MY WIFE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR APARTMENT BUILDING, IDLING WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN OUR 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GATE. BEFORE THE CAR CRASHED, SHE REPEATEDLY APPLIED THE BRAKE AND EVEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE CAR DID NOT STOP. AFTER THE IMPACT, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND ACCELERATE BEFORE FINALLY STOPPING. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. THE BODY HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT PER TOYOTA, NOTHING MECHANICAL OR ELECTRONIC HAS BEEN TOUCHED. LAST WEEK TOYOTA SENT A SPECIALIST OUT TO INSPECT THE CAR AND DOWNLOAD DATA. WE WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME, AND 5 DTC CODES DISPLAYED. THE DESCRIPTIONS DISPLAYED ON THE INVESTIGATOR'S LAP TOP MENTIONED VEHICLE SPEED SENSORS ON RIGHT WHEEL AND LEFT WHEEL, THE EMPS, BODY ECU SWITCH CIRCUIT AND "LOW OR HIGH POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE". THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN, AND NO ERRORS OR CODES WERE REPORTED. THE CAR IS NOW WAITING TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REVIEWED AND FIXED. *TR
2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING ON MAJOR EXPRESSWAY I LOST ALL POWER AND WAS (THANK GOODNESS) ABLE TO SAFELY COAST TO SHOULDER. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP TOGETHER WITH THE ALTERNATING MESSAGES: "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE" AND "VSC FAILURE." THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. I WAS FORTUNATE IT WAS A SUNDAY MORNING AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY REACH THE SHOULDER. THE EXPRESSWAY I DRIVE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY (I-595 IN BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA) IS VERY HEAVILY TRAVELED AND, DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, HAS MANY SECTIONS WITHOUT A SHOULDER. MY 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAD TO BE TOWED. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER, A $7,000 PART, HAD FAILED. *TR
