Brake Light On problems of the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The hand brake light keeps coming on and off while driving. The car feels like it's coasting and have no traction control. All of the sudden, all lights turn on dashboard and check vsc system comes on, brakes are hard to engage and steering control is difficult. Car drives like that for about 5 minutes and then all goes back to normal. Few days later it starts up again with the break lights coming on and off. It happens during different driving conditions: straight city street, while turning, going down a hill or attempting to come to a stop. This makes it really scary as I am in a very dangerous situation when I am trying to break and the break do not engage and steering control is affected. I have taken it to mechanic after the incidents and they cannot diagnose the issue and there are no failure codes. However, the issue keeps going on making me terrified to drive the car.

On my 2009 Camry Hybrid, as I was going to work, when I tried to slow down the car the brakes went hard and can't stop the car totally I saw the brake light, traction control, and abs lights turned on, and check vsc system displayed. I immediately slow down the car took the exit and stop the car. I turned off the car and start the car again which fixed all the above issues. It happened approx two weeks ago and took the car to Toyota of grapevine TX 76051 and they did not find any issue related to brake or any code. I am scared to drive the car and taking the car to the same dealer to check again.

While driving straight at about 40 mph (in a 50 mph zone on a back road) I stepped on the brakes when approaching a stop sign. The brakes failed to engage. The check vbs system warning came on as well as all of the dash board warning lights. The car was checked and the brake pads were fine, the brake fluid level was normal, and no computer codes came up when that was checked. The brake light keeps coming on and off and the brakes work most of the time, but out of no where they won't engage. It was very scary, especially because my kids were in the car. Thank goodness I wasn't going faster than I was because I don't think we would have stopped in time.

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. While driving approximately 5 mph, the abs, vsc, and brake warning indicators illuminated. The contact noticed that the brake lights remained illuminated on the rear of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the skid control computer failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made of the failure, and a case was opened and sent to the manufacturer's legal division. The approximate failure mileage was 132,138.

2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid that has been serviced several times for brakes. Repeated requests to change brake pads, which was initially thought to be the problem but several mechanics have confirmed that this was not the issue. Contacted Toyota headquarters whom confirmed that there is no recall. Instead, owners are encouraged to visit their local dealer only if a dashboard warning brake light is lit, which was not applicable in my case although a degredation in the brake system was apparent. Toyota only sent a notice regarding the brake-fluid reservoir tank and no warning to consumers of a serious safety risk regarding a defective brake system that worsens overtime. Currently having a difficult time selling the vehicle due to same feedback/complaint of slow brake response, which worsens with higher speeds and/or sudden stops. Reports of extra effort in brake pedal application, strong vibration and noise when attempting to do a quick stop. This issue has resulted in three separate car accidents with three different drivers, wherein two collided with another vehicle and one struck an object, all within a 2-month period. Claims where filed under my insurance and all drivers were deemed to be at fault, but Toyota should be held completely responsible for the (1) defect, (2) failure to notify consumers of an urgent safety risk and (3) failure to recall, despite the number of similar complaints and accidents with NHTSA. Toyota's improper handling and failure to acknowledge a defect in their product warrants a class action lawsuit.

I have 2 complaints. 1) I was driving in local traffic when 5 warning lights appeared: master warning light, brake warning light, electronically controlled brake warning, abs, slip indicator. I was surprised but my brakes continued to work on the drive home & to the dealership the next day. The lights never went off (some other owners have reported the lights go on & off). I do not have cold weather conditions (50s in Dec). The dealership investigated & found it was consistent with the problem covered by the warranty enhancement program (pol14-04 or NHTSA 14001) for the brake actuator assembly & skid control ecu/brake pedal stroke sensor, & also an open recall on my car for a separate item with my brakes. My car symptoms were: when stopped at a light, the car would roll forward by inches unless I had my foot firmly depressed (knee locked); noises which sounded like air moving through tubing while braking; noises that sounded like a "pump" activating after my car had been turned off (up to 15 minutes). 2) Toyota has an open extended warranty (csc 10046281-9238) on the sun visor assembly & sun visor bracket including the 2009 Camry Hybrid. My car has had this same problem for ~4 years: the driver's side sun visor will not fully go up & remain there. Most of the time it rests halfway down but from time to time it will come down with no warning. This blocks the driver's field of vision. What is frustrating is that I spoke to both the dealership & the Toyota customer service center who both agree my problem sounds exactly like the problem described in this extended warranty. However, the part number for my car (74320-33c11-b0) is not listed among the accepted parts number, and my VIN doesn't match the listed vins. I hope corporate Toyota will look into this and extend me the courtesy of repairing my sun visor! (dealer cost ~$250).

The check vsc system waring came on along with abs and brake light warnings. Out of the blue the car was very hard to stop. Was lucky to be in a parking lot at the time. Had the car towed home. The tow driver did not see the warning lights when he was getting the car in position to tow it. Check online and saw that many other people where having the same issue that I was having. I think the car is unsafe and a recall should be issued before people are killed.

First incident: temperature was extremely cold overnight. Parking brake light came on when I started car and remained on throughout my 10-minute trip. Brakes worked fine for 10 minutes though stop signs and red lights. I didn't drive over 35 mph the entire trip. When I arrived at work, I tapped the brakes to turn into the driveway. "check vsc system" message appeared, parking brake light remained on, abs light came on, exclamation point light came on, one other warning light came on. I thought car had stalled because my brakes didn't seem to work so I coasted past the driveway. I stepped on the accelerator and noticed the car was still on so I slowly drove to the next driveway. I turned off the car, restarted it, and all the warning lights came back on. I slowly drove back to work and noticed the brakes worked albeit not very well. When I stopped the car in the parking lot, all the warning lights disappeared. Second incident: temperature was extremely cold overnight. Parking brake light came on when I started car and remained on throughout my 10-minute trip. Brakes worked fine for 10 minutes through stop signs and red lights. I didn't drive over 45 mph the entire trip. I came to a red light and tapped the brakes. "check vsc system" message appeared, parking brake light remained on, abs light came on, exclamation point light came on, one other warning light came on. Although the brakes worked in reduced capacity, I stopped in time but I was driving 25 mph. I was near a Toyota dealer so I slowly made my way there with all the warning lights illuminated and reduced brake capacity. All the warning lights disappeared shortly after I stopped the car in the dealer's maintenance shop. Dealer could find no history of either incident in the computer log.