2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid acceleration problems

Filed Jan 26, 2020 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 230,000 miles · MO

We were driving down the highway I-30 east up a hill going appt 70 MPH when the car went into limp mode and slowed down to 10 MPH. Then went to only 1 MPH. We checked the battery connection, fuel cap, everything we found online to check.

Filed Jun 12, 2018 · Acceleration, Brakes · 174,000 miles · AZ · crash

I was stopped at a traffic light at the off-ramp of east-bound 202/mcqueen rd exit. My right foot was on the brake pedal, when the vehicle began to accelerate unexpectedly and hit the rear of vehicle stopped in front of me. As I realized the collision, I pressed the brake harder deliberately (while the car in front of me had started to move further), and to my horror my car continued to accelerate despite my depressing the brake pedal. I consciously checked my feet to ensure I was pressing the brakes and not the accelerator. My car continued to strangely & unexpectedly accelerate until it hit the same car in front of me again the 2nd time at the traffic intersection. After the 2nd collision, my car stopped and I pulled over to the side of the mcqueen road.

Filed Apr 17, 2015 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 49,936 miles · PR

I was driving on a straight highway between 45 -50 MPH. Sudden a bunch of lights and warnings came up in the dashboard. I lost power steering and motor propulsion too. I pressed the accelerator and nothing happened. Although I had the ability to brake, it seemed that the braking was also impaired. However because I was going up an incline I did not need strong braking. I managed to coast over to the breakdown lane. Luckily there were only a couple other cars near me so it wasn't too difficult to maneuver by them and coast to the other side of the road where the breakdown lane was. Once I was completely stopped I shut the car down completely and restarted in the normal hybrid startup manner. The car propulsion and steering came back but now the message was alternating between "maintenance needed" and "check vsc system", and the check engine light and symbol was on. I shut off everything electrical to minimize electrical drain. I was able to drive the car another 8-10 miles to get home but I was constantly looking to see where I could pull over if the car stopped again. I made it home. Tomorrow bring it to the toyota dealer. Significantly, I recently had the brake actuator replaced at a cost of around $2700, specifically because they warned me that I could lose braking and other electronic facilities unpredictably. I thought that expensive repair would avoid this. Unfortunately it appears that what they were predicting could happen did happen, but after the repair! I was on a highway when the car died but with not much traffic and an easy access breakdown lane. Had it been 10 minutes later I might have been on a much busier highway in a place where a breakdown lane is much harder to reach. That would have been a dangerous situation. Had it been daytime and in a safer area I would have stopped and called for a tow truck.

Filed Nov 17, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 156,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. While driving at low speeds, the vehicle accelerated when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 156,000.

Filed Sep 16, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 58,160 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 20 MPH, the brake pedal was applied and failed to respond. As a result, the contact crashed into a planter pot. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number: 11v112000 (vehicle speed control) and the federal safety agency campaign id number: 10v499000 (service brakes, hydraulic ).the approximate failure mileage was 58,160.

Filed Sep 9, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 90,000 miles · CA

In june 2014 we heard a squeaking noise when we put the car in drive and the brakes were applied while we were on a trip. Two days after we returned the"check vsc system" came on and the car would not start.. The dealer said it was due to the battery. We replaced it and the warning light went away. However, three months later the noise is back. The dealer (different one) said the brake actuator needs replacement. Very expensive repair costing $3,600. After doing research, I saw many complaints (and a recall) for this defective part in other toyota vehicles. Toyota needs to do a recall for the highlander as well. Our car has been meticulously maintained. We bought it new. Very unhappy.

Filed Jun 16, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · 119,167 miles · CO

While decelerating to turn into our drive way the vehicle rapidly accelerated. We were able to get it stopped by using the brakes, ending up in the yard/sidewalk. There were approximately 10 feet of skid marks. The engine was racing while the brakes were being applied. The floor mat was not involved. The increased engine RPM was not initiated nor controllable by the operator. This was truly an uncontrolled run away that could have been life threatening.

Filed Apr 20, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 100,000 miles · CA

Engine shutdown at 70mph, engine/hybrid system did not respond to accelerator pedal or cruise control - no warning lights. Was able to coast to side of freeway safely. I turned off ignition and restarted the car, vehicle ran flawlessly afterwards.

Filed Apr 10, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 147,000 miles · FL

In november, 2013, the vsc system warning light and several other lights ("ABS")came on in the car. A warning noise remains on at all times since then...the same sound that comes on if you fail to fasten your seat belt. The dealership tested the system and determined it needs a new brake actuator part which with labor comes to over $2,000.00. I filed complaints with toyota and other national groups to no avail. I recently was notified of another toyota recall and came on this site and discovered an identical incident (the federal safety agency id number:10562656.) please investigate this matter and advise of the findings as it apparently is a growing issue and risk experienced and documented by owners.

Filed Feb 3, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 95,450 miles · NC

In october 2013 I had a "check vsc system" warning light. Upon taking it to the dealership, they said it was due to the battery and replaced it and the warning light went away. However, over the next few months, we started noticing a "squeaking" sound coming from the area underneath the front of the car when the car was in drive but the brakes were applied. Yesterday, the same "check vsc system" warning popped up, only now it was accompanied by a number of other lights on the dash, including "ABS" "brake" the "tire pressure (!)" and one other light on the left side to the upper right of the "ready" text. The dealer has just told me there were two computer codes, one is c1241. They said the previous dealer did not dig deep enough into the issue in october, and that the braking system was not getting enough pressure. The brake actuator needs replacement, the part is $1,800 and with labor and taxes the bill comes to over $2,400. Based on other research I have done today this seems to be a growing issue that many owners are facing.