NHTSA Complaint #10597618 — 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID

I WAS ONLY DRIVING MY VEHICLE ABOUT A MILE WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED. I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. NOTHING HAPPENED. THE STEERING WENT OUT AND THE BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WEREN'T CATCHING. THANKFULLY, I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 25-30 MPH, AND HAD ENOUGH SPACE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS STOPPED AT THE LIGHT. I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY AND NOTICED SOMETHING THAT READ, "CHECK VSC SYSTEM". THERE WAS ALSO A WARNING TRIANGLE. THE CAMRY MANUAL INSTRUCTED US TO BRING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP - BUT I CAN'T AFFORD THAT. THE NEXT DAY, IT WORKED FINE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND COMING TO A RED LIGHT. I WAS DECELERATING FROM ABOUT 65 MPH TO A FULL STOP AND FELT THE BRAKES GIVE AGAIN AND THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, TURN OFF THE CAR, AND RESTART AND IT WAS FINE AGAIN. I HAD THE BRAKE PADS CHANGED, BUT DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. BUT NOW IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES WANT TO GIVE WHEN I AM IDLING IN TRAFFIC. WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR WILL SQUEAK AND SUBTLY JERK FORWARD LIKE THE BRAKES ARE ABOUT TO GIVE UP THE GHOST. IT'S REALLY SCARY, BUT I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR AT THIS TIME. I'VE LOOKED INTO THE VSC SYSTEM AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY AFFECT MY BRAKING AND STEERING ABILITY. *TR