NHTSA Complaint #11130560 — 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REGARDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SALINAS TOYOTA (700 AUTO CENTER CIR, SALINAS, CA 93907, (831) 444-0700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL BRAKE FLUID LEAK; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE OBT2 SENSOR DID NOT SHOW THE SPECIFIC DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) TO RECEIVE THE BRAKE ACTUATOR REPLACEMENT COVERED BY THE CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY CAMPAIGN FOR DTC NUMBER: C1240. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED SMOKE STARTED COMING UNDER THE HOOD. NOTICED FLUID DRIPPING FROM ENGINE ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS NOT AN OIL LEAK BUT EMPTY BRAKE RESERVOIR. UPDATED 11/27/18*JB