2013 Toyota Highlander Brakes Problems

After a hard braking session because of a car that pulled quickly in front of me the ABS light and check engine light came on with a code of C1391 - Abnormal leak in Accumulator. A warning message came on the info center saying I needed to take it to the dealer to have the brake system checked for a serious issue. Went to the dealership and they replaced the Brake Actuator and Brake Booster Pump and bled the system. This all happened in Febuary of 2025. This put everyone at risk because it could have resulted in a total brake system failure. There were no issues or lights before this incident.

NHTSA ID

11735574

Incident

Feb 15, 2025

Multiple ABS related(ABS, TRACTION, BRAKES) warning lights/messages making driving my Highlander dangerous to me and others. Warning lights appeared 9/30/2024. No symptoms or warning lights appeared prior. Vehicle was then inspected by Toyota of Plano. Code 1391indicating an internal leak in the ABS. Confirmed by service dept of Toyota of Plano, Tx indicating the need for replacement of ABS Module Assembly. This as an acknowledged Toyota problem that was with a Service Bulletin that expired last year. Plano Toyota advised me to ask Toyota Brand Engagement for help but they declined. Toyota Brand Engagement declined to extend the prior Bulletin or assist in any way.. The Toyota case file is under my name and #241008000770. Any assistance from NHTSA would be appreciated.

NHTSA ID

11619689

Incident

Sep 30, 2024

All ABS brake lights on indicating a brake malfunction. Toyota has a customer support program to change out parts for free if vehicle is in USA. This should be a recall as it is a major safety concern and affects vehicles that may also be outside of the USA. If vehicle is outside of USA one can not even buy the updated parts (brake actuator and brake booster) to repair the vehicle because Toyota will not sell the parts to a dealer if the vehicle is not at a U.S.A. dealer so I am rendered with an unusable unreliable unfixable Toyota vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11490934

Incident

Aug 29, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE PARKING SPACE, TRAVELING DOWN A HILL ABOUT 40 FEET DOWN LANDING ON THE FRONT GRILLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000.

NHTSA ID

11319949

Incident

Feb 27, 2016

Mileage

730,000 mi

ABS SYSTEM ISSUE. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE ABS MAKES VERY LOUD NOISES LIKE KNOCKING VERY LOUD. LOCAL MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE ROUND DRUM ATTACHED TO THE ABS WAS VERY HOT. VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN TO MECHANIC AND WAS STATIONARY WHEN HE CHECKED IT. BRAKE FLUID LEVEL GOOD. ABS WILL KEEP RUNNING AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. TRYING TO KEEP CORRECT PRESSURE IN SYSTEM, I WAS TOLD. CHECKED FOR RECALL, BUT NO RECALL ON THIS VIN

NHTSA ID

11192146

Incident

Mar 12, 2019

Mileage

143,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT LEG, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. FURTHERMORE, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION IN OCTOBER OF 2018. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES AND WHEELS SEIZED ON THREE OCCASIONS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS MADE AWARE OF ALL THE FAILURES, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCES. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11142609

Incident

Aug 9, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

I AM THE ONE AND ONLY,'ORIGINAL NEW CAR OWNER'. AT 25K MILES I NEEDED TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS AS WELL AS ROTORS. REAR PADS WERE LESS THAN HALF WORN, HOWEVER BOTH REAR ROTOR HAD 0.8 CM, PERIPHERAL CIRCULAR UNUSED RUSTY RINGS ON BOTH SURFACES.BOTH, LEFT + RIGHT WHEELS. I KNOW I AM REPEATING TO DOUBLE EMPHASIS MY ANXIETY FOR A CAR MY DAUGHTER USES. I SUSPECT BOTH REAR CALIPERS (BRAKE-CYLINDERS) RECEIVE LESS THAN ADEQUATE PRESSURES + PADS ARE TOUCHING ONLY HALF OF EXPECTED ROTOR AREA. IMMEDIATE & THOROUGH INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE IS REQUESTED.

NHTSA ID

11104968

Incident

Jul 10, 2017

Mileage

26,000 mi

I HAVE A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING TOWARD A STOP SIGN, I WENT TO SLOW MY VEHICLE TO STOP AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK. ALSO, THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED TO BE IN A HIGHER THAN NORMAL POSITION BECAUSE I REMEMBER HAVING TO RAISE MY LEG TO REACH THE HEIGHT OF THE PEDAL. NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED I COULDN'T GET THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS FORCED TO GO THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND INTO WHAT IS OFTEN A VERY BUSY STREET IN MY CITY. THANK GOD NO CARS WERE COMING DURING THE TIME OF MY INCIDENT. AFTER THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT BACK TO PERFORMING NORMALLY AND I GOT THE CAR BACK HOME. LATER I HAD MY VEHICLE FLATBED TO A VERY GOOD GARAGE. MECHANICS DISASSEMBLED THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM AND DROVE MY VEHICLE BUT, THEY DIDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. ROAD CONDITIONS THAT DAY WERE DRY OTHER THAN A SMALL ICE PATCH I HAD TO GO OVER PRIOR TO THE STOP SIGN. IT HAD SNOWED DAYS BEFORE SO THE ROADS WERE PLOWED AND VERY CLEAN EXCEPT THIS SMALL ICE PATCH REMAINED. BUT, BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE ROAD MY SPEED WAS MUCH SLOWER THAN NORMAL. MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I HAD A DIFFERENT A ISSUE WITH THESE BRAKES AND BOUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING AND TOLD ME MY EXPERIENCE WAS NORMAL. UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THEIR ANSWER A MONTH LATER I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AT A DIFFERENT AUTO SHOP AND AGAIN THE MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING. HOWEVER, THIS LATEST INCIDENT WAS THE MOST SERIOUS ONE. I'M NOT CONVINCED IT'S NOTHING AND HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER HIGHLANDER OWNERS WHO HAD SIMILAR BRAKE ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANY FORMAL INVESTIGATIONS OR RECALLS RELATED TO ANY BRAKE ISSUES REGARDING TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS. EVEN SO I FELT I HAD TO SHARE MY STORY NOT JUST TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF MY SITUATION BUT, TO ALSO ALERT OTHERS OF A SAFETY ISSUE THAT I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY HIGHLANDER.

NHTSA ID

11079188

Incident

Mar 5, 2018

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND BRAKES (AND THE GAS) WOULDN'T WORK. MY CAR SLID BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL INTO A STREET WITH AN ONCOMING CAR. BRAKE FUNCTION DID NOT RETURN THE ENTIRE SLIDE DOWN THE HILL (APPROX. 65 FEET), AND THE SCREEN ON THE DASHBOARD SAID "BRAKE MALFUNCTION, CONTACT DEALER IMMEDIATELY" IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP OVER A WEEK AGO WITH NO RESOLUTION TO DATE FROM TOYOTA.

NHTSA ID

10808876

Incident

Nov 30, 2015

Mileage

36,000 mi

I TURNED ON MY CAR, PUT IT ON DRIVE WHEN I TRIED TO PRESS THE GAS AND TURN THE WHEEL TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED SO HARD I COULD NOT TURN IT. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL AS I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SO DID THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD, ON THE BIG SCREEN WHERE IT SHOWS MY INFO AND OTHER FANCY GADGETS SHOWED "BRAKE MALFUNCTION PARK CAR IN SAFE ZONE" AS THE CAR DROVE FORWARD BY ITSELF AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING THE CAR HIT AN EMPTY PARKING SPACE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS AT A SCHOOL PARKING LOT WITH KIDS EVERYWHERE AROUND ME! *TR

NHTSA ID

10703233

Incident

Apr 1, 2015

Mileage

30,500 mi

I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT ART HOME. I PRESSED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP, IT ACTUALLY ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY. I KNOW I PRESSED THE BRAKE AND NOT THE GAS BECAUSE I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THE BRAKE FULLY DEPRESSED AND MY LEG WAS FULLY EXTENDED. ALSO IF I WOULD HAVE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641427

Incident

Oct 4, 2014

Mileage

24,000 mi

ON SEPTEMBER 12 2014 MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT HER DOCTOR'S OFFICE. THE SPACE INCLUDE A STOP CURB AND IT FACED A FOUR LANE STREET. AS SHE PULLED INTO THE SPACE, SHE BRAKED TO AVOID CONTACTING THE CURB AND WAS ABOUT TO SHIFT INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR JUMPED THE PARKING CURB AND THEN ANOTHER CURB AND ENTERED A GRASSY AREA (APPROXIMATELY 10 FT WIDE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND JUMPED ANOTHER CURB AND LANDED IN A 4 LANE STREET. SHE CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ACROSS THE STREET. SHE WAS HEADED TOWARD ANOTHER CURB AND GRASSY AREA AND A DOWNHILL SLOPE FOLLOWED BY A MEINEKE REPAIR BUSINESS. NOT WANTING TO GO DOWN THE HILL AND INTO THE BUILDING, SHE TURNED THE CAR TO THE RIGHT BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID ENTERING THE SECOND GRASSY AREA. SHE WAS NOW TRAVELING PARALLEL TO THE MEINEKE BUILDING AND SIDE SWIPED TWO SMALL TREES, AND WAS HEADED TOWARD A VERY BUSY RUSH HOUR STREET. TO AVOID ACCELERATING INTO THIS STREET, SHE DECIDED TO TRY SHIFTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. SHE LOOKED DOWN TO FIND THE NEUTRAL GEAR, AND JUST AS SHE LOOKED UP, SHE CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO ANOTHER TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE SEAT BELTS SAVED HER. THE CAR WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHERE SHE HIT THE TREE AND TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR WHERE SHE SIDE SWIPED THE TWO TREES. THE MEINEKE EMPLOYEES CALLED 911 AND A DETECTIVE TOOK HER TO HER DOCTOR'S OFFICE FOR TREATMENT. SHE INJURED HER RIBS AND BACK AND CONTINUES TO RECEIVE TREATMENT. I'M CONVINCED THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND I AM ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THIS WITH TOYOTA BUT HOLD OUT LITTLE HOPE. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL INJURIES OR LOSS OF LIFE. MY WIFE COULD HAVE DIED IF THE CAR HAD MADE IT TO THE VERY BUSY STREET.

NHTSA ID

10637921

Incident

Sep 12, 2014

Mileage

12,356 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND CAME UPON A RED LIGHT, THERE WERE TWO CARS AHEAD OF ME, A LINCOLN AND A CHRYSLER. I STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AT A DISTANCE, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED, I LOOKED DOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, AND IT SURE WAS, SO I HAMMERED DOWN ON THE BRAKE AND MY VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND CONTINUED TO RUN AT THE SAME SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE FAULTY BRAKE CAUSED A WITHOUT THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. I KNEW THAT I DID NOT ACCIDENTALLY STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL BECAUSE IF I HAD DONE SO, THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FATAL. I WOULD HAVE PUSHED THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME ONTO THE ON COMING TRAFFIC. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I TESTED OUT THE BRAKES, AND IT WAS AS IF EVERYTHING WAS ALRIGHT. EVEN THOUGH I HAD SEEN THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME, AND THE RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, MY VEHICLE DID NOT REACT TO MY BRAKES. THE LINCOLN AND THE CHRYSLER IN FRONT OF ME ALSO DIDN'T HAVE THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563582

Incident

Feb 9, 2014

Mileage

12,030 mi

I BOUGHT A NEW 2013 HIGHLANDER DECEMBER 28, 2013 FROM TOM WOOD TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME DECEMBER 28-31, 2013 CLICK, CLICK, SQUEAKING NOISE, BRAKES SLIPPING, DRAGGING, VIBRATING AND A TREMENDOUS PULSATING AGAINST MY FOOT WHEN I STOP. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE HIGHLANDER THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD. JANUARY 2, 2014 A BURNT ODOR COMING THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS, RATTLING IN THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR, GUSH SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES, THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES THAT I CAN NOT IDENTIFY. I AM WONDERING IF A FIRE IS TRYING TO START, BECAUSE OF THE BURNT ODOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558553

Incident

Dec 28, 2013

Mileage

15 mi

I STARTED MY VEHICLE, IN MY GARAGE, TO WARM IT UP FOR ITS FIRST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED FROM MY LAST USE OF THE VEHICLE THE NIGHT PRIOR (I ALWAYS APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE BEFORE EXITING MY CAR). AS MY HIGHLANDER WARMED UP, I BEGAN REMOVING A FEW PERSONAL ITEMS SO THAT THEY WOULD BE OUT OF THE VEHICLE DURING MY SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I PLACED MY PERSONAL ITEMS AT THE END OF MY GARAGE, ADJACENT TO THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE. AS I TURNED FOR MY 3RD TRIP BACK TO GET THE LAST OF MY PERSONAL ITEMS OUT, I SEE MY HIGHLANDER STARTING TO ROLL BACKWARDS. I WAS AT THE FRONT-END OF MY VEHICLE WHEN IT STARTED MOVING IN REVERSE. I WAS UNABLE TO SAFELY ENTER THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS IN REVERSE MOTION. MY VEHICLE BACKED UP OVER A CURB AND MADE IMPACT WITH BUSHES AND A BUILDING STRUCTURE. I QUESTION IF FAULTY CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARKING BRAKE ALLOWED IT TO DISENGAGE AND INDEPENDENTLY INITIATE MOVEMENT IN REVERSE. *LN *TR

NHTSA ID

10551850

Incident

Sep 21, 2013

Mileage

4,600 mi

PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE - BRAKES APPLIED - CAR LURCHED FORWARD (UNINTENDED ACCELERATION) - BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE - CAR JUMPED THE CURB, CROSSED THE SIDEWALK AND HIT A TREE - AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546569

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

24,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS MANEUVERING THE SUV INTO SMALL AREA PARKING LOT ONTO A CORNER SPACE, ON THE FIRST FORWARD AND BACK MOTION TO MANEUVER THE BRAKE WAS OK, THEN ON THE SECOND MANEUVER THE BRAKE DIDN'T WORK AND THE TIRE WENT OVER THE CONCRETE PARKING BLOCK THEN HITTING THE STRUCTURE OF THE DOCTORS OFFICE. EARLY ON IN THE DAY I WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO PURCHASE A HITCH AND WHEN ABOUT TO LEAVE THE PARKING BRAKE DIDN'T RELEASE COMPLETELY, TOLD SERVICE GUY AND SAID TO GET A CLIP AND HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MIGHT INSTALL WIRING ON THE LEFT PANEL PUSHING THE PLASTIC PANEL WHICH BLOCK THE RELEASE OF THE PARKING BRAKE. ORDERED THE CLIP TO HOLD THE PLASTIC. BY THE WAY THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASE IN JANUARY 2013 AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN SACRAMENTO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515185

Incident

Jun 4, 2013

Mileage

4,500 mi