Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Toyota Yaris submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words
Car was in park, ignition off, with the keys removed. The gear shift could apparently move in this locked position and the vehicle rolled backwards with a 6 year old child in the car. The car was totaled after hitting a concrete base to a light fixture. A failure occurred that allowed the car to shift gears off and in park.
My brakes have failed me many times. I had to eventually get those change in the brakes still aren’t working completely correct
My fiancee bought her 2008 Toyota Yaris on about the 26 Apr 2021. Right off she had brake failure pretty quickly after buying the car. Brake pads were suspected of failing. When the front tires were removed the calipers had built up thick rust on inside surface where the pads sit on both front calipers. The pads were pushed into the rotors heavily causing the driver side rotor to be damaged beyond acceptable limits. The right side rotor was turned successfully with enough rotor minimum thickness remaining. So the rust caused me to replace 1 rotor, both calipers and pads on front and rear brakes. The rust built up on the calipers threaded input and output brake fluid lines threaded attach points. This could have cause a fluid leak that could of been very dangerous leading to injury or death of occupants. I have not reported this to The Toyota dealership or anyone else. I didn't know I could report dangerous items that could be set for a safety recall by the NHTSA. As for the airbags, the driver airbag light stays on and passenger light comes on when 10 pounds of weight is sat in passenger seat. The belt is not latched. My driver seat belt is always latched when I drive. I weigh 130 but the light remains on. So, will the driver air bag inflator explode or fail due to the warning light illuminatimg. I was unaware of a recall for this and 3 others have not been repaired yet by previous owners. The third item is backseat seatbelt female receptical will not latch to the male end on 2 of the 3 seating positions. This is a real safety issue when we place children in the backseat. We can only take 1 child at each drive, so even adults riding in the backseat will be not buckled up, which is un-law and very dangerous causing severe injuries and even death in an accidental collision. I will take my Fiancee's 2008 Yaris to a Toyota dealership for the 4 recalls noted today by VIN,7/29/2021. Thanks, Richard Peavler
FREQUENTLY WHEN DRIVING IN THIS CAR AND I ATTEMPT TO PRESS ON BRAKES IT TAKES A BIT LONGER THAN IT SHOULD FOR A REACTION TO OCCUR . WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH I WAS AFFECTED IN HAVING TO PRESS ON BRAKES WHICH LED TO SLAMMING ON BRAKES AND STILL NOT THE APPROPRIATE REACTION TIME CAUSING ME TO SLAM IN ANOTHER CAR ON A A SLIPPERY INTERSECTION WHICH IS WHEN I FINALLY ABLE TO HEAR MY BRAKES BASICALLY TOUCH THE GROUND . WITH THE FAILURE OF RELIANCE ON MY BRAKES THE FRONT END OF MY CAR IN COMPLETELY DESTROYED WHICH NOW CAUSED MY DRIVER DOOR TO NO LONGER OPEN.
THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT HAVE BEEN LIGHTING UP INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID NO CODES SHOW STORED. I SAW HISTORY OF THIS COMPLAINT WITH SENSOR ISSUES. LIGHTS DID NOT GO ON DAY OF APPOINTMENT. BUT DID COME ON IN THE WAY HOME.
I WAS LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES FROM HOME, ON MY WAY TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN OFF THE STREET FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD, UNTO THE SERVICE ROAD THAT LEADS TO THE RAMP FOR THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE. AS I HEADED TOWARDS THE RAMP THAT ENTERS UNTO THE HIGHWAY, THE 2008 TOYOTA YARIS FELT LIKE IT SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE. DESPITE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I SWERVED BACK UNTO THE SERVICE ROAD TO AVOID CONTINUING UNTO THE RAMP, IN FEAR THAT I WOULD CRASH INTO THE CARS ON THE HIGHWAY. TO AVOID HITTING ANY VEHICLES ON THE SERVICE ROAD, I MANAGED TO SWERVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ? WITH THE CAR FINALLY STOPPING WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A POLE. MY CHILDREN AND I SUFFERED SEAT BELT BRUISING AND CUTS. I WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR A FEW DAYS FOR HAND, FOOT, AND BACK INJURIES, AND STILL UNDER DOCTOR'S CARE FOR THE INJURIES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOST. I HAVE MY SERVICE RECEIPTS REFLECTING THAT I KEPT UP WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CAR. IN ADDITION, I HAD THE BRAKES SERVICED IN OCTOBER OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR...UPDATED 03/15/16 *BF.....UPDATED 03/31/16 *BF UPDATED 6/11/18*JB
WHEN I TRIED TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN, BY CLICKING ON THE BUTTON, THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE THAT CAUSED SMOKE INSIDE THE CAR. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO VERIFY MY BREAKS AND AIRBAGS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAR IN EITHER MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, OR FRIDAY.
THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND HAVE REMAINED ON. INTERNET RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 TOYOTA YARIS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE REAR SENSOR AND HARNESS. ABS IS NOW INOPERABLE AND THE REPAIR IS VERY COSTLY. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL LONG AGO BY TOYOTA. *TR
OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 44 IN MISSOURI AT OR NEAR GREY SUMMIT MISSOURI WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET ON, WHEN OUR 2008 TOYOTA YARIS STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. OUR DAUGHTER HAD TO SWERVE TO MISS HITTING OTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE SHE STEERED THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO TREES. TOYOTA HIRED BOSCH TO HAVE THE "BLACK BOX" ANALYZED. THE COMPANY AND BOSCH CLAIM NO MALFUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE. OUR DAUGHTER CONTINUES TO DISPUTE THEIR CLAIMS AND WE HAVE LOST THE VEHICLE IN AN INSURANCE CLAIM TO AAA OF MISSOURI. IN ADDITIONAL WE HAVE LOST VALUE IN THE VEHICLE, WE ARE PAYING INSURANCE ACCIDENT PENALTIES AND LOST $1000 IN DEDUCTIBLES. WE CONTINUE TO DISPUTE TOYOTA AND BOSCH'S CLAIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. SINCE OUR ACCIDENT THERE HAS BEEN ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE OF "TIN WHISKERS" AS POTENTIAL CAUSE OF ELECTRONIC FAILURE. WE BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN THE UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS OF TOYOTA NEGLIGENCE AND NEED TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN FIGHTING THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA. *TR
WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND GOING UP A HILL, ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. NOW IT DOES IT EVEN WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ON. THOSE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN YOU START THE CAR. THE BRAKES AND FLUIDS HAVE ALL BEEN CHECK AND THERE IS NO DEFAULTS WITH ANY OF THAT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 09/16/14*LJ UPDATED 9/18/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED SALT CORRODED THE SENSORS FOR THE ABS. THEN WITH NO WARNING, THERE WAS A PULSE IN THE BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT, THUS GREATLY INCREASING BRAKING DISTANCE. UPDATED 10/02/14 UPDATED 10/07/14
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A LEFT KNEE AND BACK INJURY DURING THE INCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ UPDATED 8/28/2017*CN
IN THE WINTER MONTHS SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW, RANDOMLY THE ABS WOULD JUST GO OFF DURING NORMAL BRAKING AND THEN STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER AND THE ABS AND THE E-BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR A WHILE. WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE MORNING I WAS COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT WHEN THE ABS DECIDED TO STOP WORKING AND I SLID RIGHT THROUGH THE LIGHT, ALMOST GETTING HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. NOW I HAD DISMISSED THE PROBLEM TILL I REALIZED THAT IT COULD CAUSE HARM TO ME OR MY CHILDREN AND THE ABS AND E-BRAKE LIGHT WILL NO LONGER GO OFF WHICH IS CAUSING ME TO FAIL EMISSIONS. *TR
PERIODICALLY MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON DURING WINTER WEATHER AND THEN IT WILL JUST GO AWAY WHEN IT IS DRY. ON SNOW ROADS MY BRAKES SOMETIMES WILL NOT WORK. ONE DAY DRIVING I DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT BECAUSE MY BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP EVEN THOUGH I WAS GOING AROUND 30 AND BRAKED WHILE IN ADVANCE. LUCKY, FOR ME OTHER DRIVERS STOPPED. MY MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT MY ABS WIRING HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THE HUB. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR YARIS AND TOYOTA ADMITTED THEY KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY COST MY LIFE OR MY 18 MONTH OLD SON'S LIFE. *TR
ON JANUARY 18TH 2014 , WHILE EXITING HWY 41 ON TO THE ASHLAND AVENUE OFF RAMP IN FRESNO CALIFORNIA THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *TR
SINCE I BUY THE CAR SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN IGNITION ON IT MAKES THE NOISE THAT IS STARTING ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD TURN ON FOR A ALMOST A 20 TO 30 SEC. THEN SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING THE SPEED GEAR DROPS WITH OUT ME BRAKING ALSO WHEN I TURN RIGHT SIGNAL ON SOMETIMES THE REVERSE LIGHT ON DASHBOARD ALSO TURN ON. ONE TIME ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD WERE BLINKING WENT I TURN SIGNAL ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE PERSON THERE TOLD ME THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RECALLS AND NO COMPLAIN THEN CAN'T DO ANYTHING IF THEY DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE A VIDEO THIS. NOW WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE THE RIGHT SIGNAL CANES ON. SECOND TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE IGNITION CALL HAD A FAILURE THEY REPLACE COIL 3 AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS DIAGNOSTIC CAME NORMAL AND VEHICLE LIGHTS STILL DO THE SAMETHING. AND IGNITION STILL DOES THE SAMETHING AND IF I GO BACK TO THE DEALER TO DO ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC THEY WILL CHARGE ME 124 DOLLARS IF NOTHING IS FOUND WRONG. THE PROBLEM IS THERE BUT THEY CAN'T FIND IT I SHOW THE VIDEO TO THE GUY IN THE DEALER AND STILL NOTHING. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK A RAMP IN THE RIGHT LANE WHILE IT WAS DRIZZLING. AS I BEGAN TO GO DOWN THE RAMP, I THE CAR BEGAN SHIFT TOWARD THE WALL, AND I BRAKE. THE CAR BEGAN TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, AND COMPLETELY HYDROPLANED. WE HIT A DIVIDING WALL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RAMP. I HAVE EXPERIENCED PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES DURING WET AND DRY CONDITIONS. SOMETIMES IF I PUSHED HARD ON THE BRAKES, I WOULD FEEL A VIBRATION UNDER THE CAR, AND THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK PROPERLY. MY CAR IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND BOTH OF MY YOUNG CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED. *TR
DRIVING VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS, AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE. BRAKE AND ABS CAME ON, AND ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY, WEATHER WAS WARM AND SUNNY. ABS ENGAGEMENT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP, EVEN THOUGH ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. SINCE INITIAL INCIDENT, ABS SYSTEM COMES ON PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE BRAKING. TOYOTA HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT NUMEROUS YARIS OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. LATER MODELS FOR THE YARIS HAVE HAD THE ABS DESIGN FIXED TO PREVENT THIS ISSUE FROM HAPPENING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY BUT MOST RECENTLY, BOTH WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ABS SENSOR AND THE AIR BAG SPIRAL CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,529. ...UPDATED 04-03-13 *BF
VEHICLES EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REAR WIRING HARNESS AND SENSORS HAD COMPLETED ERODED AND THAT UNTIL THIS PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HAD NO WORKING ABS SYSTEM OR TRACTION STABILITY CONTROL. WE WERE ADVISED THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS STILL NOT DONE A RECALL. THIS TO ME IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUED THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THE DEALER DID STATE THAT THE REASON THE WIRING HARNESS HAD ERODED WAS BECAUSE THE ACTUAL HARNESS IS OPEN ON THE BOTTOM ALLOWING MOISTURE TO GET INTO THE HARNESS AREA. THE COST FOR THIS REPAIR IS OVER $750. *TR
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR REPAIR ANYTHING. I HAVE REPLACED REAR SHOCKS, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, AND NOW AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. IT SEEMS THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AFTER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. AT THAT TIME, THE CAR HAD ONLY 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE ONLY RESPONSE TOYOTA PROVIDED WAS "SORRY, YOUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED." ALL MECHANICS I HAVE DISCUSSED THESE ISSUES WITH AGREE THAT SUCH REPAIRS SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY ON A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED OR DRIVEN HARD. IT HAS HAD ALL MAINTENANCE DONE AS SUGGESTED BY IT MANUFACTURER. THESE ISSUES SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY TOYOTA AS WARRANTY REPAIRS SINCE THEY ARE ALL OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. THIS IS THE ONE AND ONLY TOYOTA I WILL EVER OWN. *TR
MY BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COME ON AND GO OFF EVERY FEW DAYS, MY ANTI LOCK BRAKES DISABLE AND SOME TIMES IT'S HARD TO SLOW DOWN. IT'S THE SENSOR, IT STARTED IN THE WINTER. *TR
THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. THEY INTERMITTENTLY CAME ON FOR THE FIRST DAY AND FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS THEY HAVE STAYED ON. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT IT IS LIKELY A CORRODED SENSOR. APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY OF THE YARIS PER INTERNET RESEARCH. I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR RIGHT NOW AND HAVE NEW BRAKE PADS THAT I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC ARE FINE, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF I SHOULD CONTINUE DRIVING IT BASED ON REPORTS OF ACCIDENTS BY OTHER OWNERS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A PREMATURE FAILURE AND SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA GIVEN THE NUMBER OF OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE COMPLAINT. THE ALTERNATOR ALSO NEEDED REPAIRED AT ABOUT 45000 MILES, WHICH SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AT THAT MILEAGE, BUT A BAD ALTERNATOR DOESN'T NECESSARILY CAUSE THE SAME SAFETY ISSUES AS MALFUNCTIONING BRAKES. THIS IS MY THIRD TOYOTA AND MY LAST. *TR
I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA YARIS, AND AFTER 3 YEARS I'M NOW EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SENSORS. THIS IS A STANDARD SAFETY FEATURE THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR SINCE IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BASE MODEL. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY YARIS OWNERS FROM CANADA AND US ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME SENSORS AND SEEM TO HAVE STARTED WITH THE 2006 MODELS AND SO ON. I'M INCLUDING THE LINK OF THE FORUM LISTED BELOW AS PROOF OF OTHER YARIS OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE NOT ON THIS FORUM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT I FEEL SHOULD BE RECALLED. TO GET THIS FIXED, IT COSTS MORE THAN ADDING THE FEATURE ITSELF WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I'M EXPRESSING MY CONCERN BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERN THAT ALL YARIS OWNERS, WHETHER HAVING THE PROBLEM OR NOT SHOULD BE AWARE OF. HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE. HTTP://WWW.YARISWORLD.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=11533. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT STATED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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