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Toyota Highland Hybrid Steering and Suspension Questions

27 messages,  Last post on Apr 07, 2009 at 4:05 PM

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#3 of 27 Re: 2006 Highland Hybrid/Lexus RX400h power steering failures [lcarr8522] by cdptrap Jul 13, 2008 (10:09 am)
Replying to: lcarr8522 (Jul 10, 2008 5:26 pm) THANKS for sharing it! Will keep an eye on this.   So far, our '06 is doing fine, knock on wood!
#4 of 27 Re: 2006 Highland Hybrid/Lexus RX400h power steering failures [wwest] by cdptrap Jul 13, 2008 (10:21 am)
Replying to: wwest (Jul 12, 2008 7:47 am) I cannot find anything on-line that addresses specifically the steering design aspects of the RXh/HH. Can you please point us to them if you have found them? It would be helpful.   Our '06 HH is driven often in average 95-F heat (on average) during hot summer months in central CA. During CA heat wave like the one that just passed, daily temperature soared to 105-115 F. We also often drive HWY 5 between LA and SF Bay Area and the Redding region. Everyone who knows that route knows how hot HWY 5 gets in the summer. Average is around 100+ F from LA up into Redding.   We also crawl at low speed on ranch roads in >95-F often enough, no sign of steering problem yet coming on 45K miles, knock on wood.   I thought the engine would be much hotter than ambient temperature. If the car is moving, air flow should cool everything to some degree? Why would high heat cause steering problem in the HH?   Sure hope this is not some systemic problem though. Replies to this message: wwest (Aug 22, 2008 9:19 am) upstateny5 (Aug 22, 2008 9:48 am) upstateny5 (Aug 26, 2008 10:37 am) bmckee219 (Dec 24, 2008 8:03 am) upstateny5 (Dec 26, 2008 8:37 am) wwest (Dec 26, 2008 11:32 am) wwest (Dec 26, 2008 11:40 am)
#5 of 27 Re: 2006 Highland Hybrid/Lexus RX400h power steering failures [lcarr8522] by upstateny5 Aug 22, 2008 (7:47 am)
Replying to: lcarr8522 (Jul 10, 2008 5:26 pm) My 2006 Highlander Hybrid with 44,000 miles was just towed to Toyota on a flatbed after having problems with the power steering. We had not used the car in a while and as I pulled out of the driveway I couldn't turn the wheel easily. It felt like a lack of power steering fluid but we decided to drive it locally to see if it improved. It did not in fact it was a good thing that my partner took over the driving. All of a sudden the front wheels started to quiver back and forth violently and we got it to the nearest service station and called for assistance. It was headed for the guardrail on its own and if it had not been for the strength of my partner we would have crashed.   I have not yet received a call from Toyota but I can tell you I am not happy and will be a lot less happy if the repair bill is close to $2,000.   Prior to this incident there were a few times that I though the car turned a little hard but it didn't seem to last so I wasn't concerned.   I will post the repair corrective action as soon as I hear from the garage and will follow up with the appropriate agencies as soon as I have a diagnosis from Toyota.
#6 of 27 Re: 2006 Highland Hybrid/Lexus RX400h power steering failures [cdptrap] by wwest Aug 22, 2008 (9:19 am)
Replying to: cdptrap (Jul 13, 2008 10:21 am) According to Toyota there are situations and/or circumstances wherein the solid state electric drive control can/will overheat and reduce the driver stearing power assist functionality quite substantially. Look in your owners manual for word of this.   There appears to be an additional problem in that when it is operating in the substandard state more MUSCLE is required of the driver and EXTENDED muscular effort will/might actually bend the torque tube out of alignment. In some cases this has actually resulted in the electric assist operating OPPOSITE the driver's turning of the stearing wheel.   Especially HOT day, HOT surrounding landscape/roadbed, yes, the power stearing will be more prone to going into substandard, low assist, mode. Replies to this message: upstateny5 (Aug 22, 2008 9:48 am) upstateny5 (Aug 26, 2008 10:37 am)
#7 of 27 Re: 2006 Highland Hybrid/Lexus RX400h power steering failures [wwest] by upstateny5 Aug 22, 2008 (9:48 am)
Replying to: wwest (Aug 22, 2008 9:19 am) With my situation the temperature in northern NY was around 75 - 80 degrees tops. The car had been sitting in the garage to save mileage and a more efficient Yaris was being driven. My car will not be looked at until Monday. Replies to this message: upstateny5 (Aug 26, 2008 10:37 am)
#8 of 27 Re: 2006 Highland Hybrid/Lexus RX400h power steering failures [upstateny5] by upstateny5 Aug 26, 2008 (10:37 am)
Replying to: upstateny5 (Aug 22, 2008 9:48 am) The steering rack needs replacement with my vehicle. Fortunately my dealership is being fair about the situation. The car will not leave their lot after the repair is performed as it will be traded in.
#9 of 27 by cdptrap Aug 28, 2008 (8:21 pm)
Wow, good thing you all are safe when your steering system malfunctioned. Thanks for sharing this problem and sorry it did not work out for you all.   I will be sure to post any problem we encounter in our '06. It is approaching 47K miles now. We are in southern SF Bay Area and just got hit by another heat wave, local temperature at our site was 109 today. It is normal for Summer to be in the mid-90's to low 100's in our neck of the woods. We also drive I-5 a lot and it can be baking in smoggy foul air at 100+ while the coast is blanketed by cool clean foggy air. So far, so good; knock on wood! Replies to this message: upstateny5 (Aug 29, 2008 4:47 am)
#10 of 27 Re: [cdptrap] by upstateny5 Aug 29, 2008 (4:47 am)
Replying to: cdptrap (Aug 28, 2008 8:21 pm) I really have some questions about temperature with the problem. As with the first poster there really did not seem to be any warning signs - just instant failure.   I do have to say that the local Toyota dealership could not have been nicer and were very accommodating on the trade in etc.   Would I consider a future hybrid - YES. Unfortunately the finances just did not work out for one this go around. Since the RAV4 grew up we almost have the same interior space as we did with the Highlander (which now has grown up more).
#11 of 27 Re: 2006 Highland Hybrid/Lexus RX400h power steering failures [lcarr8522] by nodak701 Sep 11, 2008 (10:52 pm)
Replying to: lcarr8522 (Jul 10, 2008 5:26 pm) Just experienced the same problem on our '06 HH. It is actually still in the shop. It has around 64K on it. It hadn't been driven in about a week (husband's vehicle he's deployed and I'm trying to keep miles off the 'good' vehicle) and sat in the GA heat. I actually was lucky, in a sense, that I was at the dealership having just brought in it for an oil change. They rang me up, I got in the HH, and backed out and no power steering. I promptly pulled back into the garage. They have been fixing mine as a "good will" measure. Right now (as far as I know) they have replaced the mother board and are now replacing the whole power steering assembly. The cost the guy said was up to 3000, but no cost to me (yet). Hopefully it's working correctly when I get it back.   Has anyone had all the repairs and are still driving? If so are you experiencing any further problems? I would love to trade it in (as I'm not to trusting of it right now) but it's the limited with bells and whistles and no way could we afford to get a different vehicle right now.   I grew up with Toyota's and this is the first problem I've ever experienced besides the normal wear and tare. The garage that is fixing it has been great, thus far. Replies to this message: lcarr8522 (Sep 13, 2008 11:07 am)
#12 of 27 Re: 2006 Highland Hybrid/Lexus RX400h power steering failures [nodak701] by lcarr8522 Sep 13, 2008 (11:07 am)
Replying to: nodak701 (Sep 11, 2008 10:52 pm) I'm the person who started this email string. I had the repairs and have driven it pretty much everyday since then and have had no other problems. I, too, have the Limited and I really enjoy the car, I'm just frustrated that Toyota doesn't stand behind their product with so many reports of the same problem.

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