NHTSA Opens Probe into Toyota Highlander Hybrids

Yes, this is another investigation that concerns Toyota, but this time it’s not about malfunctioning gas pedals! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) posted on its website the information according to which it has opened an investigation regarding the Toyota Highlander Hybrid over concerns that the engine can stall and fail to restart.

Just as things started to look up for the Japanese carmaker, the NHTSA has received a total of 32 complains. According to the official statement, a total of 21 incidents have taken place at speeds of 40 mph or more, while 26 owners stated that the vehicle could not be restarted or that it was towed to the dealership. What’s most concerning is the fact that the NHTSA has received all but one of the complaints in the past year. Thankfully, none of them involved a crash or injuries.

A spokesman for Toyota, Brian Lyons, said that the company would cooperate with the NHTSA: “We will cooperate fully with NHTSA’s preliminary evaluation,” the Detroit News reports.

The global carmaking giant has had problems with engine stalls in the past as well, as a total of 1.33 million 2005-2008 Corolla and Matrix vehicles in North America were recalled for stalled engines in August last year, after NHTSA had opened an investigation in late 2009. Toyota said some Corolla and Matrix vehicles with 1ZZ-FE engines could contain a defective part that would cause the engine to stall.

Toyota has led all automakers in recalls for the past two years as it has struggled to put problems with sudden acceleration issues behind it.