Toyota Acknowledges Design Problems In 2010 Prius Brakes, Modified Models Built After January

Let to be realistic. Why do you think a car that will lost it brake for a split second is not a problem and the user should adjust their driving to accomodate it.

This recalled the 1st car I own, a beat up 20 years old Mini that had to go into 1st gear before the engine will start! Using you theory, that car is perfectly normal and its the user error if they try to start the engine in neutral.

Braking system on the Prius have a problem. There is a potential danger to the user because of this problem. Toyota have the duty to fixed the problem as soon as a fix is available instead of quietly implement the fix in the production line and keep all existing user in the dark. If the Japanese Government didn't brought up the issue, we will never know what was happening with them.

 

umm, ya that would be driver error.

this issue seems to be people wanting the Prius to be like their older cars. brakes like their older car. drives like their older car and all that is a valid want, no doubt about that.

but is all this excitement over a yearning for good old days gone by, or is it our inability to accept something new and adjust to it.

there is still no clear evidence of brake failure and without details of these supposed 50 or so incidences (which would be really nice if we had any details on them) mixed in with the 40,000 motor vehicle accidents that happen every day on our highways, we dont really know how much the ability of the brakes to stop the vehicle contributed to the accident.

are we simply talking about the transition from regen to friction (which would be a complete non issue in the 2010's) at 7 mph?? i mean, holy cripes!!

we have people talking about 80 feet per second, so what are they talking about? cant be the switchover to friction brakes since that happens at TEN feet per second, which is not even PARKING LOT speed.

with all the video in this world recording our every waking move, it s a wonder we havent had any of this caught on tape yet... i am sure there is, we just need to find it.

 

No, we're talking about the fact that if you're on bumpy pavement, it's possible to lose the brakes entirely when they switchover from regen to friction. And they stay lost until the pavement smooths out.

There have been several posts about this, including one about 5 years ago where a guy slid into another car when he was trying to stop on a road where they were doing some resurfacing work.

It's an ugly problem, apparently Toyota has known about it for years, and hopefully they take a beating for covering it up.

 

The system will never leave you without brakes. If you get kicked out of regen you press the pedal and brake. If you keep your foot stationary on the brake pedal, the friction brakes will not kick in automatically, you have to press in on the pedal more so the car knows you want to brake.

Wayne

 

On my 2006 Prius I have had a short sudden loss of brake power after hitting a depression in the road, a pothole or ice since new. One also cannot accelerate rapidly after this happens. While the time period is short, it is startling to say the least. I asked the dealer at the time and was simply given no response.

Does anyone know if Toyota will be issuing a recall for the 2006 Prius?

 

well that is EXACTLY the problem we have here. that is what everyone seems to think and its simply not true.

what is happening is a change in braking force and type of braking which does have a different feel. we all know that downshifting and braking feels differently, well this is essentially the same difference and the rate of deceleration can be managed simply by PUSHING HARDER ON THE BRAKES...

iow, pretty much the same as any regular car.

so how is Toyota "fixing" this? its like any software. finding the sweet spot of "user friendliness" and that is always a compromise on some level. what i am afraid will happen is Toyota will sacrifice a bit of efficiency to make the brakes "more user friendly" mind you, i did not say "more effective"

 

Some on this board would have us believe that the problem is entirely sourced in mentally-challenged operators who have no business operating a Prius. Remember, it is high tech and the mentally-challenged need not apply.

 

Well, at least the dealer didn't ask you if you were really up to being able to operate the Prius. Although no response could be interpreted as a polite way of asking if you were up to being able to operate the Prius....

Perhaps you should file a report with NHTSA? That is one way to get Toyota's attention. Here is the link if you are interested: Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), File A Safety Complaint

 

I hit a pothole once in the dark--in my BMW--going 30 mph. It was like an explosion.
The brakes? Who could tell. The alloy rim that hit the hole was bent--though still functional.

I hit a construction bump a couple of weeks ago--before the 4 feet of snow we have had here the last few days--and the VSC light (below "ready"sign) flashed on briefly--no effect on acceleration or brakes. I had raised the tire pressures to about 40 psi, which may have raised VSC sensitivity. Hadn't seen that before.

I got caught out in a snowstorm a couple of weeks ago, and my Prius did very well.
Got up my hill on a snow-covered street just fine with OE Integrity tires.

Never a problem with the brakes since I've owned the car.Wonder why they changed them in '10.

That business about the floor mats is totally stupid--mine are anchored to the floor
and far from the accelerator. Makes you wonder about the credibility of everything else. I don't trust the media anyways. They are big business and profit oriented.