2007 Toyota Highlander Electrical Problems

Your hybrid's brake system pump is running continuously even when the car is off, creating a humming noise that changes to knocking and grinding sounds when you brake. Your brake pedal has become inconsistent, sometimes pushing easily to the floor before tightening up, and all brake warning lights recently came on. The issue likely involves replacing the ABS brake actuator pump, which is an expensive repair ($1,200–$2,000 depending on the part) that may require professional diagnostic work to confirm the failure.

Your 2007 Highlander Hybrid has experienced multiple safety issues: the brake system is losing braking power due to failing hybrid brake actuators, the electrical inverter has failed, seat belts aren't retracting properly, and engine blow-by is leaking into the intake system. You've reported these problems to Toyota multiple times without receiving a satisfactory resolution. Fixing these issues will likely require replacement of the brake actuator assembly, inverter unit, seat belt retractor mechanism, and diagnosis of the engine ventilation system.

Your odometer reading appears to have been rolled back or tampered with. When you bought your Highlander in September 2025, the odometer showed 129,950 miles, but records show the vehicle had 262,597 miles in November 2021 and 299,150 miles in July 2025 — before you purchased it. This suggests the mileage was fraudulently reduced. You may want to report this to your state's motor vehicle fraud division and consider consulting with an attorney about your purchase.

You discovered a major mileage discrepancy with your 2007 Toyota Highlander after purchase. The odometer showed 116,000 miles when you bought it, but when registering the vehicle, it was found to have 240,126 miles—and the seller had altered the title by crossing out the mileage and writing 'EXEMPT.' You've reported this to local authorities as odometer fraud.

STARTS WITHOUT USING A KEY AND CANNOT BE SHUT OFF.

WARNING LIGHT - POSSIBLE INVERTER MALFUNCTION. JUST APPEARED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

HORN STOPPED WORKING, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET WHILE TURNING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. AFTER THE CONTACT RETURNED HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE, THE HORN STARTED TO BEEP. THE CONTACT WALKED OUTSIDE AND OBSERVED SPARKS UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH THE HOSE, BUT THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 152,000.

HAZARDOUS SAFETY ISSUE. POSSIBLE MANUFACTURER DEFECT TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON 2001-2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH OR LOW RATE OF SPEED, THERE HAS BEEN MANY CLOSE CALLS OF BEING HIT FROM BEHIND DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT TO THEIR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OR WIRING IN SPECIFIC TO REAR BRAKING LIGHTS. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. LIGHT BULBS CHANGED, FUSE WAS CHECKED AND CONNECTORS CHECKED. THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE IDENTICAL RELATED ISSUES REPORTED BY CONSUMERS ON MANY BLOGS AND FORUMS ONLINE. ONLY REMEDY MENTIONED WAS TO HAVE THE TOYOTA DEALER TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL BRAKING COMPONENT OR CIRCUITRY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2001-2007 ON THE CRITICAL BRAKING SYSTEMS ON THESE VEHICLES. WHY DO CONSUMERS HAVE TO PAY UPWARDS OF $400 TO REPLACE WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. THIS IS A ACCIDENT MADE TO HAPPEN. ALSO DUE TO THEIR POOR DESIGN, THE VEHICLE CAN'T PASS THE STATE'S VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE INTELLIGENT POWER MODULE (IPM) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V342000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE POWER INVERTER WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 123,000.

TL-WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE MEDIAN AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ANOTHER PARKING SPACE. THE FAILURE MILES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILES ARE 45,000 MILES. AA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE 12-VOLT BATTERY IN HER VEHICLE. ON AT LEAST TEN OCCASIONS, THE 12-VOLT BATTERY WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT WOULD ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OVER. SHE HEARD OF INSTANCES WHERE OTHER PEOPLE'S VEHICLES COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING; THEREFORE, SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT IT COULD EVENTUALLY HAPPEN TO HER. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CHARGED THE BATTERY AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

SLOW INTERMITTENT DRAIN ON TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2007 AUXILIARY BATTERY. SINCE APRIL 2007, THE BATTERY HAS DIED 5 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED WITH NEW BATTERY, NEW DVD PLAYER BUT STILL CANNOT IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE BATTERY DRAW. *TR

WHEN TRAVELING DOWN HILL FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME THE BATTERIES CHARGE AND THEN START TO EMIT NOXIOUS FUMES INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. (OZONE I THINK.) ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WE HAVE HAD TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN OR STOP AND EXIT THE VEHICLE TO ALLOW THE FUMES TO CLEAR. THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT OUR COMPLAINTS. *TR

WAS PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE UNDER 5 MPH AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN SURGE FORWARD AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. WENT OVER CURB THROUGH BUSHES OFF ANOTHER CURB HITTING UNDERNEATH OF CAR AND BRAKES THEN WORKED AGAIN. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THEY DROVE IT PUT IT ON A MACHINE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR! *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE DAYTIME. HE STATED THAT THE LENSES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE TINTED, WHICH HE BELIEVES IS THE REASON FOR THE POOR VISIBILITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED HIM TO CALL TOYOTA. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH TOYOTA AND THE CONTACT WAS ISSUED COMPLAINT NUMBER 200707203477. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING IN THE SUNLIGHT, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ARE DIFFICULT TO READ. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER TEST THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THAT IS HOW IT WAS MANUFACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS DURING THE DAYTIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37.

HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE. *NM