What 684 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Prius C

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

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BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY TOUCHY AND GRAB WHENEVER IT IS DAMP OUTSIDE. *JS

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I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MILES AN HOUR DURING TRAFFIC HOUR WHEN I SAW THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD AT LEAST 4 CAR DISTANCE WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES. NORMALLY, I CAN FEEL THE SEAT BELT TIGHTEN, CARS JERKING OR SHAKE DUE TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE HARD. BUT THIS TIME, I DID NOT FEEL THE CAR SLOW DOWN WHEN I STEPPED ON BRAKE ALL THE WAY DOWN, IT CONTINUE TO CRUISE A LITTLE BEFORE IT SLOW DOWN, BUT BY THEN, I HAVE ALREADY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY, DURING MY LAST VISIT 3 WEEKS AGO, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT MY CAR IS ON THE RECALL LIST FOR SOFTWARE UPDATE. *TR

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WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES DURING WEST WEATHER (MOISTURE IN THE BRAKES) THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND EVERY TIME. WHEN IT IS DRY IT DOESN'T LOCK UP BUT STILL HITS HARD.

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CAR IN FRONT SLOWED THEN STOPPED QUICKLY AS THE CAR AHEAD OF IT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE MIDDLE LANE IMPROPERLY (NOT A TURN LANE AT THAT TIME), NOT MOVING FULLY NOR QUICKLY INTO THE LANE. CAR IN FRONT STOPPED. APPLIED BRAKES IMMEDIATELY TO THE PRIUS C TO SLOW, THEN ADDED ONE RAPID PUMP, AND ULTIMATELY PUSHED THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE PRIUS DID LITTLE MORE THAN SLOW (WITHOUT EVEN A JOLT FROM THE FIRM APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES), CAUSING A CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT END. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO FROM THE REAR. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE BRAKES BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

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I HAVE OWNED A TOYOTA PRIUS 2012 SINCE FEBRUARY 2012 AND HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE NOTICED THAT IF DRIVING OVER A DEPRESSION IN THE ROAD (E.G. POT HOLE OR MAN HOLE COVER) WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. IT SEEMS THAT THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM RELEASES AND YOU HAVE TO REAPPLY THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALER 2 TIMES AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTICE VARIOUS OTHER COMPLAINS ON THIS WEBSITE AND WANTED TO ADD MY EXPERIENCE. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE GOVERNMENT FORCING TOYOTA TO RECALL 2012 PRIUS MODELS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

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I BEGAN EXPERIENCING WHAT I DESCRIBED TO THE DEALER AS A "HICCUP" IN MY BRAKES. I COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM THE TWO TIMES I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE (FIRST AND NEXT SIX MONTHS), AND EACH TIME THEY FOUND "NO PROBLEM" WITH THE BRAKES. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THIS SNOWY ROUGH WINTER WITH ALL THE ATTENDANT POT HOLES IN THE STREET THAT I CORRELATED THIS BRAKING PROBLEM WITH UNEVEN PAVEMENT. I KNOW THIS HAPPENS WHEN MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE HITS A POT HOLE, AND IT MAY HAPPEN WHEN ANY TIRE DOES, BUT IF I'M APPLY THE BRAKES - ESPECIALLY HITTING THE BRAKES AT THE MOMENT ONE TIRE DIPS INTO THE HOLE -THEY DO NOT ENGAGE AND IN FACT THERE'S A SLIGHT LURCH FORWARD, ALMOST AN ACCELERATION. THE CAR IS GOING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOMORROW WITH THE HOPES THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE LOCATED. THIS TRULY FEELS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC STARTUP ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY WITH A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED BY A DIFFERENT DEALER WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,775. ..UPDATED 02-28-14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN. UPDATED 03/19/2014*JS

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I BOUGHT PRIUS V IN FEBRUARY 2012. I'VE NOTICED FEW TIMES ISSUES WITH BRAKES. WHILE DECELERATING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE CAR TO A STOP AND IF THE CAR GOES OVER A POTHOLE OR SLIGHT BUMP ON THE ROAD THEN CAR ACCELERATES FORWARD BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT ALMOST LED TO HITTING THE OTHER CAR'S REAR BUMPER. ALSO, I'VE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT IN DECEMBER 2013 WHERE THERE WAS ANOTHER BRAKE ISSUE. I STOPPED MY CAR IN THE INCLINE ROAD BY PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THEN, I CHANGED THE GEAR SHIFT TO REAR AND SLOWLY TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL SO THAT I CAN BACK INTO THE STREET PARKING WHICH WAS ONLY ABOUT 4 TO 5 FEET AWAY. SUDDENLY, CAR SPED DOWN THE ROAD GOING REAR DIRECTION TO THE DIRECTLY OPPOSITE STREET AND HIT TWO PARKED CARS. I HAD PUT THE FOOT DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN I NOTICED THE CAR GOING REAR FAST BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR FROM GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR OR THE SPEED. THIS IS MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD SINCE SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED WITH LOSING CONTROL OF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATION. I'VE OWNED OTHER TOYOTA CAR (CAMRY) BEFORE BUT NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE UNTIL THIS PRIUS V. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN BODY SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH WITH REPAIRS. I PLAN TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO CHECK OUT THIS BRAKE ISSUE. *TR

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THE CAR WAS PARKED ON A STEEP INCLINE WHILE I CLOSED A GATE BEHIND ME TO A GATED DRIVEWAY. WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ROLLED BACK AND INTO THE GATE. THE CAR RELEASED AS IF IT WAS A STANDARD SHIFT CAR THAT NEEDED A CLUTCH AND SLAMMED INTO THE GATE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO OTHER SAFE SPOTS THAT ARE ON HILLS AND FOUND THAT THIS CAR CAN NOT HOLD A STOPPED POSITION ON AN INCLINE. *TR

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THE BRAKE DOEN'T WORK WHEN I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE HIGHWAY. I PRESSED HARD OF THE BRAKE AND CANNOT STOP THE CAR. AND I CRUSHED INTO A BIG TRUCK. THE CAR CRUSHED ONCE WITH THE TRUCK AND THE MOMENTUM MADE THE CAR TO HIT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE AGAIN. TERRIBLE. *TR

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DRIVER WAS MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE AT LOW SPEED AND ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL DESPITE HARD PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL BUT INSTEAD ACCELERATED,JUMPED A CURB IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A WALL WHICH STOPPED THE CAR. NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT FRONT BUMPER BADLY GOUGED AND FRONT DOOR SLIGHTLY DENTED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND GET OFF THE SIDEWALK. VEHICLE IS NOW AT TOYOTA DEALER FOR INSPECTION. UPON REFLECTION 2 OTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHERE WHAT FELT LIKE A MOMENTARY SPEEDUP OCCURRED AGAIN AT LOW SPEED WHILE TURNING AND BRAKING. BUT THESE 2 WERE WHILE MOVING FORWARD AND NOT ATTEMPTING TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

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I WAS IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. I HAD ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN I NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE CAR NOT ONLY WAS NOT BRAKING (I WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME) BUT INDEED SEEMED TO ACCELERATE BRIEFLY BEFORE THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGED (I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE--DEPRESSING IT--THE ENTIRE TIME). THIS HAS HAPPENED FROM TIME TO TIME WITH MY VEHICLE--IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, AND ALSO WHEN BREAKING WHILE DRIVING OVER ROAD BUMPS OR POTHOLES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,900....UPDATED 11-01-13 *BF

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WHILE TRAVELING IN A RAIN STORM AT 17MPH, I TRIED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES TO PREVENT FROM CRASHING INTO AN 18 WHEELER AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I REPEATEDLY TRIED TO STOP THE CAR AND THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGHT I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES NOT THE GAS. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT DOWN, GO INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL. I DID CRASH INTO THE 18 WHEELER BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS ACCELERATING AND I WANTED TO STOP.WHEN I CRASHED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EVEN AFTER IMPACT THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO PUSH THE 18 WHEELER. EVENTUALLY THE CAR POWERED DOWN AFTER REPEATEDLY PUSHING EVERY BUTTON POSSIBLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I PHONED YOUR HOTLINE BUT THE VIN NUMBER I GAVE HAD A NUMBER THAT WAS WRONG MY PRIOR CONFIRMATION NUMBER IS 10542285. TOYOTA IS AWARE AND I AM WAITING FOR THEM TO CALL ME BACK.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND UPON ENGAGEMENT. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE THEN RESUMED WITHOUT THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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BRAKE NOISE WHEN PULLING FORWARD IN AM . DEALER SAID FIX IS COMING FOR MONTHS, SERVICE BULLETIN NEVER CAME OUT. WORRIED THAT MAY LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

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I WAS EXITING THE PARK AND MY TOYOTA PRIUS' BRAKES FAILED, CAREENING ME ONTO A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE (SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE) ON A HILL, WHILE MY CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING. I HIT THE PARK BUTTON AND MY CAR SLOWED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET CONTROL AGAIN AND TURN UP A HILL TO A STOP. WHEN I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. *TR

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MY 2012 PRIUS V HAS BEEN MAKING A GROINING, HOWLING NOISE SINCE I PURCHASED IT. NOISE COMES FROM FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. HAS TAKEN THE CAR FOR REPAIRS BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. IT IS VERY ANNOYING AND CAN BE VERY LOUD. PEOPLE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR CAN HEAR IT, SO ITS QUITE EMBARRASING. NOISE COMES AND GOES ITS NOT CONSTANT. TOYOTA SAYS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. I DRIVE MY FAMILY IN THIS CAR AND ITS SCARY TO KNOW THERE IS AN ABNORMALITY WITH THE BRAKES. BEWARE THE DEALER WILL TELL YOU TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH A THIRD PARTY ARBITRATION SERVICE. I DID AND MY CASE WAS DENIED. *TR

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THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED GENTLY AS THE CAR WAS APPROACHING A STOPPED CAR. THE PRIUS C THEN ACCELERATED, AT WHICH TIME THE BRAKES WERE FIRMLY APPLIED, THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED, BUT NOT IN ENOUGH TIME FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE PRIUS REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, ALL AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER, AND THE FRONT END OF THE PRIUS WAS DESTROYED. IT CANNOT BE FIXED AND WILL NEED TO BE SCRAPPED. *TR

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BRAKE IS HAVING GROANING/ GRINDING/OWL HOOTING SOUNDS. THE GRINDING SOUND APPEARS WHEN YOU APPLIED THE BRAKE, AND WHEN THE CAR ALMOST AT COMPLETE STOP, IS THE WORST. GROANING AND OWL HOOTING SOUND ARE ALWAYS THERE, SPECIALLY IN THE MORNING. IN THE AFTERNOON IS NOT AS LOUD AS IN THE MORNING, BUT STILL NOTICEABLE. BEEN TO TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKE AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. ALSO SAYING THAT THE SOUND IS NORMAL FOR A REGENERATE BRAKE SYSTEM. BUT I DON'T AGREED TO IT. TOYOTA NEED TO FIND A FIX FOR IT, AND WE DON'T KNOW IS THE BRAKE REALLY SAFE! *TR

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MY CAR HAS AN ISSUE I FIRST NOTICED SOON AFTER I BOUGHT IT, AND THAT NOW HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK. THE DATE I'VE ENTERED IS THE APPROXIMATE FIRST DATE I NOTICED THE PROBLEM OCCUR. I DESCRIBE BELOW A MORE RECENT INSTANCE OF THE SAME BEHAVIOR, THE TIME WHEN IT FELT THE LEAST SAFE. /// THE RECURRING BEHAVIOR IS THAT WHILE DECELERATING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IF THE CAR GOES OVER AN OBSTRUCTION LIKE A ROCK, A ROUGH PATCH OF ROAD, OR A POTHOLE, IT SOMETIMES LURCHES FORWARD BEFORE RESUMING DECELERATION. THE SENSATION IS OF ACCELERATING, BUT EVEN IF IT'S ONLY THAT THE CAR MOMENTARILY STOPS DECELERATING IT'S DISCONCERTING AND IN A FEW INSTANCES HAS GOTTEN ME CLOSE TO AN ACCIDENT. /// THE TIME IT CAME CLOSEST TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WAS ON 3/21/13, WHEN I FEARED THE CAR WAS GOING TO ROLL INTO A CROSSWALK AS PEOPLE CROSSED. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN, WE WENT OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHILE ONLY A FEW FEET FROM THE CROSSWALK. SEVERAL PEOPLE WAITED CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE SIDEWALK AT A BUS STOP. ONE OF THEM SEEMED READY TO STEP OUTTO CROSS THE STREET, AND I BRACED FOR THE WORST. /// ULTIMATELY I STOPPED A FEW FEET BEFORE THE CROSSWALK, BUT THE SITUATION FELT COMPLETELY UNSAFE SINCE IT INVOLVED LOSING STOPPING POWER WHILE COMING TO A STOP SIGN WITH PEDESTRIANS PRESENT. *TR

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SLOWED FOR RED LIGHT THAT WAS VISIBLE FOR A GREAT DISTANCE SO COASTING AND APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY WEREN'T THERE....I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, HE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM....MOSTLY DINGS IN FENDERS....MY HOOD WAS UP ON ONE SIDE, AND FRONT PANEL MOVED....NOBODY WAS HURT POLICE CAME AND SAT IN THE CAR AND APPLIED BRAKE AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. HE SAID "YOU HAVE NO BRAKES; DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR, HAVE IT TOWED". *TR

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WHEN YOU START TO DRIVE IT MAKES A LOUD HOWLING SOUND, IT IS GETTING LOUDER AS TIME GOES ON. PEOPLE LOOK AT US LIKE WE ARE CRAZY FOR DRIVING WITH BAD BRAKES. WE HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES TO JUST BE TOLD IT IS THE WAY IT IS. NO REPAIR IS NECESSARY. IT IS GETTING MORE AND MORE ANNOYING TO LISTEN TO. IT LASTS LONGER AS TIME GOES ON. COME ON TOYOTA LETS GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THERE IS A FATAL COLLISION DUE TO THIS! IT IS GETTING SCARY TO DRIVE AND FEEL SAFE. *TR

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