2004 TOYOTA PRIUS Traction Control System Problems

TRACTION CONTROL DISABLES CAR WHEN SLIPPERY... ENGINE TOTALLY SHUTS OFF. CAN HAPPEN PASSING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN ICY/SNOWY, ETC. ALSO MAKES ASCENDING HILLS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. *TR

1. EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE DRIVING IN 1 - 2 INCHES OF SNOW, I ATTEMPTED LEFT TURN, ENCOUNTERING A SOMEWHAT DEEPER (APPROXIMATELY 4-INCH, AND HEAVILY TRACKED FROM PREVIOUS VEHICLES) BERM OF SNOW AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE SIDE STREET ONTO WHICH I WAS TURNING. 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES THE TRACTION CONTROL SEIZED ALL MOTION OF FRONT (TRACTION) TIRES, THOUGH SNOW WAS NOT DEEP ENOUGH OTHERWISE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT. THIS LEFT ME IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING DOWNHILL ON SLIPPERY ROAD. THE TRACTION CONTROL COMPLETELY DISABLED CAR, LEADING TO VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALSO, CONTINUED APPLICATION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE QUICKLY CREATED SMELL OF HOT TRANSMISSION. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT, EVEN WITH THE OPEN DIFFERENTIAL, THE CAR WOULD HAVE PROGRESSED THROUGH THE SNOW BUT FOR THE TRACTION CONTROL. AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THIS PROBLEM IS...

RETURNING FROM WORK APPROX 1700 DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON D.C. METRO AREA. IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE OPENINGS SINCE THE BLIZZARD OF 2010 HAD STARTED. MY RESIDENCE IS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES FROM A MAJOR PRIMARY ROAD (VA HWY 7 IN LOUDOUN COUNTY). THE ROAD IS SECONDARY STATE ROAD VADOT OWNED AND MAINTAINED DIRT (PACKED GRAVEL) ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.25 MILES, PROCEEDING INTO OUR MY DEVELOPMENT THE ROAD IS PAVED ASPHALT FRO THE REMAINING .25 MILES. ON THE SECONDARY ROAD THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD WAS PACKED SNOW WITH SMALL RUNS OF LOOSE SNOW. THE ROAD IS VERY WINDING WITH SLIGHT INCLINES AND DECLINES THROUGHOUT. EVERY TIME MY CAR WOULD BREAK TRACTION I WOULD LOSE POWER LEAVING ME WITH NO CORRECTION CAPABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I ALMOST RAN INTO EMBANKMENTS AND OVER THE SOFT SHOULDER SEVERAL TIMES DESPITE SLOWING...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A ROAD COVERED WITH THREE INCHES OF SNOW. THE VEHICLE BEGAN BEGAN TO SKID. THE SKID CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING ACTIVATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT WAS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.