NHTSA complaint: 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS — SERVICE BRAKES
I BROUGHT MY 2010 PRIUS INTO THE TOYOTA MARIN (CALIFORNIA) DEALER IN JANUARY 2014 IN RESPONSE TO THEIR RECALL RELATED TO PROBLEMS WITH STEPPING ON THE BRAKE AND HAVING THE PRIUS ACCELERATE RATHER THAN STOP. THE CORRECTIVE SOFTWARE WAS PRESUMABLY INSTALLED. FAST FORWARD TO FATHER'S DAY, JUNE 15, 2014. I AM PARKING MY PRIUS FOR A FATHER'S DAY BRUNCH. I'M GOING ABOUT TWO MILES PER HOUR INTO A PARKING SPACE. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR ACCELERATES. I MENTALLY DOUBLE CHECK THAT I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I DO. OUT OF CONTROL, THE CAR JUMPS THE CURB AND SMASHES RIGHT INTO A TREE. MY WIFE ASKS IF MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. I TRIPLE CHECK. IT STILL IS--I HAVEN'T MOVED IT. A WEEK LATER I FEEL THE TRAUMA OF CONSTANTLY VISUALIZING THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING TRIED TO STOP AT A CROSS WALK AND KILLING A FAMILY ON THE WAY TO THEIR FATHER'S DAY BRUNCH. --IT TOOK THREE DAYS OF CONSTANT CALLING AND DYSFUNCTIONAL EXTENSIONS TO CONNECT WITH A PRIUS CASE MANAGER. THEN SHE INFORMED ME IT WOULD TAKE ME MORE THAN A MONTH TO HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED AND GET AN ASSESSMENT. IF I RENTED A CAR THERE WOULD BE NO ASSURANCE IT WOULD BE COVERED. --THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED AFTER I RESPONDED TO THE RECALL. HOW CAN I TRUST A CAR THAT IS AUTOMATICALLY CRASHING AFTER THAT PRECISE PROBLEM HAS ALLEGEDLY BEEN ADDRESSED? --I JUST RECEIVED (JULY 19, 2014) A LETTER FROM TOYOTA SALES SAYING THE CAR'S BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR WERE TESTED AND "ALL IS FINE." HOWEVER, IN MY AND OTHERS' SIMILAR EXPERIENCES THE SURGE HAPP
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation