How come sometimes my taco won't stop?

Every once in a while my new 2011 Taco is very hard to stop. At least twice I have had to put all my 235 lbs. on the brake peddle to barely get it to stop before I would go through a red light. I have read that others have had this problem. I asked the dealer about this and I don't think they believed me. Has anyone had an accident because of this?

 

How fast were you going and in what distance did it take you to stop?

 

Did you get the Brake Booster checked?

 

Don't remember because I was trying to stop. I have read where other guys thought it was because of the ABS, but I don't think that is the problem.

I have not had the Brake Booster checked yet. Probably tomorrow.

 

Leave it at the dealer until they fix it. Sounds like a boaster or vacuum leak. You can blame the ABS if you like every one else does.

 

does it have a spongy feel from time to time? Mine has a very soft feel almost every morning when I first drive it.

 

Are these hard fast stops? Do you feel pulsing in the pedal or a clicking feeling?

Air in the lines will cause a mushy, poor braking experience.

 

Yes most of the time.

 

if it has a spongy feel to it, could be the master cylinder. which could be very bad and need replacing asap. if it is just "sometimes" hard to press not quite sure....
if you notice that to stop you have to press the pedal farther and farther down to stop, it could be the rotating "gear" that actually turns when you press the brake. This can be fixed by going in reverse or using you e-brake a lot more. or just going to the dealership and asking them to adjust it.
btw, i just listened to the podcast car talk on npr today... and someone had this question and that is exactly what they said
(yes im a 21 yr old who enjoys car talk on npr... hahaha)

 

Took my 2011 DC to the dealer yesterday morning. Wouldn't you figure when I started it up and was driving there the brakes felt like they should. No sponginess or other problems. Actually I had not noticed anything abnormal for the preceding few days.

I guess it was like bringing your car to get a squeak fixed and when you get there it won't squeak.

They checked the computer to see if it had any readings saying there was a problem and had none. They also checked for air someplace in the braking system and couldn't find any. Everything seemed like it should be.

The service manager wrote up my observations of the problem in the Tacos records incase of future problems.

What ever the problem it seems to have worked itself out. If the brakes stay the way they are now I will consider it perfect which has always been the case with all the other Toyotas I have bought.

PS: As for backing up and pressing the brake more I have changed the way I get into my garage which makes me back up a lot more and pressing the brake peddle while backing up. This may have fixed the problem?

 

^ Typical. Donna is the same damn way when I want my blower motor replaced, it don't make a squeal if its going to the dealer.