The Lemon IndexOn Toyota and Lexus models with a powered brake booster (mostly hybrids), the brake computer saw the stored brake pressure falling faster than it should, which points to an internal leak. Full C1391 page
49 owner complaints · the #1 code Toyota Highlander owners name · 54% of Toyota Highlander complaints that name a code (every car: 2.4%)
Middle of 137,000 miles · most between 108,000 and 177,000 (30 owners gave it)
Toyota Highlander owners named C1391 in 49 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2008, 2006 and 2010 model years, at a middle of 137,000 miles. The part they name most is the ABS module, pump or accumulator (33 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Toyota Highlander model years that report C1391
Owner complaints naming C1391, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
Mileage when it happened
137,000 miles is the middle of what 30 owners entered. Half were between 108,000 and 177,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the ABS module, pump or accumulator, in 33 of the 49 complaints (67%). 18 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 2 say the problem came back afterwards.
- ABS module, pump or brake accumulator33 complaints18 mention a repair or replacement, 2 of them say the problem came back · what Toyota Highlander owners paid
21 complaints mention a recall and 17 mention a warranty.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with C1391
6% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Brakes or ABS act up98%48 of 49 complaints
- Warning lights and electrical faults27%13 of 49 complaints
- Transmission slips or shifts hard6%3 of 49 complaints
Share of the complaints naming C1391 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
C1256 11 C1252 7 C1241 6 C1253 6
Other codes named in the same Toyota Highlander complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
- ABS module replacement$3,5004 bills · middle bill
- Brake repair$2,0001 bill
Repair bills owners named in these 49 complaints (5 in all). Owner reports, not a quote: costs vary by shop and region.
Recalls on these Toyota Highlander years
- Brakes · 2006 · issued 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. NHTSA 10V499000
1 recall for the same systems (brakes) on the Toyota Highlander model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind C1391. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- C1391: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Toyota Highlander reliability by year
- 2008 Toyota Highlander problems and recalls
Other codes Toyota Highlander owners report
C1391 on other cars
Toyota Prius (210) · Toyota Camry (20)
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What C1391 means
On Toyota and Lexus models with a powered brake booster (mostly hybrids), the brake computer saw the stored brake pressure falling faster than it should, which points to an internal leak. Braking assist can be affected, so get it checked before driving much.
Stop and fix now. Don't put it off. This can affect safety, stall the car or cause expensive damage.
- Internal leak in the brake booster/accumulator assembly
- Leaking seals in the brake actuator
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11769614, 11758617, 11735574, 11674307, 11621337, 11609089, 11601445, 11577488, 11574334, 11551728, 11546037, 11520304 and 37 more.
Quick answers
What does C1391 mean on a Toyota Highlander?
Abnormal Leak in Brake Accumulator. On Toyota and Lexus models with a powered brake booster (mostly hybrids), the brake computer saw the stored brake pressure falling faster than it should, which points to an internal leak. Braking assist can be affected, so get it checked before driving much.
Which Toyota Highlander years have the most C1391 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2008 (22), 2006 (11), 2010 (5) Toyota Highlander named C1391 most (49 complaints in all, 2006–2013). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes C1391 on a Toyota Highlander?
Owners most often name the ABS module, pump or accumulator (33 of 49 complaints). That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does C1391 show up on a Toyota Highlander?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 137,000 miles; half were between 108,000 and 177,000 (30 owners).
Can I drive my Toyota Highlander with C1391?
Stop and fix now. Don't put it off. This can affect safety, stall the car or cause expensive damage.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name C1391 on the Toyota Highlander, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.