Six problems related to brake master cylinder have been reported for the 2006 Toyota Highlander. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2006 Toyota Highlander based on all problems reported for the 2006 Highlander.
While driving the car, the brakes failed. I was able to stop the car without an accident, but it had to be towed. The repair shop found the master cylinder had failed. Per Toyota, the VIN # for the car is not in the "batch" involved in a recall in 2010 involving the master cylinders for Highlanders, and they refuse to honor the recall for this car.
The vehicle failed to stop when depressing the brake pedal. The pedal suddenly felt 'soft' and the vehicle continued to move. After stomping on the brake again the vehicles' braking system engaged with a jerk and began working normally again. This happened several times over a period of a few days before taking the vehicle into a Toyota dealership for repair. Dealership identified a faulty master cylinder and booster assembly - both of which are covered under a limited recall on 2004 - 2006 Highlanders. Unfortunately not all 2006 Highlanders are covered even though they experience the exact same malfunction.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated the brake pedal extended to the floor when the brakes were applied and the braking distance had increased. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic who replaced the master cylinder. The contact stated after the vehicle was repaired the brakes did not feel safe and the vehicle was driven to the dealer. The dealer stated the front brake pads were replaced; however, the contact did not have the front brake pads replaced. The contact stated the master cylinder was still faulty and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 105,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 10v499000 (service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder). An authorized dealer was notified and they informed the contact that the part needed for repairs was on a massive backorder in which a time frame could not be provided for the availability of the part. The contact had not experienced a failure with the vehicle.
Complete brake failure without warning on three separate episodes in the past two months. Brake master cylinder replaced by dealer. Brakes again serviced by dealer, but I am not aware of what was done. By luck only, the failures occurred in locations where traffic could swerve to avoid hitting us, or we had room to go off of the road and hit a snow bank or coast to a stop.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that there was no hydraulic pressure on the brake pedal and the pedal traveled too far into the floorboard when depressed. The contact believed that there was either air in the braking system or a defective master cylinder. The problem was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the brakes were bled twice but the failure continued. The contact called the manufacturer who advised him to take the vehicle to the dealer but offered no further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150 and the current mileage was approximately 35,000.