2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Engine Problems

The engine burns Coolant and yet doesn't overheat. The engine on cyl 4 misfires. Changing the head gasket didn't repair the issue, replacing all fuel Injectors and ignition parts didn't either. Heads inspected and passed. Compression testing passed. Always misfires on cyl 4. No repair aside from an ecu reflash or replacement seems to be possible. 4 shops looks at it and couldn't find any reason why it was misfiring and no traces of water were found in the interior, on the floor, in the oil or exhaust in the cooling system.

On January 19, 2021, after driving for about two hours, I suddenly started to hear an unusual knocking noise from the engine. I slowed down, but I was unable to pull over immediately because I was driving on a very dark two lane highway, with no safe shoulder. After the same noise continued for about five to ten minutes, a light began to flash indicating extremely low oil pressure, and warning that the car should stop immediately. At that point, fortunately, I was able to pull over at a gas station, where I discovered that oil was gushing from my engine onto the ground. I checked my oil dipstick and noted that the car had no oil, and was thus inoperable. I was extremely concerned that the engine had been damaged while being driven with little to no oil. In 2014, Toyota issued a notice of a Warranty Enhancement Program...

On September 25, 2021, my husband was driving our 2008 Highlander locally to the store. The low pressure light came on and said pull over immediately. He pulled over and and checked the oil dip stick and our car was totally out of oil. He also notice oil under our car and a line of oil going up the street. The following day, I contacted Toyota Experience Center and was informed their were no service campaigns on my Highlander. I had the car towed to my local mechanic and he verified that the car had no oil and replaced the failed oil cooler hose. My concern is that the oil cooler hose failed, draining all of the oil in minutes. I feel this is a safety issue because of how rapidly it occurred and If we couldn't immediately stop the car our engine could have seized up and made the...

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A SHORT TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHEN A HOSE ON THE ENGINE OIL COOLING ASSEMBLY BURST. THIS RESULTED IN ALL OF THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE BEING DRAINED IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. NO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS A RESULT OF THIS. I DIDN'T DISCOVER THE ISSUE UNTIL PULLING BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY IN WHICH THERE IS AN INCLINE. THEN THE LIGHT INDICATING LOW OIL PRESSURE FINALLY CAME ON. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE DIPSTICK TO BE COMPLETELY DRY. I ALSO FOUND A SLOW DRIP OF OIL UNDER THE CAR (ONLY SLOW SINCE IT WAS ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL REMAINING). I THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE BACK HATCH OF THE VEHICLE WERE COVERED WITH OIL. MY DAUGHTER AND I ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT...

WHILE DRIVING ON I40 NEAR TEXAS/NM STATE LINE, OIL COOLER LINE FAILED RESULTING IN THE HIGHLANDER DUMPING OIL ON THE ROADWAY FOR OVER A MILE BEFORE IT WAS NOTICED. PULLED OFF IMMEDIATELY, SAW OIL POURING OUT FROM BOTTOM PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE COVER. EXTERIOR LOWER PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR OF VEHICLE WERE ALSO COVERED IN OIL. NO DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS EVER WARNED OF ISSUE. THIS LEFT US STRANDED ON SIDE OF BUSY INTERSTATE WITH HEAVY SEMI TRAFFIC FOR HOURS WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TO A SHOP FOR REPAIRS, WHERE WE HAD TO WAIT A DAY FOR THE PART. COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE TOYOTA KNEW OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN THAT COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND DEATH, AND CHOSE NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL! WILL BE SEEKING LEGAL ACTION.

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY NORTH ON INTERSTATE 81 AT 1:00 AM. WE WERE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 75 MPH. IN MY DRIVER-SIDE MIRROR, I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE A MIST GETTING KICKED UP BEHIND THE CAR AND COVERING THE REAR WINDOW. IN THE DARK, I COULDN'T TELL IF IT WAS WATER OR SOME OTHER LIQUID. THE ROAD WAS DRY SO MY WIFE AND I PLANNED TO GET OFF ON THE NEXT EXIT AND INSPECT THE CAR, WE HAD CHILDREN IN THE CAR, AND STOPPING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DID NOT SEEM SAFE. WHILE WE WERE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT EXIT, I KEPT LOOKING FOR INDICATOR LIGHTS TO COME ON AND CHECKING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO SEE IF I COULD DISCERN IF THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STAYED WITHIN NORMAL LEVELS. THEN AFTER A...

2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID LIMITED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SHOWED CODE P0A1B - DRIVE MOTOR 'A' CONTROL MODULE, THE CODE WAS CLEARED MANUALLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF, THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 3 MILES THEN PARKED. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WENT OFF ON ITS OWN AS WE TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND HAS NOT BEEN BACK ON SINCE DRIVING IT THERE AND BACK, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DROVE AROUND A LITTLE AND THE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, WE BROUGHT IT HOME AND HAVE DRIVEN ABOUT 7 MILES WITHOUT THE LIGHT COMING ON. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE TOYOTA THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR OUR VIN BUT IT IS SHOWING ALL SIGNS OF THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY RECALL THAT AFFECTED 235,000 VEHICLES IN THE RECALL. TOYOTA QUOTED THE REPAIR AT $9000+ AND EVEN THOUGH IT HAS...

I HAD AN ENGINE OIL COOLER HOSE RUPTURE AT 131000 MILES. I LEFT AN OIL SLICK A MILE LONG ON THE STREET CAUSING A HAZARD IN THE ROAD AND A MESS IN MY GARAGE. ENGINE OIL HAD SPRAYED ALL OVER THE LOWER HALF OF THE ENGINE AND ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH WAS HEAVILY SMOKING AND I NOTICED A SMALL FIRE DOWN IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SO I HAD TO POUR WATER ON THE FIRE. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR A GOOD 7 YEARS BECAUSE I RECEIVED A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE" (ZE2) IN 2014 STATING THAT THE OIL COOLER HOSE COULD SPRING A "LEAK" AND THEY WERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR SAID PART TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. BUT TOYOTA PLAYED DOWN THE SEVERITY OF THE ISSUE STATING THAT A MAJORITY OF VEHICLES WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART WOULDN'T FAIL. TOYOTA KNEW THAT...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, SMOKE WAS SUDDENLY PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT HOOD BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. AFTER STOPPING AND EXAMINING UNDER THE HOOD IT WAS DISCOVERED NO OIL WAS PRESENT IN THE ENGINE AND OIL HAD SPILLED ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE OIL COOLER LINE HAD BURST CAUSING OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,652.

HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2008 WE WERE DRIVING ON A COUNTRY BACK ROAD. IN IDAHO, WE HAD JUST STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND WENT TO DRIVE FORWARD AFTER GOING AROUND 100-200 METERS AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THEN THE SCREEN WITH ALL THE WARNINGS BEGAN GOING OFF. ALL OF THEM SAYING PULL OVER TOT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THAT ALL THE SYSTEMS WERE FAILING. ALL THE WARNINGS SAID THINGS TO TAKE THE CAR TO DEALER. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TRIED TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD BY PUTTING IT IN DRIVE AND YOU COULD HEAR THE CAR TRYING TO DO SOMETHING BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR DID TURN ON BUT THAT WAS IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE RUPTURED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, SHUTOFF THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE OIL WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE INSPECTION CONFIRMED THE DRIVER'S ASSESSMENT. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A MANUFACTURER'S EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE ON SIMILAR VEHICLES HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,156.

DEAR SIR/MADAM THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER /CAMRY AND SIENNA HAVE A OIL COOLER LINE WHICH IS MADE OF RUBBER AND EXPLODE DUE TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF THE OIL. ALL THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN CAUSING OIL TO BE LEAKED ALL OVER THE ROADS OF AMERICA WITH TOYOTA NOT HAVING ISSUED A RECALL. YEARS 2008 - 2013 .THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASHED AND THEN THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. IT SAID THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM TO PULL OVER AS SOON AS YOU COULD SAFETY AND TO CONTACT THE DEALER. WELL THE ENGINE DIED ABRUPTLY AND LOSS POWER IMMEDIATELY. LUCKILY I WAS ON A ONE LANE ROAD WITH A SHOULDER AND NO ONE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS A LOWER END MOTOR FAILURE BUT REALLY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. IN FACT IT IS STILL AT THE MECHANIC'S AND THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. IT APPEARS THAT IT MAY BE THE ENGINE INVERTER BUT STILL NOT SURE. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AND TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE ADDRESS THIS. MY CAR IS A 2008 HIGHLAND HYBRID WITH 119,000 MILES ON....

THE RUBBER OIL COOLER LINE (PART NUMBER: 040004-29131) OF OUR 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BURST AT 139,000 MILES CAUSING AN OIL SPILL AND COMPLETE AND IRREVERSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN HIGH-SPEED MOTION IN A CONGESTED HIGHWAY DURING ICY-AND FOGGY CONDITIONS. DRIVER MANAGED TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROAD, NOT CAUSING ANY ACCIDENTS, JUST BEFORE THE ENGINE IRREVERSIBLY BROKE AND SHUT DOWN. TWO DAYS PRIOR THE INCIDENT, OIL-CHANGE SCHEDULED SERVICE WAS PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA-CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP SHOWING NO SIGNS OF ENGINE/ENGINE OIL-COOLING LINE ABNORMALITIES. DEFECTIVE SOFTWARE DISPLAYED WARNINGS ON THE DASHBOARD OF LOW ENGINE OIL/PRESSURE SECONDS BEFORE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THIS DEFECTIVE PART HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE TOYOTA'S 2014 "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, ZE2" FOR REPAIRS AT NO COST UNTIL JANUARY 31, 2016 OR PAST THAT DATE FOR "10 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF FIRST USE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST." TOYOTA...

THE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE ON MY 2008 HIGHLANDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND LEAKED AT 124,000 MILE/12 YEARS (IN FEB 2020). HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON A HIGHWAY & SMOKE IN MY CABIN. TOYOTA HAS SET A LIMIT OF EXTENDED LIMITED WARRANTY (LCS-ZE2) TO FIX THIS DEFECT BUT ONLY IF IT OCCURS AT < (OR EQUAL) 10 YRS OR 150,000 MILES. MANY REPORTS ON THE WEB INDICATE CARS PAST THE TOYOTA ARBITRARY CUT OFFS FOR TIME AND MILES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT/RISK BECAUSE ALL OF THE OIL COULD LEAK OUT FROM A DEFECTIVE PIPE & ENGINE COULD CATCH FIRE OR FREEZE. I HAD SMOKE IN THE CABIN AND A LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. OF NOTE, MY CAR WAS SERVICED (OIL CHANGE) AND A MULTIPOINT INSPECTION BY TOYOTA 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO OIL LEAK (IN JAN 2020) AND THE OIL LEAK WAS NOT NOTED. THIS MEANS THAT THE LEAK...

ON MY WAY HOME ON SATURDAY NIGHT, ABOUT 2 TO 3 STREETS FROM MY HOUSE, MY DASH STARTED TO SAY LOW FUEL. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME BECAUSE I WAS SO CLOSE. I GET HOME AND JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO LISTEN TO MY CAR AND EVERYTHING SOUNDED GOOD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF. ON MONDAY MORNING, I WALKED OUT AND NOTICED ALL THE OIL IN THE CAR HAD LEAKED OUT OF THE CAR ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND A TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED AND CHECKED THE OIL WITH THE DIP STICK. SINCE THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE, WE DID NOT START THE ENGINE. HE TOWED THE CAR TO TOYOTA (WHERE I HAVE ALL MY WORK DONE INCLUDING INSPECTIONS-WHICH THE LAST ONE WAS DONE 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT). THE TOYOTA MECHANICS LOOKED AT THE...

ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75 MILES/HOUR (WITH MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT), LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE. DIAGNOSED AS THE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE, OIL WAS EVERYWHERE WITHOUT ANY IN THE ENGINE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON MANY ENGINES WHICH WAS COVERED BY TOYOTA FOR A LIMITED TIME/MILEAGE WITH A LIMITED EXTENDED WARRANTY UNDER A "CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM (ZE2)." WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE, AS WE WOULD HAVE ELECTED TO FIX THIS PRIOR TO AN OIL BLOWOUT, TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WITH LOSS OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING, PARTICULARLY WITH OUR CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE.

2008 HIGHLANDER, ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE FAILED, DROPPED 4 QTS OF OIL ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH LED TO A SLIPPERY SITUATION, I PULLED OVER BUT A CAR BEHIND ME SKIDDED THROUGH THE OIL AND REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM DUE TO THE OIL LEFT ON THE ROAD IMPACTING THEIR SAFE STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS FAILED PART WAS A RUBBER HOSE HOLDING HOT MOTOR OIL NEXT TO THE CATATLYTIC CONVERTER, TERRIBLE DESIGN, TOYOTA REPLACED THIS ORIGINAL RUBBER HOSE WITH PART 04004-29131 THAT WAS METAL PIPES NOT HOSES. THIS PART WAS ELIGIBLE FOR A TOYOTA EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE (TOYOTA WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT ZE2) TILL 2016 OR SO, BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED VIA MAIL OF THE ISSUE, THEREFORE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL AFTER MY CAR BROKE DOWN. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED ISSUES OF THIS PART FAILING, AND ALSO MANY DOCUMENTED ISSUES OF TOYOTA FAILING TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS DUE TO...

THE ENGINE IS EMITTING SMOKE, CREATES RATTLING SOUND. AT START TIMING CHAIN SOUNDS SCARED KIDS. WHILE DRIVING YOU CAN HEAR KNOCKING SOUND AND IF SOMETHING CAN BREAK WHILE DRIVING.

THE CAR WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY I NOTICED SMOKE COMING UP FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND IN THE PROCESS NOTICED THE ENGINE SOUNDING DIFFERENT AND PERFORMANCE LEVEL QUICKLY DROPPING. I THEN NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT COME ON, SO I CONTINUED TO FIND THE FIRST SAFE SPOT AVAILABLE TO PULL OVER. I THEN CALLED AAA AND THEY HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CAR HAD EVIDENTLY DRAINED ALL OF ITS OIL, LEAVING A PUDDLE. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO NEIGHBORHOOD CAR CARE IN MISSION VIEJO. IT WAS NOTICED AT THE SHOP THAT THE ENGINE AND COMPARTMENT WERE COVERED IN OIL. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE OIL COOLER LINE HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH AN UPGRADED PART. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT HAVING THE ENGINE COATED IN OIL IS A FIRE HAZARD, AND HE...

VVT-I OIL LINE FAILURE CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED ON A HIGHWAY. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND REPAIRED DUE TO LACK OF QUALITY PARTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. TOYOTA IDENTIFIED THIS PROBLEM INTERNALLY YET FAILED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURE TO IDENTIFY ALL MODELS EQUIPPED WITH SUBSTANDARD OIL LINES AND, LIKEWISE, DID NOT ATTEMPT IN EARNEST TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF AFFECTED MODELS. THE RESULT OF TOYOTA'S LACK OF APPROPRIATE EFFORT IN NOTIFYING OWNERS RESULTED IN OIL LINE PARTS FAILURES OCCURRING OUTSIDE OF AN EXTENDED COVERAGE PERIOD INSTITUTED BY TOYOTA. BECAUSE TOYOTA DID NOT ACT IN GOOD FAITH, OWNERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY PUT AT RISK OF OIL LINE PARTS FAILURES RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE OR EVEN ENGINE FAILURE. MANY OF THE AFFECTED MODELS ARE STILL IN OPERATION AND THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL HAVE NO IDEA UNTIL THE PART FAILS DUE...

OIL COOLER PIPE MALFUNCTION. WHILE DRIVING, THE OIL COOLER PIPE STARTED TO LEAK FROM A HOLE IN THE RUBBER SECTION BETWEEN THE METAL CLAMPS. ALL THE ENGINE OIL CAME OUT WITHIN A FEW MINUTES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. TOYOTA HAD A RECALL IN 2011 FOR THIS EQUIPMENT, BUT NO LONGER ALLOWS REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT UNDER RECALL.

I RECENTLY LEARNED IT IS A "KNOWN" ISSUE BY TOYOTA THAT THE OIL COOLER LINE COULD RUPTURE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AS I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY 3-LANE HIGHWAY. MY ONLY INDICATION WAS WHEN THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING AN URGENT NEED FOR ME TO PULL OVER. LUCKILY I WAS ALREADY IN THE RIGHT LANE GETTING READY TO GET OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT, HOWEVER ONLY 5 MINUTES EARLIER I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, KEEPING UP WITH THE 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC. I FEEL THIS ISSUE IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE I BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO EXIT THE ROAD QUICKLY AND SINCE THIS HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO CEASE THE ENGINE, I FEEL IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WHEN MY SUV WAS CHECKED MY THE MECHANIC HE INFORMED ME THAT I HAD VERY LITTLE OIL LEFT IN MY ENGINE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA...

DRIVING DOWN ROADWAY WHEN A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE ENGINE, FOLLOWED BY CHECK OIL LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE SHORTLY AFTER. DROVE TO NEAREST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SITE FOR SERVICE FEARING MORE DAMAGE TO ENGINE BY DRIVING FARTHER. MECHANIC DISCOVERED OIL LINE (PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL) HAD BURST AND EMPTIED ALL OIL ONTO ROADWAY. PREVIOUS REPAIR, DONE UNDER SPECS OF RECALL, DIDN'T HOLD UP AND REQUIRED ANOTHER REPAIR. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CALLED DUE TO RECALL BEING PERFORMED THERE PRIOR. BECAUSE IT WAS COMPLETED TO SPECS, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. REPAIR COMPLETED WITH METAL (NOT RUBBER) TUBING AND PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET BY DRIVER. FIRE RISK NOTED SINCE OIL SPRAYED UNDERNEATH CAR, ONTO BACK OF CAR AND ONTO ROADWAY.

SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY SECONDARY TO LOUD ENGINE NOISE, DECREASED POWER, AND FEAR OF CAUSING MORE ENGINE DAMAGE. LOCAL MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE OIL COOLING TUBE BURST AND DUMPED ALL THE OIL. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE FORCED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER ON A BUSY ROAD AND LEFT STRANDED AS WELL AS THE FIRE RISK WHEN ALL THE OIL NOW COVERS THE ENGINE/UNDERBODY/BACK OF VEHICLE.

THE CAR BLEW THE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE LEAKING PROFUSELY I DROVE IT AT NIGHT CAME HOME AND THERE WAS A 12 X 12 OIL LEAK IN MY GARAGE. I PULLED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING AND THERE WAS ANOTHER 12 X 12 OIL SPILL ON MY DRIVE WAY. I HAVE A LINE ALL THE WAY DOWN MY STREET OF THE OIL SPEWING OUT OF THE ENGINE . I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED THE FOLLOWING DAY TO TOYOTA WHO KNEW ABOUT THE PART AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED 10 YEAR WARRANTY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS ONLY 2 QUARTS OF OIL LEFT IN THE CRANK CASE. NO LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I WOULD HAVE BLOWN MY MOTOR FOR SURE IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE IS A VIDEO FROM TOYOTA ABOUT THE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE LEAKING AND THAT THEY CHANGED THE...

DRIVING ON A RURAL 2 LANE ROAD THE CAR STARTED KNOCKING AND THE LIGHT FOR THE VSC CAME ON. IT SAID TO BRING TO THE DEALER. GOT HOME AND CHECKED THE OIL AND THERE WAS NOT ONE DROP ON THE DIP STICK. (MY OIL WAS CHANGED AT THE DEALER TWO WEEKS PRIOR). THE OIL WAS HOWEVER SPRAYED UNDER THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE PART THAT IS THE PROBLEM IS THE OIL COOLER LINE.

PURCHASED THIS 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID NEW FROM GREENTREE TOYOTA IN DANBURY CT. WE SELECTED THE HYBRID VERSION TO SAVE ON GAS. LITTLE DID WE KNOW OUR SAVINGS IN GAS WOULD BE SUCKED UP IN OIL CONSUMPTION. I NEED TO CARRY A CASE OF OIL IN THE CAR AT ALL TIMES. ASKED TOYOTA SERVICE IN DANBURY CT TO INVESTIGATE AND THEY CONDUCTED THE SAME OIL TEST OTHERS SPEAK ABOUT. ALTHOUGH THEY SAY OUR HIGHLANDER PASSED THE TEST I END UP ADDING ABOUT 2 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN EVERY OIL CHANGE. THIS CAR WAS SERVICED IN EXACT COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE SCHEDULE. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN DANBURY CT JUST SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR A CAR WITH 135,000 MILES ON IT TO BURN OIL. THIS WAS A HUGE INVESTMENT. I WOULD EXPECT AT LEAST 200K MILES ON A CAR BEFORE EXPERIENCING THIS SORT OF PROBLEM. VERY DISAPPOINTING. I...

THE PRIMARY ISSUE OF CONCERN IS REGARDING THE VEHICLES VALVE SPRINGS. AS A RESULT OF THE VALVE SPRING WHICH WAS IN PLACE, THE VEHICLE IN WHICH I DROVE, STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET IT CHECKED. IN ORDER TO RECTIFY THIS IT COST OVER $2,000.00 IN REPAIRS. THIS ISSUE IS OF GRAVE CONCERN, AS A FAULTY VALVE SPRING, IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY, COULD RESULT IN THE DEATH OF A DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND OTHER VEHICLES. THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO THE 2010 VALVE SPRING ISSUE WHICH AFFECTED LEXUS VEHICLES. IN THAT 2010 ISSUE, TOYOTA ADMITTED FAULT AND RECALLED ISSUES FOR 2006 TO 2008 LEXUS MODELS. GIVEN THAT THE ISSUE HAPPENED TO OTHER BRANDS OWNED BY TOYOTA THE DOT SHOULD SEE WHETHER THE ISSUE IS MORE WIDESPREAD, AND WHETHER MY VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THIS ISSUE AS WELL. *JS

ENGINE OIL COOLING (RUBBER) HOSE BURST WHILE DRIVING AND DUMPED ALL OF MY OIL ... TOYOTA HAS SINCE REPAIRED THIS PART WITH A SERIES OF METAL PIPES, WHICH SUGGESTS TO ME THAT THEY REALIZE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT BUT IT IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED AS A RECALL

I RECENTLY NOTICED A RATTLING SOUND OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA THAT OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. IT TYPICALLY OCCURS AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR A COUPLE HOURS AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE. THE SOUND HAPPENS FOR LESS THAN 2 SECONDS. THE TOYOTA DEALER IN OUR AREA DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILURE OF THE INTAKE CAM GEAR PER TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 0094-09. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT IF THE ISSUE IS LEFT UNADDRESSED, IT COULD LEAD TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE UPDATED CAM GEAR MADE BY TOYOTA DOES NOT FIT THE EXISTING CAMSHAFT. THIS MEANS THAT ALL 4 CAM GEARS AND TWO CAMSHAFTS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED WHICH DRAMATICALLY INCREASES THE LABOR AND PARTS COSTS. I WAS GIVEN THE FOLLOWING QUOTE FOR THE REPAIR: PART'S $3748.00 LABOR $2137.00 TAX $348.00 TOTAL $6233.00 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER TOYOTA TO CONFIRM THE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITION TUBE FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE AIR CONDITION TUBE WAS EXPOSED TO THE MOTOR VENTILATOR CAUSING THE TUBE TO OVERHEAT AND EXPLODE, SPILLING THE COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING OIL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND FOUND A LEAK IN THE MOTOR OIL COOLING HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANIC FOUND AN ISSUE WITH THE CAM SHAFT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE, THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A CHEAP PART ON THE TOYOTA V6 ENGINES. THERE WAS EVEN A RECALL FOR THE PART, HOWEVER, I"M TOLD MY CAR WASN'T ON THE RECAL LIST. HTTPS://SITES.GOOGLE.COM/SITE/TOYOTAV6OILLINESCANDAL/ THE ISSUE AT HAND IS THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR ALL MAINTENANCE, SO ITS NOT A NEGLECT ISSUE. THE REAR BANK VVT-I OIL LINE USED IN PRIOR TO 2008 (MINE HAS THIS ISSUE AS WELL) IS METAL WITH A RUBBER HOST CONNECTING THE TWO. THE HOSE RUPTURES, DUMPS ALL OF THE OIL, WHICH SQUIRTS ONTO THE PASSENGER WHEEL, IN THE BRAKES, ETC. IT CAN NOT ONLY CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE BAY (WHICH IT DID NOT IN THIS CASE), BUT IT COULD ALSO LEAD TO AN INABILITY TO STEER OR BRAKE (NEITHER WERE THE CASE HERE). LASTLY, 6 QUARTS OF OIL DRAINED OUT IN LESS THAN 60 SECONDS,...

WHEN YOU START UP CAR THERE IS A ENGINE GRINDING NOISE FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET, JUST GOOGLE 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER START UP ENGINE NOISE AND YOU WILL GET A BETTER LOOK AT WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. THIS COULD LEAD TO SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE . IT IS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILING WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PUT THROUGH A STRESS TEST AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT KEPT AND DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT THE FUEL PUMP AND THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITHIN THE SYSTEM ONCE THE VEHICLE WARMED UP THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

I PURCHASED A QUALIFIED PRE-OWNED 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER SPORT FROM RICE TOYOTA IN GREENSBORO, NC IN FEBRUARY OF 2013. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE PROPERLY SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND RETAINED ALL SERVICE RECORDS. ON OR ABOUT MARCH 31, 2015, WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON I-40 (65 MPH INTERSTATE HIGHWAY), THE ENGINE IN MY HIGHLANDER SUDDENLY STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I COASTED INTO A REST AREA (LUCKILY) AND WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION IN GREENSBORO. A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE VALVE SPRING. EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAVE INDICATED THAT A VALVE SPRING SHOULD NOT BREAK ON A 2008 TOYOTA WITH AROUND 100K MILES. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAS RECALLED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CERTAIN LEXUS MODELS, INCLUDING MODELS FROM 2008 WITH THE SAME 3.5...

ENGINE OIL LEAKED ALMOST EMPTY. WHEN I PICKED UP KID FROM SCHOOL PARKING ON THE DRIVEWAY ON THAT RAINY DAY, SAW A LEAK LINE ON THE WET GROUND. NEXT SATURDAY I FILLED A QT OIL TO THE LEVEL AND DROVE TO REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN SAID ALMOST ALL 5.5 QT OIL WAS LEAKED OUT. TURNED OUT IT WAS TIMING CHAIN COVERS SILICON SEALER BROKEN. I AM THE PERSON ALWAYS CHECK AROUND MY CAR BEFORE GOING OUT, IF NOT CHECKING, THINGS COULD BE VERY BAD. *TR

THE OIL COOLER HOSE ON MY 2008 HIGHLANDER SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING MOST OF MY CAR'S OIL TO SPILL OUT ON TO THE DRIVEWAY. APPARENTLY, THIS PARTICULAR RUBBER HOSE HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF RECALLS AND EQUIPMENT UPGRADES TO A METAL PIPE IN OTHER TOYOTA MODELS, BUT NOT THE HIGHLANDER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS NEGLECTING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IN ITS HIGHLANDERS. I CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, AND ASK WHAT TOYOTA IS DOING TO FIX IT, AND THEY DENIED THERE WAS ANY KIND OF PROBLEM WITH THE OIL COOLER HOSES. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH IMPLIES OTHERWISE. *TR

WE WERE STARTING OFF TO GO ON VACATION WHEN WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND INFORMATION PANEL WITH HYBRID SYSTEM WARNINGS AND BRAKE WARNINGS THEN THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND STEERING WAS LOST. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE ENOUGH TO PREVENT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT HOWEVER WE WERE ON A BUSY STREET. HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILED COIL. THEY REPLACED ALL 3 COILS SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT AS THE ENGINE WAS ALREADY APART (I AGREE). THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH SOME OF THE HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS. I HAVE THE PART AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE TOP OF THE COIL BECAME OVER HEATED AND BLEW OUT THE TOP PLASTIC COMPOUND. I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE ON A HIGHWAY ON...

I NORMALLY RIDE A VANPOOL, BUT DUE TO FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS TODAY I DECIDED TO DRIVE MY CAR INTO THE OFFICE. MY HUSBAND CALLED ME AT WORK TO TELL ME HE NOTICED A BIG OIL SPOT ON THE GARAGE AFTER I LEFT FOR WORK. HE TOLD ME TO PULL OVER AND NOT DRIVE MY HIGHLANDER IF IT STARTED CLACKING OR SMOKING ON MY WAY HOME. MY HUSBAND JUST CHANGED THE OIL IN MY CAR A FEW DAYS PRIOR. BEFORE I COULD MAKE IT HOME THE CAR WAS SMOKING, KNOCKING, AND SHIFTING VERY LOUDLY. MY HUSBAND SAID I WAS LUCKY THIS DIDN'T LOCK UP THE ENGINE. HE DISCOVERED OIL SPLATTERS ALL OVER THE TIRE AND NEAR THE ENGINE. WE HAD NO ISSUES AT ALL PRIOR TO TODAY. WE ARE GOING TO TRY REPLACING THE OIL LINE AS DENOTED IN OTHER PEOPLES COMMENTS. THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THIS ISSUE MIRROR MY EXPERIENCE. I'M...

TOYOTA'S T-SB-0201-1 SHOULD TRIGGER A RECALL!! MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER '08 HIGHLANDER, WITH 2 CO-WORKER PASSENGERS, TO A FUNERAL. ON 95N IN DANVERS, MA, A MOTOR BIKER PULLED ALONGSIDE & FLAGGED MY WIFE TO PULL OVER ASAP AS THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND UNDER THE CAR. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR & WAITING FOR THE SMOKE TO DISSIPATE,HE CHECKED & FOUND THERE WAS NO LONGER ANY OIL IN THE ENGINE, THE OIL HAD EMPTIED FROM THE ENGINE THE LAST FEW MILES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I ARRIVED LATER THAT MORNING TO INVESTIGATE, TO DISCOVER THAT THE OIL WAS BELOW THE DIPSTICK. THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE & ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, SPARE TIRE, WHEEL WELLS, RIGHT WHEELS & TIRES & REAR LIFTGATE WERE COATED IN ENGINE OIL. THE SMOKE APPARENTLY WAS FROM OIL SPLASHING ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM, & VAPORIZING...

THE OIL LINE HAS DEGRADED, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE OIL AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. *TR

DRIVING IN PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 5MPH WHEN SMELLED BURNING OIL. PARKED CAR AND NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED OFF CAR AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED OIL OVER ENGINE. SEARCHED ONLINE AND SAW ISSUE WITH OIL-COOLER LINE "TOYOTA: ON SOME VEHICLES, THE ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPES MAY EXHIBIT AN OIL SEEPAGE. INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED REGARDING THIS ISSUE". THIS DID TURN OUT TO BE THE ISSUE. FORTUNATELY THIS EVEN OCCURRED WHEN WE WERE IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH KIDS IN THE BACK. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE AND/OR ENGINE DAMAGE. THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS SERVICE NOTICE BUT NO OFFICIAL RECALL HAD OCCURRED. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE TO BOTH THE CARS AND PASSENGERS AND I HOPE THAT A RECALL WOULD OCCUR. *TR

HIGH PRESSURE OIL COOLER LINE FAILURE OF RUBBER HOSE SECTION DUMPED 5 QTS OF ENGINE OIL SOAKING UNDERCARRIAGE AND SPRAYING ONTO NEARBY HOT EXHAUST PIPE AND RIGHT REAR TIRE. NO INDICATION OF LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE ON VEHICLE MONITORING SYSTEM. NOTICED A FAINT SMELL OF BURNT OIL WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED. RETURNED LATER TO START VEHICLE AND HEARD AUDIBLE ENGINE NOISE AND TURNED OF ENGINE TO INVESTIGATE UNDER HOOD, A NOTICEABLE PUDDLE OF OIL HAD ACCUMULATED UNDER CAR. VEHICLE TOWED FOR DIAGNOSES AND REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE BEGAN TO HER A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHICH STATED THAT THE ENGINE COOLER HOSE HAD A HOLE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE OIL TO LEAK OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WENT ON ALMOST IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER FOUND NO OIL ON DIPSTICK HAD RAPID OIL LEAK, DEALER REPLACED OIL COOLER HOSE WITH OIL COOLER PIPE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT A BURNING OIL SMELL. THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED SO THE CONTACT ADDED OIL TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BURNING OIL SMELL STILL LINGERED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AGAIN. IN ADDITION, A HOSE FROM THE ENGINE FAILED AND SPILLED MOTOR OIL ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL COOLER LINE HAD EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

THE VVT-I OIL COOLER HOSE BURST RESULTING IN A MAJOR ENGINE OIL SPILL IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS REFUSE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PART ON THE HIGHLANDER. THIS SAME VVT-I OIL COOLER HOSE HAS BEEN RECALLED ON 1.6 MILLION US RAV4'S, CAMRY'S AND OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. NOT ONLY COULD A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE OIL CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, THIS ISSUE CAN ALSO BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN. IF ENGINE OIL WERE TO HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE PARTS OR HOT EXHAUST PIPING, THEN A FIRE MAY HAVE OCCURRED WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS VEHICULAR DAMAGE AND LOSS OF LIFE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER IN NOVEMBER 2011 AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE TO HAVE DEFECTIVE OIL COOLER HOSE CHECKED. IN SEPTEMBER 2013 REPLACEMENT OIL COOLER HOSE FAILED WHILE ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT SEVENTY MILES PER HOUR. OIL WAS OBSERVED COVERING BOTTOM OF VEHICLE AND FILM OF OIL ON BACK OF VEHICLE. THE OIL GAUGE INDICATED NO OIL IN ENGINE. I BELIEVE THIS RESULTED IN A SAFETY HAZARD FROM BOTH INHALING FUMES AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER AND OIL COOLER HOSE REPLACED FOR SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS. *TR