Trail Model bought new in 2014. Totally unhappy with this vehicle!

No one advised me about the Emergency Brake assist feature and what it does. I absolutely think this is the worst vehicle I have ever driven. At least 2X a week all my stuff is quickly thrown to the floor, the drink in the cup holder spills and I say bad words...
All because I quickly "covered" the brake and the Vehicle screamed PANIC STOP !!!! AND SLIDES ALL 4 TIRES. Totally unexpected full brake pressure applied when I did not ask for it. I actually rented another vehicle rather than drive this thing on my vacation of 3000 miles.

I truly think this is the worst idea to ever have been put on a vehicle and makes it absolutely unfit as a tow vehicle. I bought because I have a 19' boat to tow and when the brake system senses you are towing you will be FACE Planted in to the steering wheel when you quickly access the brakes.

I have had this to the dealer here in Columbus OH 5 times and the first 4 times they had no idea what I was even talking about.... Finally the zone manager from Cincinnatti came up and explained this to me and said this is normal operation on a 4 Runner. How on earth do people drive these things ??

 

Wow that is some crazy Shit. I have never heard of the new 5th Gens doing this. Matter of fact you are the first person I have even heard say anything bad about them. Granted I do not own a 5th Gen (Two 3rd Gens.) but I would have this looked into. Something just doesn't sound right to me.

Hay you 5th Gen boys. Whats up with this crap?

Blue

 

I have appealed to Toyota corporate and I'm instructed that the system is working as intended! They will do nothing to help me.
I would never have bought this vehicle had I known of this terrible (non) feature.
It actually makes the vehicle much more dangerous to drive because now I pause before hitting the brakes just to avoid the sudden onset of panic stopping. I'm at the end of my rope....

 

because nobody has ever posted this before that i've seen. Id say its your driving style and you hover over the brake.

maybe you're the problem, not the safety feature that im sure doesnt work as you describe because it simply wouldnt pass testing.

 

Well I understand how you might think that but you're wrong. I'm a retired firefighter, drove a huge Ladder truck for years. I know how to drive, and I've never encountered a vehicle that does this. It's never ever happened to me on any vehicle I've ever owned. I believe there is something radically wrong with it but the dealer tells me that there is nothing to fix or adjust...saying that is just how the 4runners are. I've never owned another one, having traded in an Explorer to buy this. Really regret buying it.

 

That is what is so frustrating about this. It is very difficult to do it intentionally. It happens when I'm rolling along and suddenly the green light I'm approaching goes to yellow. And quickly a decision is made to gas or stop. This vehicle measures the speed with which you apply the brakes and seems to override the idea of anti lock brakes or the amount of stopping power needed. It just locks every wheel up and belive me you will stop! I cannot apply the brakes fast enough to do this as a demonstration for someone. That is why the dealership could not find anything wrong in all the trips I've made in for service. When I insisted that some is very wrong they scheduled an appointment with the zone service tech and he didn't even drive it. Just said yes this is the Toyota brake assist feature and that's how it works!

 

I have a 2015LTD and have incurred the same thing. Through web research in Toyota forums I found that this is an action that happens when the 'computer' thinks you are indeed doing an emergency stop. It takes in account the time span between releasing the accelerator and the pressure when applying the brakes. In a panic stop this time span is obviously quick. I had it occur once. It does apply the brakes quite hard but, if the brakes are only tapped, not fully applied, the brake application only lasts a moment or so. Can't find out if this is part of Toyota's CYA for the problem with unattended acceleration problem the had before. It's really time for Big Brother companies to stop making up pay for the stupidity of a few. I.E. Read the service recommendations, everyone says to 'Check the driver floor mats for proper position'. How stupid do you have to be to let the mat interfere with the pedals?

 

Ok so this is now two truck.... Hummmm. I would be making Toyota AKA Service Manager go for a ride with you and make it happen and also record it with a high quality GoPro or something.

Blue

 

Thank you money pit for your reply. In response to your comment about it only being a "momentary" severe brake computer assisted application, that is all it takes for everything including your hot coffee to wind up on the floor or the dash.
#worstfixeverfromtoyota

 

Does this happen only when you are towing or does it also happen when not towing?

I've not experienced anything like this but I haven't been towing anything. I piled on the brakes quickly yesterday and locked up a tire but ABS did kick in. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary and I don't recall ever having this issue (I've got 23,000km on mine or 14.3k miles for you Americans).

One thing I read about before was traction control kicking in on downhill corners when not needed because of an accelerometer used in this vehicle. Maybe you have some issue with this accelerometer???

 

It happens during normal driving. I've towed very little. But as severe as this is during normal driving it is even worse when towing!

 

what toyota dealer are you taking it to here in town? there is only two competent ones that i know of... Germain and Byers (in delaware).

definitely don't go to direct. i know toyota west is a pain in the ass sometimes. Never dealt with Tansky.

 

Wouldent be the first time toyota had touchy "assisted" Brakes. I battle my ABS on my 96 all the fucking time off road or even on a small bump on the road. But after reading around i heard 96-97 Limited with ABS are known for this. Most people just pull the ABS fuse or pipe there own brakes w/o abs and with a MPV in the back. But yeah man all i can say is its built into the truck. All you can really do is adjust your driving style, And that blows cause sounds like I drive the same way as you. Id probably trigger this all the time.

 

Just pull the fuse. Problem solved....

Blue

 

I got this issue to replicate on my new 2015. When simulating stop and go traffic, speeds under 15mph, a quick movement from accelerator to break creates this emergency stop. I'd rather spill my coffee that hit car in front of me! I hope you get adjusted to it, because these are great vehicles. Just my opinion!

 

Hmm haven't ever had this issue and while I haven't towed with the truck yet, I have driven many miles with the truck fully loaded with gear in and on top of the vehicle. I've done some hard stops and skidded all 4 tires once, but all during emergency situations. Never during day to day driving. I feel like you must be doing some really hard braking...