Posted by Eric Sweet on 3/10/09

More | Report Post

I own a first year FJ Cruiser and have on several
occassions experienced the same failed braking. Anything
from brief low speed wheel chatter due to pot holes,
pavement edges, railway tracks too wet manhole covers,
small patches of ice, wet leaves and even gravel on dry
pavement will cause the ABS system to entirely forgive
braking ability. Most events occur at speeds less than 15
kilometres - ten miles an hour. When the ABS engages you
feel and hear the vibrating solenoid, when the wheel speeds
have had time to synchronize and you would expect braking
to be restored, the sensation is similar to hitting sheet
ice. What ever momentum the vehicle had is maintained, the
brake pedal pressure seems to be present but the vehicle
rolls without any resistance whatsoever. It almost feels as
though its accelerating due to the sensations experienced
when the forward tilt created by the initial stopping
effort is lost and the vehicle settles to a level stance
while rolling forward. I have made several trips to the
dealership and have been told several times that the
vehicle is in perfect working order. I have changed the
tires suspecting the rubber compounds were not to my
"liking", and have since spoken with a two seperate Prius
owners who have experienced the same. One of them is a
service garage owner and the other is a weekend solo1 solo2
racer, both very qualified to accurately describe and
pursue the problem. Both cannot find cooperation within
Toyota to remedy the issue. I am very concerned as of the
dozen or so times this has happened, once left me rolling
perpedicular into four lanes of traffic, and another was at
a school crossing where I was left to steer up a snowbank
to halt the truck. If you have the opportunity to reapply
the brakes while the ABS is "confused" only a very slight
pedal depression will over engage the brakes and extremely
abruptly stop the vehicle, passengers and any loose items
will be thrown forward. Ironically, that braking ability is
profound, far better than anything experienced in any other
previously owned vehicles which have included 2005 ML500
Mercedes SUV and several ABS equipped sports cars.

Toyota FJ Cruiser ABS failure., 3/10/09, by Eric Sweet.

Products Liability Chatboard

LATEST POSTS | BY TOPICS | SUBMIT A POST