You bought a defective used car.You should speak with a lawyer but here is an overview of the laws that protect consumers in used car sales. First, the New Jersey Used Car Lemon law requires certain minimum
warranties and prohibits some common deceptive practices.
It shall be an unlawful practice for a dealer to sell a used
motor vehicle to a consumer without giving the consumer a written warranty
which shall at least have the following minimum durations:
a. If the used motor vehicle has 24,000 miles or less, the
warranty shall be, at a minimum, 90 days or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first;
b. If the used motor vehicle has more than 24,000 miles but less than 60,000
miles, the warranty shall be, at a minimum, 60 days or 2,000 miles, whichever
comes first; or
c. If the used motor vehicle has 60,000 miles or more, the warranty shall be,
at a minimum, 30 days or 1,000 miles, whichever comes first, except that a
consumer may waive his right to a warranty as provided under section 7 of this
act.
A consumer, as a result of a price negotiation for the
purchase of a used motor vehicle with over 60,000 miles, may elect to waive the
dealer's obligation to provide a warranty on the used motor vehicle provided
that it complies with NJAC 13:45A-26F.18.
2.
Deception
New Jersey law prohibits various deceptions.N.J.S.A.
56:8-68.
a. To misrepresent the mechanical condition of a used motor vehicle
b. To fail to disclose, prior to sale, any material defect in the mechanical
condition of the used motor vehicle which is known to the dealer;
c. To represent that a used motor vehicle, or any component thereof, is free
from material defects in mechanical condition at the time of sale, unless the
dealer has a reasonable basis for this representation at the time it is made...
e. To misrepresent the terms of any written warranty, service contract or
repair insurance currently in effect on a used motor vehicle provided by a
person other than the dealer, and subject to transfer to a consumer;...
g. To misrepresent the terms of any warranty, service contract or repair
insurance offered by the dealer in connection with the sale of a used motor
vehicle;
h. To represent, prior to sale, that a used motor vehicle is sold with a warranty,
service contract or repair insurance when the vehicle is sold without any
warranty, service contract or repair nsurance;
j. To fail to provide a clear written explanation, prior to sale, of what is
meant by the term "as is," if the used motor vehicle is sold "as
is."
3. Prior
accidents and body damage
N.J.A.C. 13:45A-26A.7 punishes,
"The failure to disclose that the motor vehicle had
been previously damagesand that substantial repair or body work had been
performed on it when such prior repair or body work is known or should have
been known by the advertiser; for the purposes of this subsection,
"substantial repair or body work" shall mean repair or body work
having a retail value of $1,000 or more." It is unclear whether the regulation applies to unadvertised
vehicles. Cases in other states have dealt with failure to disclose body
damage, though we see no New Jersey case on this issue.
4. Federal Window Sticker
Federal law requires a window sticker indicating whether
the car is sold as is or with a warranty. 16 Code Federal Regulations
(CFR) 455 tells a dealer:
A) "Before you offer a used vehicle for sale to a
consumer, you must prepare, fill in as applicable and display on that vehicle a
``Buyers Guide'' as required by this Rule. (1) The Buyers Guide shall be
displayed prominently and conspicuously in any location on a vehicle and in
such a fashion that both sides are readily readable... (2) The
capitalization, punctuation and wording of all items, headings, and text on the
form must be exactly as required by this Rule. The entire form must be printed
in 100% black ink on a white stock no smaller than 11 inches high by 7\1/4\
inches wide...
Law
Offices of Howard A. Gutman,
230 Route 206, Flanders, New Jersey 07836
(973) 598-1980, E-mail Howian@aol.com
New
York Office
315 Madison Avenue, Suite 901
New York, New York 10165 FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
We offer a free
initial telephone consultation to discuss your lemon law case. Please feel free
to call or e-mail our office.
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners dealing with transmission troubles in
their brand new vehicles.The Jeep Grand
Cherokee transmission problem is strikingly similar to the issues we are seeing
with the Ford Focus and Fiesta vehicles.In an effort to meet EPA standards, Chrysler modified the transmission,
changing a standard transmission into a manual unit.
Date Complaint Filed: 02/20/2014 Component(s): POWER TRAIN
Date of
Incident: 02/11/2014 NHTSA ID Number: 10565092
Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)
JEEP CHEROKEE 2014 Manufacturer: Chrysler Group LLC
Vehicle
Identification No. (VIN): 1C4PJLDS6EW...
SUMMARY:
TL* THE CONTACT
OWNS A 2014 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION
SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE
DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE
MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE
FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,700.
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using the form that will appear below.
Date Complaint
Filed: 02/07/2014 Component(s): WHEELS
Date of
Incident: 02/02/2014 NHTSA ID Number: 10563446
I PURCHASED MY
NEW JEEP CHEROKEE ON 2/2/2014. FROM VERY SOON AFTER I BEGAN DRIVING IT, I WAS
AWARE THAT THERE WAS AN UNUSUALLY HIGH AMOUNT OF NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT
END WHEN THE CAR WAS GOING MORE THAN 30 MPH OR SO; IT SOUNDED AS IF THE CAR HAD
A PROPELLER. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY (I RESIDE
ABOUT 35 MILES AWAY). AT FIRST, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION NOISE, BUT
IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED AS A BAD WHEEL BEARING. AFTER A NEW BEARING WAS
SHIPPED OVERNIGHT FROM DETROIT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BEARING ON THE OTHER
FRONT WHEEL WAS ALSO BAD AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. I AM CONTACTING NHTSA
BECAUSE BAD BEARINGS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS SUGGESTS TO ME THAT THERE IS MORE
THAN COINCIDENCE INVOLVED, AND THAT OTHER NEW CHEROKEES MIGHT BE SIMILARLY
AFFECTED IF A WHOLE PRODUCTION RUN OF DEFECTIVE BEARINGS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON
THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE. I AM AWARE THAT BAD WHEEL BEARINGS, IF IGNORED, CAN
EVENTUALLY LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, BEARING SEIZURE, AND LOSS OF WHEELS
AND/OR VEHICLE CONTROL.
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using the form that will appear below.
Date Complaint
Filed: 02/06/2014 Component(s): ENGINE
Date of
Incident: 02/06/2014 NHTSA ID Number: 10563264
I WAS SLOWLY
ENTERING A PARKING SPACE. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE SPEED
INCREASED TO MAXIMUM RPM. I JAMMED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THREW THE TRANSMISSION
INTO "PARK." A GREAT CLOUD OF BLUE SMOKE ISSUED FORTH FROM THE
SPINNING TIRES. THIS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND IT'S DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH
THE TRUCK AND NOT MY FOOT! SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AS A PEDESTRIAN, I SAW THE EXACT
SAME THING HAPPEN TO A JEEP CHEROKEE AT A STOP SIGN.
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using the form that will appear below. Date Complaint
Filed: 01/23/2014 Component(s): POWER TRAIN
Date of
Incident: 12/02/2013 NHTSA ID Number: 10560953
Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)
JEEPCHEROKEE2014
Manufacturer: Chrysler Group LLC
Vehicle
Identification No. (VIN): 1C4PJLDS7EW...
SUMMARY:
2014 JEEP
CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SMD VERY
SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SPOTS ON THE
DRIVEWAY, WHICH THEN PROGRESSED INTO A HORRIBLE WHINING AND GRINDING NOISE. THE
VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY AND THE CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL SHE HAD
CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER, AND
AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR A DAY, SHE WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION
NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER, THAT PART OF THE TRANSMISSION
WAS POROUS, WHICH EXPLAINED THE STAINS ON THE DRIVEWAY IN MULTIPLE SPOTS. THE TRANSMISSION
WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB
Manufacturer: Chrysler Group
LLC
Vehicle
Identification No. (VIN): 1J8HR58235C...
SUMMARY:
2005 JEEP
CHEROKEE. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE INCLUDING ELECTRICAL,
BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES, BATTERY FAILURE, ALTERNATOR FAILURE, 3 BROKEN STEMS AND
REPETITIVE ISSUES WITH A TRANSMISSION FILTER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION
PROBLEM WOULD OFTEN LEAVE HIM STRANDED. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD OFTEN CAUSE THE
VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD OR BACKWARDS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY ENGAGED.
THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS WHILE MAKING TURNS WHICH CAUSED THE
CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING ABILITY. *JB
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available documentation for a fee. Submit using the form that will appear
below.
Date Complaint
Filed: 09/10/2010 Component(s): POWER TRAIN
Date of
Incident: 08/24/2010 NHTSA ID Number: 10354814
Vehicle MakeModelModel Year(s)
JEEPGRAND
CHEROKEE2005
Manufacturer: Chrysler Group LLC
Vehicle
Identification No. (VIN): 1J8GS48K85C...
SUMMARY:
WE OWN A 2005
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS 2 YEARS OLD AND AT 35,000 MILES THE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THIS WAS
REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. MY HUSBAND WAS KIND OF CONCERNED THAT THEY HAD THE
PART IN STOCK FOR A TWO YEAR OLD VEHICLE BUT WE HAD IT FIXED AND WENT ON. NOW
IT IS THREE YEARS LATER AT 89,000 MILES AND THE SAME PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
THEY WANT US TO PAY 750 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. WE FILED A CASE WITH CHRYSLER AND
THEY WANT US TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED FOR 89.00 AT THEIR DEALER AND THEN THEY WILL
DISCUSS WHETHER THEY WILL HELP PAY FOR IT OR NOT. THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE
ON THE WEB THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES. OUR CAR WILL LIGHT UP ALL THE GEARS
WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY DUE TO THE
ENGINE NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT GEAR WE ARE IN. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY
THAT THEY FIXED IT AND HELPED US THIS TIME BUT IN 2-3 YEARS WE HAVE TO DO THIS
ALL OVER AGAIN FOR THE SAME PART. THE GENTLEMAN MY HUSBAND FIRST TALKED TO AT
THE DEALER WE CONSULTED BEFORE TALKING WITH CHRYSLER STATED THAT HE HAS ALSO
REPLACED THIS SAME PIECE IN HIS CHRYSLER 300 TWICE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN ON THE CAR
FORUMS THAT THE JEEP COMMANDER IS DOING THE SAME THING AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS
COMPLAINTS OUT THERE ABOUT THE 05 JEEP CHEROKEE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY
CHRYSLER CONTINUES TO PUT THIS PART THAT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKING IN THEIR
VEHICLES. THIS IS CAUSING ISSUES FOR THE CARS AND I AM NOT CONVINCED I WANT
ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT. THE GEAR SHIFT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PARTS REPLACED. I
HAVE BEEN AROUND MANY VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I DO NOT
UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL OR SOMETHING HASN'T BEEN DONE ON THIS PARTICULAR PART.
WHY WOULD THEY NOT FIND A NEW WAY TO DO THIS TYPE OF GEAR SHIFT THAT DOESN'T
FALL APART IN TWO YEARS OF DRIVING. THIS IS A FAMILY VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT A
RACE CAR OR EVEN A 4WD. I JUST WANT TO GET HELP IN CASE OTHERS ARE STILL
DEALING WITH THIS. *TR
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using the form that will appear below.
Date Complaint
Filed: 07/29/2010 Component(s): POWER TRAIN
Date of
Incident: 07/29/2009 NHTSA ID Number: 10346026
Make Model Model Year(s)
JEEPGRAND
CHEROKEE 4X42007
Manufacturer: Chrysler Group LLC
Vehicle
Identification No. (VIN): 1J8GR48K07C...
SUMMARY:
OWN A 2007 JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE 4X4, BOUGHT 4 MTHS AGO, I CAN BE DRIVING IT DOWN A ROAD AND ALL
THE SUDDEN IT LOSES POWER LIKE AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM, THEN IT WILL SUDDENLY
JUST TAKE OFF VERY QUICKLY, THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING, I CAN BE ON THE
INTERSTATE GOING 65, TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO SLOW DOWN SOME AND HEAR A
HARSH SHIFTING PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES,
EACH TIME THEY TELL ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, I AGREE WITH THE OTHER
COMPLAINTS ON THESE ISSUES WHICH I HAVE HAD THEM ALL IN 4 MTHS. WINDOWS GET
STUCK AND WON'T ROLL UP AND DOWN, CAR HAS NOT STARTED 3 TIMES AND HAD TO PUT IN
A NEW STARTER, CRAZY DANGEROUS ACCELERATION, SHIFTING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION!!!!!!!!
I HAVE OWNED A 1995 JEEP CHEROKEE SINCE 2003 AND NO PROBLEMS, GOT THIS ONE AND
PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM. THIS ACCELERATION/ SHIFTING ISSUE IS GOING TO KILL
SOMEONE IF THIS CAR ISN'T RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM!!!!! *TR
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using the form that will appear below. Date Complaint
Filed: 03/10/2010 Component(s): AIR BAGS
Date of
Incident: 02/24/2010 NHTSA ID Number: 10318552
PASSENGER AIR
BAG WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE CHRYSLER
INVESTIGATED AND SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG AND WON'T DO ANYTHING TO REPAIR.
BUT I KNOW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE AIR BAG
MODULE AND STILL SMELL BURNING WIRES DEALERSHIP SAID THAT JEEP HAD KNOWN RECALL
THAT SAID WAS PERFORMED AND NEVER WAS FOUND RECALL ON YOUR WEB SITE IT SAID
POSSIBLE AIR BAG LIGHT OR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DO TO CORROSION AND THE MODULE WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE MOVED TO TRANSMISSION TUNNEL BUT NEVER WAS DONE AND YOU CAN SEE
CORROSION ALL OVER MODULE. AND CHRYSLER WOULD NOT SAY IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE I WOULD
LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
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using the form that will appear below.
Date Complaint
Filed: 02/17/2009 Component(s): POWER TRAIN
Date of
Incident: 08/14/2007 NHTSA ID Number: 10258911
Toyota Priuses have experience software problem potentially
serious problems.The software defect
can shut down the hybrid system and could damage the transistors.When this occurs, the hybrid system could
shut down and the vehicle will lose power.
Toyota will notify owners and dealers will update the
software for both the motor/generator control electronic control unit (ECU) and
the hybrid control ECU, free of charge.If an owner experiences a failure of the inverter before the vehicle
receives updated software, the dealer will replace the inverter assembly with a
new one at no charge.The recall is
expected to begin in late February 2014.Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
Vehicle
Identification No. (VIN): JTDKN3DU0A0...
SUMMARY:
WHILE BRAKING AT
LOW SPEEDS -- SUCH AS WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR AN INTERSECTION --
PASSING OVER A POTHOLE OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE OFTEN CAUSES THE BRAKES TO
DISENGAGE. THE SENSATION IS ONE IN WHICH MY FOOT IS IN THE SAME PLACE AS IT WAS
WHEN I BEGAN BRAKING, BUT SUDDENLY THERE IS NO GIVE TO THE PEDAL, THE BRAKING
HAS STOPPED -- BRAKING DOES NOT RETURN UNTIL I PUSH FURTHER DOWN ON THE PEDAL.
MY FOOT IS NOT DISLODGED BY THE BUMP, AND THE BRAKING MECHANISM WILL NOT
RE-ENGAGE UNLESS I PUSH THE PEDAL TO A NEW, DEEPER LOCATION. IT IS OBVIOUSLY
DISCONCERTING AT INTERSECTIONS, AND SINCE MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION AND HAVING
TO RE-LEARN WHERE ON MY ROUTES THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR, I DECIDED IT WAS TIME
TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FRUSTRATION IS THAT THIS ISSUE WAS SUPPOSEDLY SOLVED A
COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH A SOFTWARE FIX FROM TOYOTA, BUT THAT FIX SEEMS TO NOT
HAVE WORKED. I FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PRIUS PROBLEM WITH SOME AGENCY
(POSSIBLY NHTSA OR FTC) A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE OTHER, MORE NOTABLE,
BRAKE-STICKING PROBLEM IN OTHER TOYOTAS WAS IN THE NEWS. THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE
IS QUITE DIFFERENT. NOTE: THE DATE OF FIRST INCIDENCE IS APPROXIMATE, BUT THE
PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR
Request Research
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using the form that will appear below.
Date Complaint
Filed: 06/06/2013 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES
Date of
Incident: 09/02/2010 NHTSA ID Number: 10515416
Vehicle MakeModelModel
Year(s)
TOYOTAPRIUS2010
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
Vehicle
Identification No. (VIN): JTDKN3DU0A0...
SUMMARY:
I HAVE PREVIOUSLY
(2010 OR 2011) FILED A DETAILED REPORT OF THE CONSISTENT ANOMALY THAT OCCURS
WHILE BRAKING ON A ROUGH SURFACE OR UPON HITTING A POTHOLE, MANHOLE COVER, ETC.
IN THIS SITUATION, THE FEEDBACK FROM THE VEHICLE SUGGESTS THAT THE BRAKES HAVE
DISENGAGED. BASED UPON 2+ YEARS OF ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE, I WOULD NOTE THAT:
(1) THIS ANOMALY OCCURS CONSISTENTLY, AND IT HAS NOT DISAPPEARED OR ATTENUATED,
(2) I BELIEVE THAT STOPPING DISTANCES ARE LONGER THAN WOULD BE EXPECTED WITHOUT
THIS ANOMALY, (3) MY PRIUS WAS MANUFACTURED AFTER THE 2010 SOFTWARE FIX, AND
(4) OTHER DRIVERS OF 2010 AND LATER PRIUS CARS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME
PHENOMENON WHEN I ASKED ABOUT IT (SEE BELOW). MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WOULD NOTE
THE FOLLOWING SOURCE OF EVIDENCE WHICH YOU MIGHT EASILY PURSUE FURTHER. I HAVE
BEEN LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY (NYC) FOR MOST OF THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE NYC TAXI
FLEET INCLUDES A SIZABLE NUMBER OF TOYOTA PRIUS CARS. EVERY TIME I TAKE A PRIUS
TAXI, I ASK THE DRIVER IF HE HAS ENCOUNTERED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHEN BRAKING ON
ROUGH SURFACES. IN MORE THAN A DOZEN SUCH INSTANCES, DRIVERS HAVE CONSISTENTLY
REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHILE YOU MAY NOT WANT TO TRUST MY EVIDENCE ON THIS
MATTER, IT WOULD BE VERY CHEAP FOR NHTSA TO SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO SOME OF THE
LARGE TAXI GARAGES IN NYC TO INTERVIEW DRIVERS WITH EXPERIENCE DRIVING PRIUS
TAXI CABS. GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF MILES LOGGED BY TAXI DRIVERS, THIS COULD
BE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF INFORMATION FROM HIGHLY EXPERIENCED DRIVERS --- WHO
MUST REGULARLY CONTEND WITH NYC'S MYRIAD POTHOLES. I WOULD FINALLY NOTE THAT
--- OTHER THAN THIS ANOMALY --- I LOVE MY PRIUS. IT IS A GREAT CAR. I WOULD
JUST LIKE FOR TOYOTA TO FIGURE OUR WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ANOMALY AND FIX IT. *TR
Request Research
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using the form that will appear below.
Date Complaint
Filed: 12/18/2012 Component(s): UNKNOWN OR OTHER , WHEELS
Date of
Incident: 06/01/2005 NHTSA ID Number: 10489211
MY PRIUS EXHIBITS
REMOVAL OF ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS DURING ACCELERATION
WHEN TURNING SHARPLY RIGHT OR LEFT ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE. THIS OCCURS AS SOON
AS ONE OF THE FRONT WHEEL SLIPS. ORDINARILY THIS IS ONLY A MINOR AGGRAVATION,
AND EASING ON THE THROTTLE USUALLY RESTORES POWER BUT IN ICING CONDITIONS IT'S
DANGEROUS. THERE ARE CONDITIONS WHERE I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR WHEN CROSSING A
SMALL BERM OF SNOW (3 INCHES HIGH WHERE ONE WHEEL HAD SIGNIFICANTLY LESS
TRACTION THAN THE OTHER. I HAD TO BE PUSHED OVER IT. IT APPEARS TO BE A SOFTWARE
ISSUE, BUT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER CLAIMS THEY NEVER HEARD OF IT. *TR
Request Research
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using the form that will appear below.
Date Complaint
Filed: 08/19/2012 Component(s): VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Date of
Incident: 06/10/2012 NHTSA ID Number: 10471467
WE'VE BEEN HAVING
A PROBLEM WITH THE DRCC (DYNAMIC RADAR CRUSE CONTROL) ON OUR 2011 PRIUS. THE
DRCC LOCKS UP (FREEZES) -LOCKING ONTO A PHANTOM VEHICLE AHEAD AND ACTIVATING
THE BEEPER/APPLYING THE BRAKES -“ EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO
VEHICLE IS AHEAD! THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATES
AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS WITH NO WARNING TO VEHICLES BEHIND. WE HAVE HAD 7
OCCURRENCES OF THIS PROBLEM. A SEARCH OF THE HTSA DATABASE YIELDS TWO SIMILAR
REPORTS (10448415 & 10421208). IN ALL CASES THIS HAS OCCURRED ON CLEAR
SUNNY DAYS AS THE CAR WAS PASSING A SEMI TRACTOR-TRAILER ON AN INTERSTATE
HIGHWAY WHEN OUR CAR WAS PASSING THE SEMI'S CAB. IN MOST CASES, THERE WAS NO
VEHICLE IN FRONT (CAR IN CONSTANT SPEED MODE) - IT JUST SUDDENLY ACTED LIKE
THERE WAS ONE! WHENEVER THIS OCCURS, THE CAR KEEPS BRAKING AND THE ONLY
IMMEDIATE SOLUTION IS TO TURN DISENGAGE THE CRUSE CONTROL. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE
IS HIGH (ABOVE 90 DEGREES) WHEN WE RE-ENGAGE THE DRCC, THE UNIT IS STILL LOCKED
UP! WHAT CLEARED THE LOCKED UP CONDITION WAS TURNING OFF THE CAR. ON ONE
OCCASION, WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE HAD DROPPED BELOW 90 DEGREES THE DRCC
CLEARED ITSELF. I HAVE A LOG OF ALL 7 OCCURRENCES OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE
CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (CASE #S [XXX] & [XXX]) AND THEY HAD ME
TAKE THE CAR TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHO USED THEIR TECHSCAN TOOL TO DOWNLOAD
ANY SYSTEM GENERATED ERROR CODES - THEY FOUND NONE. (OF COURSE, IF THE SOFTWARE
DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT MALFUNCTION HAS OCCURRED, NO ERROR
CODE WILL BE GENERATED.) THE DEALER ALSO TOOK THE CAR OUT ON A COUPLE OF
(SHORT) TEST DRIVES, BUT THE SYSTEM PERFORMED NORMALLY. *NOTE: A POSSIBLE
PROBLEM HERE IS THAT, WHEN HOT, THE RADAR UNIT IS PICKING UP SIGNALS FROM THE
TRUCK'S SATELLITE POSITION REPORTING SYSTEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL ELECTRONIC
MANUFACTURING FAULTS THAT COULD LEAD TO THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO
THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Request Research
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using the form that will appear below.
Date Complaint
Filed: 03/21/2011 Component(s): VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Date of
Incident: 03/13/2011 NHTSA ID Number: 10392422
2007 INFINITI
G35X PREMIUM 4DR ACCIDENT ON MARCH 13, 2011 IN PARKING LOT OF A CHURCH; AFTER I
PARKED THE CAR, BEFORE CHANGING THE CAR TO PARK AND TAKEOFF THE SEAT BELT TO GO
TO CHURCH. THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL; ACCELERATED, AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP
THE CAR. I TRIED THE BRAKES ¿ AND IT JUST KEPT SPEEDING UP FORWARD, TOWARDS THE
CHURCH BUILDING WHICH MAY HAVE KILLED THE ATTENDEES OF THE CHURCH SERVICE. I
FINALLY TRIED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT WHICH WORKED, HIT A TREE, A CAR
AND VAN THAT WERE PARKING IN FRONT OF CHURCH AND FINALLY STOPPED THE INFINITI.
AS OF NOW INSURANCE & INFINITI DEALER CHECKED AND REPORTED THE CAR BODY
DAMAGES, DID NOT CHECK ANY SOFTWARE SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTION. THEY WANT ME TO
APPROVE THE FIXES. I WANT A TRUE INVESTIGATION ABOUT THE SPEED CONTROL ISSUES
OF THIS MODEL OF INFINITI G35X 2007. KINDLY UPDATE ME WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION
--------- I FOUND SIMILAR CASES ON THE NET... TOYOTA PRIUS
HTTP://WWW.SATISFICE.COM/BLOG/ARCHIVES/420
HTTP://WWW.SATISFICE.COM/BLOG/ARCHIVES/426
HTTP://MONEY.CNN.COM/2010/03/15/AUTOS/TOYOTA_PRIUS_PRESSER/
HTTP://WWW.CLEVELAND.COM/NATION/INDEX.SSF/2010/03/FEDERAL_AND_TOYOTA_INVESTIGATO.HTML
INFINITI HTTP://CAR-AND-SAFETY.COM/INFINITI-G35-SAFETY/INFINITI-G35-2004.HTM
HTTP://CAR-AND-SAFETY.COM/INFINITI-VEHICLE-SPEED-CONTROL.HTM. *TR
Request Research
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using the form that will appear below.
Date Complaint
Filed: 01/27/2011 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Date of
Incident: 08/01/2010 NHTSA ID Number: 10379251
I PURCHASED A NEW
2010 TOYOTA PRIUS (MODEL 3) IN LATE JULY 2010. IN ALMOST EVERY RESPECT, THIS
CAR IS WONDERFUL. HOWEVER, THE CAR HAS CONSISTENTLY DIMINISHED (APPARENT) BRAKING
EFFECTIVENESS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND THE CAR GOES OVER A PATCH OF
ROUGH ROAD, POTHOLE, ETC. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WITH A CONSISTENT
PRESSURE, THE CAR "FEELS" AS IF THE BRAKES DISENGAGE UPON ENTERING A
ROUGH PATCH OF ROAD. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME. (FOR EXAMPLE, I NOTICE IT EVERY
TIME I SLOW DOWN AT MY STREET CORNER WHERE THERE IS A LONG-STANDING PATCH OF
ROUGH PAVEMENT.) SINCE 1994 I HAVE OWNED 7 CARS WITH ABS (HONDAS, NISSANS, AND
TOYOTA CAMRYS), I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR SENSATION IN ANY OF THESE
OTHER CARS. I HAVE ADAPTED MY DRIVING STYLE TO THIS ANOMALY, BUT I WORRY ABOUT
MY KIDS AND FRIENDS WHO MAY OCCASIONALLY DRIVE MY PRIUS. IT IS UNNERVING TO
APPLY THE BRAKES AND HAVE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY ARE DISENGAGING WHEN YOU ENTER A
ROUGH PATCH OF ROAD. SINCE THIS PROBLEM OCCURS CONSISTENTLY, I THINK IT SHOULD
BE POSSIBLE TO TEST TO SEE IF THIS APPARENT BRAKING ANOMALY IS ACTUALLY
INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCES. (FOR EXAMPLE, TEST PRIUS VS. MODEL WITHOUT
APPARENT BRAKING ANOMALY ON SMOOTH AND ROUGH ROADS TO SEE IF RELATIVE BRAKING
DISTANCES OF PRIUS ARE MORE HEAVILY AFFECTED BY ROUGH ROADS THAT COMPARISON
MODEL.) P.S. AFTER PURCHASING MY NEW PRIUS, I NOTED THAT MY DEALER'S SERVICE
BLOG, HAD SEVERAL REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT CORRECTED AFTER
SERVICING BY THE DEALER. SOME POSTS NOTED THAT THE DEALER HAD APPLIED A SOFTWARE
FIX THAT TOYOTA DISTRIBUTED IN EARLY 2010. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED AFTER THAT
FIX. *TR
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Date Complaint
Filed: 01/26/2011 Component(s): ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Date of
Incident: 01/25/2011 NHTSA ID Number: 10378874
ENGINE SHUT DOWN
WHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY. CHARGED FOR ECM UPDATE WHEN PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN. CNN
REPORTED, "A SOFTWARE PROBLEM IS CAUSING SOME TOYOTA PRIUS GAS-ELECTRIC
HYBRID CARS TO STALL OR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS." A
TOYOTA PRESS RELEASE STATES: "TOYOTA MOTOR SALES (TMS), U.S.A., INC., WILL
LAUNCH A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN INVOLVING CERTAIN 2004 AND EARLY 2005 MODEL
YEAR PRIUS SOLD IN THE U.S. ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, AN ISSUE WITH THE PROGRAM
LOGIC IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SYSTEM MAY CAUSE SOME OR ALL OF
THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE: MASTER, HYBRID SYSTEM, ENGINE,
VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, AND BRAKE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE WILL ENTER A
"FAIL-SAFE" MODE WHICH ALLOWS LIMITED OPERATION VIA THE ELECTRIC MOTOR.
HOWEVER, THE ELECTRICALLY-POWERED BRAKE AND STEERING OPERATION WILL CONTINUE TO
FUNCTION NORMALLY IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS. THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WILL ALSO
PROVIDE ENOUGH POWER TO ALLOW THE DRIVER TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND AWAY FROM
TRAFFIC. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, THE DRIVER MAY BE ABLE TO RESTART THE
GASOLINE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE BY PUSHING THE START BUTTON. APPROXIMATELY
75,000 2004 AND 2005 MODEL YEAR PRIUS VEHICLES MAY BE AFFECTED BY THIS
CONDITION. TOYOTA IS PROACTIVELY CONDUCTING A CAMPAIGN IN THE INTEREST OF ITS
CUSTOMERS." *TR
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Date Complaint
Filed: 11/27/2010 Component(s): ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Date of
Incident: 11/27/2010 NHTSA ID Number: 10367974
WHILE DRIVING MY
2009 TOYOTA TACOMA SPORT PICK-UP TRUCK IN A LOWES HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTER
PARKING LOT TODAY (11/27/10 AT 2:25 PM), MY TACOMA BEGAN A VERY RAPID
ACCELERATION AS I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN ROUNDING AN ISLE TURN
IN THE LOT AND PREPARING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. I APPLIED IMMEDIATE HEAVY
PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE SINCE A TOYOTA PRIUS WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND I DID
NOT WANT TO HIT IT. DURING MY BRAKING THE REAR TIRE(S) WAS SPINNING AND
SCREECHING ON THE PAVEMENT. THE TRUCK MOVED FORWARD ABOUT 5 FEET AND THEN THE
MOTOR SHUT OFF AS I WAS REACHING TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. WHEW! THIS HAPPENED
IN ALL OF A SPAN OF MAYBE 4 TO 5 SECONDS. THANK GOD I HAD JUST RECENTLY TAKEN
THE TRUCK IN FOR A RECALL WHERE THE DEALER CUT BACK THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND
INSTALLED NEW SOFTWARE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THIS
NEW SOFTWARE SAVED MY BUTT AND THAT OF THE PRIUS TOO. WHO KNOWS THE DAMAGE THAT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT IT. THIS IS MY (THE TACOMA'S) 3RD RAPID
ACCELERATION INCIDENT AND 3RD TIME I AM REPORTING TO THE NHTSA. FIRST REPORT
WAS ON 12/03/09 ID: 174319. THIS TIME I WAS PARKED WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING. UPON
MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER FROM P TO N THE MOTOR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. SINCE THE CAR
WAS IN NEUTRAL I WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE
DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY "FOUND NO PROBLEM". RIGHT! MY SECOND
REPORT TO THE NHTSA WAS ON 4/14/10 ODI: 10325627. SAME PROBLEM AS WITH THE
FIRST REPORT TO THE NHTSA. I DID NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THIS TIME BECAUSE I
KNEW THAT THEY WOULD "NOT FIND ANYTHING." FOR THIS LATEST INCIDENT I
AM TAKING THE TRUCK IN ON MONDAY MORNING, 11/29/10 AT THE DEALER'S REQUEST TO
ME TODAY. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE DEALER MAY SAY TO ME OR DOES, I AM GETTING RID
OF THE TACOMA. IT HAS BECOME TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I AM LUCKY MY WIFE WAS NOT
DRIVING THE TACOMA WHEN THIS LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED. SEE ALSO 10294490 AND
10325627. *DSY *TR
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Date Complaint
Filed: 10/09/2010 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Date of
Incident: 06/06/2010 NHTSA ID Number: 10359868
2010 TOYOTA PRIUS,
NO ACCIDENTS, BUT CLOSE CALLS. WHEN I AM SLOWING TO A STOP, AND IF THE VEHICLE
HITS A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD, FOR EXAMPLE A POTHOLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL LOWERS
SLIGHTLY AND THE CAR APPEARS TO HAVE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING TAKE OVER AND THE
CAR SPEED DECREASES SLOWLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE ABS AND MAY NOT STOP IN THE
REMAINING DISTANCE TO A STOP SIGH OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. AT LEAST 4 TIMES, 3 SINCE
THE SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR MY CAR, I HAVE BEEN STOPPING AND WITHIN ABOUT 20 FEET
OF THE STOP SIGH THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT BUMP OR POTHOLE AND WITH MY FOOT ON
THE BRAKE CONTINUOUSLY I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED SLIGHTLY AND MY
RATE OF SLOWING DECREASED AND MY CAR DRIFTED PAST THE STOP SIGN. THIS ALL
HAPPENED WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. I TOLD THE TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT THIS
AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT IS THE WAY THE CAR IS DESIGNED, THAT ANY TIME THAT THE
COMPUTER SENSES A WHEEL SLIP, THE ABS TAKES OVER. BUT ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS,
THIS IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IN MY AREA THERE ARE OFTEN UN REPAIRED ROADS WITH
RUTS, POTHOLES, BUMPS AND ETC. NEAR THE INTERSECTIONS. HAVING THE ABS TAKE OVER
PROVIDES A LAG TIME IN THE STOPPING OF THE CAR AND EACH TIME I HAVE GONE PAST
THE STOP SIGN AND SLIGHTLY INTO THE INTERSECTION APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET INTO THE
PATH OF OTHER VEHICLES. I AM AN ENGINEER WITH NASA AND KNOW WHAT I AM DOING AND
HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FEATURE, BUT THIS FEATURE CAN AND HAS LEFT
ME EXCEEDING MY PLANNED STOPPING DISTANCE AND COULD HAVE LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.
*TR
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Date Complaint
Filed: 08/26/2010 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , STEERING
Date of
Incident: 08/19/2010 NHTSA ID Number: 10352036
BRAKE FAILURE. 2010
TOYOTA PRIUS IV -- THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES LOSE PRESSURE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL LOSES
PRESSURE (REGARDLESS OF HOW HARD I PRESS ON THE BRAKES AS THIS IS HAPPENING).
THE BRAKES ARE TEMPORARILY DISABLED AND THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES AS
A RESULT OF ITS MOMENTUM PRIOR TO INITIALIZING THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE OCCURS
WHEN THE VEHICLE PASSES OVER A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN THE TEXTURE/FRICTION OF THE
ROAD SURFACE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE DOZENS OF TIMES, WHEN DRIVING OVER
METAL SURFACES (MANHOLE COVERS, POTHOLE COVERS, TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION COVERS,
METAL EXPANSION INSERTS IN BRIDGES, ETC), AS WELL AS SMALL PATCHES OF
CONDENSATION (SUCH AS SMALL PUDDLES UNDER A BRIDGE WHEN THE SURROUNDING ROAD IS
DRY). THE FAILURE IS NOT RELATED TO HYDROPLANING, AND HAS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS AS
LOW AS 15 MPH. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNTIL A FEW SECONDS
AFTER IT HAS PASSED OVER THE SLICK SURFACE. AFTER RETURNING TO THE REGULAR ROAD
SURFACE, THE BRAKES SLOWLY REGAIN TRACTION AND RESUME THEIR FUNCTION OF SLOWING
THE VEHICLE DOWN. THIS FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME THESE CRITERIA ARE MET --
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ROAD CONDITIONS ARE WET OR DRY. SO FAR NO ACCIDENTS HAVE
RESULTED FROM THIS FAILURE ON MY VEHICLE, BUT I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTROL THE
PROBLEM OR DECREASE ITS EFFECTS. AGAIN, THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS,
SUCH AS IN CITY TRAFFIC WHILE BRAKING TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. MANY TIMES IT
HAS CAUSED ME TO NEARLY HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE. SO I HAVE BEEN FORCED
TO LEAVE AN EXTRA 40 FEET BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND ANYTHING IN FRONT OF ME, WHICH
IS NOT ALWAYS FEASIBLE BECAUSE I LIVE IN AN URBAN AREA. I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN
THIS VEHICLE INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AS PART OF THEIR RECALL TO FIX THE SOFTWARE
WHICH CONTROLS THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE HYBRID BRAKES AND THE NORMAL DISK
BRAKES. LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HAVE CONSISTENTLY DENIED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH
THE VEHICLE AND THE TOYOTA COMPANY WILL NOT RETURN MY PHONE CALLS. *TR
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Date Complaint
Filed: 08/24/2010 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Date of
Incident: 08/22/2010 NHTSA ID Number: 10351511
2010 TOYOTA PRIUS
OCCASIONAL LOSS OF BRAKE PERFORMANCE IMMEDIATELY UPON START-UP OF VEHICLE. ON 4
SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THERE WAS NOTED LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY AFTER SHIFTING
INTO REVERSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING ON THE IGNITION. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKE
PEDAL TO FEEL HARD, AND ALLOWED THE CAR TO SLOWLY MOVE AGAINST THE OPERATOR'S
INTENTIONS. AFTER ABOUT 5 SECONDS, THE BRAKES BEGIN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. A
TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS FOR BRAKE PRESSURE TO COME UP
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND THAT I SHOULD WAIT BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR.
THIS INSTRUCTION SEEMS COUNTERACTIVE TOWARDS SAFETY, AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT
BE ALLOWED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR UNTIL BRAKE PRESSURE IS PRESENT. A SIMPLE SOFTWARE
UPDATE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN. *TR
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Date Complaint
Filed: 08/22/2010 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Date of
Incident: 09/01/2009 NHTSA ID Number: 10351189
MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS
HAS ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS BRAKING OVER BUMPY ROADS. AT CERTAIN SPEEDS FIRM
BRAKING OVER BUMPS CAUSES THE WHEELS TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE SLIPPING. TOYOTA RECALLED
THE VEHICLE, AND PERFORMED SOFTWARE UPGRADES THAT I FEEL DID NOTHING TO IMPROVE
THE SITUATION. I RECENTLY BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO BE SERVICED AND MENTIONED
THAT IT WAS STILL SLIPPING OVER BUMPS BUT THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT
REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT ONE SPECIFIC INCIDENCE BUT MULTIPLE
INSTANCES. *TR
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Date Complaint
Filed: 07/27/2010 Component(s): ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC ,
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Date of
Incident: 07/27/2010 NHTSA ID Number: 10345638
WAS DRIVING PRIUS
2010 MODEL II WITH BRAKE SOFTWARE APPLIED BY DEALER ABOUT 1.5 MONTHS AGO. TODAY
(7/27/2010) I EXITED HIGHWAY AND BEGAN GENTLE BRAKING ON OFFRAMP, AS SUGGESTED
BY MANUAL TO MAXIMIZE REGENERATION. ABOUT HALF-WAY DOWN OFFRAMP, I REALIZED CAR
IN FRONT OF ME WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND THAT I HAD TO STOP MUCH MORE QUICKLY
THAN I WAS PLANNING TO. I DON'T RECALL BEING PARTICULARLY DISTRACTED, BUT I
CAN'T RULE OUT I NOTICED THE STOPPED VEHICLE LATER THAN I SHOULD HAVE. IN ANY
EVENT, I'M NOT SURE HOW HARD I PRESSED THE BRAKES, BUT I RECALL DISTINCTLY
THINKING "OH, MY GOD. NOTHING IS HAPPENING" AND 1-2 SECS LATER I
PLOWED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE COLLISION WAS HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE
TEMPORARY PAIN TO THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME, BUT NO AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED AND
THE PRIUS APPEARS TO NOT HAVE MAJOR FRONTAL DAMAGE - HOOD IS BENT BACK AND
MAYBE SLIGHT FRAME DISTORTION => THE IMPACT CLEARLY WAS NOT AT THE ~40-50
MPH I WAS GOING WHEN JUST EXITING THE HIGHWAY, SO SOME BRAKING CLEARLY DID
OCCUR -- BUT I HAVE THE DISTINCT FEELING THAT MY PREVIOUS CAR (SUBARU OUTBOOK)
WOULD HAVE EASILY STOPPED IN TIME. AFTER ACCIDENT, I TESTED BRAKES BY GOING
15-20 MPH IN PARKING LOT AND BRAKING HARD. ALWAYS STOPPED QUICKLY, I'M GUESSING
W/100% FRICTION BRAKING. SO BRAKES ARE PROBABLY NOT "DEFECTIVE" IN
SENSE OF LOST HYDRAULIC FLUID, ETC... BUT I HAVE NEVER BEFORE EXPERIENCED THE
FEELING "I'M NOT STOPPING" EXCEPT ONCE WHEN LOSING TRACTION ON ICY
ROAD WITH A NON-HYBRID. THE FACT HAD TIME TO THINK THIS THOUGHT AT ALL PROBABLY
MEANS MAYBE 0.5-1.5 SEC PASSED WHILE BRAKING INEFFECTIVE. CHECKED FOR TIRE/SKID
MARKS ON ROAD OR EVIDENCE OF STRONG TIRE WEAR AND FOUND NONE, WHILE I HAVE ON
OTHER CARS WHEN I HAVE HAD TO BRAKE HARD => PRIUS NOT BRAKING HARD DESPITE
EMERGENCY. SEEM TO HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN TRANSITION BETWEEN REGEN & FRICTION
MODE? THIS IS STILL DISCUSSED IN PRIUS FORUMS -- SOFTWARE FIX NOT GOOD ENOUGH!?
THIS IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. BTW,CAR WAS IN "ECO" MODE. *TR
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Date Complaint
Filed: 07/22/2010 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Date of
Incident: 02/18/2010 NHTSA ID Number: 10344742
I HAVE BEEN
EXPERIENCE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WHILE DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS ON ROUGH
ROAD SURFACE OR POTHOLES MORE THAN 30 TIMES SINCE I OWN THIS VEHICLE. I FILED A
COMPLAINT (ODI #10304434) BACK IN FEB 3RD. 2010 BEFORE THE RECALL FROM TOYOTA.
MY PRIUS WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, SO I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO TOYOTA
SERVICE CENTER FOR THE RECALL. TOYOTA UPDATED THE ABS ECU SOFTWARE ON MY PRIUS
ON FEB. 2010. SINCE TOYOTA UPDATED THE SOFTWARE FOR THE RECALL, I STILL
EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES, AND IT IS NOT ONLY HAPPEN DURING
SLOW AND STEADY APPLICATION OF BRAKES, ALSO HAPPEN WHEN I USE THE BRAKE IN MORE
SUDDEN FASHION EVEN AT MODERATE SPEED (30-40MPH). I BROUGHT MY PRIUS BACK TO
THE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER AGAIN IN MAY 2010 TO RECHECK THE ABS ECU SOFTWARE,
AND THEY SAID THE SOFTWARE IS THE LATEST UPDATED VERSION, AND MY BRAKING SYSTEM
IS MEETING THE MANUFACTURE SPECIFICATION. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM IS STILL EXIST
AS OF TODAY, AND MY CONCERN REGARDING SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE IS GROWING BECAUSE
THIS PROBLEM LEAD TO INCREASE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE AND THUS RAISE THE
LIKELIHOOD OF A CRASH OR ACCIDENT. *TR
