NHTSA Complaint #11205891 — 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE TOYOTA WARRANTY ENCHANCEMENT PROGRAM ZG1. THIS WARRANTY WAS APPLICABLE FOR 10 YEARS AFTER FIRST USE OR 150,000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. IN ORDER TO GET THE ABS ACTUATOR REPLACED A SET OF SYMPTOMS WAS REQUIRED. I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID FWD WITH 128,000 MILES. LAST WEEK THE ABS ACTUATOR STARTED MAKING THESE LOUD NOISES AND THE ABS, BRAKE, CHECK VSC, AND MASTER WARNING LIGHT ALL CAME ON. THE BRAKING FUNCTION HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED AND NOW DOES A SUDDEN JOLT FORWARD WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON WHILE ALSO HEARING THE ABS ACTUATOR MAKING UNUSUAL NOISES. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR HAS AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION. TOYOTA HAS TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN 10 YEARS(EVEN THOUGH MY MILEAGE IS LESS THAN 150K), MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE COVERED. TOYOTA HAS ALSO STATED THAT THIS ISSUE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISSUE IS NOT LISTED AS A RECALL AS IT IS RELATED TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM MAKING THIS ISSUE A SAFETY HAZARD. INSTEAD I AM STUCK WITH MANY OTHERS HAVING TO PAY $3000 TO GET THE PART REPLACED EVEN THOUGH MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THIS ABS ACTUATOR ISSUE. I USE THIS VEHICLE AS MY MAIN TRANSPORTATION FOR MY FAMILY. IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME OR EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX]. I AM LEFT WITH AN UNUSABLE VEHICLE BECAUSE MY ABS ACTUATOR DECIDED TO MALFUNCTION ON THE 11TH YEAR AFTER FIRST USE EVEN THOUGH IT ONLY HAS 128,000 MILES. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF A MALFUNCTIONING ABS ACTUATOR. I AM REPORTING THE SUDDEN FAILING OF BRAKES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE SUDDEN FORWARD JOLT THE CAR MAKES WHEN THE CAR ENGINE STARTS. I BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUES I AM EXPERIENCING IS DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO THE MALFUNCTIONING ABS ACTUATOR. AGAIN, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT [XXX] REGARDING MY COMPLAINT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR *TT