Vehicle makes a very noticeable, irritating whine or whistle noise when accelerating at 40mph. Stops when gas pedal is released. Very constant and annoying. Did not happen when car was first purchased. Have been told by Toyota that it was the transfer case, which they replaced. Did not fix the problem. Now they tell me it is normal. Test drove another vehicle from their lot of the same exact year, make, model. No noise at all. This is not normal. Toyota knows about the problem, but they are denying it. Other Toyota vehicles (I.e. rav4, Tundra) had/have the same problem. Forums tell me it is the transmission. Waiting on appointment for a field tech from Toyota to examine it.

- Hudson, NH, USA

Purchased my 2011 Highlander in March, & it had 7000 miles on it at the time of the incident. I started the vehicle in my driveway, put it in drive, and started down my driveway. Pressed the brake pedal, and there were no brakes and seemed not to have power steering. The lights in the dash came on, and the screen said brake malfunction contact dealer immediately. There were no brakes, I finally came to a stop at the bottom of the hill, put the car in park, and turned the ignition off. When I turned the key, the car started, the dash lights were still lit up, and I guess the computer seemed to "reset". I pulled back into my driveway & had the car towed to the dealer the next day. The dealer has had it for over two weeks, and the incident has not happened again, and they said that they cannot find a single thing wrong with it. They can, however, see that there was an "incident" with the brakes on that date by the computer reading. I have been told that I am going to be getting this car back, and that it is fine. Everyone say a prayer for myself and my 3 kids that are in it, & hope that it doesn't happen again in these mountains that I live!

- Sevierville, TN, USA