You are here:
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles
Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius Maintenance & Repair
Toyota Prius Brake Problems

77 messages, Last post on Oct 04, 2009 at 8:38 AM
You are in the Toyota Prius Maintenance & Repair Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
|
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. |
|
|
Replying to: brendabei (May 17, 2008 12:00 pm)
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: franny2 (Feb 20, 2009 3:11 pm) I think we might want to organize a class action suit. leora
|
|
|
Replying to: sandra21 (Feb 12, 2009 1:31 pm)
|
|
|
Replying to: lynde (Mar 01, 2009 6:55 pm) 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.
|
|
|
Replying to: jacquesc (Mar 03, 2009 7:32 pm) |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: adevine (Sep 29, 2008 12:59 pm) |
|
|
Replying to: sandra21 (Feb 12, 2009 1:31 pm) old. I have had several instances of it seeming to speed up. I took it back to Toyota and the service manager said he had noticed that, also - in other cars. After his mechanic looked at it, he said that if I needed any more adjustments to bring it in. Whether they did anything or not, I do not know, but I thought the problem was gone. On the other hand, I was exceptionally cautious when I approached places ( parking spaces) where I had had trouble. The other problem was 3 situations where there was a complete or partial failure of the brakes to work in low speeds and dry weather - there hasn't been any rain. The first case was in traffic where I would have hit the vehicle in front if the brakes had not suddenly grabbed. The other 2 case (occurring in the last week) were when I was driving slowly, but there was complete failure of the brakes. I am going to call the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. at 888-327-4236 and file a complaint. Also I will investigate the possibility of my car being considered a lemon. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: scaredtodrive (Feb 22, 2009 11:17 am) I called a lawyer to see if I had a case, and was told no. I am still researching the issue becuase someone should be held accountable and future tragedies should be avoided. If anyone has started a class action suit, please do let me know as I would like to join you. Minerva
|
|
I read that they redesigned the braking systems for the 2010 Prius. That appears to be Toyota's response to the fact that the U.S. Generation 2 Prius (2004-2009) has had low-speed brake failures reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 31 times the rate of such failures reported for the 2004-2009 Corolla, which of course has traditional brakes. Many of the Prius low speed brake failures were in low-speed city traffic, resulting in rear-end collisions without injury. It appears that the several computers that control the complex braking systems were too busy calculating the most efficient way to apply the brakes, and did not get around to actually applying them, until it was too late. Toyota never took responsibility for the problem, but the 2010 redesign indicates they were aware of it. Unfortunately, the NHTSA never initiated an investigation despite the extremely high rate of failures. The detailed failure reports ("complaints") are available to the public on the NHTSA website. The details are these: Through March 2009, 2004-2009 Prius has received 44 complaints of low speed brake failure. 2004-2009 Corolla has received 7 complaints of such failures. Given that about five times more Corollas than Prius were sold during 2004-2009, 44/(7/5) = 31 times the rate of brake failure for the Generation 2 Prius. Let's hope the 2010's brakes work!
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles
Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius Maintenance & Repair
Toyota Prius Brake Problems
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Toyota Prius



Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats