2023 Toyota Highlander Brake Problems

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2023 Toyota Highlander owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

I was involved in a vehicle crash on 7-1-25. I had just pulled out of the gas station and was coming up to a stop sign so I was only going about 8mph I put my foot on the brake and nothing happened. I had my foot all the way down on the brake pedal because I saw a car coming and they were traveling at about 40mph. No automatic braking nothing worked. I had no control. I just prayed that I hope this doesn't hurt. None of my airbags deployed. My car is now totaled and of course I got the ticket because I did not have control of my vehicle. I strongly believe this has to do with the brakes and how it switches from electric to gas in my hybrid vehicle. Toyota has recalled prior years 2020 to 2022 hybrids for this exact issue. This is a huge safety issue and thankfully I am alive to make this complaint. …

weather conditions were severe due to a snowstorm, causing ice buildup on the road, low visibility, and slippery pavement. Despite driving cautiously, I lost control of the vehicle, which resulted in going off the road, down an embankment, and crashing into a tree. Immediately after the impact, I called 911 emergency services for assistance. I attempted to exit the vehicle, but the driver's door was blocked due to the position of the tree. I remained inside the vehicle until a passerby stopped and helped me get out. As a result of the impact, my vehicle sustained significant damage The shocking thing about it all is that the vehicle did not activate the airbags and that is worrying to me because it could have been unfortunate.

There is a wobbling sensation on my Highlander during braking at highway speeds. There is no such feeling while driving around city. It appeared after my trip on highway in heavy rain. There was no traffic, and I were using cruise control. Suddenly, doing nothing from my side but steering, I started to feel heavy break impacts, which scared me (I was with my family). I switched off cruise control, and those break impacts disappeared. Then switched it again, and I started to feel the same, thus I switched off cruise control and drove the rest of rain area with my foot on accelerator pedal. After that I started to feel wobbling during braking at highway speeds. It seems - more on the right side. …

Brake lag with loss of brakes during transition from regenerative to hydraulic friction braking. The vehicle braking system cuts out causing the vehicle to freely move forward which has caused near rear-end collisions with other vehicles, and loss of brakes at stop signs and crosswalks. The vehicle has been inspected four times at local dealership between June 1 and October 6, 2026. Brakes have been bled and recalibrated, actuator assembly has been replaced, and defect persists. Dealership has not been able to replicate the problem during their limited time with the vehicle. There are no warning lamps or messages and no other symptoms prior to each failure. Began noticing issue in May 2026. …

2023 Highlander Hybrid braking suddenly changes at low speeds when coming to a stop. Vehicle's brakes work properly (Regenerative and hydraulic combined) until it slows to make a stop or slows in heavy traffic. Suddenly the brake pressure changes and the vehicle "lunges" forward and brake pedal must be pressed extremely hard to stop or slow the vehicle. Problem happens most often when on a hill approaching a stop. Toyota dealer initially said that they never heard of such a problem until I presented them with T-SB-0059-23 Hybrid Regenerative Brake Transition Feeling Improvement for Model years 2020 thru 2022 from Toyota's website. I had reported the issue 3 times before (twice while in warranty and documented by them once while in warranty) but they claim that there is no fix available and when and if one comes available it will only apply to vehicles with 36,000 miles or less. …

Brakes momentarily lost during certain conditions. If going down a hill and applying brake, suddenly loses pressure and vehicle surges forward. Taking a right hand turn, slowing, brake suddenly loses pressure and lunges forward causing vehicle to go into wrong lane. Parking, apply brake, surges forward, end up in the next spot forward. I've had several very close calls, including trying to stop behind a bicycle at a stop sign, came within inches. I've repeatedly been to dealer. Toyota calls it "loss of braking sensation", have issued a TSB for years prior to 23. I have a 23 hybrid, there is no TSB or fix. Dealer is aware of the issue, has techs who have experienced it themselves. Just can't be fixed without Toyota stepping up. Happy to work with Toyota if they want to put sensors or computers on the vehicle. When the vehicle was new it only occurred once/twice a month. …

The brakes on this vehicle disengage and re-engage at will during braking. There are no indications of when it will occur. Brakes will disengage during low and high-speed braking, braking while going uphill, downhill, on flat roadway or during turns. This has resulted in several near miss accidents as well as debris was struck in the roadway due to being unable to stop. This vehicle was purchased new from the dealership in NM and was reported to them starting at 18,000 miles. Vehicle has been taken to numerous dealerships and reported with them as well. Toyota's answer is this is normal. Brakes disengaging and resulting in near accidents is not normal. It is now pending formal inspection from Toyota corporate by dealerships dismiss the problem as unable to replicate. This is to the point where we only drive when absolutely needed due to fear of an accident as this is the only vehicle.

Ongoing severe engine surge after coasting while braking lightly during moderate downhill drives on pavement. It happens consistently with different drivers at speeds between 25 to 45 mph. The surge can cause the vehicle to lurch forward enough to move the vehicle forward suddenly, and rapidly to other cars ahead. This is an unpredictable issue, but occurs multiple times daily. Very concerning for everyone at risk in the vehicle. This issue was presented to several Toyota dealers in the San Diego (Carlbad, CA) and Temecula, CA areas during routine servicing during new car regular servicing up to 36k mi. It was documented at those dealers 4 times. They could not reproduce it until the 4th service appt at Temecula, CA Toyota. Toyota has a remedy for previous years' models of Highlander Hybrid, which was a software upgrade to the hybrid braking/engine system. But not the 2023 year. Yet.

My 2023 Toyota Highlander has had an issue where the steering wheel and brake pedal vibrate when braking at around 25 mph and higher. The car will also vibrate. This happens on the highway mainly but also on 25+ speed zones in residential areas. I have taken my car for regular maintenance and the brakes have always checked out fine. There has never been a service report stating anything is wrong with the rotors. I have purchased new tires and have had them aligned and balanced and the issues still persist. When I reported this to Toyota Service I was told that my brakes were good. The problem still persists.

T-SB-0059-23 should cover 2023 Highlander hybrid vehicles as the same issue exists. My 2023 Highlander Hybrid seems to totally ignore braking during the transition from regenerative braking to friction braking causing me to have to suddenly push the pedal harder to compensate. The mentioned TSB only covers up to 2022 models and only for 36 months or 36,000 miles, which is a disservice to owners. Moreover this should be a recall rather than a TSB as dealers will likely not be able to readily reproduce; reproducing is a requirement for addressing the TSB. An issue with braking is a safety issue!

Brake complaints in other Highlander years