NHTSA Complaint #10310658 — 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS

WHEN DRIVING ON ROADS THAT ARE CURVED, WHEN CHANGING LANES, OR ON STREETS THAT ARE WET, THE CAR FEELS UNBALANCED, AND REQUIRES A QUICK STEERING ADJUSTMENT TO REGAIN NORMAL OPERATION. INCIDENTS LIKE THESE OCCUR TOO FREQUENTLY, AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK, AND WHEN THEY OCCUR, THE VEHICLE'S RED SKID LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED (I SUPPOSE IT IS RELATED TO THIS MODEL'S ANTI-SKID AND/OR TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE THAT WAS NOT STANDARD EQUIPMENT). TRACTION CONTROL WAS AN OPTIONAL FEATURE THAT THE DEALERSHIPS OFFERED IN MORE EXPENSIVE PACKAGES OF THE 2006 PRIUS BUNDLED TOGETHER WITH OTHER ITEMS THAT WERE NOT RELATED TO DRIVING SAFETY, WHICH MADE THE PACKAGES UNNECESSARILY EXPENSIVE, AND WAS A FACTOR IN MY DECISION TO NOT OPT FOR THIS UPGRADE. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE, I FELT THE NEED TO REPORT THIS IN CASE OTHER DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES. THE DATE I HAVE SELECTED CORRESPONDS TO THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE, NOT TO ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT, AS THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. FYI, TIRES, BRAKES, STEERING, AND ALIGNMENT HAVE ALL BEEN CHECKED AND MAINTAINED AS PER TOYOTA'S SUGGESTED GUIDELINES. *TR