Brake Fluid Leak Problems of Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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. . Read more...

See all problems of the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 🔎.

Braking power assist failure caused fender bender in parking lot, leaking brake fluid found at brake pump. Dash warning lights appeared the next day.

While driving home from work in normal free-flowing traffic conditions on the freeway, several lights came on the dash indicating brake issues including vsc, abs, skid, parking brake light. Continued to cautiously drive home, brakes seemed ok. Had our non-dealer mechanic look at the brakes all were fine and had recently been replaced. He could not find a brake issue. Took to the local Toyota dealer and one code came up c1391 "abnormal leak in accumulator" and was told I needed a new brake actuator at the cost of $3273. 00. Diagnostic cost $138. 00. Additional information on diagnostic paperwork from dealer says, "check for dtc's found c1391, check for fluid leaks, could not find leaks, check accumulator pressure voltage (3. 5 v), depressed pedal 4-5 times accumulator pressure drops below 3. 0 v, recommend replace brake/abs actuator". Other notes, some part of hybrid system seems to be cycling every few minutes. Over the years, when braking, there have been times where they "jump" or don't grab during brake pressure and after reading have found this complaint with other owners. I see that the camry and the Lexus have both had this part recalled/replaced by Toyota and wondering why, when this is likely the same hybrid system and component, that Toyota will not step up to the plate and offer this replacement part for owners for free or at a discount? the other vehicles have had accidents as a result of this part and Toyota should step up to the plate on the Highlander Hybrid.

See all problems of the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 🔎.

I was driving on the freeway, with small child in back, and all of a sudden the imminent danger warning lights came on. They stated stop the car in the nearest safe area and call dealer. I feared back to an acceleration issue in 1985 with an older car and looked for a less crowded area to pull over. I was in traffic and that was not possible. I phoned the nearest dealer, they could not tell me what was going to happen other than I needed to get there or pull over and stop. I was less than 15 miles away so I chose to try and get there since I was able to slow the car with breaks. I arrived at the dealer and sat 3 hours before I had any detail, with my two year old. They could not locate the problem. They escalated the issue up the Toyota service levels. Finally, they came back that there was a small (hairline)break fluid leak in the car and that part would need to be replaced. I was just out of warranty at 41,000 miles and I would have to pay the part and labor to install. After 5 hours, they gave me a ride home and did not offer a rental car. The details I received back were very vague and to this day I really don't know what caused the issue but I had to pay for an expensive repair, after many conversations about the issue - Toyota agreed to pay for the part $1500 but I was responsible for labor $600. I was told that they may have paid for all the repair (a year ago) but the floor mat issue was costing them so much money they were not paying for labor any longer. I feel a repair that was not common and not caused my driving or lack of proper maintenance. They called it a fluke and that is evidenced by the only place they could find the part was in cincinnati, ohio when I live in CA. It took more than a week for the part to arrive and I was without my car for three weeks as I had no way to get back there. They did not offer up a rental car and my husband was out of town during that time.