Originally Posted by Teamoatmealpie

Totally agree with OP- having lived in the mtns for 20 years. You'll be pulling into a frozen parking lot, slowing down appropriately and then boom the ABS sense a slip and instead of helping it adds extra feet to your stopping distance.

It feels like the pedal as it's depressed suddenly releases what stopping power it was applying - scary as hell. And it's not the same as when the ABS senses a total slide and it hammers the ABS and helps. This is different and perhaps when only some wheels are sliding and some not. Scary as hell and not helpful at all.

Also love when Skynet kills the gas pedal too that's a great (not really) feature.

Skynet is going to get someone killed.

Originally Posted by 02SE

ABS (anti-lock brake system), not traction control.

All the tech in the world can't overcome the laws of physics, and situational awareness.

My advice: Get some snow and in particular ICE tires. Pay attention to your surroundings. Drive with care when snow and ice are present.

EDIT> It should also be noted that none-snow & ice tires lack grip when the temps are below about 45° F. The "bare pavement" also likely had some dirt and/or fine sand on it, reducing the available traction.

Sorry, but this is more about lack of understanding of vehicle dynamics, how conditions effect those dynamics, and just plain driver error.

Originally Posted by 1jzgte

it's gotta be that old Toyota's unintentional acceleration glitch making its way back

Originally Posted by 02SE

The one where drivers make mistakes, but blame the vehicle...

Originally Posted by rayofsi

there are many factors.. tires, brakes etc. on my oem trd pro tires and brakes. there were some braking issues. no more issues since i changed out tires and brakes. also with abs braking, and all emergency braking, you need to put your weight into the brake pedal, some people tend to go easy on the brakes when abs kicks in.

Originally Posted by headrush

I have a 2010 Limited. I have long believed my stopping distance with traction control is longer than without, but I haven't tested the theory by measuring stopping distances. I don't like the traction control on my 4runner, but it's the default setting, and we all have to turn if off manually. Hence you have to remember to turn it off every time you start the vehicle, at least when it's slippery or may become slippery. But today I determined that it is dangerous.

A fire truck was behind me with lights and sirens blaring. The car in front of me pulled of to the side of the road and I pulled off behind it. There was snow on the shoulder but my two left tires were on bare, dry pavement. I almost hit the car in front of me. That POS traction control would not stop my vehicle in a reasonable distance. With 2 tires on dry pavement.

4Runners with whatever version of traction control my 2010 has should be recalled. I think when Christmas is over I will contact the NTSB. I should have done this years ago.

Originally Posted by Mass 4runner

I think what you're talking about is ABS.

Originally Posted by Ripper238

That's your problem right there, traction control is for traction not breaking. It has noting to do with breaking and everything to do with acceleration traction.

Sounds like you have issue with ABS as others have said. ABS improves the ability to maneuver while breaking hard. Some ABS systems are terrible and the 4Runner is definitely not terrible but it has its place. You don't want to use ABS where you need dirt to build up in front of the tire to help slow down/stop.

I think your issue was the snow not ABS, definitely not traction control.