NHTSA Complaint #10307274 — 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY

I DRIVE A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY, AND HAVE HAD A FEW INCIDENTS PREVIOUSLY, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS OF 2008-09. THIS CONCERN NEVER HAPPENS DURING WARMER MONTHS. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE SAME DAY ON FEBRUARY 3, 2010: WHEN APPROACHING A T-INTERSECTION OF SMALLER HIGHWAYS, WHEN I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT CONTROLLED 4-WAY INTERSECTION IN THE TOWN OF NEWTON, IA, AND AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TURN OFF THE MAIN STREET INTO A PARKING LOT. WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THERE WERE NO BRAKES. I HAD TO PUSH IT CLEAR TO THE FLOOR AND THEN VERY SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY, MY CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED, BUT OUT IN THE INTERSECTION OR BEYOND MY TURNOFF. I HAVE NOT REAR-ENDED ANYONE OR HIT ANY PEDESTRIANS, BUT THAT IS A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY. I STARTED RESEARCHING ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT SOME TOYOTA MODELS IN THE YEARS 2007-2010 HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM, WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA OF DES MOINES, I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD NOT BE THE SAME PROBLEM, SINCE THE BRAKE SYSTEM USED IN 2000 IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT IN THE RECALL YEARS. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT IN 2 WEEKS IN D.M. AND HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING WHEN SNOW IS FALLING AND/OR THE TEMPERATURE IS QUITE COLD. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR DRY, WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AND IT'S LIKE A LAYER OF ICE IS WITHIN MY BRAKES, KEEPING THEM FROM TAKING HOLD WHEN I APPLY THEM. *TW