NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
110 reports98,883 miles · Aug 15, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System
THE GAS TANK FELL PARTIALLY OFF AND DRAGGED ON THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, TURNING RIGHT AT 5 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP/SNAP SOUND AND THEN A TERRIBLE SOUND OF SOMETHING DRAGGING UNDER THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, I COULD PULL OVER AND STOP WITHIN 50 FEET. THE GAS TANK WAS NOT DAMAGED SIGNIFICANTLY (IT PASSED A PRE…
Read full complaint
THE GAS TANK FELL PARTIALLY OFF AND DRAGGED ON THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, TURNING RIGHT AT 5 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP/SNAP SOUND AND THEN A TERRIBLE SOUND OF SOMETHING DRAGGING UNDER THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, I COULD PULL OVER AND STOP WITHIN 50 FEET. THE GAS TANK WAS NOT DAMAGED SIGNIFICANTLY (IT PASSED A PRESSURE TEST AT THE DEALERSHIP). THE GAS TANK IS ATTACHED WITH TWO STRAPS, FORE AND AFT. THE RIGHT SIDES OF BOTH STRAPS SNAPPED VERY CLOSE TO WHERE THE STRAPS ARE BOLTED TO THE MAIN BODY IN A PLACE THAT COULD NOT HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN DAMAGED. THE FLAT BED TRUCK DRIVER WHO DELIVERED THE VEHICLE TO BERKELEY TOYOTA NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO SIGNS THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN ABUSED IN ANY WAY. HE ALSO ARGUED THAT HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED, IT COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE DANGEROUS.
NHTSA ODI #11015596
73,600 miles · Mar 20, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System
RECEIVED TEMPERATURE WARNING FOR HYBRID SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE LOCKED UP AFTER PULLING OVER, MADE VERY LOUD NOISE AND COULD NOT DRIVE. TOWED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER ASSEMBLY FAILED AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR DEFECT IN THIS ASSEMBLY ON MY MODEL YEAR, B…
Read full complaint
RECEIVED TEMPERATURE WARNING FOR HYBRID SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE LOCKED UP AFTER PULLING OVER, MADE VERY LOUD NOISE AND COULD NOT DRIVE. TOWED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER ASSEMBLY FAILED AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR DEFECT IN THIS ASSEMBLY ON MY MODEL YEAR, BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10967245
140,000 miles · Mar 7, 2017
Hybrid Propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, AND THE CHECK HYBRID INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. THE HYBRID SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, AND THE CHECK HYBRID INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. THE HYBRID SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA ODI #10959167
130,128 miles · Aug 3, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
ISSUE WITH ABS ACTUATOR CAUSING LOSS OF VSC FUNCTION
NHTSA ODI #10892941
220,000 miles · Apr 18, 2016
Service Brakes
BRAKE ACTUATOR MAKES VERY LOUD CLICKING SOUND FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER EXITING VEHICLE. WHEN BRAKING OVER BUMPY ROADS, BRAKES "SKIP" AS IF RELEASING AND THEN GRABBING AGAIN. ALSO, BRAKES GRAB INTERMITTENTLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN ON A HILL WHEN NEARLY STOPPED. ALL APPEARS RELATED TO ABS BRAKING SYSTEM.
NHTSA ODI #10860079
71,900 miles · Apr 13, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine
DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE RECEIVED A CHECK HYBRID LIGHT THEN THE ENGINE POWERED DOWN AND THEN SHUT DOWN. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF INTERSTATE WITHOUT CRASHING. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS THE IVS, INVERTER SYSTEM, WHICH OVERHEATED AND SHUT ENGINE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN 2014 FOR BAD SOLDERING…
Read full complaint
DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE RECEIVED A CHECK HYBRID LIGHT THEN THE ENGINE POWERED DOWN AND THEN SHUT DOWN. WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF INTERSTATE WITHOUT CRASHING. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS THE IVS, INVERTER SYSTEM, WHICH OVERHEATED AND SHUT ENGINE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN 2014 FOR BAD SOLDERING IN THE IVS SYSTEM. CAR HAS ONLY 72,000 MILES ON IT, BUT OVER 8 YEARS ON WARRANTY. SO I AM WAITING ON TOYOTA TO DECIDE IF THEY ARE GOING TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR $9,500 REPAIR. I AM NOW AWARE OF LAWSUITS AND COMPLAINTS ON THE INVERTER SYSTEM OF THE HYBRID HIGHLANDER.
NHTSA ODI #10855302
163,600 miles · Mar 31, 2016
Service Brakes
TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALER THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ACCUMULATOR PUMP ASSEMBLY HAS INTERNAL PRESSURE LOSS. STATEMENT FOLLOWED BY "SHOULDN'T NORMALLY DO THAT" AND "$3200.00 TO REPAIR". NEXT, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE EFFECTS ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKING BECOMES DIFFICULT. IT FEELS AS …
Read full complaint
TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALER THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ACCUMULATOR PUMP ASSEMBLY HAS INTERNAL PRESSURE LOSS. STATEMENT FOLLOWED BY "SHOULDN'T NORMALLY DO THAT" AND "$3200.00 TO REPAIR". NEXT, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE EFFECTS ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKING BECOMES DIFFICULT. IT FEELS AS IF THE POWER IS LOST IN THE BRAKES AND TAKES MUCH MORE FORCE ON THE PEDAL TO MAKE STOP. HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CONSISTENT, AT TIMES THE BREAKING IS NORMAL, BUT AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE THE HARD TO BRAKE ISSUE ARISES.
NHTSA ODI #10852610
128,000 miles · Feb 18, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
ABS ACTUATOR IS PUMPING TO PRIME BRAKES EVERY 15 SECS. DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA SAYS $2300
NHTSA ODI #10836954
105,000 miles · Feb 1, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND IT HAD MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INCLUDING THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE CHECK CSV WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICL…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND IT HAD MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INCLUDING THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE CHECK CSV WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY WITH CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA ODI #10823477
92,000 miles · Nov 12, 2015
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
NHTSA ODI #10789950
Official recalls
2Sep 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.
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.
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
2DP22005 · 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.
Illustration