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Toyota Highlander Hybrid - Hybrid System Problems

314 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2013 at 4:56 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 16 of 32

#149 of 314 2006 AC Compressor Dead, Check hybrid system, check CSV system by shompolesp

Jun 06, 2011 (12:21 am)

The more I read the messages about dead or dying Toyota Highlander Hybrids, the more I feel I bought a piece of junk for 45K. The last few weeks as the weather improved, I could not get the car to cool down and when I took it to the dealer Toyota of Pullman on May 19th 2011, I was told that the AC Compresor was faulty and needed replacement at $4200. This car has only 92.7K miles but I was told that the part was not covered by any warranty! Where do you find this kind of money to spend on an AC? So, I took the car home with a broken heart. Broken by the very hybrid car system I have so praised and exalted to my friends for so long that now I am embarrassed to meet them! Even my wife commented the other day...I thought you said Toyotas last for ever. From this blog, it appears that in the Toyota HH world, FOREVER is 5 or less years.
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.

#150 of 314 Re: 2006 AC Compressor Dead, Check hybrid system, check CSV system [shompolesp] by irina2

Jun 06, 2011 (10:05 am)

Replying to: shompolesp (Jun 06, 2011 12:21 am)
all i can say is that you're sooooo lucky your inverter (probably!) failed while your car is still under 100K miles so that your hybrid treasure didn't now cost you another $10K in repairs...like it did for the rest of us suckers...and that you didn't get hurt.

#151 of 314 Power Inverter $9,000 Repair by bobbyg3

Jun 10, 2011 (6:06 am)

My 2006 Highlander Hybrid came to a dead halt last Friday agternoon going just over 40 MPH on a busy street in Austin, TX. The engine would run, but it would not move in any gear. I had it towed to the Toyota Dealer on I-35 and it was diagnosed with a failed power inverter - a $9,000 repair. It has 70k miles and I just purchased it for $18k a couple of months ago. The original owner purchased an extended warranty to 100k miles, so very fortunate that this very expensive repair was covered including a free rental car for the week it was in the shop. I will definitely purchase another warranty when this one expires as who can afford this type of repair on a used vehicle!

#152 of 314 Re: Power Inverter $9,000 Repair [bobbyg3] by tx78746

Jun 10, 2011 (6:20 am)

Replying to: bobbyg3 (Jun 10, 2011 6:06 am)
You were lucky. Don't let the Highlander get over 100,000. I had the same experience in Austin on Loop 360 but had more mileage. I had to send it to an auction and got essentially a parts value for what otherwise would have been a premium automobile for its mileage.

#153 of 314 toyota Highlander Hybrid Milage by davida21_77

Jun 16, 2011 (11:12 am)

Hi, I am new to this forum, my question to any one is...I have a 2011 highlander limited hybrid...I only have 4900 miles on it...and I have noticed that the MPG given on that little screen to the right does not match the fuel gauge in the center. In other words the little screen says that I am getting 28-30 mpg so about a crusing range of 415-525 miles but at 300 miles the main gauge goes to empty...has any one noticed this on their highlander?

#154 of 314 Re: Power Inverter $9,000 Repair [tx78746] by shompolesp

Jun 16, 2011 (6:33 pm)

Replying to: tx78746 (Jun 10, 2011 6:20 am)
I guess I haven't been so lucky to get an inverter problem. Mine turned out to be an AC Compressor Unit failure which shut down the whole system and the car had to be towed. After contacting the Dealer (Toyota of Pullman WA), the diagnosis turned out to be as stated above and the repairs were estimated at about $5500 and the parts were not covered by any warranty since as I was told I was on a 5 year/60K miles. My car had just turned 5 years and 1 week with 93K miles. No remedy was offered by the National Toyota Customer Support instead they suggested giving me $750 towards trading in the car (how insensitive!).
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.

#155 of 314 Finally, a recall!!! by karen80

Jun 29, 2011 (6:24 am)

Yeah!!!!! Toyota announced today a safety recall of the 2006-2007 Highlander for the inverter issue!
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

#156 of 314 Re: Finally, a recall!!! [karen80] by maryland_john

Jun 29, 2011 (7:06 am)

Replying to: karen80 (Jun 29, 2011 6:24 am)
Great news! Once our recall notice comes out, which sounds like when Toyota says they have replacement parts, we can be reimbursed for paying for the repair. I didn't have the heart to ask about people who were forced to scrap their cars? And also, we can submit for reimbursement "consideration" but my dealer said it should go through, just a long process. Thanks to everyone who complained and filed with the FEDS. This happened much quicker because of your action.
 
John (an early victim)

#157 of 314 Re: Finally, a recall!!! [karen80] by irina2

Jun 29, 2011 (10:23 am)

Replying to: karen80 (Jun 29, 2011 6:24 am)
Double yeah!! Thanks karen80 for notifying us all. I just called the Toyota custormer service 800 number and after a rather long wait was able to confirm that my car falls into the recall group. I asked if we would be reimbursed (since we already shelled out $8K for the fix) and her reply was 'absolutely'...but to wait until the notification comes in the mail. She also said the recall applies to models made between Feb 2005 and Aug 2006. I'm not holding my breath until I see the check, but this is definitely very good news. Not sure how the poor folks who sold their cars for scrap, before this option was announced, could be "made whole"...but I would sure be calling Toyota ( or other options?) to discuss their cases. I feel really horrible for those of you in that category...please contact me if there's any way to help you...

#158 of 314 Re: toyota Highlander Hybrid Milage [davida21_77] by monte8

Jun 29, 2011 (8:31 pm)

Replying to: davida21_77 (Jun 16, 2011 11:12 am)
" I have noticed that the MPG given on that little screen to the right does not match the fuel gauge in the center."
 
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.

Messages Page 16 of 32

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