NHTSA Complaint #10307856 — 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS

I BOUGHT A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN AUGUST 2009. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKING PROBLEM I DESCRIBE BELOW, I ALSO HAVE AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I QUESTIONED MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN I AM BRAKING OVER METAL (MANHOLE COVER, REPAIR LIDS, ETC.) THE CAR IS QUICKLY PUSHED FORWARD ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET. SEVERAL OTHER NEW OWNERS SAID THEY HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. THE DEALER SAID THAT WHEN THEY CHECKED WITH TOYOTA, THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY MOTOR USED A MAGNET AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO RECHARGE IT. AND THAT THE PUSH FORWARD WAS FROM THE REPELLING ACTION OF THE MAGNET. MY SISTERS OWN A 2008 CAMRY HYBRID AND 2008 PRIUS, AND THEY BOTH HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROPELLING MOTION WHEN ON METAL SURFACES ALSO. THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEALERS ADVICE TO "NOT BRAKE ON METAL SURFACES" DOESN'T HELP IN SNOW OR WATER SITUATIONS. WILL THIS PROBLEM BE FIXED BY THE ABS BRAKES SOFTWARE CHANGE?? I ALSO HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD SUDDENLY GO TO THE FLOOR AND PRODUCE VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND THE DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER INSTANCES WHERE THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK WELL AND I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SO I NOW DRIVE WITH A LOT OF DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND OTHER CARS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. I SHOULD SAY THAT I'VE HAD OTHER CARS WITH ABS BRAKES AND THIS CAR DOES NOT FEEL LIKE I HAVE THEM. ON SLIPPERY SURFACES (SNOW, WATER) THE BRAKES DO NOT PUMP THEMSELVES LIKE OTHER ABS CARS THAT I HAVE DRIVEN. I HAVE DROPPED IT INTO LOW GEAR TO HELP BRAKE. THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN VERY CAREFUL AND NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET. *TR