kharper777

My wife experienced a braking failure on Wed of this week. While is a long line of traffic waiting at a red light she was moving slowly after having previously come to a complete stop. When the line of traffic began to slow again she applied the brakes with no response and then slammed on the brake pedal with no response before hitting the vehicle immediately in front of her. No damage to either vehicle but now we are very concerned about a computer braking failure (think Prius). Anyone else out there have a simliar experience with this model? One other fact: the wipers came on at the same time. The roads were completely dry, and the temp was about 40 degrees. Today she told me her ankle hurt from the pressure she applied to the brake pedal. Thanks for any input. The vehicle is at the Lexus dealership awaiting evaluation next week by a regional Lexus safety team. We do not have confidence to drive the vehicle at this time.

Boognish

The problem with the Prius, as I understand it, is that there is a fraction of a second delay before the brakes kick in. Something completely different happened to your wife. Definitely have the brakes in your wife's RX looked at.

salimshah

Prius problem is due to software improvement () in a hybrid
In hybrids, during braking, the motor take the energy from the wheel to produce charging. The remaining energy of motion is converted to heat by brake pads ... just like in regular cars. When the new prius goes over a bump ... reduced contact with road, the software does not make the right decision in how to proportion the two braking functions. My understanding is that startles the driver.

Ask your wife as to what she felt .. did the brake pedal go all the way to the bottom? Did it stop [normal travel] and did she feel the pulsations.

After the accident, did you look at the brake fluid reservoir? How much fluid is there.

After the accident can you stand on the brake pedal without it dropping down.

Have you taken the RX for a test and in an empty parking lot tired emergency stops from speeds up to 20mph? If so do you get the ABS skipping brake marks on the pavement?


What were the driving conditions ,,, [Were the brakes warm?]

What about brake service, fluid purge, condition of brake pads?

You have the option to take to the dealer or flat bed it.

Salim

Pearlpower

iTrader: (2)

I would agree that there is more to it than just that.
Describe the conditions she was in including the road.
ABS application in some instances (bumps for example) can be dangerous and the brakes will not operate properly-this is with all vehicles.

biff44

most drivers will freeze up and not react properly. One should always be ready to slam on the emergency brake pedal in these situations. If that does not good, then throw it into 1st manually. And, of course, steering is always wise.

joedaddy1

iTrader: (1)

i dont think an average person react that fast on a bumper to bumper traffic..

salimshah

The thing is that brake failures do happen. In a bumper to bumper situation the reaction time is very small [yes we all know to keep good distance] but generally we are all packed in .. so much that we can not change lane if the car ahead becomes disabled. But luckily the impact and damage is small.. Even then, all drivers must mentally go through back up plans.

Every failure should be investigated ... that is why I listed all the things that need double checking. Human error is a possibility, but that conclusion should be entertained after exhaustively eliminating mechanical failure.

Salim