general problems of the 2008 Toyota Highlander

The ecu requires a reflash or replacement. The hybrid batteries over heat and regen braking randomly shuts off during braking or before/after due to overheating becuswe the cooling fans do not engage past level 1 or 2. The fans in fact never go full speed unless commanded by a Toyota service tech via the software during fan testing. Upon testing I noticed they not once went high enough to be audible and thus overheated. Manu forms indicate this is a common issue and requires 180-$300 for a reflash and/or replacement of the compu) ecu to alleviate this issue. Second issue I've found is the 3rd row seat belts just like some other my Highlanders have their restraints cut at the shackle holding them to the body of the vehicle. I have seen several sheered this way including my own vehicle.

The drivers door either locks or doesn’t when hitting the lock button it shake (unlocks an locks rapidly.

The driver door lock either won’t unlock or won’t lock it does a back n forth montion.

Driving down the road when the traction sensor came on. Followed by a warning of check hybrid system and vcs system. And car shut completely off in the middle of traffic.

Dear sir/madam the Toyota hilander /camry and sienna have a oil cooler line which is made of rubber and explode due to the high temperature of the oil. All these vehicles have been causing oil to be leaked all over the roads of America with Toyota not having issued a recall. Years 2008 - 2013 . This issue is dangerous .

This vehicle has had ongoing issues with the O2 sensors not working, I have researched online for years and have read that there are several online forums of 2008 Highlander owners complaining of the same issue. The problem that I (we all) face with this, is that it constantly fails, never being able to know if there is an actual issue becuase of the faulty sensors or wiring causing the sensors to go out. I am always frightened that something is wrong with the car and spent hundreds and continue to spend having my car checked. I am a single mom who lost my job at the beginning of the pandemic, I have two school aged kids. Having them in a car that I can not be sure we are safe in, is scary. The cost to replace the sensors as there are 3 that have been a constant pain of not working correctly is insane! it is going to be in upwards of $600 to repair! I absolutely can't afford that, being an unemployed single mother of two. Even when I was employed, living paycheck to paycheck to have to pay out almost a thousand dollars when from what I've read from others that replacing will still result in it failing again. So I have to drive around in a car that has all the sensor lights on, something really bad could happen to the car and since all the sensor lights remain on, I'll never know if something is wrong with the car- something bad could happen to me and my children while we are driving in the car. How can someone replace the sensors only for them to keep going out. This is a serious problem, I've dealt with this for years, only today did I learn that I could report this after receiving a recall letter from Toyota today regarding the paint on my car.

2008 Highlander caught fire and burned to a complete loss. None of the notification systems worked correctly to alert my wife. The car was in motion moving appx 20 miles per hour and the cabin filled with smoke and was engulfed in flames. Oil spray was noted and pictures taken on the roadway behind the vehicle to the burn site. There was a recall on an oil line for this vehicle in the past.

Sunroof shattered.

Brake booster and actuator per Toyota dealership of fayetteville arkansas failed on this car although same system used on same year camry that were tecalled.

The driver's side sun visor does not stay in its upright flat position. It falls partway down to the point of being aimed directly at the forehead. This not only impedes visibility but also is dangerous if you involved in an accident which would throw you forward. It also will not stay down and pushed all the way forward in order to avoid the hazard of having it angled at your forehead. Having the vehicle in motion on stationary has not effect of this problem.

Factory alarm goes off randomly. . Hood latch sensor problem?.

While driving driver's sun visor falls in front of driver. If there was an accident the driver could be injured by the visor.

2008 Toyota Highlander have practiced putting the car in neutral while rolling and restarting the car. The consumer offered his suggestion on how to handle the ignition switch problem.

Vibration.

I was driving home from work. The oil cooler hose failed leaking oil and smoking from burning on exhaust then oil pressure light came on. Dealer says recall was done already however it apparently did not fix the issue. They say they can't do anything cause it was already done once. Not sure if any engine damage was done need to have it towed to a shop.

After parking the car at the airport for a couple of days and upon return started the car and started hearing grinding noise from the passenger side of the engine and would not be audible at the highway or freeway driving speeds (> 40 miles). Took to the dealer to get 2 outstanding recalls (spiral cable and software update for brake pedal override) and was told that the water pump is failing. Cost could be around $800 and was not happy to hear as the quality of these parts consistently been deteriorating and had to replace on earlier Toyota's that I owned.

While driving my care on the highway the "low engine pressure" light came on. I immediately exit the highway and went to the gas station. All the oil in my car leaked out. We put 4 quarts of oil in my car and when you turn on the car all the oil leaked out. I call for a flat bed tow truck and drop my car off to the dealer. Toyota has a recall 2gr-fev6 lsc 90k, which has this issue. The Toyota dealer is saying my vehicle VIN # is not effected by this. How could this been when the same exact thing happen to my car and they are replacing the parts that are part of this recall. They are charging me $900. 00 to fix the car. I need help. My Toyota life time warranty does not cover this!!!!!. . . . . This is a serious safety issue. I believe Toyota is covering it up so that they do not have to have all the vehicles fixed due to this malfunction.

When you start up car there is a engine grinding noise for a few seconds. This has been reported by many people on the internet, just google 2008 Toyota Highlander start up engine noise and you will get a better look at what it sounds like. This could lead to severe engine damage . It is a defect in the engine.

While sitting in a line of traffic on our way home from a 2 mile trip to the store, we noticed a hot oil smell. I said to my wife that someone needs to get their car in for service work, not knowing that we were this someone! this smell had not been present at home, on our trip to the store or when parked there. When I pulled into my garage, steam/smoke appeared to be coming from the hood. The dipstick showed very low oil. There had been no signs of an oil leak in the garage before, but, after arriving home I saw a big oil leak. I called the Toyota dealership (1/2 mile from home) who told me to bring it up to see what was going on. By the time that I got there my car was making a sound making it obvious something very wrong. I pulled directly into the service bay. The mechanic checked the dipstick which showed absolutely no oil in my engine. He put it on the hoist, added oil, and restarted the engine. The oil poured out as fast as he had put it in. Upon further inspection, he saw that the lower oil cooler lines had ruptured. My engine had been close to seizing. Replacing these parts was very expensive, $437, but replacing my engine would have been much more expensive. More importantly was that the danger of a fire from the oil that was pouring out on the hot engine was not out of the question. While at the dealership, the mechanic pointed at a Lexus and stated, "this is very interesting. That Lexus SUV is in here for the same problem, the oil cooler lines ruptured. " he said that he would not be surprised to see this be a recall issue, as the new lines are designed differently without rubber fittings, and will not rupture. This would indicate to me that Toyota has noticed a design flaw in the oil cooler lines that were in my Highlander. I feel this oil cooler lines problem is an issue that needs to be researched as a possible Toyota recall.

Air bag indicator light just came on at 110,000 miles, no accident, in the garage. . Took it to dealer and they are asking to replace spiral cable assembly in driver airbag at a cost of $663 and explained there was no recall on my vehicle. I called Toyota and discussed the issue. . . I also found out that tacoma's had the same issue as well, interesting though, that my 08 Highlander had same problem. Toyota confirmed my understandings as well. I searched internet and several other Highlanders (almost identical vins) have faced the same issue. I think Highlanders needs to be investigated for the similar issues which tacoma's faced. . This is a serious issue and needs to be given some attention. . Read more...

Airbag sensor light deployed, and remained lit for approximately 3 days. Toyota dealership at pullman, wa diagnosed the problem as a faulty spiral cable; the spiral cable assemby was replaced at a cost of $491. 69. I wonder why there was a recall done on ~450,000 tacomas, but not on the Highlander. It sounds like a similar problem: poor engineering leads to friction, causing a short in the cable. Warning light goes on, and the driver air bag may not deploy during a wreck. I could think of 1001 better ways to spend $500!!!.

Attempting to park car in a shopping center. Suddenly engine accelerated unintentionally. Hit curb & tree. Damage to car approximately $6000 to repair.