( 
)
Continued from part 4:
Drivers have no choice but to back down when the system engages. Picture the car in a fresh snow that engages the traction control essentially stopping forward motion while going up a hill that is passable by any other automobile on the road.(Even two wheel drive pickup trucks notorious for poor traction in the same conditions can travel on public highways with less chance of becoming a hazard) What is the problem?
Toyota has engineered a system that detects wheel slippage and applies braking to the slipping wheel and if both wheels slip the powertrain shuts down. The reasoning must have a purpose but the purpose puts the traveling public at risk.
No other automobile shuts itself down to protect itself.
To overcome this problem, the driver must increase speed to climb in fresh snow or slippery conditions. If entering the highway or coming to an intersection this becomes an all too apparent design flaw. Leaving the highway to climb the home driveway requires the same acceleration sufficient to propel by inertia instead of traction. Put other cars or pedestrians in the mix and the result is predictable.
Does Toyota listen?
The chief mechanic where I bought my Prius reports in Australia and in Japan (home of Toyota) there is an override that disables this feature. Of course to install this override in America would admit to a litigant society that to drive their car in slippery conditions one must depart from the industry standard and press a button.
I have to go get my groceries, they are at a neighbors because the traction control prevented me from climbing my driveway after a snow. This is only November in Vermont.
Cole of Columbia SC (11/21/07)
Toyota Prius is a great vehicle with one major flaw....the fuel supply system. The tank is a bladder tank that will 'burp' fuel back out if you fill it to its capacity - negating some of the fuel savings realized by the hybrid system. The gas gauge (read 'guess gauge') is also a major concern. When the warning light and indicator come on telling you to refuel, you are running on fumes. I was able to go for 3.7 miles before running out once the warning came on. Ridiculous. The dealer always says that they have made the adjustments to correct the problems and things stay the same. I suspect that the problem is with the bladder system, and that it makes it difficult to determine the amount of fuel remaining in the tank. Lets put a conventional tank in with a proven gauge system and put this problem to rest.
Daniel of Temecula CA (11/19/07)
I bought a new Pruis 5 months ago. This company registered this car with a leasing company inadvertantley. They told me they were going to back this out. However the DMV still has no record of this being done on their computers.
Fredericki of North Highlands CA (11/16/07)
Called to arrange an test drive on a 2008 Prius Touring auto. We arrived the next morning for the appointment and he got caught in traffic on 99 and was a little late but no big deal But when he showed up he told me he did not have an 2008 Prius Touring that I could test drive. Nor did he have the color he told me the day before that I could look at Then he tried to get me to look at a different car. We walked away without the test drive.My wife was upset as the car was going to be purchased from her father's estate money.She left crying. we went to another dealership and they had a Prius Touring we could test drive and treated us really great
K. J. of Clinton WI (11/14/07)
After 1 1/2 years of driving my used 2001 Toyota Prius without any problems I experienced an error on the display screen and the car became extremely sluggish. Thinking that there could be a problem with the hybrid system and not wanting to do any damage to the workings of the car - and knowing very little about what that may be - I had my Prius towed to the nearest Toyota garage in Burnsville, MN, which is, by the way, where I purchased the vehicle.
The representative confirmed that they would find the issue, and by later in the day, they called to tell me what the issue was and gave me a price quote. Now, while I wasn't happy with the price I asked them to do the work and change the oil while it was in. The problem turned out to be what amounts to a potentiometer on the accelerator pedal.
This part was not available seperately, but only as an assembly and the cost of the total bill, tax and oil change included was approximately $750. I wasn't happy about the cost, but I was even less happy when I had to almost threaten the dealer to get the worn part from him.
After seeing the part I was even less happy. The accelerator assembly on a Prius is removed from inside the car by removing two bolts and an electrical plug. Looking at it, I'm sure I could have done the replacement within 20 minutes and probably have time to spare.
So the tow was over $200 and the repair was $750 and the dealership also pointed out that my front tires had the cords showing and needed immediate replacement, which I immediately had done. Anybody wanna buy a Prius!
Amber of Nokesville VA (10/21/07)
We purchased our 2004 Prius in November 2003 as a clean fuel vehicle for my husband to use as he traveled from our home to work at the Pentagon each day. The vehicle currently has 105,000 miles on it, and has received regular maintenance/service ,at the dealership, every 3,000 miles. About three weeks ago, a warning light (synergy failure)came on, so my husband took it in, and was told that there may have just been a short in it which made the light come on. He paid $126 for this information. A week later, he got home from running errands, and the car completely DIED before making it into our garage. He had to have it towed to Toyota. It has now sat there for eight days, and it looks like there is no hope that is can be fixed. How can this be on a vehicle that is touted as one of the best?
My husband has had to call the service department each day and leave messages. The service manager whom he was assigned is not who he has regularly had in the past, and has not been a good communicator as to what is wrong with our vehicle. My husband finally got a loaner, and is headed back to Toyota Monday. There is a chance we'll just have to have Toyota accept the car and the year of payments which are left on it, as a trade in, and we'll need to purchase another vehicle. We purchased all of the warranty options when we first bought this car, but the amount of time which has passed since original date of purchase, and high mileage has voided most of those.
Edward of Santa Maria CA (10/17/07)
My 2007 Toyota Prius needs new tires after about 21,000 miles. I previously had a 2003 Toyota Prius and wore out several sets of tires on it. The Prius wears out tires rapidly. I am pleased with the Prius in all other respects.
Kelly of Whittier CA (10/15/07)
My husband was driving my 2006 Toyota Prius when he fell asleep at the wheel and rear-ended a car. The aribags did not deploy. The Prius considered a total loss. We are very concerned that in a total loss accident the airbags did not deploy!
My husband suffered from severe whiplash and we are very concerned about long term health related issues.
Albert of Linden VA (10/07/07)
While driving my Toyota Prius uphill on a gravel road I had to made a sudden stop to avoid striking a deer. I attempted to move forward again after the deer cleared the area. The traction control kicked in and I was unable to move forward. Luckily I was able to place the car in reverse and drive down the hill. Once at the bottom I was able to gain some speed moving forward and finally made it up the hill.
Mahaanf Jamaica NY (10/06/07)
I bought a Prius in 2005. August of 2007 I noticed the car did not want to accelerate and felt like it was driving heavy on the highway. I brought it in to the dealer and they said there was no problem. Today Oct. 6, 2007 I was driving on the highway and all my power started to shut down. First the hazzard light went on then the car began to slow down to a crawl. I was able to exit the highway and pull over. When I push the power button, all the lights go on but the car will not go into the drive position. I called customer service and they are assigning me a national consultant to work one on one with me and the dealership. I must now wait until Monday for them to call me arrange for a tow truck and schedule an appointment.
Marvin of Los Lunas NM (09/27/07)
New evaluation of Toyota Prius Un-comanded Acceleration Problem reported and commented on Previously. I originally reported that the acceleration problem I perceived had not been caused by a floor mat or driver error. Those facts have not changed. I do not have the all weather floor mats and my floor mats were secure before and after the incidents.
I cannot say that there are no problems associated with the all weather floor mat option, but they were definitely not a part of my problem. I recently made a trip to California and have some new observations of the system and the perceived problem. In all fairness to Toyota, I think the following should be recognized and considered. I drove the car to altitudes above 10,000 feet above sea level and drove on steep mountain roads. I had the sensation of un-comanded acceleration more than once and believe that in each case it was not actually a defect in the system but a failure to properly interpret how the vehicle is designed to react under heavy loads.
I was able to repeat the phenomenon multiple times and verify what was actually happening. With the original problem, there was not enough time to analyze and I could not repeat the problem at will, to evaluate possible causes.
Drivers have no choice but to back down when the system engages. Picture the car in a fresh snow that engages the traction control essentially stopping forward motion while going up a hill that is passable by any other automobile on the road.(Even two wheel drive pickup trucks notorious for poor traction in the same conditions can travel on public highways with less chance of becoming a hazard) What is the problem?
Toyota has engineered a system that detects wheel slippage and applies braking to the slipping wheel and if both wheels slip the powertrain shuts down. The reasoning must have a purpose but the purpose puts the traveling public at risk.
No other automobile shuts itself down to protect itself.
To overcome this problem, the driver must increase speed to climb in fresh snow or slippery conditions. If entering the highway or coming to an intersection this becomes an all too apparent design flaw. Leaving the highway to climb the home driveway requires the same acceleration sufficient to propel by inertia instead of traction. Put other cars or pedestrians in the mix and the result is predictable.
Does Toyota listen?
The chief mechanic where I bought my Prius reports in Australia and in Japan (home of Toyota) there is an override that disables this feature. Of course to install this override in America would admit to a litigant society that to drive their car in slippery conditions one must depart from the industry standard and press a button.
I have to go get my groceries, they are at a neighbors because the traction control prevented me from climbing my driveway after a snow. This is only November in Vermont.
Cole of Columbia SC (11/21/07)
Toyota Prius is a great vehicle with one major flaw....the fuel supply system. The tank is a bladder tank that will 'burp' fuel back out if you fill it to its capacity - negating some of the fuel savings realized by the hybrid system. The gas gauge (read 'guess gauge') is also a major concern. When the warning light and indicator come on telling you to refuel, you are running on fumes. I was able to go for 3.7 miles before running out once the warning came on. Ridiculous. The dealer always says that they have made the adjustments to correct the problems and things stay the same. I suspect that the problem is with the bladder system, and that it makes it difficult to determine the amount of fuel remaining in the tank. Lets put a conventional tank in with a proven gauge system and put this problem to rest.
Daniel of Temecula CA (11/19/07)
I bought a new Pruis 5 months ago. This company registered this car with a leasing company inadvertantley. They told me they were going to back this out. However the DMV still has no record of this being done on their computers.
Fredericki of North Highlands CA (11/16/07)
Called to arrange an test drive on a 2008 Prius Touring auto. We arrived the next morning for the appointment and he got caught in traffic on 99 and was a little late but no big deal But when he showed up he told me he did not have an 2008 Prius Touring that I could test drive. Nor did he have the color he told me the day before that I could look at Then he tried to get me to look at a different car. We walked away without the test drive.My wife was upset as the car was going to be purchased from her father's estate money.She left crying. we went to another dealership and they had a Prius Touring we could test drive and treated us really great
K. J. of Clinton WI (11/14/07)
After 1 1/2 years of driving my used 2001 Toyota Prius without any problems I experienced an error on the display screen and the car became extremely sluggish. Thinking that there could be a problem with the hybrid system and not wanting to do any damage to the workings of the car - and knowing very little about what that may be - I had my Prius towed to the nearest Toyota garage in Burnsville, MN, which is, by the way, where I purchased the vehicle.
The representative confirmed that they would find the issue, and by later in the day, they called to tell me what the issue was and gave me a price quote. Now, while I wasn't happy with the price I asked them to do the work and change the oil while it was in. The problem turned out to be what amounts to a potentiometer on the accelerator pedal.
This part was not available seperately, but only as an assembly and the cost of the total bill, tax and oil change included was approximately $750. I wasn't happy about the cost, but I was even less happy when I had to almost threaten the dealer to get the worn part from him.
After seeing the part I was even less happy. The accelerator assembly on a Prius is removed from inside the car by removing two bolts and an electrical plug. Looking at it, I'm sure I could have done the replacement within 20 minutes and probably have time to spare.
So the tow was over $200 and the repair was $750 and the dealership also pointed out that my front tires had the cords showing and needed immediate replacement, which I immediately had done. Anybody wanna buy a Prius!
Amber of Nokesville VA (10/21/07)
We purchased our 2004 Prius in November 2003 as a clean fuel vehicle for my husband to use as he traveled from our home to work at the Pentagon each day. The vehicle currently has 105,000 miles on it, and has received regular maintenance/service ,at the dealership, every 3,000 miles. About three weeks ago, a warning light (synergy failure)came on, so my husband took it in, and was told that there may have just been a short in it which made the light come on. He paid $126 for this information. A week later, he got home from running errands, and the car completely DIED before making it into our garage. He had to have it towed to Toyota. It has now sat there for eight days, and it looks like there is no hope that is can be fixed. How can this be on a vehicle that is touted as one of the best?
My husband has had to call the service department each day and leave messages. The service manager whom he was assigned is not who he has regularly had in the past, and has not been a good communicator as to what is wrong with our vehicle. My husband finally got a loaner, and is headed back to Toyota Monday. There is a chance we'll just have to have Toyota accept the car and the year of payments which are left on it, as a trade in, and we'll need to purchase another vehicle. We purchased all of the warranty options when we first bought this car, but the amount of time which has passed since original date of purchase, and high mileage has voided most of those.
Edward of Santa Maria CA (10/17/07)
My 2007 Toyota Prius needs new tires after about 21,000 miles. I previously had a 2003 Toyota Prius and wore out several sets of tires on it. The Prius wears out tires rapidly. I am pleased with the Prius in all other respects.
Kelly of Whittier CA (10/15/07)
My husband was driving my 2006 Toyota Prius when he fell asleep at the wheel and rear-ended a car. The aribags did not deploy. The Prius considered a total loss. We are very concerned that in a total loss accident the airbags did not deploy!
My husband suffered from severe whiplash and we are very concerned about long term health related issues.
Albert of Linden VA (10/07/07)
While driving my Toyota Prius uphill on a gravel road I had to made a sudden stop to avoid striking a deer. I attempted to move forward again after the deer cleared the area. The traction control kicked in and I was unable to move forward. Luckily I was able to place the car in reverse and drive down the hill. Once at the bottom I was able to gain some speed moving forward and finally made it up the hill.
Mahaanf Jamaica NY (10/06/07)
I bought a Prius in 2005. August of 2007 I noticed the car did not want to accelerate and felt like it was driving heavy on the highway. I brought it in to the dealer and they said there was no problem. Today Oct. 6, 2007 I was driving on the highway and all my power started to shut down. First the hazzard light went on then the car began to slow down to a crawl. I was able to exit the highway and pull over. When I push the power button, all the lights go on but the car will not go into the drive position. I called customer service and they are assigning me a national consultant to work one on one with me and the dealership. I must now wait until Monday for them to call me arrange for a tow truck and schedule an appointment.
Marvin of Los Lunas NM (09/27/07)
New evaluation of Toyota Prius Un-comanded Acceleration Problem reported and commented on Previously. I originally reported that the acceleration problem I perceived had not been caused by a floor mat or driver error. Those facts have not changed. I do not have the all weather floor mats and my floor mats were secure before and after the incidents.
I cannot say that there are no problems associated with the all weather floor mat option, but they were definitely not a part of my problem. I recently made a trip to California and have some new observations of the system and the perceived problem. In all fairness to Toyota, I think the following should be recognized and considered. I drove the car to altitudes above 10,000 feet above sea level and drove on steep mountain roads. I had the sensation of un-comanded acceleration more than once and believe that in each case it was not actually a defect in the system but a failure to properly interpret how the vehicle is designed to react under heavy loads.
I was able to repeat the phenomenon multiple times and verify what was actually happening. With the original problem, there was not enough time to analyze and I could not repeat the problem at will, to evaluate possible causes.
Guide created: 04/05/08
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