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 ↗2007 Toyota Highlander brakes problems
severe 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 28 brakes complaints filed for the 2007 Toyota Highlander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ 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
Owners have filed 28 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Brakes accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 10 categories tracked.
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 ↗Warranty Policy Bulletin: Toyota has received some reports where various brake system related warning lamps illuminate due to internal malfunctions of the Brake Actuator Assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The overwhelming brake problem in 2007 Highlander Hybrids centers on ABS actuator failure, with 28 complaints filed. Owners report sudden loss of power-assisted braking—the pedal goes hard, may sink to the floor, and the vehicle becomes difficult or impossible to stop. Many describe lurching or surging forward while braking, pulsating pedal feel, and illumination of ABS/VSC/brake warning lights. One driver lost brakes entirely at 50 mph and had to rely on the emergency brake; another nearly entered cross-traffic on a downhill grade.
Owners commonly hear a loud clunking noise on startup or shutdown well before actuator failure occurs—a warning sign dealers sometimes dismisses as unrelated. The repair costs $2,500-$3,506. Toyota issued a Warranty Enhancement Program in 2014-2016 covering the defect for 10 years or 150,000 miles, acknowledging the actuator was faulty. However, coverage expired for most 2007 models by 2017-2020, leaving recent owners with full out-of-pocket costs.
Several owners report the actuator failed again within 2-3 years of replacement, suggesting Toyota may have used old, defective inventory for repairs. Master cylinder and brake booster failures also appear in the record, causing similar loss of braking power. Owners express frustration that Toyota knew about this safety-critical defect yet limited warranty coverage, and that non-original owners never received recall notices despite the 10-year-old enhancement program being underpublicized.
Same Toyota Highlander brakes reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
ABS actuator failure with loss of brake assist
ABS actuator (also called ABS pump assembly or ABS control module) fails, causing loss of power brake assist, hard brake pedal, erratic braking behavior, and illumination of ABS/VSC/brake warning lights. Owners report the brakes still function mechanically but without power assist, requiring extreme pedal pressure. This affects 2007 Highlander Hybrids particularly.
When: Between 73,000-150,000 miles; typically 8-12+ years from purchase; some failures recur within 2-3 years after first replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power-assisted braking, pedal goes hard and sinks to floor; ABS, VSC, brake warning lights illuminate; Erratic braking behavior; vehicle lurches or surges forward when braking; Pulsating or grabbing brakes; Difficulty stopping vehicle; longer stopping distances; Loud clunking noise on startup/shutdown from engine bay; Squeaking or chirping sounds when brake pedal is pressed; Loud screech or buzzing noise during failure event
Codes mentioned: VSC system error, ABS control module fault code, VCS problem code
Repairs/costs cited: Actuator replacement costs $2,500-$3,506. Parts are identical between 2007 Highlander Hybrid and 2007 Camry Hybrid. Replacement involves removing 2 bolts, 1 electrical connector, 6 brake lines, and brake bleed. Some owners report repeated failures within 2-3 years of replacement, suggesting defective replacement inventory. One owner required replacement three times.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota issued Warranty Enhancement Program (2014 for Camry Hybrid per NHTSA investigation PE14-001; April 19, 2016 for Highlander Hybrid, ZG1 program) covering parts and labor for 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever came first. Coverage expired for most 2007 models by 2017-2020. Toyota initially denied repair coverage despite issuing enhancement program. Some dealerships charged inspection fees ($129.95) even when repairs were denied. Toyota offered partial credit ($1,000) on some $3,000 repairs but refused full coverage after warranty expired. One owner reports Toyota service manager stated ABS failure is not a safety concern since mechanical brakes still work, contradicting owner experience and online reports.
Master cylinder failure
Master cylinder failure or leaks causing brake pedal to sink to floor, loss of braking pressure, or inability to stop vehicle. One narrative mentions service bulletin issued 6 months after ABS pump replacement stating older ABS pumps have cracks in the pump body.
When: 73,000-82,000 miles; also reported after ABS system replacement in 2015
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal sinks to floor when depressed; Soft brake pedal; Brake light illuminates; Complete loss of brakes or inability to stop; Brake fluid leak
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder replacement required. One owner also needed brake booster replacement. Repairs did not resolve the problem in one case. One repair cost estimate was $1,750 for both master cylinder and booster replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified in one case and agreed the failure was not normal wear but offered no assistance. A 2004-2006 Highlander recall exists (NHTSA Campaign 10V499000) for master cylinder issues, but 2007 model owner reports Toyota will not assist despite similar failure pattern.
Brake booster failure
Brake booster fails, reducing or eliminating power assist, requiring excessive pedal pressure to stop vehicle.
When: Unknown specific mileage; identified after master cylinder replacement in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power brake assist; Hard brake pedal requiring excessive pressure; Difficulty stopping vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster replacement required in at least one case; cost unknown.
Brake pad and rotor rust/corrosion with pulsating feel
Brake pads, rotors, and calipers rust and corrode in winter weather, sticking together and causing pulsating, uneven braking feel when engaged.
When: 28,000 miles; winter weather conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Pulsating brake feel; Uneven braking sensation; Rusted brake components
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pads, rotors, and calipers replacement required; cost unknown. Related recalls exist for other Toyota model years.
Brake pedal soft/sinking with intermittent full-floor travel
Brake pedal feels soft and progressively sinks lower; intermittently travels all the way to floor while depressed, particularly at stops or during downhill braking. Owners report repeated episodes despite multiple dealer adjustments and repairs.
When: Later in vehicle life; one case involved multiple visits over 2+ years
Symptoms owners cite: Soft brake pedal; Brake pedal lower than normal; Brake pedal sinks fully to floor while depressed; Loss of stopping ability (one owner nearly entered cross-traffic)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple repair attempts made (brake adjustments, unspecified work); none resolved the issue. Dealers claimed master cylinder is designed to release pressure while pedal is held.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer attributed symptom to normal master cylinder design; Toyota corporate ticket opened (#1003232005) but no resolution documented.
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
About a month ago, my wife called me from far away telling me that she suddenly had brake-related warming lights. I quickly read up on the ABS system failures in this car, and since she did not yet have symptoms, I told her to drive back carefully. I then reviewed my files on the car and saw that they had sent me an extended warranty notice about this problem, and suggested that we bring the…
In 2015 I was told by the Toyota dealer that my ABS pump and accumulator needed to be replaced. That was done and I immediately starting having problems with the brakes. Two things: (1) per the service rep, this replacement needed to be done due to a pumping sound being emitted from the ABS pump after the SUV was turned off. The exact same noise started up within a few days of the replacement. I…
2007 Toyota highlander hybrid limited was experiencing concerning brakes beginning to lurch forward, brake pedal stiffness, and associated noise. In short, the issue is a critical loss of assisted braking. Took it to the dealership in texas and was instructed that the ABS actuator had failed. Mechanic indicated that this failure is fairly common in Toyota hybirds from 07 (both highlander and…
I had a wheel bearing replaced in my 2007 Toyota highlander and as soon as it was fixed all the warning lights came on in the car, including the vsc light, ABS light, brake light, and several others. It was not showing any codes when checked so they turned them off. Over a period of about a year the lights came on and off but with no affect to my braking system. I had brought the car into Toyota…
Had brakes trouble with your 2007 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 2007 Toyota Highlander?
It's a meaningful issue. 28 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 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 73,000 and 150,000 miles, with the median around 100,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 73,000; a quarter make it past 150,000. 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/2007/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.