2009 Toyota Highlander Brakes Problems

While driving, your Highlander made a loud clunking sound and the ABS, parking brake, and traction control warning lights all came on at once. A mechanic diagnosed that your brake actuator assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. This is the component that helps regulate your braking system, so having it fail is a serious safety concern.

Your ABS (anti-lock braking) system has failed, causing your brakes to feel inconsistent and make loud noises during hard braking. Two independent repair shops have confirmed this is an ABS actuator failure, and your ABS and stability control warning lights are illuminated. The fix will require replacement of the ABS actuator unit by a qualified technician.

Your brakes failed to stop the vehicle at low speed, even after pumping the pedal and pressing it all the way to the floor. Your car slowly rolled into another vehicle ahead of you, causing minimal damage to both cars. The dealership inspected your brakes and reported they appeared to be functioning normally. The fix may involve a thorough brake system inspection, including brake fluid condition, brake pads, calipers, and the master cylinder.

While driving, your brake system warning light came on along with the ABS light, traction control symbol, and a warning message telling you to pull over safely. Your regular brakes stopped working, forcing you to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle, and a loud alarm sounded. The issue appears to be a faulty ABS module that disabled your primary braking system. The repair will likely involve diagnosing the ABS module fault codes and replacing or repairing the ABS module to restore normal braking function.

Your ABS (anti-lock braking system) has stopped working properly, causing clunking noises and warning messages telling you to pull over immediately. This is a known issue on your model year, but Toyota's recall expired in 2020 and only covered vehicles actively experiencing the problem at that time. Repairs typically cost around $3,000 out of pocket.

While driving downhill at 65 mph and braking suddenly to avoid another vehicle, your Highlander made a strange noise and multiple warning lights appeared on the dashboard (ABS, service brake, and others). After this incident, the vehicle became difficult to control and did not respond reliably to braking when needed. A dealer inspection is needed to diagnose what caused the brake system and ABS to malfunction.

Your brake warning light, ABS light, anti-skid light, and triangle warning light have all come on. A diagnostic scan shows error code C1253, which points to a problem with the brake actuator or brake booster. You mention this is a known issue affecting 2008-2011 Toyota hybrid Highlanders, and Toyota issued a service bulletin about it (though it expired in 2020). The dealer and Toyota corporate have declined to help with repair costs. Fixing this will likely require replacing or rebuilding the brake actuator and/or brake booster assembly.

Your Highlander's ABS (anti-lock brake) system may malfunction around 135,000–150,000 miles, potentially causing brake failure or wheel lockup. Toyota issued a technical service bulletin in May 2019 but limited coverage to vehicles serviced during that period, and repairs cost around $3,000. The ABS module may need to be replaced or reprogrammed to restore proper brake function.

While driving, you heard a clunking noise and saw warning lights for ABS, traction control, and brakes telling you to pull over immediately. Your dealership found that the ABS actuator and brake pump had both failed and needed replacement. Toyota issued a service bulletin about this issue but did not recall the vehicle.

Your brake system is showing multiple warning lights and messages telling you to stop immediately and contact a dealer. The dealer diagnosed an internal leak in your brake actuator, which is the component that controls your braking power, and recommended replacing both the brake actuator assembly and the booster pump at a cost of nearly $3,000. This repair involves replacing the failed brake actuator and the booster pump that may have been stressed by the leak.

Your brake warning lights turned on after you noticed clunking noises from the front and rear of the vehicle, especially when braking. You've had to press the brake pedal much harder than normal to stop, and the vehicle now takes nearly twice as long to come to a complete stop. This will likely require inspection and replacement of worn brake components.

Your brake system may fail completely while driving due to a faulty brake actuator and pump assembly. Multiple warning lights appear on your dashboard (brake, ABS, and anti-lock brake symbols) along with messages telling you to stop safely and contact a dealer immediately. Toyota has confirmed the issue and provided a repair quote, but this is not currently covered under recall even though hundreds of thousands of 2008-2010 Highlanders have had the same problem fixed under warranty. The repair will involve replacing the brake actuator and pump assembly, which requires professional service at a Toyota dealership.

Your brakes may not stop your vehicle immediately even when you press the pedal firmly, with the car continuing to move a few feet before stopping. You may see warning lights for ABS, brakes, traction control, or tire pressure illuminate on your dashboard. A Toyota dealer diagnosed this as a brake actuator and pump assembly issue (error code C1391) that requires replacement at significant cost, though Toyota previously issued a recall bulletin covering this repair that expired on December 31, 2020. The fix involves replacing the brake actuator and pump assembly.

Your ABS pump and actuator have failed, causing warning lights to appear on your dashboard for ABS, Brakes, Traction Control, and the check engine light. This is a known manufacturing defect affecting over 100,000 vehicles where the actuator develops internal leakage that cannot be seen from outside. Fixing this issue will require replacing the ABS pump and actuator assembly.

SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, TIRE PRESSURE, BRAKES, ABS, TRACTION, THEY ALL STAYED ON FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN WENT OFF. THE CAR SEEMED TO BE DRIVING NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES, IT WAS NOT ALARMING, THE FIRST TIME THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WAS APPROXIMATELY NOVEMBER 12TH, THE LIGHTS STAYED OFF FOR WEEKS AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN AROUND DECEMBER 11TH, THE THIRD TIME, JAN 14TH, I GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WAS LEAKING AND THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM COULD FAIL. IT SEEMS HAZARDOUS AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THAT THE LIGHTS DID NOT STAY ILLUMINATED TO REFLECT THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION AND NOT A LOOSE FUSE OR TIRE PRESSURE ISSUE. I ASSUMED THAT SINCE THE LIGHTS WENT OFF, THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. IT IS A VERY COSTLY PART AND REPAIR AND TOYOTA IS AWARE THAT THE PART HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC. THEY HAVE NOT NOTIFIED CUSTOMERS OF THE ISSUE SO TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. THEY HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE PART YET GAVE NO NOTICE THAT THE PART WAS PROBLEMATIC AND TO BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND TAKE IT IN AT ONCE IF THE LIGHT EVER COMES ON. IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS THAT MORE SHOULD BE DONE ON TOYOTA'S PART TO ENSURE DRIVERS SAFETY. TO TOP IT ALL OFF THE WARRANTY EXPIRED DECEMBER 31ST, 2020. I GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP JAN 14TH 2021. TOYOTA IS MAKING NO EXCEPTIONS TO DELAYS WARRANTY COVERAGE CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE PUTTING MONEY AHEAD OF SAFETY ON MORE THAN ONE LEVEL AND AHEAD OF CUSTOMERS.

FAULTY BRAKE ACTUATOR. THIS IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE CALIBERS TO ENGAGE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL..THE BRAKE STAYS STUCK CAUSING ONE OF THE FOUR TIRES TO DRAG.THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION AND COULD CAUSE DEATH OR BODILY INJURY.

2009 VEHICLE (MANUFACTURED 9/2008) ONLY HAS 83K MILES ON IT. CROAKING SOUND FOR WEEK OR SO AND THEN ONE MORNING ABS FAILURE WARNING ON DISPLAY. CODES ARE C1241 AND C1391. SAME PROBLEM AS OTHERS. NEEDS NEW ABS PUMP AND ACTUATOR. THE PARTS ARE #44050-48320 AND #44070-48020AND COST OVER $3K FOR PARTS ALONE. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA, I THOUGHT TOYOTA QUALITY WAS BETTER THAN THIS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL AT 2 MPH, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED SHIFT TO P FUNCTION. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, ANOTHER WARNING LIGHT INDICATED, BRAKE DEFAULT CONTACT THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND AFTER IT WAS RESTARTED; THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,107.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH DURING A SNOW STORM THE WHEELS LOCKED. THE BRAKES ALSO LOCKED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE 200 FEET. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,250. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,430. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 22 MPH AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS FORCED TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.