED BRAKING PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2007. WHEN IT HITS A BUMP IT ACCELERATES AND I MUST STAND ON THE BRAKES SO I DO NOT HIT SOMEONE. IT LURCHES FORWARD WHEN IT HITS A POTHOLE OR SOME KIND OF OBSTRUCTION IN THE ROAD. WHEN I WORKED DOWN NEAR THE BUS STATION I WOULD HIT THE AREAS IN THE ROAD WHERE THE BUSES CREATED BUMPS IN THE ROADWAY AND IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD. I REPORTED THIS NUMEROUS TIMES AT NORTH BAKERSFIELD TOYOTA. I RECENTLY WENT IN TO REPORT THE NOISE I WAS HEARING AND THEY FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR IS FAILING. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT A HAZARD BUT THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHEN IT WILL TOTALLY FAIL. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE

I was on the interstate driving about 72 mph when the car just shut off all the dash lights came on and the dash it said check hybrid system I had no brakes or steering I got it off the road turned it off and back on again it started up and I drove it home but the dash still displayed check hybrid system , a week later I get in it to go to work and there’s an alarm that won’t cut off and the abs , traction control and brake light and warning light and tire pressure light are all on and the brakes are hard and there’s a weird noise coming from somewhere when u push on the brake and it says check VSC system on the dash now

I can see many complaints similar to mine on line since the car was built in 2006. Driving on a 7hr trip when engine light came on and car overheated. We had to pull over on a busy highway and wait for car to cool down and light to go off. It was scary since I had my child in the car and traffic was moving at 60 mph. The next day I had the Toyota dealer charge me $160.00 to tell me coolant and oil were leaking from the head gasket and the bolt corroded and listed out causing a sealing issue. We just had the car in their shop doing thousands of dollars of maintenance and had a full inspection done in preparation for this trip. We also had fluid leaks from the engine twice before at 65819 miles and again at 84458 miles. No mention of this issue was ever brought up by dealer. I have full records and always did maint as suggested. so now the dealer says it will need a used engine at a cost of $9,000+. I am now without a car. This car should have been recalled and repaired, now it is totaled it. Thank goodness we were not injured or hit by another car on the interstate. sorry unable to send a copy of repair estimate done at Daytona Toyota 386-255-7475

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!

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

The driver's side sun visor does not stay up against the roof of the car and falls down obstructing the driver's view. It will not stay up and falls down immediately when pushed up against the roof. We have resorted to tying the visor up but then are unable to use the sun visor while driving.

MY 2008 HIGHLANDER ONLY HAS 130,000 MILES, YET THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR DROPS AND FALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING, THUS CAUSING A DRIVING SAFETY HAZARDTHE VEHICLE IS ACCIDENT FREE. I HAVE CODES CHECK ENGINE, VSC AND TRAC OFF. GAS CAP WAS REPLACED WITH NEW OFFICIAL TOYOTA MATCHED PART & SYSTEM CHECKED BUT PROBLEM FOUND - THIS DISPLAY LIGHT COMBINATION IS COMMON ON TOYOTAS AROUND THIS TIME.. MY GAS MILEAGE & ACCELERATION PERFORMANCE IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED. INABILITY TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE CREATES A DANGER FOR INABILITY TO AVOID COLLISIONS.

Sudden power steering failure. Hybrid vehicle with power assist steering.

In the last 4 weeks my 06 Highlander Hybrid has had malfunctions in the brakes and in the power steering. Both issues rendering the car inoperable. The first issue that was to arise was the brake actuator pump. I noticed it was failing when i got in the vehicle to move it out of the driveway and noticed after i put the car in gear that their was no power brake assist. When the car was shifted into drive the car began rolling even while i was pushing hard on the brakes. Luckily the brake assist resumed and i did not run into anything but the car unintentionally moved about 5 feet. I mentioned this to my wife, and she said while driving home one day the car made a high pitched buzz. She was close to home, so she made it home and parked the car and forgot about the noise. After the car was turned back on again no noise was made and no CEL or warnings were displayed. The actuator was replaced, and the car operated fine for about one week and probably 40 miles of driving. I want to mention I had noted a odd feeling in the brakes for years leading up the the failure. The brake pedal would continue to the floor while trying to maintain constant pressure on the brakes. I believe this is due to the actuator losing pressure, but it would cause an uneasy sensation of failing brakes, but no CEL's were ever triggered. The new actuator fixed this. After fixing the car we drove it on a few trips. Yesterday 8/24/21 my wife went to drive the car, and it wouldn't start. She tried about 10 times and it wouldn't turn on. I put a battery charger on the car and the battery looked okay. I tried to start it a few time probably 5 and finally got the READY light, so the car was ready to go, but all of a sudden the car would shut off and the READY light would go out and the P/S light would come on. This light is triggered when something is wrong with the power steering system, and the computer will disable the vehicle. The car immobile now. These are worth recalling.

The contact's client owned a 2006 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while his client was driving at an unknown speed when the front passenger tire blowout and he crashed into a tree. The contact stated the front driver side air bag did deploy but the front passenger-side air bag failed to deploy causing the client's wife to have a fractured clavicle and spine, and internal injuries. The contact stated the wife was having a third surgery on 10/6/2021. The driver sustained 6 fractured ribs and did seek medical attention at a hospital. The contact also stated the client was traveling with a dog who was injured in the accident and decided to put down the dog due to the extended injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to towing lot. The contact called the local dealer and spoke to them about a possible air bag recall inquiry. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT.

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.

AFTER BEING DRIVEN OR IDLING FOR AWHILE, THE CAR STARTS CUTTING OUT. IT ACTS LIKE IT ISN'T GETTING GAS. I HAVE TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR OR PUSH IT TO THE FLOOR. HILLS ESPECIALLY CAUSE IT TO STALL. IT WAS SO BAD, I HAD IT TOWED. THE SCAN SHOWED A OXYGEN SENSOR PROBLEM. HAD THAT REPLACED. IT DROVE OK FOR AWHILE. IT HAS RESUMED THE STALLING. WHEN I READ THE RECALL, IT SOUNDED LIKE MY CAR WOULD BE INCLUDED. THE VIN # SHOWS IT NOT BEING ON THE LIST. PLEASE VERIFY BECAUSE IT CUTS OUT, ACTING LIKE IT ISN'T GETTING FUEL. THE AREA I WAS IN WAS A COUNTRY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDERS TO PULL OFF ON. IT ALSO HAPPENED ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. IF IT IS NOT A RECALL, ANY SUGGESTION WILL BE APPRECIATED. THE EXACT DAYS IN SEPTEMBER ARE AN EDUCATED GUESS. THANK YOU.

EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WE HAVE RANDOMLY EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. AFTER SLOWING DOWN, WE SLOWLY ACCELERATED AND WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN THRUST BUT COULD SLOW IT DOWN BY LESSENING THE PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL OR BY BRAKING. THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT RANDOM 2 OR 3 TIMES PER YEAR. WE BOTH THOUGHT IT WAS OUR FAULT UNTIL WE READ ABOUT THE TOYOTA ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. NOW, WE DON'T BELIEVE IT IS OUR FAULT AND IS A BUILT-IN PROBLEM. WE RECENTLY HAVE TALKED TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY REFERRED US TO THE TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS FOR FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. WE WERE TOLD THIS CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. SINCE OUR PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM AS BAD AS OTHER YEAR'S CAR, IT MAY BE THAT THIS IS THE YEAR THE PROBLEM DEVELOPED IN TOYOTA AND GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORST AS ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO THE CAR'S PROGRAMMING OR ENGINE. THE LAST INCIDENT INVOLVING THIS ACCELERATION WAS IN LATE FEBRUARY OR EARLY MARCH, 2010. WE HOPE THIS INFORMATION MAY BE OF SOME HELP TO YOU AND US IN SOLVING OUR PROBLEM. *TR

TOYOTA FLY BY WIRE TRANSMISSION HESITATION PROBLEM. SPECIFICALLY A 2006 HIGHLANDER- HESITATION FROM STOP OR SLOW SPEED. COMPLAINT ACROSS ALL MODELS AND SEVERAL YEARS. THE APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE MEANS NOTHING LT IS AND CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE "FLY OR DRIVE BY WIRE" SYSTEM ORIGINATED. DEALER STATES THIS IS THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. - AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN OR HAVE THEY ALREADY HAPPENED? WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO INITIATE A FIX. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE FIVE SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT. *TR

Two problems being reported are severe safety issues, and could result in injury, death, and/or property damage. Problem 1: While driving, the brake pedal suddenly went all the way to the floor, and the car would not stop. To avoid hitting the car in front at a stop sign, I had to turn the wheel, resulting in running through the stop sign and onto the grass and shoulder before the car finally stopped. Multiple dashboard warning lights appeared. After stopping, the brakes momentarily returned but failed again within 2-3 minutes. A loud, high-pitched, piercing whistle sound began, indicating a complete loss of brakes. The car had to be towed 200 miles back home. It is not safe to drive the car without functioning brakes. The OBD scan codes are: C1256 (accumulator low pressure), C1391 (abnormal leak of accumulator pressure), and C1256 (accumulator low pressure). Problem 2: When starting the car, the brakes are applied first, and then the car is placed in gear. The car involuntarily and immediately jumps forward or backward and continues to move, even though the brakes are being applied. Having the foot on the brakes has NO EFFECT on the car moving! The car should not move at all when the brakes are being applied. To stop the movement, I must quickly pump the brakes repeatedly. This occurs every time the car is placed into gear after starting the engine, causing it to jump forward or backward and continue moving despite brake application. Both problems are severe safety issues, and could result in injury, death, or property damage.

Power brakes stopped working while driving due to bad brake actuator. Vehicle shut down while driving due to power train system.

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED V6. THE CAR IS 66.000MILES, I NOTICED THAT THE DAY LIGHTS HAS BEEN OVERHEATED AS A RESULT 1 WHITE SPOT MELTED IN EACH HEADLIGHT LENSE. IT MIGHT BE A HAZARD FIRE ISSUE AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. TOYOTA SHOULD RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS.

I AM IN THE MILITARY AND HAD MY CAR IN STORAGE FROM 2008-2012 WHILE STATIONED OVERSEAS. I JUST TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE 60,000 MILE SERVICE AND WAS TOLD MY HEADLIGHT COVER WAS FOGGY. WHEN I GOT HOME AFTER PICKING UP MY CAR I HAD NOTICED THERE WHERE TWO BURN MARKS THAT HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS WHERE THE HIGH-BEAM LIGHTS ARE. I HAD CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY REFERRED ME TO THE HAWAII DEALERSHIP SINCE THEY COULD NOT LOCATE MY VIN NUMBER. I CALLED THE HAWAII DEALERSHIP, AND HAD NO LUCK THERE EITHER. THIS IS UNSAT AND IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR OF TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A HAZARD. I DO NOT KEEP MY HEADLIGHTS ON 24 HOURS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, SO WHY IS THIS HAPPENING. IN ADDITION, MY CAR ONLY HAS 66,600 MILES FOR BEING A 2006 MODEL. AS I SAID THIS CAR WAS IN STORAGE FOR 4.5 YEARS DUE TO MY OVERSEAS DUTY ASSIGNMENT. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SINCE I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THIS AND, IT IS A DEFECT IN THE MODEL / YEAR OF THE HIGHLANDER. *TR

AFTER AN SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE AND REAR BRAKE JOB AT FIRESTONE A FEW DAYS EARLIER IN ATLANTA, I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND MY CHECK VSC SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. I THEN TOOK IT BACK TO FIRESTONE AND THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND THERE WERE NO CODES; SUBSEQUENTLY THEY SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DIAGNOSIS AT THE DEALER REVEALED THAT I NEEDED A NEW ABS ACCUMULATOR AND THIS COULD BE REPAIRED FOR $3,118. I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN SPENDING THIS AMOUNT SINCE THE PART HAS A KNOW DESIGN MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON CLEARING THE CHECK VSC SYSTEM LIGHT AND FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE CODE CLEARED FOR ABOUT 9 DAYS AND REAPPEARED ON YESTERDAY FOR SOME REASON. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS VERY WELL KEPT AND THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY WASHED AND SERVICED HOWEVER, THE UNDERCARRIAGE BECAME VERY CORRODED. THE SUBFRAME AND FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 256,000.

I HAVE HAD AXLES BREAK WHILE DRIVING AFTER THEY WHERE REPLACE AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING A MATTER WITH THE FRONT END. AND THE FRAME IS RUSTED AFTER A YEAR AND IT IS BREAKING.

JUST EIGHT MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING FOUR NEW TIRES FROM JUST TIRES, I FELT THE CAR SLIDING IN THE RAIN AND DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY BALD AND TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON. I LIVE IN LOS ANGELES, I DO NOT DRIVE ON ROAD-WEARING TERRAIN BUT RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND FREEWAYS, SO THERE IS NO OBVIOUS REASON AS TO WHY THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT JUST EIGHT MONTHS LATER. I THEN CONTACTED JUST TIRES DIRECTLY WITH MY COMPLAINT AND BROUGHT THEM THE WORN TIRES. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO THE WHEELS NOT BEING ALIGNED. HOWEVER, ON EXAMINING THE ORIGINAL WORK ORDER FROM JUST TIRES, IT SHOWS THAT THE CAR WAS 'CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT'. IF THE WORK WASN'T CARRIED OUT, I SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR JUST TIRES SHODDY WORKMANSHIP AND IF THE WORK WAS CARRIED OUT THEN THE FAULT WAS WITH THE ORIGINAL TIRES AND, AGAIN, I SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. TO SOLVE THE ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE A FULL REFUND FOR THE TIRES INCLUDING ALL 'EXTRAS' NAMELY $986 (THE COST OF REPLACING THE TIRES AND LABOR). I ORIGINALLY PAID JUST TIRES $612.12 AND THEY HAVE NOW OFFERED ME PALTRY SUM OF $292. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. IT HAS THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE "I"SYSTEM. ANY TIME THE VEHICLE SENSES SLIPPING IN THE TIRES IT CUTS POWER TO ALL WHEELS. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN VERY MANAGEABLE CONDITIONS. NOT ONLY DO YOU NOT GET 4 WHEEL DRIVE TO HELP OUT OF ADVERSE CONDITIONS, YOU GET NO DRIVE TO ANY WHEELS AND ARE LEFT STUCK. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO DO THIS TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THERE IS NO INFORMATION IN ANY OF THE LITERATURE PROVIDED WHEN PURCHASING A VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE SOLD TO ANYONE WHO DRIVES IN SNOW OR ON ANY THING OTHER THAN AN IMPROVED ROAD. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE BUT WILL NOT CORRECT IT, NOR INFORM BUYERS ABOUT IT'S DESIGN. THIS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY STRAND DRIVERS IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS THEY DEEM MANAGEABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS VERY WELL KEPT AND THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY WASHED AND SERVICED HOWEVER, THE UNDERCARRIAGE BECAME VERY CORRODED. THE SUBFRAME AND FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 256,000.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WITH SUNROOF, SUNSHADE AND WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED, THE SUN ROOF AND SUNSHADE WAS RIPPED OUT OF THE CAR. THE PIECES WENT FLYING INTO THE ROAD AND SIDE OF THE ROAD BEHIND ME. THANKFULLY NOT HITTING OTHER CARS. WE HAD NO NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL, OR PROBLEM WITH SUNROOF UNIT. *TR

IN FEBRUARY 2010, I NOTICED MY DRIVER LEATHER SEAT WAS TORN ON ITS SIDE, I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS DEFECT, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2006. THIS IS A FULLY UPGRADE LIMITED VEHICLE. ALL I DO IS SLIP IN AND OUT OF THE SEAT AND I TAKE EXTREMELY EXCELLENT CARE OF MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THE LEATHER MATERIAL USED IN THE VEHICLE IS OF POOR QUALITY. ON 4/28/10 TOYOTA EVENTUALLY RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINT, STATING THE WARRANTY FOR THE SEAT IS 3-YEARS OR 36,000 MILES: THEIR FILE # 1003280070; INCIDENT 100426-000166. THEY SUGGESTED I CONTACT A DEALER, WHICH I DID:ON 7/27/10 I HAD A TOYOTA DEALER LOOK AT THE SEAT AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRE. I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT SATISFIED WITH TOYOTA'S RESPONSE; THEIR ESTIMATE FOR ME TO REPLACE THE SEAT CUSHION COVER IS $1123.36 INCL TAXES. I BELIEVE SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE SHOULD BE OUTFITTED WITH A HIGHER GRADE LEATHER SEAT COVER. I HAVE HAD CHEAPER VEHICLES WITH LEATHER SEATS WHICH LASTED MANY MORE YEARS THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA HAS DONE AN INJUSTICE WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THIS POOR QUALITY LEATHER AND I FEEL CHEATED BY SUCH ACTION. THERE MUST BE OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE WITH THE SEAT. THE SEAT WAS NOT DELIBERATELY TORN OR CUT AND WE ARE QUITE PETITE PEOPLE. WHEN I VIEW THE LEATHER IN MY OTHER CAR THE CORNERS WHERE THE DRIVER SLIDES IN SEEMS TO BE STRONGER AND POSSIBLY RE-ENFORCED TO FACILITATE THE DRIVER'S INITIAL WEIGHT. TOYOTA HAS NOT DONE A GOOD JOB TO ENSURE THE LASTING WEAR AND TEAR OF THE SEAT. IS THIS DELIBERATE? HOW DID THEY COME UP WITH A 3YEAR, 36000 WARRANTY? WHAT TESTING DID THEY PERFORM TO DECIDE THE SEAT WILL ONLY LAST UP TO THAT PERIOD, THEREFORE THEY WERE SURE TO MAKE A LOT OF MONIES ON REPLACEMENT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED? THIS IS UNFAIR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE TO GET TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE SEAT. THANK YOU. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY FOB ONLY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY TO OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A SECOND SERVICE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE KEY FOB WAS RECEIVING INTERFERENCE FROM THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB

I AM WRITING TO REPORT A DEFECT IN THE BRITAX DECATHLON CAR SEAT LOWER LATCH SYSTEM. THE BELT ON MY SYSTEM IS TWISTED AND WILL NOT PERFORM PROPERLY IN A CRASH. I HAVE NOTIFIED BRITAX AND THEY SENT ME A REPLACEMENT BELT BUT WITHOUT ANY INSTRUCTIONS AND HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE OTHER CAR SEATS ON THE ROAD AND THE CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PA TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION PROJECT (TIPP) AT THE PA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS INSPECTED THE CAR SEAT ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 26, 2010 AND FOUND THAT ?THE LOWER ANCHOR ATTACHMENT IS BACKWARDS ON ONE SIDE AND CANNOT BE USED CORRECTLY TO INSTALL CHILD SEAT USING LOWER ANCHORS.? HER NAME IS [XXX] AND SHE CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX]. SHE SAID THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THE SEATS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE IDENTIFIERS FOR THE CAR SEAT ARE: DATE OF MFG: 04-05-2007 MAKE DECATHLON MODEL E9L 4769 SERIAL NUMBER E9L4769017324 BATCH NUMBER J00088948 PURCHASED FROM BABYUNIVERSE.COM IN MAY 2007 MY CONTACT AT BRITAX IS [XXX] CONSUMER SERVICE MANAGERBRITAX [XXX] 13501 SOUTH RIDGE DRIVE CHARLOTTE NC 28273 [email protected] (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2006, MAKE=TOYOTA, MODEL=HIGHLANDER). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR