Third-generation Prius Recall Announcement

[Toyota PR]

9 February 2010

THIRD-GENERATION PRIUS RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT

Toyota today announced a global recall on the latest, third-generation Prius built before 27 January 2010. This will involve 8,500 cars in the UK.

To date, there have been no accidents linked to this issue reported in Europe.

No other Toyota or Lexus models are affected by this latest recall action in Europe.

Toyota GB would like to apologise to its customers for any concern this issue has caused.

The recall is being taken in response to reports of inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady braking on bumpy or slick road surfaces when the anti-lock braking system (ABS) is actuated.

This recall will consist of a software upgrade in the anti-lock braking system. The procedure will be carried out free of charge and will take approximately 40 minutes using standard test equipment in use at all authorised Toyota service centres.

In keeping with VOSA’s code of practice, Toyota will write individually to every owner or keeper in the next few days having obtained their contact details from the DVLA.

In the meantime, the cars are safe to drive. At no time are drivers without brakes.

Toyota GB guarantees to every customer its utmost attention to making this upgrade as quickly and efficiently as possible.

If customers have any questions or concerns regarding the above, please ring Toyota Customer Relations on 0800 1388 744 or visit our website at www.toyota.co.uk for updates.

ENDS

[Glyyde]

Hello there. I still haven't got a good grisp of what is the exact problem of the brakes. I have been driving the 3rd gen prius for about 4 months now and have not felt the lose of braking sensation. However, there was once during the icy period where I was turning into an icy slope and the car suddenly lost control momentarily and the brake does not work, ended up hitting the kerb with my bumper..... Is that in anyway related to the ABS system failing or just due to the icy road?

[phil4]

Hello there. I still haven't got a good grisp of what is the exact problem of the brakes. I have been driving the 3rd gen prius for about 4 months now and have not felt the lose of braking sensation. However, there was once during the icy period where I was turning into an icy slope and the car suddenly lost control momentarily and the brake does not work, ended up hitting the kerb with my bumper..... Is that in anyway related to the ABS system failing or just due to the icy road?

That'll be the icey road. ABS can't invent grip, it can just maximise it. It's good that you've never experienced the cause of those recall, though I'd still get it sorted when they write to you.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Hello there. I still haven't got a good grisp of what is the exact problem of the brakes. I have been driving the 3rd gen prius for about 4 months now and have not felt the lose of braking sensation. However, there was once during the icy period where I was turning into an icy slope and the car suddenly lost control momentarily and the brake does not work, ended up hitting the kerb with my bumper..... Is that in anyway related to the ABS system failing or just due to the icy road?

Who knows?

There are many threads on here of peoples experiences with the braking 'issue' and the sensation it gives. Some people have never experienced it, others have had it occur a few times. It has happened to me once or twice and I wouldn't go looking for it to happen to you - just pop along for the recall software update when you're invited to.

[Dave R.]

Hello there. I still haven't got a good grisp of what is the exact problem of the brakes. I have been driving the 3rd gen prius for about 4 months now and have not felt the lose of braking sensation. However, there was once during the icy period where I was turning into an icy slope and the car suddenly lost control momentarily and the brake does not work, ended up hitting the kerb with my bumper..... Is that in anyway related to the ABS system failing or just due to the icy road?

Not surprising that you are confused with the amount of tosh being put out by the media .

In a nutshell.... if you are braking steadily at above 7-10mph, the car is using regenerative braking. If one of the wheels loses grip (e.g. bouncing over a pothole or skidding on a manhole cover) then the ABS kicks in and releases the brakes for an instant. Once grip is restored, the brakes come back on. For the driver, this feels like the car has "skipped" forwards - in fact, all that has happened is that it is not slowing down for an instant. As Toyota say, the brakes have not "failed" or "stopped working". If you continue to apply pressure on the brakes, they keep working.... and the "conventional" friction brakes kick in - the car slows down and, if you keep applying the brakes, will stop. The effect happens over a period of milliseconds - certainly not long enough to lose control. It just feels a bit odd when it happens.

A report I heard on the BBC this morning was describing "push the brake pedal again...." what a load of rubbish - if you are trying to stop a car, you press on the brakes with a continuous pressure (allowing ABS to do its thing for maintaining grip - we've moved on from the days when you had to worry about cadence braking!). Same with the Prius - so if the car skips a bit, you should still be applying pressure to the pedal and slowing the car down!!

The fine detail of the effect is one for Toyota to work out - it could be the action of ABS during regen braking, it could be ABS in conjunction with the cutover from regen to friction braking. Either way, it is simply a matter of the engineers tuning the various controls on the car for optimum feel, functionality and performance.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Hello there. I still haven't got a good grisp of what is the exact problem of the brakes. I have been driving the 3rd gen prius for about 4 months now and have not felt the lose of braking sensation. However, there was once during the icy period where I was turning into an icy slope and the car suddenly lost control momentarily and the brake does not work, ended up hitting the kerb with my bumper..... Is that in anyway related to the ABS system failing or just due to the icy road?

Not surprising that you are confused with the amount of tosh being put out by the media .

In a nutshell.... if you are braking steadily at above 7-10mph, the car is using regenerative braking. If one of the wheels loses grip (e.g. bouncing over a pothole or skidding on a manhole cover) then the ABS kicks in and releases the brakes for an instant. Once grip is restored, the brakes come back on. For the driver, this feels like the car has "skipped" forwards - in fact, all that has happened is that it is not slowing down for an instant. As Toyota say, the brakes have not "failed" or "stopped working". If you continue to apply pressure on the brakes, they keep working.... and the "conventional" friction brakes kick in - the car slows down and, if you keep applying the brakes, will stop. The effect happens over a period of milliseconds - certainly not long enough to lose control. It just feels a bit odd when it happens.

A report I heard on the BBC this morning was describing "push the brake pedal again...." what a load of rubbish - if you are trying to stop a car, you press on the brakes with a continuous pressure (allowing ABS to do its thing for maintaining grip - we've moved on from the days when you had to worry about cadence braking!). Same with the Prius - so if the car skips a bit, you should still be applying pressure to the pedal and slowing the car down!!

The fine detail of the effect is one for Toyota to work out - it could be the action of ABS during regen braking, it could be ABS in conjunction with the cutover from regen to friction braking. Either way, it is simply a matter of the engineers tuning the various controls on the car for optimum feel, functionality and performance.

But this is where I think the fault lies - it doesnt take milliseconds on my car but switches off completely! no abs light flashing, just a loss of brakes until I really press down hard. I think some cars are ok and some are not quite set up 100%. Maybe its a factory thing as they are built at two different factories. You can't just say it isn't there just because you haven't experienced it to the same extent. Anyway, who knows, but I will be taking it in for the recall asap.

[Chris Dance]

Well said Dave R. The BBC in its news this morning stated the Toyota Prius was being recalled due to brake failure. Utter rubbish it is NOT brake failure. It is as you have clearly stated Dave. I am fed up with the media hype on this issue. I am pleased owners who have the problem are having it resolved.

I have no complaints about Toyota cars or customer service I have owned lots of makes and models of cars but Toyota are the best in my opinion with Mazda a close second. The media needs to report the loss of our brave troops getting killed in a useless war as a priority not like the start of the news this morning an incorrect report on Toyota.

[Fujisan]

Thank you Toyota PR for posting this message.

You must have had a busy few weeks..... have a rest in a darkened room

Talking of which, they'll be queing out of Toyota dealers, waiting for this and that to be fixed!

No be surprise here, but I have to agree with Dave and Chris

The media do like to get their knickers in a twist over things without full exploring the facts.

Exactly the same thing, about the media, is being said over on the OU forums about the 'Tesco Clubcard / OU course fees' issue, that some of you might have read about.

no abs light flashing

Will the ABS light come on during normal operation?

I can't say I've ever noticed it on any of my other cars and I used to be quite hard on the brakes in my foot-loose, pedal-to-the-metal, single ( ) days. Mainly it was the traction control light flashing at me (in those cars with TC ;) )

The only time an ABS light came up and stayed up was when a sensor failed on my old RS Turbo (Loved that car, had a look yesterday what they were going for now.....£5,000 for a good one )

Anyway GC, I hope this update, will solve the problem and you can tell all your customers what a wonderful car they have the privalege of riding in. :D

[johalareewi]

Now on BBC news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8505402.stm

And a Q&A article to try and clear up the recall confusion...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8496902.stm

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Anyway GC, I hope this update, will solve the problem and you can tell all your customers what a wonderful car they have the privalege of riding in. :D

I already do and they love it. In fact I was the first Prius in the area (one other I've seen is in Leeds and that's a gen2) and my fellow cab drivers are so impressed with the customer feedback AND fuel economy that I recon there will be a couple other Prius's (Prii?) joining me on the streets of Harrogate very very shortly and that's despite the recent bad press.

We know a good thing when we see it ;)

[Fujisan]

I already do and they love it.

Great! :D