Brake Warning Light Haunts CR-Z Hybrid Owner

I had a similar situation with my 2019 Honda Insight Hybrid last year at around 98,000 km. The brake warning light came on, and I initially thought it was just low fluid too. Turns out, when I took it to the garage, they found that my brake pads were severely worn and needed replacement. The brake fluid was indeed low, but that was because it had leaked through the worn pads. There was also some damage to one of the rotors that needed addressing. This was actually a serious safety issue that required immediate attention. The mechanic showed me how the regenerative braking system in hybrids can sometimes mask brake wear symptoms until they're quite advanced. They had to replace the pads, resurface the rotors, and top up the brake fluid. My advice? Don't wait on this one. Get it checked right away since brakes aren't something you want to take chances with, especially in a hybrid where the braking system is more complex.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know about the connection between worn brake pads and the warning light. I'm definitely going to get mine checked ASAP, don't want to mess around with brake issues! By the way, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for all those repairs? Also, has everything been working smoothly since the fix? Been wondering if I should expect any other brake-related surprises down the road.

Hey again! Happy to update you on my experience. Yes, I remember exactly what I paid, it was 480€ for the whole brake job, which included replacing those worn-out pads, fixing up the rotor, and sorting out the low brake fluid issue. I've got good news, everything's been running like a dream since I got it fixed last year! No more warning lights or brake issues whatsoever. The mechanic did a really thorough job, and the brakes feel way more responsive now. It's amazing what a difference proper maintenance makes! You know, after seeing how worn my pads had gotten, I'm actually glad the warning light came on when it did. These hybrid braking systems can be a bit sneaky about hiding wear until it's pretty serious. Now I make sure to get my brakes checked regularly during service, better safe than sorry, right? Just a heads up, if you catch it early, you might not need as extensive repairs as I did. But either way, getting it sorted will give you some serious peace of mind!

Thanks for all that info! Just got back from the mechanic and thought I'd update you. The total bill came to 350€, guess I caught it earlier than you did! Turned out my brake pads were starting to wear, but weren't completely gone yet. They topped up the fluid and replaced the pads as a precaution. The funny part was when the mechanic showed me the old pads, they were definitely on their way out, but could've fooled me since the car was braking fine! Guess these hybrids really do hide the wear well. The new brakes feel amazing though, so much more responsive. I've already marked my calendar to get them checked again in 6 months. No more waiting for warning lights to pop up! Really appreciate everyone's advice on this, saved me from what could've been a much bigger headache down the road. Feels good to have this sorted!