It will often say this when the battery is dead. Mine said this when I sat in the car with the engine off for 45 min not realizing that the headlights were on. I think it's because there's an electric component to the brakes that is necessary due to the start/stop system so that you don't lose braking power when the engine shuts off i.e. on a hill.

 

Yesterday it started slow which I found weird for such a new car with only 20k miles. Then before the no start today the hatch didn’t open first attempt. So maybe you right on the battery being low/dead. Battery should be covered under the 36/36 warranty correct? Nothing was left on that I know of. The electronics shut off after a certain time anyway if left on(such as a dome light) don’t they?

 

Yes, the headlights would shut off by themselves if you turn the car off and open the driver's door. As long as you turn the key completely off or press the start/stop button once to turn off the engine, nothing should leave itself on for any length of time.

The battery should be covered by the 3/36 basic warranty. It's not excluded from that coverage like tires and wear items (fluids, wiper blades, etc.)

Another way that brake warning comes on is to pump the brake pedal as if you're going to start the car using the smart key on/off button and then don't actually start it. After doing that a couple of times, it will become hard to press the pedal and the warning will come up. It will go away after you start the car. But if there's no battery power, then of course that's a different problem.

 

To the OP: You don't mention how you got it started. Was the battery actually dead?

I didn't realize the battery was the issue until I tried to start it remotely and saw the low voltage on the app. It would be nice, when it won't start, if the system told you the battery was dead rather than signal a braking malfunction because there isn't enough electric power for the brakes. I suspect this is a flaw specific to the 2017-2019 due to the electric brake assist system inherent to the new stop/start feature.

 

To the OP: You don't mention how you got it started. Was the battery actually dead?

I didn't realize the battery was the issue until I tried to start it remotely and saw the low voltage on the app. It would be nice, when it won't start, if the system told you the battery was dead rather than signal a braking malfunction because there isn't enough electric power for the brakes. I suspect this is a flaw specific to the 2017-2019 due to the electric brake assist system inherent to the new stop/start feature.

The flatbed driver jumped it to get it on the flatbed. It’s at the dealer now. Prob won’t hear til Monday what the issue was. I can’t drive anyway as I just had laser eye surgery so not in a real rush to get it back. I would have probably jumped it myself and took it out if it wasn’t for the timing with my surgery. They also happened to have my replacement chrometech (one was losing its finish) wheel in too so at-least that will get put on in the same dealer trip

 

Ive had that happen. New car.. wont start. Just took it in and got a new battery

 

Got the call the battery was bad. Replacing under warranty. Hopefully the new one lasts longer than 1.5 years. Ironically while the Highlander was in the shop for that issue my Camry battery failed on my wife. But that was a 7 yr old original battery. So both Toyota’s are sportin new batteries lol. I was looking for a reason to replace that one before the cold months anyway.

 

Glad you got it fixed, 7 years is way over the time Id keep one.... I do recall in Phoenix while eating lunch. went out, Camry wouldnt start.. Its battery was like 4 yrs old.. Got it jumped , made it to stop light, Car died.. Dealer was just around the corner... I ran to dealer, the guys cam up jumped it again and I let him drive it to dealer, it died again pulling into the Bay... Got new battery and wasnt charged for that..I think part of that was..I was a customer there and of course PR never hurts..

 

Yeah the 7 year old battery was a ticking time bomb and I’m glad it finally gave in so I actually replaced it. It was dead dead. Wouldn’t even jump to get it somewhere. Had to pick up a battery and replace it where it sat at my sons football practice.

 

It amazes me that with all of the technology in modern vehicles, I still can count on being stranded about once a year by a dead battery with little or no warning. I say little because when you look back, you always can think of how your battery died when you left the headlights or the stereo on just a little too long or that one time it didn't crank the first time. After enough decades of this, I still carry around the jumper cables everywhere.

I thought that perhaps the start/stop system would be smart enough to tell that the battery wasn't holding a charge but now I'm wondering whether it just means that I might find out about my dead battery at an intersection rather than a parking lot or my garage.

 

It amazes me that with all of the technology in modern vehicles, I still can count on being stranded about once a year by a dead battery with little or no warning. I say little because when you look back, you always can think of how your battery died when you left the headlights or the stereo on just a little too long or that one time it didn't crank the first time. After enough decades of this, I still carry around the jumper cables everywhere.

I thought that perhaps the start/stop system would be smart enough to tell that the battery wasn't holding a charge but now I'm wondering whether it just means that I might find out about my dead battery at an intersection rather than a parking lot or my garage.

Yet another reason to not use Stop/Start.

 

I always bypass that cursed "start/stop" STUPID system. Today, my 2019 Highlander (which I love) would not start and lovingly told me "BRAKING POWER LOW STOP IN A SAFE PLACE SEE OWNER'S MANUAL". After much googling and my dear husband finding his handy dandy multimeter, the battery tested to a weak 9.68 (should be 12 +). We were all ready to call Toyota and have it towed in, which they would feast upon and telling us we need a new brake vac system ($2,500+). Tomorrow morning we are going to get a new battery and put this behind us. The other day I was at Mavis, and got two new front tires. They did a bunch of checks and one of them said "you will need a new battery soon" to which I though they were trying to drum up some $$$. So for sure we are trying the battery first before going to the wolves at the dealership. Will report back tomorrow after battery replacement. Thank you!