NHTSA Complaint #10308573 — 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS

ON A DAILY BASIS, MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSES CONTROL, SKIDS, (THE TRACTION LIGHT GOES ON), FISHTAILS AND HAS BRAKE FAILURES ON ICE AND SNOW. WHEN I HIT POTHOLES OR BIG BUMPS, THE CAR ACCELERATES AND I HAVE TO QUICKLY BRAKE. THE NORTHBROOK TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER DROVE IT TODAY. THE CAR LOST CONTROL, SKIDDED, THE TRACTION LIGHT WENT ON, IT FISHTAILED, AND THE BRAKES FAILED ON THE ICE AND SNOW. HIS COMMENT WAS "THAT'S THE WAY THE CAR IS. IT DOESN'T DRIVE WELL ON ICE AND SNOW". WE COULDN'T FIND A GOOD POTHOLE FOR THE CAR TO DEMONSTRATE THE ACCELERATION TODAY. I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTOMECHANIC THAT WORKS ON OUR OTHER CARS THAT THE 2009 AND 2010 PRIUS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKES. PRESENTLY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 2009 PRIUS. I AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO KILL SOMEONE AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN I CAN'T STOP. YESTERDAY I HAD 2 CATHOLIC NUNS IN THE CAR AND THE CAR FAILED TO TURN LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION, ALMOST FISHTAILING INTO AN EMBANKMENT BEFORE IT RIGHTED ITSELF. A LEXUS SUV BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME WHILE TRYING TO AVOID ME. I AM HOPING THAT NO LIVES WILL BE LOST, OR SEVERE INJURIES OCCUR, BEFORE THESE PROBLEMS ARE ACKNOWLEDGED BY TOYOTA AND FIXED. *TR