"brake actuator assembly warranty enhancement" which can cause the ABS and vsc warning lights to illuminate with codes c1391, c1252, c1253 and/or c1256 may be found in the ABS ecu. Toyota had two warranty enhancements for this one 6/12/2007 - 6/12/2017 and the second ended 12/31/2017. We had midas auto service experts do a brake evaluation on 11/25/2017, which showed codes c1241, c1256 and c1391. We had the evaluation done because after breaking the check vsc system and ABS and brake light came on. We have the paperwork from midas. It was also brought to the attention of the toyota dealership salesperson that sold us the car on 12/20/17 and he documented it on his toyota laptop. The service department was also contacted but did not reveal there was a warranty enhancement for this problem only quoted to replace it would be approximately $2500.00. This is still a known problem and there have been multiple cases opened for this problem. I opened case 1801083723 on 1/8/2017 and another 1804032206. Toyota told me because the case was opened after 12/31/2017 and the service department did not run a diagnostic on it there is nothing they can do under the warranty enhancement even though we have proof from midas (a third party) there was an issue on 11/25/2017 and the toyota sales associate has notes in reference to it as well on 12/20/17. This is very dangerous due to not being able to stop and since it is a known problem toyota should open up another warranty enhancement and be liable to repair these vehicles as they are brought in. Toyota did run a diagnostic on it 3/28/2017 and had the same problem as it did on 11/25/2017 when midas ran the evaluation on it.
2007 Toyota Highlander Hybrid brakes complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 46, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Brake actuator assembly enhancer/ABS module went out in 11/2017. Toyota had a warranty enhancement on this that ended in 12/31/2017. This went out in 11/2017, but was not diagnosed at a toyota service department, but the svc dept was called about it.. It was diagnosed at midas. A case was opened with toyota on 1/8/2018. Toyota is saying they will not honor the warranty because it is past the 12/31/2017 date. This is a known issue with these type of vehicles and should be fixed by toyota.
Brake actuator makes very loud clicking sound for several minutes after exiting vehicle. When braking over bumpy roads, brakes "skip" as if releasing and then grabbing again. Also, brakes grab intermittently when slowing down on a hill when nearly stopped. All appears related to ABS braking system.
Told by toyota dealer that the brake actuator accumulator pump assembly has internal pressure loss. Statement followed by "shouldn't normally do that" and "$3200.00 to repair". Next, I was informed that the issue effects anti-lock braking system. While driving and coming to a stop the braking becomes difficult. It feels as if the power is lost in the brakes and takes much more force on the pedal to make stop. However this problem is not consistent, at times the breaking is normal, but after driving for a while the hard to brake issue arises.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota highlander hybrid. While the vehicle was undergoing scheduled maintenance, the mechanic pointed out that the ABS actuator was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.
The vsc system warning appears and it smell like the brake is imgage of attached like a burning metal smell.
I took my car in for a flat tire repair and an alignment. After the services were performed the mechanic was unable to reset the computer as it kept showing an error. All lights on the dashboard were lighted. I drove the car to a toyota service center. When driving I noticed that the brakes did not feel quite right. It didn't feel like they would brake quickly if need be. The ultimate diagnosis was the car had a c1345 linear valve offset undone and c1368 linear valve offset malfunction. A new brake actuator was installed at a cost of $3200. Per my research, this has been reported for the toyota camry hybrid as an issue. Perhaps the highlander should also be looked into.
I was travelling 45 MPH, when a car in front of me suddenly stopped. I had to brake hard and my car stalled. I felt a thud, went to accelerate and realized my car had no power. I had to put it in park and restart the car. My car had a recall in 2013 regarding possible stall due to heat possibly causing a defect in the hybrid computer board. I took it in and this was supposedly fixed. This is the one and only time my car has stalled, but it was scary because I had multiple cars behind me and I could have rear-ended. I have taken my car into toyota to be examined.
First noticed on date above, but occurs at least once a week. When slowing down, and brakes are applied, if a bump, pothole, and traction is lost for a split second the brakes stop working and the car surges,coasts, disengage. Firm pressure on brakes is used to compensate for the loss of braking power. As a result stopping distance is increased. This loss of breaking power lasts for 1/2 to 1 second. Perhaps its related to the hybrid regenerating system. Never the less it is very disconcerting to lose brakes, even for a split second
I am reporting two issues with my highlander. The first is in regards to the brake system. While looking at another complaint that had been filed, I realized that my car did the same thing. Brakes become momentarily unresponsive when stopping. Car lurches forward and additional force is needed on pedal to regain control. I copied word for word what the other person wrote, as that describes it perfectly. My second complaint regards the windshield wipers. The wiper on the left has stopped working well, and will not wipe back and forth properly on the window. It stops or gets stuck mid-wipe, obscuring my vision. It is very dangerous, and I am having them repaired tomorrow. Thank you.
Failed. Car not safe to drive per toyota service technician, and requires replacement costing $3700. The fault was a failed ABS brake actuator (?same as in '07 hybrid camry?).
After getting off the highway (not in my town) lights came on my dashboard for the ABS braking and vsc system. There were also additional characters like (!) in a circle. The manual said for all of these contact dealer immediately, which I did. I was told the ABS accumulator needed to be replaced and it was approximately a $3,000 job. I had the repair completed and paid $2,700.00. (the dealer discounted the job). I am aware that toyota is aware of this problem and has extended the warranty on that same part in the camry hybrid. Further the internet is replete with instances of this happening in 2006 and 2007 highlander hybrid models. Toyota has no credit, extended warranty, or other benefit to highlander hybrid owners. I called toyota and have a case number with them (#1412081681). I feel there should be a recall or extension of warranty on this known defective part. Is there any investigation into this issue?
While entering into a driveway at a very slow speed, I stepped on the brake to slow down further. But instead of braking, the car lunged forward. I felt I was not in control of the vehicle. I continued to hit the brakes, but the vehicle continued to go forward. It slammed into the car that was parked in the driveway and caused major damage. It also shoved the car into their garage, split the frame in half and ripped off brick from their home. The surface was slippery with wet leaves and there was a slight incline going up the driveway, but I just had brand new top of the line winter tires put on and I was probably only going 5 MPH. It did not make any sense. From reading the forums on line, I believe this is a major defect with the hybrid and toyota is not doing anything about it. They need to do a recall. Lives are at stake. Thank god no one was hurt, but it could have been fatal.
My car had been making a chirping noise when I brake so I took it to a brake place and they put on new brake pads and rotors, about a week late all the lights on my dash came on saying everything was wrong, I called the brake place they said it was just a loose connection. About 2 months later I was slowing down to make a stop at a light approximately a half a football field away and my brakes just stopped working and I slid into the car in front of me.. I took it back to the brake place they said it was the hybrid system, from which there was a recall for my car. I took it to the toyota dealer and they fixed the recall but then said my problem is the brake hydraulic actuator, a 2500.00 part! From what I understand it is the sensor that tells your brakes to operate when you press the brake pedal!!! Then I started researching and it looks like others are having the same problem in the hybrid highlander in 2006 and 2007 makes!!! I put my car in my garage for the last 2 months because I simply do not have the money to fix this and now the battery is completely dead! When I drove it home from the dealership after they fixed the recall and told me the news about the actuator, it felt like I was driving on ice and really had no control of the brakes at all... I would think with the complaints I have seen about this, that this would be a recall issue, I mean when you press on the brake pedal and your brakes actually work, your car should stop!! This could really end up hurting someone!
Brakes become momentarily unresponsive when stopping. Car lurches forward and additional force is needed on pedal to regain control. Appears to happen when braking system switches over from regenerative to friction. Happens at various speeds when trying to stop.
I bought new a 2007 highlander hybrid . The brakes have continually performed spongy and the accelerator would stick . I have had to drive with exaggerarted braking space to compensate . My wife has had three small accidents ( rear end due sudden stops in urban traffic setting . Over the years we have pressed darcars toyota dealership in rockville md for assistance but they claimed no problem . Calls to toyota USA were greeted with no help. Our insurance has been drastically increased we have tried to get the insurer, geico . To assist us in the defective braking problem and sticky accelerator. We are nearing the 5 year write off of those accidents . We have sideline the SUV and had to perchase a another toyota ( prius )for my wife , a nurse . We have not had problems with accidents and braking ever before . We see the legal wrangling with the attorney general and toyota but see no relief. We are two combat veterans of the gulf war and iraq war . We feels abandoned . A friend said to file the claim with your agency . We are not hopeful. Sincerely lieutenant colonel [xxx], us army retired. And major[xxx], us army reserves. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
On sept 5, 2013, I put my toyota highlander hybrid in reverse to straighten it up in a parking space, before I could even breathe, it took off in reverse going over 60 mi. An hour and I had no control over the car. It finally hit a garage from behind and took down the whole side of the garage and the front of the garage. Air bags never deployed. I was not injured except for a sore neck and right shoulder. They are just now pulling the black box from my car. No response from toyota yet.[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
At slow speed, entering my driveway, brakes failed, resulting in slight acceleration, causing an accident with our other vehicle in driveway.
After parking on an incline, in cold weather, with the emergency brake on, then starting up the car and driving slowly, the rear tires make a grinding noise. I have taken the car in to the dealer twice to address the issue, and they have completely replaced all the brake equipment and still the issue continues. They have suggested that I don't need to use my emergency brake when parking the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota highlander hybrid. The contact was driving 5 MPH in reverse and as he applied the brakes, the rear brakes exhibited an abnormal clanking noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician advised that the sound was normal and did not diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 7,000.
I have a 2007 toyota highlander hybrid. On 1/26/2009 I was stopped at a light, behind another vehicle, waiting for the light to change. I hadn't been doing anything but sitting there, waiting for the car in front of me to start moving, when my vehicle went forward (lurched) and I rear-ended the car in front of me! I have never done that in my life. My car hit the vehicle - a minivan, in front of me very hard, (felt like 10-15 MPH) causing a lot of damage to the rear cargo door. However, because the event was so odd, and happened so fast, (and this happened before toyota ever recalled anything except the prius), I assumed I must've done something to cause it. So when the police got there, I told them maybe I wasn't paying attention, and maybe I accelerated before the light changed (but even at the time, it didn't make sense to me, because I wasn't first in line at the light, I was waiting, patiently, behind another vehicle). In fact, I don't even remember looking at the light, I was just waiting for the vehicle in front of me to move, as I usually do - did. I went in to my toyota dealer a few month ago (march 2010) and told them what happened, and the service advisor told me that because my vehicle is a hybrid, sometimes, when you're stopped at a light, it switches from the electric motor to gas, and if you don't have your foot on the brake petal hard enough, it can lurch forward. Please can you look into this further, it was quite scary. I bet allstate and other insurance companies have many claims where a toyota highlander rear-ends other vehicles, and people assume it's their fault, not assuming the vehicle might have a problem.
Re. Toyota 2007 highlander hybrid braking failure resulting in a high speed collision. I was involved in an accident that occurred on thruway 87 in the state of ny which was largely the result of the brakes on my highlander hybrid not functioning properly. What happened: I was heading northbound traveling 65 MPH with traffic on the thruway a little more towards the heavy side but traffic was moving smoothly. Apparently, several vehicles a head of me, a goat ran onto the thruway and a tractor trailer locked his brakes up and came to a stop. There were probably three vehicles between the truck and myself and first two vehicles quickly moved into the left lane with the last vehicle practically swerving into a space that hardly fit his vehicle at the last moment. This quick movement alerted me to be on guard and I moved my foot over to the brake pedal. The truck didn't have brake lights or flashers on nor had there been any brake lights visible to me to indicate slow moving traffic ahead so I was still traveling at 65 MPH before realizing after a short delay that the truck was at a stand still. I quickly decided that the left lane was full so I couldn't swerve left, the right lane had a guard rail there but looked like there might be enough room to squeeze by on the shoulder albeit with a high risk of flipping, so I chose to brake and square up on the truck's bumper. I was about 90 to 100 yards out when I started braking. I felt the anti-lock brakes pulsing hard and the vehicle was shuddering hard. After about 5 to 10 pulses, the brakes stopped working and the vehicle coasted but doing this at 50 MPH+ and this goes on for 40 yards or so until right before impact. I felt the anti-lock brakes start kicking in again but it was too late. I hit the rear of the tractor trailer at around 50 MPH and stopped dead. I had called my toyota dealership several times of the braking problem (I.e., inconsistent operation on rough surface) and also I logged it on dot's website before the accident. Updated ivoq 09/15/10
Copy of a note sent to toyota via their website regarding sudden, short-lived decrease in braking power in a highlander hybrid: "on monday feb. 8, I stopped by lia toyota of northampton, ma to schedule a service appointment -- 25,000 mile service and requested they check the brakes, as I had experienced a sudden, short-lived (a second or so) decrease in braking power on random occasions. I know zip about cars, but I said it felt like an air bubble or some such in the brake lines. It appeared entirely random, happening at in-town as well as highway speeds (once). A day or two later toyota announced the recall for 2010 prius's. When I heard about it and the reason I thought, "ah, that's exactly what the highlander does, and it's a hybrid." so, today I went in for service, discussed the brakes, and was told that unless fellas in the shop can drive the car and experience the braking issue, there is nothing they can do -- they cannot even file a report with toyota, ie. They cannot get information up the chain to folks who actually make the cars. That is a ludicrous policy, especially given that) a known problem exists in a hybrid braking system and b) (and I assume a bit here) the highlander braking system is probably a near cousin of the prius's. In any event, here's a report from a consumer -- a highlander hybrid owner has experienced on multiple, random occasions a sudden, short loss of braking power when apply the brakes. It's not LED to any accidents; it is simply disquieting (though the highway speed incident was a bit thrilling). As a matter of course, I'd check your other hybrids gang.
When braking, if a pothole or bump in the road is hit, the car seemingly jerks forward/accelerates. This occurs every time when braking on a bumpy surface.
Abs system on 2007 toyota highlander failed. Resulting cost from dealer will be over 1500 and that is with a friend in the service department helping us out.
I have a 2007 toyota highlander hybrid. When braking over bumpy roads or potholes (even small bumps), the sensation I get is that the brakes are no longer engaged. The car feels temporarily out of control. This sensation is stronger if the bumps are encountered during a turn or if there are multiple bumps about a foot or two apart (as often left by buses repeatedly stopping in the same areas on city streets). On familiar roads, I know where the bumps are and can drive/brake accordingly. Unfamiliar roads make this problem less predictable and more dangerous. This problems sounds very similar to the problems with toyota prius' braking. My vehicle is not currently part of the recall and I wonder if toyota is being evasive about how extensive the problem truly is. Temporary loss of braking over bumpy roads has existed since I took possession of my new highlander in june 2007. I can predict occurrence with near 100% accuracy on certain familiarly bumpy roads. I see on this form that I must pick a date for "the" incident (there have been many). I'll pick a date of recent particularly memorable/scary occurrence. Note: this online reporting system requires me to choose "electric brakes" or "hydraulic brakes." I don't know which to choose: I think it is a hybrid of both, so neither choice is accurate. The federal safety agency: you can do better!
Toyota highlander hybrid 2007. The brakes had a complete failure. I was driving on ice, hit the brakes, and the brake calipers did nothing. I drove straight into a vehicle in front of me and forced another one to hit me.
I believe my 2007 toyota highlander hybrid has the same braking problems as described with the toyota prius. I had this problem since day one of purchase and I was told it was normal. Here is my description of my braking problem. When I am traveling on the highway or city driving, whenever I push on the brake pedal you can feel normal braking also you can see the dash gauge needle pointing to the blue as it recharges the batteries and then the vehicle comes to a stop. Ever so often, when I am braking I can feel the vehicle letting up on the braking, however I have not decreased my foot pressure and the needle on the dash goes from the blue to normal and the vehicle moves forward with momentum and I must increase my foot pressure on the brake pedal very quickly to re-gain my original braking pressure. This happens to me about once a week, and I have looked a the battery status and it seems to me that the battery still needs more charging. It was very scary at first but now I am use to it. I have no idea if this is normal or not, however the description of the prius problems sounds just like mine.
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 toyota highlander. While driving 5 MPH when stopping the vehicle with her foot on the brake pedal the brakes malfunctioned. Within a few minutes, they began operating normally. The failure has occurred 20 to 30 times . The dealer has not been notified of the failure. No repairs were made to the vehicle. The failure mileage was 150. The current mileage was 17,859. Updated 3/30/2010 the consumer stated occasionally while stepping on the brake at low speeds, it would feel like the vehicle was in neutral. But, just a fraction of a second it happened so quickly. Updated 05/10/10
First event-pulling into a parking space-applied the brake-car accelerated and went over the bumper guard. Ongoing issue-when applying the brake and hitting a bump in the road at the same time, the car lunges forward and the brake appears to fail. Reported to dealer-said it was possibly the ABS brake system. Have had the brakes checked numerous times with no trouble found.
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