NHTSA Complaint #11048273 — 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS

AFTER I NOTICED THAT THE SUV SUFFICIENTLY AHEAD OF ME IN THE SAME LANE WAS STOPPING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, I STARTED SLOWING DOWN WITH PLENTY OF SPACE. I GLANCED FOR A SECOND TO MY RIGHT SIDE TO CHECK SAFETY AROUND ANOTHER SET OF HEADLIGHTS. WHEN I FACED FORWARD I COULD SEE THAT I WAS GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE ABOUT-TO-TURN CAR AHEAD OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR KEPT MOVING FORWARD AND SLAMMED INTO THE SUV'S REAR END. THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO PHYSICALLY INJURIES, BUT THE COLLISION CAUSED LOW/MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE SUV AND MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY PRIUS -- ENOUGH THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CLOBBERED, AND THAT MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. AT THE TIME OF THIS POST, THE REPAIR SHOP HAS NOT YET FINISHED EVALUATING IT AND REPORTING ON ALL THE DAMAGED PARTS AND THE ESTIMATE COSTS. PRIOR TO PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO, I HAD CHECKED FOR ACTIVE RECALLS BUT FOUND NONE, AND I CONFIRMED THE SAME SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE. APPARENTLY, THOUGH, TOYOTA HAS NOT YET ISSUED A RECALL ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM EVEN AFTER MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUCH A FAILURE DURING AN EMERGENCY NEED FOR A TOTAL STOP. I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN PURSUING FURTHER ACTION, POSSIBLY THROUGH LEGAL AVENUES.