NHTSA Complaint #10313034 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

WE HAVE A 2008 PRIUS WHICH HAS A COUPLE OF DANGEROUS THINGS ABOUT IT WHICH THE DEALER SAYS IS 'THE WAY IT'S DESIGNED TO WORK'. 1.I BELIEVE THEY ARE RECALLING THE 2010 PRIUS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE 2008 HAS IT ALSO. THE CARS BRAKING SYSTEM COMPLETELY RELEASES ALL THE BRAKES, SO FAR I'VE JUST NOTICED IT IN THE REAR WHEELS, WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE AND THE WHEEL HITS A BUMP AND LOOSES TRACTION. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT GOES ON AND ALL THE BRAKES ARE GONE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS ALSO ACCELERATING DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THAT COULD JUST BE A RESULT OF LOOSING THE BRAKING SYSTEM. 2.THE ENGINE 'COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF' WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS SPIN. IN SNOW ON A GRADE WHICH CAN EASILY BE DRIVEN ON WITH A VEHICLES SLIPPING FROM TIME TO TIME, THE PRIUS MOTOR SHUTS DOWN WHEN A DRIVING WHEEL SPINS AND ALL FORWARD MOMENTUM IS LOST ' IE AFTER SPIN, NO ENGINE, POWER, SPIN, NO ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR COMES TO A STOP IN THE ROAD. I ALSO CAN'T GET UP MY NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY IF IT RAINS BECAUSE OF THIS. IF CROSSING A LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM A STOP SIGN AND THE WHEEL SPINS WE ARE IN 'MORTAL DANGER' OF BEING HIT. *TR