2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Hybrid propulsion system Problems
- Complaints
- 45about this part
- Share
- 12%of 370 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 108,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 45 complaints about the hybrid propulsion system of the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 12% of the 370 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 108,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“In january 2011, we were reversing out of a parking stall when our 2006 Toyota highland hybrid shut down. We could not restart the car at all. Several lights on the dashboard lit up, such as check engine and check vsc system. We had the car towed to the dealer's repair place. After three weeks, it was diagnosed that our inverter had failed and would need to be replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10384806, filed 2011-02, 39,800 miles“While driving through virginia foothills, the entire electrical system on my hybrid stopped working. I had significantly reduced braking ability, no power steering and was in heavy traffic. This could have been a very serious incident if I had to stop for an emergency. I slowly pulled over shut the system down and after a while the warning lights and warning buzzer went off.”
NHTSA complaint #10416587, filed 2011-08, 79,950 miles“2006 Highlander Hybrid inverter failure caused a complete power shut down and left me stranded on the road. There was no power, no brakes, no steering. I could have been hit by cars in front or behind. Lucky that I was not on the freeway going 70 MPH. The failure had no warning nor any symptoms. Prior to the failure, I drove the car approximately 70 miles earlier during the day.”
NHTSA complaint #10408532, filed 2011-06, 69,000 miles“Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2006 model has 58,212 miles on the odometer. Was pulling away from a stoplight on a busy street when the car suddenly lost power. We had to pull over to the side of the road. The car was completely disabled, with no motive power whatsoever. The police came and assisted, we had the car towed to the dealer, and we are currently waiting for a hybrid inverter (a common part cited in NHTSA action pe11005.”
NHTSA complaint #10407037, filed 2011-06, 58,212 miles“While driving my 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid on the interstate highway I lost all power and the engine shut off I had to cost the vehicle across three lanes of high speed traffic to get to the side of the road while almost getting hit by a passenger bus. All power was gone and vehicle would not start. Had vehicle towed to a dealer. Was informed the power inverter system had over heated and fried. Just the parts for a new inverter were quoted at $9,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10392709, filed 2011-03, 140,000 milesRelated recalls
- 13V396000Sep 4, 2013Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008…Covers: Toyota Highlander Hybrid 2006–2010, Lexus RX Hybrid 2006–2008
Related service bulletins
- 10129204Jan 5, 2018TSB: REVISION NOTICE January 05, 2018 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2012 ? 2017 Camry HV and Prius C, 2015 ? 2017 Prius V, 2006 ? 2017 Highlander HV, 2010 ?…
- 10087882Jul 7, 2016Tsb: for vehicles that are used under certain severe operating conditions, the hv battery cooling fan may experience an excessive buildup of dust, lint, or other debris that can…
Hybrid propulsion system: other model years
Other parts of the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
137 complaintsElectrical system
74 complaintsVehicle speed control
33 complaintsEngine cooling
28 complaintsEngine
25 complaintsSteering
25 complaintsElectronic stability control
24 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
19 complaintsExterior lighting
15 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaintsAir bags
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology