NHTSA Complaint #10371766 — 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS

1. EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE DRIVING IN 1 - 2 INCHES OF SNOW, I ATTEMPTED LEFT TURN, ENCOUNTERING A SOMEWHAT DEEPER (APPROXIMATELY 4-INCH, AND HEAVILY TRACKED FROM PREVIOUS VEHICLES) BERM OF SNOW AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE SIDE STREET ONTO WHICH I WAS TURNING. 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES THE TRACTION CONTROL SEIZED ALL MOTION OF FRONT (TRACTION) TIRES, THOUGH SNOW WAS NOT DEEP ENOUGH OTHERWISE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT. THIS LEFT ME IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING DOWNHILL ON SLIPPERY ROAD. THE TRACTION CONTROL COMPLETELY DISABLED CAR, LEADING TO VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALSO, CONTINUED APPLICATION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE QUICKLY CREATED SMELL OF HOT TRANSMISSION. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT, EVEN WITH THE OPEN DIFFERENTIAL, THE CAR WOULD HAVE PROGRESSED THROUGH THE SNOW BUT FOR THE TRACTION CONTROL. AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THIS PROBLEM IS INHERENT TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER CONDITIONS OCCUR THAT CROSS THE THRESHOLD OF SLIPPERINESS AND RESISTANCE I ENCOUNTERED. 3. THE DEFECT REMAINS UNCORRECTED. THE ESSENTIAL CORRECTION IS REDESIGN AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TRACTION AND/OR ADDING A DISABLING SWITCH. *TR