NHTSA Complaint #10307495 — 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INFORMATION SCREEN INDICATED THERE HAD BEEN A BRAKE MALFUNCTION AND THAT I SHOULD PULL OVER AND CALL THE DEALER. I NOTICED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT WAS LIT SO I THOUGHT I HAD SOMEHOW BEEN DRIVING WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. IN KIND OF A PANIC I THEN PUSHED DOWN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ABOUT HALF WAY IN AN EFFORT TO TURN IT OFF. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN PRECIPITIOUSLY AND WE ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT TURNS OUT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION IN ONE OF THE WHEEL SENSORS THAT DETECTS SLIPPAGE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NEVER ENGAGED. TOYOTA SHOULD NOT ILLUMINATE THAT LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENS TO PREVENT DRIVERS FROM THINKING THEIR EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ENGAGED WHEN INFACT IT IS NOT. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THE 2008 HIGHLANDER TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO CORROSION SINCE THE MESSAGE ON THE INFORMATIONAL DISPLAY IS SO DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER.