NHTSA Complaint #10595268 — 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

WHILE APPROACHING A RED STOP LIGHT, THE ABS, BRAKE! VSC OFF, VSC TRAC LIGHTS ALL CAME ON ALONG WITH A LOUD BUZZER. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING. 1 BLOCK LATER I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT THAT WAS LUCKILY EMPTY, BECAUSE WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK, I HAD NO BRAKES...ZERO!!! I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT, THAT IT'S THE ABS MODULE AND UNATTAINABLE WITH TOYOTA AT $2500 PLUS THE INSTALLATION. WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A USED ONE, BUT APPARENTLY THEY ARE IN HIGH DEMAND AND VERY HARD TO FIND. THIS SENDS OFF A FEW RED FLAGS IN ITSELF. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION, SOME HAVE NOT HAD AN OUTCOME AS MINE, AND HAVE HAD CRASHES AND INJURIES AND I WONDER HOW MANY DEATHS HAVE RESULTED FROM THIS. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT TOYOTA HAS TURNED THEIR BACKS ON THIS PROBLEM, DOING NOTHING FOR THE CONSUMER, NO RECALLS, NO WARNINGS AND NO ACCOUNTABILITY. I FIND THIS FRIGHTENING AND WONDER HOW MANY INJURIES AND DEATHS IT WILL TAKE BEFORE TOYOTA OPENS THEIR EYES AND STEPS UP TO REMEDY THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. MY TRUCK IS NOW WORTHLESS AND UNDRIVABLE UNTIL WE CAN HOPEFULLY FIND A PART, AND AM FORCED TO RENT A VEHICLE UNTIL THE SITUATION IS RESOLVED. I'M HARDLY IN A POSITION TO PAY FOR THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR WHEN IT REALLY IS A FAULTY ITEM ON THE VEHICLE AND THERE ARE COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT'S REVOLTING THAT TOYOTA ISSUES A RECALL FOR FRONT FLOOR MATS, BUT NOTHING FOR A FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM. HOW MANY INJURIES/DEATHS DOES IT TAKE BEFORE TOYOTA TAKES ACCOUNTABILITY AND DOES SOMETHING FOR THE CONSUMER ASIDE FROM CHARGING A SMALL FORTUNE FOR A PART THAT IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE? I AM THANKING GOD DAILY THAT I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY...I WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS, HAD I BEEN. I'M DONE WITH TOYOTA AND WILL TAKE THIS TO ANY LEVEL NEEDED FOR RESOLUTION BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE IS INJURED OR DIES. *TR