2008 Toyota Highlander Air Bags

IN JUNE OF 2013 I WENT TO MCCARTHY TOYOTA IN SEDALIA, MO FOR AN UNRELATED RECALL. SOME WORK WAS DONE, BUT I WAS TOLD TO RETURN IN A WEEK OR SO BECAUSE AN ADDITIONAL PART HAD TO BE ORDERED. DURING THIS WEEK, THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED. I HAD NEVER OBSERVED THIS WARNING LIGHT BEFORE. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO COMPLETE THE ORIGINAL RECALL WORK, I INQUIRED ABOUT THE WARNING LIGHT. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT MY MODEL TOYOTA SOMETIMES HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SPIRAL CABLE AND I WAS ONE OF THE UNLUCKY OWNERS! HE INFORMED ME THAT I NO LONGER HAD FUNCTIONING AIRBAGS, BUT HE HAD THE NECESSARY PARTS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AND COULD DO IT IMMEDIATELY. THE COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $500 AND WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTEE OR RECALL. I DECIDED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE MY CHANCES IN A VEHICLE THAT NOW HAD NON-FUNCTIONING AIRBAGS, SINCE $500 WAS JUST TOO MUCH MONEY TO PAY. A FRIEND RECENTLY INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD FILE THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT JUST CAME ON AT 110,000 MILES, NO ACCIDENT, IN THE GARAGE..TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY ARE ASKING TO REPLACE SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY IN DRIVER AIRBAG AT A COST OF $663 AND EXPLAINED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I CALLED TOYOTA AND DISCUSSED THE ISSUE...I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT TACOMA'S HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS WELL, INTERESTING THOUGH, THAT MY 08 HIGHLANDER HAD SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA CONFIRMED MY UNDERSTANDINGS AS WELL. I SEARCHED INTERNET AND SEVERAL OTHER HIGHLANDERS (ALMOST IDENTICAL VINS) HAVE FACED THE SAME ISSUE. I THINK HIGHLANDERS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR THE SIMILAR ISSUES WHICH TACOMA'S FACED.. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE GIVEN SOME ATTENTION. HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/TOYOTA/HIGHLANDER/AIR-BAG-LIGHT-ON-PROBLEMS.PHP THE ABOVE WEBSITE LISTS OTHER HIGHLANDER'S WHICH FACED THE SAME ISSUE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING TO MAKE THE ROADS/HIGHWAYS SAFER PLACE FOR EVERYONE.. THANK YOU. *JS

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT JUST CAME ON AT 73,000 MILES, NO ACCIDENT. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY IN DRIVER AIRBAG AT A COST OF $500 AND EXPLAINED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME THIS ONLY AFFECTED TACOMA'S, INTERESTING THOUGH, THAT MY 08 HIGHLANDER HAD SAME PROBLEM. *TR

SPIRAL CABLE FAILED AT ABOUT 107,406 MILES ON MY 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, CAUSING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE STEADY AND WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WOULDN'T BE FUNCTIONING. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY MANUFACTURER OR THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS. THE CAR HASN'T BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. THE COST OF REPLACEMENT (PART AND LABORS) IS $544. TOYOTA NEEDS TO REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS FOR SUCH A COST AS IT IS OF NO DRIVER'S FAULT AND OBVIOUSLY A COMMON ISSUE. THERE IS ANOTHER 2008 RECALL ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BUT DIDN'T APPLY TO MY CAR. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT INTO A DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THE SPIRAL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (AT A COST OF $419 PARTS AND LABOR) AND THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS. UPON RESEARCH, I LEARNED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR TACOMAS, CAMRYS, AND VENZAS FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SPIRAL CABLE. FURTHER, I FOUND NUMEROUS CLAIMS OF THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE 2008 HIGHLANDER. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER, AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO RETAIN ANY DOCUMENTATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER ANY FUTURE RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY I NEED TO HAVE THE SPIRAL CABLE REPLACED, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY THE TOYOTA DEALER THAT THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE. MY HOPE IS THAT THERE WILL BE A RECALL FOR THE HIGHLANDER, AND THAT IT IS ALREADY BEING CONSIDERED. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON APPROXIMATELY IN APRIL 2013. THE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. I BROUGHT IT TO ELK GROVE TOYOTA. THE INSPECTED THE LIGHT FOR $120. THIS WAS FOR INSPECTION ONLY. THEY SAID THE CAR NEEDS A AIRBAG SPIRAL CABLE. THEY ESTIMATED $460 TOTAL TO REPLACE THIS WIRE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE LIGHT CAME ON AT 65000-67000 MILES. WILL TOYOTA RECALL THIS PART OR REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS. THERE IS ANOTHER 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AIRBAG RECALL BUT IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY CAR. I LOOKED UP MY VIN. FOR THIS RECALL. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND CONTINUED TO STAY ON OVER SEVERAL DAYS. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THE SPIRAL CABLE WAS DETERMINED TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. COST OF REPAIR WAS ABOUT $500. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. AFTER TAKING IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER, IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF RECALL FOR 2008 TACOMAS, CAMRYS AND VENZAS, BUT NOT THE HIGHLANDER. IT IS A $450 EXPENSE. IT SEEMS TO ME IF TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE PART ON OTHER MODELS IN THE SAME YEAR, IT SHOULD CONSIDER RECALLING IT FOR THE HIGHLANDER. LOOKING AT THE RECENT COMPLAINTS FILED ON THIS WEBSITE, I SEE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO BOTH STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SPIRAL CABLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

AIR BAGS THE SPIRAL CABLE WENT BAD CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON MAKING THE AIRBAGS INOPERABLE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND COST WAS $560 TO REPAIR WITH PARTS AND LABOR. VIEW DETAILS. *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITENTLY BUT FREQUENTLY. DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS TWICE BUT FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA USA SENT A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE (INTERIM NOTICE) APPOXIMATELY 10 MONTHS AGO WHICH SEEMED TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM BUT SAID TOYOTA WAS WORKING ON THE REMEDY AND A SECOND OWNER NOTIFICATION WOULD BE SENT WHEN THE REMEDY IS AVAILABLE. THE NOTICE ALSO SAID THAT WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON THE AIR BAGS COULD DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALER. THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY BUT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HE SAYS THAT HE CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM UNTIL TOYOTA ISSUES THE FINAL RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA USA WHO STATE THAT THEY CANNOT GIVE ANY DATE FOR WHEN THEY WILL HAVE A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP.

2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER: THERE IS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS FOR THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. IT HAS BEEN FIXED BUT IT OCCURS AGAIN AND THEN HAVE TO GET IT FIX AGAIN. DUE TO FAULTY A WIRING HARNESS THAT COULD FAIL AND PREVENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, IT IS DANGEROUS FOR ME, MY KIDS, OR ANYONE THAT OWNS OR DRIVES A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL TO TREAT MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ON FRIDAY 3/4/11. I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING 35MPH. MY HIGHLANDER HAS SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE BUT NOT ONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED A KNEE INJURY, A NECK INJURY, A SHOULDER INJURY, AND A CONCUSSION. I AM VERY UPSET AND CONCERNED THAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AS THEY SHOULD HAVE ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL. I AM HESITANT TO HAVE ANY REPAIRS MADE TO MY VEHICLE UNTIL WE FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE DEFECT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW TO PROCEED... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAGS) AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE AND TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND TO KEEP TRYING BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000.

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT (MY CAR REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR), AND THE BODY REPAIR SHOP INDICATES THAT THERE IS "SIGNIFICANT LEFT FRAMERAIL DAMAGE." HOWEVER, MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE ACCIDENT, WHICH WAS VERY SURPRISING TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE BODY SHOP. *TR

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE SALES PERSON SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WHEN SOMEONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND SUPPOSEDLY THIS WAS CHECKED. ON 5/23/10, THE VEHICLE WAS ON, BUT "PARKED" AND BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, IT WAS INSPECTED BY A TOYOTA ENGINEER AND BOTH THE DEALER AND ENGINEER HAVE REFUSED TO DISCLOSE THE CAUSE FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIRBAGS WHICH CAUSED INJURIES AND DAMAGES. *TR