NHTSA Complaint #10307159 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

MY CAR IS A 2008 PRIUS. THE INCIDENT IS THAT MY CAR DIDN'T STOP AND SKIDDED INTO A CONCRETE CURB, DAMAGING THE RIGHT FRONT POWER STEERING RACK. IT WAS SNOWING, ABOUT 1-2" ACCUMULATED. DRIVING INTO MY OFFICE PARKING LOT, THERE IS A STREET WITH A STEEP BUT SHORT HILL - MAYBE 50FEET OR LESS - (IT WAS NOT PLOWED OR SANDED). AT THE FOOT OF THE HILL, THERE IS A LEFT TURN INTO A LEVEL PARKING LOT OR A RIGHT TURN UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS, OR STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO SHRUBS AND THE RIVER. I SLOWED DOWN BEFORE GOING DOWN THE HILL AND AS I WENT DOWN THE HILL I LIGHTLY PUMPED BRAKES. TRIED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT FOOT OF THE HILL BUT CAR DIDN'T STOP COMPLETELY, BUT WAS GOING SLOW. SO, I MADE THE LEFT TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT. THE BODY OF THE CAR TURNED INTO THE LOT, BUT WAS NOT IN CONTROL. WITH THE BRAKES ON, AND THE WHEEL TURNED TO THE LEFT, THE CAR WENT INTO A SLIDE SIDEWAYS TO THE RIGHT. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SLAMMED INTO A CONCRETE CURB AND THE CAR STOPPED. IT FELT AS IF I HAD NO BRAKES - COMING DOWN THE HILL THEY COULDN'T STOP ME AND THERE WAS NO SKID CONTROL COMING ON AT ANY TIME. THE FAILURE: GIVEN THE WEATHER CONDITIONS I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROVE A FAILURE BUT I SUSPECT SOMETHING WITH THE BRAKES. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR ONE YEAR (PURCHASED IT USED) AND DURING THAT TIME THE ONE THING THAT BUGS ME IN THE CAR IS THE BRAKES AND THE SKID CONTROL. THEY JUST FEEL STRANGE, I GO OVER A DEPRESSED MANHOLE IN THE ROAD AND THE DSC COMES ON AND IT FEELS LIKE I SKID - IT SHOULD JUST FEEL LIKE A BUMP. REPAIRS: THIS IS THE LIST -ENTIRE POWER STEERING RACK ON RIGHT FRONT TO BE REPLACED- TIE ROD, LOWER CONTROL ARM, WHEEL, RIM-ALL BENT. FRONT COVER AND LOWER BALL JOINT DAMAGED-TO BE REPLACED. OVER $3000 IN REPAIRS; THEY WILL BE DONE THIS WEEK (8 FEB). IF YOU WANT THE OLD PARTS I CAN ASK FOR DEALER TO SAVE THEM. CAR IS @ TOYOTA DEALER. MILEAGE & SPEED ARE MY BEST GUESS; COMPONENTS I GUESSED - YOUR TERMS WERE NOT FAMILIAR TO ME. *TW