2007 Toyota Highlander — Known Issues & Recalls

While driving, your brakes suddenly felt soft and unresponsive when you pressed hard on the pedal. Your dashboard lit up with ABS, brake, and VSC warning lights, and you heard a high-pitched noise from the brake system. You had to use the emergency brake and shift to B mode to slow down safely. The dealer identified a failed brake actuator, which costs around $3,000 to replace and isn't covered by warranty. You're concerned this is a safety defect that should have been recalled since the brake actuator can fail without warning. Fixing this issue requires replacing the entire brake actuator assembly.

You discovered that only one brake was working when you purchased this car, even though the dealer performed a safety inspection and charged you for it without disclosing the issue. You drove the vehicle for a month with a single working brake before mechanics at another shop identified the problem. Additionally, the tire pressure sensors were removed from the car, causing the tire pressure warning light to stay on despite adequate tire pressure.

While driving downhill on a freeway, your dashboard lights went off and the VSC (vehicle stability control) system activated. When you applied the brakes, they felt hard to engage and your car was slow to stop, which was especially concerning while going downhill with your family in the vehicle. Toyota has addressed this issue through a brake actuator warranty extension rather than an official recall.

Your 2007 Highlander Hybrid's ABS brake actuator may fail without warning lights, causing sudden loss of braking responsiveness and power. On January 30, 2022, multiple warning lights (VSC, ABS, Brake) illuminated while driving, and the vehicle experienced erratic behavior and poor braking. The repair will likely require replacement of the ABS actuator and possibly related brake system components.

Your brake system is pulsing and squeaking, which a Toyota dealer identified as a brake actuator failure. This is a known issue in Toyota vehicles that can potentially lead to complete brake failure while driving. The repair involves replacing the brake actuator, which may cost $2,500–$2,800 and is not covered under warranty.

Your brake system is leaking pressure from the accumulator while you're driving, which could affect your brakes' ability to stop properly. This is indicated by a C1391 diagnostic code. You should have a mechanic inspect and repair the brake accumulator and associated seals or lines.

While driving at about 50 mph, your VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) warning lights turned on with a chime, and "Check VSC" appeared on your dashboard instead of the odometer. Toyota has acknowledged ABS actuator problems on this model but limited warranty coverage to 150,000 miles or 10 years, and only informed dealers about a warranty extension program — not owners who used independent shops. This could affect your braking system's safety performance. The fix would likely involve inspecting or replacing the ABS actuator module.

Your brake warning lights came on, and you've noticed a loud clunking noise from under the hood during startup or shutdown — signs that your ABS actuator may be failing. Your brakes are also grabbing and pulsating unexpectedly. Toyota quoted around $3,000 to replace the ABS actuator, though the owner believes the part itself shouldn't cost that much. The fix involves replacing the ABS actuator unit, which requires disconnecting brake lines, removing bolts, and bleeding the brake system.

Your odometer reading appears to have been rolled back or tampered with. When you bought your Highlander in September 2025, the odometer showed 129,950 miles, but records show the vehicle had 262,597 miles in November 2021 and 299,150 miles in July 2025 — before you purchased it. This suggests the mileage was fraudulently reduced. You may want to report this to your state's motor vehicle fraud division and consider consulting with an attorney about your purchase.

You discovered a major mileage discrepancy with your 2007 Toyota Highlander after purchase. The odometer showed 116,000 miles when you bought it, but when registering the vehicle, it was found to have 240,126 miles—and the seller had altered the title by crossing out the mileage and writing 'EXEMPT.' You've reported this to local authorities as odometer fraud.

Your hybrid's brake system pump is running continuously even when the car is off, creating a humming noise that changes to knocking and grinding sounds when you brake. Your brake pedal has become inconsistent, sometimes pushing easily to the floor before tightening up, and all brake warning lights recently came on. The issue likely involves replacing the ABS brake actuator pump, which is an expensive repair ($1,200–$2,000 depending on the part) that may require professional diagnostic work to confirm the failure.

Your dashboard warning lights for Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Anti-lock Brakes (ABS), and Emergency Brake have been coming on and off for about a year. After you had brake work done including calipers, pads, rotors, and a brake line replaced, the warning lights returned and you now feel your brakes aren't responding properly. Additionally, your vehicle shakes violently once you reach speeds above 45 mph. The fix will likely require a thorough diagnostic of your brake system and steering components to identify why the warning lights persist and what's causing the vibration.

Your 2007 Highlander Hybrid has experienced multiple safety issues: the brake system is losing braking power due to failing hybrid brake actuators, the electrical inverter has failed, seat belts aren't retracting properly, and engine blow-by is leaking into the intake system. You've reported these problems to Toyota multiple times without receiving a satisfactory resolution. Fixing these issues will likely require replacement of the brake actuator assembly, inverter unit, seat belt retractor mechanism, and diagnosis of the engine ventilation system.

Your brake system and ABS are not working properly, which is a serious safety concern. You've contacted Toyota without resolution, and you've found similar complaints online from other owners—some involving recalls on other Toyota models. This appears to be a manufacturing defect that has been present since the vehicle was new. The fix will likely require Toyota to inspect and potentially replace brake system components or reprogram the ABS system.

While driving on the highway, your Hybrid System, ABS System, and VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) warning lights came on and your car lost all power, forcing you to pull over safely. Your car now starts on battery power but the engine sputters and dies when trying to start, showing the same warning messages. Multiple shops have replaced all six ignition coils and spark plugs, but the system still reports all six coils as faulty despite the replacements, and no mechanic has been able to identify the root cause.

About six months after you had a set of four new tires installed at Sam's Club in May 2021, cracks began appearing around the rims on both the inner and outer edges of two tires—one on the front passenger side and one on the rear driver side. Over time, these cracks grew larger. The repair would likely involve replacing the affected tires.

Your engine's VVT-i oil line may leak oil or potentially burst. This could result in oil loss and engine damage if not addressed.

Your brake pedal has become hard to press, and multiple warning lights are on at the same time: the VCS (Vehicle Stability Control), ABS, brake, and traction control lights. You're also hearing a constant buzzing noise. These issues all started while you were driving. The problem likely involves the brake system, ABS module, or related sensors, and may require diagnostic scanning and brake system inspection.

Your motor mounts have deteriorated and are no longer supporting the engine properly. When you ease off the gas pedal while driving, you may notice the car sways and pulls to one side, and this happens at all speeds. The engine movement is causing handling issues that should be addressed by replacing the worn motor mounts.

Both fuel tank straps on the passenger side of your Highlander broke, causing the fuel tank to drop to the ground and making the vehicle undrivable. Your wife heard a clunk sound while stopped, then scraping noises when the car started moving again. Fixing this will involve replacing the broken fuel tank straps and inspecting the tank for any damage from hitting the ground.