You'll not get a refund. To get your money back it'd need to be a lemon and given that they're going to fix it, it's not a lemon. I suggest the following: - Write to Toyota and tell them you don't trust them any more and will never purchase anything from them again. - Wait for the fuss to die down. - Sell the car privately - Buy a Ford Fusion Hybrid. Ford announced a recall of the Ford Fusion Hybrid yesterday to fix a problem related to their brakes so you can be confident that it won't have any brake problems by the time you buy one.
This does not have anything to do with a Prius but does deal with getting a refund for a new car. In the late 60's I had a neighbor who's father, a well to do man, had a Oldmobile the he was having problems with and had taken it into the dealer and they never could fix it to his satisfaction, the key word here is his. So he took it upon himself to send the car back to Oldsmobile at his expense on a train on a flatcar, needless to say in about a month he got the car back on the same flatcar, Olds refused the car and sent it back collect. We all thought is was funny and had a good laugh, he did not and for all I know they are still in court over it, but I think he probably gave up. So thinking you can get a refund from any car manufacturer is just something that is not going to happen unless it falls under the lemon law.
I've experienced the problem at least 5 times in my vehicle. It feels almost like someone rear-ends you when it happens. It's really quite unsettling. If offered, I would accept a refund. Between constant threats of death, and plunging resale value, I feel we got screwed.
I suggest you get a hold of yourself and look me straight in the eyes and say: I am not going to let a minor issue in a very few cars make me cry! :rockon:
Welcome to Priuschat picturesmith, feel the wrath of the fanboys! Asking for a window sticker or invoice. Hilarious.
If you go to the dealer and ask them very nicely, I'm sure they would let you return it. Be sure you bring your receipt and all the original boxes and packing materials.
I'm sure there'd be a 15% restocking fee, and you'll have to prove that the car is either unopened and in "like new" condition. Sorry, couldn't resist that one.
First off, your car is not unsafe. RTFM and learn how ABS works. Let me guess, none of your other vehicles ever had any problems? Whats your next thread going to be, "my car is accelerating on it's own"? Stop magnifying a problem that is NOT a safety concern. But don't worry, Toyota will be fixing things yet again with a reflash coming for you guys.
One thing that I have noticed is the constant comparison to other car manufacturer problems. ie..Don't whine about your faulty brakes, at least it didn't blow up on impact like the Ford Pinto. I think one reason we all bought a Toyota brand because of the high quality, not because it's not as bad as other cars. We expect the best...and deserve the best!
My point is this: you are dealing with mass production, perfection will NEVER exsist. Secondly, everyone pushed for Toyota to produce cars in U.S. so they did. Look where that is getting them. Proves to me the "American" work quality is just as bad as I thought.
I agree, I didn't buy a Ford Fusion, or Honda Insight or whatever else, so I don't give a crap about its problems, only the problems on the car I bought with my hard earned cash.
The prius is made in Japan. The faulty gas pedals in the other Toyotas are made in Canada. How the F can you blame American workers?
It's a matter of state law. You can't do that. Recalls are not cause for unwinding a purchase like this. States have lemon laws where you have to follow very prescriptive steps to resolve potential issues such as recalls. The states understand that manufactured goods are never perfect. Never. However I am certain that I can take your own vehicle drive it and never experience any of the issues that you feel. It's a matter of knowledge and familiarity. So where is the defect if I can't make it happen when I drive?
Yes, the Prius is made in Japan. You think I don't know that? Um, we are being told my TOYOTA that the CTS pedals are manufactured in the U.S. Where did you get your info that they are made in Canda from? Um, lets see...I used to be a big fan of GM products. I'm fully aware of what overpaid, greedy, union workers are capable of. I used to love this site, I even recommend it to customers. Hell, I even have the decal on my back glass. But, anymore between all the "my car won't stop" and the "oh no my car goes on its own" threads I think I'm done here.
It's the lovely one sided media play that supports and spawns these trolls too. I was actually pleasantly surprised to hear a local conservative (yes I listen to both sides) radio person, Chip Franklin, talk about how stupid this is and actually support the fact that this is much ado about nothing much! Now I could not tolerate Rush who talked about how the plants are here to take care of these green house gases then goes on to say loss of forests and all was no big deal....duh!?
Seriously, tell us more about the circumstances under which you feel this surge. There was a lot of discussion yesterday about pot holes and wet man-hole covers and other such things that were necessary ingredients for causing the sensation you are describing. Did you notice it on initially applying the brakes, or was it an interruption duriing braking? Was it during normal braking or was it while standing on the brakes for an emergency stop? Also, you describe it as being a surge. Do you think it was actually a momentary acceleration or was it possibly a momentary absence of deceleration? I'm not trying to dismiss what you say, just wanting to understand if this is an already understood behavior or if it is something new. There is an issue and they are going to adjust the timing related to hard braking and the Antilock Braking System. Just trying to undersand if that fix will improve the thing you experienced.
My VSC engages when I am stopped and push down real hard on the pedal (like when you are reaching for something in the back or on the floor). I try not to do that or just tap the brake again so it releases......