1999 Toyota Camry SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN THE CAR IS ON A DECLINE; THIS IS PARTICULARLY A PROBLEM WHEN THE ROAD IS WET. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS AS IF THE BRAKES DO NOT WANT TO WORK. MY MECHANIC HAS TWICE THOROUGHLY CHECKED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND REPLACED WORN PARTS, BUT HE IS UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: THIS IS NOT A FORMAL COMPLAINT. IT IS A MATTER OF CONCERN THAT MIGHT BE SHARED BY OTHER1999 TOYOTA OWNERS. WHILE THE NEWS IS EXTENSIVE IN REPORTING THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION OF SELECT LATER MODEL TOYOTA AUTOMOBILES, I BELIEVE AN ASPECT OF AN EARLIER CAMRY HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY FOR WHICH I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR (GAS PEDAL) WILL NOT DEPRESS AS INTENDED. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS ARE NECESSARY TO HAVE THE CAR RESPOND TO MY DESIRE TO INCREASE SPEED. THIS SITUATION IS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT NOW BEING PUBLICIZED; HOWEVER, IT IS EQUALLY DANGEROUS. FOR EXAMPLE, SHOULD I FIND MYSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE I NEED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, I HAVE DOUBTS AS TO THE RESPONSE OF THE CAR, THAT IS, WILL IT INCREASE IN SPEED SUFFICIENTLY IN TIME TO AVOID A POTENTIAL COLLISION. IT IS MY INTENT TO HAVE MY SERVICE STATION INSPECT THE CAR FOR ANY OBVIOUS DEFICIENCIES. YET, I FEEL THIS SITUATION, IN LIGHT OF THE UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION PROBLEM NOW GARNERING THE HEADLINES, MIGHT BE BEING NEGLECTED BY TOYOTA. IF IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS AND FIX IT. *TR

DRIVING AT ABOUT 10 MPH, BRAKES SEEMED TO GIVEAWAY. WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL, BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR, GIVING NO RESPONSE. *JB

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AT LEAST 2 BRAKE REPAIRS PER YEAR SINCE THE INITIAL REPAIR DONE PRIOR TO 20000 MILES .ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND THIS IS THE MOST BRAKE REPAIRS I HAVE EVER HAD ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. THE LAST MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON THE CAR RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE CALIPERS BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM IN THESE CARS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS IN THIS YEAR VEHICLE. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE WHEN MECHANICS ARE TELLING ME OTHERWISE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A TOYOTA ENTHUSIAST, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE APATHETIC RESPONSE I HAVE GOTTEN FROM THEM. *CB

WITHOUT WARNING, I.E. SQUEALING, SOUNDS, ETC., I EXPERIENCED INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES TO AVOID A COLLISION. WHEN I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER/SERVICE, THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT PADS ARE METAL TO METAL. THE CAR HAS 89,000 MILES AND THE BRAKES AND PORTIONS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON AVERAGE EVERY 8,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN THE ELEVENTH TIME THAT THERE HAS BEEN BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE BEING WORN PREMATURELY. THERE IS USUALLY A LOT OF BRAKE DUST AND CRYSTALLIZED OR SOLID MATERIAL FALLING FROM THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. THE DEALER/MECHANIC/SERVICE HAS STATED VARIOUS REASONS FOR THE BRAKE FAILURES EACH TIME, BUT THE PROBLEM IS NEVER RESOLVED. THIS CAR HAS ABS. *LA

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT GO TO THE FLOOR, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB

THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN APPLIED WOULD STOP LESS THAN AN INCH FROM THE FLOOR BOARD. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS, DEALERSHIP REPLACED A FAULTY BOOSTER, WHICH SEEM TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. *TT *JB

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 TOYOTA SOLARA (PURCHASED MARCH 1999).LAST MONTH WITH 34,825 MILES ON IT, I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN JUNE 2001 WITH 22,125 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK BOTH TIMES, THE DEALER BLAMES EXCESSIVE RUST AND RUNOUT ON THE ROTORS AS THE CAUSE OF SERIOUS STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THEY CLAIM I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR AND USE THE BRAKES ENOUGH. THE SOLARA IS GARAGE KEPT AND GETS AT LEAST AS MUCH USE AS ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO HAVE ANY BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED FOR THIS REASON AND FOUR OF THE CARS I OWNED FOR A PERIOD OF NINE YEARS EACH. TWO OF THOSE SAT OUTSIDE THEIR ENTIRE EXISTENCE AND AVERAGED A GRAND TOTAL OF THREE TO FOUR THOUSAND MILES/YEAR. I HAVE TRIED DEALING WITH THE DEALER REP AND HE AND THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY SHOULD DO ABOUT IT AND I SHOULD EXPECT TO BE DOING THIS AGAIN EVERY TWO YEARS. THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT TO ME AND SO FAR I HAVE GOTTEN THE RESPONSE FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THEY STAND BEHIND THE OPINIONS OF THEIR DEALER SERVICE TECHS. EVEN AFTER REPAIR, I GET SOME VIBRATION IN PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES. HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES. JUST TODAY I HAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AS A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND ANTILOCK RELEASED BRAKING CAUSING A LONGER BRAKING DISTANCE THAN NECESSARY. ONE DAY WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS ON A SMOOTH SURFACE, ANTI-LOCK KICKED IN AND RELEASED BRAKING POWER. I WOUND UP WITH THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR IN THE INTERSECTION. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 30-35 MPH AS I WAS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. I WAS LUCKY NO ONE WAS COMING. ANY TIME YOU TRY TO STOP ON A ROUGH SURFACE, IT CAN BE AN ADVENTURE. YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO REMEMBER TO KEEP EXTRA DISTANCE WITH THIS CAR. ANYTIME BROUGHT UP TO DEALER, THEY SAID COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND THIS IS THE WAY ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK.

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM

WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AS A TOYOTA CERTIFIED USER CAR. SINCE PURCHASE WE HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM TWICE AND AND ROTORS/PADS THREE TIMES, DUE TO GRINDING NOISES, PEDAL VIBRATION AND PREMATURE WEAR. IN SPEAKING THE WITH SERVICE MANAGER HE INDICATES THAT THERE ARE NO REPORTED PROBLEMS, BUT AFTER VISITING YOUR SITE -- I'M CONVINCED THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR BRAKE SHOES NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AND ADJUSTED, BOTH REAR AND FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFOMRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE STILL GOOD.*JB

CONSUMER STATED BRAKES WOULD MAKE A GRINDING SOUND AND PULSATE AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CONCERNING THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS, AS WELL AS FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, DUE TO THEM BEING WORN.*JB

ROTORS BROKE OFF AND WENT INTO FRONT WHEEL, AND WHEEL STOPPED MOVING, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING APPLIED BRAKES AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT FUNCTION, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK DURING THE ACCIDENT THREE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED ALSO. *YH

(18-0457-786) INSURED WAS DRIVING AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP BUT BRAKES FAILED, TRYING AGAIN, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. *JG

BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THERE IS NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES.*AK

PREMATURE DISC PAD FAILURE- LEFT PADS 0% , RIGHT SIDE PADS HAD 60% REMAINING. COMPLAINED TO DEALER AT 11K MILES THAT BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME FOR BRAKE SERVICE THAT THEY SAID WAS DUE AT 7,500 MILES AND WOULD NOT ADD FLUID WITHOUT CHARGING. I REFUSED IT AS BEING QUITE PREPOSTEROUS! REPAIR COST ME $75. *AK

ON 2 SEPARATE DAYS, THE BRAKES HAVE SEMI-FAILED, IE., WHEN DEPRESSED, THEY DID NOT STOP THE CAR IN THE NORMAL DISTANCE, BUT DID EVENTUALLY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP ABOUT 2-3 CARLENGTHS BEYOND EXPECTED STOPPING POINT. NO OTHER FACTORS CONTRIBUTED, IE., PAVEMENT WAS DRY, CIRCUMSTANCES ORDINARY. VERY FRIGHTENING, LUCKY TO HAVE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT, PARTICULARLY THE SECOND OCCURENCE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC! BETWEEN INCIDENTS, ALL WORKED NORMALLY. HAVE HAD CAR IN TO A DEALER (AFTER SECOND INCIDENT), BRAKES WORKED ON, CERTIFIED AS SAFE. CONCERNED BECAUSE FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE THAT WERE NOT RESOLVED BY DEALER REPAIR! *AK

THE BRAKES SEEM TO LOOSE ITS POWER ASSIST AT LOW SPEEDS, THEY FEEL MUCH THE WAY IF THE ENGINE WAS SHUTT OFF AND GREATLY INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE, OFTEN THE LOSS OF BRAKING WILL PUT THE VEHICLE INTO AN INTERSECTION OR OTHER DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP OR WHEN STOPPING SUDDENLY, ALSO WHEN STOPPING NORMALLY THEN TRY TO PRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE IS AN EXTENDED STOPPING PROBLEM, CONSUMER DOES NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ABS, HOWEVER DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND STATES ITS JUST LIKE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAS ABS.*JB

BRAKES WOULD WEAR OUT EXCESSIVELY. VEHICLE WOULD SKIP ALONG ROAD WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. PRIOR TO PROBLEM, HAD WORK DONE ON BRAKES AT 7,000 MILES. MECHANIC INDICATED 5% OF BRAKES WERE LEFT. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES THE FIRST TIME. CURRENTLY, REPLACING BRAKES AGAIN. *AK

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY UPON BRAKING WITH NO IMPENDING SKID RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE AND DOG BEING STRUCK. PAVEMENT WAS DRY AND I COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE ACCIDENT IF THE CAR DID NOT HAVE OVERLY SENSITIVE ABS BRAKES. I COMPAINED TO THE SELLING DEALER ABOUT THIS WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL AND NOT A PROBLEM. THE ABS HAS ACTIVATED ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS WHEN IT SHOULDN'T HAVE CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL BUT NO ACCIDENT. ABS SHOULD BE REPROGRAMMED TO ONLY ACTIVATE WHEN THERE IS AN IMPENDING WHEEL LOCKUP. *AK

FOUR TIMES IN FOR PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, TWO TIMES IN FOR VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THREE TIMES FOR WARPED ROTORS THAT SEEM TO BE HAPPENING EVERY 8000 MILES.*AK

A FADING BRAKE PROBLEM ON 3 OCCASIONS. BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR , FOR A FEW SECONDS THERE WERE NO BRAKES, BUT EVENTUALLY THEY WILL CATCH. *AK

THE BRAKE PADS, REAR DRUMS/ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON A TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. THE REPAIR PERSON INQUIRED AS TO WHETHER I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON BECAUSE THE ROTORS/DRUMS WERE" MELTED." WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED, THERE IS A VERY LOUD GROANING NOISE.*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY GRIND AND MAKE NOISE. DEALER REPLACED PADS. BUT, GRINDING SOUND PERSISTED. DEALER ADJUSTED BRAKES, STILL NOISY. CURRENTLY, DEALER SAID THAT ALL TOYOTAS DO THAT, AND THEY COULD REPLACE BRAKES WITH AFTER MARKET BRAKES TO REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK