NHTSA Complaint #10236180 — 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS

OWNER OF A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS PURCHASED APRIL 29, 2006. WE HAVE NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE REVVING UP WHILE DRIVING. WE'RE DRIVING 45-55 MPH AND LASTED ONLY A FEW SECONDS. WE COULD FEEL A POWER SURGE IN THE ACCELERATION BUT BEFORE WE COULD ACTUALLY ANALYZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING THE EVENT WAS OVER. OCCURRING APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES. ON JULY 21, HOWEVER, IT OCCURRED AGAIN, LASTING MUCH LONGER. I WAS TRAVELING ON A ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THEN SLOWED TO 35MPH FOR A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE. I WAITED FOR A TIME TO PASS, THEN CHANGED LANES AND ACCELERATED TO PASS. EXACTLY AFTER, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS THE ACCELERATION INCREASED WITH A BIG SURGE OF POWER, ENGINE REVVING. I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE CAR, FIRST TAPPING THE BRAKES THEN FULL BRAKING BUT THE ACCELERATION WAS GREATER AND MY BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE ACCELERATION. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I WAS COMING UP ONTO A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGN BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT ENOUGH WITH THE BRAKE TO GET AROUND THE CORNER. I RAISED MY FEET OFF THE FLOOR, KEEPING BOTH HANDS TIGHTLY CLUTCHED ON STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL IT REACHED 62 MPH, THEN IT SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. I THEN HAD CONTROL OF THE CAR AGAIN. WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT. WE HAVE A 8 YEAR OR 80,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND ENDED UP CHARGING ME $80. THIS PROBLEM DOES EXIST. AND SCARED ME. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. TODAY I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, ONE THAT ENDED UP IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. SEE HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS04/2008/06/PRIUS_RECONSIDERED I HOPE THAT YOU WILL INVESTIGATE AND MAKE TOYOTA FIND THE PROBLEM BEFORE ANYBODY GETS KILLED. THE TOYOTA PEOPLE COULD NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN AGAIN, AND ASCERTAINED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *TR