Toyota Admits Braking Problems with New Prius
Toyota has admitted there are problems with the company's latest 2010 Prius.
It's been a rough couple of weeks for Toyota and it doesn't look like things are going to settle down anytime soon. Just weeks after the company issued a recall for bum gas pedals and floor mats that spanned the entire globe, the company has come forward and admitted there could be another recall in the works.
Toyota today admitted that there is a problem with the ABS on the 2010 Prius. The company has supposedly received as many as 100 complaints from Japanese customers, with a handful of complaints from North America sprinkled on top.
The Financial Times cites Hiroyuki Yokoyama, a Toyota managing director responsible for quality control, who says the problem involves software that controls the car's anti-lock braking system. When the ABS is engaged, some drivers may feel a short "pause" when the car’s brakes switch from "regenerative" mode – which tops up the rechargeable battery – to standard hydraulic braking.
According to Yokoyama the company had not decided whether to issue a broad recall of the Prius, and that the brake problem was not considered a safety threat.
Yokoyama went on to say that Toyota engineers reprogrammed the ABS software last month after dealers and the Japanese transport ministry began receiving complaints. However, for people who purchased their cars before the complaints started rolling in, Toyota will perform updates only on request for now. Yokoyama told the Financial Times, "It's a matter of 'driving feel.' Regrettably, we underestimated what customers would expect from the vehicle."
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I see big losses for Toyota this year with all their recalls.
BIOS updates for cars... Makes the old 'If Microsoft made cars' joke look quite scary now...
BSOD: Brake System Of Death...
Will TH start to report every toyota recalls and make them a reputation? Other car makers also issue recalls...
Hey, you want to save the Earth, or your life?
Get your priorities straight.
What's a few seconds when emergency braking anyway?
So Steve Wozniak was right in a previous article by Jane:
"Apple Co-Founder Slams Prius Software Problem". When you're on the lead, you just can't get "Go, Go, Go" out of your head.
Toyota needs to get it together... as a mechanic I can say that they are one of the top manufacturers of quality vehicles and when they put the new ft-86 out I plan on being one of the first people to go buy one and I dont want to worry about stupid crap going wrong
Haha that's awsome. Not only can the cars accelerate out of control, you may have no breaks either. rofl
Sweet. Maybe accidents will get rid of some tree hugging hippies.
At least the cupholders still work great.
I heard Toyota lost over 30 billion dollars in the last year due to recalls and stagnant sales. Incredible. My 4runner is still awesome though.
Maybe the
So Steve Wozniak was right in a previous article by Jane:"Apple Co-Founder Slams Prius Software Problem". When you're on the lead, you just can't get "Go, Go, Go" out of your head.
Of course, if Apple had designed the Prius it wouldn't have multitasking. You could steer, or brake, but not both at the same time.
this is not a safety issue, please read again.
Woz was observing a completely different 'issue' and is still just a blowhard complaining about a U/I problem (the cruise control makes the car go faster, OMG!) Based on the problem description, there is a failure mode, *due to physically abusing the car* that is causing this problem. I am not saying Toyota shouldn't build a system that is robust enough to tolerate things like uneven railroad tracks at high speeds, but let's keep this in perspective.
I fail to see why the media in general is dragging Toyota through the mud over all this. Apparently the braking issue isn't even a safety issue, it just feels odd because of the regenerative braking system in the vehicle.
As far as I can tell they've done their best to control the situation...
What they've done:
1. Find the source of the issue and admit there's an issue.
2. Shut down worldwide production for the products affected (How many other auto makers have ever done this to fix a flaw?).
3. Send employees to training during the shutdown period (They could have just laid them off like the other guys do).
4. Issue a recall program with fix for products out in the market (Extended service hours, funding to hire extra service staff to implement the fix).
Honestly, as far as I can tell they're doing a pretty damn fine job of rectifying the situation, as a result of this media attention I'd actually feel safer buying a Toyota now than ever before, at least I know the product is going to be backed up by the company if anything ever does go wrong.
I fail to see why the media in general is dragging Toyota through the mud over all this. Apparently the braking issue isn't even a safety issue, it just feels odd because of the regenerative braking system in the vehicle.As far as I can tell they've done their best to control the situation...What they've done:1. Find the source of the issue and admit there's an issue.2. Shut down worldwide production for the products affected (How many other auto makers have ever done this to fix a flaw?).3. Send employees to training during the shutdown period (They could have just laid them off like the other guys do).4. Issue a recall program with fix for products out in the market (Extended service hours, funding to hire extra service staff to implement the fix).Honestly, as far as I can tell they're doing a pretty damn fine job of rectifying the situation, as a result of this media attention I'd actually feel safer buying a Toyota now than ever before, at least I know the product is going to be backed up by the company if anything ever does go wrong.
True that.
I fail to see why the media in general is dragging Toyota through the mud over all this. Apparently the braking issue isn't even a safety issue, it just feels odd because of the regenerative braking system in the vehicle.As far as I can tell they've done their best to control the situation...What they've done:1. Find the source of the issue and admit there's an issue.2. Shut down worldwide production for the products affected (How many other auto makers have ever done this to fix a flaw?).3. Send employees to training during the shutdown period (They could have just laid them off like the other guys do).4. Issue a recall program with fix for products out in the market (Extended service hours, funding to hire extra service staff to implement the fix).Honestly, as far as I can tell they're doing a pretty damn fine job of rectifying the situation, as a result of this media attention I'd actually feel safer buying a Toyota now than ever before, at least I know the product is going to be backed up by the company if anything ever does go wrong.
Amen to that
Brakes should always be ready to be used for an emergency stop.
mr_tuel: you think!
wow, this is a note to all car makers out there, they need to test and retest their cars before manufacturing them. i would be so mad of my car would loose brake pressure when is needed the most. i bet that half of the accidents are made possible because of faulty manufacturing
Drive by wire = fail
ABS = fail
Airbags = dead weight
Traction control = fail
I want a rollcage, 5 point harness and a straight piped exhaust.
I find it funny that Toyota was one of the top sellers of cars during Cash for Clunkers. Now all of those people that decided to send their money overseas are getting burned with their choice. Oh and don't most people assume that the Big 3 vehicles are unreliable which is why they buy imports in the first place? GM has been using drive by wire on vehicles since the 90's without a problem.
I do give Ford props for pulling themselves out of their rut without a bailout even though I prefer GM vehicles myself (but not necessarily the way GM is run). I'll stick to domestic vehicles that are easy to work on so if something needs to be replaced, I can run down to the parts store and always find what I need at a cheap price. At least the wife and I will not have to worry about sticking throttles or airbags killing us with metal debris which killed a local HS student recently.
Blind are not the ones that cant see, but the ones that don't want to see...
Toyota is simple the best car maker out there and this proves it, if this was a GM or Ford you would not have a recall neither a problem, it would be normal... with all the faults Gm/Ford/Etc. have you don't even notice the problems....