2022 Toyota Highlander service brakes problems

“On October 22, 2026 at 7:55pm I was slowly pulling into a parking spot at our community building applying the brake when the engine started rapidly accelerating causing the car to jump over the curbing even as I continued to press on the brake pedal. I wasn’t able to stop the vehicle before it crashed into the community building wall. The engine was still racing but the vehicle being lodged in the wall and corner support kept the vehicle from going further into the building. I was finally able to shut off the engine and luckily for me the airbag system didn’t deploy.”

“I would like to file a complaint regarding Toyota’s known brake surge issue addressed in Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0059-23. I believe this is a serious safety issue because the unexpected braking or brake surge when stopping can potentially cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle or contribute to an accident. I contacted a Toyota dealership near me about the issue, but they were unwilling to provide any assistance. I then contacted another Toyota dealership, which informed me that they could perform the repair but would charge approximately $400. I am concerned that Toyota has identified and documented this issue through T-SB-0059-23 but does not provide the repair free of charge unless the vehicle is still within the 36,000-mile warranty period. A known safety-related defect should not necessarily become the customer’s financial responsibility simply because the vehicle has exceeded the mileage limitation of the basic warranty. I am requesting that Toyota review this matter and consider providing the repair at no cost, particularly given the safety implications of the brake surge issue and the fact that Toyota has already acknowledged the condition…”

“When I’m driving with the A/C on when I start to decelerate to a stop at a stop sign or light, my car lurches forward. It feels like I’m going to crash into the car in front of me, but I’m not sure how far it actually moves. It happens more in the summer months (more than once per week) when the A/C is on. In the winter it does happen less often. I purchased the car in 2021 and it has done this for at least the last 3 years if not longer.”

“The cars brakes will release and car will lurch forward forcing you to hit the brakes again to avoid colliding with car in front of you. This is a KNOWN problem called "HYBRID REGENERATIVE BRAKE TRANSITION FEELING IMPROVEMENT" PER Toyota's TSB-0059-23. They know of the problem, but do not tell people about it upon bringing car in. My car is starting to do it more now, and they will not cover because it is "beyond 36,000 miles or 3 year manufacturer warranty" This is NOT a minor safety problem. I have had this happen being first car to stop at red light and brake will release and lurch forward almost causing me to go into cross traffic! It has happened multiple times almost making me hit the car in front of me (rear ending the car stopped in front of me). This is not a warranty issue like the weatherstriping on window is bad! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVING 100,000 OF CARS. DO NOT WAIT for someone to get seriously injured by this or killed because of it (think kid in crosswalk walking and Suv stops, then lurch forward into them!) who is going to sue whom? Also, the injury or death could of been prevented. Now they charge over $350 to fix. This is with 2020-2022…”

“Component or system that malfunctioned: The braking system on my 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, specifically the transition between regenerative braking and hydraulic friction braking, appears to malfunction intermittently. During braking, the vehicle sometimes lurches or surges forward instead of slowing smoothly, especially at low speeds or when braking downhill. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How safety was put at risk: The unexpected forward surge while braking increases stopping distance and creates uncertainty about braking performance, particularly in traffic or parking situations. This creates a risk of rear-end or low-speed collisions and reduces my confidence in the braking system. Problem reproduced or confirmed by dealer or service center: The vehicle was inspected by a Toyota dealership, and a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) software update intended to address braking behavior was performed at approximately 50,000 miles. However, the braking problem continues unchanged after the repair. I had to pay the dealer to perform this TSB update. The dealer was initially reluctant to apply the TSB and did not associate my braking…”

“When I am slowing down and coming to a stop, my car will surge forward. It feels like my brakes stop working for a second and that I pressed the accelerator. It has happened on flat road, hills and turns.”