We had just passed through a tollbooth on a freeway and were accelerating to merge with traffic when the car shuddered and slowed and steering became difficult. A number of warning lights came on telling us to stop driving the car immediately and to call the dealership. There were three warning lights which were something like: 'check hybrid system', 'check brakes' and 'check vsc'. we were close to the median and were luckily able to pull off into it and turned off the car. When we turned it back on the car would not move forward or backward and we had to have it towed home. We have since had it towed to the Toyota dealership and they have told us that we need a new inverter battery. We understand that Toyota has had problems with this part in the past for the 2006 and 2007 Toyota highlanders and wanted to report the problem because ours is a 2008 Toyota highlander.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

My wife and daughter were driving on a busy highway when they heard a "pop" noise from the engine. The car stalled on the road. By the grace of god, they were able to drift to the side and did not have an accident. Next day, the dealer informed that the issue was with the hybrid system - the inversion part. The cost for repair would be $11,000! we live about an hour from our workplaces and thus put a good many miles on our car - the 125,000 miles on the car put the drivetrain out of warranty. We have had all recall services performed at the dealer, and kept regular maintenance. Not once were we advised by Toyota that the hybrid system was showing wear and may be in need of service. There was no indication (warning lights, etc.,) that the hybrid system needed attention - no fore warning at all prior to the incident. In doing research, we really got upset to find Toyota had recalled 06 and 07 models for the very same hybrid issue. We also noticed there are many people with complaints on the same issue in various online forums. To cap it off -- after the dealer told us the repair bill is $11,000, we were advised to discuss with a Toyota case manager. We did and their offer? $1,500 toward a new Toyota purchase. We were highly frustrated by this response. We feel they are well aware of the problem and should provide better warnings to users and better resolutions to the problem - and recall all effected hybrids!

- Belle Vernon, PA, USA

Highlander hybrid lost complete power while traveling on highway at 65mph. Vehicle was towed to dealer and diagnosed as failure of the power inverter. Estimated cost to repair quoted as $9,140.

- East Orange, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander hybrid. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 20 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed a dealer where it was found the electrical inverter had failed. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Aptos, CA, USA

The car completely shut off when driving, without any warning! luckily, the driver was not rear- ended!! the car was towed to Toyota where we were told that the inverter needs to be replaced for $9000! the car is in otherwise great shape and has been serviced at Toyota regularly. The last check up was last month at 118,000 miles! this is exactly the same problem reported for the 2006 Toyota Highlander hybrid, which was recalled.

- Great Falls, VA, USA

I was driving to queens NY and suddenly after paying hte tolls at the queens midtown tunnel the vehicle suddenly stalled. It was towede to queensboro Toyota where it was diagnosed as the power inverter had died and cost $8504.50 to have it replaced.

- Bronx , NY, USA

My wife went to move the car and backed it up where it died. Car started rolling back the drive and stopped half on half off the drop off of our driveway. She had no steering and no brakes. I checked out the car and it said hybrid error call dealer. The car would not run. I had it towed to dealer and he called me to tell us the power inverter needs to replaced at the cost of $8,600. I understand Toyota had a problem with their 06 - 07 highlanders for the same issue. Nothing on a car should cost $8,600 to fix without being in a major car accident. We should have been told up front how much this would cost to fix in the event of failure. Luckily she wasn't on a highway when this happened.

- Elverson, PA, USA

The contact owned a 2008 Toyota highlander. The contact stated that the driver smelled smoke while driving the vehicle. The driver then looked down near her knee and noticed that there was a fire coming from the fuse box. The driver pulled the vehicle into a parking lot and exited. The vehicle ignited into flames and was destroyed. The fire inspector stated that the fire originated from the fuse box. The vehicle was towed to a holding area for the manufacturer to examine. The cause of the fire was unknown. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the failure was not a manufacturer's defect. The failure mileage was 32,000. Updated 7/18/12 updated 07/25/12

- Grand Rapids , MI, USA

While decelerating on an off-ramp, the vehicle began to vibrate and then stalled. I waited for a tow to the Toyota dealership and was informed about the inverter being bad about 5 days later.

- Bronx, NY, USA

While driving vehicle had a loud pop sound occurred while driving 40/mph. Within 2 seconds vehicle slowed to about 5/mph allowing just enough time to get to the bike lane before coming to a complete stop. No vehicles were on same side of road allowed to jump to bike lane. Toyota of kearny mesa (san diego, ca) ran diagnostic on vehicle to determine that the hybrid inverter dead'. at this time they are still attempting to fix the vehicle.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander hybrid. While stopped at a railroad crossing, the contact stated that the vehicle stalled causing a train to hit it. The dealer was notified and the vehicle was awaiting inspection. The contact called the manufacturer who arranged an inspection. The vehicle had not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 25,000.

- Los Altos, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander hybrid. While driving approximately between 25-30 mph, the contact smelled a burning odor and noticed smoke emitting from the front driver side door. The vehicle was driven to the side of the road. Immediately the driver side door was opened and the automatic window switch exhibited severe melting. The wires were disabled and removed from the switch. The vehicle was being taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The failure mileage was 178,000.

- Springfield, VA, USA

My SUV starts itself without anyone or the key fob being anywhere near the vehicle. It has done this at least 9 times and happens anywhere and at any time of day or night. It is too dangerous to park in my garage so I leave it outside all the time. Toyota factory nor dealer have offered any suggestions to correct the problem. I want it recalled or bought back. It is unsafe to have a car that does this. Car has done this since Nov 2009 that I have noticed.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

Toyota Highlander hybrid 2008 requires frequent jumping due to dead battery, this has been since I bought it, but more recently I have had to jump the car once a week.

- Pembroke, MA, USA