I AM A CERTIFIED CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN AND HAD A PARENT COME TO ME WITH CONCERN ABOUT THE THIRD ROW SEATING IN HER TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2005. THE HEAD RESTRAINTS IN THIS MODEL ONLY HAS TWO NOTCHES. THE FIRST IS UP ABOUT 4 INCHES AND THE SECOND AROUND 5 INCHES. THERE IS A HUGE GAP IN BETWEEN. THIS SEAT CANNOT BE USED FOR A CHILD IN A NO BACK BOOSTER SINCE THIS HEAD RESTRAINT HAS NO NOTCHES THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THIS CHILD'S HEAD HEIGHT. IT IS EITHER TOO LOW OR TOO HIGH. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY STATED THAT THEIR VEHICLES MEET OR EXCEED ALL SAFETY STANDARDS. THEY REFERRED ME TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL CONSUMER RELATIONS PERSON WHICH THE PARENT IN CONCERN HAD BUT THE GENTLEMAN HAD NO CLUE WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT. UNLESS THIS IS YOUR PRIMARY FOCUS THIS MAY HAVE GONE UNNOTICED BUT THIS PARENT HAD THE CONCERN AND CHECKED INTO IT. SHE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED IN SOME WAY. IT SEEMS THAT ADDING A FEW NOTCHES COULD ACCOMMODATE MANY MORE PASSENGERS IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS USELESS TO HER AND THIS IS THE MAIN REASON WHY SHE PURCHASED THIS 7 PASSENGER VEHICLE. *NM
2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS LOOSE AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE BRAKES WOULD GO TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD NO LONGER MOVE BACKWARD, AND WAS POSITIONED ENTIRELY TOO CLOSE TO HE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS LITTLE ROOM FOR MOVEMENT WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOUR SEPARATE DEALERS AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,500. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE REALIZED A POLICE OFFICER WAS BEHIND SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKES COLLAPSED VERY LOW TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE LUG NUTS BROKE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THE ENGINE HAD A SLIGHT TICKING SOUND AND THE ROTORS WERE RUSTING. UPDATED EVOQ 12/23/10 THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WRAPPED TIGHTLY AROUND HER THROAT. THE FRONT WHEEL WAS LOOSE, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, THE CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NO LONGER STAYS IN PLACE AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. UPDATED 07/07/11. *JB