NHTSA Complaint #10380358 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

WHAT HAPPENED ON 12/23/10 WAS THAT I WAS GOING TO TURN AROUND IN A SHORT DRIVEWAY, APPROXIMATELY 6 FT LONG, THAT WAS ON A STEEP INCLINE. AS I CAME UP TO THE DRIVEWAY, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO MOVE IT OVER TO THE BRAKE. MY FOOT WAS COMPLETELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND, WHEN THE CAR HIT THE INCLINE, IT SPED UP REALLY FAST. I HAD TO JAM ON MY BRAKES TO KEEP FROM CRASHING INTO A GARAGE DOOR. MY MAIN COMPLAINT, THOUGH, IS THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF OVERRIDE SYSTEM BUILT INTO THE 2008 PRIUS SO THAT, WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER CERTAIN POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD -- BUT NOT ALL OF THEM -- AND YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SPEEDS UP TO MOVE YOU OUT OF THE POTHOLE OR OVER THE BUMP. THIS OVERRIDES THE BRAKES SO THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU COULD RUN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU IF IT WAS STOPPED OR INTO SOMETHING BLOCKING THE ROAD OR A GARAGE DOOR. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE BRAKING TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN, WHETHER YOU ARE GOING DOWN A HILL, AROUND A CURVE OR COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. YOU HAVE YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP MOMENTARILY. THERE IS A SQUARE METAL PLATE THAT IS SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THE TARMAC IN THE ROAD ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM MY HOUSE. THE ROAD IS A CANYON ROAD SO IT IS A HILLSIDE ROAD THAT IS VERY NARROW. EVERY MORNING WHEN I DRIVE TO WORK, I HAVE TO DRIVE OVER THAT PLATE AND, EVERY TIME I DO, MY CAR SPEEDS UP. THIS HAPPENS WITH OTHER 2008 PRIUSES THAT FRIENDS HAVE, IT'S NOT JUST MINE. IT IS VERY SCARY AND EVERYONE I KNOW WHO HAS A 2008 PRIUS KNOWS THAT IT IS A BAD DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STOP THE OVERRIDE SYSTEM. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.