NHTSA Complaint #10302435 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND FROM THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT ITS HAD BRAKING PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALWAYS JUST ASSUMED THE CAR WAS USELESS IN BAD WEATHER BECAUSE THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF RAIN OR SNOW SEEMED TO PREVENT ME FROM BRAKING. I WOULD BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN AND IF THE CAR NOTICED A TIRE SLIDE EVEN AN INCH IT WOULD SEEM TO ACTIVATE THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE BREAK WOULD RELEASE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS SOME SORT OF HORRIBLY DESIGNED SAFETY DEVICE TO PREVENT HYDROPLANNING. BUT I'VE BEEN PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO WHEN MY BRAKES RELEASE AND IT'S ANYTIME I SLOW DOWN AND HIT A POT HOLE, OR SLOW DOWN FOR A DIP. THE MOMENT THE TIRES LOSE ANY CONTACT/FRICTION ON THE ROAD THE BRAKES STOP WORKING. SO FAR IT'S BEEN MOST DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING ONTO SIDE STREETS OR INTO PARKING LOTS WITH A BUMP OR DIP. IF A CAR IS COMING OUT OF THE SAME DRIVEWAY I'M SLOWING TO ENTER I HAVE TO "PUMP" MY BRAKES WHEN I TURN SO I DON'T HIT THE OTHER CAR. IT'S MUCH WORSE IN ANY SNOW/RAIN. IT'S ALMOST AS THOUGH WHEN I BEGIN TO SLIDE A LITTLE AND THE BRAKE RELEASES IT ACTUALLY ACCELERATES. THE BRAKES GIVE OUT ON A DAILY BASIS, THIS IS NOT RARE OR INSIGNIFICANT. THIS HAS GOT TO BE A MANUFACTURING ERROR WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM IT'S JUST SO CONSISTENTLY FAULTY. *TR