ABS on this truck is dangerous...

Don't get to confident, my 2013 TRD OR has had sensitive ABS issues a couple times on a completely stock truck. But that's all it's been, a couple random times over a 2.5 year period. I've tried to reproduce the issue in the exact same conditions as it has happened in with no luck.

I wouldn't rule out the possibility of it popping up a year or two down the road, out of the blue, and biting you in the ass when your least expecting it.

 

I noticed a few days ago in dry conditions what seemed to be a quicker brake response and feel then normal. It only happened once and didn't cause any issues other then me stopping quicker but its got me wondering if whatever happen is the culprit of the snow condition abs issue. I barely touched the pedal but felt like I hit them hard, in snow conditions this would cause the abs to react.

 

I think the fact that this thread is 86 pages long, indicates that something is amiss with the ABS on this truck.

 

Hi,

There's a spot where my Tacoma will almost alway pass through, an junction on a steep grade when going downhill. There are some patch of ice, asphalt and snow. Kind of "all dress". It scared the hell out of me two times and it was two times too many. Even going down slowly, it still kicks in and it completely removes brakes. I mean, not brakes at all, even hard pressing brake pedal. On some other areas, all cars were able to stop but not me, even if I have top rated true winter tires (Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1). It's enough, I fixed it by removing the fuse.

Two weeks ago, I bought a F-150 4x4, even if ABS kicks in that spot, it stops way before stop sign. ABS is much more better designed on this truck. I can even go faster and it still stops.

Definitely, ABS on Tacoma is too sensitive in winter and on dirt roads.

Just wanted to share my experience.

 

And there are 393 Threads on Tacoma World with ABS in the title. Lots and lots of complaints.

 

Yeah I think whats hard is getting NHTSA to look into Toyota software for this.
NHTSA believes (extended braking with ABS) is normal, so Toyota thinks its normal. Yet people ending up t boned and in ditches.

 

I was recently thinking that my brakes ('06 Tacoma 4x4 Access cab 4.0L with 6 spd) were not working very well. I thought about this for a few minutes and realized that because my driveway is short and not very steep, I was not using the brakes when backing up very much. So next time I drove it, I purposely slammed the brakes hard about a half dozen times (while backing) to make the self-adjusting on the rear drums do its thing. Helped a ton.

My brakes have been replaced once. When they seat into the drums, they really need a bit of an adjustment. There is an automatic adjusting feature, but a lot of people never use the brakes hard enough in reverse to make it function. Try that!

 

I finally sold my 2007 on Friday and picked up a 2015. Are people still experiencing this problem on the latest production Tacomas? I'll try to test it out maybe tomorrow by trying to recreate the circumstances where I know it always used to happen on my 2007.

 

So I didn't really think much of this topic until yesterday when my ABS had me rolling into a busy intersection. I knew I wasn't going to get hit at that moment but still extremely frustrating. I had my foot pressing as hard as I could because I was so pissed and I believe the ABS shuts off once you're under a certain speed (maybe 2 or 3mph?) because when it did my truck came to a stop very quickly... This indicated to me that this particular area was not that slippery and the ABS on these trucks is quite intrusive

 

On my 2012 the problem still existed(until I pulled the fuse). I don't think Toyota changed anything with the abs besides adding TRAC/ALSD/VSC. Think about it, other car companies are making cars that can park themselves and hit the brakes for you in emergencies and Toyota can't make a good abs system (not that I would want either of those features).

 

We had another 2-3" fall last night and I drove in early this morning on my crappy OEM Rugged Fails. ABS never came on but my traction control light did at one point while in 2wd. Supposed to get another 3-5" tomorrow night.

 

Toyota doesn't make any ABS Systems. They purchase them from suppliers.

 

Yes but toyota calabrates every model individually during there pre product testing. it's is not a off the shelf program even though it might be an off the shelf part.

 

Interesting thread. I searched for this because of the way my brakes worked in the snow this weekend.

The ABS system seems to be WAY to sensitive, as others are reporting. My first clue was while going down a moderate hill, paved road, about 8" of fresh but wet snow. At about 15 MPH I applied light braking and the ABS immediately kicked in, continuously moderating brake pressure to the point that the truck simply continued at nearly the same speed, taking FAR, FAR longer to stop than was appropriate for the conditions. Since the road was deserted I tested the road surface by backing up the same area, stopping where it was at it's steepest, and then backing further up with no issue. (in 4WD of course) I then let the truck roll forward, lightly pressed the brakes, ABS went into overdrive again and we rolled all the way down to the flat, again. This was with me releasing the brakes and re-applying them as gently as I could. Later experimentation indicates that downshifting helps of course but I would say that the stopping distance in that situation was easily doubled from a normal stop without the hyperactive ABS.

My wife said "Wow, it doesn't seem that slippery out here! Why is it doing that?" - It wasn't, and I don't know...

 

The manufacturer programs and tests the ABS Controller to the specifications that are provided by Toyota. But my statement stands, Toyota doesn't make ABS Systems.

What is Calabrate? Calibrate?

 

Yes sorry calibrate... and I wasn't saying toyota does make abs systems just that they are programed to toyotas specs. A hyperactive abs system is a calibration problem not a hardware problem.

 

Hyperactive, annoying, and dangerous.

 

There's nothing better than easily reversible.

 

All three of mine have been exactly the same way, with a myriad of different tires.

 

I'm saying that they all most likely do, but some owners don't experience any issues because of how they drive, and/or where they drive.

If you live in Hawaii, you'll never experience the problem.

If you drive very slow and cautiously, you'll never experience the problem.