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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Prius Toyota Prius Maintenance & Repair Toyota Prius Brake Problems
82 messages, Last post on Nov 29, 2009 at 11:57 AM
You are in the Toyota Prius Maintenance & Repair Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
| Well, it happened to me yesterday (September 19,2009). I was in love with my 2008 Prius (despite having to spend a couple of hours to figure out how to operate the danged thing). I was pulling out of a parking lot, moving very slowly ,when I saw a car turn the corner and drive down the street which I was entering. I immediately applied the brakes HARD and to my dismay, NOTHING HAPPENED. I consequently rolled into the the approaching car (and SUV, wouldn't you know) and did thousands of dollars of damage to my beloved Prius. The cops of course issued me a ticket for failing to yield the right of way (correct) and said I must have hit the gas pedal instead of the brake (not correct). I do not feel safe in this vehicle. It is a horrible sensation to apply maximum brake force to the pedal and feel no response. I think it is a telling event that Toyota is changing their brake system in newer productions. | |
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Replying to: pjackie (Sep 20, 2009 2:46 pm) http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ They have more clout than anyone individual, and as the number of reported problems goes up they will have more incentive and clout to work on getting the problem resolved. Note that the 2010 Prius now has a "black box" capability so that Toyota can find out the exact circumstances when the brakes failed so they can hopefully resolve the problems and make a safe car. Of course, Toyota totally denies that the brakes ever fail. BTW - I told the magistrate that the brakes failed, and my fine for my ticket was waived. |
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Replying to: pjackie (Sep 20, 2009 2:46 pm) There is a recall in progress for floormats. Priui from MY '04 - '09, I believe.
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Replying to: whitey9 (Sep 30, 2009 10:49 am) My floor mat has never budged from the position it was in when I bought the vehicle. The hooks at the back of the mat (nearest the seat) work very well as intended to prevent that from happening. I'm not sure if you people that right with alternate ideas for the problem are sincere, or work for Toyota. Because every idea seems to be misleading and in an attempt to redirect the consumer of the true and costly imperfection in the make of car. If you are truly attempting to help in a legitimate way... thank you for your input.
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That's what the Lexus' occupants thot when they made an emergency call on their "On-Star" to see what could be done with their "runaway" car speeding down the highway at 120+mph. They said the brakes did not work, and they were unable to stop the car. Only 1 person died in the resulting crash, a bystander. |
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Replying to: jacquesc (Sep 30, 2009 11:57 am) What I am trying to say is not everything that happens, necessarily happens on purpose. Stuff happens. |
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| My 2008 Prius slides when I brake on wet roads. It's scary. Has anyone experienced this? Is it the brakes or the tires? I only have 21,000 miles on the car. | |
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Replying to: gghol (Oct 02, 2009 6:41 am) Tire pressures OKay? Tires not worn? Too much speed? Braking too late? Any function/malfunction lights illuminating on the dashboard? |
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Replying to: gghol (Oct 02, 2009 6:41 am) |
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Replying to: vspin1 (Oct 04, 2009 8:38 am) I was also able to replicate in an empy parking lot in a spirited turn at about 20 mph. Every panic (stomp the brake like your life depends on it) brake application results in extremely weak braking action. When I hit the brake less violently the car stops normally under control also. I did not feel the ABS pulse in any of these tests until the last few milliseconds before the final stop. The anti-skid light came on in many of these tests so I suspect that the system is overriding my panic stop. In my mind this is clearly caused by a system (software & hardware) malfunction, or design flaw, not mats, hitting the wrong pedal etc. While my tests were certainly not standard I you should know that I have experience autocrossing with the Porsche Club of America and know how to test a car and see how it should react to driver inputs. In my mind there is no question that the Gen II Prius could be deadly in a panic stop. While I would be comfortable in my ability to handle a panic stop in this car I would gauge it as being dangerous for general public use until Toyota reprograms or redesigns the braking systems. My next step is to contact Toyota and find out if they have a solution. Otherwise I will have to video tape my tests as evidence should it be needed.
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