Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Toyota Highlander owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Two problems being reported are severe safety issues, and could result in injury, death, and/or property damage. Problem 1: While driving, the brake pedal suddenly went all the way to the floor, and the car would not stop. To avoid hitting the car in front at a stop sign, I had to turn the wheel, resulting in running through the stop sign and onto the grass and shoulder before the car finally stopped. Multiple dashboard warning lights appeared. After stopping, the brakes momentarily returned but failed again within 2-3 minutes. A loud, high-pitched, piercing whistle sound began, indicating a complete loss of brakes. The car had to be towed 200 miles back home. It is not safe to drive the car without functioning brakes. The OBD scan codes are: C1256 (accumulator low pressure), C1391 (abnormal leak of accumulator pressure), and C1256 (accumulator low pressure). …
The vehicle will occasionally surge in speed momentarily, mostly noticed when operating below 50 MPH. It is more prevalent at lower speeds. We are the original owner.this has been an ongoing situation since the vehicle was new. Hybrid model. It has been inspected by the dealer with no issues found.
While driving my vehicle all the lights on my dashboard illuminated. My vehicle lost power and I had to pull over. It died there. I was on belfield ave and gratz street in philadelphia, pa . I subsequently had it towedback to my residence.
Power brakes stopped working while driving due to bad brake actuator. Vehicle shut down while driving due to power train system.
I noticed hesitation in gear shifting and some lunging when my foot was off the brake after I purchased a new 2006 Highlander in July 2006 and made a mental note to have it checked at the first follow-up service. In October 2006, I was pulling out of a post office parking lot while aware of 2 cars at a safe distance away. When in the intersection, 1 of the 2 cars was traveling much faster than anticipated. When I accelerated quickly, the car just seemed to choke, and the car collided into my rear side (driver's side). I and the other driver had only minor injuries, but the collision was very frightening and it could have been much worse. I also felt that something more serious was wrong with my car than I had thought. After I got my car back from the body repair shop (7 weeks later), I took it into to the dealer and asked them to check the problem. …
Electronic pedal position sensor does not respond to driver input in certain situations. The engine and transmission shift response becomes delayed for 2 or more seconds, and in certain driver situations poses a danger to the driver and other vehicles on the road. A shift and/or acceleration delay occurs when full rapid throttle response is required or needed in certain types of traffic scenarios such as entering freeways , negotiating traffic , changing lanes, stop and go and emergency type braking/acceleration maneuvers. The dealer and Toyota USA have been notified of this behavior, and no such fix has been announced. I have received many dealer/mfr.opinions on this . The dealer just says that there is no information from Toyota on how to adjust or fix this common complaint. I am not alone on this. …
I have a 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid. It has the four wheel drive "I"system. Any time the vehicle senses slipping in the tires it cuts power to all wheels. I have been stuck in very manageable conditions. Not only do you not get 4 wheel drive to help out of adverse conditions, you get no drive to any wheels and are left stuck. I spoke with Toyota and they said that the vehicle is designed to do this to prevent damage to the hybrid system. There is no information in any of the literature provided when purchasing a vehicle. This vehicle should not be sold to anyone who drives in snow or on any thing other than an improved road. Toyota acknowledged that they have received other complaints regarding this issue but will not correct it, nor inform buyers about it's design. This will undoubtedly strand drivers in adverse conditions they deem manageable.
I was driving in my Highlander with my daughters in the back seat when suddenly out of no where all the alert lights came on and there was no power at all - the gas pedal was non functional - I was in the far left lane of a an interstate and fortunately I was able to get off the road and pull the car out of traffic as it rolled to a stop. I waited on the crowded interstate for two hours for a tow. I was told that the Highlander hybrid inverter had failed - the dealer replaced the part that week and the car drives normally now. I was advised that in fact this is a known problem. One month later ironically I received in the mail notice from Toyota that my model of Highlander is being recalled for the inverter replacement that had just caused this extremely unsafe vehicle failure just one month prior.
I purchased a Toyota Highlander sport 4 months ago. I bought the v6 engine. I became concerned about a hesitation problem where the car holds back when starting from a stop and then lurches. This is dangerous at stop lights and entering freeways. The Toyota dealer says the car does this on purpose but they don't know why. This sounds like an excise for a flaw in the design. I checked www.carsurvey.com, which lists consumer complaints and found many complaints about the exact same problem. This is clearly a safety issue that Toyota is ignoring!! Please do something and check the above site to see more complaints. Thank you gary mackman.
Driving on the highway, car broke down and stopped functioning. Took the vehicle to the dealership and was charged $4259.81 to replace transfer case. After some investigating, I discovered that Toyota had issued a TSB (tc008-07) to replace the right-hand bearing seal that would have prevented this. My car was in service at the dealership multiple times prior while under warranty, and they could have prevented this by replacing the seal.
Transmission complaints in other Highlander years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2006 Toyota Highlander?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2006 Toyota Highlander, 8% of the model year's 278 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota Highlander transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2006 Toyota Highlander, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota Highlander transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 49,000 miles, and 43% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.