Consumers have complained about serious brake problems on Toyota hybrid cars, saying the manufacturer should have done more to notify consumers about the issue.
What Is the Brake Defect in Question?
Federal traffic safety officials are looking into the potential brake defect with Toyota hybrid vehicles after a Southern California franchise dealer reported numerous problems with Toyota Prius brakes failing.
Brake failure can be very dangerous for drivers and can lead to a car accident.
What Vehicles Are Included in the Investigation?
A number of different Toyota hybrid models, including the Toyota Prius, are being investigated for suspected brake failure that could be associated with the dangerous safety defect.
This includes the 2012-2015 Prius plug-in hybrid, the 2010-2015 Prius Liftback, the 2013-2015 Avalon Hybrid, and the 2012-2014 Camry Hybrid vehicles. The franchise dealer that initiated the call for the investigation has said that more than 1 million vehicles could be impacted by this alleged defect, which is reportedly associated with the brake booster pump assemblies with the master cylinder.
Have Any Lawsuits Been Filed?
A class action lawsuit filed by a California resident says that the brake booster pump assembly systems and brake boosters affect Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry, and Toyota Avalon models, according to The Mercury News.
The lead plaintiff in the Toyota Prius lawsuit says that he began experiencing problems with his brake booster pump within the first 10,000 miles of driving the vehicle. He says the car continued to move forward and travel at previous speeds even when the brake pedal was depressed to slow down while approaching manhole covers, obstacles, dips, and railroad tracks.
According to that plaintiff, warning lights were illuminated when the brake problems occurred, including the brake system light, the slip indicator light, and the master warning light.
Would Toyota Have Any Responsibility in These Claims?
In the class action lawsuit complaint, Toyota is accused of evading its warranty obligations by failing to notify customers about brake booster problems the automaker should have known about. The suit also alleges that Toyota is refusing to perform free repairs unless a vehicle has registered appropriate diagnostic trouble codes associated with the brake boosters.
According to the lawsuit, the offer to repair the brake booster pump assembly and the brake booster can only be done by the dealer if one of four diagnostic trouble codes had been stored in the memory of the vehicle. All of these codes would have indicated that the brake system had gone through a malfunction during operation.
Do I Have Any Rights?
If you believe that you have suffered problems as a result of brake booster and brake booster pump failures in your Toyota vehicles, a consultation with an experienced attorney can help you to plan out your next steps. Owning a car with a dangerous and costly defect can set you back significantly. If you think there are grounds for a product defect allegation, Top Class Actions can help you find an experienced attorney specializing in product defects.
Join a Free Toyota Hybrid Brake Defect Lawsuit Investigation
You may qualify to join this Toyota hybrid brake defect class action lawsuit investigation if you own one of these Toyota hybrids:
- 2010-2015 Prius Liftback
- 2012-2015 Prius Plug-in Hybrid
- 2012-2014 Camry Hybrid
- 2013-2015 Avalon Hybrid
This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.
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4 thoughts onDid the Brakes in Your Toyota Prius Fail?
2008 Prius brake booster called actuator failed. Tpyoata was aware of faulty part prior to our purchase of the new 2008 Prius . Toyota has an action campaign in 2017. Our Prius had greater than 175,000 miles, and Toyota rescued to service with replacement actuator. Within the next year, the brake booster began to bark after vehicle parked. This was an audible sign the internal rings were beginning to fail and allowing pressurized fluid to part thru. The noise is from the vibration of the o rings as the pressurized guild escapes. Replacement Toyota part is $2,000.
I had to pay out of pocket, $3000, to replace my bad brake booster. I was told I missed the date to have it done through Toyota at no cost.
My 2014 toyota prius 4 lift back has had several times I could have killed myself on the freeway when the brakes locked up when I needed to stop immediately…the car just slid without stopping..i swerved to avert a couple cars that braked suddenly in front of me..
My wife had an accident caused by a break malfunction by our 2011 prius. She eventually stopped when hitting a bus stop sign. No one was hurt since she driving fairly slow, around 10-15 mph. She also said the steering malfunctioned, which caused her to sideswipe another vehicle. The car’s left front is severely damanged. The insurance company indicated the car is a total loss, took possesion and will pay us undetermined amount. Should we join the class action suit?