2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid power train problems

“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…”

“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.”

“THE VEHICLE WILL OCCASIONALLY SURGE IN SPEED MOMENTARILY, MOSTLY NOTICED WHEN OPERATING BELOW 50 MPH. IT IS MORE PREVALENT AT LOWER SPEEDS. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER.THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING SITUATION SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. HYBRID MODEL. IT HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WITH NO ISSUES FOUND.”

“I FOUND SOME INFO IN A FORUM WHERE MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT LEAKING AROUND THE AXLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RIGHT AXLE SEAL NEEDS REPLACEMENT WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A MULTI-POINT INSPECTION. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OVER TIME BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S HAPPENED TO OTHERS WHO HAVE NOTICED IT BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION AND IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT IT HAS EXPIRED AND I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY.”

“WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND IN THE FAST LANE GOING APPROXIMATELY 75/80 MPH MY 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID DIED AND FAILED TO DRIVE. THE PANEL ON THE DASH HAD A RED ! EXCLAMATION POINT, AND SAID CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND CHECK VSC SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE MY VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT BREAKDOWN SHOULDER TO CALL FOR A TOW. TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD NOT START, BUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTINUED TO LIGHT GIVING EVIDENCE MY NEW 12V BATTERY WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. CALLED TOYOTA MOTOR USA AND ASKED WHAT RECALLS THEY HAVE LISTED FOR MY VEHICLE AND THEY ASKED FOR MY VIN. THEY TOLD ME THE ELECTRICAL INVERTER ASSEMBLY WAS COVERED FOR MY VIN. THEY GAVE ME THE NUMBER OF A TOW COMPANY TO CALL AND TOLD ME IT WAS COVERED BY TOYOTA AND I'D HAVE A RENTAL WAITING FOR ME. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AS DIRECTED, THEY FIXED SEVERAL OTHER RECALL ISSUES BUT NOT THIS ONE, SO WHEN I DROVE OFF THE LOT THE CAR DIED AGAIN. I MANAGED TO START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT BACK ACROSS THE HIGHWAY INTO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER SPEAKING WITH TOYOTA CORPORATION USA AGAIN, THEY APOLOGIZED AND SAID THEY MISINFORMED ME AND THAT MY VEHICLE…”

“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.”