2009 Toyota Venza Brakes Problems

Your brake pedal feels soft and may need to be pumped repeatedly to get stopping power, especially after the car sits overnight. When you first start the car, the pedal may go all the way to the floor with no resistance until you pump it several times. You've had a close call where you nearly couldn't stop the car, creating a real safety risk. Multiple repair shops and Toyota dealers have tried and failed to fix this issue even after replacing the master cylinder and addressing an ABS sensor warning light.

INTERMITTANT PROBLEM COMMON TO MANY THOUSANDS OR MORE OF TOYOTA VEHICLES. >THIS PROBLEM IS OF MOST URGENCY BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW IF WE CAN SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR. BRAKES>#1 SAFETY CONCERN. >THE EXACT PROBLEM IS THAT 3 "INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATOR SYMBOLS" LIGHT, ALL 3 AT THE SAME TIME. >THE INDICATOR SYMBOLS ARE 1.) THE "BRAKE" (EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT), 2.) THE "ABS" (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT) AND 3.) THE "SLIP INDICATOR" (ICON LIGHT). >WE HAVE FOUND NO ACTION OF TURNING ON THE CAR, CHANGING GEARS, BRAKING, TEMPERATURE, EMERGENCY BRAKE DISENGAGED OR ENGAGED, LIGHTS, HILL BRAKING...IN OTHER WORDS...NOTHING THAT SHOWS ANY CAUSE AND EFFECT OF THESE 3 LIGHTS COMING ON TOGETHER. >THE 3 LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTANTLY, TIMING IS RANDOM. MOST OF THE TIME THEY ARE ALL ON. >THE CAR "SEEMS" TO DRIVE AS NORMAL BUT WE DO NOT KNOW IF THE ABS OR ANTI SKID ARE WORKING OR DISABLED. >THIS PROBLEM STARTED A SHORT TIME AFTER THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP 355 TOYOTA ON ROCKVILLE PIKE IN ROCKVILLE MARYLAND OVERFILLED THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE FLUID WELL ABOVE THE "MAX" LINE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CAP SO THAT YOU COULD NOT SEE ANY AIR. >MECHANICS AT ROCKVILLE TIRE AND AUTO REMOVED THE EXCESS BRAKE FLUID TO THE CORRECT MAX LINE USING A POLYETHYLENE (NON MELTING) SYRINGE THAT I SUPPLIED. THE SYRINGE WAS CLEAN AND NEVER USED. >THE LIGHTS ALWAYS COME ON TOGETHER. >THE BRAKE LIGHT STILL STAYS ON WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS MECHANICALLY RELEASED. (AND ALL 3 LIGHTS ARE ON OR LIT TO BE EXACT) >WHEN ROCKVILLE TIRE AND AUTO CHECKED THE PCM? FOR CODES THERE WERE NO CODES EVEN REMOTELY RELATED TO BRAKES OR WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. HE GAVE ME A PRINTOUT OF THE CONTENTS OF THE PCM CODES WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY ABSENT OF ERROR CODES. HE ALSO CHECKED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR ANYTHING RELATED TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND FOUND IT TO BE PERFECT. >STATIONARY, IN MOTION, TURNING OR STRAIGHT AHEAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THREE OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME MADE AN ILLEGAL U-TURN. AFTER THIS OCCURRENCE THE FOLLOWING DASH LIGHTS LIT UP (HAND BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, WARNING LIGHT) I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED IT TO BE AN ABS SENSOR ON MY FRONT LEFT TIRE. IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE READ MANY BLOGS ABOUT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE BLOGS MOSTLY STATE THAT THE TOYOTA DEALERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOR THIS BRAKE ISSUE. BEFORE I SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE I WOULD LIKE SOME INFORMATION FIRST, IF IN FACT A RECALL IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE FOR THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR

THAT DAY, ABS LIGHT CAME ON, RETURN TO DEALER. TRIED TO STOP AND THE BRAKES SHUTTERED, ANTI-LOCK KICKED IN. THIS CONTINUES EVERY TIME I TRY AND STOP WHILE FINDING A PLACE TO PARK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 12V091000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH), THE BRAKE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED INDICATING A FAILURE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST RESULTS DETERMINED A DEFECTIVE SPEED SENSOR HARNESS. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION ALONG WITH THE BRAKES AND SKID CONTROL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT INQUIRED WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARD TO A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER N/A) HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

2009 TOYOTA VENZA. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING THE BRAKE PEDAL. PRIMARILY, IF HE PARKED IN HIS DRIVEWAY, WHICH HAS A SLIGHT DOWNWARD INCLINE, THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD BEGIN TO DRIFT BACKWARDS. AT TIMES, HE WOULD MISS HITTING THE BRAKE, TO TRY AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO SMALLER SEAT SIZE AND BODY POSITION ALIGNMENT . THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL SIZE AND DISTANCE/POSITION OF THE ACCELERATOR. *JB

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

I WAS DRIVING (~ 30 TO 35 MPH) ON WINTER ST, FRAMINGHAM, MA AROUND 530PM. I HIT BRAKES AT THE RED SIGNAL @ THE JUNC WITH FOUNTAIN ST, BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP. LUCKILY THE ON-COMING TRAFFIC STOPPED PREVENTING A CRASH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES HE NOTICED THAT IT TOOK MORE THAN NORMAL PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL PEDAL WAS INITIALLY DEPRESSED. HOWEVER, AFTER RELEASING THE PEDAL AND APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL A SECOND TIME, THE BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1100.

THE "LURCH" OR "BRAKE RELEASE" THAT PRIUS OWNERS DESCRIBE HAPPENS - INCONSISTENTLY - IN MY 2009 VENZA WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. TOYOTA JUST BLOWS IT OFF AS IF MY WIFE AND I ARE LYING ABOUT IT. THERE WERE SOME ALIGNMENT ISSUES WITH IT ALSO AND TOYOTA HAS WORKED ON AND/OR "INSPECTED' IT SEVERAL TIMES.

WHILE DRIVING ABS/VSC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, ALSO WARNING TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND DESCRIBED PROBLEM OF MY 2009 TOYOTA VENZA WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DUE TO SENSE THAT BRAKE WAS ON. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP I COULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE CAR UNTIL I COULD TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY, WHERE WE WERE TOLD IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WE WERE PROVIDED A RENTAL CAR WHILE CAR WAS EVALUATED AND PARTS REPLACED PART 467011 BRAKE PEDAL SUPPORT ASSEMBLY AND 1 47110-0T011 SUPPORT ASSY,BRAKE WE QUESTIONED NEED FOR FAILURE IN A 2009 CAR AND RESPONSE WAS THAT ON AN ASSEMBLY LINE A BAD PART WAS PROBABLY USED. WE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE RESPONSE AND THE FAILURE OF THIS TYPE IN AN OBVIOUSLY SAFETY SYSTEM. *TR

2009 VENZA, BRAKE PROBLEMS, TOOK DEALER 3 MONTHS TO CLAIM PROBLEM RESOLVED BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT MY BRAKES ARE OK. I DO NOT THINK THE BRAKES ARE SAFE; I DO NOT TRUST THIS CAR. THERE IS STILL A SAFETY PROBLEM. PROBLEM MANIFESTS ITSELF PRIMARILY AT TEMPERATURES 65 OR ABOVE. *TR

WE OWN A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA 4 CYLINDER A/T FWD VEHICLE. ONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES IN THIS VEHICLE IS HILL-START ASSIST. ON 7/20/09 WHILE I WAS AT A RED LIGHT ON AN UPHILL SLOPE, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND UPON RELEASING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS, ALMOST COLLIDING WITH A VEHICLE BEHIND US. ON 7/24/09 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WOLFCHASE TOYOTA IN MEMPHIS, TN. TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD FOUR DIFFERENT STORIES FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA U.S. HEADQUARTERS: THAT A: THE VENZA DID NOT HAVE THE HILL-START ASSIST FEATURE, B: IT DID HAVE THE FEATURE AND WAS WORKING FINE, C: ONLY ALL WHEEL DRIVE MODELS HAD THE FEATURE, AND D: MY CAR HAD THE FEATURE BUT IT DOESN'T ACTIVATE AUTOMATICALLY-YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY ACTIVATE THE FEATURE BY FULLY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL A BEEP IS HEARD AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON, AND THEN YOU HAVE TWO SECONDS TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL BEFORE THE FEATURE TURNS OFF. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THE VEHICLE HAS THE HILL-START ASSIST FEATURE BUT DOES NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT ACTIVATING IT MANUALLY. WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE MANUAL ACTIVATION BY THE DEALER UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE OR BY TOYOTA WHEN THE SAFETY CONCERN WAS FIRST BROUGHT UP. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD IMMEDIATELY SEND OUT A SAFETY NOTICE REQUIRING ALL EMPLOYEES BE BRIEFED ABOUT THE HILL-START ASSIST FEATURE, HOW IT DOESN'T ACTIVATE AUTOMATICALLY, AND HOW TO ACTIVATE THE FEATURE WHEN STOPPED ON AN UPHILL SLOPE. *TR