Brake failure while driving. The brake pedal went soft when pressed and all the associated warning lights illuminated. ABS, traction, control, etc. This is a known issue for Toyota and Lexus, and even after servicing my vehicle at the dealer for the last two years I was never notified that this was a concern.
2012 Lexus CT: ABS light or ABS activating
5 of the 43 complaints about the 2012 Lexus CT describe ABS light or ABS activating.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 12%
- recalls
- 0
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
ABS light or ABS activating by model year
What owners say
My 2011-2013 Lexus CT200h exhibits malfunction indicator lamp illumination for the brake, ABS, and traction control systems, accompanied by diagnostic trouble code C1391. Research indicates this is a known manufacturing defect, and I possess documentation from the customer support program confirming coverage for this issue in vehicles of this model year. However, the Lexus dealership and service advisors refuse to acknowledge this coverage and saying that it is expired. Therefore, I require guidance on how to proceed with resolving this matter.
A prevalent issue observed in the Lexus CT200h and Toyota Prius V models is the internal leakage of brake accumulators, as they utilize identical part numbers. Consequently, the actuator emits a buzzing sound intermittently as it attempts to maintain the necessary gas pressure within the braking system, ultimately failing due to the leak. Numerous articles addressing this concern are available online, highlighting its significance as a safety issue. Many owners have successfully had Toyota replace the faulty part at no cost, thanks to the extended warranty covering a period of ten years or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. This may be attributed to the higher prevalence of Prius vehicles on the road compared to the less common Lexus CT200h. A simple search for "C1391 danger" will yield substantial information on the topic. It is disheartening, in my view and that of many others, that a problem posing a risk to public safety due to brake failure has not been adequately addressed. The sudden onset of this issue significantly reduces stopping distances. When it occurs, warning lights for ABS, traction control, and brakes illuminate simultaneously. Notably, there are no visible brake fluid leaks associated with this actuator. While Toyota provides coverage under the extended warranty, it appears that Lexus may not offer similar support, raising concerns about the safety implications discussed across various platforms.
The actuator will buzz every few seconds trying to keep pressure in the braking system to a safe operating level of gas pressure to no avail due to this leak in the actuator. After it quits buzzing from shutting the car off, you can hear the air leak hissing the pressure away. There is not much stopping distances when and after this suddenly occurs. In the process, the abs, traction control, brake, a yellow exclamation mark, lights suddenly all come on the dash at once and the brake feels like a sponge very suddenly. The brake booster pump may fail causing a deactivation of the Vehicle Stability Control system and a loss of braking assist. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, Electronic Stability Control Systems."" Deactivation of the vehicle stability control system or a loss of braking assist increases the risk of a crash.
2012 lexus ct200h has the same brake booster, assembly issue all 3rd generation toyota prius's have. The ABS/brake system lights all come in, and brake functionality is limited. Attached is a scan of the issue, I have since called lexus and notified them of the issue.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2012 Lexus CT abs
Is ABS light or ABS activating a common problem on the 2012 Lexus CT?
5 of 43 owner complaints about the 2012 Lexus CT (12%) mention ABS light or ABS activating. The model year with the most reports is 2014.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2012 Lexus CT?
There is no recall or service bulletin for this area of the car on record.
Other symptoms on the 2012 Lexus CT
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