2016 Toyota Prius

We were driving in San Diego and had driven oven a bit pothole. About 50 miles after driving over the pothole, the brakes stopped working. We were pressing down hard on the brake, but the brake was soft and did not do its job. We almost rear ended the car in front of us. We brought the car right away to a close by auto shop and they said there were no leaks as the brake fluid was still close to the max and they did not find any indication of a brake fluid leak and sent us on our way. We are still unsure as to why the brake from this vehicle stopped.

WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN ENGAGING THE FOOT PARKING BRAKE ON A SLOPE, SUCH AS MY DRIVEWAY, AND THEN TURNING OFF THE CAR, THE CAR ROLLS BACK SIGNIFICANTLY. THEN, WHILE EXITING THE CAR, THE REAR BRAKES MAKE LOUD GRINDING AND CREAKY NOISES AS THE CAR SETTLES DOWNWARDS SLIGHTLY. THEN, WHEN ENTERING THE CAR, THE BRAKES MAKE THE SAME CREAKY AND GRINDING SOUNDS. WHEN HOLDING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO POWER ON THE CAR, THEN DISENGAGING THE FOOT PARKING BRAKE, THEN SHIFTING THE CAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE CAR JERKS ABRUPTLY AND AT THE SAME TIME MAKES A LOUD AND STUCK DISENGAGEMENT SOUND, AS IF THE CAR WAS BEING HELD ON THE HILL/DRIVEWAY SOLELY BY THE PARKING PAWL. IT SEEMS LIKE THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT HOLDING THE CAR, AND INSTEAD, THE PARKING PAWL IS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS REVERSING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE COMING TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CITY TOYOTA (255 SAN PEDRO RD, DALY CITY, CA 94014, (650) 204-8135) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000.

WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE AND STATIONARY ON A HILL FACING UP WARDS (LIKE IN A DRIVEWAY) THE CAR STILL SENDS ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AND TO THE WHEELS EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN FACING UP A HILL. ALL ELECTRICAL POWER IS SUPPOSE TO TURN OFF WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. THIS STARTED HAPPENING TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL BUT IT IS NOT NORMAL AS IT NEVER DID THIS BEFORE. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN ON FLAT GROUND OR WHEN FACING DOWN HILL. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT THIS IS THE HILL ASSIST FEATURE HOLDING THE CAR BUT THAT'S A LIE AS THE HILL ASSIST UTILIZES THE BRAKES AND NOT THE MOTOR. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANY ERROR CODES AND REFUSED TO DIG FURTHER INTO THE ISSUE AND MADE UP LIES ABOUT IT.

FEBRUARY 7, 2018 !01 FRWY NORTH APPROACHING SANTA ROSA/ PLEASANT VALLEY OFF RAMP ON THE DOWNGRADE OUT OF NEWBURY PARK AT 25 MPH IN THE RIGHT LANE. A.BRAKE LIGHTS ARE SEEN IN CAR AHEAD. B.THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS UP RED WITH THE WORD BRAKE IN RED C.A LOUD PULSATING AUDIO NOISE CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM THE SPEAKERS. D.THE DRIVER TOUCHES THE BRAKES AND THE CAR GOES INTO FULL ABS EMERGENCY BRAKING REDUCING SPEED FROM 25 MPH TO 12 MPH IN LESS THAN 1/2 SECOND E.THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS EXPERIENCE A VIOLENT LURCH WHICH PRODUCES WHIP LASH. F.THE SEAT BELTS ENGAGE CAUSING PAIN TO THE SHOULDERS. G.THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 25 MPH. THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER 6 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. A PDF IS ATTACHED OF THE HISTORY OF PROBLEM AS PRESENTED TO THOUSAND OAKS TOYOTA AND TOYOTA NATIONAL IN NOVEMBER 2017. VIDEO CAMERAS WERE INSTALLED IN THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2017 TO CAPTURE THIS AS THOUSAND OAKS TOYOTA AND TOYOTA NATIONAL SAID THIS NEVER HAPPENED. HERE ARE THE LINKS TO THE VIDEO OF THE ABOVE INCIDENT: ACCIDENT STARTS AT 30 SECONDS HTTPS://VIMEO.COM/254847752 HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/62AO8Z0IGDY [XXX] - DRIVER [XXX] - PASSENGER FRONT SEAT [XXX] - PASSENGER REAR LEFT SEAT CAMERA 1 MOUNTED IN BACK CEILING CAMERA 2 MOUNTED ON CONSOLE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

OVER THE PAST YEAR AND OVER 15,000 MILES OUR 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS FOUR TOURING HAS EXPERIENCED SUDDEN DISPLAYS OF WARNING MESSAGES AND LIGHTS REPORTING BRAKING POWER LOW - VISIT YOUR DEALER; BRAKING POWER LOW - STOP IN A SAFE PLACE - SEE OWNER'S MANUAL; PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION - VISIT YOUR DEALER; ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION - VISIT YOUR DEALER; LANE DEPARTURE ALERT MALFUNCTION - VISIT YOUR DEALER; ICS MALFUNCTION - VISIT YOUR DEALER; CHECK CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM - VISIT YOUR DEALER. THE FOLLOWING CODES/FAULTS HAVE BEEN DETECTED: ABS - C1403, C1407, C1415; PARKING SENSORS - C164D, C1A50; BLIND SPOT MONITOR - C1A45; BLIND SPOT MONITOR SLAVE - C1A45; PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM 2 - C1A50; LANE-KEEPING ASSIST 2 - C1A50; ECU - P157800 & CRUISE ECU - P157800. THE WARNING MESSAGES/LIGHTS CAME AND WENT WHILE DRIVING ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. EACH TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY COULD SEE THE CODES IN MEMORY, BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO PARTS WERE REPLACED. THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE DONE IS TO TAKE APART AND RESEAT SOME OF THE CONNECTOR CABLES AND THEN SEND US ON OUR WAY TELLING US TO BRING IT BACK IN IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. WE ARE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE NO REASSURANCE THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED AND NO REASSURANCE THAT MAJOR BRAKING SYSTEMS MIGHT NOT BE AVAILABLE TO ME IF IT OCCURS AGAIN. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE WITH NO CHANGE IN THEIR POSITION. I AM CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING TO TRADE THE VEHICLE IN AS I AM NOT COMFORTABLE THAT THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED AND DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE SHARED VIDEO OF THE WARNING MESSAGES AND LIGHTS WITH THE DEALER, BUT AM UNABLE TO UPLOAD VIDEO HERE.

WHEN BREAKING WHILE TRAVELING OVER BUMPS/RIPPLES ON THE ROAD OR OVER ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS SUCH AS POTHOLES OR ROADWORK, THE VEHICLE FEELS AS THOUGH THE BREAKS ARE SKIPPING OR FAILING. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES UNDER THE SAME OR SIMILAR CONDITIONS. THERE IS A SENSATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THAT THE CAR IS NOT GOING TO STOP IN TIME OR THAT YOU HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE'S ABILITY TO STOP SAFELY.