NHTSA complaint: 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID — SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I OWN A 2009 HIGHLANDER HYBRID AND AM CONCERNED THAT I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING THAT ARE NOW BEING REPORTED FOR THE PRIUS. SOMETIMES, WHEN BRAKING IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE NOT ENGAGING AND THERE IS A SENSATION THAT THE CAR IS SPEEDING UP. CONTINUED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL FINALLY SLOWS THE CAR DOWN. I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT WHEN I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE QUICKLY ENOUGH WHEN APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. THE SENSATION THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGING WAS EXPERIENCED AT THAT TIME AS WELL AS ON OTHER OCCASIONS. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO MY TOYOTA DEALER JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND THE MECHANIC WHO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, WITH ME IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, STATED HE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR DELAY IN BRAKING. THE BRAKES WERE THEN TESTED USING COMPUTERIZED DIAGNOSTICS AND I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT OK BUT WAS OFFERED NO EXPLANATION OF WHY I WAS HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. I AM SHARING THIS ISSUE WITH YOU AS I BELIEVE MY HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2009 MAY NOT BE CONSISTENTLY TRUSTWORTHY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE NEEDED. PLEASE ADVISE. *TW
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation