NHTSA Complaint #11307887 — 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IT MAKES A HIGH-PITCHED BEEP, FOLLOWED BY A BUZZING SOUND THAT REPEATS EVERY FIVE TO EIGHT SECONDS. THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYS THE TPS, ABS, VSC, AND BRAKE LIGHTS. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE HIGH-PITCH SOUND RETURNS FOR ONE TO TWO MINUTES. DURING THAT TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO DEPRESS. IF THE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP UNTIL THE BRAKE PRESSURE RETURNS. ONCE THE SOUND STOPS, THE BRAKE PRESSURE RETURNS TO NORMAL. DIAGNOSIS FROM TOYOTA SHOWS: CODE C1256 = ACCUMULATOR LOW PRESSURE. CODE C1391 ABNORMAL LEAK OF ACCUMULATOR PRESSURE. ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS = $2,811.72. AT PRESENT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE AS TOYOTA ADVISED, IN THE VEHICLE'S CURRENT CONDITION THE BRAKE SYSTEM COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME.