212 of the 2,162 complaints about the Toyota Highlander (9.8%) concern Brakes, making it the model's #5 problem area. That share is 1.6× the Brakes share across all tracked vehicles.
212Complaints · Brakes
9.8%Share of complaints
1.63×vs. all vehicles
40Last 12 months
9.0%Share involving a crash or fire
1Related recalls
Analysis
40 Brakes complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 27 in the 12 months before — up 48%.
19 of these reports (9.0%) describe a crash or fire, with 11 injuries and 1 death mentioned.
1 recall campaign relates to this area, most recently campaign 18V211000 (2018-04-03, model year 2018).
We were behind a vehicle that had come to a rolling stop because the vehicle in front of him had hit the person in front of him , we were going about 25 miles per hour and about 2 car lengths from him . I applied the brakes but the vehicle failed to stop .
Brakes · 2026-10-04 · ODI 11768834 · Crash
Incident: [XXX] Conditions: Clear daylight, dry pavement, normal highway conditions Crash/Injuries: Allstate Claim #[XXX]; several people injured At approximately [XXX], I was driving my 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid at about 55 mph in the slow/right lane.
Brakes · 2026-08-27 · ODI 11759973 · Crash
Brake lag with loss of brakes during transition from regenerative to hydraulic friction braking. The vehicle braking system cuts out causing the vehicle to freely move forward which has caused near rear-end collisions with other vehicles, and loss of brakes…
Brakes · 2026-10-10 · ODI 11770314
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond causing the braking distances to be extended.
Brakes · 2026-10-09 · ODI 11770179
When traveling at slower speeds and applying the brakes on a slight decline, my 2021 Toyota Highlander HYBRID lurches forward with alarming force.
Brakes · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11769154
The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while leaving the driveway at the doctor's office on a slope, the accelerator pedal was depressed while making a left turn, but the vehicle failed to move. The vehicle then rolled into traffic.
Brakes · 2026-09-21 · ODI 11765928
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM Campaign 18V211000 · 2018-04-03 · Model years: 2018
Summary: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0K/JLD.
