SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Miles at failure
480
Speed
25 mph
Severity
Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No
Narrative
FAX ON BEHALF OF RE A SAFETY CONCERN RELATED TO THEIR 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS; RESPOND ATTN CAROLINE/NYC OFFICE. *TGW FOUR DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS HEADING DOWN A GENTLE INCLINE TOWARD A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION SHORTLY AFTER A LIGHT SNOWFALL, THE STREET WAS WET, BUT THERE WAS NO ICE ON THE ROAD. AS SHE BRAKED TO SLOW DOWN, SHE NOTICED THERE WAS NO DECELERATION AND CONTINUED TO PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO NO AVAIL. TO AVOID CRASHING INTO OTHER CARS, SHE VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT INTO A CURB AND CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, AXLE AND UNDERCARRIAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER IMPLIED THE CONSUMERS WIFE MUST HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKES INCORRECTLY AND WAS NOT ACCUSTOMED TO ABS. A FEW MONTHS LATER ON ANOTHER WET RAINY DAY, THERE WAS A SIMILAR INCIDENT OF BRAKE FAILURE. *JB