NHTSA Complaint #10944978 — 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID

LATE EVENING 1/10/17, WHILE MOVING AT 65MPH ON I-95, IN MODERATE TRAFFIC, MY DASH LIT UP AND BRIEF ALERT TONE SOUNDED. INDICATOR READ: "CHECK VSC," BRAKES PULSED & GOT HEAVY. LASTED 5 MINUTES, THEN ALERTS CLEARED. MADE A CALL TO HAVE A MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK ON 1/13, HOWEVER ON THE EVENING OF 1/12/17 WHILE MOVING AT LOW SPEED IN A FLOW OF CARS, MY BRAKES BEGAN CLUTCHING UP & BECAME VERY HEAVY & UNRESPONSIVE, MY DASH LIT UP & A HIGH-PITCHED ALERT TONE SOUNDED. THE BRAKE LIGHT, MAINTENANCE LIGHT & OTHERS LIT UP & DASH INDICATOR SAID "CHECK VSC SYSTEM... MAINT REQUIRED." WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL PUSHED BACK, & AS I TRIED TO LIMP IT INTO THE PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES CONSTANTLY ENGAGED. I STOPPED TO WAIT FOR A FEW MINUTES, & TURNED THE CAR OFF BUT THE HIGH-PITCHED ALERT CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. FROM INSIDE THE CAR I COULD HEAR A WHIRRING NOISE IN THE FRONT END, IN THE AREA OF THE TIRES. I LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR AN HOUR OR TWO, AT WHICH POINT, THE ALERT TONE HAD STOPPED BUT THE WHIRRING NOISE CONTINUED. I GOT INSIDE & FOUND THE ELECTRONICS WERE DIM, MOST WERE NOT WORKING. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE & THE HIGH-PITCHED ALERT TONE RESUMED. RESISTANT FORCE CONTINUED IN THE BRAKE. I PUSHED THE START BUTTON A FEW TIMES, & EVENTUALLY THE DASH LIT BACK UP WITH ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS. THE CAR STARTED, BUT THE BRAKES PULSED AS IF CONSTANTLY ENGAGED & OCCASIONALLY BEING SLAMMED. IN GEAR, THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED, SO I GOT THE CAR OUT OF THE WAY & TURNED IT OFF. ALERT TONE & WHIR CONTINUED, ALONG WITH A BURNING KIND OF SMELL FROM THE AREA OF THE FRONT TIRES (RIGHT FRONT TIRE WELL FELT WARM). IT WAS DARK, SO I DIDN'T NOTICE IF THERE WAS SMOKE OF ANY COLOR. BECAUSE I WORRIED THAT THE WHIRRING MOTOR WAS GOING TO BURN UP & POSSIBLY EXACERBATE MATTERS, I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY & HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER. I HAVE SOME VIDEOS IF THEY ARE HELPFUL.