general problems of the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The abs ,vsc ,check engine light coming on when accelerating. Stating to park vehicle and take it to the dealer.

In August of 2017 we were driving our 20088 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and all of sudden the display warned of abs vsc malfunction and to pull over or take car to nearest dealer, the brake pedals lost compression or pressure and the brake was not working hardly. Took to the mechanic shop that has been doing the regular maintenance, they performed diagnostics and stated abs module needed to be replaced. They advise car was not safe to drive. Checked this website and carcomplaints to see many other users same issue, contacted Toyota, they stated they had no recalls, its out of warranty, we would have to pay the $4000 to have fixed, we paid for the repair out of pocket, which was a financial hit for us. Contacted Toyota today about reimbursement for repair cost, said they dont have it recalled or a campaign for the issue, I stated this website with the complaints and other sites, was basically told until a recall is on the issue, wouldnt be refunded.

While driving abs, vsc and check engine light illuminated, I continued driving (was 10 miles from home on fwy). Five minutes later I encountered traffic, traveling at 40-50 mph I took foot off gas and began to apply brakes. Brakes immediately seized and the car started to skid. I released the brakes, then tried again, same result. I pulled to side of fwy and stopped. I drove surface streets using the parking brake when I needed to stop, until I got to my house. That evening and the next morning I checked toe cars operation, it didn't matter if I was traveling in fwd or reverse, the brakes immediately grabbed at the slightest application of the pedal. I took the car to a repair shop, he witnessed the same circumstance and did a computer diagnosis, which indicated a new brake actuator unit was needed ($3000). My primary concern (and my mechanic's) was that there was no fail safe, if the unit malfunctioned I would expect the abs system not to work, not to make the braking system completely inoperable. I narrowly avoided being rear-ended when they malfunctioned on the fwy. I reported the problem to Toyota motor as well (case #1511120583).

While trying to get back on the freeway, the indicator lights for the abs system, the vsb system, the 4wd system and anti-skid system came on and the vehicle lost all drive power. It defaulted to failsafe/limp mode even though the engine was still running. The car will start and move but within 60 seconds reverts to fail safe mode.

After purchasing the car (our first hybrid) we noticed that the breaks were acting different when slowing; while slowing down to stop at a stop light or sign or to slow in traffic, if the car is under 30 mph and hits a bump the breaks will release (while your foot is on the breaks) and the car will lunge forward even though your foot is pressing down and has not been released. This has happened over the past year and no one can seem to figure out the problem. The breaks are new and several forums have been read in regards to trying to figure out the issue. It seems that several hybrids experience the same issues. Breaking under 30, the car will hit a bump, breaks will release causing the car to lunge forward and possibly causing an accident. It has happened enough that our family is considering trading in the car. We have almost been in 10 plus accidents because we are almost stopped at the stop sign and the car hits a bump and accelerates into traffic coming from the left/right. With children in the back seat, this is a huge concern. We have sent Toyota an email asking for inspection, however they said they would just like to have our dealer look at it, however they have not been noted of this issue in the past, when clearly there are hundreds of others that are having the same issues and they have been in accidents. I find it very difficult to believe that acceleration/break release when hitting a bump causing the car to lunge forward into moving traffic is a safety concern when the breaks are perfectly good. We will be trading in the vehicle if something is not done about it shortly, not only are we worried about our family but we are also worried about others who could be involved. This issue has nothing to do with the breaks, they are good, and the issue is still re-occurring.

2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid limited accelerated while pulling into my driveway and before I could stop vehicle I hit a frozen snow drift with the right front side. Damage occurred to vehicle and I hurt my back. This happened once.

While pulling out of a parking lot onto a busy street I pressed the accelerator hard at which time it became stuck. I tried braking hard but the car continued to accelerate at which time I remembered hearing about a recall involving floor mats. I yanked the floor mat back while continuing to brake and shortly thereafter the car stopped accelerating. I would estimate it was stuck for about 5 seconds, maybe a quarter mile distance. After returning home and moving the floor mat around I do not see how it could have been up under the gas pedal and if it was how it could have interfered with the operation of the gas pedal. The floor mat is a vinyl/plastic, rigid, relatively thin and bought aftermarket (not the carpet floor mat that came with the car). I removed the floor mat altogether. Reading about the latest recall prompted me to file this report even though no accident was caused nor damage done to the vehicle.

To whom it may concern, on September 11th, 2009 we drove from orange county to kernville for a weekend trip. 120 miles into our journey we were o in the mojave desert on highway 395 when I overtook another car at approximately 75miles per hour. As I got back into lane, I attempted to depress the brake to slow back down but the car continued to accelerate. My wife was sitting beside me. Perplexed, I looked down at the pedals and told my wife the car would nor slow down, as I continued to try and depress the brake pedal. At each attempt to decelerate the engine whined alarmingly but the car continued to accelerate. I tried several times to press and release the accelerator followed by returning my foot to the brake. At no time did the accelerator pedal appear to be hindered or restricted in anyway. The car continued to accelerate. At 95miles per hour I forced down both the brake pedal and the emergency/ hand brake at the same time forcing the car to slow down, all the while the engine continued to rev up. As we approached stopping saskia pushed the gear stick into park and we bounced and shuddered to a halt. It was terrifying. The children did not understand what was going on and were completely panicked by the situation, screaming and crying as we tried to stop the car. Both saskia and I were visibly shaken. We took a short brake and then gingerly attempted to move forward again. The car appeared to be working and we slowly accelerated back on to the highway attempting several times to stop and brake to make sure that the car was working properly. It was immediately apparent that the brakes were not working properly though still functional. They were taking longer to stop and there was a grinding sound and shuddering very time we tried to slow down. We were much closer to our destination than to home and decided it made sense to continue and hope that we could call the dealer the next day.

Came to a complete stop on a neighborhood street to allow a car out of their driveway. My 2008 Toyota highlander Highlander Hybrid (with 8000 miles) made a hissing or whistling type sound and just accelerated. ( I was at a stop) we went about 150 ft (according to the insurance investigator) and went right into a tree. I was released from the hospital that evening but my passenger is severely injured. My ins investigator suggest I ask you if there are any other circumstances like this. ?? the truck is totaled. My investigator wants to get a court order to have the "black box" released that gathers information.

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that when driving over bumps at approximately 20 mph, the vehicle momentarily surges forward. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed they could not duplicate the failure. The failure continued to occur. The failure mileage was unknown. The current mileage was approximately 20,000.