THERE IS AN APPARENT MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. GOING OVER A RISE IN THE ROAD, OR BUMPS, AND BEGINNING A DESCENT TO AN INTERSECTION, PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS TO HAVE NO EFFECT FOR ABOUT 500MS. THIS SEEMS SOMEWHAT MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN THE ROAD IS WET, ALTHOUGH POSSIBLY THE EXPLANATION FOR THIS IS WE BRAKE EARLIER IN THE DESCENT AS A PRECAUTION IN LESS-THAN-IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES. WE HAVE MADE OUR LOCAL DEALER AWARE OF THIS AT THE 5K MILE SERVICE APPOINTMENT, AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED OTHER COMPLAINTS, AND CONTACT WITH TOYOTA. THEY REPORT THAT TOYOTA IS LOOKING IN TO A FIX. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABILITY TO BRAKE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WITH NO SAFETY MARGIN. THIS SEEMS REPRODUCIBLE. *TR
2013
SERVICE BRAKES
2013 PRIUS C TWO, BOUGHT BRAND NEW WITH 15 MILES ON IT 5 WEEKS AGO. A FEW TIMES WHEN DRIVING, I NOTICED THE BRAKES SEEMED WEAK, LIKE THEY WEREN'T STOPPING THE CAR VERY WELL EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. MY DRIVING IS MOSTLY IN TOWN ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, SO I'M RARELY GOING OVER 35 MPH. EVEN SO, I'D HAVE TO REALLY MASH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, OTHERWISE IT WOULD KEEP MOVING FORWARD. SEVERAL TIMES I ENDED UP ABOUT 5-10 FEET PAST THE LINE, STICKING THE FRONT BUMPER INTO CROSS TRAFFIC. LUCKILY NO ONE HIT ME. I CHALKED IT UP TO THE QUIRKS OF A DIFFERENT CAR THAN THE ONE I WAS USED TO, AND FIGURED IF IT KEPT HAPPENING I'D TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON MONDAY, MY WIFE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD. AFTER A FEW HUNDRED FEET, HE SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES. SHE SAID HER BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE PRIUS DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AT ALL. SHE HIT HIM GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND TOTALED THE PRIUS. SHE'S AN EXCELLENT DRIVER AND I'VE BEEN WITH HER BEFORE WHEN SHE'S HAD TO PANIC-STOP. SHE'S NEVER DRIVEN A CAR WITHOUT ABS, SO SHE IS USED TO PUSHING THE PEDAL HARD AND KEEPING HER FOOT ON IT. SHE WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO "PUMP" THE PEDAL. SHE SWEARS THE PEDAL JUST WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AT ALL. THANKFULLY, SHE'S OKAY AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR
