And no, I’m not doing the Doc’s dirty work here and neither am I defending Toyota. The Prius may have been around for a decade now, but on the grand scale of the automobile as we know it a lot of the technology is very much cutting edge. I don’t care who it is, there are always going to be issues when you’re the one leading the pack, and when it comes to hybrids Toyota is that guy… like it or not.

But this company is falling into the same trap that got GM in so much trouble: Quantity trumping Quality. In the end Mr. TOYODA better get it in his head that being biggest doesn’t count for much if you are not the best too. It’s better to be the best, not merely thought of as the best, than to be the biggest.

Don’t worry. I expect VW to hit the same problem when they are “the largest automaker in the world” for a few years. Although this might take longer as VW is getting bigger by buying companies up and not building the cars themselves. AUDI and PORSCHE (Cayenne is a sport oriented Tourag, remember?). as it is VW will not be trying to build dozens of different cars, but perhaps managing them across several subsidiaries, companies owned by another company.

Fist? LOL! Wah-Tah!

I know you meant FIAT. Still that sounded like CHRYSLER was being bought up by a weapons manufacturer or something.

Oh, my god. That sounded so much like dr.filledwithcrap. What is going on with me, I mean toyota makes the best cars in the world. I would put my children and parents in one, its the only car to drive.

What the hell is going on, I can’t stop it. I have lost my mind.

Toyodaa = crap

“Disc brakes are now used on all four corners, replacing the front disc/rear drum brakes in the current model.”

I do believe that this is a regenerative braking transition, as you can really hear the difference. The regenerative braking creates a “whine” where the traditional braking doesn’t. Under normal, uninterrupted braking, the regenerative braking kicks off at around 7mph, where the traditional braking kicks in. The car does not “surge.” When a seemingly slight bump or notch is driven over under any braking, the whine disappears after the bump, along with roughly 50% braking force. It is very noticeable and VERY SCARY at times. This is not only over pot-holes as described above, but manifests even over white painted road markings less than an inch high.

My car is 100% reliable, and I love my Toyota product, but brakes should behave consistently.

Out of all the cars, three were VERY sensitive to braking over rough pavement…with frequent ABS activation and extended stopping distances: 2002 Subie WRX , 2004 Subie STI, and 2004 Ponti Grand Prix.

Both Subies were involved in minor rear-enders thanks to the hyper ABS.

Again, without any denigration intended, average Toyota owners strike me as having the ‘safety in numbers’ mentality and as being more likely than most to only ‘come out of the closet’ against Toyota if done en masse with others. Thanks to the giant slug known as the MSM, Toyota owners have noticed the herd has started moving.

From what little information is available to the public on the topic, the problem sounds to be more related to the regenerative braking system than common ABS response oddities. Typically concerns like these aren’t brought to light unless there is an inordinate amount of complaints received. If the complaints were consistent with previous generation Prius or other hybrid models, it probably wouldn’t have been identified. The only other thing I can think of is that as more people convert to hybrids, just as when having converted to SUVs, they will not properly anticipate differences in the ways the machines operate, thereby promting more complaints.

But yes it has 4 discs.

Yes an ABS equipped vehicle can get “confused” during a braking event when the wheel is off the ground (after pothole) BUT in the Prius hybrid it sounds like their are more issues in play due to the combination of regen braking and normal hydraulic braking which leads to a longer period of non braking.

Most likely Toyota will say it is normal for a hybrid and leave it at that. At least until they are forced to put tie straps on the brake pads to hold them tighter against the drums.

Seriously, the solution will most likely to put more emphasis (computer driven) on hydraulic braking over regen which will lower the mpg.

TOKYO — Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling about 43,000 cars in China due to a defect that may cause engine oil to leak, a company spokesman said Friday.

The recall affects four models, the Lexus ES 350, the Lexus RX 350, the Highlander sports utility vehicle and the Previa minivan, said the spokesman, Yuta Kaga.

It comes just months after Toyota announced its biggest ever recall in China, affecting about 688,000 vehicles, due to a defect in the electric window system.

Toyota’s reputation for quality has been dented recently by a series of recalls or safety issues, including a fatal accident in California involving an accelerator pedal that jammed under the floor ma

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/091225/business/japan_us_auto_company_recall_toyota_1

Toyota’s reputation for safety and reliability suffered a major hit recently when it issued recall notices for close to 4 million vehicles susceptible to sudden acceleration.

But the automaker’s actions aren’t the only ones that warrant scrutiny.

Since 2001, more than 1,000 owners of certain models of Toyota and Lexus vehicles have reported problems with over-acceleration, according to a review of federal data by the Los Angeles Times.

Many of the incidents ended in crashes, and at least 19 people have been killed. The number of deaths is higher than the 11 linked to similar problems in vehicles produced by all other automakers combined.
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/toyotas-troubles-too-long-ignored

Where are your facts to back up your anecdotal so-called experiences involving Toyota Prius’?

When are Toyota “apologist” and acolytes going to stop living in a place called Denial and face the honest, straight forward fact(?) that Toyota, like many large corporations, cares only about their bottom line and not yours? Unless of course you are a shill for this brand and their arrogant, lying, cover-ups!

nestle_s,
do you have a prius?

Yes, we know, you hit a pothole and ABS triggered. What car do you have?

idrinorbarsaku, do you have a 3rd gen Prius? Otherwise, your situation has no bearing on this article.