2006 Toyota Highlander: brake failure

Filed Nov 6, 2026 · Brakes · MD

My brake actuator assembly failed while driving. The brakes stopped working. The cost to repair is over $3,000. This is a fairly common problem in the 2006 toyota highlander hybrid. In fact, Toyota extended the car's warranty to cover this issue, but it expired in 2017. The problem usually occurs once the car has approximately 150k miles which is likely outside the warranty period. This is extremely dangerous.

Filed Aug 13, 2025 · Brakes, Engine · VA

I was on the interstate driving about 72 mph when the car just shut off all the dash lights came on and the dash it said check hybrid system I had no brakes or steering I got it off the road turned it off and back on again it started up and I drove it home but the dash still displayed check hybrid system , a week later I get in it to go to work and there’s an alarm that won’t cut off and the abs , traction control and brake light and warning light and tire pressure light are all on and the brakes are hard and there’s a weird noise coming from somewhere when u push on the brake and it says check VSC system on the dash now

Filed Jul 12, 2024 · Brakes, Transmission · VA

Two problems being reported are severe safety issues, and could result in injury, death, and/or property damage. Problem 1: While driving, the brake pedal suddenly went all the way to the floor, and the car would not stop. To avoid hitting the car in front at a stop sign, I had to turn the wheel, resulting in running through the stop sign and onto the grass and shoulder before the car finally stopped. Multiple dashboard warning lights appeared. After stopping, the brakes momentarily returned but failed again within 2-3 minutes. A loud, high-pitched, piercing whistle sound began, indicating a complete loss of brakes. The car had to be towed 200 miles back home. It is not safe to drive the car without functioning brakes. The OBD scan codes are: C1256 (accumulator low pressure), C1391 (abnormal leak of accumulator pressure), and C1256 (accumulator low pressure). Problem 2: When starting the car, the brakes are applied first, and then the car is placed in gear. The car involuntarily and immediately jumps forward or backward and continues to move, even though the brakes are being applied. Having the foot on the brakes has NO EFFECT on the car moving! The car should not move at all when the brakes are being applied. To stop the movement, I must quickly pump the brakes repeatedly. This occurs every time the car is placed into gear after starting the engine, causing it to jump forward or backward and continue moving despite brake application. Both problems are severe safety issues, and could result in injury, death, or property damage.

Filed Apr 3, 2023 · Brakes · RI

When braking, apparently when the vehicle transitions from regenerative braking to hydraulic braking, there is a brief total loss of braking force and a noticeable sense of acceleration before the hydraulic brakes begin to grab and slow the vehicle resulting in an unanticipated increase in stopping distance and causing a near collision as my vehicle went several feet past the stop line into an active intersection due to this defect.

Filed Oct 5, 2022 · Brakes, Transmission · LA

Power brakes stopped working while driving due to bad brake actuator. Vehicle shut down while driving due to power train system.

Filed May 22, 2022 · Brakes · GA

My electric brake computer thu a code C1256 & C1391, ABS Brake Actuator Failure. Not regular maintenance item. No code ever thrown til this time. Major people killer when it fails. My experience was during a rain storm, lost all brakes for maybe 1-2 seconds. Felt like you were on ice. No control, No ABS. Then code and lights on dash lit up. I limped home worried I had no brakes or some brakes. Scared me and my family completely. Now car sits in driveway afraid to drive. I went to dealer, they read the codes and found 2 codes present. C1256 and C1391, ABS Brake Actuator FAILURE, needs to be replaced for SAFE Operation of car. Why isn’t this Brake Actuator under warranty? Excessive mileage? How would you know it was bad if you NEVER got the “CODE” as per Toyota Corporation.

Filed Apr 21, 2021 · Brakes · 100,000 miles · TX

Have had brake actuator malfunction/failure for a very long time. Started with noises and has progressed to warning lights and almost complete brake failure. Have contacted lexus bc it a rx400h and not a highlander bit they respectfully decline to get involved. Had called over a year ago. Had catastrophic brake failure that almost caused an accident with other motorist and am now paying 3000 to have the brake actuator replaced that they have been told about for years and refused to fix and consistently remind me I don't service my vehicle at a dealership for normal maintenance. The previous owner never recieved notice or a warranty campaign and ultimately rid themselves of it because of the issue and price of the brake actuator to be fixed.

Filed Mar 23, 2021 · Brakes · 191,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH down a hill, while depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the floor and the vehicle hesitated and started making an abnormal sound. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact regained control and stopped the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to dch wappingers falls toyota (1349 u.s. 9, wappingers falls, ny 12590, (845) 288-0892) where it was diagnosed with needing the brake actuator to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 191,000.

Filed Oct 8, 2020 · Brakes · 163,000 miles · HI

Unlike traditional vehicles where you still have some stopping ability when power braking fails this hybrid has no brakes. What happened? That's pretty simple I was driving and then I had no brakes while I was still moving. I was going 25 miles an hour and all the other cars were going 25 miles per hour. The car in front of me stopped to look at the flowers and I laid on my horn luckily the oncoming car recognized the situation and pulled over just enough to allow me to straddle the yellow line and pass the stopped car without crashing. The parking brake didn't help much but eventually stopped me about a quarter-mile later down a slight hill. Dealer wants $3,500 to replace the brake actuator which they had originally offered to replace free as an extended warranty but the problem didn't creep up until the extended warranty expired. I have no doubt people are dying because of toyota's design flaw.

Filed May 7, 2020 · Brakes · 166,791 miles · MD

My 2006 highlander hybrid brake lights came on and had no brakes. Took to a mechanic who cleared the codes and after 24 hours they came back on. Called toyota and they said the warranty expired in 2017 for that extended warranty. I was quoted almost $2500.00 to get it fixed. Toyota said they can't do anything about the price. Now I have a vehicle I am making payments on that isn't safe to drive cause I have no brakes.

Filed Feb 19, 2020 · Brakes · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander. The contact stated that with the vehicle in reverse, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to operate as intended. The brake failure warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was shifted into park to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to (rice toyota 2630 battleground ave, greensboro, nc 27408) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the brake assentura needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the vehicle was no longer under warranty since the 150,000 miles had been exceeded. The manufacturer was made informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jun 8, 2017 · Brakes · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota highlander. While driving various speeds, the brakes failed to work and the brake warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (toyota of nashua; 10 marmon dr, nashua, nh 03060; (603) 689-1500) where it was diagnosed that the brake fluid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted at 800‑331‑4331 and stated that they were not responsible for the failure. The manufacturer provided case number: [xxx]. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 08/03/17*lj information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).