2020 Toyota Highlander: brake failure

5 of the 323 complaints about the 2020 Toyota Highlander describe brake failure.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 2%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 5 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Brake failure by model year

2023
5
2022
5
2021
7
2020
5
2019
3
2018
7
2017
2
2016
3
2015
1
2014
1
2013
3
2012
2
2011
3
2010
5
2009
2
2008
11
2007
4
2006
17
2005
2
2004
2
2003
3
2002
1
2001
4

What owners say

Filed Feb 3, 2025 · Brakes · WI

Sensation of loss of braking, especially at low/crawling speeds, when braking on a downhill, or when braking on bumpy road surfaces. Dealer described it as "INCONSISTENT APPLICATION OF BRAKES WITH CONSISTENT PRESSURE ON PEDAL ON LOW SPEEDS". A very noticeable moment between regenerative braking disengaging and traditional brakes engaging. It was a very unsettling feeling when pulling into a garage or parking space, or making a hard stop at highway speeds. Dealer reprogrammed braking computer per Toyota T-SB-0059-23 ("Hybrid Regenerative Brake Transition Feeling Improvement"). It is improved but not perfect and I still notice this unsettling sensation from time to time.

Filed Apr 22, 2024 · Brakes, Driver assistance · SC

On numerous occasions when applying the brakes on my vehicle there is a very noticeable "surge" when the vehicle slows to a near stop. It feels like there is a momentary loss of braking before the brakes re-engage. I have had the vehicle since new and it seems like the problem has become more noticeable over time. I have lost some confidence in the safety performance of the vehicle due to this dangerous issue.

Filed Sep 9, 2023 · Brakes · MD

Random loss of braking feeling and jolting forward when stopping due to regenerative braking letting off. Happened randomly since purchase. Happens around 20mph mark

Filed Oct 18, 2022 · Brakes · CA

On several occasions the brakes will get very weak and you have to apply normal than normal pressure. There’s a second where it feels like the brakes have failed. All occasions have been on dry flat roads. This last occasion I was turning into a grocery store driveway and in the turn the brakes failed and I had to press hard and turn harder or I would have ran into the car leaving the driveway. It’s not the hybrid system. I’ve owned prior Toyota hybrid and the brakes don’t give out like this. Sometimes it’s less that 5MPh but it’s also done it at 10-15mph. Both times the batteries are not fully charged so there isn’t any reason why the regenerative breaking should be suddenly shutting off causing the breaks to feel soft.

Filed Apr 19, 2021 · Brakes, Engine · 15,592 miles · PA · crash · 1 injury

I was at a stop sign in my 2020 highlander waiting to turn left onto a busy road. Upon turning left onto pa state highway 999, the highlander engine turned off and the steering wheel was "locked" into a left position. This caused the car to continue turning into the opposing left lane resulting in a head-on collision with an on-coming car. With the engine turned off there was no power steering, no brakes, and no way to unlock the steering wheel. The collision caused my car to bounce back and slowly free roll back to the stop sign as though I never entered the roadway.