2020 Toyota Highlander · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 39owner reports
- 21,000median miles
- 6involved a crash
Newest report Aug 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
39 of the 317 complaints on this car describe brake wear. Only transmission failure is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 39 reports
Brake wear on other Highlander years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the brakes covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 15,000 and 45,600 miles, from the 10 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2020 Toyota Highlander that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
What owners wrote
“I pushed the brake and swerved and the car kept going and a greater speed and surged into a house.”
Filed Jul 16, 2026
“Just went back for secondary break malfunction and was told fuel ð¤·ð»ââï¸ i just filled it. Still no remedy for recall since my Last maintenance visit”
Filed Aug 4, 2025
“While steering to the right to exit a parallel parking spot, the ABS sensor cable came into contact with a suspension bolt, snapping the sensor wire. This triggered the Check Engine Light and caused a malfunction in the braking systems.”
Filed Sep 14, 2024
“On numerous occasions when applying the brakes on my vehicle there is a very noticeable "surge" when the vehicle slows to a near stop. It feels like there is a momentary loss of braking before the brakes re-engage. I have had the vehicle since new and it seems like the problem has become more noticeable over time. I have lost some confidence in the safety performance of the vehicle due to this dangerous issue.”
Filed Apr 22, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 6 of 39 reports involved a crash and 8 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 57 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 32 reports