Updated: Toyota Recalling 270,000 2010 Prius Hybrids in Japan & US for Brake Issue

DeadPhish,

You and I are not reading the same things from Toyota then...here's what a Toyota Spokeswoman had to say about it in Tokyo:

"Toyota Motor Corp. spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said Thursday that Toyota discovered there were design problems with the antilock brake system and corrected them for Prius models sold since late January, including those being shipped overseas."

And, a Tokyo Toyota Autodealer said this: "...said the automaker had informed dealers that Prius brakes can sometimes fail to work for less than a second but it had not told owners."

So, as I see it there's a huge difference between "design problem"/"brakes can fail" and what you're suggesting as a "feel better" fix vibe for new users.

There's really no reason why a fan of the product can't also admit that they have a problem with their braking system. The company certainly is doing that. I love my car and recommend one to anyone- I'd love to see every car out there on the road be a Prius. The world would be a safer, cleaner place and we'd be a lot less dependant on buring oil. I'm confident there's a fix that will be soon available that will remedy the issue for anyone who's been affected by it. I'm also confident that Toyota will recover from all this bad PR...IF they do the right things. So far, it looks to me like they are...albeit more slowly than I'd like.

 

***Thinking about the Prius, you know when you are at the forefront of innovation, a problem or two is bound to occur. BUT, if no one pushes forward and innovates, we'd all still be driving Model-Ts.

Writing a computer program for balancing regenerative braking with friction braking must have been a daunting task. I'm sure it's EXTREMELY complex. I'm not at all shocked and surprised that there was one minor flaw. I'm still fascinated that Toyota was even able to make the thing in the first place. The 2010 Prius is a brilliant piece of technology.

 

I saw following news at bloomberg.com.
I think it's the most accurate and the latest as of now.
Toyota Said to Recall Prius in Japan This Week (Update1) - Bloomberg.com

"Feb. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. will recall its 2010 model Prius hybrid car in Japan this week to repair a problem with the vehicle’s braking system, two people familiar with the matter said, adding to global recalls of almost 8 million autos for separate defects."

They also mentioned about Lexus HS250h and Toyota SAI (Japanese market only) recall for the same brake issue. But, there is no comments about the Gen2 Prius and other hybrids as of today.

Ken@Japan

 

The reason I have is that I always depend on myself over anyone else. My own experience and inputs are far more valid for me than any 2nd or 3rd hand reports. No one has said that any of these two statements were accurate either.

Design problem? That is exactly what I believe as well because it makes the brakes feel too different for some first time users. However, I have much more confidence in my own inputs. If I can't make these issues occur no matter where, when or which vehicle I drive, and then that experience is reconfirmed by others herein with equal or more experience than me, then I can't accept the 'problem' statement.

I tried by having someone who actually had it occur and made a significant mention of it to me back in the summer. She admitted that after becoming used to the vehicle that she doesn't encounter it anymore. But we drove her's and she noticed the 'bump' in the back but I didn't as the passenger.

I do agree that to make the ownership experience more enjoyable for new buyers that it should be fixed and smoothed out.

 

Speculation on my part, there is a type of mechanical problem that involves vibrations coupling with a control system. If it happens, the vehicle momentum could destructively couple and the resulting vibrations lead to some pretty unhappy results. So when I see the 700-800 msec brake delay in the one sample following impressive vibrations from the speed bump, I can easily believe there was an attempt to prevent vibration coupling. It is what we call a 'hard problem.'

Bob Wilson

 

It would seem that Phish and friends are living at the edge of the bell curve. If Toyota wants to navigate this bit of rough water, they are going to have to address the concerns of those living in the middle of the curve. Phish and friends were the early adopters. Sales success comes when the middle of the bell curve buy the product being sold. So far, the middle is waiting to see what Toyota does. At this point, it isn't exactly encouraging for Prius owners, especially those with Gen II cars.

 

Denying the existence of a 'hard problem' isn't exactly going to make it go away.

 

Did you check Phish profile?

 

So what? Did you check Bob Wilson's profile? Did you check my profile?

DeadPhish has more of an inside view of the issue, because he deals with these cars all the time. If you look at the whole spectrum of his posts, he is not a person who spouts the "company line."

Back in off the ledge, everybody.

 

Luckily, he is very open about his backgroud. So we should take his comment with a gain of salt. I don't know about you. But I have nothing to do with any motor company. I'm just a Prius owner that voice for my own interest.

 

Toyota to recall the 2010 Prius

Toyota to announce Prius recall soon - Feb. 8, 2010

This recall only pertains to the Gen III that went on sale from May of 2009 until January. The "problem" that has existed in the Gen II since 2004 isn't affected by this recall.

 

thats very true... i just notice that due to ABS, i dont brake anymore over the bumps... i always stop braking before i hit the bump, always.

 

what Toyota actually said is that it is feel and that braking is not at risk, this is actually what Toyoda appeared at conference to say... he wanted to make sure customers know cars are safe to drive.

... what press wrote was... TOYOTA ADMITS TO PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE DESIGN ISSUE.

at the end, it takes time to investigate everything and honestly because of this huge pr issue we are not living in normal times anymore, they should have just announced service action/recall and write tsb later. they need to adapt to media frenzy and realize that half truths that calm fears are ok. Because whatever they say, press is going to write their own thing, and i have been seeing Prius being officially recalled on my TV station every day since thursday.

 

news update:
Toyota to Recall Prius Hybrids in Japan Today, Sankei Says - Bloomberg.com

Toyota Japan plans to file the recall to the Transport Ministry Japan today at 1:30 p.m (Feb 9th, 2010 JST).

The target vehicles (edited to add number) within Japan are...

• Gen3 Prius: (199,666)
• Gen3 Prius plug-in (159)
• Lexus HS250h (12,423)
• Toyota SAI (Japanese market only) (10,820)

The fix kit for HS250h and SAI is not available yet, therefore Toyota stops shipment of these two models.

Ken@Japan

 

Ken-san,

Thank you. One question:

Are any "Gen3 Prius" excluded, say early production, or does this include the whole production.

Thank you,
Bob Wilson

 

Hmm, come to think of it, just like the MT analogy, this argument is flawed as well.

When ABS arrived on the market, people had to learn NOT to pump the brakes anymore and let the ABS system do it's job.

In the TP's braking issue, people had to learn to step on the brakes harder on loss of regen braking.

 

Toyota EU official Prius III recall statement.
Toyota Motor Europe Corporate Site NewsDetails
and additonal 3 cars (Prius Plug-in + Sai and HS250h sold in Japan)
Toyota Motor Europe Corporate Site NewsDetails

 

Hi Bob-san,

The whole Gen3 Priuses before Jan 28th, 2010, Production are the target vehicles.

Ken@Japan

 

Here's the real question (only speaking for the US models). The 133,000 US Prius models that are being recalled, what type of percentage of that is from total US sales? Has Toyota sold over 200,000 Prius 2010 cars in the US since since last year? I'm curious to know what the numbers look like, whether is effecting a large number of US cars or just a small number of them (earlier production models).

I know they're saying pre-January 2010 models, and my V that I ordered lands today at the US port. I assume it was shipped out in mid January, so I'm curious to know whether my car is one of the post-Janarary 2010 models, or if it was built earlier than that and shipped later (I guess I could verify with the VIN when I pick up the car this weekend).

 

Anyone aware of this???? Was in a timeline by the 2/5/10 Wall Street Journal article of Automotive recalls the last 15 years. Oct 09 was the same period Toyota recalled 4.3 Million for the floor mat issue.
I, for one, have not heard of this Ford recall - a total of 14.3 Million?
Is this media bias or what???


October 2009 -- Ford adds 4.5 million older-model vehicles to the long list of those recalled because a defective cruise control switch could cause a fire, pushing Ford's total recall due to faulty switches to 14.3 million registered vehicles over 10 years, capping the company's largest cumulative recall in history involving a single problem.