general problems of the 2011 Toyota Highlander

Abs brake actuator started to fail.

When driving approximately 20-30mph multiple warning lights illuminated on dash along with brake malfunction warning on information display. Did not notice any issues with braking and no fluid loss / leaks noted. Codes stored were c1241 (low or high power supply voltage), c1253 (pump motor relay), and c1391 (abnormal leak of acc press). Noticed that abs pump would run 2-5 seconds every 1-5 minutes. Original part number 44510-48080. Research shows multiple Toyota “warranty extensions” on multiple models using same/similar components.

I was parking my car at a parking lot. I attempted to stop the car (it was about 2mph) while applying brake and my car did not stop, rather it accelerated, I pushed brake and did not work, it jumped on the curb. I released brake, reapplied and changed to parking mode immediately and it stopped. This issue has happened third time with this car. When car is about to slow down and stop, that time brake don't work and car accelerate further. Brake pedal was vibrating when it was a snow on the road when I was trying to stop at stoplight and it accelerate. This is very very dangerous and unsafe. I have read several same complaints online. This is a definite manufacturer defects and must be recalled immediately. Luckily so far, I have not hit anything but now after the parking lot incident I am afraid.

Driving on a city street at about 35 miles per hour I was heading home with my kids (5 y. O. And 7 y. O. ) when the vehicle decelerated and lost power while I was driving in traffic, I was fortunate that the care rolled long enough to pull over to a safe spot with my children and call for a tow. Lights that came on check hybrid system, check brake system, check 4wd system, and the check engine light came on. After the vehicle was inspected at Toyota of cerritos I was informed that the master mechanic had to place a ticket with Toyota motor company to figure out the issue due to all the codes that were logged after the diagnostic. Toyota motor informed mechanic it was hybrid inverter failure. This could of been a horrible situation had I been driving on the freeway and my car suddenly stopped function like it did on the evening of 11/05/2019.

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Highlander. When the brake pedal was depressed at 20 mph, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated without warning. The vehicle eventually stopped after the brake pedal was depressed with extreme force. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 100,900. The VIN was not available.

At 8:00 am on 7/7/2016, my son was driving my Highlander 2011 to work at 80 m/h on road 287 in NJ. The VIN is 5tdbk3eh2bs043824. The car in front of my son was slowing down. My son was trying to brake the car to slow down. But, the all brakes stopped working and the dashboard screen displaying a warning message "brake: brake malfunction". My Highlander 2011 crashed into the car in front of it. My car was just maintained on 3/15/2106 at towne Toyota, ledgewood, NJ 07852. All brakes were updated. Please advise me who should take the responsibility for "brake malfunction".

While going into a parking space, I attempted to engage the brakes, the brake pedal depressed entirely to the floor, and the brakes did not engage. As the result, my vehicle dropped approximately 15 feet over a retaining wall to a lower parking lot landing nose first onto the pavement of the parking area below. The airbag deployed and the vehicle ultimately landed on all four tires, rolling forward until I was able to stop the vehicle by engaging the emergency brake.

I was driving in the coastal hills of the san francisco peninsula when I noticed that the car started vibrating severely when applying the brakes on downward slopes. I realized that this was due to the brake discs overheating. For the remained of the trip I used the gearshift to slow down the car when driving along downward sloping roads by selecting 2nd gear in the automatic gearshift. By avoiding use of the brakes, I avoided the vibration and was able to get home safely. I subsequently brought the car to the dealership for maintenance. The technical staff confirmed that the brake discs showed signs of overheating but did not replace them under warranty. This same problem presented itself earlier, too, at approximately 15,000 miles, during a trip in the sierra nevada. On this previous incident, when I brought the car to the dealership, the brake disks were replaced under warranty, but the underlying problem was not addressed: the undersized discs being unable to dissipate the heat generated by the brakes when driving downhill. Please, consider this a severe problem, potentially requiring a recall: the severe vibrations caused by the brakes on a downward sloping mountain road, especially with wet or snowy roads, could easily make the vehicle to slip out of control and cause a crash.

I was driving about 40 mph and approaching a left turn. I tried to brake the car to slow down and the brake did not work. My foot pushed all the way down and since I had 2 kids in the car I was really concerned that I could not stop the vehicle. I tried to bring the car to a stop and hit the side walk. This was not the first time or the last time it happened. Even after the car has been repaired, the brakes continue to malfunction at least twice a week. I apply the brakes and the vehicle accelerates and then slowly brakes, sometimes does not brake at all. I have reported this to Toyota and they are denying there is anything wrong. I believe there is some programming issuing with the car and the brakes continue to malfunction. I don't know where else to turn. I have 5 kids and driving an unsafe car.

I was driving in the sierra nevada when I noticed that the car started vibrating severely when applying the brakes on downward slopes. I realized that this was due to the brake discs overheating. For the remained of the trip I used the gearshift to slow down the car when driving along downward sloping roads by selecting 2nd gear in the automatic gearshift. By avoiding use of the brakes, I avoided the vibration and was able to get home safely. I subsequently brought the car to the dealership for maintenance. The technical staff confirmed that the brake discs showed signs of overheating and replaced them under warranty. However, this does not solve the underlying problem: undersized discs, unable to dissipate the heat generated by the brakes when driving downhill. This same problem has presented itself again at approximately 19,000 miles, during another trip in the coastal hills of the san francisco peninsula. Please, consider this a severe problem, potentially requiring a recall: the severe vibrations caused by the brakes on a downward sloping mountain road, especially with wet or snowy roads, could easily make the vehicle to slip out of control and cause a crash.

Purchased my 2011 Highlander in March, & it had 7000 miles on it at the time of the incident. I started the vehicle in my driveway, put it in drive, and started down my driveway. Pressed the brake pedal, and there were no brakes and seemed not to have power steering. The lights in the dash came on, and the screen said brake malfunction contact dealer immediately. There were no brakes, I finally came to a stop at the bottom of the hill, put the car in park, and turned the ignition off. When I turned the key, the car started, the dash lights were still lit up, and I guess the computer seemed to "reset". I pulled back into my driveway & had the car towed to the dealer the next day. The dealer has had it for over two weeks, and the incident has not happened again, and they said that they cannot find a single thing wrong with it. They can, however, see that there was an "incident" with the brakes on that date by the computer reading. I have been told that I am going to be getting this car back, and that it is fine. Everyone say a prayer for myself and my 3 kids that are in it, & hope that it doesn't happen again in these mountains that I live!.

Vehicle makes a very noticeable, irritating whine or whistle noise when accelerating at 40mph. Stops when gas pedal is released. Very constant and annoying. Did not happen when car was first purchased. Have been told by Toyota that it was the transfer case, which they replaced. Did not fix the problem. Now they tell me it is normal. Test drove another vehicle from their lot of the same exact year, make, model. No noise at all. This is not normal. Toyota knows about the problem, but they are denying it. Other Toyota vehicles (I. E. Rav4, tundra) had/have the same problem. Forums tell me it is the transmission. Waiting on appointment for a field tech from Toyota to examine it.

I was driving 2011 Toyota Highlander, stopped the car at red light (intersection of catharpin rd and us 55). During the green light, I was trying to take a right turn on the light and the car did not allow me to turn the power steering (stuck) and on the lcd panel it started blinking message saying break malfunction, the car went on to the oncoming traffic lane and finally with some struggle stopped the car on the oncoming traffic lane. Luckily, no one was coming on that lane (my good fortune). Called the cops and they helped the car to pull on side of the road. Looks like serious problem with the car. Requesting the Toyota take a look at the problem before someone gets into serious trouble.