- #33 of 77
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'05 Prius brakes
by adevine
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Sep 04, 2008 (6:56 am)
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I have an 05 Prius. The brakes have always been fairly sensitive. Over the last year and 1/2 I have experienced problems in the rain. The brakes lock up when the car is close to a complete stop. It is almost impossible to stop in the rain without locking up the brakes. When the car begins to move again, it is as if the brakes have gotten stuck - I can hear a clunk as they unstick and begin to move. This is also a problem first thing in the morning on humid days. I have had the brakes checked - no problems reported.
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- #34 of 77
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Re: '05 Prius brakes [adevine]
by vancouver05
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Sep 28, 2008 (9:29 am)
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Replying to: adevine (Sep 04, 2008 6:56 am)
I, too have a '05 Prius and have loved it. However, when it was about a year old, I started expereinceing the brakes grabbing when coming to a full stop. When I took the car in for service, they said nothin was wrong with the brakes. I took it in about 4 months later specifically because of the grabbing brakes, went to a test drive with the service man and he said "nothing wrong, your brakes are working fine": What I then realised was that they only grabbed when it had been raining. This time, when i took it in for a service, I said, please check the brakes. When I returned for my car they said I had to have all the rotors replaced at the cost of over $800.00.The front ones were "pitted and badly rusty". the back rotors were badly damaged because I must have been driving "two-footed" or with the parking brake on. As I have been driving for over 40 years, I felt a bit insulted at both those suggestions. Thre is a bright red light that is on if the parking brake is on when you start to drive. When I asked about the reason for the front brakes corroding, they said I must have left the car standing for long periods or parked it in salty air. None of the above; I live in a city and use my car almost every day. By the way, I have 80% left on my brake pads, and I tend to use the "B" for slowing down to save my brakes (ironically). I think everyone driving a Prius should have their service people check the state of their rotors. There is no reason why mine have all corroded. What is the normal life expectancy of rotors? Is this a safety issue? I have definitely lost faith in my Prius now!
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- #35 of 77
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Re: '05 Prius brakes [vancouver05]
by adevine
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Sep 29, 2008 (12:59 pm)
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Replying to: vancouver05 (Sep 28, 2008 9:29 am)
My brakes continue to grab on rainy days. I have had the brakes checked by my service guy twice over the last two years and he says the brakes are in great condition. I have over 55,000 miles on my car with very little brake wear. I just can't understand this problem.
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- #36 of 77
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I had an accident about 6 months ago because of the brakes
by sandra21
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Feb 12, 2009 (1:31 pm)
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I have a 2005 Prius and from day one I had the same feeling that many people here have expressed, that when you push on the brakes, it feels like it is accelerating. It doesn't happen all the time, just so that when you take it in it works perfectly and everyone thinks you're an idiot. Then one day about 6 months ago, it had just started raining, and my lane came to a stop, and I always leave enough room to stop - I am a very good driver, I haven't had a wreck in 30 years - and I could not stop. It wasn't me, and it wasn't the rain - know how to drive. It was the car. I took it in and had it looked over and according to everyone its just fine. Everyone sold me the idea that it was the rain, etc. etc.
I wish there was some kind of a class action lawsuit or something. I need to get reimbursed for my $500 deductible I had to pay. This is dangerous. One day it could be worse.
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- #37 of 77
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Re: Prius brake failure [brendabei]
by franny2
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Feb 20, 2009 (3:11 pm)
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Replying to: brendabei (May 17, 2008 12:00 pm)
I have a Prius that is about 6 months old. A couple of weeks ago I got into a rear-end collision when, in stop-and-go traffic the cars ahead of me came to a sudden stop. I stepped on the brakes but the car did not slow down. I hit the car in front of me because of this. It was not raining at the time but it sounds like another version of the same brake problem.
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- #38 of 77
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Re: Prius brake failure [franny2]
by scaredtodrive
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Feb 22, 2009 (11:17 am)
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Replying to: franny2 (Feb 20, 2009 3:11 pm)
i have a 5 day old prius and i was driving in the rain and the brakes failed. i put my foot all the way on the break to no avail and had to crash into the side of the ride to stop it. Now they say it is my fault and nothing was wrong with the brakes.
I think we might want to organize a class action suit.
leora
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- #39 of 77
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Re: I had an accident about 6 months ago because of the brakes [sandra21]
by lynde
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Mar 01, 2009 (6:55 pm)
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Replying to: sandra21 (Feb 12, 2009 1:31 pm)
I have a 2006 prius. about 10 months ago i took it to the dealership due to a brake problem. I told them it only happened in the rain or on wet days. They replied they haven't had any complaints about the breaks. After months of the same problems on wet days, I called again. They said bring it in when it is raining and having a problem. I travel daily as a visiting nurse. Hard to just bring it in when I am in another town. However last week it was raining and on my way home I decided to drive right to Toyota. I took the manager for a ride and nothing happened. Then he started driving and while stepping on the break during the last few seconds of stopping the car stopped short. So he saw I was not crazy. We went back to the dealership and he gave me a loaner and would not let me take the prius home. The next day he called and told me they took the brake drum out and found one of the shoes was not clipped on. So I picked it up that night and drove home. This friday it was raining, as I came to a stop, still not completely trusting the repair the same problem happened. everything went flying off my seat to the floor. I think we all have a very serious problem and need to call the state. I will be willing to be on a committee. please reply................lynde
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- #40 of 77
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Re: I had an accident about 6 months ago because of the brakes [lynde]
by jacquesc
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Mar 03, 2009 (7:32 pm)
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Replying to: lynde (Mar 01, 2009 6:55 pm)
I had an accident this morning...
I was a valet for about 4 years and know exactly how many models drive - but, did not know about this. I regret buying a Prius.
This morning I was attempting to stop in my 6 month old '09 Prius traveling at low speeds in dry conditions. My brakes did not engage until it was too late. So, now I decided to research this problem and think it should be taken up in a class action or recall. If not at least to require a better braking system to be built by toyota.
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- #41 of 77
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Re: I had an accident about 6 months ago because of the brakes [jacquesc]
by franny2
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Mar 12, 2009 (7:45 am)
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Replying to: jacquesc (Mar 03, 2009 7:32 pm)
to all those who have experienced brakes not engaging with the Toyota Prius: I just filed a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hotline at 888-327-4236. Speak to an agent, tell the agent your circumstances and file a complaint. This agency investigates these complaints and IF they find a problem with the car they can actually try to get a recall!!. I don't know if a class action suit is another way to bring this to public attention but it also might be expensive. One thing the NHTSA does is check other similar reports so the more reports filed the better. They also have a website at www.NHTSA.gov.
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- #42 of 77
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Re: '05 Prius brakes [adevine]
by vancouver05
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Mar 22, 2009 (3:44 pm)
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Replying to: adevine (Sep 29, 2008 12:59 pm)
I had exactly the same problem with my brakes grabbing especially on rainy days. On my last trip for service, even though I had been told my brakes were absolutely fine (80% left on brake pads) I insisted they take a better look. Then I was told that the rotors were pitted and rusted and the drums needed replacing completely! They told me I must have been driving with the hand brake on or live close to salty air. I went to another Toyota service place and they said all that needed doing was sanding and lubricating of the shoes and drums ($100 instead of $600), and now they are no problem. I have no idea why the rotors deteriorated. I have started braking harder as I have heard that the brake pads have a cleaning action on the drums. I also don't use the "B"button for deceleration as i think maybe I just wasn't braking enough to keep the drums clean of rust. I am still being told that it is normal for brakes to grab with electric braking but I don't believe this and mine are fine now. If you have a the same problem, make sure you ask your service guy to check beyond the pads and look at your drums.
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