2008 Toyota Prius Other / unspecified Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that she was unable to start the vehicle. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the hybrid battery to be replaced due to faulty strips causing leaks. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.

NHTSA ID

11463076

Incident

Apr 24, 2022

Mileage

185,000 mi

I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH ON A 4 LANE CITY ROAD & A TRUCK PULLED IN FRONT OF ME FROM A SHOPPING CENTER ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF ROAD FROM WHICH I WAS TRAVELING WITHOUT STOPPING IN CENTER MEDIAN CROSSOVER. I HIT BRAKES BUT I HAD NO TIME TO STOP. I'M NOT SURE THE BRAKES EVEN WORKED AS THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS FROM BRAKING. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR HIT HARD & ALSO DAMAGED DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL, FENDER PANEL. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY HEAD COLLIDED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. IT RESULTED IN MY HAVING A CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH, A FRACTURE IN MY NECK, SHOULDER PAIN & NERVE ISSUES IN MY ARMS & HANDS, BACK & HIP PAIN. I KNOW IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED I WOULDN'T HAVE SUFFERED ALL THE PHYSICAL ISSUES. THIS ALL HAPPENED JAN. 11 & I STILL HAVE PAIN. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ID

11395021

Incident

Jan 11, 2021

Mileage

93,000 mi

MY 2008 PRIUS (67,500 MILES) REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE TOYOTA DEALER HAD A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE WHILE I WAS GOING IN REVERSE DOWN MY DRIVE WAY . I HAVE DONE THE SAME MANEUVER EVERY DAY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN THIS DRIVEWAY AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. AS THE BRAKES FAILED I ATTEMPTED TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL MORE TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR CROSSED THE STREET AND WENT IN THE NEIGHBOR YARD ACROSS FROM MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR IS TOTALED AND I BELIEVE IT WAS A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE THAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE TOTAL LOSS OF MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

10966665

Incident

Mar 4, 2017

THE ELECTRIC HYBRID PUMP FAILED ON 01/08/2013 AND WAS REPLACED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER WHICH WAS UNDER RECALL, AND LESS THAN 13 THOUSAND MILES AND 4 MONTHS LATER (05/13/14), THE SAME PART FAILED AGAIN AND THIS TIME I WAS CHARGED OVER $700 TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676264

Incident

Jan 8, 2013

Mileage

118,989 mi

I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THIS WEBSITE IN THE PAST. THE TRACTION CONTROL DISABLES THE DRIVE WHEELS INCONSISTENTLY AND ARBITRARILY UNDER MANY CIRCUMSTANCES, OFTEN RESULTING IN A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP ON DRY OR WET PAVEMENT OR WHEN HITTING SMALL BUMPS/HOLES AT LOW SPEEDS (25-45 MPH). THIS IS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING WHEN TRYING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT - POWER IS CUT, SLOWING ENTRY INTO MOVING TRAFFIC AND INCREASING ACCIDENT POTENTIAL. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TELLS US THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. SURELY IT'S A SERIOUS ENOUGH HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671739

Incident

Apr 1, 2011

Mileage

87,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY PRIUS WITH 130,000 MILES LAST NIGHT IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD FEATURING A COUNTERCLOCKWISE,(LEFT-HAND) MODERATE CURVE. THE "CIRCLE" ENDED AT AN INTERSECTION WHERE I WAS TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. I TURNED MY STEERING TO THE RIGHT TO CANCEL THE COUNTERCLOCKWISE TRAJECTORY, BUT MY FRONT WHEELS SEEMED TO BE "LOCKED" IN THE LEFT TURNING MOTION. I SLAMMED THE BRAKES, BUT COULD NOT STOP THE CAR FROM CLIMBING THE CURB AND SIDESWIPING A TREE, CAUSING MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL TO BE SHOVED BACKWARD TOWARDS THE DRIVER DOOR IN THE WHEEL FRAME. MY CAR IS NOW AT A BODY SHOP WITH AN AGREED $5600.00 IN DAMAGE, MOSTLY TO THE STEERING ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION, AND WHEEL/AXLE. THE WHEEL PANEL ABOVE THE WHEEL WILL BE REPLACED, AND SCRATCHES ON THE FRONT BUMPER AND DRIVER DOOR WILL BE REPAIRED. WORK IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY JANUARY 5. I BELIEVE THAT THE CONDITION WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO LOCK IN A LEFT-TURN CONDITION WITHOUT WARNING ON A DRY ROAD IS A SERIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT FOR WHICH I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED .FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND NO INJURIES, AND EVEN THE TREE SEEMS UNSCATHED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC ON AN INTERSTATE OR IN CONGESTED HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH MY PRIUS' PERFORMANCE TO THIS POINT, BUT BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MATTER AS EVIDENCED BY STEERING RELATED RECALLS ON SIMILAR VINTAGE PRIUS MODELS. I REQUEST FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY REPAIR, MINDFUL THAT THESE EXPENSES COULD BE A LOT HIGHER HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. I HAD PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED THIS INFORMATION TO A TOYOTA INQUIRY WEBSITE AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OR RESPONSE FORM TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668150

Incident

Dec 15, 2014

Mileage

130,500 mi

AS OF 11/2014 THERE HAS BEEN A TOTAL OF 3 WHEEL BEARING ISSUES WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE FIRST OCCURRED IN 2012(RIGHT REAR) AND THE OTHER TWO OCCURRED IN 2014(BOTH FRONT). THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN, SINCE IT CAN CAUSE THE WHEEL TO SEIZE AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN TOYOTA'S WHEEL BEARINGS FOR THREE TO FAIL ON ONE VEHICLE AND THE FIRST FAILING AT ONLY 70,000 MILES. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE $1700 IN REPAIRS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IF THE WHEEL SEIZES OR FALLS OFF THIS CAN CAUSE FATALITIES. TOYOTA SHOULD LOOK INTO WHY ONE OF THERE FACTORIES IS PRODUCING DEFECTIVE SUB-PAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654164

Incident

Jul 18, 2012

Mileage

70,000 mi

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ALL THE DASH BOARD WARNING LIGHTS SET OFF AT THE SAME TIME DUE TO THE INVERTER PUMP FAILING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND AND A SUDDEN DECREASE IN POWER. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE INVERTER PUMP FAILING, WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HER MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10605257

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

WE HAVE HAD TWO CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OF CONTINENTAL PRO CONTACT TIRES (195/55-16) - ONE ON 12/11/2012 (RIGHT FRONT) AND ONE ON 04/24/2014 (LEFT FRONT). BOTH TIRES HAD BEEN IN SERVICE LESS THAN 5,000 MILES, WERE CORRECTLY INFLATED AND IN NO WAY MISUSED. NO ROAD OBSTACLE HAS HIT - THE TIRES SIMPLY DISINTEGRATED AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT INDICATION. BOTH LOOK AS THOUGH A TIGER SAW HAD BEEN USED TO CUT AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE WHERE THE SIDEWALL TURNS TO MEET THE TREAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584952

Incident

Apr 24, 2014

Mileage

43,170 mi

TOYOTA PRIUS (2008) HATCH RELEASE RUBBER COVER PIECE DETACHED AND TORE APART. NOTE THAT MY RX300 SELECTION OF MAKE/PART NUMBER IS BOGUS, AS I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHO MADE THIS RUBBER COMPONENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563215

Incident

Mar 2, 2013

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

NHTSA ID

10552812

Incident

Nov 18, 2013

Mileage

180,000 mi

THE PLASTIC PART ON THE REAR LATCH FOR THE TOYOTA PRIUS IS NOW LIKE GUM. AFTER INTERNET RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL TOYOTA LATCHES AND IT COSTS ABOUT $280.00 TO FIX. I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513636

Incident

May 27, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PAUSE AND THE TIRES LOST TRACTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 25,000.

NHTSA ID

10457379

Incident

May 15, 2008

Mileage

25,000 mi

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ANY TIME I GO OVER A BUMP/POTHOLE, WHILE TURNING, RESULTS IN A FLOATING SENSATION, SURGE FORWARD, AND MOMENTARY LOSS OF STEERING. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT 2 WEEKS AGO AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THIS OCCURRED. SERVICED MY VEHICLE YESTERDAY AND THEY CLAIM THE SKID CONTROL SYSTEM IS WORKING AS IT WAS DESIGNED. THERE IS DEFINITELY A FATAL FLAW IN THIS SYSTEM AND LIKELY A CHIP ISSUE. TOYOTA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10355934

Incident

Sep 2, 2010

Mileage

30,050 mi

2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH TRACTION CONTROL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLICKERING ON AND OFF MORE THAN SHE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED. SHE ALSO SMELLED AN ODOR SIMILAR TO SOMETHING BURNING. SHE OPENED THE WINDOWS TO LET IT CLEAR. HOWEVER, THE SMELL SEEMED TO LINGER IN THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST A MILE. AS SHE APPROACHED A TOWN, THE SPEED LIMIT WAS REDUCED FROM 45 MPH TO 25 MPH SO SHE SLOWED DOWN AND CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FLICKERING OF THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT. AS THE CONSUMER APPROACHED A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP FOR THE RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO STEER AND HAD NO BRAKES OR TRACTION. AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER, SHE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES ONE LAST TIME AND WAS ABLE TO STOP AT THE LAST SECOND. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN SHE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN AT A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 40 MPH AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ONLY ONE ADDITIONAL TIME UNTIL SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION 20 MINUTES LATER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10340053

Incident

Jun 8, 2010

I DRIVE A 2008 PRIUS. WHEN BRAKING AND DRIVING OVER A POT-HOLE, BUMP, OR OTHER ROAD WORK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGES, AND THE BRAKES RELEASE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME (>1 SECOND) CAUSING THE CAR TO COAST DURING THIS TIME. I DRIVE ON BUSY CITY STREETS AND ON HIGHWAYS WITH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, AND THIS UNCONTROLLED BRAKE RELEASE REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE DRIVEN VEHICLES WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES BEFORE, AND THIS KIND OF BRAKING RELEASE IS MUCH LONGER AND RESULTS IN A MUCH GREATER LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL THAN IN OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE DRIVEN. IN A SPECIFIC RECENT INCIDENT, I HIT A CAR IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME. IN THE INCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING OVER BUMPY PAVEMENT AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY. AS I TRIED TO BRAKE SHARPLY TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT, THE BRAKING RELEASED BECAUSE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED, AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING SAFELY, I HIT THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND DAMAGE WAS MINOR, THE INCIDENT (AND THE REGULARITY WITH WHICH THE BRAKES RELEASE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS) SEEMS TO ME TO REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM FOR THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10339395

Incident

Apr 23, 2010

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED IN RAINY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE ARRIVED TO ASSIST ON SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DAMAGES WERE BEING REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 22,800.

NHTSA ID

10339046

Incident

Jun 12, 2010

Mileage

22,800 mi

ON MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED, THE CAR SOMETIMES GOES INTO "ANTI-SKID" MODE, LEADING TO A BRIEF (~1/2 SECOND), DISCONCERTING PERIOD OF LURCHING/ACCELERATION/LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY BEFORE THE CAR RETURNS TO NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM IS USUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY THE LIGHTING OF THE YELLOW SKID ICON INDICATOR ON THE DASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10334328

Incident

Jun 2, 2010

WHEN I AM BRAKING AND GO OVER A BUMP IN MY 2008 PRIUS TOYOTA, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR A SECOND AND THE CAR GOES FASTER. I NOTICED THIS MAINLY DURING WINTER DRIVING IN SNOW AND ICE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10333928

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

20,000 mi

2008 PRIUS. OFTEN WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM KICKS IN AND IT FEELS AS IF I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I DON'T THINK I COULD STOP SUDDENLY. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT I AM UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING SOMETIMES EVEN IN GOOD WEATHER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NO HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10331250

Incident

May 18, 2010

FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON DRY, CLEAR AND CLEAN ROADS, MY CAR BRAKING SYSTEM WILL SEEM TO FAIL AND FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS GOING INTO A SKID. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL - ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO REASON FOR BRAKE TROUBLE. SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY LATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330740

Incident

May 16, 2010

Mileage

300 mi

MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSES BRAKING POWER EVERY TIME I BRAKE WHEN GOING OVER A BUMPY OR UNEVEN SURFACE AND IT TAKES 1/2 TO 1 SECOND BEFORE THEY RE-ENGAGE. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER AND HAD SERVICE TECHNICIAN GO ON A TEST DRIVE WITH ME. WHEN THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN EXPERIENCED THIS LOSS IN BRAKES, HE EXPLAINED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO RELEASE THE BRAKES ON THE TIRE (DURING BUMPY ROAD SURFACE) TO PREVENT LOCK-UP, BUT IF I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL LONG ENOUGH THE BRAKES WOULD RE-ENGAGE. MY COMPLAINT IS THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES FOR THE BRAKES TO RE-ENGAGE WAS TOO LONG AND MIGHT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIME LAPSE WAS NORMAL/STANDARD FOR ABS AND PRIUS DRIVERS NEEDED TO ADJUST THEIR DRIVING HABITS TO ALLOW FOR IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330610

Incident

Apr 30, 2010

Mileage

40,000 mi

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT EXPERIENCES THE SAME HESITANCY AND SHAKING WHILE BRAKING THAT THE 2010 RECALLED MODELS HAVE. I INITIALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED TO NOT BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO TOLD ME LAST WEEK AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY HAVE HAD OTHER 2008 OWNERS STATE THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THE VEHICLES ARE NOT UNDER RECALL, THERE IS NO RECOURSE FOR THESE CARS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CRASH DUE TO THE PROBLEM, BUT IT MAKES HANDLING A BIT DIFFICULT WHEN THE BRAKES SHAKE. I FEEL THE RECALL FIX SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO OTHER MODEL YEARS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320813

Incident

Mar 9, 2008

Mileage

52,500 mi

I WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT IN MY 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON GREENBACK LANE IN CITRUS HEIGHTS CA ON DEC. 24 2008 SLIGHT SPRINKLING AT THE TIME AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME BEGAN TO STOP I COULDN'T GET THE CAR STOPPED AND REAR ENDED A VAN . THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK FOR A SECOND OR SO AND I KEPT PRESSURE ON AND FINALLY THEY STARTED TO WORK BUT TO LATE TO AVOID THE COLLISION. I HIT A MINIVAN AND IT PUSHED HIM INTO A 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. I DIDN'T REALIZE AT THE TIME MY CAR MAY BE DEFECTIVE UNTIL ALL THE NEWS STARTED TO SURFACE AND NOW MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS. EVERYONE ELSE SAID THEY WEREN'T INJURED AT THE TIME BUT NOW THE DRIVER IN THE TRAIL BLAZER SAYS HE HAS WHIPLASH INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10317436

Incident

Dec 24, 2008

Mileage

6,500 mi

REPRODUCIBLE LAG IN BRAKE RESPONSE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY CONDITIONS AT LOW SPEEDS (8-20MPH) ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. IF I BRAKE BEFORE A SHARP BUMP (E.G., POTHOLE BEFORE STOP SIGN), THERE IS A DELAY IN BRAKE ENGAGEMENT ON THE ORDER OF SECOND(S), AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES ON THE DASHBOARD. THE BRAKES WILL EVENTUALLY ENGAGE. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE AND REPRODUCIBLE WHEN I AM DRIVING ON A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS THAT IS IN THE FOOTHILLS OF SALT LAKE CITY ON A DECLINING AND CURVY ROAD. HOWEVER, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS BRAKE ISSUE PERIODICALLY WHEN HITTING POTHOLES OR SHARP BUMPS ON SLIGHT DECLINES AT OTHER VENUES. HOWEVER, THIS HAS LED TO SEVERAL EPISODES OF THE CAR STOPPING LATER THAN ANTICIPATED, AND I WORRY THAT MY SCENARIO REPRESENTS A "SENTINEL EVENT" FOR FUTURE SAFETY ISSUES. I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS AT A DEALERSHIP, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT "YOU JUST HAVE TO ADJUST TO THE BRAKE FEEL COMPARED TO YOUR OLD NON-HYBRID CAR." *TR

NHTSA ID

10314756

Incident

Sep 1, 2008