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Toyota Highlander Hybrid - Hybrid System Problems

313 messages,  Last post on May 01, 2013 at 5:24 PM

You are in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Hybrid Cars, SUV

    
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Messages Page 32 of 32

#304 of 313 Newer Hybrids by ytallent

Mar 25, 2013 (7:32 am)

Really don't know-Consumer Reports doesn't have the newer ones rated as troubled but don't know if this is a viable rating.

#305 of 313 Re: Newer HH's any better? [famwald] by stevegold

Mar 25, 2013 (9:48 am)

Replying to: famwald (Mar 24, 2013 11:06 am)
I have a 2004 Prius that is great and a 2007 HH that sucks even without the inverter problem. The mileage is not good and the car is not nice. The newer models might be better but not 2006, 2007, 2008 or whenever they changed.
It's not a comfortable car and not worth the HH premium and if you get the inverter problem, you're totally screwed. Why look for trouble?

#306 of 313 Re: Newer HH's any better? [stevegold] by famwald

Mar 25, 2013 (2:29 pm)

Replying to: stevegold (Mar 25, 2013 9:48 am)
Thank you for the replies, ytallent and stevegold. I appreciate the comments. I may scratch this one off the list of contenders. Replacing any hybrid inverter, even if it is eight years old and out of warranty, would kill our budget as we would be fully retired by then and on fixed income.

#307 of 313 Hybrid System Failure - dealer claiming computer has no record of event by segnova

Apr 12, 2013 (3:44 pm)

Last night I was driving my 2011 Highlander Hybrid and suddenly the power steering and brakes stopped working while I was driving. A loud warning sensor went off and several messages crossed the screen, including "Hybrid System Failure. Pull the vehicle to a safe spot and call the dealer immediately." Thank God I was able to roll off to the side of the road without hitting anyone or getting hit. I called Toyota Roadside Assistance, who told me not to even try to drive the car anymore, and they came and towed the car to the dealer.
 
Today, the dealer called and told me there is nothing wrong with the car. Apparently the messages I saw are not showing up on the computer, and the messages are gone now. They suggested I come and pick it up. They dismissed my idea that the computer chip had also failed. I called Customer Service at 1-800-331-4331 and they took my complaint and indicated that it is up to the Customer Service person at the dealership how to handle it. (According to the Service person, the Customer Service rep told him to tell me there was nothing they could do for me.) I'm to expect a call from him in 3 days or less. I'm leaving the car at the dealership until this is worked out because I'm afraid to drive it. Does anyone have advice for moving forward?

#308 of 313 stopped car by ruth72

Apr 13, 2013 (9:52 am)

hi, i read your post and am interested in what you do next. i have a 2007 hh and am concerned as i will be giving it to my college student son soon and worry about whether or not he will be safe in it. we've never had a problem except for the time a repairman took the battery out to repair something else and forgot to leave a charge going to the engine so the codes were all messed up and then it did what you just described your car doing the day after i left the shop. they were able to come out and reset the codes however and i haven't had a problem since.

#309 of 313 Reply to 308 by ytallent

Apr 13, 2013 (2:06 pm)

Personally, I would not give a car to my child even if it has not quit in traffic yet. I would trade it in on a another used car with a better record. There is very little, if any warning that it is about to die. I would not risk my child's life.

#310 of 313 Re: Thinking of buying a 2006 Highlander Hybrid - 97K miles [achillezz] by samrul

Apr 29, 2013 (3:00 pm)

Replying to: achillezz (Mar 09, 2013 12:46 pm)
I bought my 2006 HH several years ago with 90k. It now has 192k. No problems but am concerned about the cost of the replacement battery and when will that be.

#311 of 313 Re: Same situation, different day [s_weaver] by johco

May 01, 2013 (4:31 pm)

Replying to: s_weaver (Jan 23, 2013 7:26 pm)
I have the exact same problem with my 2008 HH. Dealer says power inverter needs replacement cost= $9,140.
How do you get a case manager?

#312 of 313 re 311 by coffeymom

May 01, 2013 (4:52 pm)

When this happened recently to my 06, the dealership took a long time with the diagnostics, but in the end I didn't need a case manager. This is a known problem and they should fix it. If your dealership isn't cooperating, ask the service manager to get you in contact with a Toyota case manager. Go as far up the chain of command as it takes. No excuse for the inverter not to be covered by Toyota. At all.

#313 of 313 Re: Same situation, different day [johco] by ytallent

May 01, 2013 (5:24 pm)

Replying to: johco (May 01, 2013 4:31 pm)
Talk to the General Manager of your dealership and tell them you know that HH has a history of this failure even though the recall is not for the 2008. You want a Toyota case manager and you want resolution of this problem and no you will not pay that price to fix a known failure that is a recall on the 2006 and 2007 cars. Obviously this is a problem on later model Toyota HH too and Toyota should fix it for free. Others can offer better advice as I didn't have to go this far yet!

Messages Page 32 of 32

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