NHTSA complaint: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
RECENTLY I WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR REAR-END ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT SPEED WAS APPROX 10-15 MPH AND LIGHT TO MODERATE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY VEHICLE, WHICH IS A 2008 HIGHLANDER. PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT I NOTICED MY ANTI-SKID BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED AT A POINT I WOULD CONSIDER TO BE PREMATURE. THIS PREMATURE ACTIVATION LIMITS THE BRAKING POWER OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IS NEEDED. THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF SOUTH COUNTY TOYOTA IN COSTA MESA, CA AND THEY STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING TO SPECIFICATION. I AM STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT EVALUATED BY A TOYOTA MOTORS REP WHILE I AM PRESENT. I DO BELIEVE THIS PREMATURE ACTIVATION OF THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN MY RECENT ACCIDENT AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE FULL BRAKING POWER WAS AVAILABLE. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE STREETS WERE DRY AND IT HAD NOT RAINED IN SEVERAL WEEKS. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED MODERATE FRONT END DAMAGE WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. TOYOTA WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ACCIDENT AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE OR ADMIT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AS OF RIGHT NOW I CAN DUPLICATE THE BRAKE FADE/ ISSUE 100% OF THE TIME. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation