NHTSA Complaint #10377788 — 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS

I HAVE RECENTLY MOVED TO PENNSYLVANIA, A STATE WITH MANY HILLS, AND HAVE FOUND THAT ON ICY HILLS, THE TRACTION CONTROL CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN ENTIRELY WHEN THE WHEELS SLIP. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE THERE IS NO POWER AT ALL TO THE WHEELS, CAUSING THE CAR TO SLIP BACKWARD ON THE ICE. I LIVE ON A STEEP HILL AND MY CAR HAS ALMOST ROLLED OFF THE HILL THREE TIMES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE TRACTION CONTROL / ENGINE. THE PRIUS, UNLIKE MANY OTHER CARS WITH TRACTION CONTROL, HAS NO TRACTION CONTROL SHUTDOWN/OVERRIDE SWITCH. IN RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, MANY OTHER OWNERS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.