2015 Toyota Avalon Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the brakes. The contact stated that the brake warning light illuminated, and the brake independently activated. The vehicle was taken to a specialty brake shop, where it was diagnosed that the brake actuator had failed, causing the ABS system to activate independently. The vehicle was repaired. On the drive back to the residence, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with brake master cylinder failure. The brake booster, gasket, and brake actuator were replaced. The contact stated that two weeks later, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and DTC: C1441 and C1431 were retrieved, indicating an issue with the ABS system lateral acceleration sensor circuit or the brake booster. The dealer became aware that the front bumper bracket had paint on the part that did not allow for the vehicle to brake correctly. The brake pedal support assembly with sensor was replaced, and the paint was removed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V728000 (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,829.

While driving the pre-collision system (PCS) turns on unexpectedly, without any warning lights or sounds, and applies the brakes. This happens when I am driving in traffic with plenty of space between the car in front of me. I typically drive between 3-6 seconds behind the car in front of me to allow for at least 300 feet in space when driving at highway speeds. Despite leaving plenty of room for cars in front of me, on multiple occasions the car has started braking abruptly while going anywhere between 50, 40, 30, or 20 miles per hour. This can be verified for inspection upon request. Despite there being a recall for my specific year, make, and model car (2015 Toyota Avalon) for this exact issue my VIN number is not covered. Toyota is requiring me to pay out of pocket for them to 1) determine if its malfunctioning and 2) replace the system, which is a huge conflict of interest. Even though the Driver's Manual says that I can disable the PCS by clicking on the PCS on/off button within the driver's glovebox, there is no such button, only a blank button cover. Not having the ability to disable the PCS system, or worse, allowing it to continue braking while I'm driving is a serious hazard. The car can start braking while I am accelerating to merge onto expressway on-ramps, or while changing lanes at the same speed of traffic. The car can also unexpectedly brake while cars are traveling too close behind me. I want to know why my VIN was not included in the initial recall and why I now have to pay to have it looked at or repaired when its clearly malfunctioning and can't be turned off as the Driver's Manual says it can. I should not have to pay $175 an hour for several hours for a Toyota dealership to diagnosis it and then another $175 an hour for 2.5 hours for them to install the fix and whatever the new component costs. I recently bought this car at 35,500 miles and the issue immediately started occurring just as the warranty expired at 36,000 miles.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP IMMEDIATELY CAUSING THE BRAKING DISTANCE TO BE EXTENDED. THE BRAKE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. TOYOTA OF IRVING LOCATED AT 1999 W AIRPORT FWY, IRVING, TX 75062, WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD BEFORE STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DAYTONA TOYOTA 1700 (451 N NOVA RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114, (386) 255-7475), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNLESS THE BRAKE FAILURE COULD BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,251. *JS *LN *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V728000 (SERVICE BRAKES). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I AM A DISABLED VETERAN. ON MAY 25, 2015 I WAS IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT AND NOW I AM 100% DISABLED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I WANTED A VEHICLE WITH EVERY SAFETY OPTION POSSIBLE BECAUSE I HAVE PTSD ABOUT DRIVING. I BOUGHT A 2015 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID LIMITED THAT HAD PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM (PCS) THAT HELPS PREVENT ACCIDENTS. IN DECEMBER I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE PCS SYSTEM THAT WAS DATED 11/03/2015 TELLING THE PCS HAD FLAWS AND I HAD TO TURN OFF THE SYSTEM. I WAS NOT HAPPY BECAUSE THAT WAS THE MAIN REASON I BOUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE IT MADE IT SAFE. ON JANUARY 14,2016 I TOOK THE AVALON HYBRID TO AUTO NATION TOYOTA IN PINELLAS PARK FLORIDA FOR THE 5000 MILE CHECKUP. I ASKED ABOUT THE PCS RECALL AND THEY HAD NO INFORMATION ON THE RECALL AND NO TIMELINE FOR A FIX. I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THAT RESPONSE BECAUSE ONE OF THE FEATURES THAT MADE ME FEEL SAFE DRIVING WAS ELIMINATED WITH NO FIX IN SIGHT. I ALSO RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM A TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATING THAT THERE WAS NO TIMELINE FOR A REPAIR OR PARTS REPLACEMENT. A RENTAL VEHICLE WAS ALSO OFFERED BUT IT WOULD ALSO NOT BE SAFE AS A VEHICLE WITH A PCS SYSTEM. I WANT TOYOTA TO FIX MY CAR OR REPLACE IT WITH A 2016 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID WITH PCS. THE 2016 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PCS SYSTEM. I AM FULLY DISABLED AND DON'T FEEL COMFORT DRIVING MY VEHICLE ANYMORE. I FEEL TOYOTA HAS LET ME DOWN AND BASICALLY HAS DONE A BREACH OF CONTRACT. I HAVE A CASE NUMBER WITH TOYOTA. THE CASE NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

PRE-COLLISION RADAR SYSTEM (SAFETY RECALL)THE VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN SITUATIONS, THE PCS (PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM) COULD INTERPRET A STEEL JOINT OR PLATE IN THE ROADWAY AS AN OBJECT THAT TRIGGERS PCS ACTIVATION. IF THIS OCCURS, THE PCS WARNING BUZZER SOUNDS AND THE SYSTEM WILL APPLY THE SERVICE BRAKE AUTOMATICALLY. UNEXPECTED BRAKING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.