Have You Braked A Prius…Lately?

4th February 2010

The Slandy Report first told you about the Prius brake issue back in December, before it was known to most of the general public. Back then, they had only recalled 3.8 million vehicles for accelerator issues. That number is now over 8 million. Back then, Toyota was not the subject of congressional investigations for potentially withholding evidence of the safety defect and for stalling before doing anything about it. Now they are. Back then, their stock was trading in the US at almost $85. Now, Toyota’s market capitalization has lost about $18 billion, or more than 15% of its value in those 6 weeks. Apparently, much can happen in 6 weeks. The Lions, however, didn’t win anymore games. They still suck. But I digress.

Toyota acknowledged the Prius issue today with this release:

Toyota is aware that NHTSA has opened a Preliminary Evaluation centered on owner complaints of a braking issue with the 2010 model year Prius. Toyota will cooperate fully with NHTSA’s investigation.

Some customers have complained of inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady application of brakes on rough or slick road surfaces when the anti-lock brake system (ABS) is activated in an effort to maintain tire traction. The system, in normal operation, engages and disengages rapidly (many times per second) as the control system senses and reacts to tire slippage. A running production change was introduced last month, improving the ABS system’s response time, as well as the system’s overall sensitivity to tire slippage.

This preliminary evaluation addresses owner complaints specific to the 2010 Prius. This condition is not related to either the floor mat entrapment recall or the sticky pedal recall currently in action.

Toyota will continue to evaluate the condition as it relates to owner complaints and will keep NHTSA informed of its progress.

Toyota Toyopet - see? They were known for green cars then, too.

At this rate, all of Toyota’s vehicles will be the subject of 1 or more recalls. Which is next, the 1957 Toyopet (the vehicle that launched Toyota’s sales in the US market)? It seems that Toyota can’t buy break (pardon the pun) these days. It seems that they are suffering from the same ailment that has infected the Detroit 3. for a long time, they could do no wrong and their sales were only limited by their ambition. They made the age-old error: they began to believe their own press. They have violated the basic tenants of their own systems that are the source of their great success to this point, believing they could violate them at will with no consequences. They were wrong.