2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Electrical Problems

Which parts fail

• Instrument panel › Speedometer/odometer
  1

Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  13%
• 25k–50k
  39%
• 50k–75k
  26%
• 75k–100k
  39%
• 100k–150k
  1339%
• 150k+
  1133%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 92,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 212,000.

My car has the same problem as described here and in many places online and Toyota refused to include my vehicle for recall. The problem as described by NHTSA as follows report receipt date: sep 04, 2013 NHTSA campaign number: 13V396000 component(s): Hybrid propulsion system all products associated with this recall expand details close 12 associated documents expand manufacturer: Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing summary: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. The intelligent power module (ipm) inside the inverter module May contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors May be heat damaged by the solder. …

On June 15th, 2016 while over 200 miles from home on a family trip with my pregnant wife and 2 year old son in the car driving down a 2 lane highway with a semi truck behind us at approximately 45 MPH constant speed our 2008 Highlander Hybrid brakes locked up, a warning tone sounded, several lights lit up on the dash including brakes, ABS, vsc, (((!))), and /!\, and the car stopped completely in the highway with the engine still running. The lcd displayed several alternating messages about the brakes, ABS, and vsc and also about needing to have the vehicle checked by a dealer. As our car was about to be smashed by a semi truck I pressed the gas pedal to the floor. The brakes were completely locked up, but fortunately the car inched forward at less than 5 MPH with wide open/full throttle to pull off of the road before the semi truck could hit us from behind. The situation was terrifying. …

I was driving to an off ramp when my 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid just stop in the middle of a very busy traffic! It almost caused a terrible accident. I had it towed and the Toyota dealership diagnosed it as an inverter converter problem and will cause me $11000 (yes, eleven thousand dollars) to replace it. This appear to be an engineering defect fault. Of all the warning in place it seems to inform the driver, such as the ABS light, low gas gauge, low air, oil maintenance warning, why not the 'inverter problem detected, bring your car to the dealer now?'. I feel that Toyota is being irresponsible in designing a car that just simply stop in the middle of the highway or on any street without warning. This error is super dangerous and can cause innocent lives and Toyota should take responsibility in correcting the wrong instead of hiding behind the scene. …

My 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was just deemed totaled by the car dealership (newburgh Toyota) and my insurance company (liberty mutual), because of excessive rodent damage. It turns out that the rodents were attracted to the wiring because toyoyta uses eco-friendly soy-based coating on their wires which attract rodents!! Rodents chewed wires, the wiring harness, plugged drainage holes with their bedding thus causing water damage, and ruined the Hybrid batteries. The damage was estimated at more than $12,000, which of course Toyota would not cover under warranty. The vehicle would not start unless the battery was unhooked to "clear" the computer system. When it started the error messages/warning lights on dash were lit up everywhere, indicating it was unsafe to drive. …

While driving 40 MPH, my dashboard lit up with 'brake brake malfunction', 'ABS chevk ABS', and 'check vsc system'. All dash lights lit up also. Drove to the repair shop and had codes run. No codes were present. This is related to the c1391 code that has a recall on 06&07 highlanders, and 08 camy's. The front right of the engine is making a clicking sound every 20 seconds from the brake stabilizer. Just prior to this for the last 2 weeks, the vehicle has had difficulty obtaining a 'ready' light. Battery has been pulled and bench tested, and all connections were checked. It would appear that in the last two months many 08 owners are presenting with this problem, with a range of proposed repair expense from $3,300 to $6,500. Seeing as this is a known problem with the 08 camry', resulting in brake failure in both camry's and Highlander, this ought to be a recall for both vehicles.

Vehicle Hybrid/engine shut off while driving. Various warning lights lit up including vsc, Hybrid system, and check engine. I was forced to change lanes with the car off but moving at about 40 MPH and pull over on a side street. I as able to restart the vehicle and continue my drive. The following day, even though the check engine light and all warnings had cleared, the car turned off again while I was driving and breaking at a red light. The car failed to properly restart after this second incident. The vehicle was towed to a Toyota dealership which specified that the issue is the Hybrid inverter. The vehicle only has about 81,000 miles and according to Toyota a recall had already been performed on the intelligent power module for the inverter in 2014.

I was driving in 295 I hearing a sound coming from the daskboard and a light appeared stated need to check ABS break system by dealer. I said to myself I'll have it check when I got home. I was doing 65 miles per hour, I was pressing break there were no break, pump the break several times, no break, I pressed the emergency break and thanks to the lord the car slow down and eventually stop. Apparently dealer asked me $5,500. To fix this issue and I don't have this type of money, and I'm still making payment on this vehicle can't even drive; I believe this type of issue should be a recall. I need help please!!!!! [redacted]

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the slip, brake, and master warning lights illuminated. The vehicle restarted after twenty five minutes. The failure recurred on the initial start up on two separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they could not diagnose the cause of the failure. The mechanic was unable to duplicate or locate the failure. Recently, the vehicle was towed to the dealer for a second diagnostic. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V396000 (Hybrid propulsion system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the driver smelled smoke while driving the vehicle. The driver then looked down near her knee and noticed that there was a fire coming from the fuse box. The driver pulled the vehicle into a parking lot and exited. The vehicle ignited into flames and was destroyed. The fire inspector stated that the fire originated from the fuse box. The vehicle was towed to a holding area for the manufacturer to examine. The cause of the fire was unknown. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the failure was not a manufacturer's defect. The failure mileage was 32,000. Updated 7/18/12 updated 07/25/12

NHTSA investigations

Electrical complaints in other Highlander Hybrid years