2006 Toyota Highlander Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about brake problems, especially the brake actuator or ABS assembly on hybrid versions, where warning lights come on and the pedal can feel weak or go to the floor. Many of these reports come at high mileage, often well past 100,000 miles, and several owners say the part was replaced once and failed again. A second frequent theme is a delay or lurch when accelerating from a stop, along with smaller clusters of complaints about sagging sun visors, intermittent loss of power steering assist, and stalling.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake actuator / ABS assembly failure

   • 96 complaints (35%)
   • median 104,181 mi at 9.9 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,600 (median of 22 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2026

   Complaints describe ABS, VSC, brake and check-engine lights coming on together, often followed by a brake pedal that feels soft, needs pumping, or goes toward the floor. Owners say a shop traced the codes to the brake actuator or ABS assembly and quoted repairs in the low thousands of dollars; some report the replacement part failed again within a few tens of thousands of miles. Several say the dealer attributed the behavior to normal hybrid brake calibration or to a brake switch, and that the warning lights returned. Mostly reported between roughly 100,000 and 230,000 miles, with a few at much lower mileage.

   Recall 10V4990004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the brake actuator or ABS assembly has been replaced, and when. Have a shop scan for stored ABS/VSC codes before buying, and check that the pedal feels firm and does not sink when held.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have been having problems with the brake actuator, ABS which failed prematurely. I have contacted Toyota in july 2019 and was told the extender warranty campaign expired in dec 2018. The refused to covered the cost of the repair. $1,186.19 for the part plus $653. 00 fro the installation. After the repair was done the new brake actuator pump still doesnt work properly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11342837, filed 2020-08, 115,231 miles

   “While driving on the freeway and the traffic came to a slow as I was braking to slow down I noticed all the lights on my dashboard suddenly lit up, all the following engine, ABS, brakes and check vsc lights came on. I took to a dealership, piercey Toyota and they did a diagnostic and came back with codes c1391 and b1281.”

   NHTSA complaint #10762104, filed 2015-09, 169,563 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalling or loss of power while driving

   • 29 complaints (10%)
   • median 106,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2025

   Complaints describe the engine or hybrid system shutting off while driving, with several dashboard lights coming on and, in some cases, a check hybrid system message. Owners report restarts into a reduced-power mode, towing, and diagnoses pointing to the inverter or to unresolved electrical faults; some say their vehicle was not covered by an inverter campaign. Mostly reported above 100,000 miles, at highway and city speeds.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the hybrid inverter or any hybrid-related campaign work was done, and check for stored hybrid system codes. On a test drive, watch for warning lights and any hesitation or drop in power.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving car and it stalled then mesage came on which stated check hybrid engine. Took it to shop and was told would cost $9,000 as it was the inverter. They said my VIN was not on the recall list for the recall of 2006 Highlander hybrids. Had the power module replaced as recall in 2012 but why wasnt my car on recall list for the inverter?”

   NHTSA complaint #10781604, filed 2015-10, 115,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11385175, filed 2020-12, 174,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Delayed acceleration or lurch from a stop

   • 63 complaints (23%)
   • median 37,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2023

   Owners describe pressing the gas from a stop and waiting a second or two before the vehicle responds, then feeling it jump or lurch forward. Some say it shows up in stop-and-go traffic or when pulling into an intersection, and that dealers called the behavior normal or said the vehicle was designed that way. A few mention cruise control performance feeling inconsistent as well. Reported from very low mileage (under 15,000 miles) up through about 200,000 miles, often in everyday stop-and-go driving.

   Recall 11V112000

   What to check: Test drive from several complete stops and note whether the throttle responds promptly and smoothly. Ask whether the floor carpet retainer clip in front of the center console is present and properly attached.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I accelerated to avoid a collision at low speed in an intersection. The car hesitated about 2 seconds after I pressed the gas pedal, then lurched forward, spinning the drive wheels. The length of delay or hesitation in response to accelerator input is frequently there, but is somewhat unpredictable, making stop-and-go traffic performance dangerous. Poor performance of the cruise control function is probably related to this defect. The car was returned to the dealer for service at 1500 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10207472, filed 2007-10, 15,252 miles

   “I was parking my Toyota Highlander when suddenly the car accelerated while I had my foot on the brake. I braked as hard as I could and the car continued to move forward until I put the car in park and turned off the ignition. I moved a parked car completely out of their parking space and I went over half way thru the same space before I was able to stop my car. My brakes were smoking and I left tire marks on the asphalt. This all began when I was almost completely stopped in the parking space.”

   NHTSA complaint #10325235, filed 2010-04, 62,000 miles
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Sun visor drops and blocks view

   • 18 complaints (6%)
   • median 74,450 mi at 7.3 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2025

   Complaints describe the driver or passenger sun visor no longer staying in its stowed or locked position, hanging down on its own and blocking part of the view through the windshield. Owners say it happens whether the vehicle is moving or parked, and most simply describe it as a worn or loose visor rather than something a dealer resolved. Reported from around 50,000 to 130,000 miles.

   What to check: Fold both visors up and down and check that they stay put against the headliner; a visor that flops down is a cheap fix but easy to overlook.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2008 Highlander only has 130,000 miles, yet the driver's side visor drops and falls unexpectedly while driving, thus causing a driving safety hazardthe vehicle is accident free. I have codes check engine, vsc and trac off. Gas cap was replaced with new official Toyota matched part & system checked but problem found - this display light combination is common on toyotas around this time.. My gas mileage & acceleration performance is negatively affected. Inability to properly accelerate creates a danger for inability to avoid collisions.”

   NHTSA complaint #11352174, filed 2020-08, 130,000 miles

   “The sun visor on the rside will no longer stay up. It falls down and impedes vision. It will not stay up nor stay flush against the windshield either so it seriously blocks vision. It just keeps coming down and this can be dangerous while driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #10521651, filed 2013-06, 50,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Intermittent loss of power steering assist

   • 15 complaints (5%)
   • median 85,500 mi at 6.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2021

   Owners report the steering suddenly becoming heavy and hard to turn, sometimes with a power steering warning light and a hybrid system message. Some say the dealer could not reproduce it or cleaned the power steering pump without a lasting fix, and others describe the assist dropping out only briefly at low speed. Spread from about 40,000 to 185,000 miles, often at low to moderate speeds.

   What to check: During the test drive, make several slow turns and parking-lot maneuvers and watch for a power steering warning light or a sudden increase in steering effort.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving, we (multiple drivers) experience intermittent loss of power steering at slow to moderate speeds (below 30 MPH). We have checked the fluids and all looks good. The mechanic cannot pinpoint the issue and I've noted that multiple people on the internet have experienced the same issue. The issue occurs very sporadically and may go days without recurrence. It has occurred during turns around the corner as well as during lane changes.”

   NHTSA complaint #11297554, filed 2020-01, 185,000 miles

   “Last sunday, october 14, 2007, I was driving my 2006 Highlander hybrid at hormigueros, pr (zip code 00660), when suddenly the vehicle's steering got really stiff. It all happened at a cruising speed of 40-45 miles per hour when suddenly the vehicle's turning wheel got hard and it got really difficult to control. I surely got the scare of my life. I experienced some difficulties while trying to stop the vehicle and park it in a safe place. The vehicle's control panel indicated the following message: verify the hybrid system. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10206742, filed 2007-10, 66,000 miles

Buying note. Budget for a thorough brake inspection on a pre-purchase check, since brake actuator work is the most common and most expensive theme in owner reports, and confirm the accelerator and steering behavior on a proper test drive. Service records showing past brake and hybrid-system repairs are worth asking for on a vehicle of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.