Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

59 reports

42,160 miles · Sep 22, 2014

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

I WAS IN A PARKING LOT OF MY BUSINESS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE. AS I WAS TRYING TO STOP I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND I APPLIED THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN LEAPT FORWARD AND HIT A WOODEN POST DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME, UP ON A WALKWAY. IN ORDER TO STOP I PUT THE SHIFT INTO REVERSE WHILE CONTINUING TO APPLY THE BRAK…

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NHTSA ODI #10638087

70,000 miles · Jun 24, 2014

Structure

MY DASHBOARD DEVELOPED VERTICLE CRACKS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD. BECAUSE THIS DASHBOARD HAS THE AIRBAG INSIDE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE I WOULDN'T FEEL SAFE IN A CAR THAT HAD A CRACKED DASH, ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE AN AIRBAG GO OFF TOO SOON OR GO OFF TOO LATE CAN OR WOULD BE VERY SERIOUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605627

62,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014

Electrical SystemStructure

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THE BLACK MOLDING ON PART# 84840G 8484021010 - SWITCH ASSEMBLY BACK DOOR OPENER IS EXTREMELY SOFT AND STICKY. EVERY TIME WE PUT OUR HANDS ON IT TO MANUALLY OPEN THE REAR LIFT, BLACK STICKY SUBSTANCES GET ON THE FINGERS, WHICH ARE USED TO OPEN IT. THAT PART IS SHIELDED SOMEWHAT BY THE BODY. IT WAS STICKY EVEN DURING COLD MONTHS HERE IN KANSAS AND IS STICKY AS WELL DURING THIS SPRING AND BEGINNING OF SUMMER. MY CONCERN IS SOMETHING IS GETTING HOT FROM THAT ELECTRICAL PIECE THAT MAY CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE AND HOPEFULLY NOT, BUT POSSIBLE FIRE. THANKING IN ADVANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605174

114,500 miles · Mar 30, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

VSC SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. PARKED THE CAR AS IT SHUT OFF. CAR WON'T START. WARNING LIGHT SAYS CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. WHEN TRYING TO START CAR WILL SAY PUT CAR ON PARK BEFORE STARTING. SAME PROBLEM AS SEEN IN RECALLS FOR 2006 LEXUS HYBRIDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575753

87,000 miles · Mar 3, 2014

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT TAPPED A CURB AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WA…

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NHTSA ODI #10566772

87 miles · Feb 26, 2014

Steering

I HIT THE CURB ON THE PASSENGERS RIGHT FRONT SIDE NOT THAT HARD AT A VERY LOW SPEED TURNING IN FROM THE CENTER TURNING LANE INTO A BANK AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566059

161,360 miles · Feb 6, 2014

Engine And Engine Cooling

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CAR JUST STOPPED ON FREEWAY. TOYOTA STATED WAS INVERTER. CALLED LEXUS STATES NO RECALL OR WARRANTY. PAID $10,000. LATER IN MAIL GOT RECALL LETTER FROM LEXUS. CALLED LEXUS BACK WHO INITIALLY STATED IS COVERED. SENT IN REPAIR PAPERWORK. LEXUS THEN CALLED BACK AND SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BUT NO LONGER REQUIRED TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED SINCE THIS REPAIR COMPLETE. REPAIRED: ELK GROVE TOYOTA 916-405-8000 PART # G92AO-48080 INVERTER ASSEMBLY. RECALL PART BY LEXUS: INVERTER ASSEMBLY. I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS FROM TOYOTA AS WELL AS RECALL LETTER FROM LEXUS. TOYOTA REPAIR STATES IT IS SAME REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563280

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2013

Exterior Lighting

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THERE WAS A CONDENSATION THAT FORMED INSIDE THE DRIVER-SIDE HEADLIGHT. IT CAUSED THE HEADLIGHT TO SHORT-CIRCUIT AND BLOW OUT. ONE SIMPLY NEEDS TO GOOGLE 'LEXUS RX HEADLIGHT' AND THEY WILL FIND THIS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE AMONG 2004-2009 MODELS OF LEXUS RX. UNFORTUNATELY, IT APPEARS LEXUS/TOYOTA WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR A WHAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, AND DEMANDING US TO REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT AT OUR OWN EXPENSE, WHICH IS SUBSTANTIAL. COULD THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE THESE DEFECTS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552128

18,760 miles · Nov 8, 2013

Structure

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RUBBER HANDLE PART TO OPEN THE HATCH BACK, BECAME GOOEY LIKE TAR, AND MADE A BIG MESS. DIFFICULT TO CLEAN OFF OF THINGS AND HANDS. PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. TEMPORARY REPETITIVE SOLUTIONS WAS TO CUT TO FIT BLACK DUCT TAPE AND TOTALLY COVER THE MESS, BUT COULD STILL PRESS THE MECHANISM IF NECESSARY. MOSTLY USE REMOTE NOW OR THE BUTTON IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. LAST DUCT TAPE APPLICATION IS WEARING OFF, AND I NEED TO GO IN TO LEXUS FOR A RECALL SERVICE, SO I DECIDED TO ASK THEM ABOUT IT, AND HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST. AMAZINGLY, THE SERVICE MAN KNEW OFF THE TOP OF HIS HEAD THAT THEY HAD THE PART IN STOCK, AND RECALLED HOW MUCH THE PART AND LABOR WOULD COST! SOUNDS LIKE THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF THESE REPLACEMENTS!!! OF COURSE I'M NOT UNDER WARRANTY RIGHT NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551577

66,000 miles · Sep 16, 2013

Suspension

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IN AUG 2013 I NOTICED EVERY TIME I PASSED OVER A SMALL BUMP THAT A LOUD CLUNK WOULD EMIT FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. IT HAPPENED WHENEVER I PASS OVER A BUMP OR A CHUCK HOLE. IT DOESN'T SEEM SPEED RELATED. IT SOUNDS TO ME AS IF THE REAR SUSPENSION IS BOTTOMING OUT OR LOOSE. I JUST SAW THAT TOYOTA HAD SOME SUV SUSPENSION RECALLS LAST WEEK AND I AM NOW AFRAID THAT SINCE MY SUV SHARES COMMON PARTS WITH THE TOYOTA SUVS THAT I MAY HAVE THE SAME OR SIMILAR SUSPENSION DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543833

Official recalls

13V396000 · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

Sep 4, 2013

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module may contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors may be heat damaged by the solder. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342 are not affected by this campaign.

11V342000 · Electrical System

Jun 29, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND LEXUS RX400H PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2005, THROUGH AUGUST 30, 2006. A MODULE INSIDE THE INVERTER MODULE MAY CONTAIN INADEQUATELY SOLDERED TRANSISTORS THAT DURING HIGH-LOAD DRIVING, MAY BE DAMAGED BY HEAT CAUSED BY THE LARGE CURRENT. IF THIS OCCURS, VARIOUS WARNING LAMPS, INCLUDING THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP, SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT, BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, AND MASTER WARNING LIGHT, WILL BE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE VEHICLE MAY ENTER A FAIL-SAFE/LIMP-HOME MODE THAT LIMITS THE DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE HYBRID SYSTEM WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA/LEXUS MAILED AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION ON JULY 19, 2011 TO ADVISE OWNERS OF THIS RECALL AND THE FACT THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE A FUTURE NOTICE WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. TOYOTA DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HYBRID INVERTER PRODUCTION NUMBER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE INVERTER CONTAINS SUSPECT TRANSISTORS AND REPLACE THE MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

11V112000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Feb 24, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

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.

PE11005 · Hybrid Inverter Failure - Vehicle Stall

Opened Feb 15, 2011 · Closed Jul 20, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

In a June 29, 2011 letter to NHTSA, Toyota submitted a Defect Information Report regarding a safety recall of certain Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h vehicles to address a defect condition with the hybrid inverter assembly (NHTSA Recall No. 11V-342).Toyota's letter identified a defect related to inadequately soldered transistors on the Intelligent Power Module (IPM) of some of the subject vehicles that could result in sudden loss of power while driving.Toyota's remedy procedure instructs dealers to inspect the hybrid inverter production number to determine if the inverter contains suspect transistors.If so, the dealer will replace the IPM.The recall covers approximately 45,528 model year (MY) 2006 and 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles manufactured from February 16, 2005 through August 29, 2006 and approximately 36,745 MY 2006 and 2007 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured from February 23, 2005 through August 30, 2006.This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.

RQ10003 · Unintended And Uncontrolled Acceleration

Opened Feb 16, 2010 · Closed Mar 1, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:software; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

On February 16, 2010, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V-388, 10V-017, and 10V-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V-112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V-113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V-388 and remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured floor mat.Recall 11V-115: (1) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS300 (all wheel drive vehicles); and, (2) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS350 (all wheel drive vehicles). The total estimated population under this recall is 19,647 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by inadequate clearance between the pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded in the vehicle's carpet.II. Potential Electronic Causes of Unintended Acceleration.After NHTSA opened RQ10-003, NHTSA launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.NHTSA launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.NHTSA enlisted engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to assess whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.That study has concluded.Two reports are associated with the study and are available on NHTSA's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).NHTSA's report is entitled Technical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems (Feb. 2011).Both reports should be read in conjunction with each other. As stated in its report, NASA did not find an electronic cause of large throttle openings that can result in unintended acceleration incidents. NHTSA did not find a vehicle-based cause of unintended acceleration incidents other than the physical pedal interference causes that are being addressed by Toyota's recalls. This RQ is closed.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Electrical System:software

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal