I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 TOYOTA YARIS (CA. 30K MILES) HOME FROM WORK UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT, I WAS ALARMED TO FIND THAT THE BRAKES WERE COMPROMISED AND THE BRAKING POWER WAS REDUCED. I HAD TO SWERVE ONTO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID HITTING THE BACK END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AT THIS POINT, I WAS ONLY 2 MILES FROM HOME AND DECIDED TO PROCEED CAREFULLY. AS I WAS TURNING OFF A MAIN ROAD AND INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN. THE CAR CAREENED OFF THE ROAD, OVER THE CURB, UP A SMALL EMBANKMENT, AND SMASHED HEAD-ON INTO A STONE WALL. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THE FRONT END SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE. THE CAR WILL MOST LIKELY BE TOTALED. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT I SHUDDER TO THINK AT WHAT THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. THE CAR HAD NO KNOWN MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR ACCIDENTS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, WAS SERVICED REGULARLY, AND DRIVEN RESPONSIBLY. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. *TR