2024 Toyota Highlander: Service Brakes complaints
Owner-reported issue (NHTSA complaints, not a recall)
Symptoms
NHTSA has 8 owner complaints for the 2024 Toyota Highlander that list the service brakes component. Complaints are individual owner reports, not verified defects.
Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11733520 (filed 04/24/2026): “Braking system when applying brakes, especially when applying downhill, temporarily releases and acts as though brakes are not applied any longer for a brief period of a few seconds then reapplies. it does so that it is very obvious within the car. there is a known issue with the toyota highlander …”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11693669 (filed 10/15/2025): “>while exiting a highway my vehicle surged forward crashing into the vehicle in front of me.engaging the brake, my car smashed into the van again. i had no control over the forward momentum of the car. >both the driver & i were in danger of injury >the problem has not been addressed as my damaged ca…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11686533 (filed 09/11/2025): “Ours has pulsing brakes and brakes feeling "off" at low speeds, potentially due to the interaction of regenerative and conventional braking. the brake pedal will also suddenly jolt the car forward when switching between braking systems. the system is unsafe.…”
Likely causes
These complaints do not establish a single root cause; read the examples above and get a diagnosis.
Fix, in plain English
No single fix is established by these reports. Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask a dealer about technical service bulletins (TSBs) or extended warranty coverage, then have the system diagnosed.
DIY difficulty: Moderate
Pads and rotors are a common DIY job with hand tools and a jack; ABS/hydraulic faults need a scan tool. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range for this issue. Get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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Sources
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