Drivers flag worries over brakes on new Prius

[RamboLiberal]

Source: MSNBC

It took Bob Becker by surprise. As he approached an intersection on New York City's West End Avenue, not far from his home, he began to brake his 2010 Toyota Prius. But then the hybrid hit a pothole and suddenly, says Becker, it felt like the brakes weren’t working.

“It was a sensation of losing control,” said the 39-year-old human resources executive. It was all the more disconcerting as the light had changed and pedestrians were starting to cross the street. “The first time it happened on that corner it scared the hell out of me. I wasn’t sure I could stop in time.”

Becker was able to slam back down on the brake pedal just in time to avoid an accident. But in the weeks to come, the problem with his Prius repeated itself over and over, to the point he now has to prepare in advance when he’s coming up on an intersection, driving through traffic or exiting a freeway.

He’s not alone.

Chat rooms such as Priuschat.com dedicated to Toyota’s fuel-efficient hybrid are peppered with concerns raised by owners of the third-generation Prius, which was launched for the 2010 model year. At least 33 complaints alleging safety problems with the '10 Prius, most often involving braking issues have been filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34611930/ns/business-autos/

[WriteDown]

1. This is exactly why Hugo Chavez wanted to make Toyota reveal their technology. nt

[Brickbat]

2. He must need to get his unicorn-fart cylinder recharged by the happy Toyota elves.

Pretty simple, really.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Its called ABS

It's associated with the oddity that the bounce in a pothole creates a situation where a single wheel is in free space for a split second. That's the background to Audi retrofitting ESP to the tt Roadsters etc back in 2001 - I had a 225 which had to go on holiday to the factory in Germany for 6 weeks the work to be done.

Same thing happens with my current Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. It's no big thing - you just deal with it.

I take as read that if anyone whines here they won't buy a Prius.

[RamboLiberal]

4. The driver in the column had ABS before

From OP

Prius brakes are hybrids in their own right. When a motorist applies pressure to the brake pedal, the Prius brakes first go into regenerative mode, recapturing kinetic energy normally lost and turning it into electric current to recharge the vehicle’s batteries. For more aggressive stops, Prius uses a conventional, hydraulic braking system.

Several mechanics suggested it could be possible that the sensors controlling the regenerative braking system might malfunction when the wheels are jarred by a hard bump and briefly disengage, but an accurate determination has yet to be made.

Sounds like there may be a problem in the braking system.

[dipsydoodle]

5. See my edit

I still think its the ABS juddering. Dunno if Toyota use ESP or not ? My Jeep has got ESP anyway but it still does it.

[RamboLiberal]

6. I've had ABS on my last several cars

And live near Pittsburgh which is noted for potholes. Never had this sensation after hitting a pothole. Sounds to me like the Prius problem is more than ABS.

The National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has started tracking customer complaints of brake failures and lackluster braking capabilities in the just-released 2010 Prius. To date, there have only been 33 complaints lodged, but given the nature of the problem, it seems that as the issue gets more and more coverage, owners will start to realize that what they may have attributed to personal fault is more of a mechanical problem with the car.

The issue stems from the operation of the brakes after the car hits a bump or a pothole while braking. Apparently, the transition from regenerative braking to hydraulic braking that occurs in such a situation is slow enough to be perceptible to the driver and results in a period of time after the regen shuts off and before the hydraulic braking kicks in that no braking is occurring. This has caused drivers to feel a sudden sense of acceleration and loss of control while stopping at intersections—in some cases only leaving inches between other vehicles and pedestrians.

The NHTSA investigation is only just now beginning and no recall or engineering investigation has been initiated. According to The Detroit Bureau, Toyota says that it is aware of the situation, but that it is too early to tell if the NHTSA will deem the issue a true problem.

http://gas2.org/2009/12/25/prius-brake-failure-complaints-rising-as-toyota-prepares-to-launch-new-subcompact-hybrid/

[dipsydoodle]

7. My immediate neighbour

has got the new model and he's very pleased with it. Don't suppose you've got crap roads over there ? :sarcasm:

[WriteDown]

9. No...

Toyota has had a recent series of problems so not sure why you are so skeptical.

[TrogL]

8. I've had ABS in several vehicles in a city full of potholes

Never had that problem.

[drm604]

11. I have ABS in my '99 Saturn.

I've had it for 10 years and I've never experienced anything like this. I live in the northeast where there are plenty of potholes.

[HopeHoops]

10. Are they going to spin this one as floor mats too?

I wouldn't trust a word that comes out of that company, much less a car.

[truthisfreedom]

12. Dear Toyota, Brakes should brake. Either that, or call them something else.

Seriously.

[dipsydoodle]

13. Problem may relate to hybrids

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Brake Failure http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/chevrolet-tahoe-hybrid-brake-failure/