2007 Toyota Prius electronic stability control (esc) problems

“The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that while driving the speed was unknown due to the instrument cluster being inoperable. On another occasion while driving approximately 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to operate properly; however, on that occasion the instrument cluster was operating as designed. The vehicle stability control, ABS, and brake light warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with an actuator and brake booster failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 203,202.”

“WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CORNER ON CITY STREETS, BRAKING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. A HIGH-PITCHED ELECTRONIC SQUEAL CAME FROM THE DASHBOARD, AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, VSC LIGHT, AND MASTER WARNING LIGHT ALL TURNED ON. THESE ARE ALL LISTED AS SYMPTOMS OF A FAILED BRAKE ACTUATOR. AFTER CONTACTING A LICENSED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, I WAS DIRECTED TO THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT. AFTER BEING ESCALATED TO A SUPERVISOR, I WAS INFORMED THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT THAT THE WARRANTY EXTENSION THEY USED TO COVER IT EXPIRED IN 2017, AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT (~$3000). I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE CAUSE FOR A SAFETY RECALL, AS IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. IT WAS PURE LUCK THAT THIS DIDN'T RESULT IN A CRASH.”

“WELL KNOWN ABS ACCUMULATOR FAILURE, LOUD BEEPING NOISE, CAN'T DRIVE CAR SAFELY, HIGH MILEAGE CAR AND WILL BE REPAIRING IT, MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE PART IS SEVENTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS $1700 WHICH IS A LOT FOR SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS BRAKES AND WITH SUCH A HIGH FAILURE RATE ON ALL OF TOYOTA'S HYBRIDS. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE AVAILABLE FROM 3RD PARTIES SO I AM NOT FORCED TO DEAL WITH JUNK YARD ABS THAT IS JUST AS LIKELY TO FAIL BECAUSE OF A FLAWED DESIGN.”

“IF I DRIVE ON THE EXPRESSWAY OR AROUND TOWN AND I'M DRIVING A HALF HOUR SOMETIMES LESS MY CAR MAKES A LOUD BUZZING NOISE AND MY INSTRUMENT PANEL THE HAZARD LIGHTS GO ON AND I LOSE MY BRAKES. THIS WAS VERY SCARY. THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T GOING TO FAST TOWARD THE LIGHT AND DIDN'T HIT ANYONE. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME IF I'M DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME 1/2 HOUR OR MORE. MY VEHICLE WAS ON CITY STREET AND ON HIGHWAY. I WAS IN MOTION. ON THE HIGHWAY 70MPH AND ON CITY STREETS 35/40 MPH.”

“IN FEB 2018 I NOTICED THAT SEVERAL LIGHTS CAME ON IN MY CAR THE VSC, ABS, AND PRESSURE SENSOR LIGHT LIT UP. ALSO THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT. I HAD RECENTLY WENT FOR AND INSPECTION ON MY CAR IN JAN AND HAD BRAKES REPLACED AT MY LOCAL MONROE PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING SO I QUESTIONED THEM ON WHAT ALL THE LIGHTS MEANT AND THEY LOOKED ON LINE AND SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE ACTUATOR FOR MY CAR. THEY ADVISED ME TO GO TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. I WENT TO THE DEALER IN A FEW WEEKS LATER IN MAR AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS A LETTER SENT TO PRIUS OWNERS STATING THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON BRAKE ACTUATORS UNTIL END OF 2017. THEY HAVE IT IN TWO PHASES, AND IT'S UNLIMITED MILES UNTIL DEC 2017 FOR THE FIRST PHASE, THEN AFTER THAT IT'S 150K MILES/10 YEARS. IT ALSO SAYS THE RED TRIANGLE LIGHT MUST BE ON FOR IT TO BE COVERED (IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S ONLY COVERED IF IT FAILS.) I NEVER RECEIVED THIS LETTER AND THE EXCEED THE 150K MILES BY 5K AND YEARS. THE CSR REP SAID HE WOULD SHE IF THEY COULD HONOR IT BEING THAT IT WAS SO EARLY IN THE 2018 YEAR ONLY A FEW MONTHS PASS THE DEADLINE BUT THE MANAGER ON SITE DECLINED AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE. THE DEALER…”

“TOYOTA SENT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE ON THE COMBINATION METER TO THE WRONG ADDRESS; THEREFORE, I COULD NOT "CONNECT THE DOTS" REGARDING MY DASHBOARD BLACKOUT--MEANING I THOUGHT IT WAS QUIRKY, NOT A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THE COMBINATION METER. MY 2007 PRIUS WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT NEEDS A REPLACEMENT COMBINATION METER BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR IT--CLAIMING IT PROVIDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY RESPONSE IS: SO WHAT? I AM DRIVING A DANGEROUS VEHICLE WHICH DOES NOT INDICATE THE SPEED I'M DRIVING, THE GAS SUPPLY, THE WARNING LIGHTS, AND BACKUP CAMERA. I HAVE HAD THE REQUISITE SERVICES OVER THE YEARS AND THE PROBLEM IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN TOYOTA'S MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY CHAIN. IF TOYOTA REALLY CARES ABOUT THE CUSTOMER, WHY WON'T TOYOTA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILING PART AND REPAIR MY PERILOUS VEHICLE? THE SITUATION IS DANGEROUS! I CAN'T LOCK THE CAR, KNOW FOR SURE WHEN IT IS TURNED OFF, SEE THE WARNING LIGHTS, KNOW IF THE AIRBAG ALERT IS LEGIT--NON-FUNCTIONAL ALL. TO REPLACE THE FAILED PART WILL COST NEAR $1000, MY MONTHLY SOCIAL SECURITY. THINK ABOUT THIS PRICETAG, TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. MY SAFETY IS SEVERELY JEOPARDIZED.…”