2019 Toyota Highlander Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 4%of 508 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 16,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the brakes of the 2019 Toyota Highlander, 4% of the 508 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 16,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When trying to coast to a stop at around 4 MPH the car will slam to a stop. Does not always do this but it's sometimes very hard to come to a smooth stop as the cars braking system (regenerative braking?) will kick in by itself. Can be dangerous if a car is tailing very close to me as it will seem like I'm driving unpredictably. Took the car to a dealer but they could not replicate the problem at the time. Although the problem is intermittent it is more likely to do this when the car is still warming up.”
NHTSA complaint #11300611, filed 2020-01, 4,000 miles“Me and my family were leaving a hotel in tarrytown ny. I parked the car: Toyota Highlander 2019 outside, helped my wife and 21-month baby into the back seat and had to put something in the trunk but it was locked. In that moment the car was in park with the engine running; the ground was not steep at all: 5-10 degrees the most. I took out the key from ignition to go open the trunk with the button from the remote. Suddenly the car started rolling backwards with my wife and kid in the back seat. …”
NHTSA complaint #11258968, filed 2019-09, 7,000 miles“We started the vehicle that is parked in front of our house at around 8am to get some groceries. The vehicle started and everything seemed normal. Shifted to d and started moving and as I was leaving the spot, I pushed the break to make a left turn and it won't stop. Pushed the break pad several times and the car won't stop. Finally moved the gear to p and it stopped and the engine turned off. I started the engine again and tried to reverse it, it won't reverse and only going forward. I called autonation Toyota of leesburg, they towed the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #11291140, filed 2019-12, 300 miles“While at a stop sign fully stopped the car rolled forward on several occasions. My warranty had just expired a month prior. My car has always been maintained and maintenanced. I was stuck paying a lot of money and no car should be moving when you have your foot on the brake. The dealership said master cylinder/ brake booster went out.their is a recall on the hybrid for the same exact thing but not my car.”
NHTSA complaint #11641791, filed 2025-02“I had just driven up a steep driveway and made a slightly sharper than 90 degree turn at a very low speed to pull into a home parking spot when the car lunged forward suddenly and slammed into the stone wall of the house at a high speed. The section of this driveway after the turn is only 2.5 car lengths, but the car picked up enough speed to smash the front of the car in. The car was totaled and driver and side curtain airbags all deployed. I do not know why this happened as there is no way I would have hit the gas hard while pulling up to a building to stop. …”
NHTSA complaint #11678769, filed 2025-08Related service bulletins
- 10235217Feb 9, 2023DL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The settlement includes Toyota?s agreement to provide a…
- 10235216Feb 9, 2023TSB: Some 2014 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit a hard start and/or MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): ?DTC P0171…
- 10224102Jun 3, 2022TSB: Some 2016 ? 2018 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with Entune? Audio (version 01013E), Entune? Audio Plus (version 010156 or 01015C), or Entune? Premium Audio (versions…
- 10214323Mar 17, 2022TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
- 10190453Mar 12, 2021TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
- 10187241Dec 14, 2020TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
- 10186195Dec 14, 2020TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
- 10184561Nov 24, 2020TSB: Some 2014 ? 2019 model year Highlander vehicles may exhibit a vibration from the front brakes during light application of the brake pedal at highway speeds. Follow the…
- 10171441Jan 13, 2020TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0279-17. ? The entire bulletin has been updated. Service Bulletin No…
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 20% |
| 2024 | 8 | 19% |
| 2023 | 20 | 11% |
| 2022 | 40 | 15% |
| 2021 | 68 | 13% |
| 2020 | 41 | 13% |
| 2019 | 20 | 4% |
| 2018 | 58 | 21% |
| 2017 | 29 | 11% |
| 2016 | 19 | 17% |
| 2015 | 15 | 8% |
| 2014 | 3 | 2% |
| 2013 | 17 | 8% |
| 2012 | 14 | 8% |
| 2011 | 17 | 9% |
| 2010 | 30 | 14% |
| 2009 | 26 | 19% |
| 2008 | 81 | 20% |
| 2007 | 36 | 29% |
| 2006 | 102 | 37% |
| 2005 | 24 | 11% |
| 2004 | 24 | 8% |
| 2003 | 33 | 13% |
| 2002 | 12 | 4% |
| 2001 | 19 | 14% |
Other parts of the 2019 Toyota Highlander
214 complaintsFuel system
109 complaintsOther or unknown
83 complaintsEngine
71 complaintsElectrical system
56 complaintsAir bags
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
13 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsForward collision avoidance
11 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsSeats
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2019 Toyota Highlander
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology