1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Toyota Acknowledges Design Problems In 2010 Prius Brakes, Modified Models Built After January

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by dammitdex, Feb 4, 2010.

  1. dammitdex

    dammitdex New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2010
    18
    7
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, California
    Model:
    IV
    As we reported yesterday, and as hundreds of media outlets are reporting today, Toyota has updated the Brake ECU software on 2010 Prius models produced since January 2010. This software update improves upon the Prius braking system where pre-January Prius hybrids might experience a temporary sensation of braking loss at low speeds. This usually occurs while traveling across ice or an uneven surface while applying the brakes. The problem occurs because of the computer handing off braking duties between the regenerative brake system and the physical brake system. If you have a pre-January 2010 Prius (or 2004-2009) and experience this "issue", simply press harder on the brake pedal and continue as you normally would. As soon as we have information about how Toyota is going to handle updating pre-January Prius computer systems, you'll be able to find out right here on PriusChat.
     
  2. MikeDS

    MikeDS Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
    298
    15
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Just saw that....I bought mine 6 months ago, so what do I do?
     
  3. dammitdex

    dammitdex New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2010
    18
    7
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, California
    Model:
    IV
    I'm not sure what the official process is. I'm sure there will be an announcement to provide a solution for current owners like you. I'd absolutely contact the dealer and ask questions about what to do, given the latest information.

    I'm so glad I didn't buy in last few months. I was hellbent on buying this month, but I just might wait or find a model that was built after January.
     
  4. dammitdex

    dammitdex New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2010
    18
    7
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, California
    Model:
    IV
    Another report.

    Feb 4, 2010
    Toyota admits flaw in brake, denies it dragged its feet on revealing the problem

    Toyota admits flaw in brake
     
  5. Rhino

    Rhino New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2009
    460
    41
    0
    Location:
    U.S.A.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I wonder if it is something that can be fixed on my 2010 Prius.

    I imagine if it were software or something, then a reprogramming will be sufficient and there can be a recall. If it were something major, like replacing all the tubing or all antilock fluid pumps/bleed valves (I am making this up as an example), it probably is not economically feasible to fix.

    I am worried.
     
  6. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2005
    3,156
    440
    0
    Location:
    Eastern Europe
    that just shows how Toyota is honest about issues they have... they could have easily said they improved the feel when braking and switching between regen and braking, as media will now ignore the fact that Prius brakes properly regardless, and will focus just on "Toyota admitting design issue".

    Hopefully "Toyota admits design issue" with front console squeaks.
     
    2 people like this.
  7. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    898
    92
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Too bad so many Prius were built, could they do a buyback program so I can get a newer one :)
     
  8. dammitdex

    dammitdex New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2010
    18
    7
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, California
    Model:
    IV
  9. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,766
    5,251
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Your attempt to blow the situation way out of proportion, feeding the hysteria, is a great example for my blog. Thanks! Pushing that "OMG we are going to die" belief is really sad.

    We've seen many, many improvements to the design of Prius over the years. Why would you try to convince people that the brakes wouldn't be improved too?
    .
     
  10. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,121
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
  11. vegasjetskier

    vegasjetskier New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2009
    269
    29
    0
    Location:
    East Coast of Florida, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Re: The Woz Knows What He's Talking About- Toyota Admits Software To Blame For Prius Problems

    I believe Wazniak's problem was with acceleration, not braking.
     
  12. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,766
    5,251
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Re: The Woz Knows What He's Talking About- Toyota Admits Software To Blame For Prius Problems

    This is your third anti-Prius/Toyota post I've come across this morning. This one is just as misleading too. You've been busy.

    If you HOLD the accel-button on the cruise-control as he was doing, rather than the normal push-and-release as intended, it will build up a number of acceleration requests giving the impression of an random event. His cancel of it by tapping the brakes confirmed that the software hadn't failed. In reality, it was an unintended behavior by the user.

    Let's try the very same thing on other vehicles to see what happens.
    .
     
    1 person likes this.
  13. dammitdex

    dammitdex New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2010
    18
    7
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, California
    Model:
    IV
    Spare us the backpedaling and continued criticism. I know you're not quoting me with 'OMG we are going to die', because I've never written that. Nor am I blowing anything out of proportion. I simply created a thread topic providing links to the latest news about the 2010 Prius. News to fanboys that were dismissing obvious problems and making their own theories up. Yes, I understand that you don't like that.

    This isn't a simple 'improvement' or generation upgrade. It's a proven defect. Toyota has admitted it and it's all over the news. You should admit it to yourself as well.
     
  14. Jim Clark

    Jim Clark Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2009
    310
    22
    0
    Location:
    Northern VA, the 51st state (someday)
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Re: The Woz Knows What He's Talking About- Toyota Admits Software To Blame For Prius Problems

    Wozniak said his problem was with the cruise control. When he would use it to accelerate, occasionally it would accelerate out of control to over 90 mph.
     
  15. gpt

    gpt Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2010
    17
    5
    0
    Location:
    Athens
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Take it easy people. Both groups are right & wrong.

    Yes, there is a problem, so the people ignoring / accepting it were wrong. (The Toyota manager accepting it, is enough to prove that)

    No, there is no reason to worry about, since Toyota already corrected the issue. So the end of the world is yet to come :D but not because of a Prius.

    Check VIN numbers with the correction implemented:
    0124257 or later
    1157314 or later
    5118118 or later

    Submitted By Ken1784

    Since they know what to do with it, sooner or later all Prius owners will be called to fix it.

    Now let's move to another issue, this one is closed thanks to the users reporting it & Toyota finding a solution.
     
    2 people like this.
  16. PaJa

    PaJa Senior member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2009
    678
    113
    92
    Location:
    Czech republic
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Listen, Toyota is not in the position now to simply refuse this "issue" as a desigh feature. They have to say what they said.
     
  17. grinthock

    grinthock New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    86
    3
    0
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I can re-create this on my 2008 GEN II Prius...

    This has to be fixed once and for all.
     
  18. hampdenwireless

    hampdenwireless Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2005
    1,104
    86
    0
    Location:
    Baltimore MD
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    I am not sure how honest fixing the problem is without telling the current owners of the problem until the media breaks the story first. Honest would be telling the current owners as soon as you know of the problem. Toyota did not do this.
     
    2 people like this.
  19. TalkingMuffin

    TalkingMuffin New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2009
    26
    27
    0
    Location:
    Earth
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    my first comment on this whole thing.

    i experienced this problem for the first time last night. noticed the systems switching while slowing down. and you know what? IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL!!! It lasted less than half a second, during which the car simply coasted instead of slowing.

    I'm not saying it SHOULD happen, or that it shouldn't be fixed... but this whole hyperventilating act that people have is ridiculous and the media absolutely drives it to make it a bigger story than it is.
     
    6 people like this.
  20. ManualOnly

    ManualOnly New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2006
    193
    28
    0
    Can I call this a software "upgrade" or "hotfix" or a "patch" release ?
     
    1 person likes this.