# 2012 Toyota RAV4 with a soft brake pedal

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-toyota-rav4-with-a-soft-brake-pedal/115684>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** rav4, brakes, toyota\
**Created:** [April 14, 2018, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-toyota-rav4-with-a-soft-brake-pedal/115684 "2018-04-14T20:31:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![StuartGoodman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@StuartGoodman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/StuartGoodman)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-toyota-rav4-with-a-soft-brake-pedal/115684/1 "2018-04-14T20:31:01Z")

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Brake pedal on 2012 Toyota is soft and almost goes to the floor. Everything appears good as in pads,rotors and calipers. What else can it be?

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-toyota-rav4-with-a-soft-brake-pedal/115684/2 "2018-04-15T02:03:26Z")

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Air in the brake system, failing master cylinder, failing brake booster, failing ABS modulator from the most likely to the least likely.

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**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-toyota-rav4-with-a-soft-brake-pedal/115684/3 "2018-04-15T14:46:32Z")

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Park in a dry spot and pump the brakes a half dozen times. Then look for a puddle under the car or the inside of a tire that is wet. Either a small leak in a brake line, or a wet tire would suggest a leaking caliper.

If you do find the problem there, you will soon be completely out of brake fluid. So have it towed…for your safety and the safety of others… to a shop you use.

Yosemite

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**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-toyota-rav4-with-a-soft-brake-pedal/115684/4 "2018-04-15T15:07:50Z")

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After 6 years, the need for a close look at the brakes is to be expected. I would recommend a wheels-off inspection, drums (if present) off, and having fresh brake fluid push out all the old. Along the way a small leak may show up. An internally leaking master cylinder is not so easy to diagnose, but first any other leaks need to be fixed.