NHTSA Complaint #10304621 — 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BRAKES AND/OR TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND HAS BEEN ONGOING AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. I AM THE FIRST OWNER. THE FAULT IS AS FOLLOWS: WHEN PASSING OVER ROAD SURFACES THAT CAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE TO ACTIVATE (GRAVEL, POT HOLE, SNOW, STANDING WATER, ETC.), BRAKING AND ACCELERATION CONTROL IS TEMPORARILY LOST. THIS LOSS OF CONTROL PERSISTS FOR 1-3 SECONDS. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN ARE INSTANCES IN WHICH A YIELDING SITUATION ACCOMPANYING A MERGING OR TURNING MANEUVER PRESENT THEMSELVES. IN THESE SITUATIONS, IF THE CAR PASSES OVER A ROAD SURFACE WHICH CAUSES AN ACTIVATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, I AM UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR OR TO ACCELERATE OUT OF DANGER. I FEAR THAT I WILL FIND MYSELF IN THE SITUATION WHERE I AM TRYING TO SLOW DOWN TO YIELD TO A VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON A RED LIGHT AND WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO DUE TO THE LOSS OF BRAKING/ACCELERATION CONTROL ACCOMPANYING THE ACTIVATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. IN SUCH A SITUATION, I WOULD BE UNABLE TO AVOID A HIGH-SPEED COLLISION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE LIVED WITH THIS DANGER FOR THE LAST 4+ YEARS, BUT IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, I FEEL IT IS APPROPRIATE TO RAISE THIS ISSUE THROUGH THIS COMPLAINT SYSTEM. *TR