Toyota Highlander Hybrid Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 230 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid across 12 model years. The 2008 model year has the most (94). The words owners use most often: “brake actuator” (26% of reports).
- 230service brakes complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 13mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $4,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 23%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Brake actuator: mentioned in 59 of 230 complaints (26%)
- Check vsc: mentioned in 24 of 230 complaints (10%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes repair on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid at $4,500, and half of them between $3,550 and $5,950.
Based on 70 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2019), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do service brakes problems happen?
Based on 214 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 230 complaints, 13 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid service brakes complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 11% | 6,000 |
| 2022 Highlander Hybrid | 2 | 33% | 27,500 |
| 2020 Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 11% | — |
| 2016 Highlander Hybrid | 3 | 50% | 52,025 |
| 2013 Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 20% | 53,400 |
| 2012 Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 11% | 114,000 |
| 2011 Highlander Hybrid | 1 | 20% | 153,000 |
| 2010 Highlander Hybrid | 5 | 23% | 35,000 |
| 2009 Highlander Hybrid | 17 | 43% | 125,921 |
| 2008 Highlander Hybrid | 94 | 48% | 125,500 |
| 2007 Highlander Hybrid | 28 | 25% | 112,339 |
| 2006 Highlander Hybrid | 76 | 21% | 136,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists service brakes for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
After driving on an interstate and having my foot on the brake - the car jumps forward and accelerates. It has done this for a couple years, and it continues to happen more frequently. Sometimes it just jumps forward when you are driving through town and go to slow down. This seems like a safety…
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, there was a hesitation, and the vehicle surged forward before coming to a stop. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact became aware of TSB 0059/23, NHTSA ID Number: 10244133…
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the engine surged. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several…
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH and slowing down for a traffic signal, the contact felt as if the brakes had failed. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle was still rolling forward. The contact…
We were driving on the highway on 5/16/20. We were driving around 65 mph straight. We were driving on black asphalt and then when we drove over a bridge with white/grayish concrete, the car's emergency braking system activated and applied sudden braking even though we were normally driving. The car…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Highlander Hybrids have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 230 owner complaints about service brakes for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid service brakes?
No recall currently lists service brakes for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes problems on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,500 (half paid between $3,550 and $5,950), from 70 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
The most frequent phrase is “brake actuator”, in 59 of 230 complaints, followed by “check vsc” (24).
Other Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems
See all Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems.