If you are concerned about it, you can turn off the pre-collision system yourself with the switch in the glove compartment. The only additional thing the dealer does is to attach a notice that the PCS has been turned off. The malfunction is a rare occurrence, but it has happened to a couple of members of this forum. Mine has not misbehaved in the three years I have had my Avalon, so I have not turned it off.

Robert N.

 

I also got a formal (Interim) notice of recall from Toyota Torrance CA and they cover the condition clearly. AV detects metal ahead and it applies brakes and audible warning.


Other than it being frightful, the first time it did it, it's not overwhelming.


Their recommendation is to turn it off and just stopped by the dealer and they say they can turn it off but it's not REQUIRED.


There will be a fix of Software or a possible hardware change of the sensor, but they were not definitive.


I'm glad to be aware, but will leave it on as it should do it's function and STOP the car on occasion that is need that function.




We are all depending on or relying on technology operating as advertised and not failing at the worst time.


Just as I trust the DRCC completely, I'm still ready to brake if necessary and keep it on widest distance to follow.


Love the car and have to trust that this won't fall in the cracks and be forgotten.
I put it on reminders in my phone for 3 months. Likely to be the next service time for oil change.

 

Any remedy yet to PCS problem??

My local Toyota dealer did disconnect the PCS per recommendation of the recall notice. I had them disconnect it because the warning buzzer kept going off when traveling through certain (specific) intersections and under specific bridges…only if exceeding speed limit by one or two miles per hour. Does anyone know if a remedy is in sight?

 

I manually disabled the PCS yesterday after having the system set off a false alarm and almost caused the car behind to rear-end me.

This is a pretty major safety flaw and Toyota/Lexus' "interim solution" to temporary turn off the PCS system is really disappointing. It's been 5-6 months and there hasn't been any updates on when a real fix is coming. We bought the car for the PCS system as we wanted all the safety features available. Now, we can't use it without compromising our safety.

 

And people think we'll be safer when cars can drive themselves.

The human mind can process (successfully) so much more information!

 

Sorry to hear about your close call. Not nearly the problem but it's disconcerting to have the PCS warning light on all the time. Can't turn it off because dealer removed the switch. Any idea how many others have been affected by the PCS system problems?

 

Pretty soon you won't be able to buy a Toyota, or most other new cars, without Emergency Braking. The results of all this mandatory technology will be interesting to watch.

"Toyota says most of its models will have forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking as standard features by 2018, well ahead of the target set for automakers last week in an announcement by the Department of Transportation.
The agreement among government, industry, and safety advocates placed a timetable for voluntarily making automatic emergency braking and forward-collision warning standard in all cars by 2022. Toyota and Lexus, its luxury car division, will beat the Transportation Department's goal by a full four years on the clear majority of its models."
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/toyota-hit-automatic-emergency-braking-025726939.html
http://www.toyota-global.com/innova...nnovation/safety_technology/safety_technology/technology_file/active/brake.html

 

Just went in for 30K oil change, etc and the dealer disables and posted a warning sign in the car that "it's disabled, Toyota is fixing, etc."


We got the first happening of this back in November.


It happens maybe one time a month.


It did lock up the brakes and alarms sounded when coming off the sloped freeway ramp. Transition from cement to Asphalt tricked into lock up and release.


Waiting for Toyota now.


Why is this fix so hard. I browsed the sales lot and most of the cars had the PCS (for $500) as an option and they weren't disabled.


Toyota needs to get on this

 

And the 2016's do not seem to be part of the recall, is it ok, fixed on those, and if so, why not do whatever they did to the 2016's to earlier models?

 

Is it fixed in 2016? Is it the same generation still?

It's an expensive option. Expect a fix or a refund?:|

 

For 2013-2015 owners with the PCS interim fix (disabled only), I just noticed the Toyota website has an updated message.

Sounds like the final fix is now available! Anyone take the plunge yet?

 

Yes I called them yesterday and asked if they have the parts and they said yes, took the car in today and they did not have the part and they had to order it. They will call when the part is in to take the car in.

 

Ill check with my guy in SD tomorrow.

 

Checked with my guys here and the fix is available for the recall.
They ordered the parts...controller and sensor...and said they are in.
I'm waiting at the dealership.
The part has three different varieties of part and they have a part, serial number replacement.
They got the wrong one in yesterday's shipment. Couldn't tell until car was here.
It's not by vin, but by part in the car.

New part was transferred from nearby Toyota dealer.
We'll see in 2 hours.

 

Looks like this is a tricky one. Since I need the car for commute, I'm going to have to call way far ahead to confirm how long they will take. Thanks pjsmithres for sharing the experience!

 

Early update.
Toyota sucked up a loaner for me as the part came in but was too late to get the install.


The part(s) are type specific. Hybrids and V6 have different parts.


The install has a tedious calibration for the install, so my dealer just bought the loaner and didn't have me wait and get a problem at the end of the day. Thanks Greg Miller Toyota. And Bob the man.


I should get the car by noon today and expect it to be reset/ready with corrected PCS.
\
The VIN in the recall DB has whether your's needs the recall.


I was told it's not all 15's or 16's and mostly 13/14's.


I'll repost if there's a problem, but have been assured it will be right.

 

Done
$1100 on Warranty (by the internal docs) and it seems like before.
I did get a little close to a parked car on a residential curved road and the tweet tweet came on.
But not braking, that had done before.


I guess its fixed.

 

Checked Toyota Canada recall site with my VIN and the message for the PCS recall for my 2014 Avalon is: Toyota is currently in the process of preparing the remedy parts.

 

Not sure if it’s all related, but I suspect it is.

The PCS works. Seems to detect more than I would like but doesn’t lock the brakes and seat belts.



The DRCC (auto cruise) must be related.

Previously the DRCC was great. It would find the car in front of me and pace it at good distance and was adjustable.

The DRCC now detects cars in the adjacent lane and won’t pace the car ahead if there is any other traffic nearby.
It paces about right in distance, but the width of the sensor is too wide.

I can outsmart the sensor and drive far to the left and it will miss most of the cars on the right.

I can’t tell if it’s too wide left and right or just off center.

I will set up a morning to get the car adjusted and discuss with the tech to understand what’s going on.
The DRCC cruise is pretty much useless if any other traffic is on the freeway.

I think it’s just an alignment issue with the sensor. I need to talk to the tech.

 

DRCC broken

Ugh, sorry to hear that. Thanks for reporting it. It'll be the first thing I check after I get my PCS fixed. Love my DRCC.

 

I'm glad to see the fix is finally available. I'll be calling the dealer tomorrow to schedule it. I hope the DRCC isn't affected...

 

the DRCC and the PCS are "connected. Or share some of the same parts. I talked to local tech and service mgr and it is expected that the alignment of the sensor is an adjustment that is easily fixed. there is a directional aim point for the radar and they are confident to fix. I can't go today, but can on Thursday.
I have an appointment on Thursday for the fix.
It's the first one they have done and there's probably a little learning curve on the parts/alignment.


I'll check back after the fix

 

My dealer is ordering the necessary parts. They've yet to do one and I guess I get to go first.

 

Had my first 5000 mile service yesterday on my 2016 TAL. Took one hour including fixing the recall issue.

 

Recall continues...Good and Bad


I hope this is not confusing, but it's not crystal clear until I get to drive it.


Car was taken in this AM and discussed with the tech and lead service guy. Also service writer and manager.


The tech test drove with me and I SHOWED the problem and they understand.


They had the car all day and think that it's right now. I haven't tried it.
Interim report. They found an alignment problem (from the first attempt) and followed the install instructions from Toyota. Not sure if it moved after replacement or first tech made an error. But they swear it's good now.
They are going to hold the car and check with (Engineering) TOYOTA tomorrow to see if alignment was a bad instruction in the install or just the car.
They basically did the recall three times and got good results after two and repeated good after three tries.


The install is (allegedly) different on the Hybrid and the DRCC and NON DRCC. There is a relationship to the sensor.
Sounded like they took some extra effort to use art and tech to adjust to actual needed alignment.


The good.
Since I was their first, they want to make sure its not a bad set of instructions to recall instructions and makes it less safe than before. They are providing loaner so it's minor convenience, but I told them fix it right and I won't care about the inconvenience.
Can't pick up until after work tomorrow.
Hoping for the best.

 

thanks for all the info ... please give us an update in a month or so to make sure all is OK. Appreciate you leading the way and sharing your experience.

Louis

 

After three days of significant testing (as safely as I dare) the PCS and DRCC run fine.


I talked to the mechanics and service guys and they dialed it in as by the book (twice) as possible and it works as advertised.


I personally think it's a bit more following distance from when new (DRCC), but the setting was always a bit shorter (in my opinion) than the book (owners manual) answer.
It still picks up the forward car as you go around some curves. It would drop the forward car before, and accelerate in a turn!
By the book, it can be adjusted to the three distances, but now it seems to be more accurate, by my eye.


I am that Toyota has given the dealers whatever is necessary to calibrate the AV to the knat's ass.