2010 Prius Recall Software Update Experiences

a rule of thumb is that if you've experienced braking loss, do not hesitate to initiate... after being told over the phone a week earlier that they weren't doing updates yet, I decided to drop in unannounced, and the service advisor told me that while they've not sent out letters yet (didn't clarify who "they" were: does it come from the dealer of origin, or HQ?) they were able to start doing updates

 

anyone else felt the driving dynamics were different, butt/foot dyno wise?

 

Went to get the recall done today and even when I told the guy I experienced the slippage 3 times- he asked well have you ever driven a Prius? He said people are overreacting. He said that ABS brakes make noise when applied. I said I know how ABS works, yes there is noise and grinding but not acceleration!! He said that the update was basically to reduce the noise. If that's true there's going to be more problems. STILL!!!!! IN DENIAL!!!! The company has acknowledged it- why is the worker there still trying to make the consumer feel like they are crazy? Very frustrating.
Went in at 6:45 am with a 7 am appointment. It took a little over an hour. Can't take any chances being pregnant.

 

First, congratulations and good luck on the baby.

Not everyone in an organization 'gets the memo.' Hopefully, you've found PriusChat tends to have a more open minded community. But let me share my service tech experience on the 5,000 mile, 2010:

I asked for both wheel alignment and change the transaxle oil. The service ticket writer didn't understand but I insisted on it. So they let the 'old guy' tech do it and I went to the waiting room. An hour later, they called my name and the service ticket writer said,

"Could you explain why you wanted the transaxle oil changed so soon? Some of our techs were discussing it and had an idea."

"Sure thing. I want the initial wear particles and manufacturing chips and stuff out of the transmission before we drive it enough to crush them into bits that flow all through the transmission."

She was surprised and said, "That is what <old guy's name> said!"
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If you want, I'd be happy to write a synopsis of the 'brake pause' and you can send it back as part of your follow-up service survey. Alternatively, if they send you an e-mail link, send me a PM and I'll reply with the facts and data. What this can do is help Toyota improve their technical training about what is going on.

Bob Wilson

 

I think you already posted this exact statement in another thread.

Tom

 

After having the software upgrade done over eight days ago I noticed a definite difference in the braking. Yesterday 02/19/10 it was raining in Los Angeles. While going down a hill and applying the brakes, lo and behold, a nice lurch forward AGAIN. My partner freaked. Anyone else experiencing this?

 

First trip to the Bedford, Ohio Toyota service department and pretty sure it will be my last. Got my brake software update on 02/17/10, was told it would take an hour ended up taking two hours.

I asked them to check if the transaxle drain plug service bulletin applied to my Prius and if so I wanted the plug checked for any leakage. I provided them with the service bulletin number.

After 2 hours of waiting they delivered my car to me and only had paperwork for the brake flashing. I asked the service rep if they checked the drain plug for possible leaks and he said he had to talk to the mechanic. He returned stating that the mechanic had checked the plug, but since it was just a visual check and no underpanels had to be removed to see it, they hadn't wrote it up on a work order.

I questioned the service rep how they could see the plug without removing the underpanels. He stated the panels didn't cover the plug. So I asked him to pull up the service bulletin. Plainly written was for them to remove the front spoiler cover and engine cover to visually inspect the plug. He continued to state that the work had been done properly and he would printout a work order for it showing it was completed and would add it to my service file. He then additionally reassured me that this was not a critical service bulletin and I could have it repaired at anytime under my warranty.

I walked away with one of two impressions: either a-they don't do the work properly and take shortcuts or b-they were lying to me.

I tend to think they didn't do the check at all. I sent an e-mail off to their service manager and am awaiting a reply. Going to schedule an appointment with a different dealership to have both the drain plug check done and have them confirm that my brake software had been properly updated.

To top it off, they washed the front half of my car but not the back half making it look worse than if they hadn't touched it at all, so I had to run it through a carwash.

Needless to say, not a satisfied customer.

 

Didn't know there were post police on here. Won't be posting again. Sorry to be repetitive!

 

I had the flash over a week ago and we had a couple inches of snow day before yesterday.While in a parking lot a truck pulled in front of me and when i hit the brakes i was stopped right now.couldnt have worked better.road was very slippery.

 

Had mine done this morning at Toyota and Scion of Muncie. Took less than an hour, including the complimentary car wash. Since we have snow and slush all around here, I was able to try the ABS. It is definitely better and behaves more like one would expect. I haven't tried it over manhole covers yet but will on Monday...

The service writer also advised to expect a package from Toyota explaining the oil interval change. I've been getting conventional oil at 5,000 miles, but if they're authorizing synthetic at 10K, I'll switch.

Many thanks to DJ and Travis and everyone at the dealer for their great care - not to mention the WiFi, Starbucks and Otis Spunkmeyer cookies in the customer lounge!

 

• Location? Google map would work.
• Standing water?
• Rain intensity?
• Speed?

The reason I ask is we have another report of hitting speed bumps at a high speed and reporting a pause. But there comes a time when a road surface can be so slippery or the vehicle tires so lightly loaded that no tire can provide braking force.

Bob Wilson

 

it was raining in Los Angeles. While going down a hill and applying the brakes, lo and behold, a nice lurch forward

I find rain worst then snow
Snow you expect it to be slippery but with rain it is just as slippery

 

when I go to the dealer to get this brake update, do you think I can talk them into turning off some of the beeps at the same time? Is it the same program used to turn off seat belt beeps, reverse beeps, etc? I was hoping to get this done for free and use this as the opportunity to ask for it.....

 

Yes. If they try to charge you for it, pull out your Owner's Manual and show them the pages towards the rear that show the modifications that can be done. I think the pages have red borders on them.

 

I had an interesting experience last weekend. Since the software update, I hadn't run into any issues with the car surging over bad spots in the road. The issues I had prior to the update were all at low speed, not on the highway. We've been having a lot of snow in the northeast lately, so the roads are in pretty bad shape, but on this day the sun was out and the road was pretty dry. Anyway, I was on a parkway going 50 mph on cruise control when I hit a little rut. I could have sworn the car lurched, like it sped up a little bit, when I went over the rut. I then took the car out of cruise and around a minute later, at about the same speed, I hit another bad patch. I applied the brakes this time and again felt a slight lurch forward. Even though the road was mostly dry, the ruts in the road were likely filled with water. The experience was slight, and not nearly as noticeable as the surging sensation I was experiencing at low speed prior to the ABS software update, but still something I'd never experienced before in my 2007 Prius, or while driving any other car for that matter. I still think the software update is a must, but I'm not sure the car doesn't have some slight braking issues that need further attention.

 

That seems aquaplaning

 

My update experience..

This morning, I took my Prius in for the update. Prior to this, I had experienced the complaint -- the "sensation" like the car is speeding up when applying brakes on an uneven surface at lower speeds. I found additional braking or momentary release of the accelerator would correct this issue.

The dealer (Capitol Toyota in San Jose) and I had made an appointment earlier in the week for today as I wanted to present and observe the update.

Upon arrival, I was greeted with a huge line (not that unexpected) but a bit surprised my arrangement with the service manager had not been passed along. One service department employee even informed me that reasons for needing to take time and their inability to help me as agreed ranged from "the ignition on the Prius is a bit of a problem" to things like "it takes 30 minutes to install the software." After my pushback and further complaining a bit (offering to play the service manager's voicemail for them to hear) they agreed to take my car (as had been previously agreed) and have the update completed. They unfortunately refused to do this in front of me in the service drive (this was the agreement) because "the tech's laptop needs power and it has a low battery." (I had previously offered to watch the tech in the service bay but they refused, this was their proposal.)

Regardless of whether the tech's battery needing charging is true or not (I'll leave that to you all to draw your own conclusions...) after about 30 minutes the car was ready.

My initial feedback is that the breaking sensation generally feels the same, it does seem a bit different though as the car transitions to mechanical brakes at lower speeds. A few "light" uneven spots didn't yield the characteristic sensation from before, but I need more drive time with things like the radar cruise control and LKA active to see and gauge differences. Both of these items previously had generated occasional troubles (the radar cruise control seems to have lots of little glitches with it -- but I'll keep that for another topic.)

My only other comment here is that I still have received NOTHING from Toyota on the recall. I know they have my address correct (from the Toyota Owner's Website) so not sure what the issue is here. Nevertheless, it's done for now. Will report other findings back later. And yes, for those wondering, this dealership still reports the wrong maintenance interval for the 2010 on all of the printed service writer documentation when you turn your car in for service.

 

On the subject of recall notices, I am also surprised not to have received anything from Toyota or my dealer on the brake update recall. I had to call three times to get my appointment for the update, but once I brought the car in everything went smoothly.

 

I received my recall notice in the mail today.

 

Well after 7,600 mile on the car I finally felt the brake thing (update has not been installed yet).

I was pulling out of the garage after work and got up to perhaps 20 mph and was decelerating to a crosswalk with very little brake pressure applied. There was a sharp ridge of ice (about 2-3" high) across the road just before (10-15') the heated crosswalk (dry and ice free). As soon as the front tires struck the ridge there was a "click-click" sound from the dash, the brake pedal sank (loss of back pressure against my foot), lights came on the dash but not sure which ones, the brake accumulator pump came on, and I am pretty sure there was a beep or two. I am thinking I was @ 10 to 15 mph.
As I was not traveling fast I just applied more pressure to the pedal and stopped fine. It didn't feel that I lost braking but I certainly had to apply more pedal (distance). I can see if this happened at a higher rate of speed it could be real scary the first time.
Needless to say, I will be getting the update as soon as possible.