Brake Issues - Report your Date of Manufacture and VIN

**Bostonian1976** · 02-04-2010, 09:52 PM

I'll start.

Unreliable brakes that do the 'confused' thing, as well as the 'oh sh*t you tapped the brake pedal twice so I'm going to floor the brake pedal for you!!'

bought in April '06, manufactured in 2/06 I believe, and VIN 3371

ps - still love my quirky truck

BlackCherryota · 02-04-2010, 10:01 PM

Mine has done this several times, but fortunately hasn't caused an accident (yet).

Bought my 2007 FJ used in December 2008, built 01/2006, VIN 001113.

**frankv64** · 02-05-2010, 05:10 AM

Mine has done it also, built feb 07 vin 78000

Clues · 02-05-2010, 06:15 AM

As Bostonian1976 alluded to, there may be two separate and distinct issues with the brakes that we should differentiate between:

1) The 'UNRESPONSIVE' issue - this seems to happen when braking at low speeds (under 40mph) and one side of the vehicle hits a pothole, uneven pavement, or loose gravel. The result is that the brakes become momentarily unresponsive until you release and pump the brake pedal again. This has happened to me three times in two years (42,000 miles). After it happened the second time, I went back to the same spot and tried several times to recreate it and was successful only once. So IMO it is not a common phenomenon and the conditions under which it happens are very specific. This is the issue that sounds very similar to the current Prius brake issue. It definitely feels like the brake electronics/software are confused and get caught in a momentary glitch as it figures out what to do.

2) The 'OVERRESPONSIVE' issue - this seems to happen under very similar conditions to the other isssue - i.e., low speed braking over uneven or broken pavement. The result is that the brakes become super sensitive to the point that normal braking flings you and your passengers hard into to your seatbelt restraints, as if you are slamming on your brakes. I was able to recreate this issue over and over at a particular intersection near my house and it seems to occur when you are braking firmly to a stop and there is broken pavement on both sides of the car but staggered (e.g., right wheels hit pothole and then a few feet later left wheels his uneven pavement. The brake pedal gets a little mushy and then WHAM... the brakes kick in big time. I am pretty sure that this condition is created by the Brake Assist function. While pretty unsettling, the good news is that you ARE stopping quickly (just hope you're not sipping a cup of hot coffee while this happens!). I was also able to reduce the occurance of this issue by inflating my tires to a higher PSI - at 39 psi, it pretty much went away.

I have 2007 but will have to update built date and VIN later as I don't have my FJC with me now.

AZExplorer2 · 02-05-2010, 06:50 AM

I've not yet had a problem with my FJC, I've only had it for a month or so. However I've owned both a '07 Prius and a '08 Tacoma and both scared the hell out of me when the brakes suddenly felt UNRESPONSIVE when I hit uneven pavement. It seemed as it the Anti Skid kicked in and the brakes just quit working for a moment. I don't remember if I pumped the pedal or not. All happened too fast.

FJ666 · 02-05-2010, 07:01 AM

We have had both issues. Once was the pot hole thing and I thought I would have to hit the ditch to avoid the cars in front of me. The second time the g/f said she was slowing down (low speed) and the "The 'OVER-RESPONSIVE' issue"
happened. It was winter and ice/snow covered. The Brakes locked and threw the truck into a spin and hit a parked car. I thought she was full of $hit at the time but now it sounds like there is a problem. $5000+ damage to the fj and $1100 to the minivan she hit. And who knows what my new insurance rates will be? Now I'm wonder if I should bring this to Toyota's attention?

HurricaneGT · 02-05-2010, 07:04 AM

I have had the issue on uneven pavement i was braking ind hit a bump it seemed like the anti lock kick in but it also felt like the braks were doing nothing. its an 07 002037

milesglynn · 02-05-2010, 07:24 AM

I too have had the exact same experience with unresponsiveness when braking over uneven pavement. It's happened three times in the year and a half I've owned it. Luckily without incident. Built 7/06 0033566

Mobydog · 02-05-2010, 08:14 AM

I have had the "over response" once.Very scary and could have been bad. Build date 07/06 VIN0096552.

**SwiCago** · 02-05-2010, 08:42 AM

Build 05/07 VIN0093048

Had brakes fail twice, in the same location. Dry conditions, hit pothole with rear left wheel and at the same time applied brakes. 1st time it happened, I had to blow a stop sign and swerve right to avoid a collision. I was going about 30mph, hence wanting to apply brakes for the stop sign. The brake pedal went all the way down and surged (ABS) very little, which made me come to the conclusion that the ABS was first trying to correct the loss of traction to the one wheel first. 2nd time it happened, I immediately reapplied the brakes and had full control again.

I have also had the "over response" 3 times. Not funny when it happens on the freeway going 65mph.