NHTSA Complaint #10317512 — 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS

I WAS DRIVING MY BRAND NEW, 3 WEEKS OLD, 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ON A RURAL ROAD IN CLARK COUNTY WASHINGTON ON THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A VERY SHARP LEFT TURN. I WAS APPLYING MY BRAKES WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I REALIZED I WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN MUCH AND WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE TURN. I HAVE MANEUVERED THIS TURN HUNDREDS OF TIMES AND KNOW THAT ONE MUST SLOW TO ALMOST A CRAWL TO MAKE THE TURN. I TRAVEL THIS AREA AT LEAST 1-2 TIMES PER WEEK, SO I WAS NOT UNFAMILIAR WITH THE TURN. IT FELT LIKE MY CAR INITIALLY SLOWED SOME, BUT THEN SLOWING CEASED AND I ENDED UP ON EMBANKMENT. THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED SEVERELY. I WAS NOT HURT BUT LEFT WITH A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE TO DEAL WITH. I AM A EXCELLENT DRIVER AND HAVE NEVER HAD A WRECK IN THE 31 YEARS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING. I BELIEVE MY BRAKES INITIALLY ENGAGED, BUT THEN DUE TO THE RURAL ROAD SURFACE, AND PEBBLES LEFT ON THE ROAD FROM PREVIOUS ICE AND SNOW, MAY HAVE CAUSED MY BRAKES TO NOT WORK AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT TOYOTA BUT THEY ARE CLOSED DUE TO IT BEING THE WEEKEND. MY CAR IS AT THE AUTO BODY SHOP AS I WRITE THIS LETTER. MY CONCERN IS THAT I WAS ALLOWED TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE, THAT IS ON THE RECALL LIST WITH SUCH A DANGEROUS DEFECT SUCH AS "THE BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY." I HAVE A TEENAGE SON WHO IS JUST LEARNING TO DRIVE AND WOULD IT HAVE BEEN HIM, THE ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN WORSE. PLEASE ADVISE HOW YOU BELIEVE I SHOULD PROCEED. I AM VERY CONCERNED, UPSET, AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR! AND I CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN, OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT I JUST SPENT $33,000.00 ON. I WAS TOLD WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE, FINE TO DRIVE, AND MAY NOT EVEN BE ON THE RECALL LIST. IT IS ON THE LIST AND IT IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. *TR