Should Toyota acknowlege that the braking issue applies to the gen II Priuses?

My 2005 Prius almost killed me. I have a major problem that has been escalated to Management in Toyota. My 2005 Prius almost killed me when adding wiper fluid. I bought the car used when my H3 was costing me $1500 a month in gas. Apparently, this one came from Canada or the guy bought it there. Anyway, I had my car on and the hood was opened and my car LUNGED forward. I got a nasty bruise on my thigh from it. I almost took out an intersection of people in New York City and even recently at the Superbowl in Miami. Even while behind another car, I have to make sure I leave enough room, just in case there is a surge. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE BEFORE??? The dealership keeps telling me that "nothing is wrong with it" and has claimed that since I bought it in 2008.

 

If you are interested in helping to document the NHW20 braking pause, I've opened a poll looking for volunteers. I don't have an NHW20 but I know how to instrument the car to get useful engineering data. Any weakness in data analysis, I can fill in the blanks. So I'm looking for those who have an NHW20, the time, energy and interest in being part of the solution.

Bob Wilson

 

Don't jump to start the tin hat routine just yet. Ever wonder why Toyota encrypts the data that is captured by their black boxes when no one else does? Here is an article that is available without subscription: Toyota's 'Black Box' Could Hold Accident Clues - DailyFinance The linked article points to a more detailed article on wsj.com that requires a subscription to access. The Cliff-Notes version is that there is only one notebook in the entire U.S.A. that can decrypt the contents of the Toyota black boxes.

Toyota is not doing themselves any favors. Where there is smoke there is often fire.

 

According to the Toyota denial merchants, you must be hallucinating.... Only one post and you are posting this? I am just waiting for one of the Toyota denial merchants to accuse you of being a... TROLL!

And since Toyota has only one notebook in the entire U.S.A. that can decrypt the contents of your car's black boxes, good luck getting an answer out of Toyota any time soon on your own. Have you filed a defect report with NHTSA? It would seem to be time to get someone with a much bigger stick in the game on your side. Here is a link to the Office of Defect Investigation: Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), File A Safety Complaint

 

Actually, I ignored him(her) because the comment about almost getting killed while adding wiper fluid virtually guarantees that he(she) is a troll.

I think you are entitled to believe there is an issue with the 2nd gen, just like I am entitled to believe it is just a characteristic of the regen / friction transition. But some of your comments are really going off to the conspiracy / tin foil hat end of the spectrum.

Did you report this problem with your car when you first experienced it? Or did it just recently become such an intolerable problem?

 

yes and often you can get smoke from a big pile of sh!t.

 

So what is your defense of Toyota encrypting the black box data when no other auto manufacturer encrypts the data?

You may have a point about sh*t - it is getting pretty stinky in Toyota land.

 

Defense? Hell i dont even care that they do. To me it's a non important thing.
Why do you care?

 

Blog post is not particularly informative. WSJ article in it's entirety is here (Google can be your friend!):

Toyota Woes Put Focus on Black Box - WSJ.com

 

Some of these posts have gone way past the point of being ludicrous.

Tom

 

I am not saying you are lying, only that I do not feel Toyota has a braking issue on the Gen II Prius. That does not mean YOUR Prius does not have a failure.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...our-gen-ii-has-brake-problem-please-vote.html

Does the regenerative braking precisely mimic friction braking? No. Is it a safety issue? No. Is it a problem? Only if it bothers you.

The Prius shifter does not precisely mimic an Automatic transmission, the Prius gas pedal does not precisely mimic a normal gas pedal, the Prius steering does not precisely mimic hydraulic power steering, etc. The Toyota engineers did attempt to mimic these known systems as owners had familiarity with them. (I personally wish the there was no 'drag' when you take you foot off the gas, it would make Pulse and Glide much easier, but would 'break' what owners expect)

I am used to the idea that in rough terrain, braking distances lengthen. I am used to the idea that in slippery terrain, braking distances lengthen. I suspect off road motorcycling gave me these expectations, along with living in a climate where I expected 10 months of snow.

 

Thanks to all who responded to my question about my brake "hop". Thanks Patrick, I have had the wheel off and have found no evidence of contamination of any kind, I did shoot some brake clearer on while I had it apart and it still hops. Next time it rains I will take it to the Toyota shop and let them think up a reason.