Complaints didn't just start with the third-generation Toyota Prius.
The investigation announced last week by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Administration that it is looking into more than one hundred owner reports about braking problems with the third generation, 2010 model Toyota Prius, is the latest — but by no means the first — investigation covering safety defects with the advanced technology car.
An examination of NHTSA documents and interviews with owners of the flagship Toyota hybrid by TheDetroitBureau.com reveals that alleged safety issues arose soon after the introduction in 2001 of the advanced, fuel-saving vehicle.
Reports of sudden headlight failures by more than 2,000 Prius owners, and sudden engine shut downs are common in NHTSA records and owner reports.
(Prius owners with complaints should report them to the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or http://www.safercar.gov, and Toyota at 800-331-433. Have your VIN number in front of you when you call. )
Complicating our investigation of headlight failures is NHTSA’s granting to Toyota a confidentiality agreement covering warranty data on second-generation Prius models that were failing in apparently large enough numbers that Toyota — under attack then as now for quality problems — sought secrecy.
Last August, NHTSA not only granted confidentiality, but also closed the investigation of headlight failures that it had just opened in April of 2009 on 2006-2007 Prius models, concluding that since both headlights didn’t fail together, a safety-related defect didn’t exist.
To those of us who studied medieval Catholic theology, this appears to be similar to reasoning along the lines of “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.”
Then there’s engine stalling or cutouts.
NHTSA investigated Prius stalling in 2004 and 2005 models, and when Toyota said it would reprogram engine control computers on 75,000 of the vehicles, NHTSA dropped the inquiry. Since NHTSA closed the investigation in 2005, complaints continued. There appear to be at least 100 stalling complaints about other Prius models as well.
(Meanwhile, in an exclusive report, TheDetroitBureau.com reveals the problems with Prius brakes may date back well before the 2010 model-year, for which the announcement of a recall or service action is expected this week. Click Here for that report.)
Small wonder that Toyota and NHTSA face at least two U.S. Congressional hearings on their conduct in safety related matters, which at this point reach far beyond recently raised Prius questions.
The Japanese government is also known to be investigating the Prius for braking failures. And it is predicted that a global recall is immanent of almost 300,000 2010 model-year hybrids, which will require reprogramming of the computer that controls the braking system.
“Safety is our top priority,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week, who will face tough questioning at a House hearing on Wednesday. (click here) “That is why in recent weeks NHTSA has also issued a consumer advisory on the recall of several models of Toyota vehicles and the Pontiac Vibe involving pedal entrapment and sticky accelerator pedals. We will continue to monitor these issues closely.”
Complicating matters is a series of inconsistent statements by Toyota and NHTSA, not only about alleged Prius safety defects – what they were, what models were covered and what owners should do, but also covering a majority of Toyota models.
Toyota, initially, maintained that Prius was not subject its deadly floor mat recall last fall, but late last month, reversed itself to include the Prius in the so-called floor mat entrapment action.
NHTSA is also looking into possible electronic throttle problems on Toyota vehicles; which opens the door for recalls on Lexus luxury models or at the Scion “young buyer” brand.
Where this all leads is difficult to predict.
What is known is that Toyota stock is taking a hit in the equity markets, consumer confidence in the company is waning, sales are down, and resale values are dropping.
Sometimes it just doesn’t pay to get out of bed in the morning because nothing good can come of it. I’m thinking Akio Toyoda is experiencing just such a time right about now. I’m also thinking that, public pronouncements aside, the heads of every other car company on Earth are looking at him and saying to themselves, “there but for the grace of god go I”.
Couldn’t agree more with “but for the grace of …”
I have a 2008 Prius and it has the same braking and slipping problem when I apply the brake over a bumpy surface. This has occured continually since I drove the car new out of the dealership. I also had a 2006 Prius that was in for service and was damaged by the service tech when he drove it out of the repair garage. I suspect this was caused by the same braking problem but the dealer never said how the acident happened.
I think we all accept that stuff happens, and that the other automakers know that it could be them next.
My problem with Toyota is the full page ad in the newspapers a few weeks ago that said they shut down production because it was the “right thing to do”, when in fact it was the US government that essentially forced them into it.
And now we are subjected to warm and fuzzy TV ads about how they have a fix and everything’s gonna be all right because Toyota has only your best interests at heart.
Right. Self serving crap.
Watt: I hate to say it but I have to agree here.
I’ve got a 2006 and had to raise a major stink and threaten to go to a local media outlet to get the dealer and Toyota to cover the headlight issue in Spring 2008, they wanted $300 PER BULB to fix first one then the other and THEN the ECUs all told I was looking at over a $1000 bill I thik it was and they claimed it wasn’t warranty because headlights were not a covered item even though the ECUs were. Long and short of it it got covered if I agreeed to not go to the local TV station (I knew the weather guys). Point being that there was a TSB that had come out just days earlier to fix these same light issues at no cost to the owners as part of “Customer loalty” or whatever they chose to call it at the time.
Now I’m sitting here with an acclerator issue and a braking issue and no fix for either in sight any time soon. I like the car a great deal, its the company I’d lie to trade in!
Your article mentions Prius problems recorded by NHTSA as early as 2001. Would you care to list how many and of what nature and if the NHTSA ever declared them to be worthy of attention or just allegations.
The media frenzy seems like a witch hunt with no fewer than seven different stories on this site alone.
I have read some of the NHTSA complaints and a number of them were not worthy of addressing, such as one lady complaining her remote locking fob not working while approaching from the front of the car. Another because he was disappointed with the economy.
Since safety is the major thing being addressed by all and sundry I would like to see actual numbers of legitimate complaints on braking.This means where its proven not some laymans impression of what he thinks is happening.
I agree that some are not worthy of addressing. I disagree about witch hunt. Yes, it is a frenzy brought on by what critics are calling a cover up.
It’s not unusual for us to have multiple stories as events unfold. Look at our bankruptcy or Opel coverage, or distracted driving pieces.
Check out the fix for the over sensitive Prius ABS system causing all the fuss.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9ONsvlgN4E
I wonder how many other makes might have this same characteristic?