Toyota Highlander Hybrid jerking problems

Filed Jun 23, 2025 · Brakes · 6,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, the braking system experienced intermittent brake failures, causing the brakes to erroneously release while being depressed. During the failure, the vehicle unintendedly lurched forward. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the failures. The failure mileage was 6,000.

Filed Feb 21, 2019 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 120,000 miles · LA

While driving on a residential road the brake system failed to properly stop the car. This issue first happened in january 2017. At that time I took the car in and had the brake actuator assembly replaced under a limited service recall by toyota and the replacement actuator assembly also failed within 18 months. While driving through a residential area the brakes again failed to stop the car, making a grinding noise and jerking to a halt after pressure applied to the brake pedal. Because the actuator assembly was replaced under the limited service recall toyota denies any culpability in the failure of the replacement part and refuses to offer further assistance.

Filed Feb 24, 2015 · Brakes, Visibility · 105,000 miles · MD

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.

Filed Jun 13, 2014 · Brakes · 35,000 miles · MA

When I depress the brake to make a consistent smooth stop if the vehicle hits bumps the car seems to loose its braking power and almost feels like it slips out from under me as it lurches ahead. This problem is consistent in that it happens in the same spots under the same conditions. It seems as though it could be hazardous in certain conditions.

Filed Jun 6, 2014 · Brakes · 96,000 miles · MN

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.

Filed Oct 15, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 60,200 miles · WA

Depressed accelerator after being stopped at traffic light. Car jerked forward, stopped and would not restart. Warning messages for the hybrid system (message was 'stop immediately and notify dealer'), brake system and 4 wheel drive. Car was towed to dealer who determined it was failure of hybrid inverter requiring complete replacement. I'm concerned because this sound similar to issues reported for 2006 and 2007 highlander models.

Filed Jun 4, 2011 · Fuel system · 40,573 miles · FL

While driving my 2006 hylander hybrid @ 55 MPH, at night, there was a loud pop / thud and lurch, then total loss of power and the dash board lit up like a christmas tree. I barely made it to the shoulder of the road without getting getting hit from behind several times as vehicles steered around me. Honking their horns and flashing their lights at me. As I crawled to the side of the road @ 10:30 at night. I feel lucky to be alive. Vehicle has just over 40,000 mile on it and has had all required maintenance. Turned out to be the hybrid inverter failed. This is a non sevicable part.

Filed May 17, 2011 · Brakes · 30,000 miles · ME

I have a toyota highlander hybrid 2006. When I am braking to a stop at less then 15mph I often feel the car "lurch" forward for an instant as if the brakes stopped working for an instant. I searched on the web and found forums where other owners of highlander hybrids reported similar issues. I think it is possible the braking switches from regenerative to hydraulic and there is a little pause or loss of performance for this instance which forces you to add more pressure to the brake pad to maintain smooth braking. Toyota has not stated that this is something that happens on their hybrids but most of the other drivers have had my experience. I would like confirmation that this is an issue and a determination if this is a safety or design issue that needs to be acknowledged by the federal safety agency or toyota.

Filed Dec 21, 2010 · Brakes · 51,500 miles · CA · crash

I was parking on a steep hill and as I stepped on the brake, the vehicle lurched forward approximately 2 feet and hit the side of a fence post and caused damage to my front bumper. Since I bought this vehicle in 2007 I have noticed that often times while driving and then trying to brake on steep hills the vehicle lurches forward. This lurching often causes me to end up in the middle of an intersection or very close to a car in front of me, thus making it a very unsafe situation especially while driving kids. I have reported this problem to my toyota service dealer several times and each time they deny that there is any issue.

Filed Jul 1, 2010 · Acceleration, Brakes · 35,643 miles · MN · crash

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.