NHTSA Complaint #10340053 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH TRACTION CONTROL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLICKERING ON AND OFF MORE THAN SHE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED. SHE ALSO SMELLED AN ODOR SIMILAR TO SOMETHING BURNING. SHE OPENED THE WINDOWS TO LET IT CLEAR. HOWEVER, THE SMELL SEEMED TO LINGER IN THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST A MILE. AS SHE APPROACHED A TOWN, THE SPEED LIMIT WAS REDUCED FROM 45 MPH TO 25 MPH SO SHE SLOWED DOWN AND CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FLICKERING OF THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT. AS THE CONSUMER APPROACHED A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP FOR THE RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO STEER AND HAD NO BRAKES OR TRACTION. AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER, SHE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES ONE LAST TIME AND WAS ABLE TO STOP AT THE LAST SECOND. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN SHE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN AT A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 40 MPH AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ONLY ONE ADDITIONAL TIME UNTIL SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION 20 MINUTES LATER. *JB