NHTSA Complaint #10305322 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

I HAVE READ NEWS REPORTS ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKING ISSUES. AS AN OWNER OF A 2008 PRIUS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED NEAR IDENTICAL BEHAVIOR. WHEN BRAKING, IF THE CAR HITS A POTHOLE OR A BUMP, I MOMENTARILY (MAYBE 1/2 -1 SECOND OF TIME) LOSE ALL BRAKING POWER BEFORE BRAKING THEN RESUMES. AFTER THIS 'HICCUP' THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BLINKS 3-4 TIMES. THE ISSUE HAS NEVER RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, HOWEVER I HAVE CHANGED MY DRIVING HABITS TO ENSURE I HAVE EXTRA ROOM TO STOP AS THE ISSUE IS BOTH RECURRING AND QUITE FREQUENT (THERE IS ONE OFFRAMP ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WITH A SMALL BUMP THAT CAUSES THIS ISSUE 35-50% OF THE TIME). I KNOW THAT THE CURRENT STORY IS THAT THE 2010 PRIUS HAS A 'REDESIGNED' BRAKING SYSTEM, SO PRIOR MODELS AND GENERATIONS ARE SUPPOSEDLY NOT AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM THE NHTSA IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING. MY EXPERIENCE, HOWEVER, LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD AND DOES IN FACT IMPACT EARLIER GENERATION PRIUS CARS, POSSIBLY IN A PORTION OF THE BRAKING CONTROL SYSTEM COMMON TO BOTH THE OLDER AND NEWER PRIUS MODELS. *TR