VehicleVerdict

2001 Toyota Highlander brakes problems

The 2001 Toyota Highlander has 22 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 14% of the year's total, and the first year with meaningful reports in this category.

22

Brakes complaints

14%

Share of year

6

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Highlander brakes complaints by model year97 complaints2001: 22 complaints2002: 12 complaints2003: 33 complaints2004: 25 complaints2005: 24 complaints2006: 97 complaints2007: 35 complaints2008: 83 complaints2009: 27 complaints2010: 30 complaints2011: 17 complaints2012: 13 complaints2013: 17 complaints2014: 3 complaints2015: 15 complaints2016: 19 complaints2017: 29 complaints2018: 58 complaints2019: 19 complaints2020: 33 complaints2021: 64 complaints2022: 35 complaints2023: 16 complaints2024: 8 complaints2025: 1 complaints
Highlander brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

01V228000BrakesJuly 5, 2001 · 41,169 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTIITY VEHICLES. THE RESERVOIR FILLER CAP OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY INDUCE A VACUUM, INTRODUCING SOME AIR INTO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. THIS COULD CAUSE ABNORMAL BRAKE NOISE AND INCREASED PEDAL STROKE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

Consequence

THE INCREASED PEDAL STROKE WILL LENGTHEN THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL BLEED THE AIR FROM THE BRAKE LINES AND REPLACE THE RESERVOIR FILLER CAP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

What owners report

“WIRING PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT. KEPT REPLACING BULB, THEN REPLACING SOCKET, NOW GOING TO PUT A WHOLE KIT. TOYOTA NEGLECTED TO TELL ME THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE, EVEN AFTER SEVERAL TICKETS AND WASTED MONEY ON DIFFERENT THINGS TELLING ME IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · November 1, 2010 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 2001 Toyota Highlander have?

NHTSA has 22 complaints about the 2001 Toyota Highlander brakes — 14% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2001 Toyota Highlander brakes?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 01V228000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.