2004 Toyota Highlander brakes problems

Filed Jan 4, 2021 · Brakes · 126,000 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle and pressing to brake pedal, the pedal failed to return to the idle position. The vehicle stability control message displayed on the instrument panel and the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was then driven to the local dealer groove toyota located at 5460 s broadway, englewood, co 80113 however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 126,000.

Filed Apr 7, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 157,489 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander. While driving various speeds, while depressing the brake pedal, the pedal traveled to the floor. The traction control, check engine, vsc, and brake indicators illuminated. The vehicle was serviced per the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v499000 (service brakes), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact observed brake fluid leaking from the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 157,489.

Filed Nov 20, 2014 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 110,000 miles · IN

My vehicle is having an issue where the vehicle stability control and ABS are being disabled. This is the default mode whenever there is an issue. It is now occurring every time I start my car.

Filed Sep 23, 2014 · Brakes · 109,800 miles · SC

Brake pedal goes to floor very slowly and vehicle slowly creeps forward. Master cylinder was replaced with new. (history: at 79000 miles the toyota factory recall to replace the master cylinder cup kit was performed by toyota dealer ).

Filed Mar 27, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 111,922 miles · NJ · crash

While parallel parking and slowly backing into the parking space, my vehicle suddenly accelerated backward crashing into the vehicle parked behind me. My vehicle continued accelerating backward into the other vehicle and pushed it back even though I was applying the brakes as hard as I could. I then put my vehicle into drive while applying the brakes, and it immediately lunged forward crashing into the vehicle in front of me. While continuing to accelerate forward, with the brakes applied, my vehicle pushed that vehicle into the vehicle in front of it. I then turned off the ignition and my vehicle stopped moving. All four vehicles sustained damage. There were no occupants in the other parked vehicles. Repairs to my vehicle totaled $4,076, plus $1,444 for a rental car. I also received a summons for careless driving. I believe the accident was the result of sudden unintended acceleration due to a defect in the electronic throttle control system.

Filed Jul 26, 2012 · Acceleration, Brakes · 86,000 miles · MN · crash

I was pulling into a parking space in a parking lot, going less than 5 miles per hour. As I turned into the spot, the car lurched ahead, so quickly, that slamming on the brakes still caused me to slide a bit. I ended up hitting a car parked in the spot in front of me, and causing $1400 worth of damage (to my front bumper and the other cars rear bumper). I had a friend in the car with me who vouched for this. I have never had an accident before, and was completely baffled by what happened. After googling this, I see that this car has had several similar incidents, and I am now worried about the safety of my car. I am unsure how to proceed, as I have read that mechanics seem unable to duplicate the event that occurs where it seems to accelerate rapidly. Very embarrassing- I have never had a car accident before!

Filed Feb 1, 2012 · Brakes · 64,171 miles · TX

Brought the vehicle in for a routine oil and filter replacement. As dealers normally do, they also did spot checks on brakes, hoses, etc. The two front wheels had been removed supposedly to check the wear on the brake pads. As the mechanic was reinstalling the wheels, two of the lugs broke off. The service rep showed me one as he explained why the oil and filter job was taking much longer than expected. I studied the fracture face and saw typical fatigue failure with origin and progression features. It was quite evident the problem started much earlier than today. I only saw one broken lug, but the service rep said that there were two lugs that broke prematurely when they were reinstalling one wheel. This concerns me so I am giving this information to the federal safety agency. I have taken close-up pictures of the fracture face if you would like them submitted. To be safe, I am having all the front wheel lugs replaced on this vehicle. Agreed, this isn't necessarily a toyota problem. It could have been caused by overtorque when I had the tires replaced. If it is a toyota problem, you'll have other reports similar to mine. (I am a retired sr. Quality engineer familiar with accident investigation, failure modes, metallurgy, metallography, machining practices, threads, etc.)

Filed Nov 18, 2011 · Acceleration, Brakes · 125,360 miles · FL · crash

On november 14, 2011, I was parking my toyota highlander in a very familiar parking space and suddenly my car took on a life of its own and accelerated, veered left, jumped low sidewalk car barrier, jumped curb, and hit a decorative pole; brakes could not stop car. It went from gently entering a parking spot which I have often used to full throttle speed. The car did not accelerate straight forward it veered to left.

Filed Aug 1, 2011 · Acceleration, Brakes · 78,000 miles · CA

I took my 2004 toyota highlander v6 to longo toyota for brake booster recall in november 2010. They kept my car nearly 7 weeks before repair was completed. A few days after picking up my vehicle, while I was parked dropping off my passenger, most of the control panel lights illuminated (brakes, ABS, trac off, vsc, check engine). I reported this to the dealer. They said to bring the car back. I took the car back and diagnostic tests were run and concluded that a code was stored but it was nothing specific that had failed. Brake system was bled. In june 2011, the light cluster ("christmas tree" is how the dealer refers to it) illuminated again while I was attempting to pick up my car from my local toyota dealer (bob smith toyota). Again, the car was left. Again it was reported to me that the system had stored a code but no specific component was in failure and the brakes were bled. Approximately, july 20, 2011 and july 23, 2011, the lights illuminated again, only four of them (trac off, vsc, ABS, brakes). I contacted the toyota dealer on tuesday, july 26 and was forcing the issue on july 29, 2011 and made an appointment for august 1, 2011. On july 31, 2011, the same four lights illuminated while driving and stayed on. I stopped, turned off the engine, restarted the vehicle, and experienced a very spongy, squishy brake pedal. I contacted toyota motor corporation to further address the concern of my vehicle now being unsafe as a result of their recall. Toyota motor corporation was vague and said that the matter could only be addressed by longo toyota, the dealer that performed the recall, since the parts warranty would only be with them. In contacting bob smith toyota, the service advisors swears that the problem can be resolved by them. It appears that performing the recall weakened the integrity of my brake system. As one representative said, "you will not have a catastrophic failure and you will still be able to stop. It will just take longer."

Filed Nov 2, 2010 · Brakes · 73,000 miles · MI · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota highlander limited. The contact was driving 45 MPH when the vehicle abnormally began to veer off the road. The contact applied the brakes and the vehicle then suddenly spun around and crashed into a ravine. The vehicle rolled over twice. The contact sustained injuries to the neck and back and was admitted to the hospital for two days. A police report was available. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed by the contacts insurance company. The contact stated that prior to the crash, an unknown warning light was illuminated and the vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer made repairs to the vehicle and the light was no longer illuminated. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure and crash. The failure mileage was 73,000. Updated 01/14/11