Welcome to TundraSolutions.com! - New Members/Highlander Owners Introduce Yourself...

[EvDreamin]

Hello everyone,
I have had my 06 Highlander 4WDi limited, for a little over a month now, with 2560 miles so far. I have seen many posts from owners dissatisfied with their gas mileage. I have been averaging 29-30mpg. While not the most conservative driver, I do plan ahead and try to avoid the brake pedal as much as possible. I have found that the best way to conserve energy is by conserving momentum. This works in all cars, but the hybrid system really takes advantage of this. I feel that this mileage is very good for an AWD vehicle of this weight class with this much power.
I had a problem with the nav system and the dealer didn't even know how to fix it, a new nav ecu was ordered and replaced just today. I had the all too familiar "Please insert correct map disk" screen I have heard so much about, even on this site. There was a few posts stating how to force a re-boot of the system, so I did it before I went back to the dealer today. The nav system seem to be working okay, but I hadn't used it before so I didn't know if all features were working. I let the dealer replace the ecu anyway just incase there were any other problems lurking in there.
So far, this car has been great. I just have one concern; the Highlander pulls to the right while under heavy acceleration. The dealer said it is a "normal" condition. Calling it "torque steer" because of the electric motor in the front axle. It is quite un-nerving because if I don't "brace for it", I find the car changing lanes without my input. I don't think it is normal.
Has anyone else had this condition? I thought torque steer was corrected way back in the late 80s when powerful FWD cars were becoming the norm. I traded in my 95 Camry V6LE SW for the Highlander, that was one great car. Probably the only down side to making the purchase.
I look forward to learning much from all of you. Thanks in adavnce!

[etcthorne]

Just bought the wife an 07 limited 4x2. Every option available except NAV(she absolutely did NOT want it in her car - computerphobia). The climate control system, sunroof, JBL Stereo system, and DVD player are the BOMB!!!!!!!!!! We got in at about $3,000 under sticker price. Must be a good time of the year to buy.

I've owned Toyotas for years with no regrets. My own ride is an 04 Tundra Access Cab V8 with 47,000 trouble-free miles on it - still rides like it is brand new.

Name's Mark in Virginia Beach

[joe patel]

Hi,
I am so thankful to you guys letting me be a member of your forum.
I have a 2002 highlander, 4 cylinder.I enjoy driving that cause its just like a six cyldr.
I was having check engine light every three days,resets itself, so i went to see the dealer,he find out was a recall to caliberate ecu.

joe

[rboling]

Hi folks! Five years and 60,000 trouble free miles on our 2001 Highlander -- until yesterday when I noticed that our cabin air temperature control wasn't working.

I took it to the dealer, who wanted to charge me $1,000 to fix it. I found a simple fix here on Tundra Solutions that took me about an hour and it cost me absolutely zero!

Rich

[Samdoll]

Hi everyone. I am a new member and I am so glad to have found this site. I bought a 2002 AWD Highlander Limited just 3 weeks ago. It is a wonderful vehicle but a big change from the 99 Tahoe I traded in. The Tahoe was like driving around on a couch in a living room. You can't beat that for comfort, but it was time to trade the old girl in and I wanted better mileage and something not so sloppy in handling.

I am adjusting to all the changes and making some minor changes to the car itself. The windshield needs replacing as it is badly pitted and peppered. I am working with the used car dealer on this adn having a new one installed on Friday. The sun visor is broke and flops down as I drive. I have ordered a new one through the Toyota dealer for $75.00. I will install it myself, thanks to instructional postings on this site and member availability to diagrams. It doesn't have the Homelink, but I have a great garage door opener already. These are things that I am working on.

Also, I live on a dirt road and I bought a red car. It shows everything. I think I may have to install running boards as the side of the car is constantly showing a spray pattern from the road dirt etc. and I think running boards would hold that down. Living in Wisconsin you can't just pull out the hose and wash your car year round and I don't run to town all the time as I work from home. Small issue. Toyota dealer said running boards would be $275 and another $175 if they install them. I am holding off on that for now. Most cars just don't stay clean in our area in the winter.

I am so grateful for this website and for all the information that has been made available. I really am enjoying my Highlander. I have some physical problems that cause my body to be very sensitive, so the comfort factor is what I am adjusting to the most, as well as the tightness of the steering. I cannot take my eyes off the road for one second and the car is veering into another lane. Is this normal for Highlander steering?

All in all I am delighted with my purchase. With 77,000 miles on this new-to-me vehicle, it smells, looks and sounds like new. I am currently happy to be the owner of a Highlander. My husband really likes it too, especially the better gas mileage!

Great to hear from all the others who are so happy with their Highlanders too. This site is just awesome!

[mikedogs]

Hi,
Just joined. I'm looking for information on how to solve the sun visor problem with my 2002 Highlander. It's been a great care for the most part. Nothing fancy, just the base model 4 cyl. I got it used with only 400 mi. on it. Great deal obviously. But, this sun visor problem really needs to be dealt with by Toyota I think. They replaced two of them under warrantee. Now it's my turn for the third one. I only have 72K on the car. The visors really should last longer than 30K miles, IMHO.

[etcthorne]

Hello everyone. Picked up a 2007 V6 Limited in December for the wife. Looks like a "chick" truck/suv to me, but she absolutely loves it - that's what's important I guess. I continue to be very impressed with Toyota quality. I have a 2004 Tundra V8 Access Cab that I really love and it has NO issues whatsoever - rides and sounds like new. I traded in a 2006 Jetta 2.0T that I bought in celebration of my mid-life crisis - bought with cash. The 2.0T was really nice and "OMG" fast, but the wife deserved something of her own, never having driven a new vehicle.

The Jetta did spoil me in a couple of ways though. The interior lighting in a Jetta is AMAZING. Why can't Toyota illuminate all switches on the doors and such like VW does. I mean, I bought the Limited package, and you'd think a detail like that would be there. Also amazed that the Highlander doesn't have the same "Turn and release" ignition my Tundra has (you can turn the key and let it go - it will crank and release the starter automatically). Nice feature. I didn't get her the NAV system because she didn't want it. Did get the DVD player installed because we have 3 and 4 year old grandsons. The DVD player is a life and sanity saver on trips of more than 2 minutes.

Overall great vehicle and HIGHLY rated by CR, although it gets beat on for styling marks - something Toyota constantly struggles with.

[Canadian Highlander]

Hi Folks,
Just found this forum the other day so I'm a new member. Looks like there is a lot of great info and I'll probably be visiting every other day.

Mark

Forgot to mention that I bought a pre-owned 2004 Highlander in September and love it. I have one problem though that I am going to post in the Highlander forum.

[flipsauce]

Hi all... Just picked up an '01 V6 4WD with 46K miles as a family hauler (we seem to be increasing in numbers every couple of years!). She's bright white, pristine inside and out, and remarkably enjoyable to drive! Looking forward to a long life with few maintenance hassles.

My other car is a '99 VW Passat wagon 1.8T (see maintenance hassles ), and I am a member over at passatworld.com. Over the years I have picked up a ton of information and tips there, so I'm looking forward to another great community experience here!

[benallred]

So glad to have found your forum!!! We've just purchased a 2004 Highlander Ltd w/Nav. Got a great deal and are loving it. Can't wait to get some information on the few nagging little problems we've found.

[cg13]

Hello to all,

Just bought a used Highlander 2006 V6 4 wheel drive without trailer package and wish to tow a 3500# trailer with surge brakes.

What, so far, it seems I should do:

Install a class 3 hitch.

Install trailer wiring - by Dealer or any "Trailer" Company?

Need advice:

Dealer says Toyota doesn't offer an after production transmission oil cooler and any aftermarked cooler would void Toyota warrentee. Should I ignore this and/or is this actually true.

Factory installed package suggests it consists of;

Upgraded cooling system. What is this?

Transmission cooler.

Need advise on this or anything I might have forgotten.

These things developed after the Dealer sold us the car saying it would tow 3500#. Subsequest phone calls suggested they didn't know what they were talking about.

Thanks for anything.

Cg13

[Gadgetjq]

Hi forum members,

I've had my '04 Highlander Limited about a month and hope to learn a little more about it than the owners manual is willing to give up through this forum.

My first question was how to attach the Highlander cargo net (got one from E-Bay) but have discovered the .pdf file is only available to paying members. Bummer. Unless I've missed something maybe I won't learn as much from the forum as I'd thought.

Cheers

[k1200ltc]

After a very unfortunate meeting of many bumpers on June 5th, my Pride & Joy 2002 LTD was declared "totaled" by the insurance company.
Fortunately no one was hurt in the 5-vehicle sandwich.

After a thorough search of replacement candidates, a 2003 LTD Bluestone Metallic was secured today without too much boot. In brief, only a $700 difference for one model year newer and 15k fewer miles on the clock + nearly new Goodyear Forteras all around.

I'm looking forward to applying a few tweaks here and there to make it feel like home, but all in all I think I came out OK on this one. I'm hoping that this new rig is as trouble free as its predecessor.

[milesper]

Hi New member, old (2002) Higlander owner. Best forum I've found covering Highlander issues, very helpful!

[ADAMMICHAEL]

I will be picking up my "new" 2002 highlander limited tomorrow night. Its about 1 hour away and it is from a private owner so im still a little leary about the condition its really in. I test drove it and it drove great but i dont know the hidden condition of it.

Its a one owner with 76000 miles and the body and interior look brand new.
Is there anything that I should look for as far as problems on the 02 Highlander limited? Im excited about getting it but I usually buy 10 year old cars and run them into the ground, I have never even thought about spending this much on a car before.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Michael

Adam Michael Knives - Custom Handmade Knives