I frequently get rapid banking when braking, which I believe is the anti lock brakes. It seems to happen most when I'm braking while going downhill (into our parking garage) or if pressing the brake pedal and there's a bump in the road. Thank goodness I have not yet run into anything when this happens, but have gotten close.

Is this a common behavior?

I have a 2006 tC with manual transmission.

 

You know it's funny you mentioned this, I have experienced this myself numerous times in my tC. And unlike you it has caused me money, time and a new front bumper. What I thought was a safe stopping distance and normally is for this car turned into an 5mph accident. Keep in mind im not new to driving nor doing anything stupid, and this was my first accident ever. I had a 8 year perfect driving record until may of 05. Quite honestly I haven't felt safe in this car since I first experienced this problem.

It is definately the ABS system, which quite frankly I hate. It's an issue that has me seriously debating trading in my tC for something else. I have had numerous close calls because of this same thing before my accident a and since that should have been normal everyday stops. No speeding or otherwise stupid driving involved at all, even braking early. The car can be fun to drive and I like it for the most part, but the problems I have had with it and Scion and the dealer I bought it from refusing to correct the problems have left me sour and dissapointed.

 

Thanks, sebhockey, for sharing your experience! For me, it happened the first time at about 200 miles, and it's happened something like 10 times in the last year. Sorry to hear you got in the accident!

 

I hated the tC ABS system. Almost wrecked a bunch of times myself. Nothing you can do about it either. I traded in my tC, not specifically because of this, but it weighed in on my decision.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience, L4rry_B1rd. I'm glad to hear that it isn't fixable; that will save time. With this, the loose steering, and such, I think I'll trade it in soon for a Lexus IS250/IS350.

 

for an IS, why not?!?!?! I wouldve loved to get an IS, but sadly I cant afford it right now. Almost got a used 2004 TSX fully loaded, but chose the xB to stay in the Scion fam for a few more years. Good luck!!!

 

The ABS issue is "normal" on the tC? That sucks....

Does it matter if its an auto?

 

OrchidPop, have you taken your tC in for service? We probably drive on the same roads and probably park in similar garages and I haven't had any ABS issues.

 

ok, let me make a corrcection. I wouldnt say its "normal" but the only solution I got from KNOWLEDGEABLE people on this site was that I had to either upgrade my tires (which I had done already) or live with it. Besides the tires, nothing else would really help. Ill see if I can dig up my old thread about this...

 

yup i know exactly what you're talking about. the abs kicks in way to early man. i hate it. i wish we could just get rid of it. the brake system on this car isn't that great compared to some other cars. oh well ive learned to live with it so far.

 

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...&highlight=abs

here's the thread I was talking about. Instigator was the man when it came to brakes, suspension and things of that nature since he did work for StopTech.

 

^^ I read through that thread a few times, did you ever take it to the dealer?

 

Yeesh....if my grandmother gets her tC, should she get diff tires?

 

nah, I basically learned to drive more cautiously. I doubt the dealer would even know what the hell I was talking about if I told them I had ABS issues. They would have just taken my car, then given it back to me saying "we were not able to recreate the problem, blah blah blah."

 

Hmm, nobody brave enough to go for a ride with you so you could demonstrate the problem?

 

Also, has this been fixed by any chance on the 2007 models?

 

Like I said, I dont think this is a problem per say, just the way the tC ABS reacts during certain braking situations.

 

Now that you mentioned it. Sometimes when i'm braking and turning, i can feel a peddle response, or the feeling you get when ABS activates. Well, at first i wasnt sure what that was, i kept thinking i had grouded my car while turning onto an incline, but appearantly that wasnt the case. After some more occurrances, i asked my friend, and he said it seemed like it was my ABS brakes. The thing is, those times that happened, i wasnt braking very hard or just hard at all. But it seems like they were going off.
________
BUY SCALE

 

Well, yeah, but obviously their ABS sucks and they should have gotten on the ball and replaced it with something that works properly. *shrug*

 

No offense, but you made an assumption they wouldn't be able to fix the issue. Maybe they could have fixed it, maybe it could have led to a much larger problem that would have forced Toyota to do a recall; who knows, you may have had a lemon and they would have had to buy the car back instead of you trading it in and losing money. I'm not singling you out or trying to make you feel bad, but its poor decisions like that that could cause problems for all of us later.

For those of you that think you are experiencing problems with your tC ABS, if it is under warranty, please take it to the dealer until YOU feel the problem is fixed. Not bringing it to the dealer's/Scion's attention only hurts the rest of us.