Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On June 15th, 2016 while over 200 miles from home on a family trip with my pregnant wife and 2 year old son in the car driving down a 2 lane highway with a semi truck behind us at approximately 45 MPH constant speed our 2008 Highlander Hybrid brakes locked up, a warning tone sounded, several lights lit up on the dash including brakes, ABS, vsc, (((!))), and /!\, and the car stopped completely in the highway with the engine still running. The lcd displayed several alternating messages about the brakes, ABS, and vsc and also about needing to have the vehicle checked by a dealer. As our car was about to be smashed by a semi truck I pressed the gas pedal to the floor. The brakes were completely locked up, but fortunately the car inched forward at less than 5 MPH with wide open/full throttle to pull off of the road before the semi truck could hit us from behind. The situation was terrifying. …
I was driving straight on a city street at 40 MPH when the vehicle stability control and check brake system warnings alerted, as well as the cabin alarm. At that time I pulled into a gas station and realized the brakes had gone soft and were not functioning properly. I turned off and restarted the car; the problem persisted. I cautiously drove a half mile to my house and connected my vehicle to a diagnostic tool. The codes indicated c1252-7 (brake booster pump motor), c1256-7 (low pressure accumulator), and c1345-7 (linear solenoid valve offset learning undone). The combination of codes points to the brake actuator and pump needing to be replaced. The brake pads, speed sensors, wheel bearings, and relays are all good. After much online research I discovered that brake actuator/pump failure is a common complaint on this vehicle and costs thousands to repair. …
We purchased a 2008 Highlander Hybrid in 2016. The car was practically maintenance free until last week. All service except oil changes have been done by the local Toyota dealer. My wife was pulling out of the driveway when the ABS/vsc lights came on and the console said to pull over. A code scan said it was c1391, internal acc pressure leak. Took it to the dealer. They said it needed a new brake accumulator and a new brake booster for a total of over $5000! Researching the issue, I found it is a fairly common issue for these cars. When I called Toyota to ask if the cost of this repair, equal to 1/3 the cost of the vehicle, could be mitigated, I eventually got a woman who told me that since I didn't take the car in to the dealer for nearly a year in 2015, I was not a loyal Toyota customer and they have chosen not to help me. Really!!?? The car didn't need any service during that time! …
I was driving to an off ramp when my 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid just stop in the middle of a very busy traffic! It almost caused a terrible accident. I had it towed and the Toyota dealership diagnosed it as an inverter converter problem and will cause me $11000 (yes, eleven thousand dollars) to replace it. This appear to be an engineering defect fault. Of all the warning in place it seems to inform the driver, such as the ABS light, low gas gauge, low air, oil maintenance warning, why not the 'inverter problem detected, bring your car to the dealer now?'. I feel that Toyota is being irresponsible in designing a car that just simply stop in the middle of the highway or on any street without warning. This error is super dangerous and can cause innocent lives and Toyota should take responsibility in correcting the wrong instead of hiding behind the scene. …
While driving ABS, vsc and check engine light illuminated, I continued driving (was 10 miles from home on fwy). Five minutes later I encountered traffic, traveling at 40-50 MPH I took foot off gas and began to apply brakes. Brakes immediately seized and the car started to skid. I released the brakes, then tried again, same result. I pulled to side of fwy and stopped. I drove surface streets using the parking brake when I needed to stop, until I got to my house. That evening and the next morning I checked toe cars operation, it didn't matter if I was traveling in FWD or reverse, the brakes immediately grabbed at the slightest application of the pedal. I took the car to a repair shop, he witnessed the same circumstance and did a computer diagnosis, which indicated a new brake actuator unit was needed ($3000). …
My 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was just deemed totaled by the car dealership (newburgh Toyota) and my insurance company (liberty mutual), because of excessive rodent damage. It turns out that the rodents were attracted to the wiring because toyoyta uses eco-friendly soy-based coating on their wires which attract rodents!! Rodents chewed wires, the wiring harness, plugged drainage holes with their bedding thus causing water damage, and ruined the Hybrid batteries. The damage was estimated at more than $12,000, which of course Toyota would not cover under warranty. The vehicle would not start unless the battery was unhooked to "clear" the computer system. When it started the error messages/warning lights on dash were lit up everywhere, indicating it was unsafe to drive. …
I was driving my car all of a sudden emergency lights went on, brakes lights, 4wd system lights too telling me to pull over once I pulled over on to side of the road I put it in park shut the car off ,turned it back off to see a change put it in drive the car was stuck and all lights previously stated were flashing a warning . And the car was unable to move I was very lucky because if I had continued driving I was about to enter highway with no sides to pullover and the car would have shut off and I would have been rear ended , three days prior to this incident I had given it for repair to Toyota dealership in bayside ny they charged approximately 850dollars for a wire they alleged had been pinched. …
In August of 2017 we were driving our 20088 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and all of sudden the display warned of ABS vsc malfunction and to pull over or take car to nearest dealer, the brake pedals lost compression or pressure and the brake was not working hardly. Took to the mechanic shop that has been doing the regular maintenance, they performed diagnostics and stated ABS module needed to be replaced. They advise car was not safe to drive. Checked this website and carcomplaints to see many other users same issue, contacted Toyota, they stated they had no recalls, its out of warranty, we would have to pay the $4000 to have fixed, we paid for the repair out of pocket, which was a financial hit for us. …
I have a 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid . Has 110K miles and the ABS light came twise in one week while vehicle was in motion before applying the brakes.what would happens happened their is a need for a hard stop . Atter resetting ABS light. Had pulled c1391 for ABS accumulator leak.very unsafe to drive due to my vehicle is braking only on base brakes and my ABS and vsc system has been deactivated due to fault present. Not sure why its not covered on extended warranty like other 2006 and 07 models. Same system up to 2010. What is the purpose of having ABS if it doesn't work when you need it the most.
The ABS actuator and pump on my 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid spontaneously failed while driving at moderate speeds on a city street. The ABS indicator light, brake failure light, and vehicle stability control light all came on at once. The car then abruptly decelerated to idle speed before I turned off the roadway. There was no impact on the car and no speed bumps/abnormalities on the pavement. I took the vehicle to a local Toyota dealership who stated the problem is as listed above, that the ABS actuator and pump had failed and would require replacement. I have not yet performed the replacement.
Traction Control complaints in other Highlander Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 13% of the model year's 197 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2008 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 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 128,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to stability & traction control 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.