Hello everyone,

I bought a brand new 2005 Toyota Camry (Oct 24) . At the time, I wanted to install an extra option, for which I have paid along with the car price. I was told installation would take about three hours, and
since it was late in the afternoon, I was told to make an appointment for Oct 29.

Today, when I went to get the extra option installed, to my surprise, I was told that the installation would take much longer, hence the car would have to stay overnight. Therefore, I cancelled the extra option, and I was told they would mail me the refund for the option within 5 days.

I drove the car for 15 miles on the highway from the dealer to my home. After I parked my car, I smelled burning tires, and saw that smoke was coming from both rear tires as well. I was afraid, and about to call the fire brigade, and someone asked me, "Did you use the hand brake?" I went to my car, and found that the hand brake was on, and that must be the culprit.

My question is:

a) Did the service people purposely leave the hand brake on, while parking my car at their service station, since I cancelled the installation of the extra option?

b) What damage(s) have been done to my car since my hand brake was on while driving 15 miles on the highway, from the dealer to my home.

I really appreciate your help, and thank you in advance

Who knows if it was on purpose or not, I would let that rest... I would have the drums (or Rotars), brake pads & wheel cylinders (calipars) repalce with Toyota parts...Also do a good bleed-out job to flush out the brake fluid you boiled.... Bob

You cant hold them liable for setting the parking brake.. it is up to the driver/operator to check these kinds of things before driving. I have caught myself leaving it on before, but only a couple of miles though before I saw it. If only driven for a little while I would not be concerned unless I felt the brake pedal pulsing.. warped drum or rotor causing it. Has not happened to me before though.

Since you saw smoke.. it is quite probable that there will be warpage and or fluid damage, might be a good idea to at the very least to flush the brake fluid out and replace and then drive for a couple of weeks and see if the brake pedal has any pulsing.. if so then take the above advise and have the rotors either turned if they can or replace the parts if not.

Hello everyone,

Thank you for your sincere replies.

I am a novice in driving, and this is my very first car, and I didn't even know that hand brakes exist. I've been driving an old car for less than a year, and I never knew there was a hand brake (I thought just the brake, and Park gear).

Since I bought this brand new car less than a week ago, how much will it cost me to fix this? Should I go to a Toyota dealer only, or can I go to any other AAA-recommended mechanic.


Thank you in advance, and I appreciate all your replies.

I agree with all previous posts. For a new car go back to your Toyota dealer for these repairs. Seems odd your 2005 Camry didn't have a warning light on the dash indicating the break was not fully retracted? Or did you not understand what the warning light was for?