2004 Toyota Highlander: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Aug 11, 2015 · Seats · 140,000 miles · MN

Began driving vehicle a week ago, used to be my wife's vehicle. I noticed a squeak in the driver's seat, and noticed it wiggled. I examined the mounting bolts, and all 4 seat bolts were loose, not even finger tight. The only service performed anywhere near the seat was recall work on the floor mat retaining clip and a seal in the brake master cylinder, both recalls were done simultaneously at rudy luther toyota, 8805 wayzata blvd, golden valley, mn 55426. Recall work was done a couple years ago. I tightened the bolts with my own tools. Passenger seat bolts were tight.

Filed Jun 23, 2011 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · OH

Toyota highlander 2004 6 cyl awd - last may squealing noise coming from back of the car. Made it to a toyota dealer and found out it was the rear differential. Took 4 days and over $1200 to fix. This week, noise coming from front of the car. Continued to get worse. Took to toyota dealer and was informed it was the drive shaft - so far out of alignment needs to be replaced? Just had it at the same dealer for maintenance 3 weeks ago - said nothing. This will cost $1300. Searching internet and finding I'm not alone, but no recall. What gives with these cars?

Filed Feb 25, 2009 · Driver assistance, Steering · 53,217 miles · NJ

Wife was driving on clean dry road. Suddenly, the vcs light and traction lights came on the dashboard while alarm sounding came on as well. Car suddenly braked, brakes made a grinding sound, and car jerked to the right. Tried to drive forward and it would not go over 10mph. If the car did, the above happened again. Car was not drivable, and was towed to the nearest toyota dealership. The situation was very dangerous, as the behavior of the car, not controlled by my wife, the driver, could have easily caused an accident. Turns out, the dealership stated the steering angle sensor went on the car. First...the car only has 53k miles on it. This is not a 'wear and tear' part. This part should never go with only this many miles on it. Garbage. Second, the failure of this part causes a very dangerous situation on the road, as once it goes, the driver basically has no control over the car until it slows down to under 10 miles an hour. Toyota needs to stand behind their product, focus on the safety of the public, and issue a recall for this problem. I've researched this on the internet and there are many, many complaints and documented cases of this same problem happening on toyota vehicles. The dealership fixed the part for $700. Rip off.

Filed Jan 18, 2008 · Brakes · 64,840 miles · VA

One week ago, when I stepped on the brake, a loud grinding noise would happen. I scheduled a appointment with goodyear to have my brakes checked. 2 days before my appointment date, I also had to press the brake pedal all the way down to the floor to get the car to stop. I freaked out and went straight to goodyear for the repair. They told me that the rubber on the master cylinder had been eaten away by the brake fluid and had to be replaced. The was a recall in 2001 for the toyota highlander for the same problem. I have a 2004 highlander.

Filed Nov 14, 2005 · Acceleration, Engine · 37,000 miles · IL · crash

Dt: the contact stated while pulling into a parking slot heard a grinding noise followed by the vehicle lurching into another parked vehicle. He took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer could not duplicate the sudden acceleration. The dealer replaced the mass air flow sensor, oxygen sensor, and reprogrammed the ecu. The dealer could not determine what caused this problem.

Filed Dec 7, 2004 · Visibility · CA

While driving 30 MPH, the driver heard a loud squeaking noise coming from both passenger and driver rear windows. Suddenly the vehicle jerked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem at this time. Please provide further details. *jb the consumer stated that she almost looses control due to the noise. The noise from the window not only changes the air pressure while driving 30 MPH or faster it hurts both the driver and the passengers ears. The consumer is unable to hear emergency vehicles as they approach.