2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID Service Brakes Problems

ALL WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON TO CHECK BRAKES, ABS. ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACUMULATOR - ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS SENT A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM WITH MY 2012 PRIUS (ALTHOUGH IT IS FINE) BUT THE HIGHLANDER HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM. WHEN GOOGLING THIS I FOUND MANY 2008 HIGHLANDERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA WANTS $3600 TO REPLACE THE ABS ACUMULATOR YET THEY WILL REPLACE THE SAME PART IN THE PRIUS AS A RECALL.

Mileage: 121,000

BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY ON MY 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS BEEN FAILING. KNOW ISSUE. I'VE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAD IT SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURING IS REPLACE THE PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT NOT THE 2008 WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME COMPONENT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. NOT JUST TO ME, BUT OTHERS TOO. PLEASE HELP US. THANKS

Mileage: 158,000

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

Mileage: 139,000

I AM TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY ON MY 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS COMPONENT FAILURE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND WAS ACTUALLY COVERED IN A RECALL FOR 2006-7 MODELS. FOR REASONS UNKNOWN THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER 2008 EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE EXACT SAME COMPONENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA SEEMS TO BE PASSING THE COST OFF TO THE CONSUMER.

Mileage: 140,000

TAKATA RECALL .. MY CAR START GETTING AN ERROR LIGHT IN MY DASHBOARD.. IT SAYS BRAKE MALFUNCTION , VSC SYSTEM AND ABS SYSTEM .. MY CAR RUNS FINE BUT SOMETIME WHEN I PRESS THE PHRASE PEDAL CAR DOESN'T BREAK RIGHT AWAY AND MAKING NOISE.

VSC, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL ERROR LIGHT. MY MECHANIC IDENTIFIED THIS AS A FAILER ACCUMULATOR (ABS MODULE), HE SAID THERE IS A TSB FROM TOYOTA. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE THROUGH YEAR 2007. CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE.

Mileage: 78,000

WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY ON CITY STREETS, NOT EVEN BRAKING AT THE TIME WHEN SUDDENLY THE ABS LIGHT AND A COUPLE OTHERS LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD ALONG WITH A WARNING MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN ABOUT THE ABS AND VCS SYSTEMS. BRAKING STILL WORKED AS DID EVERYTHING ELSE (LESS THE ABS I ASSUME). *JB

Mileage: 163,500

THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. TOYOTA SAYS ITS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND IT WILL COST ME $4700 TO REPLACE THE PART. THEY RECALLED TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 06-07, PRIUS 04-09 AND LEXUS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RESULT CAN BE TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. SINCE TOYOTA KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE DEFECTIVE PARTS , ALL AUTOS WITH THAT PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED/REPAIRED WITH TOYOTA'S ASSISTANCE.

Mileage: 148,000

THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING A WEIRD "BURPING / BARKING" NOISE AND THEN THE DREADED C1391 CODE POPPED UP. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE ABS ACTUATORS ON THE 2005-7 YEARS BUT YET HERE WE ARE WITH PEOPLE REPORTING THIS FAILURE ON THE 2008-11 YEARS IN DROVES. CLEARLY THERE IS THE SAME MANUFACTURING ISSUE. IRONICALLY I HAD MY HIGHLANDER INTO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR WEIRD BRAKE NOISES A YEAR PREVIOUSLY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE NORMAL.

Mileage: 110,000

I RECENTLY HAD A NUMBER OF SERVICE LIGHTS APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID, INCLUDING THE BRAKE,VSC, AND ABS. THERE WAS A MESSAGE STATING THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DETERMINED IT WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE ACTUATOR (ABS). TO MY SURPRISE THIS IS A $3,000 PLUS FIX AND WHEN I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE O FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PART FOR THE 2008 TOYOTA CAMERY HYBRID AND MANY COMPLAINT POSTERS SUGGESTING THAT I VOICE MY CONCERN HERE.

I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC WHEN SEVERAL DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND ERROR MESSAGE BEGAN ROTATING THROUGH THE CENTER SCREEN. "BRAKE MALFUNCTION - STOP THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY, AND CONTACT A DEALER,' "CHECK ABS - HAVE YOUR VEHICLE CHECKED BY A DEALER," AND "CHECK VSC SYSTEM - HAVE YOUR VEHICLE CHECKED BY A DEALER." AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AND HAVING THE CAR SCANNED BY A MECHANIC, THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY, AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA. THEY HAVE THIS EXACT ISSUE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE 2006-2007 MODELS OF THIS CAR, BUT FOR SOME REASON HAVE FAILED TO INCLUDE THE 2008 MODEL DESPITE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THOSE. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND SAME ISSUES ONLINE. CLEARLY TOYOTA KNOWS THIS IS A FAULTY PART AND YET THEY CONTINUE TO USE IT AND DREW AN ARBITRARY LINE IN THE SAND ON WHICH ONES THEY WOULD FIX. THIS PART IS NOT FUNCTIONING AS IT SHOULD, THEY KNOW IT IS BAD AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO FIX IT. I AM VERY CONCERNED BY THE SAFETY FACTORS THIS MALFUNCTION REPRESENTS.

Mileage: 100,000

CAR HAS BEEN KEPT ON A GARAGE AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF. WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ON IT METICULOUSLY. HOWEVER, TODAY WE FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR IS LEAKING AND COULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON MANY CARS FROM THIS YEAR, AND OBVIOUSLY FROM PREVIOUS YEARS SINCE A RECALL WAS ALREADY ORDERED FOR YEARS 2007 AND 2006. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT.

MY 2008 HIGHLANDER ABS IS FAILED AND THAT PUT OUR FAMILY AND OTHERS IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THE ABS IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE LIGHTS KEEP STAYING ON, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU DO, RESET IT OR NOT. THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING, THE SIREN INSIDE THE VEHICLE MAKING BUZZY NOISE WHEN OPENING THE DOOR OR ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ONLINE REGARDING TO THE TOYOTA HYBRID MODELS AND FOUND MANY DISAPPOINTED CUSTOMER REVIEWS, THEY ALL POINT TO THE ABS PLATFORM DESIGN FLAWS BY TOYOTA JUST LIKE THE ABS ON CAMRY HYBRIDS & OTHER HYBRID MODELS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AS SUGGEST BY TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE, THE SAME TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY TWO CAMRYS FROM; PAID $125 TO HAVE THEM CHECKED OUT. MY HIGHLANDER ABS AND THE RESULTS TUNED OUT TO BE BOTH ABS ACTUATOR (47070-48010) AND ABS PUMP (44510-48080) ARE FAILED AND THE COSTS TO HAVE BOTH FIX IS $9000 WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ONLY WORTH BETWEEN $6000 (NOW $0) WHICH IS MORE THAN HALF OF THE VEHICLE'S VALUE, FOR JUST A FEW SMALL DEFECTIVE PARTS MADE BY TOYOTA. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE COST IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH AND BECAUSE OF THE MANUFACTURE DESIGN FLAWS & NOT FROM END USERS FAULT. I'VE CALLED TOYOTA TWICE TO BRING IT TO THEIR ATTENTION BUT I GOT DISAPPOINTING RESULTS INSTEAD. WE, TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID OWNERS NEED TO UNITE AND CONTACT TOYOTA AND OR SMART ATTORNEYS TO CONNECT ALL THE DOTS AND SUE TOYOTA FOR THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. OUR LIFE AND OTHERS IS IN DANGER DUE TO TOYOTA'S DEFECTIVE PARTS.

Mileage: 215,000

MY 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS BEEN MAKING A 'BARKING' SOUND EACH TIME I DEPRESS OR RELEASE THE BRAKE. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT IT'S NOT A RECALL ITEM. THE SAME BRAKE ACTUATOR PART IS COVERED BY A RECALL BY TOYOTA UP TO 2007 AND LEXUS UP TO 2012. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT'S NOT A 'SAFETY' ISSUE SO NOT COVERED BY TOYOTA, HOWEVER I'VE READ PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR KNOWING THAT I MAY HAVE A PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TOYOTA SAYS IT'S NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM SO NOT COVERED BY A RECALL. THE CAR IS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED, IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION, AND IT IS CURRENT ON ALL OF THE RECALL NOTICES FROM TOYOTA. IT'S A FAIRLY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD STEP UP TO MAKE, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW MANY CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND WORSE.

Mileage: 165,800

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID . HAS 200K MILES AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME TWICE IN ONE WEEK WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION BEFORE APPLYING THE BRAKES. AFTER RESETTING ABS LIGHT, HAD PULLED C1252, C1256, C1319 & C1391 FOR ABS ACCUMULATOR/ACTUATOR 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. OVER 200 COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. REPAIRS AROUND $4,500 AND UP. RECALL URGENTLY NEEDED!

Mileage: 201,200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, AN INTERNAL ALARM SOUNDED. ALSO, THE BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR FAILED AND FAILURE CODES: C1241, C1380, C1256, AND C1391 WERE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

Mileage: 154,000

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.

Mileage: 110,000

THE ABS ACTUATOR IS LEAKING FLUID AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY, I NOTICED A NOISE FROM THE SLIPPING ABS WHILE IDLING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, AND BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE BEFORE A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, OR MY BRAKES FAILED. THOUGH MANY ONLINE ACCOUNTS OF THIS SAME FLUID LEAK ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR, DESCRIBE DANGEROUS BRAKE FAILURES. THE REPAIR COST IS OVER $4,000 AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO A CARS.COM ARTICLE FROM JULY 1, 2016, THERE HAS BEEN A FREE REPLACEMENT SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATORS ON TOYOTA PRIUS 2004-2009, AND HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2006-2007. THE 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS THE SAME ISSUE, WITH AT LEAST 75 IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA: PLEASE INCLUDE THE 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID TO THE SERVICE BULLITEN TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP.

Mileage: 119,000

MY 2008 HIGHLANDER ABS IS FAILED AND THAT PUT OUR FAMILY AND OTHERS IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THE ABS IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE LIGHTS KEEP STAYING ON, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU DO, RESET IT OR NOT. THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING, THE SIREN INSIDE THE VEHICLE MAKING BUZZY NOISE WHEN OPENING THE DOOR OR ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ONLINE REGARDING TO THE TOYOTA HYBRID MODELS AND FOUND MANY DISAPPOINTED CUSTOMER REVIEWS, THEY ALL POINT TO THE ABS PLATFORM DESIGN FLAWS BY TOYOTA JUST LIKE THE ABS ON CAMRY HYBRIDS & OTHER HYBRID MODELS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AS SUGGEST BY TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE, THE SAME TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY TWO CAMRYS FROM; PAID $125 TO HAVE THEM CHECKED OUT. MY HIGHLANDER ABS AND THE RESULTS TUNED OUT TO BE BOTH ABS ACTUATOR (47070-48010) AND ABS PUMP (44510-48080) ARE FAILED AND THE COSTS TO HAVE BOTH FIX IS $9000 WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ONLY WORTH BETWEEN $6000 (NOW $0) WHICH IS MORE THAN HALF OF THE VEHICLE'S VALUE, FOR JUST A FEW SMALL DEFECTIVE PARTS MADE BY TOYOTA. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE COST IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH AND BECAUSE OF THE MANUFACTURE DESIGN FLAWS & NOT FROM END USERS FAULT. I'VE CALLED TOYOTA TWICE TO BRING IT TO THEIR ATTENTION BUT I GOT DISAPPOINTING RESULTS INSTEAD. WE, TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID OWNERS NEED TO UNITE AND CONTACT TOYOTA AND OR SMART ATTORNEYS TO CONNECT ALL THE DOTS AND SUE TOYOTA FOR THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. OUR LIFE AND OTHERS IS IN DANGER DUE TO TOYOTA'S DEFECTIVE PARTS.

Mileage: 125,000

FAILURE OF BRAKE ACCUATOR AND ACCUMULATOR

LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY DUE TO A ABS BRAKE ACUATOR INTERNAL LEAK ON HYBRID VEHICLE

Mileage: 160,000

BRAKING POWER ASSIST FAILURE CAUSED FENDER BENDER IN PARKING LOT, LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FOUND AT BRAKE PUMP. DASH WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED THE NEXT DAY.

Mileage: 134,400

ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY LEAVING THE CAR 100% WITH NO BRAKES AS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC NEARLY CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND POTENTIAL RISK OF LIFE. CAR REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND WELL CARED FOR. DEALER CALLING FOR $5,200 REPAIR WITH NO ALTERNATIVE. PARTS REQUIRED ARE ABS MODULATOR P/N 44050-48320 @ $2,700 AND ABS PUMP ASSEMBLY P/N 47070-48020 @ $1,010 PLUS APPROXIMATDELY $1,200 IN LABOR. HAD THIS SYSTEM FIXED OVER A YEAR AGO WITH THE CORRECT PARTS AND THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED ONCE AGAIN, PARTS ARE NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE USING OEM PARTS.

Mileage: 166,000

THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE WARNING ABOUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS WARNING) SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. REPAIRS COST US IN EXCESS OF $5000.00 THE FIRST TIME THE SYSTEM FAILED. I PLACED A PHONE CALL TO TOYOTA'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO RECORDS OF ANY REPAIRS TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON OUR VEHICLE MATCHING THIS WARNING MESSAGE. WE HAVE ALL THE REPAIR AND SERVICE RECORDS SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM TOYOTA, INCLUDING THE MENTIONED BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE REPAIRS. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE WAS NO HELP, AND SAID WE NEED TO GET THE CAR DIAGNOSED BY A TOYOTA DEALER.

Mileage: 180,000

LIGHTS APPEARED ON DASH "BRAKE MALFUNCTION", "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM", "CHECK VSC SYSTEM". TOOK MY 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM AND IT WOULD COST $6000 TO REPAIR. I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN MY 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. IN THAT CASE, TOYOTA ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENSION AND THE BRAKES WERE FIXED BY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I HAD NOT YET DECIDED WHAT TO DO ABOUT MY CURRENT BRAKE PROBLEM. I HAD JUST GOTTEN ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED AS THEY WERE GETTING BALD. I WAS ON A TRIP BACK FROM VA TO SC WITH MY FAMILY ON I-95 SOUTH. IT WAS RAINING. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE WAS SUDDENLY A LARGE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AHEAD OF ME AND CARS CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN BOTH LANES. I HIT THE BRAKES AND BEGAN TO SKID. I DO NOT THINK THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH WATER ON THE ROAD THAT I WAS HYDROPLANING...I WAS SIMPLY SKIDDING ON THE WET PAVEMENT. I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, SO I STEERED INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, STILL SKIDDING. ANOTHER CAR SWERVED INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE SO I TURNED THE WHEEL AGAIN TO SKID INTO THE GRASS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS NOW SKIDDING SIDEWAYS DOWN A GRASSY EMBANKMENT TOWARDS TREES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EMBANKMENT. LUCKILY THE CAR FINALLY SKIDDED TO A STOP AND CAME SLOWLY TO REST AGAINST A TREE. THERE WAS BODY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT NOBODY WAS INJURED. I AM SURE THAT THE ABS BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AND THIS IS WHY THE CAR LOCKED UP AND SKIDDED SO FAR. IT WAS SKIDDING AS IF WE WERE ON ICE.

Mileage: 179,000

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS CAME ON AND STARTED BEEPING. WHEN THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED, IT'S HARD TO STOP AND VERY HARD TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL, INSPECTION FOR THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM- FAIL. THE MECHANIC STATED WE HAVE TO REPLACE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER AND THE ABS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. $6,000

Mileage: 140,000

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA HIGLANDER HYBRID. DASH WARNINGS APPEARED SUDDENLY: CHECK VSC SYSTEM, CHECK ABS, BRAKE MALFUNCTION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $6000. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. SAME THING HAPPENED IN THAT VEHICLE. TOYOTA ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENSION AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. LOOKS LIKE THE SAME ISSUE IN THE 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID.

Mileage: 165,000

BRAKE MALFUNCTION WARNING AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. UPON INSPECTION AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A MAJOR SYSTEM FAILURE, THE ABS ACTUATOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $4000. IT APPEARS THAT, LIKE WITH THE 2006-2007 MODELS FOR WHICH WARRANTY COVERAGE HAS BEEN EXTENDED, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS AN UNSAFE, SUDDEN FAILURE PUTTING LIVES AT RISK!

Mileage: 85,000

BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHTS CAME ON, CHECK ABS SYSTEM LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND I LOST FUNCTION OF MY ANTILOCK BRAKES WHICH FELT VERY UNSAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS. BROUGHT IT TO THE MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR WAS LEAKING INTERNALLY AND WILL NOT HOLD PRESSURE AND THE ACTUATOR HAS INTERNAL NITROGEN CONTAMINATION. THEY RECOMMEND I REPLACE BOTH PARTS AND QUOTED ME $5400! THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2007 MODE FOR THE SAME ISSUE THAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING WITH MY 2008 MODEL. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL AS WELL, AS LOSING YOUR BRAKES WHILE DRIVING.

Mileage: 148,000

BRAKE ACTUATOR PROBLEM CAUSING NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE BREAKING SYSTEM. MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BEING REPORTED. SIMILAR RECALL ON 2006 AND 2007 MODELS.

Mileage: 140,000

BRAKE MALFUNTION WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS, ABS ,VSC(SLIIP INDICATORL) LIGHT),EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND MASTER WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. I,VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR 2 WEEKS NOW. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE DIAGONISTIC TEST SHOWED NOTHING, , BUT, POSSIBLY COULD BE LOW VOLTAGE FROM A PERFECTLY GOOD 18MONTHS AND 20 DAY OLD BATTERY BOUGHT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD A NEW BATTERY PUT IN FOR FEAR OF DOING ANYTHING TO HARM THE HYBRID SYSTEM. MAY I ALSO ADD THAT THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED NO PRORATE ON THE BATTERY. . ABOUT 200 MILES, LESS THAN 4 DAYS , EVERYTHING LIT UP AGAIN. FEARING WHAT I HAD RESEARCHED ON LINE, THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $5129.00 FOR THIS REPAIR OF ABS PUMP/BRAKE ACTUATOR.. REALLY?? WHO HAS THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY TOYOTA? I ASKED THEM TO RETURN THE BATTERY TAKEN FROM MY CAR A FEW DAYS EARLIER SINCE THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM . I TOLD THEM I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT MY OPTIONS ABOUT THE RIDICULOUS REPAIR. I WAS OFFERED $6000.00 AT THE DEALERSHIP OR POSSIBLY MORE FOR A TRADE IN FOR MY VEHICLE.. NICE, RIGHT?? STILL IN SHOCK,, I PULL ALL THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS OF WHICH THIS VEHICLE WITH 113,400 MILES HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED.SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT AT THAT DEALERSHIP NOW, I AM WONDERING IF THEY EVEN KNOW HOW TO DO DIAGIONISTIC TESTING SINCE ONE WEEK IT DIDN'T SHOW UP AND A FEW DAYS LATER IT DID! NOW, I RESEARCH MORE AND AND FIND A RECALL 13V396000 OF 09/04/13 FOR THE HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM,INVERTER COMPONENT WHICH EXPLICITLY DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HIGHLANDER. I AM WONDERING IF MY CAR WAS IN THAT GROUP AND IF I WAS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND MAKE IT RIGHT. I HAVE NO PROBLEM PAYING FOR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF A VEHICLE,....BUT THIS IS CLEARLY A TOYOTA DEFECT!!

Mileage: 113,400

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 OWN 5 OTHER CARS INCLUDING A COUPLE OF BMWS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A REPAIR THIS EXPENSIVE AND HAVE NEVER BEEN ADMONISHED BY AN AUTOMOBILE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE FOR NOT GETTING A CAR SERVICED WHEN IT DIDN'T NEED IT. THIS WAS OUR FIRST TOYOTA AND WILL BE OUT LAST.

Mileage: 128,000

3 WEEKS AFTER WE PURCHASED OUR 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID WITH ONLY 115,000 MILES ON IT, THE WHOLE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH WARNING LIGHTS. THE LIGHTS INDICATED THAT THE ABS HAD MALFUNCTIONED. IT SAID TO PULL OVER AND GET IT CHECKED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL LEAK IN THE ACCUMULATOR AND THAT IT WILL COST $4693.46 TO REPAIR. THIS IS AFTER WE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR $15,000. WE ARE A FAMILY WITH 6 KIDS AND OBVIOUSLY DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. WE CONTINUED DRIVING THE HIGHLANDER UNTIL IT BECAME COMPLETELY UNSAFE. THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT ONE DAY WITH MY KIDS. THE BRAKES WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BARELY EVEN STOPPED ME. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT HOME WITHOUT BEING IN A WRECK, BUT WE FEEL THAT IT IS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT IS THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT WE HAVE TO TRANSPORT ALL OF OUR FAMILY, AND WE AREN'T SURE WHAT TO DO. MY HUSBAND HAS RESEARCHED AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ABS HAS BEEN RECALLED IN THE 2006 AND 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS. WE HAVE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO OURS WITH THE 2008 HIGHLANDER. WE REALLY HOPE THAT YOU CONSIDER THE SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS AT STAKE WITH THE BRAKES GOING OUT IN THESE VEHICLES. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MANY AMERICANS.

Mileage: 115,000

A BUNCH OF LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING MY ABS AND WARNINGS FLASHED.. I BROUGHT IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN GA AND THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME LIKE 4000 TO REPLACE IT.. THEY TOLD MY WIFE IF IT WASN'T REPLACED SHE MAY DIE WHEN SHE LEFT THE DEALERSHIP. SHE WAS PRAYING AND COMPLETELY SCARED OUT OF HER MIND. IT'S STILL NOT FIXED.. SHE DRIVE IT WITH ALL THE LIGHTS ON TO COLORADO AND I STILL HAVE NO IDEA HOW I CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM. APPARENTLY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.. I LOVE TOYOTA AND REALLY HOPE SOME ONE REACHES OUT SOON.

Mileage: 143,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED. ALSO, THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION, ABS, BSB, CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF CLERMONT (16851 STATE ROAD 50, CLERMONT, FL 34711) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,565.

Mileage: 141,565

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. CONTACTED TOYOTA TODAY ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR COST, SAID THEY DONT HAVE IT RECALLED OR A CAMPAIGN FOR THE ISSUE, I STATED THIS WEBSITE WITH THE COMPLAINTS AND OTHER SITES, WAS BASICALLY TOLD UNTIL A RECALL IS ON THE ISSUE, WOULDNT BE REFUNDED.

Mileage: 159,000

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS FOR ABS BRAKES, PARKING BRAKE, VSC AND BRAKE MALFUNCTION ALL ILLUMINATED WITH MESSAGE TO STOP VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY IN A SAFE LOCATION AND CONTACT DEALER. DEALER DIAGNOSTIC DISCOVERED CODE C1391 "ACCUMULATOR LEAK", WHICH IS AN INTERNAL LEAK AND NOT VISIBLE FROM EXTERNAL INSPECTION - I HAD JUST BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE 3 WEEKS PRIOR. DEALER SERVICE DEPT SAID ABS SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND RECOMMENDED REMOVING AND REPLACING BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF $4,622! AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I LEARNED ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURES ARE A WIDESPREAD AND COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE HIGHLANDER. TOYOTA ISSUED RECALLS FOR 2006, 2007 MODELS FOR ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR, BUT NOT FOR 2008 HIGHLANDER. TOYOTA KNOWS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE (SERVCO SERVICE DEPT IN HAWAII STATED THEY HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THIS BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILURE). NOTE MY 2008 HIGHLANDER IS UNDER 80K MILES. TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND ADD THE 2008 HIGHLANDER MODEL TO THE CURRENT BRAKE ACTUATOR RECALL SO THAT THIS SAFETY CONCERN IS FIXED.

Mileage: 78,000

ABS, VSC LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE ON A BRIDGE ON AT HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH; PULLED OVER SAFELY TO CHECK FUNCTION; BRAKES STILL WORKED, ABS DID NOT; TOOK TO A DEALER NEXT DAY; DEALER ADVISED THE ABS ACCUMULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND OTHER ERROR CODES (OVER POWER) INDICATED A LEAK IN THE ABS NETWORK. DEALER ADVISED PARTS ALONE WOULD EXCEED 4800 USD NOT INCLUDING LABOR.

Mileage: 93,000

THE CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING. WE WERE DRIVING NORMALLY WHEN WE BEGAN NOTICING A SERIES OF RECURRING HYDRAULIC-LIKE PULSATIONS AND NOISES WHENEVER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE ISN'T MOVING. THE PULSATION SENSATION CAN BE FELT THROUGHOUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED EVEN WHEN NOT MOVING. THE SERIES OF NOISES ARE COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE ABS SYSTEM/ACTUATOR UNDER THE HOOD WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO AN ABNORMAL LEAK IN THE ACCUMULATOR. THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ANY ISSUES WHEN THE TOYOTA SERVICE TECHNICIAN LAST INSPECTED IT. WE HAVE SINCE PAID A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO HAVE THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND FLUID CHANGED, BUT THAT DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH WE ARE CONFIDENT THE ISSUE IS EXACTLY AS HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO TOYOTA, BBB, AND NHTSA. TOYOTA HAS SINCE ISSUES RECALLS AND WARRANTY EXTENSIONS FOR THE OTHER TOYOTA HYBRID MODEL THAT UTILIZE THE SAME PLATFORM/SYSTEM BUT JUST NOT FOR THE LATER 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID. SOMEONE NEEDS TO STEP UP AND HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SAME FAULTY PARTS THEY CONTINUED TO INSTALL IN THEIR OTHER HYBRID VEHICLES THEY SOLD TO CONSUMERS. THE ABS SYSTEM IS CLEARLY NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AS HUNDREDS OF CONSUMERS HAVE PREVIOUSLY NOTED. WHY WOULD TOYOTA COVER THE COST OF REPAIR FOR OTHER HYBRIDS WITH THIS SAME DEFECT BUT NOT OTHERS? THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR WARRANTY EXTENSION ISSUED FOR THIS MODEL/YEAR AS TOYOTA HAS ISSUED FOR OTHER HYBRID MODELS USING THE SAME PLATFORM. I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED AND TROUBLED BY THE SAFETY FACTORS THIS MALFUNCTION PRESENTS ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. THIS IS CLEARLY A WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM FOR THE 2008 MODELS.

Mileage: 130,000

ABS MODULE WENT OUT DURING ICE STORM MAKING CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LOOKING ONLINE, I SEE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF MY PARTICULAR CAR. I WAS LUCKY THAT I LIVE IN HOUSTON WHICH RARELY HAS ICY ROADS

Mileage: 160,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE. A MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CHECK VEHICLE SYSTEM AND THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CALLED PUENTE HILLS TOYOTA AT 626-964-7100 (LOCATED AT 17070 GATE AVE, HACIENDA HEIGHTS, CA 91745) AND WAS INFORMED TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA OF WHITTIER (14577 E. WHITTIER BLVD, WHITTIER, CA 90605) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW BRAKE SYSTEM WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.

Mileage: 108,000

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN SUDDENLY MY DASHBOARD DISPLAYED THE ABS VSC WARNING LIGHTS. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO RUN THE DIAGNOSTICS ON IT, WHICH COST ME $ 100. AFTER WHICH I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS ACTUATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $4500. SO I ASKED IF THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE AND IF THE BREAKS ARE STILL OK AND WORKING, THEY SAID IT WAS FINE TO DRIVE BUT TO REPLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WAS ABOUT TO GO ON A VACATION SO DIDNT HAVE (THE TIME )OR MONEY TO SPEND ON A PART THAT IN MY MIND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I THEN ATTEMPTED TO CALL TOYOTA TO CHECK FOR ANY RECALLS ON MY MODEL...THEY HAD NONE. AS I WAS COMING BACK FROM MY VACATION, DOING ABOUT 60MPH A LADY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF MY CAR CAUSING ME TO REAREND HER VEHICLE. MY BREAKS LOCKED UP AND THANKFULLY NO ONE GOT HURT. I AM INTERESTED IN CONTACTING A LAWYER TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE.

Mileage: 102,000

BRAKES STOPPED WORKING WITH LIGHTS COMING ON REQUESTING TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS THE ABS ACTUATOR WHICH IS MALFUNCTIONING AND REQUESTING ME TO REPLACE IT AT 3500$. TOYOTA HAS BEEN MAKING THIS PART DEFECTIVE AND HAS BEEN RECALLING THIS FOR SIMILAR MODEL YEARS. 2007 HAS A RECALL. 2008 CAMRY HYBRID HAS A RECALL. THEY SHOULD JUST RECALL THIS PART ACROSS THE BOARD.

Mileage: 137,000

UPON STARTING CAR, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, PLUS WARNING MESSAGES SAYING BRAKE MALFUNCTION, CHECK ABS, AND CHECK VSC SYSTEM. TOOK TO DEALER. DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS NEW ABS ACTUATOR WHICH WILL COST $3,300 WITH INSTALLATION. I WAS ALSO TOLD PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER, AND MAY TAKE 1-2 MONTHS TO RECEIVE. DIDN'T TAKE MUCH EFFORT TO LEARN ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THAT OTHER TOYOTA CARS AROUND THE SAME PERIOD HAD RECALLS ON THIS PART. WHY NO RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR?

Mileage: 177,000

ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION,STATIONARY,WENT ONLINE FOUND NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS

MY 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS A C1391 ABS ACCUMULATOR TROUBLE LIGHT CLOSE TO A $5000.00 REPAIR. I HAVE NOTICED THE PRIOR 2 YEARS HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE WITH RECALLS AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS YEAR. WILL THE NHTSA BE LOOKING INTO THIS?

I WAS DRIVING IN 295 I HEARING A SOUND COMING FROM THE DASKBOARD AND A LIGHT APPEARED STATED NEED TO CHECK ABS BREAK SYSTEM BY DEALER. I SAID TO MYSELF I'LL HAVE IT CHECK WHEN I GOT HOME. I WAS DOING 65 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS PRESSING BREAK THERE WERE NO BREAK, PUMP THE BREAK SEVERAL TIMES, NO BREAK, I PRESSED THE EMERGENCY BREAK AND THANKS TO THE LORD THE CAR SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY STOP. APPARENTLY DEALER ASKED ME $5,500. TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND I DON'T HAVE THIS TYPE OF MONEY, AND I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENT ON THIS VEHICLE CAN'T EVEN DRIVE; I BELIEVE THIS TYPE OF ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I NEED HELP PLEASE!!!!! [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Mileage: 147,896

BRAKE MALFUNCTION ON 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID WITH 100,495 MILES: I HAD THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS APPEAR ON THE ELECTRONIC SCREEN - 'ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION - PARK CAR IN A SAFE PLACE AND CALL THE DEALER', 'VSC SYSTEM FAILURE', ' BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING'. A LOUD ALARM CAME ON SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND IS NOW CONSTANT WHEN THE IGNITION 'ON' BUTTON IS PRESSED, (I.E. WHEN CAR IS MOVING OR IN PARK). I NEED TO USE VERY HIGH FOOT PRESSURE TO MAKE THE BRAKES WORK AT ALL AND THIS SITUATION COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF I NEEDED TO STOP SUDDENLY. I READ THE MANY SIMILAR BRAKE RELATED COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA AND TOYOTA BLOG PAGES. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IS CHARGING $2,435 [20-25% OF NET WORTH OF VEHICLE] TO REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY WHICH THEY INDICATE IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP IN DEBUGGING THE ABS/BRAKE/VSC MESSAGES ARE DUE TO. THE REPLACEMENT PART COSTS $1,200 (WITH OVERNIGHT SHIPPING) BUT THE DEALER IS CHARGING $1,781. EVEN AFTER THIS PART IS REPLACED, FIXING THE ISSUE MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PARTS/WORK. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA US CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO INDICATED THAT THEY CANNOT HELP TO COVER ANY PART OF THIS REPAIR AT ALL, EVEN THOUGH BRAKE FAILURE IS LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. GIVEN THE BRAKE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY TOYOTA FOR 2007-2011 CAMRY AND FOR 2006, 2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND GIVEN THAT THE 2008 MODEL YEAR HIGHLANDER IS BUILT ON THE CAMRY PLATFORM, I AM REQUESTING THAT THE NHTSA STRONGLY URGE TOYOTA TO ISSUE A BRAKE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR 2008 MODEL YEAR HIGHLANDER HYBRID.

Mileage: 100,400

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE REVERSING AT 5 MPH, THE VSC, CHECK TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, AND BRAKE MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE TO DRIVE TO HIS DESTINATION, BUT THE INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,200. ...UPDATED 10/23/17 *BF UPDATED 10/26/2017*JS

Mileage: 147,200

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30K / HR ON SEPTEMBER 22, AROUND 6PM. LITTLE TRAFFIC AS THE ROAD LEADS DEEP TO THE COUNTRY. NO RAIN, GREAT VISIBILITY. WE'D JUST STOPPED TO FOLLOW SOMEONE TO A REMOTE LOCATION AND HAD NOT GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR AT THAT TIME AS THE FRIEND CAME TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. A FEW MINUTES LATER, AN ALARM SOUNDED AND THE INDICATOR DISPLAYED "BRAKE MALFUNCTION". THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AND AT THE SAME MOMENT, SMOKE BEGAN FILLING THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT VENTS. AT THIS TIME YOU COULD ALSO SEE SMALL FLAMES FROM THE FRONT HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. WE IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE CAR ONCE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP (FORCED TO PARK POSITION). FLAMES COULD BE SEEN FALLING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT END. MY HUSBAND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WE RAN AROUND A NED IN THE ROAD TO GET TO SAFETY. WITHIN MINUTES (5-7 MAX) THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE GENTLEMAN WE WERE FOLLOWING TURNED AROUND TO SEE WHERE WE WERE WHEN HE REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. TOYOTA CES HAS BEEN CONTACTED AS WE WERE HOPING FOR HELP WITH AN INVESTIGATION. WE ARE A MILITARY FAMILY, STATIONED OVERSEAS. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIPPED HERE 2.5 YEARS AGO AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE ONCE WE RECEIVED NEW ORDERS. TOYOTA HAS BEEN LESS THAN ACCOMMODATING WITH PROVIDING ANY INFORMATION. THIS HAPPENED WITH LITTLE TIME TO GET TO SAFETY. MY HOPE IS INFORMATION CAN BE GATHERED FROM OTHER CONSUMERS THAT MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SITUATIONS. LIVES COULD POTENTIALLY BE SAVED IF WE WORK TOGETHER TO GET FACTS DOCUMENTED. STATESIDE NUMBER PROVIDED. WE CAN BE REACHED AT +34 642 47 0598

Mileage: 137,000

ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED AT 98470 MILES ON A DEALER MAINTAINED SCHEDULE. FAINT BUT CONSTANT BRAKE PULSATION WAS FELT 80% OF THE TIME WHEN BRAKING. DEALERSHIP CURRENTLY HAS CAR AS ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED TODAY. VEHICLE HAS DONE NOTHING BUT HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING, NO TOWING OR EXTREME CONDITIONS.

Mileage: 98,470

ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING. 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID - SAME FAILED PART AS CAMRY-AS NOTED BY TOYOTA MASTER TECH YET ONLY CAMRY GETS EXTENDED WARRANTY NOT HIGHLANDER. SHOULD BE SAFETY RECALL ASAP. FAULTY BRAKE PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED ASAP!!! CLASS ACTION MEDIA NEXT

CAR SEEMINGLY RUNNING FINE. VSC LIGHT, ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE MALFUNCTIOM LIGHT COME ON OUT OF NOWHERE. TOLD TO TOW TO DEALERSHIP. $3450 TO REPLACE ABS ACTUATOR. SAME PART HAS BEEN RECALLED IN OTHER YEARS AND MODELS BUT NOT 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THIS REPAIR IS 1/10 THE COST OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE OF THE NEW CAR. CAR HAS 116,000 MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 116,000

VEHICLE MAKES A VERY SCARY "EEEK EEEK" NOISES WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED BOTH WHEN CAR IS NOT MOVING AND ALSO DURING BRAKING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF ABS ACTUATOR (PART # 44510-48080 SUPERSEDED BY PART # 44050-48320). TOTAL COST OF PARTS PLUS LABOR QUOTED OVER $4000. NOTE: TOYOTA HAS DONE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH OTHER MODELS LIKE THE 07-08 HIGHLANDER HYBRID, PRIUS HYBRID, LEXUS RX400H, ETC. HOWEVER 2008+ HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED YET. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL OR WARRANTY EXTENSION.

Mileage: 118,000

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. 2006-2007 BRAKE ACTUATORS ARE ALREADY RECALLED, AS WELL AS 07-11 CAMRY HYBRID AND PRIUS WHICH USE THE SAME PLATFORM. I CONTACTED A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO OFFERED NO HELP. THE PART ITSELF IS $1800+ WITHOUT FACTORING IN LABOR. I AM ALSO TROUBLED BY THE SAFETY FACTOR THIS MALFUNCTION PRESENTS, ESPECIALLY WE'RE IT TO OCCUR AT A HIGHER SPEED.

Mileage: 138,000

WHILE HAVE TIRES AND BRAKE PADS CHANGED, TOYOTA DEALERSHIP NOTED ABS ACTUATOR NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND ONCE I DECLINED TO HAVE IT REPLACED THAT DAY DUE TO COST AND TIME, VEHICLE IS NOW ALARMING TO GET BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND HAVE ABS CHECKED IMMEDIATELY. THIS ALARM WAS NOT ON BEFORE MY SERVICE APPOINTMENT. NO ABNORMAL NOISES WERE NOTED PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT, EITHER.

Mileage: 169,790

BRAKE MALFUNCTION WARNING STOP THE VEHICLE AND CONTACT A DEALER, CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, CHECK VSC (VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM)

Mileage: 60,279

CHECK BRAKE SYSTEMS, CHECK VSC LIGHTS, BRAKE MALFUNCTION ETC LIGHTS HAVE COME ON. THIS SAME PART WAS ALREADY COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE CAMRY HYBRID, AND THEY WERE BUILT FROM THE SAME PLATFORM!!!!

WHILE OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WE HAD THE ABRUPT ONSET OF A HIGH-PITCHED, CONSTANT SOUND. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, WE FOUND THAT THE BRAKES WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AND HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. WE WERE TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO REPORTED FAILURE OF THE ABS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND THE BRAKE PUMP RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTION. REPAIR QUOTED AT ~$3000. THIS IS A REPEAT FAILURE OF THESE PARTS IN THIS VEHICLE, WHICH THE DEALER DOES NOT BELIEVE IS DUE TO THE FIRST REPLACEMENT PARTS BEING FAULTY.

Mileage: 110,000

MY 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE EVERY 5 SECONDS AND THE NOISE LAST FOR 3 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY WHETHER THE ENGINE IS ON OR OFF. IT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED WHEN IT IS RUNNING (AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED ONLINE) BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD OF IT WHEN THE CAR IS ON THE MOVE. I WAS CONCERNED AND CHECKED ONLINE TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS THE ABS ACCUMULATOR PUMP AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF HIGHLANDER OWNERS THAT HAVE OR ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS RECENTLY ISSUED AN EXTENSION OF WARRANTY ON ITS 2006/2007 MODEL BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT ON 2008. I HAVE ALSO READ FROM A FORUM THAT THE SAME PART ON CAMRY HYBRID HAS BEEN RECALLED. IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART AND CRITICAL TO THE LIVES OF HIGHLANDER HYBRID OWNERS. TOYOTA SHOULD ACT ON IT BY ISSUING A WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID MODEL.

Mileage: 210,000

BRAKE MALFUNCTION/ ABS MALFUNCTION/ NEEDS NEW BRAKE ACTUATOR/ 3600.00 TO REPAIR THIS. HAPPENED WHEN WE HAD TO APPLY BRAKES REPETITIVELY IN STALLED TRAFFIC.

Mileage: 220,000

THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN MAKING A CHIRPING NOISE WHILE STOPPED FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS. STARTING YESTERDAY THE CAR INFO SCREEN STARTED DISPLAYING WARNINGS SUCH AS CHECK ABS, BRAKE MALFUNCTION, ETC. THE BRAKES CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PRESS SOMETIMES, LIKE IT IS LOSING PRESSURE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THE BRAKE ACTUATOR/MODULATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID THEY ARE SEEING THIS ON A LOT OF TOYOTA/LEXUS BUILT SUVS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ TODAY, IT LOOKS LIKE MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.

Mileage: 110,000

THE ABS SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A BRAKE MALFUNCTION WARNING. I HAD THE ABS ACCUMULATOR REPLACED AND THE ABS PUMP REPLACED, BUT NOW TOYOTA IS TELLING ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE ABS ACTUATOR REPLACED AS WELL. THE ABS SYSTEM IN THE 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID IS FAULTY AND EVENTUALLY LEAKS THE HYDRAULIC FLUID RENDERING THE ABS SYSTEM INOPERABLE. THIS TENDS TO HAPPEN OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND GETS WORSE WITH AGE. THUS IT TYPICALLY OCCURS AFTER ALL WARRANTIES ARE EXPIRED. THE PARTS REQUIRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM COST OVER $5000 FROM TOYOTA AND ONLY DEALERS HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO ATTEMPT THIS FIX. TOYOTA DID MAKE A VOLUNTARY RECALL "CUSTOMER SERVICE UPDATE" FOR THE 206 AND 2007 HIGHLANDER HYBRIDS ABS SYSTEMS. HOWEVER, THE 2008 STILL HAS TREMENDOUS ABS SYSTEM PROBLEMS, AND THE PARTS SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR, BUT TOYOTA HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE 2008 HH ABS SYSTEM. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM FOR THE 2008 HH AND THE ABS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MOST CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY ALMOST THE VALUE OF THE CAR JUST TO HAVE IT BE IN A SAFE, DRIVEABLE CONDITION.

Mileage: 127,700

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. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE A SERVICE TECH STRIPPED THE INTERIOR AND DISCOVERED RODENTS NESTS, DROPPINGS, WATER, AND LOTS OF DAMAGE. PHOTOS ATTACHED. PARTS ALONE FOR THE REPAIR WERE MORE THAN $10,000, AND THAT DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTICS OR LABOR COSTS. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THIS HAS BEEN A GIANT HEADACHE!

Mileage: 124,000

THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON SUDDENLY. THE CAR STILL STOPPED, BUT THE BRAKES REQUIRED MORE PRESSURE. TOYOTA CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT, THIS PART ALONE IS $1600. ANOTHER RELATED PART TOYOTA SAYS IS REQUIRED COSTS ANOTHER $2600. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR THE 2006 AND 2007 MODELS. GIVEN THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME AND INVOLVES VEHICLE SAFETY, TOYOTA SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO THE 2008 HIGHLANDER'S.

Mileage: 143,000

I STARTED THE CAR ONE MORNING TO FIND ALL OF MY BRAKE WARNINGS SUDDENLY ON. THE VEHICLE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ANY ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS, AND UPON GETTING THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN ABNORMAL LEAK IN THE ACCUMULATOR. NO INCIDENT OR SIGNS OF ISSUES LED UP TO THE SUDDEN MALFUNCTION--IT WAS IN GREAT OPERATING SHAPE LEADING UP TO THE INCIDENT, AND EVEN UPON PARKING AND DISENGAGING THE CAR THE EVENING BEFORE. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ACCOUNTS OF THIS HAPPENING WITH HIGHLANDER HYBRID OWNERS, EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING SOMEWHERE. I JUST HAPPENED TO BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO ENCOUNTER THE PROBLEM UPON TURNING ON THE CAR.

WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY IN A SCHOOL ZONE I ATTEMPTED TO STOP FOR THE CROSSING GUARD AND CHILDREN. THE BRAKE PEDDLE BEGAN PULSATING BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE BRAKE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND SHOWED ABS AND VSC FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THEY WOULD HAVE TO SPECIAL ORDER A PART AND CHARGED ME $1,800.00 FOR THE PART. THEY RECEIVED THE PART 1 WEEK LATER AND CALLED TO ADVISE THAT IT WAS THE WRONG PART AND THAT THE CORRECT PART WAS $1,000.00 MORE BECAUSE THEY NEEDED THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY. I COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. AND THEY WERE UNWILLING TO HELP ME. MY VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE OWNER, (A RETIRED CERTIFIED TOYOTA MASTER TECHNICIAN) ADVISED HE COULD ORDER THE OEM ASSEMBLY, INSTALL IT, AND PROVIDE THE SAME WARRANTY AS THE DEALERSHIP FOR $ 2,100.00. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WHILE WORKING FOR TOYOTA HE HAD REPLACED HUNDREDS OF ASSEMBLIES ON 2007-2011 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID MODELS AS PART OF "TOYOTAS LIMITED REPAIR ASSISTANCE CAMPAIGN". HE FURTHER ADVISED THE ASSEMBLY WAS THE SAME FOR BOTH THE CAMRY HYBRID & HIGHLANDER HYBRID MODELS. ADDITIONALLY HE COULD SUPPLY ACCEPTABLE PAPERWORK IF TOYOTA CONDUCTS A LIMITED REPAIR ASSISTANCE CAMPAIGN FOR THE 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID

Mileage: 100,360

MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY 2017 AND THREE WEEKS LATER, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE/PUMP FAILED. WITHOUT A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING ABS CONTROL MODULE/PUMP, OPERATING THE VEHICLE WOULD BE DANGEROUS DUE TO THE 'STICKING BRAKE' BEHAVIOR. MY TOYOTA-CERTIFIED GARAGE CHARGED ME OVER $3,000 TO REPLACE THIS PART. THE GARAGE, WHO I'VE BEEN USING FOR OVER 7 YEARS AND ABSOLUTELY TRUST, SAID THAT THE LOCAL TOYOTA PARTS DISTRIBUTOR HAD OVER 10 UNITS OF THIS PART IN STOCK, WHICH THE GARAGE SAID WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR AN ITEM THIS EXPENSIVE. I SEARCHED MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS (TOYOTANATION.COM, US.TOYOTAOWNERSCLUB.COM) AND THIS SAME PREMATURE FAILING OF THE ABS ACTUATOR WITHIN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE/PUMP HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF OWNERS, USUALLY AFTER THEIR HIGHLANDER HYBRID PASSES 100,000 MILES. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART AND BASED ON THE HIGH INVENTORY LEVELS KEPT ON HAND BY TOYOTA PARTS DISTRIBUTORS, IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD PROVIDE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ABS ASSEMBLY AND REFUND THE AMOUNT THAT OWNERS HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THIS DEFECTIVE PART REPLACED.

Mileage: 107,600

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ODD SCREECHING NOISE FROM THE RT FRONT WHILE STOPPED. LAST WEEK SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON TELLING ME TO PULL OVER AND CALL FOR REPAIRS. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND SKID CONTROL ECU UNITS HAVE FAILED. THE COST OF REPAIR ( $3000) IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS VINTAGE, 2008 WITH UNDER 100,000. WHILE THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE NEXT MODEL YEAR IT DOES NOT COVER 2008. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD, BEING THAT SO MANY OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS EXACT , LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. AT THIS TIME THE BRAKES WORK BUT WHEN APPLIED THEY MAKE A CONSTANT CLICK AND I FEEL RHYTHMIC RELEASE AND CATCHING THROUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Mileage: 98,900

BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. WARNING LIGHTS DID COME ON AND LOUD ALARM TOO. DEALER SAYS THIS IS PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE ABS PUMP AND/OR ACTUATOR. THIS ISSUE HAS LIFE-THREATENING POTENTIAL BECAUSE LOSS OF BRAKES WAS SUDDEN. HAD TO RESORT TO PARKING BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. SAME PART WAS DEEMED DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED ON CAMRY HYBRID MODELS BY TOYOTA. SAME WARRANTY EXTENSION SHOULD BE APPLIED TO HIGHLANDER. *TR

Mileage: 127,000

CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNINGS; CODE TRACED TO ACCUMULATOR NOT HOLDING PRESSURE (C1391 ABNORMAL LEAK OF ACC PRESS). $2,500+ REPAIR. THIS SAME PART WAS ALREADY COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE CAMRY HYBRID AND THEY ARE BUILT ON THE SAME PLATFORM. SHOULD BE COVERED FOR THE HIGHLANDER AS WELL.

Mileage: 120,000

WHILE BRAKING TO STOP CAR IN A SCHOOL PICK UP LINE, WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES BEGAN FLASHING. WARNING LIGHTS STATED BRAKE MALFUNCTION, ABS SYSTEM ETC. DEALER RAN DIAGNOSTIC, STATED THERE IS AN INTERNAL LEAK OF BRAKE ACTUATOR, REPAIR COSTS $5500. LIGHTS WERE RESET AND 2 WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING LIGHTS AND WARNINGS CAME BACK ON. TOYOTA HAS RECALL FOR 2006AND 2007BUT NOT 2008. *TR

CHECK BRAKE SYSTEMS, CHECK VSC LIGHTS, BRAKE MALFUNCTION ETC LIGHTS HAVE COME ON

Mileage: 120,300

DEAR NHTSA, I WAS RECENTLY INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT MY ABS BRAKE ACTUATOR REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS EXORBITANT...APPROXIMATELY $3,200.00. WHILE THE BRAKES THEMSELVES STILL FUNCTION, AND WILL PASS PENNSYLVANIA STATE INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE APPARENTLY NO LONGER HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE CAPABILITIES. MY 17-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CURRENTLY DRIVES THIS VEHICLE. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE I HAVE GREAT CONCERNS OVER HER SAFETY. UNFORTUNATELY, AT THIS TIME WE CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE THIS REPAIR. WHAT IS MOST CONCERNING AS A TOYOTA OWNER, IS THEIR LACK OF CONCERN. INTERESTINGLY, IF MY CAR WAS A YEAR OLDER, TOYOTA WOULD COVER THE REPAIR OF THIS DEVICE AS PART OF AN EXPANDED WARRANTY SPEARHEADED THROUGH NHTSA. THIS IS A CONSIDERABLE SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD RESULT IS SERIOUS INJURY TO MY DAUGHTER. PLEASE LOOK INTO TOYOTA'S REFUSAL TO EXPAND THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART. THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF TOYOTA HIGHLANDER OWNERS IS POTENTIALLY AT STAKE. THANKS YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 127,000

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.

Mileage: 100,000

ABS LIGHT, VSC LIGHT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BRAKES WENT OUT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD. LUCKILY IT WAS AT LOW SPEED THROUGH TOWN AND I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. ALARM SOUNDED AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. TOWED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $4300 FOR REPAIR. DEALER WOULD NOT TAKE IT AS TRADE IN EVEN THOUGH THEY SOLD IT TO ME ONLY ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR, LEAVING ME WITH NO OPTION BUT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR.

Mileage: 110,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE EMERGENCY REPAIR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER ACTUATOR PUMP AND ACCUMULATOR PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

Mileage: 126,000

MY 2008 HIGHLANDER ABS IS FAILED AND THAT PUT OUR FAMILY AND OTHERS IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THE ABS IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE LIGHTS KEEP STAYED ON DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU DO, RESET IT OR NOT. THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING, THE SIREN INSIDE THE VEHICLE MAKING BUZZY NOISE WHEN OPEN THE DOOR OR ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE. I'VE DONE MANY RESEARCH ONLINE REGARDING TO THE TOYOTA HYBRID MODELS AND FOUND MANY DISAPPOINTED CUSTOMERS REVIEWS, THEY ALL POINT TO THE ABS PLATFORM DESIGN FLAWS BY TOYOTA JUST LIKE THE ABS ON CAMRY HYRIDS & OTHER HYBRIDS MODELS THAT HAS RECALLED. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AS SUGGEST BY TOYOTA PRESENTATIVE, THE SAME TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY TWO CAMRY FROM; PAID $125 TO HAVE THEM CHECKED OUT MY HIGHLANDER ABS AND THE RESULTS TUNED OUT TO BE BOTH ABS ACTUATOR (47070-48010) AND ABS PUMP (44510-48080) ARE FAILED AND THE COSTS TO HAVE BOTH FIX IS $5240.46 WHILE THE VEHICLE ONLY WORTH BETWEEN $8000-$9000 WHICH IS MORE THAN HALF OF THE VEHICLE’S VALUE, FOR JUST A FEW SMALL DEFECTIVE PARTS MADE BY TOYOTA, WHICH I DO BELIEVE THAT THE COST IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH AND BECAUSE OF THE MANUFACTURE DESIGN FLAWS & NOT FROM END USERS FAULT. SEE ATTACHED QUOTES FROM DEALER. I'VE CALLED TOYOTA TWICE TO BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION BUT I GOT DISAPPOINTED RESULTS INSTEAD. CASE # 1604020974. TOYOTA OFFER US $1000 FOR REPAIR COST WHICH I DENIED AND ASKED FOR A COMPLETE FREE REPLACEMENT PARTS. WE, TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID OWNERS NEED TO UNITE AND CONTACT TOYOTA AND OR SMART ATTORNEYS TO CONNECT ALL THE DOTS AND SUE TOYOTA FOR THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. OUR LIFE AND OTHERS IS IN DANGER DUE TO TOYOTA'S DEFECTIVE PARTS.

Mileage: 170,000

STARTED CAR IN EVENING AND GOT WARNING "BRAKE MALFUNCTION, CHECK ABS, CHECK VSC SYSTEM". TOOK CAR TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE FOUND CODE C1391. MECHANIC SAID PART VERY EXPENSIVE AND RECOMMENDED CONTACTING TOYOTA SERVICE AS COST TO REPAIR WOULD PROBABLY BE SIMILAR. MECHANIC SAID HE HAD REPLACED FOR ANOTHER CUSTOMER (2004 MODEL HIGHLANDER) WHO AFTER THE REPAIR GOT NOTICE FROM TOYOTA ABOUT RECALL REPAIR LAST WEEK. TOYOTA SERVICE SAID COST TO REPAIR IS $4000! READING ON THIS SITE I SEE OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE. DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY NHTSA.

Mileage: 109,400

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 HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THEY DO NOT KNOW THE REASON FOR THE ISSUE. THEY WANT $500 TO TROUBLE SHOOT AND GENERATE A REPAIR ESTIMATE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ABS ACTUATORS ARE COMMONLY $3,000. I HAVE NOTED MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR THE 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND OTHER TOYOTA HYBRID VEHICLES IN WHICH THE BRAKES, ABS, AND VSC LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND BRAKING ISSUES OCCUR.

Mileage: 119,900

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY A WARNING ALARM CAME ON AND ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN 3 MESSAGES FLASHED. THE FIRST MESSAGE SAID, "BREAK MALFUNCTION - PLEASE PULL OVER SAFELY AND CONTACT YOUR SERVICE DEALER IMMEDIATELY". THE SECOND MESSAGE SAID, "CHECK VSC" AND THIRD SAID, "CHECK ABS". ON TOP OF THAT ALL OF THE WARNING DEVICE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS WAS ALARMING AND DISCONCERTING. I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 10 MORE MILES BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER AND STOP SAFELY. THE WARNING SIGNS HAVE NOT GONE AWAY AND I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER. I HAVE NOTICED MULTIPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE. SEEMS TO HAPPEN OFTEN WITH THE 2008 MODEL.

Mileage: 117,000

FAILED ABS ACTUATOR SYSTEM. BRAKES DO NOT WORK. THEY "GRAB" AND OR DO NOT WORK WHEN YOU NEED THEM. HAVE TO PUMP MANY TIMES TO STOP VEHICLE.

Mileage: 162,000

AT 61.614 MILES NOV.9 2013, DIAGNOSED CODE C1391, ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR. VERIFIED BY DEALER WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT. ABS MODULE DIAGNOSED WITH INTERNAL DAMAGES. ACTUATOR ASSY, BR, PART NUM. 44050-48320 WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, FOR $3,102.71 PLUS BRAKE FLUID, FOR $3,118.25 AFTER THE SYSTEM WAS BLED ALSO (SEE INVOICE OF THAT DATE). PROBLEM RETURNED INVOLVING SAME PART 44050-48320, PLUS PART NUM. 47070-48020 PUMP ASSY, BRAKE DEFECTIVE AT 84,687 MILES, JUST 23,073 MILES LATER, LAST DECEMBER 17, 2015; WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER, BRAULIO AGOSTO TOYOTA IN RIO PIEDRAS, PUERTO RICO AS REPRINT SHOWS, FROM DEC.17 2015 (REPRINT DATE WAS DEC.31 2015). ALSO INCLUDED PHOTOS SHOWING EXACT MILEAGE OF 84,687 MILES, EASY TO VERIFY WITH REPRINT, AND WARNING MESSAGES DISPLAYED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, SAME MESSAGES APPEARED LAST NOV. 9 2013. VEHICLE HAS EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE AT 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS; I AM INCLUDING RELATED INVOICES: JUNE 7 2013 AT 55,586 MILES:1ST REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACEMENT, TURNING OF ROTORS PERFORMED, 1ST PROBLEM ON NOV. 9 2013 JUST 5 MONTHS 2 DAYS LATER; PDF INVOICE DEC.19 2014 AT 72,436 MILES, WHEN FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT OUR REQUEST, DUE TO EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL; OCT/15/15 AT 82,379 MILES LEFT CALIPER BASE WAS REPLACED, PART 4722-48140; 47717-48150 PLATE PAD SUPPORT AT 83.025 MILES ON OCT/29/15. PARTS PRICES FOR SAME 2ND REPAIR INCLUDED, LOCAL COMPLAINT, INSPECTION, RESULT AND PHOTOS. UNSAFE CONDITION EVIDENT SINCE DEC.17 2015: INVERTED BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, NOT SHOWN WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED YET, BUT UNSAFE TO DRIVE NORMALLY BECAUSE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AT SPEED. LOCAL CONSUMER DEPARTMENT (DACO) HAS THE CASE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE EVALUATION AFTER CONFIRMING THE PROBLEM TODAY, FEB 23 2016 AT 3RD DEALER WITH US REPRESENTED BY PABLO E. ROSADO, MY BROTHER.SEE ALL DOCUMENTS, SOME IN SPANISH.

Mileage: 84,687

I WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY ON AN UPHILL SLOPE, BUT WHEN I STARTED MY 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS TOWARDS THE CITY STREET EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS STILL PRESSED FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND I KEPT PRESSING AS FAR AS IT WOULD GO. WHEN I EVENTUALLY LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PRESSED IT AGAIN, THE CAR SLOWED AND STOPPED JUST AS IT ENTERED THE STREET. THE DASHBOARD WARNING CONSOLE INDICATED 'BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE', 'CHECK VSC' AND 'CHECK ABS'. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET MY CAR CHECKED. THIS ROLLING PROBLEM HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKE ACTUATOR AND BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THIS COST ME $3742 FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY AND $2010 FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY.

Mileage: 75,400

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 PRIMARY CONCERN (AND MY MECHANIC'S) WAS THAT THERE WAS NO FAIL SAFE, IF THE UNIT MALFUNCTIONED I WOULD EXPECT THE ABS SYSTEM NOT TO WORK, NOT TO MAKE THE BRAKING SYSTEM COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. I NARROWLY AVOIDED BEING REAR-ENDED WHEN THEY MALFUNCTIONED ON THE FWY. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA MOTOR AS WELL (CASE #1511120583)

Mileage: 115,000

WE WERE DRIVING AND THE VSC SYSTEM LIGHT, BRAKE MALFUNCTION LIGHT, AND CHECK ABS SYSTEM LIGHTS CAME ON AND NOW WE NEED TO REPAIR A $2000 PART IN OUR VEHICLE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD DANGEROUS FAILURE TO STOP INCIDENTS AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH. TOYOTA NEEDS A RECALL IN THESE ABS ACCUMULATOR AND PUMP PARTS.

Mileage: 119,000

ABS ACTUATOR FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. FOR THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID, THIS IS A $3000 PART. THE HIGHLANDER IS BUILT ON THE CAMRY PLATFORM. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM ( ZE1 ) FOR THE ABS ACTUATOR ON THE CAMRY HYBRID YEARS 2007-2011. TOYOTA MOTOR USA REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ANYTHING FOR THE SAME PART ON THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID, BUILT ON THE SAME PLATFORM AS THE CAMRY HYBRID. CONSUMER REPORTS, WRITING ABOUT THE CAMRY HYBRID ABS ACTUATOR, HAS SAID THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, NOT A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT.

Mileage: 134,068

INCIDENT DATE: 6-6-15. STARTED VEHICLE AND DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR ABS, VSC AND BRAKES. ALSO THE WORD, "BRAKE" IN RED CAME ON. TOYOTA DEALER DIAGNOSED A CODE 1391 (ABNORMAL LEAK DETECTED IN ACCUMULATOR) AND TESTED BRAKE SYSTEM AND FOUND ABS ACTUATOR/PUMP INTERNAL FAILURE/LEAK. DEALER REPLACED ABS ACTUATOR, PART #44050-48320, AND ABS PUMP ASSEMBLY, PART #47070-48020. ORIGINAL ESTIMATE TO REPAIR WAS $5,388. AFTER COMPLAINING TO TOYOTA'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER CARE, THE BILL WAS REDUCED TO $1,556.

Mileage: 112,200

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT I HEARD A LOUD WARNING INDICATOR INSIDE THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT I LOST ABILITY TO BRAKE. I WAS ONLY TRAVELING 10 MPH OR LESS WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY ROLL INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE ABS, VSC, AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS WERE ALREADY ON, AND HAD BEEN FOR MONTHS. FRED HAAS TOYOTA DEALER IN HOUSTON, TX AREA RECOMMENDED HAVING THE ABS ACTUATOR REPLACED AT A COST OF $2700 FOR THE PART PLUS TAX AND LABOR. THE BRAKING SEEMED TO WORK FINE SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS LATEST INCIDENT DISABLED THE BRAKES ALMOST ENTIRELY SO I HAD TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. NOW FRED HAAS TOYOTA SAYS ITS THE BRAKE PUMP AND WORN BRAKE PADS. THESE WERE REPLACED AT OVER $2600 AND THE BRAKES SEEM TO BE WORKING AS WELL AS BEFORE. BUT OF COURSE, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE NOW TURNED BACK ON AND FRED HAAS STILL WANTS TO REPLACE THE ABS ACTUATOR AT $2700 PLUS TAX AND LABOR. I SEE THAT THE WORLD WIDE WEB HAS HUNDREDS OF EXAMPLES OF CONSUMERS IN MY PREDICAMENT AND EVEN A FEW COMPLAINTS OVER THE YEARS ON THIS SITE. CAN THIS FINALLY BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED PLEASE? *TR

Mileage: 143,000

1-WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AUTO ENGINE STILL RUNNING BUT NO POWER TO WHEELS. FORTUNATELY NEAR A RAMP- COASTED OFF RAMP AND INTO A PARKING LOT. MESSAGE - CHECK BRAKING SYSTEM- CONTACT DEALER. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, RE-ENGAGED ENGINE, JABBED BRAKES REPEATEDLY IN BETWEEN SEVERAL FAILURES UNTIL TROUBLE CAME CLEAR. NOTHING FOUND ON EXAMINATION BY DEALER. 2- 8/14 CHECK BRAKING SYSTEM MESSAGE APPEARED. AUTO WOULD NOT MOVE ALTHOUGH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKING. ROCKED CAR REPEATEDLY TO TRY TO CLEAR MESSAGE. CONNECTED EMERGENCY BATTERY TO BATTERY- SYSTEM CAME CLEAR. 3- 11/14 CHECK BRAKING SYSTEM MESSAGE APPEARED. SAME AS #2. ALSO HAD CHECK AIR-BAG SYSTEM MESSAGE. ALL THREE INSTANCES OCCURRED ON PAVEMENT BUT SHORTLY AFTER BEING PARKED ON GRASS. ALTHOUGH THE LAST TWO WERE CLEARED BY BRIEFLY CONNECTING AN EMERGENCY BATTERY, AVAILABILITY OF HEADLIGHTS INDICATED CAR BATTERY HAD SUFFICIENT VOLTAGE TO OPERATE CAR'S SYSTEMS. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

DRIVING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN. VSC, ABS, AND BRAKE MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. BRAKES FUNCTIONED, BUT DEALER SAID THAT THE ACCUMULATOR AND BOOSTER ASSEMBLIES NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 107,263

WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ABOUT BRAKES AND INSTRUCTIONS TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE REPAIR REQUIRED A REPLACEMENT OF THE ACTUATOR FOR ANTI LOCK BRAKES. $3.200.. *TR

Mileage: 72,772

AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR (OUR FIRST HYBRID) WE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE ACTING DIFFERENT WHEN SLOWING; WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN OR TO SLOW IN TRAFFIC, IF THE CAR IS UNDER 30 MPH AND HITS A BUMP THE BRAKES WILL RELEASE (WHILE YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKES) AND THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD EVEN THOUGH YOUR FOOT IS PRESSING DOWN AND HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER THE PAST YEAR AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKES ARE NEW AND SEVERAL FORUMS HAVE BEEN READ IN REGARDS TO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. IT SEEMS THAT SEVERAL HYBRIDS EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUES. BRAKING UNDER 30, THE CAR WILL HIT A BUMP, BRAKES WILL RELEASE CAUSING THE CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD AND POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT HAS HAPPENED ENOUGH THAT OUR FAMILY IS CONSIDERING TRADING IN THE CAR. WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN 10 PLUS ACCIDENTS BECAUSE WE ARE ALMOST STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN AND THE CAR HITS A BUMP AND ACCELERATES INTO TRAFFIC COMING FROM THE LEFT/RIGHT. WITH CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT, THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN. WE HAVE SENT TOYOTA AN EMAIL ASKING FOR INSPECTION, HOWEVER THEY SAID THEY WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE OUR DEALER LOOK AT IT, HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT BEEN NOTED OF THIS ISSUE IN THE PAST, WHEN CLEARLY THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS. I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT ACCELERATION/BREAK RELEASE WHEN HITTING A BUMP CAUSING THE CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD INTO MOVING TRAFFIC IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PERFECTLY GOOD. WE WILL BE TRADING IN THE VEHICLE IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE ABOUT IT SHORTLY, NOT ONLY ARE WE WORRIED ABOUT OUR FAMILY BUT WE ARE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT OTHERS WHO COULD BE INVOLVED. THIS ISSUE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BRAKES, THEY ARE GOOD, AND THE ISSUE IS STILL RE-OCCURRING. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

AFTER STARTING CAR AND PUTTING IT IN GEAR, CAR STARTS DRIVING EVEN THOUGH BRAKE IS FULLY ENGAGED. WARNING LIGHTS FLASH ON AND TURN OFF REGARDING BRAKE FAILURE BUT DON'T STAY ON LONG ENOUGH TO READ. THE BRAKES CATCH AFTER A SECOND OR TWO AND OPERATE NORMALLY BUT THEN WILL SUDDENLY PAUSE DURING USE - TAKING A SECOND OR TWO TO CATCH. CHECKED BRAKE FLUID - IT IS FINE. BRINGING CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. HAVE SINCE READ BLOGS/REPORTS FROM OTHER 2008 HIGHLANDER HYBRID OWNERS EXPERIENCING SAME UNPREDICTABLE, INSTANTANEOUS, MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 5