ABS system failure

I just had to replace the entire ABS system after I was told by my dealer that the brake fluid was contaminated. Only the Toyota dealer that I had purchased the car from had worked on it with the exception of one oil change at a closer dealership. The car had 75k miles on it and I was charged over $6500 for the fix. Does anyone know if this is something that is common with first generation Prius?

 

Hi Bob,
Morning in question, I started the car and the ABS brake light came on and a horrible screech came from the dashboard. I never put it in gear, turned it off and called AAA; had it towed to the dealership where I bought it 50 miles away in Tampa. I go to college up there so had been using same dealership for oil changes and maintenance. First estimate was $3000 but it kept going up as they said that not only did they have to replace all pumps, filters, and rubber, but then they had to replace all metal parts because of rust. Prior to the dash warnings, I had never had a problem with the brakes. Do you want me to scan the receipt and upload it, or just list parts and codes?
Teryn

 

Sorry I didn't get a chance to read responses yesterday. I take classes in Tampa, 50 miles north, then teach in Venice, and when I am not driving like crazy I take care of my 86 year old mother with Alzheimer's disease. My main concern with the cost of the ABS job is that the portion of the cost I had to pay (and yes, my insurance company actually picked up a good portion of the cost) could have been better spent on mommy-sitters and Alzheimer's daycare. I am reading posts now, before I go bathe my mother and dress her for the day.
Teryn

 

The dealership took a sample of the fluid but said the test was too expensive. My insurance company also took a sample of the fluid but I do not know if they ever spent the money on a chemical analysis. The woman who wrote up my repair at the dealership said that maybe it was something the prior owner had added, although they had also had all repairs done at dealership. Then I asked if something that had been added 35k miles ago could have taken 2 years to work through the system and she was silent.

 

Ran fine 2 years and when I went to start on 11/30, ABS light came on and terrible screech. Had it towed to dealer that I had bought from and had done all service. I had bought it used, with 40k miles on it when purchased; service write-up person said maybe the owners before me (retired couple from Sun City) had added something foreign but their service records indicated that Toyota service had done all of their work, too. I asked write-up woman what were the chances that a substance added more than 2 years prior could have taken that long to work through system and she was silent.. so I took that as a no.

 

I bought an extended warranty from the dealer and that didn't pay a cent. My Progressive auto insurance covered a portion under my comprehensive coverage since it was accidental, no signs of tampering but still written up as vandalism.
Total invoice was $7451.99! Insurance paid $6100 and after lots of complaining up the food chain, the dealership wrote off an additional $439.
I'll have to go to campus and scan this since 13 codes on first page of invoice are all listed as "AAAD AAA Discount"
$2846.65 is billed as "Brake diagnosis," but no codes at all on page two, only parts numbers.
There is also two pages of Progressive write-up but they also show no codes. Do you want me to scan those two pages also?
Thanks...Teryn

 

This is the first I have heard of a known actuator problem on the GenI models. I really appreciate that and will see if it helps recoup any of the wasted money. I paid 13,5 (plus extended warranty that covered nothing and tax took it to almost 17k) for the car in 07 with 40k miles on it and am really disappointed if it is truly only worth the cost of its "brake job!"
Thanks again. Teryn

 

My dealership has not listed one code on a multipage receipt; nothing with a P, C, or B. They did replace parts
(1) 47025-47030 cylinder sub. assembly
(1) 47750-12490 cylinder assy. dis
(1) 47730-12490 cylinder assy. dis
(2) 90947-02992 hose, flexible
(1) 90947-02C51 hose, flexible
(1) 90947-02C52 hose, flexible
(1) 47190-47020 valve assy, propor
(1) 47570-47010 cylinder assy, whe
(1) 47550-47010 cylinder assy, whe
(1) 47220-47020 reservoir assy. ma
(1) 47237-47011 hose, reservior no
(1) 47238-47011 tube, reservior
(4) 00475-1BF03 brake fluid
(6) 00289-2BC00 non-chlor brake cl
(1) flush chemical flush
(1) 47071-47010 pump sub. assy, bra
(6) 00475-1BF03 brake fluid
(1) 00272-SLLC2 super long life co
(1) 00450-47020 actuator assy, bra
(1) 47324-47020 tube, rr brake, no
(1) 47323-47020 tube, rr brake, no
(1) 47315-47030 tube, fr brake, no
(1) 47314-47030 tube, fr brake, no
(0) 47237-47011 hose, reservior no
(1) 47236-47011 hose, reservior no
(1) 47571-47020 hose, brake actuat
Then electrical system diagnosis where they found open circuit in brake switch, brake light switch pin stuck, replaced brake lights switch
(1) 84340-04030 switch assy, stop

Does any of that help?
Teryn

 

My dealership said the test strips were useless, but I no longer have faith in their ability to act ethically, since it seems that there is so much money involved in a hybrid repair. This is my 8th Toyota but my first hybrid; I usually buy used but have never had a problem like this (I have replaced both block and transmission on 97 Camry and together they were less than this brake job!). Now, with all of the recent problems with Gen III popping up, I thought I would see if this was something that other Gen I owners had experienced and it seems not. I have posted other replies today including a list of parts they replaced; disappointed that the dealership listed NO CODES on my receipt. Maybe my other posts will tell you more. Thank you very much for your reply. I am not a do-it-yourselfer since my 1953 MG-TD; engines were easy (even for a girl/woman) back then!
Teryn

 

I did find a 2002 Prius in the Northeast that had an identical problem to mine while doing a google search. That is the only other instance of this "Brake fluid contamination/ABS failure" that I have found so far.