2010 Prius problematic?

If you have put up with a 1991 Saab, you have nothing to worry about in buying a 2010 Prius! The brakes work fine on this car. For the life of me, I cannot understand complaints about the Prius brakes.

 

The NHTSA press release last March said that the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) "will examine the broad subject of unintended acceleration and electronic vehicle controls across the entire industry over the course of 15 months" which would be around June this year.

I did't find any reference to a NASA report on this issue on either the NASA or NHTSA websites

Perhaps the LA Times confused NAS with NASA.

 

perhaps.

 

Google:

NASA + Prius

 

Do a search for 'taxi' to get the post from about a week ago reporting on how reliable Prius Taxis have been in Vancouver. Grumpy Taxi, a frequent poster here, can also verify how reliable the Prius is.

I researched my purchase carefully back in in April, when the false claims against Prius were frequent. It was clear that the claims were (mostly0 fake, and I was able to leverage the situation into a good discount. As a previous post said, I've never looked back. By the way, the NTSB has researched dozens of claims of acceleration against the Prius, and last I knew, all had been proved to be hoaxes or clear driver error.

With the situation unfolding in the Arab world, gas will be $5 before the end of the year when Islamic fundamentalists take over all the oil wells, and then I'll be laughing all the way to the bank with my Prius. People will again be paying a premium for them. Don't wait.

 

No Prius is made in North America or uses North American parts. The North American part that was recalled (in other Toyotas) was the accelerator pedal, not the brake pedal.


The only brake recall was a software issue on early 2010 Prius.

(The recall on Gen II Prius was a floormat issue)

 

I haven't experienced this problem and quite frankly doubt that it exists. I do believe that those complaining have experienced a sensation in the inner ear that the brain misinterprets. Those who go on a twirly ride at the amusement park will say they are spinning after the ride stops. Just because there's a feeling the brain interprets as acceleration or "loss of braking" doesn't make it so. Regenerative braking is always going to have a transition time between regen & friction braking. The cure is to press the brake pedal harder.

 

Did that and got over 500,000 hits.

I have not read them all but the ones I have read don't have anything substantive about a NASA study. Do you have a direct link to anything that does? I would be interested.

Most of the hits seem to quote one another or link back to the March 2010 NHTSA Press release U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Major Investigations to Resolve Issue of Sudden Acceleration | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
which so far as I can see makes no mention of a NASA study.

NHTSA getting help from some NASA engineers amongst other people (which NHTSA can then utilize, ignore or select from) is quite different from a study done by NASA or a report published by NASA.

 

Full article:

NASA Scientists Join Toyota Unintended Acceleration Probe | NewsInferno

Tom

 

Appears to have been picked up from Reuters and is reporting what NHTSA said in their news release with some changed wording.

Key points appear to match. i.e NASA staff were contributing expertise, not running the study/probe and it was expected to be complete in late summer 2010.

 

NASA Langley Scientists in Hampton, Virginia Study Toyota Acceleration Problem - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/03/30/nasa-toyota.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303601504575153653009888036.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100622165902.htm

http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/projectview.aspx?key=49236


.

 

My best advice is read this forum, seach for brake problems, seach for everything and read about our cars and how we feel in them. We have alot fo good information about the brake issue on here. It doesn't bother me i understand whats going on, and i drive with caution anyways so i have no problems, but if you want to race around and tailgate people and stop at the last moment, you may want to get a sports car, because the prius will not make you happy. Just seach and read everything you can on good oild priuschat.

 

Yes, the brake pause really exists. It's not a lunge forward but a quick pause in braking, which feels like a lunge forward. I can reproduce it at will. If you doubt it and you're in SE MI, stop by and I'll show you. That said, the "fix" reduced the transition time so it is better, though it still exists. Unfortunately, it's part of the technology at this point. Ford made the same fix on their Fusion hybrid shortly after the Toyota recall, though Ford did not get the same attention Toyota did.

Yes, the car is a bit quirky, and you need to learn the drive a hybrid to get the most out of it. I find the G3 interior to be on the cheap feeling side, but I don't care, because I simply wanted the car with the best MPG that would carry the family and a reasonable amount of cargo space. It meets those needs VERY well. After almost 25,00 miles, I'd buy it again, no question.

 

Discussing or attempting to discuss Prius braking in Prius Chat can be like trying to tap dance around a nest of rattle snakes. You are going to hear a lot of noise and it's pretty dangerous.

If you are serious about Prius ownership and legitimately concerned, I think it is good advice just to spend some time here reading numerous threads surrounding the issue.

As a Hybrid admirerer but Non-Prius owner, I can offer only an opinion, maybe some even connected to fact.

Prius, Hybrid regenerative brakes are "different" and unique to hybrids. You can look up threads, information that will explain specifics, I won't even attempt to explain exactly what is happening in any given situation when you hit the brakes of a Prius, because inevitably I would miss some minutia of mechanics and be admonished by those more versed in the technical specifics. However, in a general nutshell? More happens with regenerative braking and the regenerative system than happens with "standard" brakes on standard vehicles.

I can also tell you, on the 2010 Prius, Toyota made a mid-production change to the braking software, this resulted in a recall of Prius purchased before this software calibration was applied. Should not affect any Prius purchased today. Only applicable to Gen 3...

You can look it up. You'll find threads with owners before and after having the software update noticing a difference, not noticing a difference, both for good and bad. I think it of interest, only from the POV that I think it's evidence that Toyota was aware of at least a level of complaint about braking "feel", and responded to the tangible extreme of applying a change to the calibration within the braking software mid-production, resulting in a recall. This was at a time when Toyota was going through a world of pain with other recalls and other company wide public issues. Their recognization of this "problem" at that time, is at least some evidence of the legitimacy of the existence of the braking sensation issue.

These are things I think it safe for even I, as a non-owner to report as fact.

My opinion? I have learned through involvement here, that the 2010 Generation 3 Prius represented for Toyota a high percentage of 1st time Hybrid purchasers. My opinion is that you had a lot of 1st time Prius Owners, unfamiliar with what is a different and relatively unique braking system. Couple this with Toyota as a whole, going through a very high profile period of time involving unrelated recalls, and unrelated very public incidents, and I think it lead to a perhaps unrepresentative increase in level of complaint.

When Toyota announced the Prius braking software "update" it was presented as being applied as a change to the calibration or the quickness inwhich the brakes responded in the micro-second changes from regenrative braking to "regular" braking. But in general it was offered as an update meant to provide a more "standard" feel to the brakes.

You will discover great debate among owners that purchased early and have had the update applied as to whether it had any tangible affect.

Further simple opinion? Would I NOT purchase a Prius knowing that the braking system is different and under specific situations can reportedly offer a different braking feedback "feel"?

Hmm...after hanging around here for a long time, I'd say it would now be something I would occasionally "expect" could happen. It's a "dangerous" debate but evidently under some very specific situations, Prius brakes can offer a driver the feedback feel that they are "slipping".

I'm old enough to remember and actually of been a driver through the period when automobiles transitioned from standard drum and power disc brakes to most cars having an ABS system. I remember on early primative ABS systems, the first time I slammed on the Brakes or hit a slippery stretch of road and felt the ABS system kick in...it was unnerving...and your immediate feedback is that something is wrong. However, the reality is that something is actually very, very right. The computer of an ABS system is kicking in and working, but making the brakes behave in a way that especially years ago, when this was relatively new technology, "felt" different.

IMO it's a similar situation with Prius Brakes. IMO, It's not that there is anything wrong with the brakes or the system, but just that it is a different system and therefore under some very specific situations can behave differently than some new drivers may expect.

Purely my opinion but it wouldn't be a reason I would refrain from purchasing a Prius. It would simply be something I would attempt to be aware of...part of knowing the potential nature of the machine.

 

I've had my Prius since last May and they work great for me. I press the pedal, the car slows down, even stops! I don't have pulsing, excess pedal play, I don't hear noises. My brakes are responsive, but not touchy. I got no complaints!

 

Overall, I would say I'm just an almost happy 2010 owner; but I would be a totally happy camper if one currently unresolved mechanical issue was addressed by Toyota in a reasonably timely manner.

Once any 2010 owner experiences the "rough engine start", as experienced by well over a hundred PC'ers, his/her confidence in that new Prius WILL be shaken.

This has been disturbing as Toyota very publicly promised they would be more timely and forthcoming as per the new corporate policy they announced after being officially taken to task over the undeserved braking brouhaha.

 

The rough engine start is hardly a safety issue. There has been no ill effect from it based on the numerous reports so far and your car is still under warranty. A TSB would have been out by now if it were that simple to fix.

 

The original topic here was: "2010 Prius problematic?". Is the "Rough Engine Start" a recognized problem or not? I didn't mention anything about this issue having anything to do with safety and Toyota's corporate statement of 12/21/10 goes much further than mere safety. It addresses quality assurance and reliability as well. Toyota should at the very least publicly admit this issue exists and that they are endeavoring to solve it.

About Toyota | Our News | 2010 Year-End Progress Report: Major Changes Help Toyota Put Even More Focus on Its Customers

 

Thanks for the link to that web site, it's a lot easier to navigate than the NSTSA site. Much easier to see the latest information:

TOYOTA Problems, 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS Problems & Complaints - Page #1

 

Now I understand why Marlowe is concern! There are a lot of complains! Too many for my test. Well, I'm a new 2010 owner with less than 200 miles. I'll have to keep my eyes opened and hope for the best. So far I have not experienced any problem and I'm in love with my Prius. The best car that I ever have driven.