Practice makes perfect. You need to figure out how much pressure you need to apply to the brake to keep it from rolling forwards without engaging the start/stop. I would go to a shopping mall when it's closed and practice. Every vehicles threashold is different for this.

 

I am well aware that I can learn how much pressure to apply. Maybe that is why the issue went away on my previous Highlander.

What I am more concerned about is the potential safety issue where you come to a full stop but if you are not paying close attention, you are in fact creeping forward. The end effect is something akin to a brake line leak.

Seems to me to be a safety issue when after stopping you need to apply more brake pressure than what it took to stop in the first place. ??

I observed it again this morning and I believe what is happening is that in fact I am NOT applying sufficient brake pressure to hold it stopped. But the transmission does a final downshift just as I come to a stop. For a moment, that reduces power and the vehicle stops and fools you into thinking it will remain stopped..... until the shift completes.

More a curiosity for me than anything else. But it is very unexpected behavior, requiring more attention than normal until I verify that I am indeed stopped for good. I have been driving for 60+ years and these two Highlanders are the ONLY vehicles I have ever owned that exhibit this behavior.

Paul

 

Are you sure it’s not from the engining shutting off after coming to a stop then restarts for climate control? Mine seems to move forward occasionally when the engine restarts if I haven’t applied enough brake.

 

Yes, I am 100% certain that it is not from the engine shutting off and/or re-starting after stop. The engine remains running but something subtly changes the power applied to the wheels as the vehicle comes to a stop. Doesn't always happen..... maybe 1 out of 5-10 stops. It seems to be associated with a slightly more aggressive deceleration.

It is also probably associated with my particular driving style. Regardless of how hard I brake, I like to come to a smooth stop. This means that I modulate the brake pressure as the vehicle comes to a stop and end up with just enough to keep it stopped. In that situation, it doesn't take much of an increase in power to the wheels to overcome the brakes and start creeping. It also doesn't take much to bring it to a stop again. The only issue is that for the vehicle to start creeping after it is stopped is unexpected behavior.

 

I've never had that issue with either my 2022 Highlander (3.5L V6) or my 2023 Highlander (2.4L turbo).

 

Drive in “S” mode, shift to neutral at your first stop or hit the S/S button…problem solved…

 

Ya that doesn't sound normal. If it's overcoming any brake pressure I'd get it checked out. Wildly guessing but could be air in the brake line or a leak of some sort.

 

Let me clarify..... this phenomenon is due to a SUBTLE change in the torque applied to the wheels as the vehicle comes to a stop that either overcomes gentle brake pressure or fools you into thinking you have indeed stopped.... it is difficult to determine which. The brakes themselves work perfectly. When this happens, if I increase the brake pressure even slightly the brakes will hold indefinitely. If I intentionally apply slightly more pressure than normal (ie., coming to a more abrupt stop), the brakes easily overcome the slight "bump" in torque as the vehicle stops.

This has nothing to do with start/stop...... the engine remains running at all times.

As I have said before, this is only noticeable because I like to roll to a gentle gradual stop..... gently enough that it does not trigger start/stop. And it does not always happen..... I have not yet clearly identified the circumstances that trigger it but it feels like there is a downshift coincident with the vehicle coming to a full stop.

Paul

 

I tend to brake gently as I come to a final stop...... gently enough that I never unintentionally trigger start/stop. But with my new 2024, randomly after I come to a complete stop (yes, it really did come to a stop) I will find the vehicle creeping forward slowly several seconds later. What seems to happen is that I apply sufficient braking to come to a stop and the vehicle does stop. But then there is a barely perceptible clunk / surge which slightly overcomes the braking I am applying.... brake pressure that was initially sufficient to stop and stay stopped.

I initially thought that perhaps the A/C was kicking in just as I came to a stop and the resulting increased engine RPM overcame the braking being applied. But that would not explain the "clunk" (more a feeling than a sound). I now think it might be that the transmission shifts from 2nd to 1st as I come to a stop and the increased torque overcomes the brakes. Just a theory.... aHEM.....

I used to have the identical problem in either my 2011 or my 2017 (can't remember which) but it went away at some point and never bothered me again.

Just curious...... anyone else?

Paul

I tend to brake gently as I come to a final stop...... gently enough that I never unintentionally trigger start/stop. But with my new 2024, randomly after I come to a complete stop (yes, it really did come to a stop) I will find the vehicle creeping forward slowly several seconds later. What seems to happen is that I apply sufficient braking to come to a stop and the vehicle does stop. But then there is a barely perceptible clunk / surge which slightly overcomes the braking I am applying.... brake pressure that was initially sufficient to stop and stay stopped.

I initially thought that perhaps the A/C was kicking in just as I came to a stop and the resulting increased engine RPM overcame the braking being applied. But that would not explain the "clunk" (more a feeling than a sound). I now think it might be that the transmission shifts from 2nd to 1st as I come to a stop and the increased torque overcomes the brakes. Just a theory.... aHEM.....

I used to have the identical problem in either my 2011 or my 2017 (can't remember which) but it went away at some point and never bothered me again.

Just curious...... anyone else?

Paul

By any chance is you 2024 a Hybrid? I have a 2022 Highlander Hybrid Platinum and have experienced the same thing under light braking while com to a stop and sometimes the vehicle will lurch forward.

 

No, it is not a hybrid. It is the turbo 4 Platinum.

Paul