NHTSA Complaint #10279743 — 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS

THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE TOYOTA PRIUS (2006) IMPROPERLY ENGAGES WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE AND THERE IS SOME SAND OR GRAVEL UNDER THE FRONT TIRES. THERE IS OFTEN AN ACCUMULATION OF SANDY MATERIAL AT MANY INTERSECTIONS, PARTICULARLY ON SIDE STREETS THAT ENTER A HIGHWAY SERVICE ROAD. AT THESE INTERSECTIONS, IT IS NECESSARY TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE TO ENTER THE ROADWAY AT THE SPEED OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES DUE TO THE CONDITIONS MENTIONED ABOVE, THE TRACTION SYSTEM ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE WHEELS BRIEFLY IN ORDER TO BREAK THE TIRES FROM SLIPPAGE. HOWEVER, IN A HYBRID VEHICLE, THIS PULSING OF THE DRIVE SYSTEM ONLY ENCOURAGES FURTHER SLIPPAGE AND THE TRACTION SYSTEM CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGE WITHOUT ANY WAY TO OVERRIDE THE SYSTEM. THE DANGER IS THAT WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING THE VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO ENTER THE ROADWAY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BUT IS FAILING TO ACCELERATE, CREATING AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION WHERE A COLLISION IS POSSIBLE. I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED A COLLISION YET, BUT HAVE NEARLY BEEN INVOLVED IN ONE. *TR