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Toyota sold 2006 Highlander vehicles even though it knew they had been manufactured with a dangerous defective inverter assembly that causes the vehicles to unexpectedly lose all motor power, says a class action lawsuit filed in California. Not only is this dangerous, the class action says, but it also costs consumers thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket repair.
The 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Vehicle (Highlander HV) was Toyota’s first generation of gasoline-electric hybrid versions of the Highlander sold in the U.S. A central component of the Highlander HV is the electrical inverter assembly, which changes the DC current from the vehicles battery into AC current that powers the vehicle’s motor. The defective inverter assemblies cause the vehicles to suddenly lose engine power while the vehicles is being driven.
“Toyota was aware that the inverter assembly installed in the first production of Highlander HVs was defective, and began installing an updated inverter assembly in Highlander HVs beginner with VIN number JTEDW21A060009725 for two-wheel drive vehicles and VIN number JTEEW21A660019910 for four-wheel drive vehicles,” claims the Highlander HV class action lawsuit.
Even though Toyota knew it had installed defective inverter assemblies in the Highlander HV’s first generation of vehicles, it did not recall or otherwise replace or repair the defective assemblies. Instead, the class action lawsuit says, Toyota issued a secret Technical Service Bulletin that advised those servicing the vehicles about the existence of the defective inverter assembly and recommended that they be replaced with an updated assembly – but only in response to a “customer’s specific complaint.”
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of all U.S. persons who own or lease a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid that was manufactured with a defective inverter assembly, or who currently or previously owned or leased a Highlander Hybrid that experienced a failure of the inverter assembly and paid to have it repaired or replaced.
The lawsuit, entitled Gall v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A, Inc., is seeking declaratory relief and an order prohibiting Toyota from continuing the “unlawful, unfair and fraudulent practices described herein.”
A copy of the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Defective Inverter Assembly can be read here.
Updated March 15th, 2011
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30 thoughts onToyota Highlander Hybrid Class Action Lawsuit
I bought my 2006 Highland Hybrid in 2009. I love it and the dealership experience was awesome. My vehicle is my office so I wanted something that was fuel efficient, safe and professional. When the recall notice came in, I contacted the dealership and they admitted my vehicle was one that required the inverter replacement. They even lent me a loaner vehicle. 4 days later the inverter was replaced. From day one, the vehicle is so noisy. 3 months later, I’m still on the road but cannot hold a conversation in the car and if I want to listen to a book on tape or music, I need to turn the volume up to 40! It’s almost as if a sound proof assembly was removed. It is not the same vehicle.
What happened!
I have a 2007 Toyota Hybrid with an inverter problem. The dealer wants $8600 to fix it. Please email me who I have to contact to be added to the existing law suit against Toyota. Thank you.
I have a 2008 toyota highland hybrid and the inverter just DIED…I was in shock to find out it will cost approximately $9500.00 to fix. All they would give me is $4,000.00 if I didn’t have it fixed. I paid $43,000.00 for this car! Im calling TOYOTA on Monday
We too have a 2007 Highlander Hybrid and had an unfortunate and dangerous experience last weekend with the inverter dying during a long distance trip. We contacted Toyota and our Highlander Hybrid is not included in the recall (ours was manufactured 3 months after the offical recall date). Toyota is also telling us that our car has too many miles on it for them to be liable (127,000). We are in the process of reporting this issue to NHTSA and possibly consulting an attorney. We have owned 3 Toyotas and will never buy one again unless they fix their safety issue! Any advice from anyone would be much appreciated!!!
We too have a 2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid the inverter died, cost from dealership $7,000 plus $1,000 labor. We opened a “case” with Toyota, 3 days later they said our case didn’t fit into the recall and that the failure was not a fault of theirs. I cannot believe this. Please everyone go to NHTSA to state your case about this. Toyota should pay everyone for their faulty part, NOT it’s customers who loyally bought with their company!! This has been horrible.
My 2008 Hybrid Highlander died as wel (150K miles)… Inverter. Luckily i was in a parking lot. Any chance toyota will recall this year? It’s obvious that they never fixed the problem… why should I pay for this??
I too have a 2007 outside the recall period and experienced the failure on the highway. Too soon yet to figure out what Toyota will do about it. So far they are repeatedly checking my VIN number against the recall. I reported the issue to the NHTSA, who suggested that the more they hear from owners outside the recall, the more they will pressure Toyota to expand the recall period. If you have had this issue and not filed a complaint with the NHTSA, please do so today!
Just happened to me. I have never received a recall notice in the mail,also having problems with the other Waring lights going off. Have to have the front axis replaced 2 times can i still join the fight?
I have a 2007 Highlander Hybrid,
VIN does not match recall. 124000 miles, was driving on highway and had inverter fail. The estimate from the dealer is $9400 plus the cost of a rental. Currently in discussions with Toyota corporate about what they are going to doy to make this right.
I own a 2009 Highlander Hybrid Limited. Twice in the past month, the car fails to start. The diagnostic window/camera above the CD says “Check Brake System”. I have somewhow gotten the car to start after thurning it off and opening and closing the hood.
Then the vehicle works like there were no problems at all.
Anybody else have these issues? I am concerned that the car must turn off like the 2006 models in question. Please contact me if you have had similar problems or can help me figure this out. Thanks! (sixfiguredesi@yahoo.com)