Problems with 2006 Toyota Highlander STEERING

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.

Steering recall: i have a 2006 toyota highlander hy with the p/s (powers steering) light on. i've been to toyota twice in the past week and only owned the vehicle for 2 weeks. they say they cannot do anything without knowing the problem and i've told them the problem. the vehicle also tries to accelerate on its on when at a complete stop.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota highlander. while making a right turn at approximately 5 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the instrument panel illuminated. the failure recurred several times. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 142,085. updated 04/06/16*lj,updated 4/25/18*jb *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander. while driving at 35 mph the steering seized and made steering the vehicle very difficult. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. the mechanic cleaned the power steering pump, but the failure recurred. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 105,000.

I have owned this highlander hybrid 2006, for exactly 1 week. there were no incidents leading up to this one while owner drove vehicle that week. owner started car on saturday morning to get kids to soccer game and vocal class, both missed. upon starting vehicle driver noticed p/s warning sensor light on dashboard. then put car in reverse and realized there was no power steering in vehicle? this was the one and only light that came on. contacted dealership who says they will contact owner on monday. *tr

I brought 2006-1007 highlander hybrid vehicle in 2005 from the beginning i am having difficulties with the steering i told dealer multiple times, toyota company multiple times about the steering problem. as soon as i drive above 25 mph my car pulls towards right very badly i have to apply lot of pressure on the steering to put on the road. due to this i spent 1000s of dollars to do wheel alignment and steering check due to this i spent 1000s of dollars on my tires i have to change my tires every two years even though the manufacturer gives warranty for 6 years 65k miles. *tr

My highlander hybrid 06 seems to have a low braking power mostly at low speeds and it slip, i tried to shift to n and that doesn't solve the problem. note that the problem is frequently happens but not always. and nobody can resolve it. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. while driving 25 mph he lost power steering. as a consequence, it became difficult to control the steering wheel. the dealer was notified and a technician concluded that the rack and pinion, and electrical motor needed to be replaced. the failure and current mileages were 61,000.

I turned on the car and the steering wheel locked up or was not powersteering any longer and for a 55 year old woman driving this car is impossible. *tr

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. we took it the same day to the nearest dealer (the one that i also bought the vehicle) toyota del oeste, located at hormigueros, pr (00660). my vehicle has received every service recomended by toyota since i bought it. in october 19, 2007 toyota del oeste gave me a quote (number pq2105) for $5,957.45 for the repairing costs of my vehicle. the quote specified a transaxle assy for $4867.71, plus $700 for 14 labor hours and a local tax of $389.74. the dealer indicated that once the transaxle was replaced it will have one year only warranty. they also indicated that the transaxle assy was not part of the hybrid system so the warranty can not cover the repair costs (my vehicle had aprox. 66,000 miles. according to toyota, warranty for hybrid components is 8 years / 80,000 miles). my concerns: 1) how i, as a consumer, make sure that toyota is not making me pay for a defect that my vehicle may have from the factory? 2) how i am going to be sure that if they replace the transaxle assy i will not be exposed again to an unsafe situation related with a similar problem (remember that a large percentage of roads across the island of puerto rico are built over mountains). 3) how do i really make sure that the dealer is truly making me pay for a component that is not part of the hybrid system and can not be covered by the warranty (remember that, although other manufacturers maybe available, hybrid technology in puerto rico is dominated by toyota. *tr

Dt*: the contact stated while making an emergency stop after traveling 25 mph, the steering wheel locked up when the brakes were applied. the steering remained locked after the collision, although there was insufficient damage to interfere with the wheels. no injuries were sustained. a police report was taken and the vehicle was towed to the service dealer. the manufacturer was notified and an investigator was sent to inspect the vehicle. updated 10/30/06. *jb *nm the consumer the ecu has bee replaced three times. the last replacement occurred on february 9, 2009. the consumer also remembered when he slammed on the brake, there was no pulsating sensation in the pedal as there should have been with a vehicle that has abs. updated 04/08/10.*jb

2006 toyota highlander hybrid had problems with brakes and steering going out at the same time**nar** the vehicle was involved in an accident. when the consumer slammed on the brakes there was no pulsating sensation, as expected when the abs activates. the consumer believes the brakes and steering failed at the same time. the vehicle coasted about 150 feet until it impacted another vehicle.

Toyota highlander hybrid-i have lost abs brakes, stability control and power steering along with the hybrid engine on two occasions with my 2 week old 2006 highlander. i have brought it to the dealer twice-the first time they found "malfunction codes" and "rebooted" the computer and told me it was operating as "designed," only to happen again 2 days later. currently, they are replacing a computer. date of incident and purchase of vehicle is actually 2006 but is not an option below. i am concerned it will happen again and result in an accident in the future. *jb