ABS on this truck is dangerous...

I'll throw my .02 in this one. I have owned & driven several 4wd vehicles in the snow with abs. None have been as sensitive as the tacoma. Last time I took the lady to work I almost plowed into the sheriffs dept. sign because the abs went wild while I was turning into the parking lot. Luckily I was in 4wd and had enough sense to let off and hit the gas to slide past. I will most likely be adding a bypass switch for the abs in the near future. Luckily the next storm that is looking to come will most likely strand the taco and force me to use the snow machine. Darn.

 

You have to learn where the threshold is for your truck. In my experience if you slam on the brakes too hard the ABS kicks in. If you feather the brakes, the ABS does not kick in.

I experimented and posted the results on another thread, and found that yes if the ABS kicks in the result on snow is about a 25% longer stopping distance.

However, the ABS gives you true straight stopping in snow, no diving downhill, you can steer through some bad situations, you have steering control. I'll post the pic again here:

 

I can't tell which is more annoying... TC, or ABS... Us old people tend to want to feel our vehicles and know their limits, without all the automated assistance, I think. My Traction control nearly sent me into a curb in the ice... I was barely creeping and it just started doing weird stuff... No Brake applied. Scared the crap outta me, as I was right here in the neighborhood, CREEPING along when it happened. I usually go out and Hard brake a few times in the snow/ice to get a feel for the ABS, so I can tell what to expect... This ABS is truly the most sensitive I've ever had.

I know how and what the ABS and Traction control are both doing, but they still catch me "off guard" even knowing what to expect... this *only* in my Taco. I'm 2WD and Access Cab 5 lugger...

I also have a Front wheel drive 2012 Scion xB... the ABS in it works better, and doesn't over compensate in the ice and snow either. The Traction control is predictable even... It's pretty much Toyota as well, but behaves nicely. Truthfully it's just more fun to drive pretty much in every way... but it's not a truck.

I understand the complaints about, and the Support for, both systems. I believe some things should be optional, and some should be "switchable" in ALL vehicles.

My Taco is still pretty new to me (I've only got about 2500 miles on it), so I'm not likely to complain too much this year about it. Maybe by next year I'll have a better feel for the whole thing. If not, I'll be wiring up a "delete" switch myself.

 

The ABS on these trucks is way too sensitive

 

Doesn't matter how much they revised all the controls on 2009+ models. They still suck and mine kicks in all the time for no stupid reason. Pure garbage.

 

That's certainly the overwhelming opinion. I still say the auto trans has a part to play in it. I've driven many vehicles with auto trans and I always found that when braking on snow/ice you have to pop it into neutral so you can feather the brakes properly, the trans isn't continually trying to push you forward. Even with the manual the first thing I do when braking on snow/ice I pop it into neutral so I can pump the brakes and the motor doesn't keep pushing me forward between pumps. What say you?

 

I say the ABS on the Tacoma is over sensitive irregardless of transmission type

 

"Regardless", not "irregardless". Saying irregardless can get you sentenced to a work camp, per Stewie Griffin. Yeah, yeah, I watch Family Guy.

I don't have a lot to go on with other vehicles, all I've driven since 1997 is my old 1990 2wd Toy truck manual, a 1997 Taco 4WD reg cab manual, a 2000 Lexus GS300 auto, a 1994 Mitsubishi Diamante auto, a 1990 Camry wagon auto, and of course this 2012 Tacoma.

All I know is I've driven all of them in snow/ice and didn't have an "oh shit" moment braking because of the ABS.

 

I hate my ABS in the snow, I really need to do something about it soon. What I have been doing if I need to make a quick stop in the snow is grab the parking break lol since I have a manual transmission.

 

Well as you can tell by this thread and the many others like it , you are in the minority on loving the Tacoma's ABS on snow

 

Never said I loved it. All I've ever said is learn where the threshold is when it kicks in, and try to stay below that threshold . . . . .

 

QFT. I drive a variety of vehicles and the tacos brakes are no different, when paired with acceptable tires.

 

But I don't like the ABS on slushy snow. NFG.

 

Large airplanes have had anti-lock brakes since the 1960s. They have a switch to disable it. Same problem doesn't work well on slick surfaces.

 

If by no different , you mean the intention of the brakes is to slow down the vehicle , I agree

 

I can release my own brakes, thanks. If I should ever encounter an emergency situation that may demand a full wheel lock why is my safety and that of the traveling public being compromised by a system that releases the brakes? It's bewildering and absurd.

 

I agree with the majority of you about the abs. I've only had it activate once on me but I totally missed my turn because of it. Surprised the hell out of me! I would also prefer a vehicle without abs or at least MUCH less sensitive.


The traction control on the other hand I am a huge fan of. This is my first vehicle with anything like this and although it takes some of the fun out of winter driving it pretty much idiot-proofs the vehicle. Just for fun I see how far I can fishtail the truck with TC engaged and it doesn't let you go far and basically auto corrects for it with the brakes, IMO very useful for black ice. If you feel like having some fun it's simple enough to disable too. I think Toyota did a great job with this feature.

 

Had this happen to me today. Slowing to a stop in wet slush / ice / snow. A good wintery mix. I had plenty of traction to stop. Their was a dodge truck in front of me coming to a stop. I was doing roughly five mph with two to three car lengths between us and the abs just went crazy. Came within inches of rear ending him for no reason whatsoever. I really think Toyotas engineers need to make some adjustments to this system.

 

Just pull abs fuse and quit your bitchen folks.

 

Is it really that bad? I have not lost control or had any unwanted experience yet with my abs. I like it more then my 2001 Cherokee abs.