Parking Brake Recall Again, It's Real

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by priusgto, Mar 18, 2017.

  1. priusgto

    priusgto Active Member

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    Haven't been to the dealer yet to get the recall done as I wasn't too worried about getting run over but, today I had one of the cable ends come off of the brake arm. I pulled in the garage and set the brake as I always do and thought the e-brake pedal felt a bit light and went almost to the floor. I immediately knew it had to be the recall issue so I crawled under the back of the car to confirm. I always thought that to get the cable to slip off the arm you'd have to let the brake pedal slam back up to the release position but obviously this isn't the case. Every time I've released it I always let the pedal slowly follow my foot all the way up. Anyway, it was surprisingly easy to hook the cable back over the bracket so I guess it's time to take it to the dealer for the recall.

    off.jpg
    on.jpg
     
    #1 priusgto, Mar 18, 2017
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    so, it's not again, you never went?:cool:
     
    #2 bisco, Mar 18, 2017
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  3. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

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    Thanks for the photos.

    When I read Toyota's description of the issue and FAQ on this, I came away thinking that it was not a big deal -- because the only time you had to worry about this was if you left the car while it was running and not put in park (something I could not see myself doing).

    What your pictures make abundantly clear is far more straight forward: The defect can make the Parking Brake useless. Period.

    Not sure why Toyota did simply say that.
     
    #3 ATHiker, Mar 18, 2017
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  4. priusgto

    priusgto Active Member

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    Again as in another recall thread.

    Actually the one side still worked and kept the car from rolling but the pedal had to go much farther to engage it. So, in order for a total failure of the e-break to occur both sides would have to unhook.
     
    #4 priusgto, Mar 19, 2017
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Most parking brake cables have some sorta T bracket, to keep the tension balanced. So if one side is kaput, the T bracket needs to skew way off before the other side gets some tension, and it's not going to be anywhere near as effective.

    Third gen, for example:

    upload_2017-3-19_7-32-13.png
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Mar 19, 2017
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  6. randomwalk101

    randomwalk101 DYI'er

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    I had the park brake recall done awhile back. It's just a little clip that attached behind that brake cable (where the ball around part in OP's photo). Very simple and takes probably 0.5293 seconds to do. Yet I waited 3 hours for them to do it at the dealership. If I knew what it was then, I could I have just just grab a piece of wire and a pliers and twist the metal wire around that part to prevent it from coming off..That would have saved me 2 hrs 59 mins
     
    #6 randomwalk101, Mar 19, 2017
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  7. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    One wonders why it was built this way. You would think testing would have shown this as a possible failure
     
    #7 Montgomery, Mar 19, 2017
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe the parking brake lever at the caliper is not always releasing properly, allowing the ball to come out?
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Mar 19, 2017
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  9. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    I was under the impression that the recall mod was at the other end on the foot pedal ?
     
    #9 kithmo, Mar 20, 2017
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  10. Priifan

    Priifan Member

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    Is this defect just on the 2016 and not the 2017? (First time I have heard of it.)
     
    #10 Priifan, Mar 20, 2017
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sounds right. there was a delay during '16 production to correct it, and '17's were probably fine.
     
    #11 bisco, Mar 20, 2017
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  12. Priifan

    Priifan Member

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    Bisco, Thanks! Fan
     
    #12 Priifan, Mar 20, 2017
  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    I believe some early 2017 were affected. I remember my local dealer with a 2017, I believe, that was waiting for recall parts to complete the sale and delivery.
     
    #13 Prodigyplace, Mar 21, 2017
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  14. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

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    Here is a link with additional links to TSBs etc. : 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS 5 HB FWD | NHTSA

    Screen Shot of page one:

    IMG_3993.PNG
     
    #14 ATHiker, Mar 21, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2017
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  15. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    #15 Prodigyplace, Mar 21, 2017
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Still seems weird, that when the parking brake is released, the cable and ball is lengthening, but the lever arm is not snapping back. What is the patch, is the added clip right at the ball, to prevent it popping out.

    Here's our third gen, same setup:

    IMG_6476.JPG

    (Looking at drivers side, parking brake is applied.)
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, Mar 21, 2017
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  17. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

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    #17 ATHiker, Mar 21, 2017
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