2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (66) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (40) · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter (38)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Highlander Hybrid model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
334 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter 2013-09-04 · campaign 13V396000 · 133,081 vehicles
Defect: 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. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the
Risk: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342 are not affected by this campaign.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2011-11-09 · campaign 11V539000 · 420,326 vehicles
Defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIEN
Risk: IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Electrical System 2011-06-29 · campaign 11V342000 · 82,273 vehicles
Defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND LEXUS RX400H PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 16, 2005, THROUGH AUGUST 30, 2006. A MODULE INSIDE THE INVERTER MODULE MAY CONTAIN INADEQUATELY SOLDERED TRANSISTORS THAT DURING HIGH-LOAD DRIVING, MAY BE DAMAGED BY HEAT CAUSED BY THE LARGE CURRENT. IF THIS OCCURS, VARIOUS WARNING LAMPS, INCLUDING THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP, SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT, BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, AND MASTER WARNING LIGHT, WILL BE ILLUMINA
Risk: THE VEHICLE MAY ENTER A FAIL-SAFE/LIMP-HOME MODE THAT LIMITS THE DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE HYBRID SYSTEM WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: TOYOTA/LEXUS MAILED AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION ON JULY 19, 2011 TO ADVISE OWNERS OF THIS RECALL AND THE FACT THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE A FUTURE NOTICE WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. TOYOTA DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HYBRID INVERTER PRODUCTION NUMBER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE INVERTER CONTAINS SUSPECT TRANSISTORS AND REPLACE THE MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal 2011-02-24 · campaign 11V112000 · 769,379 vehicles
Defect: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Service bulletins (78)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-02-13 · T-SB-0009-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on ni-mh high voltage (hv) batteries. this bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year repair manual while performing a rescue charge. the grx-5100 should be used wherever the repair manual ref
Engine 2026-02-13 · T-SB-0119-15 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice february 13, 2026: this bulletin is now obsolete. please see t-sb-0009-26.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-07 · T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2026 toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Showing the 6 most recent of 78 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-01-15 · Hybrid Propulsion System · 150,455 mi“the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated that while driving 72 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. additionally, the "check hybrid system", "check awd", and "check vcs" messages were displayed. the…”
2023-01-17 · Hybrid Propulsion System · 280,000 mi“the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated while driving 65 mph, the vehicle stalled with the check hybrid system and two other unknown warning lights illuminated. the contact managed to coast the vehicle to the side of the highway; however, the vehicle failed to restart. due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an ind…”
2020-01-26 · Vehicle Speed Control · 230,000 mi“we were driving down the highway i-30 east up a hill going appt 70 mph when the car went into limp mode and slowed down to 10 mph. then went to only 1 mph. we checked the battery connection, fuel cap, everything we found online to check.…”
2019-12-12 · Hybrid Propulsion System · 150,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. the contact stated that the vehicle did not start and the hybrid warning indicator illuminated. the contact also stated that the vehicle was repaired three previous times by naguabo auto toyota (carretera 31 km 3.9, naguabo, pr 00718) regarding the hybrid module. the vehicle was not repaired aga…”
2019-08-02 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc)“currently, the vehicle in motion, however it potentially causes unsafely if not fixed as requested. the reason i come to you for complaint, i do have a situation with carlson toyota and/or toyota motor groups. here the situation what happens. i do have 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. i drove this suv since 2009. i have a number of records from the…”
2019-06-19 · Engine · 250,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. while driving approximately 15 mph, the vehicle lost power, the check engine and abs warning indicators illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. also, "check hybrid system" appeared on the instrument panel. fred haas toyota world (20400 interstate 45 n, spring, tx 77373) was notified. the vehicle w…”
2019-06-15 · Steering · 140,000 mi“my 2006 highlander drove just fine. parked in my usual spot and the next time i start it my p/s light is on and i have no steering. i searched online and it seems to be a common problem for it to just quit working on people. i'm curious as to why this issue hasn't been addressed by toyota yet. thank god i wasn't driving like others were when it hap…”
2019-06-04 · Service Brakes“i have had to replace the brake actuator on my 2006 toyota highlander hybrid 3 times since 2014. replacing this part is a $2500 - $3000 repair. the first time, we paid out of pocket. the second time, i was told i would have to pay out of pocket and i declined. parked the vehicle for about a year and then received notice from toyota that the par…”
2019-05-07 · Service Brakes · 178,361 mi“while attempting to make a stop at an intersection during city driving the brake pedal became very hard to press down and several warning lights came on my vehicle dashboard. at first, the problem was intermittent but progressively got worst over continued driving. i took my vehicle to my local toyota dealer for inspection. the service manager inf…”
2019-04-22 · Service Brakes · 95,000 mi“i purchased the vehicle used in august 2018. in january, warning lights indicated a 'vsc system' problem. the event occurred while i was driving. i researched car repair websites and forums, and discovered that this is often a simple problem with a sensor for the fuel door, or a linkage in the accelerator assembly. i followed instructions, and the …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.