Buying a 2009 but worried now...

I haven't seen much about brake failures. I picked up a 2009 two weeks ago.

I'm kicking myself now.. the dealer is now offering an additional $2k off their 09 Prius that are in stock.

Go buy one but talk them down if they have stock. They'll want to move the 09s, and lots of people are waiting for the '10 models to hit the dealers soon.

 

The site you mention does not exist.

Tom

 

My brakes are fine and working like the first day I got it. I have 92k miles on it now and still no need to change the pads yet.

The link to the discussion OP mentioned is below. I have yet to read it.

Bogleheads :: View topic - Prius brake problems

 

It looks like people are experiencing ABS/Traction Control in action. The issue is compounded with the crappy Integrity wet surface performance and extra PSI in the tire.

 

It's also not "blogleheads" as the OP wrote. It's actually "bogleheads.org". Here's the link that I found:

Bogleheads :: View topic - Prius brake problems

What a difference one little letter can make......

 

My wife and I have had zero issues with brake failure with either one of our Prii.
I read a number of the complaints the person speaks of. I found three links to the total brake failure mentioned. All three appear to be from the same poster??

I have never heard of anyone that owns a Prius (I know a few in the area and have met lots here) that have experienced this issue.

The ABS brake system CAN kick in if you hit a large pothole or such. This can take some getting used to, but never caused me any danger of not being able to stop.

 

Guess what? My FJ will experience the same "brake failure" if one wheel happens to hit a manhole cover while braking. Press on the brake pedal harder, the ABS keeps working

The "widespread" reports of Prius brake "failure" are not even worthy of a nasty response from me. Especially if those "reports" involve a rather well known ambulance chasing lawyer website, which I will not even spell out

 

The only thing I'd add is that the car's braking system is quite complex and it cannot be serviced by anyone without the correct diagnostic tester. Basically there are two hydraulic circuits that in normal use are not connected, but are fed from one fluid reservoir. The tester has to be used to tell the brake computer (Skid Control ECU) to flush fluid through from one system to the other.

If it's not done correctly, you could well have a failure of the friction braking system under the conditions where it's used - sharp braking, hard braking, braking to a stop when regen cannot provide enough force any more/the car switches to creeping, and on bumps where regen cuts out.

The Prius is not unique in this respect - other cars are equipped with dual-circuit brake systems - but on any other car with dual-circuit brakes, it will fail in all braking conditions, not just the limited scenarios.

 

Anecdotes are nearly worthless as evidence. In contrast Consumer Reports data show the Prius to be highly reliable.

 

Yes, if an independent garage offers to "bleed" the brakes on a Prius, run like hell

 

inspection, inspection, inspection... i would guess, based on the level of failure for the Pri... there is a lot of that going on

 

yes i implied a high level of inspection based on the reports of very high owner satisfaction and a very insignificant level of reported manufactured defects.

 

At the risk of getting off topic, I'd say that high quality of the Prius is a result of good design of the car and good design of the manufacturing and assembly processes. "Inspecting-in" quality is a very expensive way to achieve it.

 

The referenced site appears to be pure BS as it is filled with vague generalities and sweeping statements. I had an ABS brake failure early under warranty. Although the dash lit up like a Christmas tree I had normal braking and drove the car probably some 20 miles to the selling dealer. I suspect any reported "braking problems" are category 1d10t.