Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was stopped at a traffic light at the off-ramp of east-bound 202/mcqueen rd exit. My right foot was on the brake pedal, when the vehicle began to accelerate unexpectedly and hit the rear of vehicle stopped in front of me. As I realized the collision, I pressed the brake harder deliberately (while the car in front of me had started to move further), and to my horror my car continued to accelerate despite my depressing the brake pedal. I consciously checked my feet to ensure I was pressing the brakes and not the accelerator. My car continued to strangely & unexpectedly accelerate until it hit the same car in front of me again the 2nd time at the traffic intersection. After the 2nd collision, my car stopped and I pulled over to the side of the mcqueen road.
When coming to a stop the brakes randomly surge instead of stopping. After a van rear ended my car at a stoplight, the tendency to surge increased and caused two rear end collisions within a few months. Toyota claims there is nothing wrong with it. Codes were documented, but I feel this is an issue that needs to be addressed beyond the manufacturer. It is especially prone to the surge when brakes are hit suddenly on city or highway streets. It feels as though the computer cannot decide whether to charge the battery or brake and that hesitation is frightening!
Involved in a minor accident on September 29, 2015 that May had been caused by brake failure on September 30 the brakes malfunctioned and dealer diagnosed a brake actuator malfunction. On December 16, 2013 at 68,490 miles this car also a complete and sudden failure of this same part, no accidents involved with this failure. It was repaired at the dealer. The premature failure of the brake booster assembly should be investigated on hybrids since the inability to brake the car can LED to a fatal accident.
Brakes disengage momentarily while braking at slow speed. This happens intermittently, and is very disconcerting. The other day it happened on a highway and caused a rear end collision at low speed. This May have been an actual brake failure, but afterward the brakes worked again. We are now afraid to drive the car, and the dealer won't do anything about it because he can't 'replicate' the situation. Online, hundreds of people have posted similar complaints with no remedy.
Have been experiencing braking problems ... Driving in traffic or coming to a complete stop fairly quickly (I.e. Stop sign), the brake engages ... Lets go for a second... Catches, car stops. This didn't happen all the time, but it began happening quite frequently ... Took it to Toyota. They changed the brake pads and rotors on the front ... Since there was a technical bulletin on the newer model, but not mine. Riving on a service road ... 55-60 MPH ... The car starts slowing down by itself ... Constantly.. Kept speeding up and it kept slowing down, as if brakes were being applied... No brake lights though. Today I was driving the car ... Going down a gradual slope ... On a turn ... Braked ... The car sped up .. Went from 30 MPH to about 35 MPH, while braking ... Car skided off the road, skid light came on, beeping non stop ... Hit a pole... Shattered my mirror and scratched the side ... …
Vehicle started to loose brake pressure when going down hill or moving ahead slowly as in a fast food rest line. The brakes would hold at first then loose pressure to a point were you had to push harder on the pedal to make them work. This would happen on a hill which would take you by surprise and cause the car to be out of control until you pushed harder on the brake. If a car was coming from another intersection you would not have time to stop your car and could cause a accident. While in a line at the drive thru the brake pressure let go and my car hit the car in front there was no damage and the other driver was nice enough to forgive me but that might not always be the way. The car was going in for service the next day or so and I explained the problem to the dealer. They said it was a normal condition of the Hybrid. This was after the tech. …
My Highlander Hybrid (2006) was only a few months old when an incident occurred where my brakes failed to stop the vehicle as anticipated in a normal distance causing me to bump the car in front of me (no injuries). I thought my foot had slipped off the brake momentarily. However, I discovered this to be an occurrence under certain conditions - typically 25mph or less and hitting a bump. I contacted the dealer service department and the manager indicated he was aware that some owners were experiencing similar occurrences. The sensation is like the braking friction suddenly "slips" causing the vehicle to stop at a further distance than anticipated. I've sense found that there is a sudden transition from Hybrid regen braking to standard hydraulic braking. Some have indicated that it might be related to the ABS system. …
While driving home from work in normal free-flowing traffic conditions on the freeway, several lights came on the dash indicating brake issues including vsc, ABS, skid, parking brake light. Continued to cautiously drive home, brakes seemed OK. Had our non-dealer mechanic look at the brakes all were fine and had recently been replaced. He could not find a brake issue. Took to the local Toyota dealer and one code came up c1391 "abnormal leak in accumulator" and was told I needed a new brake actuator at the cost of $3273.00. Diagnostic cost $138.00. Additional information on diagnostic paperwork from dealer says, "check for DTC's found c1391, check for fluid leaks, could not find leaks, check accumulator pressure voltage (3.5 v), depressed pedal 4-5 times accumulator pressure drops below 3.0 v, recommend replace brake/ABS actuator". …
On 12/02/13 the brake light and vcs system light came on. The warning light also went on and a beep noise inside the cabin, brakes does not function (breaks not responding). I took the car to an authorized Toyota dealership. According to the dealer codes (c1241 low or high power supply voltage, c1256 accumulator low pressure, and c1391 abnormal leak in accumulator) must be replaced the actuator assy, b part no. 4405048190. Actuator was replaced on 12/28/13 at $1,495 with tax for $ 1,600 and labor cost of $333.84. Ust be replaced. On 05/25/15 again the brake light and vcs system light came on. The warning light also went on and a beep noise inside the cabin, brakes does not function (no break). I took the car to an authorized Toyota dealership for a diagnostic and I pay $64.20. Again they mentioned that for a second time the actuator assy, b part no. 4405048190 needs a replacement. …
My speed was about 30 MPH; speed limit was 40mph. I was driving north-bound approaching an intersection. Up ahead, I saw that traffic was stopping and the light was red. I had plenty of time to slow to a stop, and I started to even though I was back about 15 car lengths from the cars ahead. When I started pushing on the brake, my car immediately 'died' but the car kept rolling forward, even though I confirmed my foot was on the brake. I was very startled that the car kept rolling with brake applied. Before I could think about what to do next, the car then rumbled and shook, and the engine made a revving sound. Then the car just sped up incrementally faster and faster even as I desperately continued to shove hard on the brake. I yelled "what's it doing?' I quickly wondered if I should pull the key out of the ignition but felt that was the wrong thing to do. …
Brake complaints in other Highlander Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
NHTSA has 137 complaints about the brakes of the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 37% of the model year's 370 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 88,000 miles, and 16% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 14 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.