2018 Toyota Highlander: false forward collision warnings

Filed Aug 23, 2026 · Driver assistance · TN · crash

The Pre-Collision System (PCS) failed to engage the automatic emergency braking during a stop-and-go traffic, thereby, resulting in rear-ending the vehicle ahead of our 2018 Highlander Limited vehicle. Our Highlander was at a complete stop, then when the traffic moved slowly forward, we too started moving forward but didn't realize the vehicle ahead of us had suddenly stopped again. Our Highlander alerted us with high-pitched beep-beep-beep sound, but it didn't stop before colliding with the rear of the vehicle ahead of us. The speed couldn't have been more than 10 MPH since it started out from a complete stop and the distance traveled before the collision was about 40 feet. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the collision. It always beeped, like it should, when there were nearby obstacles, pedestrians, and when we got closer to the end of our garage parking space, etc. PCS sensitivity was set at the highest level (3 bars).

Filed Mar 4, 2024 · Driver assistance · 79,000 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, and later at various speeds, the Forward Collision Avoidance failed to operate properly. The contact was unable to turn off the system. The contact stated that under certain driving conditions, while driving and following a curve in the roadway, the system would activate and start braking the vehicle, even though there was no danger of a frontal collision. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact wanted the ability to turn the feature of the Pre-collision System off. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

Filed May 3, 2019 · Brakes · 16,000 miles · WI · crash

The pre-collision system failed to assist in avoiding an accident when the car in front of me stopped suddenly in traffic on a highway. Since the repair, the brake warning indicator light on the speedometer side of the instrument cluster intermittently illuminates and the brake pedal pulses as if the ABS system is engaging. Once it stopped me suddenly while driving down a busy city street. Went from 35 to 0 very suddenly. I have taken this to 2 dealers and they say there is nothing wrong. The system does not indicate an error even though the light is on and they tested while it was on. I can recreate the issue by accelerating quickly while turning left. Sometimes it happens when going straight, but the only way to guarantee it will happen is to turn and accelerate quickly. Neither of the 2 dealers I have taken it to have found the issue and toyota customer care stopped calling me back.

Filed Jul 2, 2018 · Airbags, Brakes · 3,000 miles · WA · crash · 1 injury

I was recently in a vehicle accident in my 2018 toyota highlander with the pre-collision system. The pre-collision system was working well through out our trip but unfortunately did not work when it was most needed. We were involved in a pile up on interstate I-5 going at least 45mph and noticed that the pre-collision system that is so much being advertised did not work at all. There was no warning what so ever and definitely did not break on it's own as advertised. At the time of the hit the airbags deployed a little to late at least the passenger one where I was sitting. I am aware that we should not rely on those items but I sure wish it would have worked the way it was intended to do so.

Filed Jun 17, 2018 · 1,600 miles · TX

I was driving on a road with two lanes southbound. No one was in front of me in either lane. A car was in the process of making a right turn from the shoulder. It was not on the highway nor was it headed back toward the highway. The pre-collision system attempted to bring me to a screeching halt without warning and for no apparent reason. I suddenly went from 65 MPH to about 20 MPH. Fortunately, there was no one behind me. They would have been as shocked as I was by the action of my vehicle and probably would have rear-ended me.