Under "The Issue," did you mean shimmying, not shimmering?

 

lol yeah. Im sure they'll get it though. The service history speaks for itself.

 

Have you checked your rims? My son had a similar problem in his car, and it turned out to be neither brakes nor tires. One of his rims was slightly bent. Not enough to be detected with tire balancing or alignment. Only an experienced tire repair shop guy noticed it, it was about 2-3 mm side-to-side motion. Replacing the bent rim solved the problem permanently. Another cause could be bent spindle.

 

Wouldn't you feel a bent rim in the steering or the ride, even with new rotors?

 

Good luck with your issue.
It's so exhausting to deal with those things when it happened.
I'm in Canada and here Toyota Corp don't help that much except when there's a recall but hope for you that's better in the US

 

You should probably take it to an independent who does front end work and is familiar with Toyotas, and ask them to do an inspection and also pay them and keep the receipt, and ask for reimbursement from Toyota if they find something.
But be sure to let Toyota do the actual repair work that the independent finds.
I think you did too much DIY self-repair without first looking for the actual cause of the problem.

 

Also make sure your wife is only using one foot on the pedals.

 

Using one foot is irrelevant if habitually tailgaiting with the radar cruise active. With radar cruise active, both driver and ECU control both the accelerator and brake up to the set speed. But if the driver is following closer than the set distance and inputs the accelerator, the ECU will not override the accelerator, but apply the brakes in an effort to reduce speed to maintain set distance. The greater the driver forces the accelerator, the greater the ECU will force the brake pads against the rotors to maintain set distance........with no warning lights or caution messages. In essence it becomes a "tailgaiting" situation where the vehicle is heat warping rotors even though a driver swears their foot was only on the accelerator.

Dealer should be able to verify if they bother to pull codes from the ECU where it will show the brake and accelerator applied simultaneously for extended periods. Swapping drivers instead of rotors would solve this situation.

 

Dear Toyota Customer Relations,

I am writing to express a persistent brake issue with my 2022 Toyota Highlander XLE, purchased brand new.

The Issue:

Since approximately 15,000 miles, I have experienced a persistent shimmering sensation in the brake pedal during braking, regardless of braking intensity. As it progressed, we could begin to feel it slightly in the steering wheel. Initially I thought it was just tire wear, but it progressed. And I decided to take it to Toyota to diagnose the issue. Here is breakdown of the history:


Service History:

-April 22nd, 2023 (18,417 miles): Toyota diagnosed and replaced warped rear rotors free of charge. This did not fix the issue and I took it back a few days later.

-April 28th, 2023 (18,460 miles): Toyota diagnosed minor hot spots on the front rotors. I paid 50% of the cost for replacing the front rotors ($111.48). This initially fixed the issue and it drove like new. However, it came back after about 8,000 more miles.

-September 5th, 2023 (27,640 miles): Toyota identified run-out in the front rotors, replaced them free of charge. Again, this fixed the issue, but like before, and about 8-9000 miles later it returned at around 35,000 miles.

Frustrated by the recurring issue, I took the following additional steps, all at my own expense:

-Self-installed higher-quality rotors from Rock Auto (around 35,000 miles). Fixed the issue as before. But returned around 42,000 miles. At this point I thought it may be the original tires, somehow causing the issue. So I had them replaced.

-Purchased and installed four new Pirelli tires (May 31st, 2024, cost me over $1,000+). Unfortunately this did not fix the issue at all.

-Went to Toyota and purchased and self-installed brand-new OEM front rotors and pads with shims from (June 1st, 2024, cost me $372.24).

• This is the fifth set of rotors on the vehicle at 43,326 miles.

This is clearly not a case of normal wear and tear. My wife drives this vehicle to work. She does not brake hard, she does not drive fast. We don't live on a gravel road, we do not abuse our vehicles. There is clearly something wrong with our 2022 Toyota Highlander XLE.

As a first-time Toyota owner, I purchased this Highlander with the expectation of reliability. The ongoing brake problem has deeply impacted my confidence in Toyota's product and service.

Therefore, I request Toyota to investigate the root cause of this issue at no cost to me. A permanent solution is needed to ensure the safety and functionality of my vehicle.

Thank you.

I would first like to tell you that i feel your pain.
I purchased a 2022 Highlander limited brand new from my local dealer.
At 14,205 miles my Highlander did just as yours.
I took it to the dealership and they told me all 4 rotors were warped and they would replace them at MY EXPENSE.
I told them not to do anything. I left went and did research and found this issue was more than just yours and mine.
There were a plethora of these issues that Toyota just swept under the rug.
I went to a company called performance brakes, purchased their slotted rotors and ceramic brake pads for all 4 corners.
I had them installed at a lical shop i trust.
It now gas been 20K miles later and never another problem and these rotors are guaranteed for LIFE.
I hope this helps some of us out there that gets nothing from Toyota.
Steven James

 

Just as general comment - Toyota brakes are extremely undersized. Toyota does the bare minimum to meet FMVSS 135 (the federal vehicle standard for minimum brake performance). If you compare the size of Toyota's brakes with the brakes on equivalent size / class vehicles, you will immediate see that Toyota's rotors are about 20% smaller and thinner. Toyota's brakes are borderline dangerous. Toyota never cared about safety, and will willingly put occupants at risk for the sake of saving a couple of dollars.

 

Toyota won't do a thing about this.

 

First Toyota Highlander, last Toyota period.

 

Did they check the master cylinder? If rotors/pads have been replaced but are still causing issues, then I'm guessing it's something else. I've seen similar problems with hydraulic disc brakes on a pedal bike. Uneven hydraulic pressure and air in the line can cause a pulsing sensation and uneven wear. I remember it was very finicky when I had hydraulic brakes with rim pads on a trials bicycle.

 

We are going through this same issue with our 2023 Toyota Highlander with only 25,000 miles. In fact, it is in the shop as I type this. They are going to resurface the rotors, which I know will make the problem go away for a short time. However, I also know that the problem will return soon, especially with the resurfacing removing more metal. I am starting to think that this is going to be an ongoing issue with Toyota, due to poorly designed rotors and pads! I’m also wondering if the metal itself is substandard material. If someone knows of a better quality replacement rotor and pad system, please let me know.

 

Review your states Lemon Law. Why would you bother searching for replacement parts for a vehicle that I assume is still under warranty…

 

I had the same issue with only 12300 miles and my dealer said it was my cost to fix.
I contacted performance brakes out of California.
They gave me drilled and slotted rotors that are guaranteed for life.
I also put their ceramic pads on also.
It has been 10,000 miles and they are above excellent.
The cost was better than new OEM rotors and i had a local shop i trust toinstall.
Hope this helps.
Steven James

Thank you Steven!

Review your states Lemon Law. Why would you bother searching for replacement parts for a vehicle that I assume is still under warranty…

I discussed this issue with Toyota and they said it was not under warranty because the warranty does not cover wearable items, such as hoses, belts, brake pads, etc. My argument is that the rotors did not perform as expected and for as long as industry standards. A rotor should not be warping in 25k miles! Toyota was “gracious” enough to resurface them at no cost; however, that means they will warp again, but sooner! I am very disappointed in the quality Toyota’s vehicles and service! This will probably be the last Toyota I own! I wonder how many Toyota owners are having this same issue with their brakes? It seems like a good class action suit against Toyota to me!