2018 Toyota Highlander

SLOWLY (3-5MPH) MOVING TOWARD EXIT RAMP FROM HOSPITAL PARKING LOT. TRIED TO BRAKE BEFORE TURNING RIGHT ONTO RAMP, BUT SERVICE BRAKE DIDN'T RESPOND -- FELT LIKE I WAS JUST POUNDING THE FLOOR. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST. I TURNED IT ONTO EXIT RAMP. DURING COAST DOWN RAMP THE MULTI-FUNCTION DISPLAY SHOWED "LOW BRAKE POWER" OR "BRAKE POWER LOW". VEHICLE SPEED REMAINED RELATIVELY CONSTANT. I SHIFTED INTO R (REVERSE), THINK THAT NO HARM WOULD COME TO TRANSMISSION AT THAT SPEED, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED; COAST REMAINED CONSTANT. LUCKILY NO VEHICLES WERE IN FRONT OF MINE AND NONE WERE COMING ON RT 25 BRIGHTON AVE WESTBOUND IN PORTLAND ME, SO I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE COASTING VEHICLE TO A SLOW STOP ALONG THE ROAD'S EDGE (BUT STILL HALFWAY INTO THE TRAVEL LANE). THEN THE MULTI-FUNCTION DISPLAY TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF (NOT BY ME). A CITY BUS CAME ALONG ABOUT ONE MINUTE LATER; IF IT HAD COME BY ONE MINUTE BEFORE THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A COLLISION WITH MY VEHICLE. AFTER WAITING TO RECOVER FROM THE SHOCK OF THAT EVENT, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND TESTED THE BRAKES, AND THEY SEEMED NORMAL AND THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL LIGHTS ON MESSAGES ON THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS. I TRIED DRIVING IT CAREFULLY, AND IT SEEMED NORMAL, SO I DROVE IT OFF BRIGHTON AVE AND ULTIMATELY GOT IT HOME IN BUXTON WITHOUT ANY MORE ADVERSE EVENTS. TODAY I LOOKED AT THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AND IT WAS NORMAL (1/4 INCH BELOW MAX). I'M HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT ON MARCH 1, 2018 AND WILL NOT DRIVE IT AGAIN UNTIL THEY TELL ME IT HAS BEEN FIXED.

OUR TOYOTA HIGHLANDER STARTED SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF "SOFT BRAKE PEDAL" IN 4.2019 - NOTHING WAS FOUND ON DIAGNOSTIC AT DEALERSHIP. SYMPTOMS OF "SOFT BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. VEHICLE WENT INTO DEALERSHIP AGAIN IN 7.2019 AND WAS DIAGNOSED W/MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE FITTING LOOSE - FITTING TIGHTENED AND BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSHED. SYMPTOMS RETURNED WITHIN 2 DAYS AND WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP - CASE OPENED WITH TOYOTA ENGINEERING AND MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. PICKED UP VEHICLE FOLLOWING DAY BUT SYMPTOMS OF "SOFT BRAKE PEDAL" RETURNED 2 DAYS LATER. REPLICATION OF "SOFT BRAKE PEDAL" UNABLE.TO BE REPLICATED/DIAGNOSED AT DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE STILL "UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS" TO DRIVE. AWAITING FOLLOW UP WITH TOYOTA.

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE ASSIST VACUUM PUMP FAILS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE VACUUM FOR THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM ASSIST. RESULTING IS A LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. A BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITANTLY ON THE DASH PANEL AND POSSIBLY AN AUDIO WARNING AND ERROR MESSAGE. PLUS NO ERROR CODES ARE STORED IN MEMORY FOR FUTURE DIAGNOSIS. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER ON A RURAL ROAD, CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY. A PREVIOUS RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2018 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FOR THIS SAME ISSUE BUT NOT FOR THIS SPECIFIC HIGHLANDER.

THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM FAILED TO ASSIST IN AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY. SINCE THE REPAIR, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE SPEEDOMETER SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSES AS IF THE ABS SYSTEM IS ENGAGING. ONCE IT STOPPED ME SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY CITY STREET. WENT FROM 35 TO 0 VERY SUDDENLY. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO 2 DEALERS AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THE SYSTEM DOES NOT INDICATE AN ERROR EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHT IS ON AND THEY TESTED WHILE IT WAS ON. I CAN RECREATE THE ISSUE BY ACCELERATING QUICKLY WHILE TURNING LEFT. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN GOING STRAIGHT, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE IT WILL HAPPEN IS TO TURN AND ACCELERATE QUICKLY. NEITHER OF THE 2 DEALERS I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HAVE FOUND THE ISSUE AND TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE STOPPED CALLING ME BACK.

RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF OF SAFETY RECALL FOR HIGHLANDER 2018 NHTSA RECALL NO 18V-211 VACUUM PUMP. CAR WAS TESTED AT DEALER ON JUN 13TH, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE NEED THE REPAIR. VACUUM PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. REPLACEMENT PART WAS ORDERED BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE, ITS BEEN 10 WEEKS. THE CAR PRESENTED FAILURE FOR THIS PROBLEM 4 WEEKS AGO. IT IS NOT LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE IT. TOYOTA HAS NOT PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE REPAIR DATE, CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE AUGUST 6TH.