TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Toyota Highlander brakes problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
3crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 18 brakes complaints filed for the 2005 Toyota Highlander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗A key part to maintain the proper function and safe operation of the vehicle's braking system is to perform a visual inspection when installing brake pads, calipers, and discs. The following recommendations are intended to provide general tips for the inspection and/or installation of Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) front brake pads and discs. Always refer to the model specific Repair manual and TIS publications for specific repair instructions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2005 Highlanders consistently report brake failures and component defects spread across the entire system. The most common complaint is severe rear rotor corrosion appearing as early as 55,000 miles, with some rotors 70% rust-covered while the vehicle sat garaged. Front calipers lock, rear calipers stick and rust, and brake pads wear unevenly—all occurring well before typical wear intervals.
Master cylinder failures recur even after Toyota replaced them under recall campaign 10V499000. Owners report the pedal sinking to the floor mid-drive, sometimes recovering on the next pump, sometimes not. One owner refills brake fluid every 500 miles due to a leak. Others describe brakes that feel spongy, won't respond at highway speeds, or seize completely on wet roads.
The metallic brake pads generate extreme grinding noise early on; Toyota's fix—an additive—doesn't hold. Some vehicles exhibit a "creep" where they lurch forward at the end of normal braking stops, and others feel like the ABS system is stuck engaged on the first morning stop.
Dealer inspections have missed obvious corrosion, and manufacturer responses range from dismissal to silence. Some owners went through the recall repair only to experience brake seizure immediately after.
Same Toyota Highlander brakes reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pad noise (metallic content)
Extremely loud, grinding noise when braking, reported as metal-on-metal sound from pads with metallic content. Noise intermittent, worsens in damp conditions, temporarily resolves after driving and brake application.
When: Early November 2006 at low mileage; recurred multiple times through March 2007
Symptoms owners cite: Extremely loud grinding/construction-equipment noise when braking; Noise repeats with each brake application; Intermittent occurrence, not daily; Noise resolves temporarily after half-mile of driving and repeated braking
Repairs/costs cited: Crystal Toyota Service applied additive; suggested moisture from weather caused noise due to metallic pad content. No permanent repair performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota Customer Service representative Joe Lacefield inspected vehicle, heard no noise, dismissed complaint as normal brake noise.
Master cylinder leakage and brake pedal loss
Master cylinder leaks near brake booster, causing brake pedal to go completely to floor. Issue involves intermittent brake loss requiring replacement of entire master cylinder assembly.
When: Vehicle had prior master cylinder replaced under NHTSA Campaign 10V499000, failure recurred after replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor on application; Intermittent failure (occurred 2 out of 3 consecutive brake applications); Brake fluid level checked at normal range despite loss of pedal feel
Repairs/costs cited: Local mechanic diagnosed small internal leak inside brake booster. Requires full master cylinder replacement at cost of $550 for part and labor.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 10V499000 (master cylinder recall) performed previously; failure recurred in replacement part.
Rear rotor corrosion and premature wear
Rear brake rotors severely corroded with rust caking and flaking covering approximately 70% of rotor surface, leaving only 30% functional. Driver-side rear caliper slider pin stuck, forcing front brakes to perform majority of braking work.
When: Discovered at approximately 60,000 miles; vehicle inspected every 6 months by Toyota dealer with no problems reported until failure detected
Symptoms owners cite: Metal/metal grinding noise from brakes; Severely corroded rear rotors with thick rust buildup and flaking; Rear caliper slider pin stuck; Premature wear of front brake pads due to overload
Repairs/costs cited: Rear rotors and calipers required replacement. Owner notes this is first brake work needed in decades of driving at significantly lower mileage than typical (before 80,000 miles).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner references Toyota recall of 130,000 vehicles in China for defective rear wheel disk brake rust, suggesting potential source of defective castings.
Caliper sticking and heat-related damage
Right caliper sticks, causing excessive heat generation that warps wheel hub system and damages ABS sensor. Heat buildup from stuck caliper cascades into additional component failures.
When: Discovered at 94,000 miles; exact onset not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Right caliper sticking; Excessive heat generation; Warping of wheel hub system; ABS sensor damage
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of right caliper, rotor, hub system, and ABS sensor required at cost over $1,000.
Brake failure during control loss incidents
Two unrelated incidents where vehicle lost control during normal driving; both vehicles subsequently found to have brake-related issues per recall campaigns after the incidents occurred.
When: Incident 1: approximately 80,000 miles; Incident 2: 2,000 miles, subsequent incidents through 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lost control and crashed while attempting braking at highway speeds; Abnormal acceleration in reverse (2-3 mph resulted in crash into garage); Brake pedal ineffective during loss-of-control events
Repairs/costs cited: Incident 1: Vehicle towed to independent mechanic and repaired. Incident 2: Floor mat and brake covers replaced; later recall repair performed (NHTSA Campaign 11V112000 for accelerator pedal).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 10V499000 (master cylinder) and 11V112000 (accelerator pedal) applied to vehicles after crash incidents.
Locked calipers and rust accumulation
Front calipers lock abnormally; rear calipers rust prematurely. Premature brake wear pattern with locking causing uneven pressure distribution across brake system.
When: Front caliper locking detected April 2011 at 56,800 miles; rear caliper rust detected August 2011 at 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Front brakes locked; Rear calipers heavily rusted; Premature wear of brake components; Repeated failure pattern
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced front calipers April 2011 and rear calipers August 2011.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer acknowledged awareness of the failure.
Brake non-response and undiagnosed failure
Complete brake failure during highway driving where brakes would not respond to pedal application. Vehicle required independent brake replacement; issue recurred after initial repair.
When: Failure mileage approximately 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes do not respond when applied at 45 mph; Unknown warning light illuminated; Failure recurred after independent mechanic brake replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic replaced brakes; failure recurred. Dealer inspection requested but vehicle not diagnosed.
Brake creep and loss of pedal position control
Vehicle lurches forward at the end of normal braking stops before coming to complete halt, even with steady brake pedal pressure. Problem occurs at normal speeds with normal pedal pressure, worsens with increased braking force.
When: Occasional initially, became constant by 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle launches forward just before stopping despite constant brake pedal pressure; Problem worsens with harder braking (emergency braking worse than normal); Owner compensates by coasting before braking
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; owner developed compensatory driving technique.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner emailed Toyota twice with no response received.
Brake seizure after recall repair
Brakes seized abnormally shortly after vehicle completed master cylinder replacement service under NHTSA Campaign 10V499000 recall. Owner reports never observing technician work on vehicle.
When: Shortly after dealer completion of recall repair at 70,333 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes seized abnormally after leaving dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to owner's personal mechanic but was not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 10V499000 (master cylinder) performed at dealer.
Brake unresponsiveness in snow conditions
During snowy weather braking, wheels seized completely and vehicle would not stop. Vehicle could not be stopped and control was lost temporarily.
When: Failure at 59,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Wheels seized when braking in snowy weather; Vehicle would not stop; Loss of vehicle control temporarily before safely reaching shoulder
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; failure could not be diagnosed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer notified and attempted diagnosis but unable to determine cause.
Abnormal brake pad wear
Rear brake pads exhibited 90% abnormal wear when vehicle brought to dealer for unrelated recall repair. Wear pattern suggests underlying brake system imbalance.
When: Detected at 55,000 miles during recall service visit
Symptoms owners cite: Rear brake pads worn 90% abnormally
Repairs/costs cited: Technician recommended replacement; pads not replaced. Front pads never replaced.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle in for NHTSA Campaign 10V499000 (master cylinder) recall repair.
Soft, sluggish initial brake response with ABS engagement feel
First brake application after vehicle startup in morning feels like ABS system is engaged, taking longer to stop than subsequent brake applications. V6 model specifically noted. Possibly related to ABS system behavior on cold start.
When: Ongoing condition; initial occasional, becoming more frequent over time
Symptoms owners cite: First brake application after morning startup takes longer to stop; Feels like ABS is engaged on initial braking; Subsequent braking applications respond normally; Dangerous during initial stop after startup
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented.
Spongy brake pedal and control difficulty
Brake pedal feels very spongy, making it difficult to control vehicle speed and trajectory, especially during low-speed maneuvers. Resulted in difficulty parking and minor collision.
When: Mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Spongy brake pedal feel; Difficult to control vehicle speed at low speeds; Difficult to control vehicle trajectory during parking
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented.
Brake fluid leak requiring frequent refilling
Brake fluid depletes rapidly, requiring refill every 500 miles. Leak suspected in master cylinder assembly. Brake failure nearly occurred due to insufficient fluid level.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid brake fluid depletion (refill needed every 500 miles); Brakes nearly failed due to low fluid; Almost collided with another vehicle due to brake failure
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; issue ongoing.
Slow brake response
Brakes respond very slowly when applied, creating safety concern. Vague description without specific circumstances.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes slow to respond when applied
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented.
Brake pedal sinking to floor with recovery
Brake pedal goes completely to floor on brake application but then recovers on subsequent applications. Intermittent loss of braking pressure.
When: Occurred once for each of two different drivers in same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor on application; Vehicle does not stop when pedal is on floor; Pedal recovers normal operation on second application; Intermittent failure pattern
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented.
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
My 2005 Toyota highlander master brake cylinder looks to be leaking near the brake booster. I know that it was replaced by Toyota dealer under NHTSA campaign number: 10v499000. However I do not remember the year. I was driving on local streets, when I stepped on the brake pedal and it went all the way to the floor. The next time I tried to step on the pedal it was working ok. But then the 3rd…
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 Toyota highlander. While driving approximately 40 MPH the vehicle lost control. The vehicle moved to the drivers left lane and a crashed occurred. The vehicle was struck from behind and moved into the third lane of the highway crashing into the median which caused the vehicle to stop. There was a police report filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and…
Had brakes trouble with your 2005 Toyota Highlander?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2005 Toyota Highlander?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 28,000 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 56,800. A quarter of owners report trouble before 28,000; a quarter make it past 80,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Toyota/Highlander.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.