Brake Antilock Wheel Speed Sensor problems of the 2008 Toyota Scion Xd

Abs and vsc lights came on. Abs and vsc not working. Dealer states it is the right rear speed sensor that has a short in the wiring harness. Dealer said it was safe to drive until I get it fixed, but the abs and vsc would just not work. After hitting large bump right before braking was required, the brakes did not engage. The car is unsafe and is not covered under warranty per scion. This is a serious safety issue.

The contact owns a 2008 Scion Xd with <40k miles. The brake system, in particular, the speed sensor and parking brakes, failed during a snow a week ago. The contact was forced to slide without abs and with a funny brake all the way home. Toyota obviously knows this safety-related defect on their Scion Xd and yaris (platform mates) since a TSB was issued for yaris (t-sb-0120-08, June 27, 2008) and the dealer immediately guessed "failed rear passenger-side wheel sensor" without even looking at the vehicle when the vehicle was brought in for repair. The contact agreed to pay $750 our of pocket for the repair, yet the part was back-ordered for more than a month due to the large number vehicles suffering from the same defect. Nhtsa, look at the recent surge in abs related complaints on the Scion Xd and the yaris. Toyota obviously knows that this is a design/manufactoring defect yet no recall have been issued and the owners are forced to pay for the repairs while waiting indefinitely for the replacement part. Even worse, the rear driver side sensor is likely to be defective, yet Toyota won't do anything about it even if a recall is issued. It's like sitting on a bomb that's waiting to explode.

The abs light in our 2008 Scion Xd was coming on intermittently. We took it to the dealer, anderson Toyota & scion in rockford, illinois. They told us that it was the rear hub speed sensor assembly: $605. 00 to replace!!! we had kurt's automotive in rockford take a second look at it, they could not see anything that showed justification of that being the problem. So it has not been fixed and it has not come on again for over a month, when it did come on our brakes were spongy at times too, like the other complaint stated & not as responsive. We have had the recall (pcv to brake line condensation fix) done by anderson and the anti-lock light was still coming on after that too. But it seems when it started getting warmer out the anti-lock light stopped and brakes were fine. Just last week, may 7 2010 we took it in to anderson's for the service bulletin sb-0032-09 intermittent hard starting or extended starting which just started two weeks ago. This fix(???) is covered under Toyota federal emissions warr. 80k mile or 96mo. , which the first time I someone told me it would cost us $55 to diagnose it!!?? second time I called I talked to the service manager at anderson, he said bring it in, it's under warranty. Anderson updated the ecm/pcm modules, cleaned carbon buildup out of combustion chambers, added fuel cleaner. And the very next day as my wife left from a trip 120 miles away to head back home it started doing it again!!!! hard, extended startup of engine! no service engine lights when this happens & there have been no error codes in computer. Although the service center told me they can reset themselves when the vehicle is turned off. Of course this car just went out of warranty 43,000 current miles, on a (3yrs/36k warr. )!!! my wife works near chicago so it makes for an even tougher commute wondering everyday if it will start, then will she get stuck at work! Toyota, seems your quality has gone squat!!.