2007 Toyota Prius traction control system problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING UP A MOUNTAIN AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES LOST TRACTION AND THE VEHICLE SLID OFF A MOUNTAIN CURVE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND SOME DEEP TISSUE BRUISING. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT REMAINED BUCKLED, BUT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,800.”

“MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATES WHILE BRAKING AFTER HITTING BUMPS ON THE ROAD. I WAS BRAKING TO COME TO A STOP, THE CAR PROPELLED FORWARD 2-3 TIMES, THE TRACTION LIGHT FLASHED TWICE ALL WHY I HAD FULL PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. LUCKILY THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD NOT STOPPED COMPLETELY OTHERWISE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN IMPACT AS I HAD NO METHOD OF MAKING THE CAR STOP MOVING FORWARD. THE CAR WILL ALSO PROPEL FORWARD WHEN GOING OVER RAIL ROAD TRACKS OR OTHER BUMPS/POTHOLES IN THE ROAD. FROM A DRIVER STANDPOINT, IF THE CAR LOSES CONTACT WITH THE ROAD THERE IS SOMETHING ELECTRONIC THAT CAUSES IT TO ACCELERATE EVEN IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. *TR”

“WHENEVER I BRAKE WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP, SUCH AS A MANHOLE COVER, POTHOLE, OR COBBLESTONE ROAD, THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES AND FOR A MOMENT THE BRAKE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING, THE CAR IS NOT SLOWING. I AM WORRIED IT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF ANOTHER CAR WERE CLOSE IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN MY HUSBAND MENTIONED THE PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, THE BRAKES WERE CHECKED AND WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. HOWEVER, THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND THE MOMENT WITHOUT BRAKING IS TOO LONG FOR COMFORT. *TR”

“THIS FAILURE OCCURS WHENEVER ONE WHEEL LOOSES TRACTION WITH THE ROAD. INSTEAD OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKING KICKING IN, THE BRAKES ON ALL WHEELS ARE BACKED OFF GIVING THE FEELING THE CAR IS ACCELERATING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO OVER A BUMP OR SNOW. ON SNOW YOU HAVE TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL BRAKING DISTANT. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED FOR THE 2010 PRIUS. *TR”

“FOR APPROXIMATELY THE PAST SIX MONTHS THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT IN OUR CAR HAS GONE OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THIS OCCURS WHEN THERE IS ANY VIBRATION IN THE ROAD FROM, FOR EXAMPLE, UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES. ADDITIONALLY, OUR CAR ACCELERATES AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR A POTHOLE. *TR”

“ON MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2010, IN THE MORNING, ON A RAINY DAY IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED. I WAS DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS WITH STEEL PLATES BETWEEN THE TRACKS IN MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. I BRAKED BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. I HAD TIME TO ACTUALLY LOOK DOWN AT MY FEET TO CONFIRM THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY THE BRAKES THAT I WAS APPLYING MAJOR PRESSURE TO. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT WAS ON INDICATING THAT THE CAR DID NOT HAVE TRACTION. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH WERE, "I HAD NO BRAKES, I'M SO SORRY, BUT I HAD NO BRAKES." THE INITIAL ESTIMATE FOR MY CAR IS OVER $6,000, I HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT THE ESTIMATE IS FOR THE OTHER CAR. I DID EVERYTHING I COULD HAVE DONE, THE CAR FAILED ME. *TR”