[tobydog]

I'm now getting seriously fed up with the auto braking :x . I've already set it to its lowest setting but it still went off twice yesterday in 10 minutes. The first time I got the big red scary warning in the middle of the dash, the warning sound, but oddly no brakes. Also, oddly, nothing anywhere in sight. The second time the brakes did slam on, as usual, in a country lane but this time I couldn't see any overhanging vegetation which is the usual culprit. Nearly gave me a heart attack :shock: . I'm now getting overly conscious of it rather than having it sit in the background like ABS.

In two months it's now happened on about 9 or 10 occasions and it's only a matter of time before it causes the accident it's trying to prevent. Any advice? Should I log this as an official safety problem with SEAT HQ. I don't want to have to go through the faff of turning it off every start up because it's not as simple as pressing a button like the Stop / Start. Also, if I turn it off and I run someone down, can I ever argue that it wasn't my fault?.

 

[Welshman]

I can imagine how scary this might be and the reduction in confidence that you have for the vehicle. I believe that that the frequency of these occurrences warrant a strong word with the dealership, saying that will they take responsibility ofr any accidents that occur due to a computer malfunction. I suggest that you record future occurences in terms of speed/environment (rural/urban/suburban, narrow or wide road) and this can act as evidence, should you require it. A direct involvement with the dealership is a first step under the warranty and if you fail to get any satisfactory response then quote some evidence from this forum, for you are not the first to experience this. The dealership will, on the defensive, contact SEAT HQ, to point out the position they have been put into. Good luck with this, for no-one on this forum would wish this to happen, for it undermines one's confidence and increases stress whilst driving.

 

[Etchings]

Agree, first port of call is your SEAT dealership - it's clearly either overly sensitive or malfunctioning so has become a safety issue. Get them to look at it on that premise and see if they can do anything.

If they can't your next step is get through to SEAT UK.

 

[tobydog]

Thanks guys. I'm popping into the dealership next weekend anyway so they can fit a new set of wipers. They've been driving me nuts as well because they badly smear on the return sweep and have done since day one. Might have to leave the car with them to sort the auto braking.

 

[Fred99]

Also, if I turn it off and I run someone down, can I ever argue that it wasn't my fault?.

That's an interesting point. Auto braking is now mandatory on new cars if they want to get a 5 star NCAP rating. You could argue that turning it off is deliberately decreasing the safety of your car.

 

[tobydog]

I mentioned that to the service manager at my dealership this afternoon. He said that the auto braking is just an auxiliary back up to which I said "Well that should make me fell better at the funeral". He's going to do some homework on the matter and the car will go in next Saturday anyway. It's interesting that he told me there's a sensor behind the lower front bumper and on the windscreen :? . I questioned whether these are actually anything to do with the various other driver assist options and that the auto braking sensor is behind the SEAT badge. The line went quiet which didn't fill me with confidence. I'll report back.

 

[Etchings]

Lower bumper is for adaptive cruise control, upper screen is for headlight assist, lane assist, rain wipers, auto-lights.

Problem with service managers is that this is such a new car they don't really have the experience with them yet. There has to be a way to calibrate the sensitivity of the front assist sensor.

 

[Guest]

Lower bumper is for adaptive cruise control, upper screen is for headlight assist, lane assist, rain wipers, auto-lights.

ACC uses the same radar sensor as Front Assist. I happen to know this very well, because I've had numerous Front Assist errors (sensor being "blinded" by water etc.) and both Front Assist and ACC stop working when this happens.

As far as I know, there isn't any sensor on the lower bumper. :? Unless you meant the ParkPilot ultrasonic sensors?

 

[Etchings]

ACC uses the same radar sensor as Front Assist. I happen to know this very well, because I've had numerous Front Assist errors (sensor being "blinded" by water etc.) and both Front Assist and ACC stop working when this happens.

As far as I know, there isn't any sensor on the lower bumper. :? Unless you meant the ParkPilot ultrasonic sensors?

You are quite correct, poor choice of words I was writing from the previous post. Should have said "Front bumper / SEAT badge sensor is for adaptive cruise control...".

In the UK manual - page 211, figure 185 it even highlights this with a big arrow!

 

[Ghiggz]

Had it happen today for the first ever time.
We are in Cornwall on holiday.
Was driving down a narrow lane to a small cove, and a tight bend approached that I was aware of, but before I could brake or steer, the auto brakes slammed on, it was hard too, the ABS kicked in, the wife and kids all screamed, caught me by surprise I did my load..

 

[Etchings]

Did you adjust the sensitivity levels when you got your car, or have you left them at the recommended medium setting? Just curious to see how sensitive your car is compared to others.

 

[Ghiggz]

Yeah still set on medium, not happened yet prev to me or the wife in 7k/10mths of city driving!!

 

[tobydog]

Happened again at the weekend. This time only the big warning sign came up. The car in front was pulling into a short slip lane to turn left. As he slowed I went to go by him (as you do) and the warning came up. In day to day driving terms I wasn't even close. It seems to be sensing things too far to the right and left and no just directly in front as I know from the parked cars in the multi story car park.

 

[Wookiee]

I can see my wife absolutely hating this feature when she finally get her Ateca.

 

[Accord2Ateca]

I've had my Ateca 6 weeks and driven about 1300 miles (town, hills, small rural roads, motorway, A roads etc) and this has never happened on my car. So it sounds like something is wrong somewhere.

 

[NeilW]

I only had the warning come up twice before I reduced the sensitivity. Once was in a snow shower, but the other time was heading into Hatfield from Junction 3 of the A1(M).

It seemed to read the road signs or the guard rail as a problem, but I started turning before the brakes kicked in.

 

[Fred99]

I get the occasional dashboard warning but it has never applied the brakes.

Get it checked out as it should not happen.

 

[Guest]

I can see my wife absolutely hating this feature when she finally get her Ateca.

I'm sure it's not a feature, it's a fault. I've driven more than 9000 km now and not a single auto braking. I think I've had one warning. Only when I use ACC, it auto brakes when the car in front of me steers to the next lane and brakes. If the ACC is off, no auto braking. Never. And I have not touched the settings, it's on the middle sensitivity.

 

[kee]

I am in the same boat as those who have had warnings but never any braking yet (touch wood!)

 

[tobydog]

And again :roll:. This time with brakes. Bit of a narrow road but two marked lanes. I must have picked up the hedge.

Losing count of with and without brakes now. Going to dealer tomorrow but I'm only expecting someone scratching their head.