2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid steering problems

“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.…”

“ONCE AFTER PARKING AND THEN TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT, THE VSC LIGHT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE CAUTION LIGHT ALL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING STEERING ASSISTANCE . EACH TIME REQUIRING MULTIPLE KEY TURNS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE INTO LIMP HOME MODE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED ONCE BEFORE FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE WHICH OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. THE TANK IS FULL OF FUEL, THE TIRES ARE LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, AND THE VEHICLE UNDERGOES REGULAR MAINTENANCE(WHICH INCLUDES A NEW BATTERY AS THE ONE BOUGHT FROM TOYOTA HAD A FEW DEAD CELLS AFTER ONLY A YEAR OR TWO). I'VE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE UNDERLYING ISSUE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A RELATED RECALL THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE MY VIN. *TR”

“WHILE DRIVING, WE (MULTIPLE DRIVERS) EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT SLOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS (BELOW 30 MPH). WE HAVE CHECKED THE FLUIDS AND ALL LOOKS GOOD. THE MECHANIC CANNOT PINPOINT THE ISSUE AND I'VE NOTED THAT MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THE ISSUE OCCURS VERY SPORADICALLY AND MAY GO DAYS WITHOUT RECURRENCE. IT HAS OCCURRED DURING TURNS AROUND THE CORNER AS WELL AS DURING LANE CHANGES.”

“MY 2006 HIGHLANDER DROVE JUST FINE. PARKED IN MY USUAL SPOT AND THE NEXT TIME I START IT MY P/S LIGHT IS ON AND I HAVE NO STEERING. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR IT TO JUST QUIT WORKING ON PEOPLE. I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY THIS ISSUE HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA YET. THANK GOD I WASN'T DRIVING LIKE OTHERS WERE WHEN IT HAPPENED.”

“STEERING DOES NOT STEER CORRECTLY SOMETIMES WHEN I DRIVE. DEALER SAYS THAT THEY WANT $2000 TO FIX IT BY REPLACING THE STEERING MECHANISM. I HAVE NOTICED IT SOMETIMES WHEN I AM MOVING.”

“STEERING RECALL: I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HY WITH THE P/S (POWERS STEERING) LIGHT ON. I'VE BEEN TO TOYOTA TWICE IN THE PAST WEEK AND ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 2 WEEKS. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT KNOWING THE PROBLEM AND I'VE TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE ALSO TRIES TO ACCELERATE ON ITS ON WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP.”