2018 Toyota Highlander Brakes Problems
NHTSA lists 60 brake complaints for the 2018 Toyota Highlander, 23% of all complaints for the year, tied to 9 crashes and 5 injuries. A related recall (18V211000) covers a defective brake booster vacuum pump.
- Brakes complaints
- 60
- 23% of 265
- Crashes reported
- 9
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 5
- Median mileage
- 18,750 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Owners report a 'Braking Power Low, Stop in a Safe Place' warning appearing suddenly, sometimes leaving the vehicle unable to restart.
- Some describe the brake pedal needing to be pumped repeatedly before the brakes respond, especially at varying speeds.
- Several report the brake booster vacuum pump failing, matching the issue named in recall 18V211000, though some owners say dealers denied their VIN was covered.
- A few describe front brake surging and shimmying during downhill highway braking, which one owner says was addressed under a service bulletin involving front brake system replacement.
- One owner reports the vehicle rolling on its own while parked with the emergency brake engaged.
- Some describe the brake pedal pulsing like ABS engagement paired with an intermittent brake warning light after a pre-collision system repair.
When 2018 Toyota Highlander brake complaints were filed
First complaint Jun 25, 2018, latest May 9, 2025.
Brakes recalls for the 2018 Toyota Highlander
- NHTSA 18V211000Apr 3, 2018Brakes6,046 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander vehicles, 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles and 2017 Lexus RX350 vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the oil galley in the rotor for the brake booster vacuum pump assembly may have been improperly machined possibly resulting in a sudden loss of brake assist.
Risk: A sudden loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake booster vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0K/JLD.
Brakes complaints by Highlander model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many brake complaints does the 2018 Toyota Highlander have?
- NHTSA lists 60 brake-related complaints for the 2018 Highlander, which is 23% of all 265 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a brake recall on the 2018 Toyota Highlander?
- Yes. Recall 18V211000, reported 2018-04-03, covers a defective brake booster vacuum pump on certain 2018 Highlanders. Toyota's remedy is a free replacement of the vacuum pump.
- At what mileage do 2018 Highlander brake problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for brake complaints is 18,750 miles.
- Have the 2018 Highlander's brake issues caused crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to this brake complaint category shows 9 crashes and 5 injuries, with no reported fires.
- How does the 2018 Highlander compare to other years for brake complaints?
- The 2018 model's 23% share of complaints tied to brakes is the highest of any Highlander model year in the data, compared to a low of 3% for 2014.