VehicleVerdict

2018 Toyota Highlander brakes problems

The 2018 Toyota Highlander has 58 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 17% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

58

Brakes complaints

17%

Share of year

9

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

18V211000BrakesApril 3, 2018 · 6,046 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

What owners report

“WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE, SLOWLY, WITH RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, GETTING READY TO STOP BEFORE THE CURB, THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB GOING OVER THE SIDEWALK AND HIT THE BUILDING. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE WHEN IT STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED IN A DOCTORS OFFICE PARKING LOT. AIR…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · October 1, 2019 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 2018 Toyota Highlander have?

NHTSA has 58 complaints about the 2018 Toyota Highlander brakes — 17% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2018 Toyota Highlander brakes?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 18V211000.

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.