On the drive home today I noticed a new sound on my 14 300h. On quiet subdivision streets, every time I press the brakes I hear a 'click', almost like a relay engaging, before the brakes start slowing down the car. I think it may be a relay but I never noticed this before. The sound is definitely from inside the engine compartment. Have you guys with the 300h noticed this sound? It is very faint but repeatable with the brakes. I only hear it with the radio off. Thanks.

 

I have that click in one of my other vehicles. It's right when you step on the brake pedal. It may be the ABS system.

 

Thanks
Is it an es300h?
I was thinking that it may be a slightly loose brake pad.

 

I had a similar sound on an earlier Lexus ES and I believe it was related to a relay or valve assembly under the hood which was part of the ABS. It was harmless and dealer was never able to fix it. Lexus and even the owner's manual at the time advised that the sound was normal - but I still didn't like it.

Dave Mac

 

Ive heard the sound, its normal.

 

It's normal. Weird but normal, it's probably some relay. The hybrid uses a brake-by-wire system where most of the braking force comes from the traction motor reversing rotation. Only the last bit of braking comes from the brake pads.

 

Thank you all. One less thing to obsess about!

 

I have this "click" you speak of as well. I only clearly hear it pulling into or backing out of my garage.

 

I figure there is nothing wrong as other 300h owners hear it as well, and the noise in mine has not gotten worse in the last 10 months.
I don't want to even think about how complex the braking system is on these cars. I could fix the brakes in my 77 Corolla back when I was a student but I don't know what owners will do when these cars get to be 10 to 15 years old.

 

My Prius did this too. It sounds normal to me. It's just how Toyota designed the system.

 

It's another reason why brake fluid replacement on the hybrid is expensive. The service techs have to hook it up to a Techstream machine to cycle the accumulator to get fluid out and in. It would probably be a very expensive system to fix if it went wrong.

 

Has any one experienced car not starting and taking it to dealer.... If so what was the out-come.

 

I just got off the phone with Lexus customer support there is a service warranty extension on just about all Lexus brake actuators to be replaced call customer service 1-800 number give them the VIN number and they will tell you if your car falls under this warranty extension regardless of how many miles is on your car

 

Is this for all Lexus hybrids?

 

It looks like it is only the 2016 ES350, RX350 and Toyota Rav4.

Report Receipt Date: APR 07, 2016
NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V198000
Component(s): ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
All Products Associated with this Recall

Make Model Model Year(s)
LEXUS ES350 2016
LEXUS RX350 2016
TOYOTA RAV4 2016

12 Associated Documents
Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

SUMMARY:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

CONSEQUENCE:
Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 5, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.

NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/...8371&submit=Go