2012 Toyota Highlander Brakes Problems

All brake warning indicators lit up. Took it to a mechanic that specializes in hybrids and they diagnosed it as a brake assembly/actuator issue, with a diagnostic code of C1391, with a repair estimate of $4888. Found online that there was a Toyota Customer Support Program 21TE03 that addressed this issue, but my vehicle was outside of both the primary and secondary coverage periods. My issue is that if they knew this was a very serious safety defect for older hybrid vehicles, why would they only offer to address it during a very short period of time?? There are many people reporting online that the same thing happened to them (problem arose after coverage period expired). Toyota says they “care about the customers’ ownership experience,” but by neglecting to help those of us experiencing this issue, they are showing the exact opposite. Hope you will help the roughly 74,700 owners potentially impacted by this, by encouraging Toyota to be accountable for the safety of their owners. Thanks.

NHTSA ID

11609089

Incident

Aug 17, 2024

This is the second Highlander Hybrid I've owned that has had the brake actuator and booster assembly fail affecting the functionality of the car's braking system. Replacing these two parts has an absurd price of over 3k at the dealership and other independent hybrid repair shops. My car only has 70k miles on it and I've read this issue applies to almost all other Toyota Hybrids. If most hybrid's brakes will fail eventually, putting at risk owners, why is there not a recall to fix this "not a matter of if, but when" possible life threatening issue?

NHTSA ID

11496907

Incident

Jul 22, 2022

I was driving and arrived home and suddenly lost my braking and almost hit my house if I didn't steer the wheel towards my lawn and put on my parking brake it would have been a disaster. I felt so unsafe that I had my vehicle towed for repair and had to replace the brake master cylinder. Two weeks later, we went on a family trip and parked my vehicle with my family and it was on a slight slope and went to put on the parking brake and it was still slightly moving forward only to put my vehicle in reverse QUICKLY in order in NOT DRIVE INTO A LAKE WITH MY FAMILY IN THE vehicle!!! I have just read the complaints and this is an ongoing problem since 2011 and I am quite SHOCKED that this is NOT ON RECALL!!! My wife has a Prius V 2013 and have not had any problems at all, BUT has a recall on a Brake Hydro-Boost pump fail for her vehicle, BUT nothing is wrong with her brakes, ONLY THE 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER!!! Please let me know what Toyota needs to do to get this this fixed!!! I know there are probably more that no one is reporting this and I guess there must be a fatality in order for Toyota to fix this problem!!!!

NHTSA ID

11478377

Incident

Jul 27, 2022

The Brake Hydro-Boost pump failed while driving on I-75. Subsequently almost all braking was lost on the vehicle. I have researched similar failures on the same model brake pump assemblies, and feel that this is a very unsafe failure condition for the vehicle. The repair cost for this failure is exorbitant given the rate of failure which seems to exist with this make/model. Luckily I was driving the vehicle at the time and had the presence of mind to allow the vehicle to roll to a stop using engine braking. This failure could have caused a multiple fatality accident in may opinion. Toyota is negligent in their care regarding theses failures.

NHTSA ID

11469384

Incident

Jun 5, 2022

I have had at least 6 occasions that in shifting from reverse and backing up that the bakes did not work, fortunately I was going slow and stopped with emergency brake. I have it also after backing safely, then shifting into drive that the brakes went to the floor and wouldn’t stop the vehicle again, between the emergency brake and park I avoided disaster. Our car has only 27000 miles and we are very concerned that something bad could easily happen. The multiple occurrences have taken place in the last 1 - 2 years most recent today 12/12/2021.

NHTSA ID

11443524

Incident

Dec 12, 2021

ABS check light is on, says "have dealer check immediately". Took vehicle to dealer, dealer determined the main wire that runs under the carpet is defective and has to be fixed. The cost for the diagnostics is $750 without repairs. The cost to repair is $5100. I bought this vehicle brand new and have had all maintenance performed to manufacturers requirements. I don't believe I should be responsible for a defective wire that controls the air bags. At this point there are no recalls on my vehicle. I believe the manufacturer should paid the cost for this repair.

NHTSA ID

11425577

Incident

Jul 8, 2021

WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE WITH BRAKE BEING PRESSED VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS AND SKID LIGHT CAME ON. PUT VEHICLE IN 'PARK' AND VEHICLE STOPPED. PLACED VEHICLE IN 'DRIVE', ACCELERATED AND DROVE AWAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM IDENTIFIED.

NHTSA ID

11124217

Incident

Aug 29, 2018

Mileage

45,800 mi

WHEN LOCKING THE DOORS, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERIES HAVE BEEN CHANGED THE DOORS HAVE TO BE LOCKED MANUEL. THE TRUNK OPENS ON IT OWN. I CAN BE IN THE HOUSE AND WHEN I GO OUTSIDE THE TRUNK IS OPEN.

NHTSA ID

11112299

Incident

Jul 16, 2018

1. MY CAR HAS ONLY 30000 MILES AND YESTERDAY BRAKE MALFUNCTION SHOWED UP. MY WIFE HAD HARD TIME STOPPING THIS VEHICLE. 2. SINCE I AM REPORTING BRAKE ISSUE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHARE OUR SPEED GAGE IS COUNTING 2 -3 MILES/HOUR HIGHER THAN ACTUAL SPEED. WE HAD A KIND OF SENSE FOR THIS. NOW I PURCHASED A VERY HIGH EFFICACY GPS. WHICH CONFIRMED. WHEN EVER WE ARE PASSING BY SPEED DETECTOR ON ANY GIVEN STREET. MY SPEED METER IS 2 -3 MILES HIGHER AS COMPARED SHOWS ON SPEEDING DETECTOR ON STREET . I DO NOT WANT TO PAY TO THE DEALER BUT I WANTED TO REPORT FOR SURE.

NHTSA ID

10990716

Incident

May 19, 2017

Mileage

30,101 mi

LIGHT TURNED RED. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP. BRAKE PEDAL WAS ROCK HARD NO RESPONSE. TWO MORE ATTEMPTS USELESS. I JUST CONTINUED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND THERE WAS NO FURTHER EVENT. THIS WAS THE THIRD EVENT FOR THIS CAR. I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. I AM AWAITING A RESOLUTION FROM TOYOTA UNDER A CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW DISPUTE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473682

Incident

Aug 15, 2012

Mileage

7,500 mi

AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THEN BRAKING, I BACKED UP TO REALIGN THE VEHICLE BETTER. WHEN I PULLED IN THIS TIME AND BRAKE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. I CONTINUED TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE REPEATEDLY, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL DID NOT STOP. THE ENGINE THEN REVVED UP AND ACCELERATED. AT THIS SAME TIME THE GEAR SHIFT WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AS IT HIT THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING, AND THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO BACK UP THE VEHICLE AND PARK IT IN THE PARKING SPACE, WITH NOT PROBLEM BRAKING IT TO STOP THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10466502

Incident

Jul 17, 2012

Mileage

4,989 mi

THE CAR WILL NOT HOLD WHEN PARKED ON A STEEP INCLINE. NOT EVEN IN MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME. ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE ADDED WEIGHT. THEY ADJUSTED IT THE FIRST TIME AND SAID IT WOULD BE FINE. THAT ONLY LASTED A MONTH. TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG BUT THEY ADJUSTED IT MORE. TECH SAID THEY MIGHT HAVE TO CHARGE ME BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO WEAR OUT THE PARKING BRAKE PADS. NEVER HAD SOME THING LIKE THIS HAPPEN IN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. IT CURRENTLY IS NOT HOLDING SO I APPLY THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR AND THEN PUT IT IN PARK. NOT A GOOD PRACTICE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10458807

Incident

Nov 8, 2011

Mileage

139 mi

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT, MY HIGHLANDER SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL! MY HIGHLANDER WENT UP OVER THE CURB WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW. I HAD BRAKES AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE, COMING TO A SAFE STOP. NOT BEFORE SLASHING MY LEFT FRONT TIRE AND BENDING MY TIRE RIM. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS INJURED. *JS

NHTSA ID

10457095

Incident

Apr 30, 2012

Mileage

1,104 mi