NHTSA Complaint #10504512 — 2008 TOYOTA YARIS

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. AT THE SAME TIME THE ABS FELT LIKE THEY ENGAGED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE I FOUND OUT THAT MANY USERS IN THE US AND CANADA ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO FAULTY ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSORS ON THE WHEEL HUB. DUE TO THE SALT ON THE ROADS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, SALT CAN ENTER THE SENSOR AND CORRODE THE TERMINALS. THIS IS DUE TO A POOR SEAL BETWEEN THE CONNECTOR AND THE WIRING HARNESS. WHEN SALT WATER ENTERS THE TERMINALS IT CAUSES THE ABS TO ACT UP. THIS IS TRUE FOR 2007 AND 2008 MODELS ACCORDING TO OTHER YARIS USERS. IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IN 2009 MODELS. BUT FOR OWNERS OF 2008 AND 2007 MODELS PROBLEM EXISTS EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE SENSOR AND WIRING HARNESS WITH NEW ONES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THE ABS SYSTEM CAN ENGAGE AT ANY TIME POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *TR