NHTSA Monitors Toyota Prius Brake Complaints

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA has received a few dozen complaints about the braking performance of 2010 Toyota Prius from their users lately. They are complaining about a feeling that the vehicle lurches forward when hitting a pothole or bumpy roads.

Some of the Prius owners believe that the problem is happen when the system makes a transition from regenerative braking, which helps to recharge the battery of this hybrid, to standard braking when its need more aggressive stopping. The system is adjusted to use one kind of braking or the other for maximum efficiency or optimum braking performance. The sensors and calibration are apparently has not well to respond the potholes or uneven surfaces, and thereby makes an unpleasant driving sensation and a safety hazard for walker or pedestrians.

An unhappy owner of a 2010 Toyota Prius, Robert Becker, told the Detroit Bureau site that he has a bad experienced with a 2010 Prius. He had loss of braking power or braking momentum when hitting a manhole cover, pothole, or the like, so the driver need to press again harder on the brakes to slow or stopping the car. The other owners explained it as a feeling of losing control for a very brief period – less than a second. In 2009, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or IIHS gave ‘Top Safety Pick’ awards to the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius based on front, rear, and side crash testing.

Until now NHTSA has not yet opened an official investigation about the issue of braking system of the 2010 Toyota Prius. Toyota company is aware of the complaints, but says that it’s too soon to speculate about the cause or, if needed, a possible remedy.

Another articles by Johan Young you may be interested in reading: Hybrid Car Insurance, Audi Q7, BMW X6, Plug-in Car Supporters, Esure Car Insurance, and 2009 Green Cars, and Car Insurance Rate Quotes.

source:hybridcars.com