NHTSA Complaint #10319579 — 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY

ON 6/25/08 I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE BECAUSE THERE WAS TRAFFIC UP AHEAD BUT THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AND KEPT ON GOING. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE HARDER AND FOUND THAT I HAD TO HOLD IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO JUST SLOW DOWN. I NEARLY HIT SOME CARS TRYING TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR. THEN BEING VERY CONCERNED I DROVE HOME SLOWLY ONLY USING THE GAS PEDAL AND SLOWING COMPLETELY AT AN INTERSECTION IN ORDER TO GET HOME SAFELY. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN TORRINGTON CT TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THEY SAID THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $576.22. MY CAR HAD 67,266 MILES AT THAT TIME. IT WAS FIXED AND HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE SINCE THEN. I CHECKED CAR COMPLAINTS.COM AND FOUND OTHERS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I FOUND THIS INCIDENT RATHER UNUSUAL BECAUSE I HAVE OWNED THREE TOYOTAS SO FAR AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS. I AM POSTING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THIS DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER COULD HAVE CAUSED SOME VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR ME AND OTHERS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER IF OTHERS ARE ALSO HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I DOUBT IS THE OLD DEFECTIVE CYLINDER IS AVAILABLE. *TR