Gov't Investigates Stalling Toyota Highlanders

[Hokiefyd]

WASHINGTON – The government has opened a preliminary investigation into reports of stalling engines in more than 40,000 Toyota Highlander hybrids.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its website it had received 32 complaints alleging stalling engines in Highlander hybrids from the 2006 model year. The probe involves 43,491 hybrids and was opened last week.

There have been no crashes or injuries reported. Defect investigations can sometimes lead to vehicle recalls.

Toyota has recalled more than 12 million vehicles globally over safety problems since 2009, but U.S. regulators said earlier this month that electronic flaws were not to blame for reports of sudden, unintended acceleration.

The new investigation involves reports of Highlanders stalling at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Some drivers reported the vehicle could not be restarted or was towed to the dealership. Nearly all of the reports were received within the past year.

Toyota said it would fully cooperate with the review.

The preliminary investigation will assess the scope, frequency and potential safety problems connected to the alleged safety defect.



http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/02/23/stalling-toyota-highlanders-spur-investigation/

 

[UNC197]

"Toyota, Moving Nowhere"

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Poor Toyota. They can't seem to make anyone happy these days.

First they go too fast.

Now they go too slow.

 

[rcy]

I have read of numerous failed inverters on earlier production models of the HiHy. To a lesser extent, there have also been reports of the inverter on the Lexus RX400h failing as well. When this sucker fails, you lose all power (very much like a stalled engine, there is no power assist to the steering and only a reserve of power assist to the brakes.

My personal experience with my 400h - I had an inverter leaking coolant (the hybrid side has it's own cooling system, separate from the engine cooling system) that likely would have failed had I not caught the leak earlier. It was replaced under the hybrid warranty. A new inverter at that time was around $7000, IIRC. I also have a friend with the same model year 400h as mine (2006) who suffered a complete failure on the highway at ~100km/h.

I will admit that I'm impressed with the mileage. 4400lb vehicle that gets 8 l/100km in the summer and 9 l/100km in the winter.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I remember early Gen2 Prii having an issue like this. Like the 04-05 models maybe. I wonder if it's the same root cause.