# 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
> NHTSA complaint `757893` · 2010-02-04 · Toyota Motor Corporation
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** TOYOTA
- **Model:** PRIUS
- **Year:** 2008
- **Manufacturer:** Toyota Motor Corporation
- **Component:** SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- **Miles at failure:** 18,000
- **Speed:** 25 mph
## Narrative
I BOUGHT A 2008 TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE SUMMER OF 2008 AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND THE CAR DIDN'T HANDLE AS I EXPECTED - I GOT A "HYDROPLANING" WARNING LIGHT EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS NOT RAINING AND TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT REACT AND I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A CURB, CAUSING $3,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, AXEL, AND BUMPER. NO ONE WAS HURT AND THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OTHER THAN TO MY OWN CAR. AT THE TIME I CHALKED IT UP TO NOT YET BEING USED TO THE CAR, I HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD A JETTA THAT HANDLED WONDERFULLY AND I WAS USED TO THAT CAR BEING COMPLETELY RESPONSIVE. I MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO MY CAR AND JUST TRIED TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE ALWAYS NOTICED CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT THE HANDLING AND BRAKING OF THIS CAR, AND THE CURRENT RECALL ON THE 2010 VERSION MADE ME REALIZE I WASN'T IMAGINING THESE PROBLEMS. I CONSTANTLY GET THE HYDROPLANING TYPE WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS OR IN BAD WEATHER, TO THE POINT WHERE I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING MY PRIUS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND OFTEN BORROW A RELATIVE'S CAR.     I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO HAVE NO MORE ACCIDENTS OTHER THAN THAT FIRST ONE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MOST DEFINITELY BEEN TIMES WHEN I FELT THE CAR WAS NOT HANDLING THE WAY IT OUGHT TO. EVEN WHEN I HAD THAT ACCIDENT I HAD MAINTAINED TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT I JUST COULDN'T FATHOM HOW I GOT INTO THAT ACCIDENT AND I FELT LIKE IT WAS "THE CAR'S FAULT." I DIDN'T SPREAD THIS OPINION TOO WIDELY 
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*