NHTSA Complaint #10519362 — 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS

WHEN HITTING LARGER SIZE POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD I LOSE CONTROL OF WHAT FEELS LIKE THE REAR END, ITS AS IF THE VEHICLE BRAKES GIVES WAY WHEN THE REAR TIRES HIT THE OBJECT, CAR SHIMMIES SLIGHTLY, THE BRAKES STOP WORKING FOR AT LEAST 3 SECONDS AS THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. THE BRAKE ALSO DEPRESSES FURTHER TO THE FLOOR WHILE IT HAPPENS. THERE'S A PARTICULAR SPOT ON MY WAY TO WORK THAT CONTINUES TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM. ITS HEADING DOWN A SMALL DECLINING HILL BEFORE A TURN TO THE LEFT. IF I WERE TO TAILGATE SOMEONE AND HAVE THAT HAPPEN I WOULD SURELY HIT THEM BECAUSE THERE'S NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER HITTING THE OBJECT. THIS OBJECT GOES STRAIGHT ACROSS THE 2 LANES AS IF THE CONCRETE PAVING WAS POURED TOO HIGH IN A LONG HORIZONTAL LINE. I THINK IT HAS TO BE ABOVE A 4-5 INCHES OR SO BECAUSE I'LL HIT SMALLER ONES AND I'M FINE AND I'VE TESTED IT ON DIFFERENT OBJECTS, ITS HIGHER RAISED ITEMS CAUSING THE BEHAVIOR. IT HAPPENS WHEN ITS DRY, WET OR ICY OUT, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE APPLYING THE BRAKE TO REALLY FEEL IT AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. MY PASSENGER ALSO FELT THE LOSS IN CONTROL EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND ITS BEEN NUMEROUS SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. *TR