NHTSA Complaint #10308405 — 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS

APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES WHILE DRIVING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH STOPPING WHEN ONE OF MY TIRES EITHER IS ON A MANHOLE COVER OR ON UNEVEN ROAD(ONE TIRE IN A POTHOLE). WHEN THIS OCCURS I AM USUALLY GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. I APPLY THE BRAKE SLOWLY TO START TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN. MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE ROLLS OVER A MANHOLE COVER AND WHILE MY FOOT IS STILL ON THE BRAKE MY CAR ACCELERATES, LUNGING FORWARD. THIS LASTS FOR 1-2 SECONDS WHEN I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. AFTER THIS 1-2 SECONDS MY BRAKES STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE TIME MY FOOT HAS BEEN ON THE BRAKE. I KNOW THAT IF A CAR WAS IN FRONT OF ME AT THE TIME, I WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED IT. EVERY TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT GOES ON. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. THEY EVEN TOOK THE CAR OUT FOR A DRIVE WITH ME AND OF COURSE WE COULD NEVER RECREATE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, IN TALKING TO PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT MAY BE THE TRACTION CONTROL BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE YOUR TIRES SPIN SLOWER IF YOU LOOSE TRACTION. IT SEEMS AS IF IT DOES THE OPPOSITE AND SPEEDS THE TIRE UP. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY WAY THEY COULD CHECK MY TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY, BUT WAS TOLD THERE IS NO WAY TO CHECK IT. I AM NOT SURE IF ANYONE HAS THOUGHT ABOUT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IS POINTING FINGERS TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TO CHECK INTO THE TRACTION CONTROL AS WELL. IT SEEMS LIKE A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO NOT BE IN CONTROL. BUT FOR THAT 1-2 SECONDS MY HEART ALWAYS DROPS BECAUSE I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER MY VEHICLE. *TR