2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: loss of power steering

Filed Jun 15, 2019 · Steering · 140,000 miles · VA

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.

Filed Jan 20, 2016 · Steering · 170,000 miles · CA

Power steering failure. Car was in motion turning when ps light came on and no power since then

Filed Sep 21, 2015 · Steering · 45,100 miles · MN

I apologize for the delay in filing this complaint. I just learned of the complaint process. We took delivery of the vehicle on 12/7/09 from burnsville toyota in burnsville, mn. On 12/10/09 while traveling from eagan, mn to omaha, ne the power steering went out on the vehicle. We were able to get the power steering repaired in bellevue, ne on 12/12. I felt fortunate to have repairs made as it was a saturday and the vehicle is a hybrid. The bellevue dealership made the repairs at no charge and informed me of the open recall on the power steering. Upon returning home I contacted the dealership. They apologized and offered a free update on the GPS. I also later contacted toyota corporate. My notes from that contact indicate a reference number of 1001108638. Upon learning of the complaint process I also learned that it is illegal for a new car dealership to sell a vehicle with an open recall. I do not know if that was the case in 2009. I am pleased to be able to submit this complaint as I have always felt consumers should be protected from purchasing products with known defects

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 Apr 4, 2014 · Steering · 107,732 miles · DE

Started vehicle, power steering fault indicator came on. No power steering. Does steer while in motion but extremely hard to turn, impossible while standing still.

Filed Feb 5, 2013 · Acceleration, Electrical · 160,000 miles · CA

My 17-year-old daughter was driving on I-5 in northern california. She had cruise control set at 70mph and was traveling up hill when cruise control suddenly popped off and car went dead. She had no power, and power steering went out. She managed to coast to the crest of the hill and down the other side to pull off the road, but was in a very dangerous situation near truck weigh station with big rigs pulling on and off highway. Car had to be towed to dealership. We were informed that hybrid inverter was dead and would cost $8,000.00+ to repair. Contacted corporate and was informed that since the car was out of warranty they would offer no assistance in repair costs. Have since heard other similar stories regarding 2006 toyota hybrids.

Filed Dec 16, 2011 · Fuel system, Steering · 60,000 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owns 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. The contact was driving 10 MPH when the contact crashed into a curb and the power steering failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the power steering and the hybrid computer system failed. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 60,000.

Filed Aug 1, 2011 · Electrical, Fuel system · 79,950 miles · FL

While driving through virginia foothills, the entire electrical system on my hybrid stopped working. I had significantly reduced braking ability, no power steering and was in heavy traffic. This could have been a very serious incident if I had to stop for an emergency. I slowly pulled over shut the system down and after a while the warning lights and warning buzzer went off.

Filed Jun 28, 2011 · Fuel system · 85,000 miles · NE

Driving north on interstate 75 near warner robins, ga in our 2006 highlander hybrid. Going 75 MPH in the left lane when the dashboard lit up with vsc, check hybrid, and esp lights. Immediately lost all power. No power steering, limited braking, no acceleration. Barely avoided a catastrophic accident (4 people in my car) and made it to the breakdown lane. Towed to a local toyota dealer by aaa. Car has 85000 miles on it and toyota diagnosed a faulty inverter. It is being covered as a warranty repair. Waiting for completion of repairs in georgia to complete drive home to nebraska (all the while incurring non-trivial expenses for hotel, rental car, etc.).

Filed Jun 22, 2011 · Fuel system · 69,000 miles · TX

2006 highlander hybrid inverter failure caused a complete power shut down and left me stranded on the road. There was no power, no brakes, no steering. I could have been hit by cars in front or behind. Lucky that I was not on the freeway going 70 MPH. The failure had no warning nor any symptoms. Prior to the failure, I drove the car approximately 70 miles earlier during the day.

Filed Mar 7, 2011 · Fuel system, Transmission · 54,000 miles · TX

While driving my 2006 highlander hybrid in seabrook texas on march 5, after accelerating to approximately 40 miles per hour. The car lost all power and the power steering went out. The car then had to be towed to dealership. It looks like there is an investigation open into this issue. The federal safety agency # pe11005.

Filed Feb 24, 2011 · Engine, Steering · 118,000 miles · CT

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. The contact was traveling 65 MPH when the vehicle suddenly stalled; there was no prior warning. When the failure occurred, there was also a loss of power steering. The check vsc and check hybrid system warning lights illuminated. The dealer stated that the inverter failed. The VIN was unavailable. The current and failure mileages were 118,000.