NHTSA Complaint #10340110 — 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HE PICKED HIS VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER AFTER HAVING THE 60,000 MILE SERVICE DONE, HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR SPEED BUMPS AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WITHIN DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THE CLICKING NOISE FROM THE BRAKES HAD BEEN REMEDIED. IN MARCH 2010, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONSUMER DETECTED A SHIMMY COMING FROM THE FRONT END AND TRANSMITTING THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE SHIMMY CONTINUED WITH INCREASED INTENSITY OVER TIME DURING HIS TRIP AND THERE WAS AN ODOR OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST AND IT SEEMED TO BE HOTTER THAN THE OTHER SIDE ALONG WITH A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE SAME LOCATION. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER HAD SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE CONSUMER STATED ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, ALONG WITH THE BRAKE PADS AND CALIPER. *JB