2008 Toyota Highlander: check engine light

Filed Sep 15, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 151,000 miles · UT

2008 highlander hybrid limited check engine light came on and showed code p0a1b - drive motor 'a' control module, the code was cleared manually and the check engine light went off, the next day the light came back on after driving about 3 miles then parked. The next day the light went off on its own as we took it to the toyota dealership and has not been back on since driving it there and back, the dealership said they drove around a little and the light never came on, we brought it home and have driven about 7 miles without the light coming on. According to the local toyota dealership and corporate toyota there are no recalls for our VIN but it is showing all signs of the inverter assembly recall that affected 235,000 vehicles in the recall. Toyota quoted the repair at $9000+ and even though it has the symptoms of the recalled vehicles they will not fix it because it is not on the recall list and there is nothing they can do. The repair cost is more than the value of the car.

Filed Dec 18, 2018 · Brakes · 121,700 miles · FL

After researching online, I have noticed this is a very common issue and toyota issued recalls out for 2006 & 2007 but has not acknowledged 2008 as having the same issue. I was almost in an accident and noticed there are others out there that have been in accidents. Why is it that nothing has been done to correct this? First, I heard an airy sound when braking then a soft brake pedal before almost complete brake failure. The highlander truly felt like it was not stopping. I literally had to put my complete body weight on the brake pedal to finally get it to stop as it keeps surging forward. It was scary, to say the least. I was in a heavy populated parking lot. I could've hit a pedestrian or hit another car because I couldn't get the car to stop from surging forward. After all this, finally, lights appeared. (engine light, brake light, vsc light & skid lights came on). Wouldn't you think after just being fully serviced at a toyota dealership, something would've been noticeable? I reached out to toyota corp. And again I was told this is not common and no recalls have been issued. I saw a very common denominator that once the highlander hits a certain mileage this happens and a very costly master cylinder and brake booster needs to be replaced. A parking lot and in motion.

Filed Jul 10, 2015 · Brakes · 130,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. While driving at 5 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and became stuck. The contact had to depress the brake pedal multiple times to release the pedal. The check engine and brake warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed May 15, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 90,000 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. While attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated and the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The technician stated that the fuel pump failing was a known issue. The vehicle was then put through a stress test and the service department kept and drove the vehicle. The service manager stated that the failure was not the fuel pump and that there was an issue within the system once the vehicle warmed up that caused the vehicle to lose power. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Apr 8, 2015 · Engine · 115,000 miles · NC

I purchased a qualified pre-owned 2008 toyota highlander sport from rice toyota in greensboro, nc in february of 2013. Since that time, I have properly serviced the vehicle and retained all service records. On or about march 31, 2015, while I was driving home from work on I-40 (65 MPH interstate highway), the engine in my highlander suddenly stalled and the check engine light came on. I coasted into a rest area (luckily) and was towed to a service station in greensboro. A complete diagnostic was performed and it was determined that the engine failure was due to a faulty engine valve spring. Every mechanic I have spoken with have indicated that a valve spring should not break on a 2008 toyota with around 100k miles. I searched online and found that toyota has recalled hundreds of thousands of certain lexus models, including models from 2008 with the same 3.5 liter v6 engine as is in my highlander, for faulty valve springs that result in sudden engine stalling. Rice toyota has refused to provide any assistance, as has toyota corporation. Further, toyota corporation has refused to provide me with any information regarding the manufacturer of the valve spring in my vehicle and/or any indication if the same valve spring was in the recalled lexus modes. I have seen class action law suits filed against toyota for concealing issues with valve springs. This defect can be very dangerous as the vehicle stalls suddenly and without warning. I need assistance to motivate toyota corporation and rice toyota to correct a clear design and/or manufacturing defect that caused a potentially dangerous engine stall in the middle of a major interstate highway.

Filed Nov 12, 2013 · Engine · 200,000 miles · OR · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota highlander. The contact was driving 55 MPH when the vehicle began to emit a burning oil smell. The check engine lamp illuminated so the contact added oil to the vehicle. The contact stated that the burning oil smell still lingered and the check engine warning lamp illuminated again. In addition, a hose from the engine failed and spilled motor oil on the exterior of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection where the contact was informed that the oil cooler line had exploded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the incident. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Filed Jun 27, 2013 · Engine · 79,000 miles · MD

Engine began revving upon acceleration from a stop light. Engine warning light came on indicating low oil pressure. Pulled into auto repair shop who found dipstick was dry. Poured oil into engine only to see it leaking out from below passenger side. Car was then towed to local toyota dealer. Dealer replaced oil cooler hose 15767-31010 which had failed with 15767-31020 (all metal assembly). Replaced oil and restarted engine. Engine is making tapping sound and dealer recommends full replacement. Depending on option, cost is between $7500 for a used toyota engine to $8300 for jarco engine (which I believe is rebuilt). This occurred in south carolina while we were vacationing from maryland. Thankfully, we were not on the highway when this occurred. Will have to leave vehicle here for repair and fly back to drive it home later. Btw, the single pipe oil hose was replaced in may 2010 under the ssc 90k recall at 33k miles. That is not the part that failed. This is the dual manifold rubber hose that toyota has now replaced with an all metallic assembly. As far as I know, this part was never recalled, but there is a tsb 02011-11 available.

Filed Jul 5, 2012 · Driver assistance, Engine · 56,000 miles · IN

As I approached a stop sign, my check engine and vehicle stability control lights came on. I was less than a mile from my destination and was able to safely park my vehicle with no issues. As soon as possible, I contacted my local toyota dealership to alert them to the problem. The dealership representative asked if the vsc light was flashing and I told him no; to which he replied it would be okay to drive. Later on that evening, I decided to take the vehicle to the dealership and upon taking off at the light, the vehicle seemed sluggish at first and then suddenly accelerated and surged forward. When I pulled into the dealership, I explained what happened and am now awaiting to see what the problem is.

Filed Feb 28, 2012 · Driver assistance, Engine · 25,000 miles · MI

Upon starting my car, the vsc off, check engine, and ABS lights remained lit. Acceleration was slow and rough, and the general engine feel was wrong. I stopped car and restarted with no effect. While driving, the lights extinguished for a moment, and at that point performance temporarily improved - this caused a surge in acceleration. But the same lights came on a moment later and performance, once again, failed. Fortunately I was not in traffic when the surge occurred.