2021 Toyota Highlander service brakes problems
64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the service brakes on the 2021 Toyota Highlander — 13% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“When applying the brakes when slowing down fro a traffic light or in traffic, the brkaes suddely stop workign for a few sseconds at a speed of 5-10 mph, causing car to lurch forward before the brakes reengage. This has existed for a couple of year but has gotten worse in thelast 6 month.s The risk…”
filed May 5, 2026
“When slowing down to stop and the brake is depressed, multiple occasions where the brakes don’t catch. The car jerks forward and I am unable to engage the brakes. I have ended up in the middle of an intersection due to this. It happens frequently, and Toyota continues to brush me off.”
filed Mar 16, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Service Brakes problems in other Highlander years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Highlander | 8 | 21% |
| 2023 Highlander | 17 | 10% |
| 2022 Highlander | 34 | 15% |
| 2020 Highlander | 34 | 11% |
| 2019 Highlander | 17 | 4% |
| 2018 Highlander | 53 | 21% |
| 2017 Highlander | 28 | 11% |
| 2016 Highlander | 19 | 17% |
| 2015 Highlander | 15 | 8% |
| 2014 Highlander | 3 | 2% |
| 2013 Highlander | 16 | 8% |
| 2012 Highlander | 11 | 6% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2021 Toyota Highlander
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.