Braking

Starting and driving / Braking

All the parts of the brake system are critical to safety.

We recommend you to have the vehicle checked at regular intervals according to the service booklet.

Caution

► Avoid driving habits that cause heavy braking and never “ride” the brakes by resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
It causes brake overheating and fade.

Brake system

The service brake is divided into two brake circuits.

And your vehicle is equipped with power brakes. If one brake circuit fails, the other is available to stop the vehicle. If you should lose the power assist for some reason, the brakes will still work.

In these situations, even if the brake pedal moves down to the very end of its possible stroke or resists being depressed, keep depressing the brake pedal down harder and further than usual; stop driving as soon as possible and have the brake system repaired.

Warning

► Do not turn off the engine while your vehicle is in motion. If you turn off the engine while driving, the power assistance for the braking system will stop working and your brakes will not work effectively.
► If the power assist is lost or if either brake hydraulic system stops working properly, have your vehicle checked immediately.

Warning display

The brake warning lamp illuminates to indicate a fault in the braking system. A warning is also displayed on the multi-information display. Refer to “Brake warning lamp” and “Brake warning display”.

When brakes are wet

Check the brake system while driving at a low speed immediately after starting, especially when the brakes are wet, to confirm they work normally.

A film of water can be formed on the brake discs and prevent normal braking after driving in heavy rain or through large puddles, or after the vehicle is washed. If this occurs, dry the brakes out by driving slowly while lightly depressing the brake pedal.

When driving downhill

It is important to take advantage of the engine braking by shifting to a lower shift position while driving on steep downhill roads in order to prevent the brakes from overheating.

Warning

► Do not leave any objects near the brake pedal or let a floor mat slide under it; doing so could prevent the full pedal stroke that would be necessary in an emergency.
Make sure that the pedal can be operated freely at all times. Make sure the floor mat is securely held in place.

Brake pads

► Avoid hard braking situations.

New brakes need to be broken-in by moderate use for the first 200 km (124 miles).

► The disc brakes are provided with a warning device which emits a shrieking metallic sound while braking if the brake pads have reached their wear limit.

If you hear this sound, have the brake pads replaced immediately.

Warning

► Driving with worn brake pads will make it harder to stop, and can cause an accident.