"BRAKE!" Warning Light While Turning Left At Intersection

I would take it to the dealer... That shouldn't happen. Do you have a dash cam?

 

I believe there is at least one other report of a similar incident by a member of this forum, but that post appeared some time ago and I don't believe I will be able to find it now. I'm sure it is upsetting when it occurs, and I would also advise having the car checked out at the dealer and explaining to them the circumstances under which it happened.

I am still of the opinion that the Emergency Braking System prevents more accidents than it causes, but if you happen to be the person where it actually causes an accident, that is of little consolation. I can attest to the fact that the system saved me from having an accident at least once. The time that sticks in my mind was an occasion where I was making a legal U-turn at an intersection and another car was making a right turn from the crossing road to my left. We almost collided and I believe we would have, had my car not applied the brakes with the big red BRAKE! warning. I was quite impressed that the system detected the other car, even though it was more to my side than directly in front. I believe the other driver would have been more at fault, having probably made his right turn without stopping, but I was nevertheless pleased to have avoided the collision.

 

Not being able to clear the condition short of recycling the vehicle should be treated as a major issue.

 

If like mentioned in the OP you also got the message to clean the sensor, that would indicate that the safety systems were not working as intended. If you remember the messages be sure to write them down as best as you can remember them along with whatever else you remember acquiring. Many times the messages need to be seen several times before they can be fully comprehended, mostly due to other distractions at the times they show up and/or the amount of time they are visible on screen.
The Toyota safety systems are very good, but they are not prefect. If you pay close enough attention to the car when there is low traffic volume you may get lucky and see when a sensor detects something and reacts incorrectly. When it happened to me I was very confused about exactly what the sensor(s) had detected.

 

It must be very rare, but I have read a thread with PCS malfunction very similar to what OP has described. It was by @PiPLosAngeles I believe... His car was PP Plus, so it did not have ICS. IIRC, his incident happened at the intersection very similar to what OP described. But I can't find the thread. I hope he will chime in. I don't remember he commented on any repair or fix. I think he just turned off the PCS after the incident.

 

they'll probably charge you if they can't find anything

 

This thread’s title could be more succinct? OP’s call, but every time I read it I’m scratching my head. Mods can revise if you “report” it.

 

As you said the system probably braked for a small animal that the driver failed to see and otherwise would hit it. Since it happened only once, I wouldn't worry about it.

Moreover, people behind you are not supposed to follow you so close that they can't stop if you suddenly apply the brakes. If they hit you, they would be 100% at fault regardless of why and how you braked.

How Do You Prove Liability for a Vehicle Accident? | Nolo.

"If someone hits you from behind, it is virtually never your fault, regardless of why you stopped."

 

The key word is “virtually”.

 

Not to mention the concept of comparative negligence.

 

Sounds to me like this sensor is the issue, and should not be hard for a dealer to confirm/diagnose?

Aside comment, is it normal/expected that this “clean sensor” message comes up? I haven’t heard this before, but I don’t have a Prime (yet). My Gen 3 PiP has the earlier PCS, and in 5 years of driving this car it has only TWICE beeped very momentarily for a false alarm, but never braked. Once, the shoulder belts began retracting, which was interesting and unexpected.

BTW, I would strongly consider finding another dealer.... not offering a free loaner car for a repair exceeding more than on basic warranty is unacceptable, IMO.... I would fight that.

 

... especially when you have just barely started moving from a prior stop and red traffic light.

 

It might not be a bad idea to investigate and correct the false signal the sensor is producing, as methinks there is a possibility it is tied to the BRAKE issue.

 

Being worried about the CarFax report, smacks me as allowing the tail to wag the dog.

If you had been hit, in that situation where you were just starting to move from a previous full stop, then either it would have been a very low speed hit, or it would have been a higher speed strike in which you were destined to be hit regardless.

That case was a 2010 edition. There should be several rounds of improvements rolled in to your 2020.

As someone who actually has been hit in a chain reaction crash on a very busy Seattle thoroughfare, in a case that would have been prevented by automatic braking, I'm not going to let perfection be the enemy of improvement.

With less-than-perfect AEB, you remain undamaged. With less-than-perfect AEB, that linked Seattle driver went undamaged. In the complete absence of AEB, I received minor damage, and the guy behind me received major damage, when the driver behind him on I-5 through Seattle failed to recognize an all-traffic-stopping situation in time.