"EPB Unavailable" in Toyota CH-R – What's This and How to Fix?

Whenever you see another error message or warning light in your Toyota CH-R, you may start sending bad thoughts to Toyota engineers. These cars were extremely reliable, but the recent generations appeared to be just as average as all other cars in the world. And it may be the point of frustration, but I'm here to support you.

EPB unavailable message highlights

• Common reasons:EPB switch problems, EPB control module glitch, EPB motor problems
• How to fix:play the EPB switch, disconnect the battery for some time
• Possible consequences:EPB may not engage or disengage
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$150-$950

Meaning of the "EPB Unavailable" error message

So, the EPB stands for Electronic Parking Brake. This is the system that allows you to hold your car in its parking place without even putting the gear selector to P. It's operated by a small lever with the P pictogram on the lower part of the central console. If the yellow light on this lever is illuminating when the car is on, the EPB is active and the car won't move till you command it to do so.

This is the electronic version of the handbrake which you obviously don't have in your CH-R. However, the handbrake was much more reliable than the EPB because the latter is the electronic unit that has several sensors, control units, and actuators. They all may go wrong and make some bad time for you.

Here's what it means when you see "EPB Unavailable" in the CH-R:

• in most cases, it will be hard to start the car because of some other side problems that may have caused this message;
• also, you shouldn't rely on your electronic parking brake - it may not be working;
• in many cases, you will hear a chime informing you about the problem and may even see other warning lights illuminating on the dash;
• if the parking brake is stuck activated, it will not be possible to drive the car or it will lose all its power due to activated brakes.

The actual consequences of this error message depend on what really happened to the vehicle. Sometimes, it's just about a glitch in the system and everything else will be working properly. In other cases, nothing will work and other errors and lights may bother you.

Anyway, even if your CH-R still can drive, you should be careful. First of all, don't rely on the parking brake as it may not be functioning at all. Secondly, make sure your parking brake is not activated when you are driving. If this happens, the rear brake pads will be destroyed and they will most likely overheat the brake rotor and destroy it, too.

Common reasons for the "EPB Unavailable" message

Well, Toyota had two major recalls connected with the electronic parking brake system. And one of them was the 2017 recall that included the CH-R models made in 2016-2017. The other one was in 2023 for the Land Cruiser and Lexus RX models. As you see, parking brake problems are a bad tradition for Toyota now.

According to the recalls and also to experienced mechanics, here are the potential problems that may trigger this annoying message and other problems in your vehicle:

1. Control unit issues

Your EPB is controlled by the ECU and BCM. Also, it has a separate small control unit. They all may malfunction. Actually, the 2017 recall was all about the new software for the ECU. But as I can see now, it didn't help to solve the problem completely and post-2017 CH-R vehicles continued showing the "EPB Unavailable" error message.

This is still one of the most common reasons for this problem. You can try to solve it on your own by following the tips from the next part of this article. But all solutions are temporary and will require inspection afterward.

2. Actual EPB problem

The electronic parking brake system is a complicated blend of electronics and mechanical parts. If something goes wrong and there is a problem with brake fluid, brake pads or rotors, actuators, wires, etc., the EPB will not be working and the ECU will register a certain code.

Actually, it's not that hard to locate the issue, in such cases. You will need an OBD2 scanner and you will be able to read the code. After that, it won't be too hard to find the malfunctioning part.

3. Battery problems

Quite often, such error messages may be triggered by a weak 12V battery. It means that the battery will have a low charge and will not be able to operate the EPB actuators. This is especially common for the situations when the "EPB Unavailable" error message pops up when the engine is off.

Anyway, checking the battery is worth it. You may use the multimeter or just connect another battery that has enough charge and check if this is the case.

4. Mechanical damage

It's quite possible that something in the rear brake system has been damaged. Also, the parking brake lever in the CH-R interior may have been damaged. For example, you may have spilled some coffee onto it which is, surprisingly, a very common thing people do.

If there is damage that could destroy some part (electronic or mechanical), chances are you will get the EPB error message on the dash and the system will not be operable.

How can you solve the problem with the EPB in your CH-R?

Even though this is a complicated mechanism and usually requires professional inspection when it malfunctions, it may still be quite easy to fix. At least, you can use one of the temporary fixes so that your car can move further without the help of a tow truck.

Here's what you may try:

1. Play with the EPB lever

Locate the small lever that says P in your Toyota CH-R and try playing with it. You may activate and deactivate it several times. If the message doesn't disappear, you may also want to hold it up for 3-5 seconds. This may help you reset the system and eventually get rid of the message. If you are lucky enough, the problem will disappear for quite a long time.

2. Check and charge the battery

As the 12V battery is one of the possible culprits of the "EPB Unavailable" error message, it may be worth charging or replacing it. You may use the multimeter to check its charge. It should be about 12.5V when the car is off, not lower than 11V when the car is being started, and up to 14.5V when the engine is working.

Also, you may jump the battery or charge it and then see if the problem disappears.

3. Disconnect the battery to reset the control units

If there is a glitch in one of the control units, you may need to reset it. But how? Usually, mechanics do that with the help of a scanner, but there is another way to cope with the problem. Disconnect the battery for 5 minutes and then connect it back to see if the problem disappears.

When doing this, you should remember that the negative terminal should be disconnected first, then comes the positive one. When connecting it back, connect the positive terminal first, then the negative one.

4. Use the OBD2 scanner

Your CH-R has the OBD2 port for diagnosing the vehicle. You may get an OBD2 scanner which is pretty affordable nowadays and read the codes that sit behind the "EPB Unavailable" error message.

After you know the code, it's not that hard to understand what you should do. Or, at least, you will pay less for the inspection and will be able to get the car back on the road much sooner.

Can you drive when you see "EPB Unavailable"?

You should try driving carefully. If you feel that your car lost all its power and now drives like a turtle, you shouldn't drive further till the problem is solved. Most likely, the brake is stuck activated and now your rear wheels are in the trap of the brake pads. If you keep driving, you may just destroy the rear brakes.

Also, if your car doesn't start or stalls, you should avoid driving the vehicle with such problems because it's not safe.

In other cases, you may drive unless this compromises the safety of your driving. Anyway, be careful and never rely on the parking brake, in such a situation. Remember that your safety on the road is much more precious than several hundred dollars that you may need to pay to the tow truck or roadside assistance.