Toyota Hybrid vehicles being investigated for brake defects

International consumer litigation firm McCune Wright Arevalo is investigating Toyota Hybrid vehicles made between 2010 and 2015 due to possible braking issues and defects.

The vehicles under investigation include 2010-2015 Prius or Prius Plug-in Hybrids, 2012-2014 Camry Hybrids and 2013-2015 Avalon Hybrids. The alleged defects on the brake system may cause the deactivation of brake assist and stability control and decrease of hydraulic pressure within the system.

Roger Hogan, owner and president of Claremont Toyota and Capistrano Toyota dealerships, filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last September, noting 117 complaints on the brake systems including 60 that reported crashes.

Toyota has initiated a warranty extension program and will reimburse the cost of previous repairs to the brake booster assembly, and has agreed to provide repairs free of charge. However, the automaker has refused to provide these repairs unless the driver experienced one of five brake-system warning indicators confirming Diagnostic Trouble Codes C1391, C1252, C1256 or C1253.

"Our hope is that the result of our investigation and potential filing of a class action is that Toyota will take preemptive action to immediately replace the defective brake-booster assembly and brake-booster pump assembly of the affected models, rather than subjecting their customers to a potentially life-threatening game of chance," the law firm said in a press release.