Toyota takes another hit - brakes on the 2010 Prius

[wdb]

Brakes on the Prius may fail to work, or 'surge' (regenerative braking issue?), at low speeds.

Japan Tells Toyota to Test Prius Brakes for Defect - NYTimes.com

This is getting bad. Two serious safety related issues -- throttle and brakes!

[wyatt]

We have a Prius, never had a problem with unintended acceleration or brakes failing to work. I wonder if the "surge" they are talking about is when you go from regenerative braking to mechanical braking and can feel the difference... I have never felt unsafe while driving or braking (at least not due to the Prius, maybe because of other drivers on the road...)

[gone-ot]

10:1 Japanese-to-USA "safety" ratio?

...notice it only took 14 complaints for Japanese government to act, but 136 for US government to do nothing.

[Daox]

Originally Posted by wyatt

We have a Prius, never had a problem with unintended acceleration or brakes failing to work. I wonder if the "surge" they are talking about is when you go from regenerative braking to mechanical braking and can feel the difference... I have never felt unsafe while driving or braking (at least not due to the Prius, maybe because of other drivers on the road...)

This article is only about the 2010 Prius. It seems the 04-09 models don't have this problem.

[Bicycle Bob]

We are still a long way from enough complexity to generate Artificial Intelligence, but computers, and now cars, have definitely attained Artificial Stupidity. <sigh>

[Matt Herring]

In my 2009 Prius the only "surge" or "slipping" I have felt is when I am in EV mode and the traction slip control activates in the car (yellow slip indicator on dash)...I feel a "bump" out of EV and into ICE that took some getting used to. Instead of brief moment of panic...now I'm pissed because I got bumped out of EV and have to get back in it. Only happens when in EV when hitting a pothole, on slippery roads or sometimes when turning and the wheels spin on loose gravel.

[bgd73]

In spells in my own locale,over the years, I clearly remember throttle problems related to entire areas with bad fuel deliveries.
I recently read a blog about jeeps complaints about throttles sticking as well...not just appearing because toyotas did, it has had a random problem for some time as well.

My own car spewed diesel without definition.

On a sranger note, fuel is volatile, what is to say micronic rumblings on our suspended cars isn't making a distillery with haiti cracking at the world and yellowstone with many micro shakes...
in cold weather I could guess a diesel like substance getting left behind, and in the warmer climates, crazy thottles to light fuels..lack of fuel cells makes this all too possible. Hell, from 5 below to 32 above the same 5 gallons in my tank is 1/8th reading to over half a tank on the guage... gas does something in the closed unbaffled containers.

I hardly think that I am overthinking this subject. I have twenty years in maine. Nothing is crazy in the automobile subject.

[KITT222]

The hits for Toyota just keep coming:
Toyota cites design flaw with Prius brakes - Autos- msnbc.com
What will be recalled next? Obviously their reliability rating is going to be hit hard (already has actually), along with their reputation. wonder what kind of loss they're getting from the halted sales, and cut production.

Also wonder what Toyota will find with Steve Wozniak's Prius...

[rmay635703]

Toyota isn't exactly the noble hero they are portrayed to be. I think this is more of a reality hit because a lot of people have an unwarranted inflated view of them.

Lets face it EVERY vehicle has problems and from my experience when a toyota has one it seems to cost more for me to fix?

Not saying Toyota is terrible, but I also don't think they are any better than their counterparts, they just come from a country with different sensibilities.

[Daox]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

Not saying Toyota is terrible, but I also don't think they are any better than their counterparts, they just come from a country with different sensibilities.

Consumer Reports would disagree with you. Toyota and Honda are neck and neck ranked for most reliable vehicles (Honda is probably above them now haha). Domestics are a fair amount lower on the totem pole as well as most European brands. They have improved in recent year though.