Toyota investigating brakes in Lexus hybrids

[OhioChick]

Source: Toronto Sun

4th February 2010, 8:40pm

TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. says it is investigating possible brake problems with its luxury Lexus hybrid in Japan and the United States.

Toyota spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said Friday the Japanese auto giant has launched a probe into the Lexus HS250h model because it uses the same brake system as the Prius hybrid.

Toyota is reportedly considering a recall of the Prius hybrid in Japan and the U.S. due to brake problems.

Takeuchi said Toyota has not received any complaints about the Lexus HS250h model, and that the probe is to ensure safety.



Read more: http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2010/02/04/12746361-ap.html

[FiveGoodMen]

1. It never ends!

[itsrobert]

2. Made in Japan?

That's what I hear. Can't blame American workers this time.

[liberal N proud]

3. Toyota quality

NOT!

[FarCenter]

4. It's the Lexus version of the Prius platform -- new this year.

[high density]

5. I could only imagine if it were GM or Ford having these issues

The press would be shredding them 24/7.

[DesertDiamond]

6. Ford is also recalling its Fusion Hybrids due to Brake Problems - see link

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100205/us_nm/us_ford_fusion

[high density]

7. Recall?

Ford was not treating the matter as a full-on recall because the automaker did not see the result of the software glitch as a brake failure. Ford said on Thursday it would upgrade the software on the vehicles and expects to notify customers by mail that the fix is available at dealerships.

Consumer Reports said that with the regenerative braking disengaged, as happened in the incident near their track, the brake pedal needed to be pushed more than an inch farther down to engage the conventional brakes.

"The fact that the pedal goes away is I think for many people very disconcerting, but the fact is if you push hard you do go in to full braking," said David Champion, director of Consumer Reports' auto testing center.

[ingac70]

9. SOFTWARE GLITCH.

This is what is going on with most Toyota's, but they don't want to own up to it for some reason. Now they are talking about shimming the brake pedal.

[ingac70]

10. Oh, and.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/10/business/ford-to-use-toyota-s-hybrid-technology.html?pagewanted=1

From '04.

[Romulox]

11. Actually, that headline is inaccurate, and doesn't even match the story...

Ford licensed the technology from Toyota (due to patent issues), but developed it independently.

[DJ13]

8. Drive by wire, brake by wire, wire this, wire that

I know the Japanese take great pride in their electronics engineering, but they went too far at Toyota.

Did it save them money, or were they just overconfident in their ability to replace mechanical designs with 90 years of success with glorified computer systems?