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And not that I needed to employ it in this situation, but remember the proper jump-start sequence for connecting jumper cables. Positive dead battery to positive donor battery, then negative donor battery to a grounding bolt on the dead car (not the dead battery). Start the donor car, then (hopefully) the dead car. Disconnect cables in reverse order. This is an abbreviated version of how to jump start a car. Of course read your owner's manual for a full description. Bye for now (and hopefully for a long time)
I am in Canada but live in the USA and my 2006 hylander hybrid died without warning- same problem- check hybrid system, check CSV system. I have no warranty as I have 165k miles on my car and now am trying to get to the USA.
THEY ACT LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO HELP BUT DONT
JIM
I have not commented in a while. I have been in contact and gave my story of how my car almost killed me to the National Auto Safety representative. I have not heard anymore. I did hear there is a class action suit started in Southern California. I only hear now from more victims. I really do not see why they have not pulled these cars off the road. I cannot believe the dealers that are asking more then the cars are worth and will not fix these cars. I had a friend who builds cars and he called to get a price for the inverter. He could purchase one for $4500. Are the dealerships just lying? When they charge $8000 to $14.000. It is pretty transparent that Toyota is not looking out for our safety and the safety of others.
We also had a Power-steering ECU failure (due to corrosion ???) & a mysterious 12V battery failure that were not covered by Warranty. I am trying to convince my wife we need to dump this garbage before we have a failure that is not covered & the repairs are more than the trade-in value.
Thanks for the information...I filed my complaint with the NHTSA this morning regarding our inverter failure.....I will be going to pick up our Highlander this morning, I will try to get our inverter back....Lets see how that goes....Just a bit of info for everyone I posted yesterday regarding getting reimbursed for towing. The dealer told me to bring them a copy of tow receipt, they will submit it to Toyota corporate along with thier warranty work order and the dealer will reimburse us when they received thier $ from Toyota....
I too have been bitten by the dreaded INVERTER FAILURE....I was hoping you could forward the TSB regarding this issue to me...If you have it posted somewhere let me know....It sure is funny how you can't find this on the internet anywhere....
THANKS
JIM
Picked up the Highlander this morning.....so far everything seems to be fine......
I did ask the service writer for the old inverter back.......He told me they had to send back to Toyota. He actually showed me the warranty form they have to fill out and send back with the dead inverter...He showed me the invoice from Toyota for the inverter $7367.00 for just the inverter. He took the copy of the receipt from the towing company and said we should be getting a check back for the towing fee in 30 days. So far we got the car back at no cost to us...should have the towing fee soon ...next steo trade this POS in before it blows up again.....
I have a 2007 Hylander Hybrid and experienced the dreaded inverter failure. I still owe on the car, have been asked to pay $10,000 for the repair, and Toyota will do nothing because it has 120,000 miles. My vin is 70020221 and it died, so I am not sure about this "break" determination. I would welcome any advice on what to do besides calling NHTSA, the FTC, and my Attorney General. Thanks,
Thanks for the info!
To add salt into the already injured heart, 16 days later as I was driving to a graduation event, I heard a strange noise under the bonnet and suddenly all dashboard lights started flashing and 'Check Hybrid System', 'Check CSV System' appeared. Shortly thereafter, the engine died and the car drifted to a halt besides the road. It has been towed to the dealer and as I await the diagnosis on Monday, I can almost smell it in the air! I will update this soon.
So, here I am, with a 5 year old $45,00 fully paid piece of JUNK! And two weeks without transport!
Anybody out there with experience with Toyota Highlander Hybrid AC Compressor problems or know of refurbished compressors I can buy and use?
Suggestions are welcome.
Go to their website recall page or try this link.
http://pressroom.toyota.com/releases/toyota+voluntary+safety+recall+highlander+h- ybrid+lexus+rx+400h+june+2011.htm?siteid=DMG_rss_201106_RLA_explan_toynew_Toyota- +Announces+Voluntary+Safety+Recall+of+Certain+2006+and+2007+Model+Year+Highlande- r+Hybrid+and+RX+400h+Vehicles
John (an early victim)
I have a 2008 HiHy. This is the nature of the electronic gas milage function. It is an estimate. Mine is usually overstating gas milage by 1.5 mpg, but every once in a while it understates the mpg. The computer is using an algorithm to estimate milage based on various readings, it does not measure fuel flow directly.
I believe this is true of all such reading, no matter the make and model.
2) Can anyone share with me what real world mileage I can expect with this car? I am only getting around 22MPG with mixed driving and I am driving very deliberately to economize on fuel.
My daughter in law has a 2006. She hasn't lost any sleep over it.
Steve
The service guy immediately said it did not have to be the inverter since the check engine light came on.
Yesterday they call to tell me it is not a hybrid problem; it is an engine problem: problem with the short block at the bottom of the engine, engine won't spin, crank shaft is being blocked, & -- get this-- pieces of the engine are OUT OF PLACE. They want me to agree to pay 1100 to start to diagnose and it could cost up to 6K to repair! He suggests I trade it in since it is a five year old car -- heck, I always keep my cars about 10 years!
I flip out and tell them with a 5 year old TOYOTA at 87,000 miles, this should not happen. I call the on-site customer service manager to complain (who I had met the day before). How would engine pieces of a TOYOTA just start breaking off? I call NHTSA and file a complaint. I call Toyota National to complain. I go back in and show the records of the maintenance on the car (like clockwork). The service manager called some "higher up" and they are proceeding this morning by taking off a pan (not that I know what pan) to see why the crank shaft turns one way and stops and turns back and stops, but won't go around. Once they see if they can determine problem, the regional person will be called again.
I again reiterated how ridiculous it is that this is not covered by Toyota and the reason I bought the brand is because the vehicles are supposed to last for well over 100K! (No, I did not have an extended warranty -- too expensive at the time; in hindsight probably something I should have done.)
They are well aware I filed a complaint with NHTSA. I told them if I keep the car, I want the inverter replaced immediately!
Sorry for the length of the post, but if anyone is told pieces of the engine are "out of place" they should contact NHTSA (1-888-327-4236).
I will keep you apprised of what Toyota does -- or does not -- do for me.
There has to be something wrong with an engine if parts of it start loosening! I am going to contact NHTSA tomorrow to give them an update on my case. I don't know if I can ever buy another Toyota again.
Has anyone ever heard of this happening with an engine?
This may be a complete lie, but it is still something to pursue.
Still waiting for the engine to be examined and to be told the status/diagnosis. At this point, all I know is they are giving me a rental car. Even with the 50% offer from Toyota, if the engine just fell apart on its own, why isn't Toyota willing to stand behind their product? The 50% I have to "participate" in is based on the retail price, while the 50% they are "participating" in is probably based on wholesale -- not quite even here.
I am nervous about keeping the car after 100,000 miles after reading all of the posts. Possible major A/C problems? OMG. Only 13,000 miles to go.
At least they are going to replace the inverter issue because of the recall. However, I am still nervous about it and going to consider getting rid of it at the 100,000 mark. It is a bit late for me to get an extended warranty for a year, and it is probably too expensive!
I am waiting for the manager of the service department to call me with a quote. My local mechanic told me to call him once I get the estimate. I doubt he can help if Toyota was willing to pay half, but I will see.
I keep thinking, "What if I had been on the interstate doing 70 mph? Would my daughter and I be okay?"
A TOYOTA!
Thank you all and there is resolve coming.
I have been an enthusiastic fan of my "06 Highlander Hybrid from the beginning. I loved my car so much that when, last July, I suddenly and completely lost power (read: inverter assembly failure to the--covered under warranty still--tune of $8K) I believed the dealership when they said, "Wow, this is so weird. We never see this."
Fast forward to this July, one year after they replaced the inverter assembly, when I was driving home to southern California and my car failed again! This time I was going about 75mph on I-40. Fortunately, I could pull over safely and not cause an accident. Fortunately, I have about 1200 miles left on my warranty, so the repair would be covered even if they hadn't issued the recall. Unfortunately, I have really lost faith in Toyota--at least as far as the Highlanders go. My husband and I are likely to replace the car, that is once we get it back from the dealership. (Two and a half weeks and counting!)
I, too, have lost faith in Toyota. I don't know what I am going to do yet, but once I can handle a monthly payment I am getting rid of this car. This car that I have loved and talked glowingly about since I got it. Toyota is not standing behind their product.
Today I am going into the third week without the car; it took them about 8 days to pull it all apart and figure out the problem, as I have posted. The service people at the dealer could not be nicer, but I want a better warranty, a smaller amount - or zero - to participate, and Toyota national to "step up" and admit there was something wrong.
Not a lick of trouble until now. Dead on the side of the road at 119,500.
Just a sudden loss of power under moderate acceleration. There may have been a small noise, not sure?
Called NHTSA and filed a report. This IS most certainly a safety issue. I recall a few years ago a minivan ( I think ) stalled on Route 50 a few miles East of DC, and all (4?) occupants were killed when they were rear ended. Same situation can occur with this problem.
Where is Toyota on this?