2000 Toyota Camry SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 1997 Toyota Camry. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 97V156000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. In addition, the contact lived in a hot climate area and believed that the recall would not affect the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

I DRIVE A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY, AND HAVE HAD A FEW INCIDENTS PREVIOUSLY, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS OF 2008-09. THIS CONCERN NEVER HAPPENS DURING WARMER MONTHS. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE SAME DAY ON FEBRUARY 3, 2010: WHEN APPROACHING A T-INTERSECTION OF SMALLER HIGHWAYS, WHEN I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT CONTROLLED 4-WAY INTERSECTION IN THE TOWN OF NEWTON, IA, AND AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO TURN OFF THE MAIN STREET INTO A PARKING LOT. WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THERE WERE NO BRAKES. I HAD TO PUSH IT CLEAR TO THE FLOOR AND THEN VERY SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY, MY CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED, BUT OUT IN THE INTERSECTION OR BEYOND MY TURNOFF. I HAVE NOT REAR-ENDED ANYONE OR HIT ANY PEDESTRIANS, BUT THAT IS A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY. I STARTED RESEARCHING ONLINE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT SOME TOYOTA MODELS IN THE YEARS 2007-2010 HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM, WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA OF DES MOINES, I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD NOT BE THE SAME PROBLEM, SINCE THE BRAKE SYSTEM USED IN 2000 IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT IN THE RECALL YEARS. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT IN 2 WEEKS IN D.M. AND HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING WHEN SNOW IS FALLING AND/OR THE TEMPERATURE IS QUITE COLD. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR DRY, WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AND IT'S LIKE A LAYER OF ICE IS WITHIN MY BRAKES, KEEPING THEM FROM TAKING HOLD WHEN I APPLY THEM. *TW

I WAS DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER IN MY 2000 CAMRY. I SLOWED DOWN ANTICIPATING TO COME TO A STOP AT A T IN THE ROAD, THAT HAD A STOP SIGN. AFTER PUSHING ON MY BRAKES, IF FELT LIKE THE MOTOR WAS FIGHTING AGAINST THE BRAKES AND PUSHING ME FORWARD. I PUT ALL THE PRESSURE I COULD ON THE BRAKES AND IT KEPT INSISTING TO GO FORWARD. I WAS LUCKY THAT I HAD APPROPRIATELY, SLOWED DOWN AHEAD OF TIME FOR THE STOP SIGN, BUT STILL ...THE CAR DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT WENT THROUGH WELL PAST THE STOP SIGN, ACROSS THE TWO LANE ROAD AND FINALLY STOPPED JUST BEFORE A CLIFF. LUCKILY THE CAR THAT WAS COMING ON THE ROAD THAT I CROSSED, SAW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND STOPPED WHILE MY CAMRY CROSSED RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS CAR. VERY SCARY. *TR

2000 TOYOTA SOLARA SLE CONV/2DR. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT MY BRAKES FOR YEARS. THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THEM. BUT THERE IS. SOMETIMES I CAN'T STOP/SLOW DOWN I FEEL I HAVE NO BRAKES. OR COULD IT BE THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE DIFFERENT FLOOR MATS IN THE VEHICLE BUT IT STILL DOES IT. IT HAPPENS ONCE IN AWHILE. I LET A FRIEND DRIVE IT FOR AWHILE AND IT HAPPENED TO HIM. I TELL PEOPLE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME IN MY VEHICLE IT WOULD BE BECAUSE OF NO BRAKES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY. THERE WAS A SCREECHING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND THE REAR DRUMS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *AK UPDATE 4/9 *TR

2000 CAMRY BRAKES FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STRIKE 2 VEHICLES. *TS WHILE BRAKING THE FOR A TOLL BOTH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND STRUCK TWO VEHICLES.. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED THROUGH THE TOLL GATE ON THE BERM. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST ON THE BERM OUTSIDE THE TOLL GATE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT QUARTER PANEL, FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY, HOOD, WINDSHIELD AND RIGHT EXTERIOR MIRROR. THIS ACCIDENT ALSO DAMAGED THE OTHER TWO VEHICLES AND TURNPIKE TOLL GATE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP HIS VEHICLE. THERE WAS A PULSATION WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKES FAILED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT A VEHICLE THAT STOPPED IN FRONT. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT HE REPLACED THE ROTORS. HE FOUND THAT A CRACK HAD FORMED ON THE OLD ROTORS. HE BELIEVED THE CRACK WAS THE REASON FOR THE VEHICLE NOT STOPPING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *AK UPDATED 11/16/2005 - *NM

DT: THERE IS SERIOUS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT BRAKES. EVERY TIME THE CONSUMER APPLIES THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL SHAKE AND SO WILL THE STEERING WHEEL. CAN HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON AUGUST 1, 2003. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND HAD TO CHANGE THE CALIPERS AND THE ROTORS. HAVE HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED , THEN SHAVED THEM TWICE, AND THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND MECHANICS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *AK

2000 TOYOTA SOLORA WITH 28,000 MILES (JUST OUT OF WARRANTY) PURCHASED NEW BY ME. POWER BRAKE ASSIST UNIT FILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ADVISED THAT A NUMBER OF THOSE HAVE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. MANUFACTURER DECLINED REIMBURSEMENT.*AK

CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, PRESSED THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, NOR WAS THERE A POLICE REPORT. *AK *MR

RIGHT FRONT CALIPER BOLT FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING - CALIPER DISLODGED JUST HAPPENED AGAIN 5/17/04. *AK

ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF ME AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, I ALSO APPLIED MY BRAKES. THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND I HIT THE HIGHWAY DIVIDER. THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FRONT LEFT QUARTER PANEL WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED. I HAVE REPORTED THE BRAKE PROBLEMS MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE DEALER AND EACH TIME WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES ARE "IN SPEC". HOWEVER, ANOTHER REPAIR FACILITY FOUND THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER PUSH ROD WAS TOO LONG CAUSING EXCESSIVE PRESSURE REQUIRED TO STOP THE CAR.*AK

POWER BRAKE ASSIST UNIT FAILED AT 27,400 MILES. ADVISED A NUMBER OF THESE UNITS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FOR REPLACEMENT. CONTACTED TOYOTO AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER. HAD THE FAILURE OF THIS PART CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, I AM CERTAIN TOYOTO WOULD TAKE A DIFFERENT POSITION. *JB

THE ABS ON MY CAR ACTIIVATED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING ROUGHLY 26 MPH CAUSING ME TO ENTER AN INTERSECTION 2000 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER. *AK

LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, PEDAL TRAVELS TO FLOOR, SPONGY BRAKES. PEDAL CLEARANCE IS 0. INCHES (MINIMUM 2.8 INCHES AT 100 LBF WITH ENGINE ON).RAKES LESS EFFECTIVE IN HOTTER WEATHER. MANY CLOSE CALLS IN STOPPING BEFORE HITTING SOMEONE. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE! TOOK VEHICLE IN 5 TIMES TO DEALERSHIP, CALLED TOYOTA HOTLINE, NO FIX YET THEY ARE STUMPPED! TRIED CLEANING, ADJUSTING, BLEEDING AND MASTER CYLINDER.*AK

AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, INCLUDING EVERY FALL, THE BRAKES ON MY 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY SUDDENLY START TO FAIL. THERE IS A WHOOSHING SOUND (AIR ESCAPING SOME ENCLOSURE) WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES, WHICH HAVE MUCH MORE TRAVEL THAN USUAL WITHOUT ANY STOPPING POWER. WHEN I FINALLY GET SOME STOPPING POWER, THE BRAKES GRAB. IT IS NOT THE NORMAL SMOOTH BRAKING I USUALLY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CAR. THERE IS ALSO SOMETIMES A SQUEEKING - A VERY HIGH PITCHED WHISTLE. AGAIN, THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN AIR MOVEMENT EVENT; IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A METAL-ON-METAL SQUEEK OR A RUBBER-ON-METAL SQUEEK. THE SOUNDS ARE INSIDE THE CAR, NOT FROM ANY OF THE WHEELS. THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOTED AT ALL SPEEDS, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED. ALTHOUGH THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IS ALWAYS WELL ABOVE MINIMUM, OCCASIONALLY TOPPING OFF THE BRAKE FLUID TO THE MAX "FULL" LEVEL HELPS, BUT NOT THIS TIME. THREE TIMES I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER (BEAMAN TOYOTA IN NASHVILLE, TN) FROM WHOM I BOUGHT THE CAR WHEN THIS PROBLEM CROPS UP (9/01, 10/02, 9/03), BUT TO NO AVAIL. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT BEING TOLD, "NOTHING'S WRONG," WHEN VERY CLEARLY SOMETHING IS WRONG.*AK

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

HAD A FRONT COLLISION. DUE TO A FAULTY ABS SYSTEM, APPLIED THE BRAKE AND TOOK LONGER TO STOP. *TT

THE VEHICLE'S ANTI SKID SYSTEM DID NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING ON SNOW OR WET ROADS. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD DISCONNECT THE ANTI SKID SYSTEM. *NLM

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND THAT RECALL WAS FIXED AND NOW FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS THE ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHT IS ON THE PANEL. TS

WHILE EXITING FREEWAY REAR BRAKES FAILED. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE REAR BARRINGS WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

WHILE TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES AND WITH NO WARNING BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK