How To

Is a brake fluid flush necessary in my 6-year-old vehicle?

John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader questioning whether his Toyota needs its brake fluid flushed.

The Car Doctor answers a question from a reader questioning whether his Toyota needs its brake fluid flushed. Toyota

June 3, 2025

4 minutes to read

Q. We have a 2019 Toyota Sienna with less than 50,000 miles, and have been advised to have the brake fluid flushed. Over the last 15 years we have owned six Toyotas and have never had the brake fluid flushed, even though some were driven over 180,000 miles. Is the brake fluid used in German engineered cars that different from that used in Japanese cars? My former Volkswagen never had the brake fluid changed. We take service very seriously and want to make sure the fluid flush is necessary.

A. Different manufacturers have varying opinions on replacing brake fluid. Some, like Subaru, recommend flushing the brake fluid every three years. Others make no mention of it. As an example, I looked up the recommendation of a brake fluid change with a late model Toyota Camry – there was no mention. For the same year’s Lexus ES 350 (very similar vehicles) there is a recommendation to change the fluid every 30,000 miles. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, a fancy word that means it attracts water. Water is the enemy of a brake system. The moisture can boil and cause brakes to fade or can cause internal rust, which can damage brake calipers and antilock brake components. At AAA our engineering department found it makes sense to replace brake fluid every three to five years.

Q. I have a chance to buy a 2012 Toyota Camry driven by an older person for the past ten years. The car only has 50,000 miles on it. Should I buy this car? What repairs would you recommend? Should I wait and buy a new Camry hybrid? My plan is either way, I don’t want to go car shopping for another 10 years.

A. At 13 years old, this used Camry has already passed the average age of cars on the road. If I were to buy this car, I would replace the brakes, battery, tires, belts, spark plugs, filters, hoses, and radiator. Once these items are replaced, you have taken care of most of the wear items, and you should have a solid, dependable car. Still, it is a 13-year-old car and there are things that could act up. The air conditioner, power windows, and wiper motor are examples of possible issues in the future. Could it last another 10 years? Yes. Will it be trouble free? That is the gamble.

Q. As of late I am having a hard time shifting my Honda FIT with 240,000 miles. This is what I have done or not done to date: The clutch fluid is full, and the fluid was replaced two years ago. We drained and refilled the transmission fluid two years ago and there are no signs of a leak. As far as I know the clutch is original. The car is hard to shift at first but seems a bit better the more I drive it. I would like to keep the car until the wheels fall off or until I incur a very expensive repair. I would certainly appreciate your opinion on it.

A. It could be the clutch pressure plate is worn and not fully releasing. Try shifting the old-fashioned way, called double clutching. When driving and shifting from first to second, push in the clutch, shift to neutral, let out the clutch, push the clutch back in and then shift to second. If this helps, you may need a clutch in the future. Generally, most cars use synchronizers for forward gears but not reverse. If you get a grinding when shifting into reverse, the clutch is at the end of its life.

Q. I’m in my 80s, and this has been bothering me for a long time. I’ve had cars and trucks over the years with every combination of theft device you can imagine. From original devices to little blinking dashboard lights that blink when the car is off, and I have no clue as to how, or if, they work. Technology has advanced to a point where we now have dependable tracking devices. Why haven’t ALL vehicle manufacturers entertained the idea of installing one of these tracking devices in every car, in a secured covered area, before it comes off the assembly line? Charge us the extra $75 it would cost. It’ll be well worth it. Please help me understand why they refuse to do it.

A. Adding the device is easy. Some used car dealers that use Buy Here Pay Here sales models install GPS trackers in every car in case the owner stops making payments. The issue is cost. There would be either a GPS subscription plan, or some sort of wireless carrier. Some newer cars that use a wireless plan have built-in Wi-Fi hotspots which could also easily interface with a tracker. The other issue is privacy. I know some people who wanted OnStar, the GM vehicle safety system that includes stolen vehicle tracking, removed. The main reason is they did not want to be tracked and did not trust the manufacturer to turn the system off.

John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE-certified master technician. E-mail your Car Doctor question to [email protected]. Listen to the Car Doctor podcast at johnfpaul.podbean.com.