NHTSA Complaint #10328406 — 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSES ALL TRACTION WHEN ENCOUNTERING CONDITIONS WHERE ONLY ONE WHEEL LOSES TRACTION. THIS FAILURE OCCURS ON ROADS WITH SAND ON THEM. MOST COMMONLY IT OCCURS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION, FROM THE RIGHT OR TURN LANE. WHEN TO ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED, THE CAR STARTS TO MOVE, USUALLY A LITTLE WAY INTO THE INTERSECTION, AND THEN STALLS BECAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL STARTS TO SLIP IN THE SAND ALONG THE CURB. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN EXECUTING A "RIGHT ON RED" TURN. THE CAR HAS MOVED PART WAY INTO THE INTERSECTION AND IS STALLED BY THE LACK OF ANY TRACTION. TOYOTA CALLS THIS "TRACTION CONTROL". I DON'T THINK THIS IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION. IT'S REALLY COMPUTER CONTROLLED TRACTION LOSS. THE OCCURRENCE REPORTED IS ONLY THE LATEST. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS. COMPLAINTS TO TOYOTA HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS, BECAUSE THEY SAY THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING WITHIN DESIGN LIMITS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT OVER-REVVING OF ENGINE COMPONENTS AND STRESSING THEM. *TR