News

Toyota Prius under investigation for reported brake problem

by Patrick Everett Tadeo February 05, 2010
Photo of the 2010 Prius from the Toyota media site

TopGear.com.ph Car News - 2010 Toyota Prius sold in the United States photo 

The Prius--Toyota's wildly-popular hybrid vehicle--is now under scrutiny as reports of brakes problem has reached both Japanese and American authorities.

There have been at least 77 cases of the Prius' brake malfunctioning since the current-generation model went on sale in Japan in May 2009, the New York Times said. One collision that injured two people in July 2009 is even suspected to have been caused by the hybrid's slow-moving brakes. As of yesterday, Japan's Transport Ministry has already asked Toyota to investigate 14 cases of the Prius momentarily losing its brakes.

In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received at least 136 complaints for the same model, with four resulting in a crash. Occupants were reportedly injured on two cases.

Based on the reports, Prius drivers said that the hybrid either surged forward or was slow to brake after driving over a pothole or any uneven road surface. Many even said that it has been a recurring problem, with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak being one of those to say so.

"I have many models of Prius that got recalled, but I have a new model that didn't get recalled. This new model has an accelerator that goes wild, but only under certain conditions of cruise control. And I can repeat it over and over and over again - safely," said Wozniak on CNET news. "This is software. It's not a bad accelerator pedal. It's very scary, but luckily for me, I can hit the brakes."

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), meanwhile, has acceded to the request of both Japanese and American transport agencies, saying that, "we are presently investigating the contents of each complaint raised by the customers, and we are still considering what course of action to take."

Meanwhile, Toyota Motor Philippines continues to wait for word from TMC before it takes action on the 25 Prius units sold in the local market since the launch in June 2009.

 
Tags: Toyota, Toyota Prius, Toyota Philippines

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COMMENTS

  • fredrick says haiys. . . . . (February 05, 2010 12:37:15 pm)
  • Underscrutiny says Toyota Philippines is still "waiting" for word...in other words, "what can we say that will allow us NOT to recall those 25 units we sold and still not be liable..." ay naku... (February 05, 2010 02:29:26 pm)
  • ann says class suit waiting to happen (February 05, 2010 03:53:05 pm)
  • Juan Miguel Reantaso Mendoza says may problema nanaman ang toyota buti nga sa kanila matatalo na sila ng mitsubishi. go mitsubishi! (February 05, 2010 04:19:39 pm)
  • Mamang Tsuper says Hindi aamin ang Toyota Philippines na may palpak sila. Only in the Philippines. Toyota Philippines is owned by the Ty's of Metrobank and probably supported by powerful politicians. At ano naman ang government agency natin ang mag iimbestiga? Wala tayong equivalent ng U.S. National Transportation Safety Agency. Ingat na lang sa mga Toyota owners. (February 05, 2010 05:11:57 pm)
  • evilwez says @juan miguel. i dont think that will happen. only TGP readers and some knew this issue about toyota. if the issue will be brought out in a local news, tv patrol or 24 oras, then toyota may have a decrease in its sales but i doubt that mitsubishi will take their place as the no.1 in the industry. for MOST Filipinos, Toyota is the most reliable. mitsubishi is really a fun vehicle but that is only one in many factors that buyers will look up for. (February 05, 2010 05:39:21 pm)
  • Juan Miguel Reantaso Mendoza says Evilwez, Hyundai is already beating the Toyota. much more, Mitsubishi is already planning something i can feel it. if you'll read the survey Mitsubishi is already in 2ND place. When the i-Miev arrives in the Philippines, it will be in demand for sure. by the way im a fan of Mitsubishi. (February 05, 2010 05:50:09 pm)
  • H says @juan miguel miski bumaba ang sales ng toyota matatalo pa rin ang mitsu kagaya nga ng sinabi ni evilwez "toyota is the most reliable" syempre sabi ng iba magandang gamitin na taxi ang toyota kasi reliable sya kaya sa lahat na nagsasabi na pangtaxi ang toyota para na rin nyung cnabi na reliable ang toyota hehehehe kasi ndi naman gagawing taxi ang toyota kung ndi reliable! (February 05, 2010 05:54:06 pm)
  • Juan Miguel Reantaso Mendoza says h, iniintay lang ng mitsu matalo sila at kpag talo na sila babangon na ulit sila, un ang style ng mitsu. padating na nga ang rvr e. euro 2 na nga ang l300 e. at saka madaya ang toyota. (February 05, 2010 06:32:47 pm)
  • Juan Miguel Reantaso Mendoza says @manang tsuper tama ang comment mo talagang di aamin ang toyota. masyado gumagamit ng sales talk ang toyota. (February 05, 2010 06:37:48 pm)
  • Anonymouse says @Underscrutiny: I think that's being unfair to Toyota Philippines. For one thing, they can't act because the Prius is made in Japan, not in the Philippines. So they can't move unless the plant in Japan that makes the Prius has a solution. (February 05, 2010 06:44:01 pm)
  • torque88 says Tumigil kayo mga TOYOTA fans!!nakita nyo na mga video footage sa YOUTUBE reliable ba ang TOYOTA nyo kung ganyan na maraming cassualties...ewan ko kung family nyo sakay nyan.. (February 05, 2010 07:26:36 pm)
  • suv says matutoyo nito ang toyota pag nagkataon tsk tsk baka lalong dumami ang taksi dahil mumura ang bentahan ng vios pag nilangaw na ito sa showroom nila...may advantage din naman hehe (February 05, 2010 07:27:59 pm)
  • BOOGIECAT says They(TMPC) can't fix the D-4D problem eh yan pa kayang problem sa 3rd gen Prius..So far TMPC sold 25 units of Prius in the country since its launch last year..Muntik na akong makabili nito noon but thank God di natuloy dahil may defects pala tong Prius! (February 05, 2010 07:34:48 pm)
  • torque88 says sana di malugi ang mga Taxi Operators sa TOYOTA units nila baka matakot na ang mga tao..TOYOta is a MOST RELIABLE CAR!tsk,tsk,tskPrius have a break problem,then Camry,RAV4,Corolla,Yaris,Sequioa, and now according to the ABS news Innova and Fortuner..D-4D is not good!!choking problem for a long time is still going on.If you drive at the speed of 120kph at SLEX,NLEX,or SCTEX with somebody after you and this problem occur..do you think what happen?OMG take care to those who drives TOYOTA model that i've said. (February 05, 2010 08:00:00 pm)
  • torque88 says Sorry Guys,,I loved Mitsubishi..If TOYOTA said "THE WORLD IS MINE" this will be a Karma..GOD is the Owner..and Mistsubishi is claimed DRIVE @ EARTH and that is correct.:) (February 05, 2010 08:05:58 pm)
  • francis says @torque88 expression lng un anu ba, saka wala naman kaming problema sa fortuner namin kpg papunta kaming baguio ung dad ko nga umaabot pa ng 130kph sa SCTEX wala naman ganung nangyayari saka ang pagpunta namin sa baguio 7 to 10 times a year pero talagang walang nangyayaring choking na cnasabi mu....peace ^_^ (February 05, 2010 08:21:22 pm)
  • TJ says Mag insight na lang. (February 05, 2010 08:29:37 pm)
  • Juan Miguel Reantaso Mendoza says tama ka dyan torque88. @ francis talo na ng montero sport ang fortuner. i'm a mitsubishi fan too. mas maganda pa ang insight pati i-miev. (February 05, 2010 09:02:04 pm)
  • Juan Miguel Reantaso Mendoza says TOYOta, mas reliable ang mitsubishi. bago na nga ang strada, lancer ex, l300, galant and many more of mitsu. mitsubishi rules!!! (February 05, 2010 09:10:46 pm)
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