NHTSA Complaint #10552812 — 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS

WHEN I BRAKE AND ALSO GO OVER A BUMP MY 2008 PRIUS LURCHES FORWARD. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THE BRAKES BECOME INEFFECTIVE. THIS CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT LAST NIGHT. THE CARS BEFORE ME CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I WAS DRIVING 15-20MPH BUT UNFORTUNATELY I HIT THE BRAKES WHILE UNKNOWNINGLY SIMULTANEOUSLY GOING OVER A BUMP. THE FAULTY TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM SENT ME INTO A 1-2 SECOND LURCH FORWARD WITH ZERO BRAKES. WHEN I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO HAVE BRAKES I HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT OF THE CAR AHEAD SCRATCHING THE AURA AND DENTING MY FRONT RIGHT PANEL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED BUT IT IS THE FIRST TIME I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. TOYOTA DRIVERS NEED TO LEAVE A 4 SEC. SPACE BETWEEN CARS TO MAKE UP FOR THE 2 SEC. LAPSE IN BRAKES. *TR