2003 Toyota Highlander

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TOYOTA IS PLACING NEW BRAKE PADS ON VEHICLES WHICH LAST LONGER, BUT GET SO HOT THAT THEY WARP THE VEHICLE'S ROTORS. SHE STATED THAT FORMERLY IT WOULD COST $60 TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS, BUT NOW IT COSTS $300, NOT INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WARPED ROTORS. THE WARPED ROTORS CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT 60 MPH OR GREATER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,400. ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, DURING AN OIL CHANGE,THE DEALER CHECKED THE TIRE TREAD AND BRAKE PADS AND THE BRAKE PADS ARE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS STILL SHAKING AT 50MPH BECAUSE THE ROTORS ARE DAMAGED DUE TO THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. THE DEALER AND MECHANIC STATED THAT THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE PADS DON'T WEAR AS FAST; HOWEVER, IT CAUSES FRICTION AND THE ROTORS TO WARP. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED IN APRIL. THE DEALER STATED ON THE INVOICE THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE IS A SEVER ISSUE CONCERNING THE SEATS. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS EXPERIENCED EXTREME HIP AND BACK PAIN FROM THE SEATS. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE CAN'T ADJUST THE SEAT ANYMORE, BECAUSE THEN SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REACH THE STEERING WHEEL.

1) NOTICED RADIATOR FLUID SLOWLY LEAKING UNDER BOTTOM (TOWARDS BACK OF ENGINE). HAD MECHANIC CHECK ENGINE, - WAS LEAKING AT BACK OF HEAD GASKET, TOOK APART ENGINE AND NOTICED 3 BACK BOLTS TO ENGINE BLOCK (HEADS) COULD BE REMOVED BY HAND. WHEN HEADS WERE FIXED COULD NOT INSTALL NEW BOLTS (WOULD NOT TIGHTEN) - MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT - NO THREADS. 2) CANNOT FIX ENGINE - NEED NEW ENGINE 3) TRYING TO GET TOYOTA TO PAY FOR REPAIR - IN PROGRESS WITH THEM NOW - NO RESOLUTION YET. *JB

MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS ONLY 20600 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALL 4 BRIDGESTONE DUELLER H/ T P225 70R 16 TIRES ARE SO WORN OUT THAT I AM HAVING TROUBLE STOPPING IN THE RAIN. I AM GOING TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS OF CONCERN SINCE I DO MAINTAIN THE TIRES AT PROPER INFLATION AND THEY HAVE BEEN ROTATED AT LEAST TWICE. THE WEAR IS EQUAL ON ALL 4 TIRES. THIS TIRES WHERE RATED FOR AT LEAST 60,000 MILES AND TO ONLY GET A THIRD OF THAT AND THE EXPENSE IS TERRIBLE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THIS ON OTHER HIGHLANDERS AND EVEN RAV4S. *JB

PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE CAR EVEN A THAT SLOW RATE. MY CAR HIT THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THAT CAR AND ONLY MODERATE BUMPER DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. AT OTHER TIMES THE ENGINE SEEMS TO POWER UP WHILE DRIVING AND THIS MAY HAVE HAPPENED WHILE TRYING TO PARK WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. *JB

1. NOTICE OR RECALL RECEIVED SSC 40B HIGHLANDER CHILD PROTECTION LOCK SYSTEM SAFETY RECALL 2. CONTACTED 2 TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND WAS ADVISED THAT APPOINTMENTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE BUT CARS WERE TAKEN IN THE ORDER RECEIVED ON A GIVEN DAY WITH PRIOR DAYS CARS BEING SERVICED FIRST. 3. I ATTEMPTED TO SET AN APPOINTMENT AT THE CONVENIENCE OF BOTH DEALERSHIPS THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK, NEXT MONTH OR EVEN TWO MONTHS AWAY WHEN I COULD TAKE MY VEHICLE IN AND HAVE THE 30 MINUTE (APPROXIMATELY) REPAIR COMPLETED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT NO SUCH APPOINTMENT COULD BE MADE AND THAT I HAD THE CHOICE OF BRINGING THE CAR IN BETWEEN 7:00 A.M. AND 9:00 A.M. AND THAT IT WOULD BE DONE IN A HOUR AND A HALF TO THREE OR FOUR HOURS. TOYOTA IN THEIR RECALL NOTICE PROMISES "ANY TOYOTA DEALER WILL MODIFY THE CPL LEVER AT NO COST TO YOU IN AS CONVENIENT A MANNER AS POSSIBLE." IT FURTHER STATES "MAKE AN APPOINTMENT." *NM