Toyota Prius Brake Problems

366 messages,  Last post on Mar 27, 2013 at 6:44 AM

You are in the Toyota Prius Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Brakes, Hatchback, Sedan

    
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#331 of 366 Re: My 2010 Prius still surges after fix. [john1701a] by wwest

Jun 17, 2010 (7:33 am)

Replying to: john1701a (Jun 16, 2010 8:04 pm)
"...You'd have to be braking fairly hard only using regen..."
 
No, the lurch/surge occurs as the result of the need to transition to ONLY frictional braking from LIGHT regen braking or (typically) heavier combined regen/frictional braking. ABS is ONLY implemented on the frictional brakes.
 
"..large pothole.."
 
No, any small perturbation or slippery spot in the roadbed that results in a regen braking tire's loss of contact/traction, even momentarily. Loss of traction sampling, calculation, is done, typically, every 10 milliseconds, 100 times/second.
 
"..Highly unlikely though..."
 
Actually, more likely than otherwise if you drive any hybrid on a regular basis.
 
"..and probably never after getting the update..."
 
Wrong. The lurch/surge forward is systemic to ALL Toyota HSD hybrid vehicles and cross-licensed "clones". The service campaign only addresses the firmware flaw that tended to elongate the low or even non-braking time during this ABS induced transition period.

#332 of 366 Re: My 2010 Prius still surges after fix. [pf_flyer] by wwest

Jun 17, 2010 (7:38 am)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Jun 16, 2010 6:35 pm)
The first ABS equipped vehicle we owned was a 92 Jeep Cherokee Limited. I always removed the ABS pumpmotor fuse during the summer months when loss of stearage control due to heavy braking was less likely to occur.
 
Unless you need to input directional control or corrections during the "event" all ABS activation does is elongate your stopping distance.

#333 of 366 Re: My 2010 Prius still surges after fix. [betsyr] by sas9

Aug 03, 2010 (12:28 pm)

Replying to: betsyr (Jun 02, 2010 10:43 pm)
While I can't tell you to drive and enjoy your car, I can say that my 2010 Prius is a dream. I've experienced a slight breaking delay when going thru a pothole or over a severe bump. I keep my foot on the break and after a second or two the delay is over.
 
When I got the car, I was concerned about this and just stayed far enough away from the car in front of me so I would feel comfortable. Now, I don't even do that as I've gotten used to the slight delay and am not really concerned.

#334 of 366 Re: My 2010 Prius still surges after fix. [sas9] by betsyr

Aug 03, 2010 (1:38 pm)

Replying to: sas9 (Aug 03, 2010 12:28 pm)
I finally gave up and traded it in. The final straw was when we took it to the dealer and they told me that the computer showed that in just over a month I had been driving almost 200 times pushing both the gas and the brake. The head of the service told me that while it was an odd reading (we had had a few readings like this on previous checks), he could not argue with the computer. I can tell you that I have NEVER driven while pushing the gas and brake simultaneously. I was informed that there was no other testing for them to do and I was basically stuck with a car that I did not trust and obviously had a serious computer problem.
 
Although we lost 12k, we traded it in and I have never regretted it. We were afraid that if I did have an accident, Toyota could simply point to the data in their computer saying that I was driving two footed and the blame would be squarely on me.

#335 of 366 Re: My 2010 Prius still surges after fix. [betsyr] by wwest

Aug 04, 2010 (9:37 am)

Replying to: betsyr (Aug 03, 2010 1:38 pm)
Did the dealer check to see if the brake pedal position microswitch was out of position and would sometimes be actuatd even with no braking..?

#336 of 366 Re: My 2010 Prius still surges after fix. [betsyr] by agnosto

Aug 05, 2010 (6:05 pm)

Replying to: betsyr (Aug 03, 2010 1:38 pm)
Almost 3500 miles with my 2010 Prius IV with NAV without any issue and averaging over 70MPG computer calculated... In conclusion, as I have stated before, not many people really know how to drive a hybrid vehicle effectively, realizing that when I tell them I get over 70MPG (with moderate up/down hills) and they are surprised...

#337 of 366 Re: My 2010 Prius still surges after fix. [agnosto] by betsyr

Aug 06, 2010 (6:21 am)

Replying to: agnosto (Aug 05, 2010 6:05 pm)
I was getting incredible gas mileage and at the time I lived in a very hilly city. That was not the problem.
 
The problem was the brake issue. To the person who asked if they checked a particular thing on my brakes. I honestly don't know. They kept the car for a day and assured me that they had checked every single thing on the brakes (to include the pedal) when they saw that I had supposedly been driving almost 200 times using both the gas and brake. Unfortunately I was a few days out from a cross-country move for my company and did not trust loading my young children in the back seat for a 2000 mile drive.
 
For me the most logical choice was to sell and cut my losses. I do wonder if other people are having the same type reading saying they are hitting both pedals at once.

#338 of 366 Brake Gas Pedal issue with 2010 Prius by roxanes

Jan 27, 2011 (7:40 am)

Have been searching for someone who has the same problem I do.
My 2010 Prius has performed well, but a new wrinkle started last year. While going down hill on the 405 freeway, the gas pedal did not engage. I coasted down, pulled over, turned off the engine, restarted and was on my way.
It has happened 3 more times.
I took it to the dealer and they tell me that it is driver error-that I am putting on the gas and the brake pedal at the same time. That is physically impossible and I have never driven with 2 feet! They have referred me to customer relations- their response so far is for me to go to the dealers so they can test drive. Seeing how this has happened only 4 times in over a year, the dealer would be driving forever.
In any case, their ‘diagnostic’ tools spotted this error, but they say there is nothing wrong with the car; it is my driving.
Customer service has not returned my calls for the last 2 days.
Is there hope for this sad story?

#339 of 366 Re: Brake Gas Pedal issue with 2010 Prius [roxanes] by betsyr

Jan 27, 2011 (8:19 am)

Replying to: roxanes (Jan 27, 2011 7:40 am)
I finally gave up and traded my car in. We took a huge loss, but we considered the liability to be greater. Had I had a wreck in it with the computer reading that I constantly driving 2 footed, I would have taken the blame. No matter how many times I assured them that I was not driving with 2 feet, they did not believe me. They told me the computer was correct thereby removing all blame from Toyota.
 
I tried the customer relations, but got nowhere. All they will tell you is that you need to take it to the dealer.
 
I hope you get some resolution. I miss my Prius, but I don't miss the worry that it brought about.

#340 of 366 2010 Prius Breaking/Acceleration Problems by lovedove41

Jun 19, 2012 (3:35 pm)

I am currently in the process of arbitration process with Toyota, concerning my 2010 Prius. It has been fixed during that recall, but the problem is still occurring. Has anyone actually been through this process with them and can share with me? The main issue is the break problems and acceleration. I have since taken it in and they can find no problems. If anyone reads this and has advise about how to process in the arbitration process with Toyota, please contact me or reply to this. I have a few questions about the process. I will write more about my specific problems soon, also. Any help would be greatly appreciated
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