NHTSA complaint: 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR APPROX 11 MONTHS. IN AUGUST MY SON WHILE LEAVING THE BEACH CLAIMED THE ABS BREAKS LOCKED UP CAUSING HIM TO SLIDE INTO A POLE IN THE PARKING LOT. NEITHER AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED BUT THERE WAS OVER 6000 DAMAGE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A LOW IMPACT HIT ... THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND BREAKS CHECKED AND SAID TO BE WORKING. NOW JUST 7 MONTHS FROM THAT ACCIDENT I WAS DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM AND DESPITE MY BEST DRIVING I TOO EXPERIENCED THE ABS BREAKS ACTUALLY LOCKING ... ON A HILL IN THE SNOW CAUSING MY CAR TO FISH TAIL AND ALL THE WHILE GAINING SPEED LEAVING ME WITH NO WAY TO SLOW DOWN MY PASSENGER WATCH THE SPEEDOMETER GO FROM 15... TO 30... TO 35 WHICH IS WHEN HE CLOSED HIS EYES AS I MADE ONE LAST ATTEMPT TO STEER THE CAR STRAIGHT WE WENT OFF THE ROAD WIPING OUT 2 OR 3 SMALL TREES, A METAL POLE LUCKILY THERE WAS A RATHER LARGE ROCK UNDER THE SNOW THAT GOT STUCK UNDER THE TAIL END OF THE CAR LEAVING THE CAR "NOSE" END INTO THE GROUND. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED ONCE AGAIN. THE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT WAS COMPLETELY TORN OUT, THE TIRES CAME PARTIALLY OFF THE RIM AND THE FRAME IS NOW TWISTED THE IMPACT WAS DEFIANTLY OVER 30 MPH WITH NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE ANTI- LOCK BAKES ... LOCKED AND HAD THEY NOT I WOULD NOT HAVE FISHTAILED ... THIS IS THE SECOND ACCIDENT MY CAR HAS HAD DUE TO THE BREAK SYSTEM. THIS ONE TOTALED MY CAR. WHICH I OWE 11,000 ON ... *JB
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation