MyCarTSB

2017 Toyota Highlander Brakes Problems

11 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data

11
Complaints
Jan 2018Dec 2017
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (11)

mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jun 2024

my car has 18600.0 miles on it the problem is i started getting a " brakes under powered find a safe place to park" after doing some research, i have been advised to replace the vacuum pump and power booster at cost of aprox. 4 thousand dollars the car is not safe to drive i am disabled so this creates a hard ship for me. this is a major brake component why does it need to be replaced with only 18600.0 miles on it this is my only from of transportation and yes the mileage is correct

NHTSA #: 11592453
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Oct 2023

Brake system malfunctioned and failed. Our safety was put at risk with no braking ability. The car was inspected and serviced by Toyota. One light showed braking power low on one occasion While driving car listed above, on five different occasions the brake pedal went to the floor with out stopping the vehicle. Our safety was put at risk on each occasion.

NHTSA #: 11547836
mediumSERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Filed: Sep 2023

While driving all of these lights started to flash.

NHTSA #: 11544723
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Filed: Feb 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the Brake Power Low message was illuminated. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V211000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle had not yet been taken to an independent mechanic or local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,460.

NHTSA #: 11509381
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Apr 2022

Vehicle displays “Low braking power” although breaking was fine just earlier in the day and no known issues. Vehicle refuses to start even though it was operating normally just a few minutes ago.

NHTSA #: 11460259
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Feb 2021

PURCHASED THE HIGHLANDER AUGUST 2017. SEPTEMBER 2017 (8 WEEKS LATER) WE RETURNED HOME FROM AN 35 MILE TRIP AND PARKED. I HAD TO GO BACK OUT ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO START. RECEIVED A "BRAKE POWER LOW, STOP IN A SAFE PLACE" LIGHT. IT TOOK MY HUSBAND 15 MINUTES TO GET THE BRAKE TO RELEASE AND BE ABLE TO MANUALLY PULL IT TO THE UP POSITION SO WE COULD TRY TO START IT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THIS INCIDENT.

NHTSA #: 11391029
mediumSERVICE BRAKES,LANE DEPARTURE
Filed: Nov 2020

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I PRESSED THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE SCREEN STARTED TO FLASH AND MAKING CLICKING NOISE. WARNING MESSAGES INCLUDE: CHECK AWD SYSTEM, LANE DEPARTURE ALERT MALFUNCTION VISIT YOUR DEALER AND BRAKING POWER LOW.

NHTSA #: 11374506
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Feb 2019

SINCE IT HAS BECOME COLDER IN THE MIDWEST AROUND NOVEMBER 2018, I CAN HEAR A CLUNK OR A 'THUNK' KIND OF SOUND WHEN I MAKE A COMPLETE STOP OR PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. THE SOUND IS COMING FROM THE BACK, THE AREA WHERE THE BRAKES ARE, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. THIS IS IN MY 2017 HIGHLANDER AWD XLE. I HAVE ADDRESSED IT WITH AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA SERVICE DEALER MANY TIMES BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN 'FOUND' BY THEM. THEY ADJUSTED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SHOES AND LUBRICATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PARTS, BUT NOTHING HAS FIXED IT. THE SOUND KEEPS COMING BACK. I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS. THE CASE IS NOW CLOSED DUE TO THE SERVICE DEALER STATING THE SOUND IS NOT A 'DEFECT' AND THEY HAVE TO BASICALLY WAIT FOR MORE COMPLAINTS TO TAKE ANY ACTION. I CAN HEAR THIS SOUND ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 30+ TIMES A DAY WHEN I DRIVE AROUND IN A CITY AND SUBURBAN SETTING, WHERE I AM STOPPING AT MANY STOP SIGNS AND RED LIGHTS. IT IS LOUD ENOUGH TO HEAR OVER SOME LOW TO MEDIUM LOUD MUSIC PLAYING. IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGING. I AM WORRIED THE BRAKES WILL FAIL OR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL ENGAGE WITHOUT ME SETTING IT. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA #: 11181307
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jan 2018

I HAVE A SAFETY CONCERN REGARDING MY 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I AM TRYING TO USE THE HIGHLANDER'S ADVERTISED ABILITY TO TOW A SMALL RV TRAILER (UNDER 5000LBS). TOYOTA AGREES THIS REQUIRES INSTALLATION OF A BRAKE CONTROLLER IN THE HIGHLANDER AND ELECTRIC BRAKES ON THE RV TRAILER. I INSTALLED A BRAKE CONTROLLER FOLLOWING STANDARD INDUSTRY PRACTICES. WHEN THE MANUAL BRAKE SWITCH IS THEN APPLIED, MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER DISPLAYS "PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" WARNING MESSAGE EVEN IF THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM IS TURNED-OFF. (NOTE: THIS ISSUE ONLY OCCURS IN 2017 AND 2018 HIGHLANDERS SINCE EARLIER VERSIONS DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM). I BELIEVE THAT THE BURDEN SHOULD BE ON TOYOTA TO PROVIDE PROPER INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE DESPITE MY REPEATED LETTERS TO TOYOTA. I AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF GUIDANCE PROVIDED BY TOYOTA ON THIS ISSUE, SOME FOLKS (AS NOTED ON INTERNET HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/333-HIGHLANDER-3RD-GENERATION-2014/1509914-7-PIN-WIRING-HARNESS-2017-HIGHLANDER-LIMITED.HTML) ARE INSERTING A DIODE TO PREVENT THEIR BRAKE CONTROLLER FROM DRIVING POWER BACK ONTO THE BRAKE SENSE LINE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE "PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" WARNING MESSAGE. THIS ALSO PREVENTS THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON BOTH THE TOW VEHICLE AND TRAILER FROM BEING LIT WHEN THE TRAILER BRAKES ARE MANUALLY APPLIED. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE UNSAFE. THE ABILITY TO APPLY THE TRAILER BRAKES INDEPENDENTLY OF THE TOW VEHICLE BRAKES (I.E. THE MANUAL OVERRIDE CAPABILITY) IS A SAFETY FEATURE FOR REDUCING TRAILER SWAY WHICH CAN OCCUR IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. FURTHERMORE, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MANUAL OVERRIDE CAPABILITY IS REQUIRED BY LAW IN CALIFORNIA. TOYOTA NEEDS TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE SINCE ONLY THEY HAVE THE DETAILED KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO DEVELOP A SOLUTION.

NHTSA #: 11064838
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Dec 2017

I PURCHASED MY TOYOTA IN MARCH. LAST NITE WAS OUR FIRST STORM OF THE YEAR. I LIVE IN SALEM,NH AND WE HAD MAYBE 2-3 INCHES OF SNOW. I WAS DRIVING HOME AND WENT OFF THE ROAD TWICE. I TRIED PUMPING BRAKES AND I FEEL AS THOUGH I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THIS SUV I COULD NOT STOP. IT WAS NOT DEEP SNOW. I FEEL SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I WAS NOT GOING MORE THAN 25 MPH AND MY SUV WENT OFF ROAD AND I NARROWLY MISSED A TELEPHONE POLE. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN SUV THAT DROVE THIS BADLY. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT, MY HUSBAND EVEN DROVE AFTER I WENT OFF ROAD AND WHILE HE WAS DRIVING THE CAR SLID ALL OVER ROAD TOO. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THIS TYPE OF WEATHER. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR SAFETY FEATURES AND NOW I AM IN FEAR OF MY LIFE IN SNOW. HELP ME PLEASE.

NHTSA #: 11053794
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Sep 2017

2017 TOYOTA HIGLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BREAK PEDAL THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. DUE TO THE FAILURE THE CONSUMER HAS RAN INTO A HANDICAP SIGN, LAWN TRACTOR AND WHEELBARROW. THE COLLISIONS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER, NUMBER PLATE AND NUMBER PLATE COVER. ALSO, CAUSED DEEP SCRATCHES TOT HE LEFT LOWER PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED UPDATED 09/28/2017*JS

NHTSA #: 11023208

Other 2017 Toyota Highlander Issues