TSB: Some 2014 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit a hard start and/or MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): ?DTC P0171 and/or P0174 (System Too Lean Bank 1/Bank 2) ?DTC P0087 Fuel Rail / System Pressure ? Too Low Techstream data list analysis may reveal positive fuel trims including a no pressure condition verified by a manual fuel pressure gauge. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address these conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Toyota Highlander brakes problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
1crash
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.
DL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The settlement includes Toyota?s agreement to provide a Customer Support Program for certain 2014-2020 model year (MY) vehicles originally equipped with low pressure fuel pumps repaired under Safety Recall 20TA02, Safety Recall 21TA03, Safety Recall 21TA05 or Special Service Campaign 21TC03. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with the settlement.
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 ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe brake failures starting around 25,000–27,500 miles, with patterns that suggest systemic rather than isolated defects. The most common complaint is brake pedal loss of pressure—the pedal goes to the floor with no stopping force, creating genuine collision risk in parking lots, construction zones, and highway driving. One owner nearly rear-ended another vehicle; another had a collision in a construction zone with an 18-wheeler present.
Several owners see "Braking Power Low" warnings on the dashboard before brakes fail completely. Stalling occurs in some cases—the vehicle loses power and will not restart, forcing towing. The hybrid system shuts down in at least two complaints, paired with brake failure.
Dealers bled brake lines, checked batteries, and visually inspected components but repeatedly told owners they could not find the problem. One owner was told the brake booster and master cylinder failed; another was incorrectly diagnosed with battery failure. One owner noted that Toyota has issued a recall for the same symptom in hybrid 2019 Highlanders, but not for the standard model.
The issue shows no correlation to owner maintenance or behavior—it appears spontaneously during normal driving, parking, and stopping. Warranty had expired in at least one case, leaving the owner with a substantial repair bill.
Same Toyota Highlander brakes reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal loss of pressure / goes to floor
Brake pedal depresses fully to the floor without generating sufficient stopping force. Occurs during parking, normal driving, and emergency braking situations. Vehicle may not decelerate or stop properly, creating collision risk.
When: 25,000–27,500 miles; recurring across multiple complaints
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal travels to floorboard on level roads; Reduced brake pedal travel on uphill grades; No braking response when pedal depressed during parking; Vehicle lurches forward unpredictably at stop; Brakes lock up intermittently or fail to stop without skidding
Codes mentioned: Hybrid System Stopped warning, Braking Power Low message, BSM (Brake System Monitor) not available
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer bled brake line on one vehicle; failure persisted. Master cylinder and brake booster reported by one owner to be the cause, but repairs not documented across complaints. Most owners report dealer was unable to diagnose root cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reports manufacturer promised 3–4 day follow-up but no resolution documented. No recalls mentioned for non-hybrid 2019 Highlander models in these narratives, though one owner notes a recall exists for the hybrid variant only.
Brake system electrical failure with stalling
Vehicle experiences brake warning messages, then stalls and will not restart. Battery diagnosis offered by dealer but owner skeptical. Leaves vehicle inoperable, typically requiring towing.
When: Multiple instances; timing not fully specified by owners
Symptoms owners cite: Braking Power Low warning message; Orange triangle with exclamation point dashboard warning; Engine stalls and will not restart; Hybrid system shuts down; Engine Check light illuminates
Codes mentioned: Braking Power Low, Hybrid System Stopped, Engine Check Light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed battery failure in one case, but owner disputes this. Vehicle towed to dealership; no repairs completed in narratives provided.
Brake booster and actuator assembly failure
Brake actuator assembly and brake booster pump assembly malfunction, resulting in erratic brake behavior including lockup, reduced stopping ability, and skidding. One owner specifically identified these components as the failure source.
When: Mileage not specified; problem reported mid-ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes lock up unexpectedly; Vehicle won't stop short without skidding; Hybrid system shuts down during brake event; BSM not available warning
Codes mentioned: Hybrid System Stopped, BSM not available
Repairs/costs cited: Components identified as failed by owner inspection; parts available but no repair narrative provided.
Vehicle creep / rollback when brakes applied
Vehicle rolls forward at traffic lights and stop signs despite brake pedal being fully depressed, creating forward-motion hazard. Warranty had just expired when reported by owner.
When: Post-warranty period; specific mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Car rolls forward while stopped at stop sign; Forward motion despite brake pedal depressed; Recurring behavior over multiple stop events
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer attributed to master cylinder and brake booster failure. Owner noted a recall exists for hybrid model with same symptom, but not for this owner's model year.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2019 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 2019 Toyota Highlander?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 26,250 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2019/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.