NHTSA Complaint #10439286 — 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA

THE ACCIDENT WITH MY 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA I BELIEVE IS DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE HAS MANY FEATURE THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO REACT IN SITUATIONS OF MINOR ICE AND/OR SLIDING. THE SLIDING LIGHT, OR "VSC/TRAC INDICATOR" (PG. 158 OF OWNER'S MANUAL), COMES ON EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE SLIDES. EVEN WHEN THE CAR SLIDES SO SLIGHTLY THAT YOU CANNOT FEEL IT, THAT LIGHT WOULD COME ON TO WARN THE DRIVER OF THE POTENTIAL HAZARD, ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL "IF THE VEHICLE IS IN DANGER OF SLIPPING OR THE FRONT WHEELS SPIN, THE INDICATOR FLASHES TO INDICATE THAT THE VSC/TRAC HAVE BEEN ENGAGED. A BUZZER (INTERMITTENT) SOUNDS TO INDICATE THAT VSC IS OPERATING." THE CAR WAS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES. AS I WAS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN, I COULD INSTANTLY TELL MY BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING. I HIT THEM HARDER, STILL NO RESPONSE. I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES PUSHING DOWN WITH ALL MY FORCE & STILL FELT AND HEARD NOTHING FROM THE CAR. USUALLY IN SUCH CASE, EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS SLIPPING, THE DRIVER SHOULD HEAR A TRIPPING NOISE, THAT THE ANTILOCK BREAKS ARE RESPONDING OR AT LEAST ATTEMPTING TO. BUT NONE OF THAT HAPPENED. THE SLIDING LIGHT DID NOT TURN ON, THE CAR DID NOT REACT TO ME HITTING THE BRAKES OR EVEN SHOW ANY SIGNS OF STRUGGLING TO, & THE ANTILOCK BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. ALSO, I JUST HAD 4 NEW MICHELIN HYDROEDGE TIRES INSTALLED JUST A FEW WEEKS PRIOR, (RANKED #1 BY CONSUMER REPORT), MAKING ME BELIEVE THAT THE BRAKES WERE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE. LASTLY, THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED SINCE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER, & ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ONLY AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, INCLUDING A 27 POINT INSPECTION WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE, & ALL RECORDS OF SUCH ARE AVAILABLE. I UNDERSTAND OF COURSE THAT ICE TRUMPS ALL, INCLUDING VEHICLE SAFETY MEASURES, BUT I STILL BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THE CAR DID NOT REACT AS IT SHOULD HAVE ON A MECHANICAL AND TECHNICAL LEVEL WHATSOEVER. *TR