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Toyota Prius Traction

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Toyota Prius • General Complaints • Acceleration • Availability • Battery • Fuel Gauge • Headlight • Insurance Costs • Service Delays • Tires • Transmission • Traction --- • Happy Hybrid Owners --- Test Drive • Three Lead Feet Meet Little Fuel Sipper --- News • Toyota to Roll Out Plug-In Electric Car in 2011 • Toyota Announces Recall to Fix Runaway Acceleration • Toyota Ready to Expand Safety Recall Beyond Floor Mats • U.S. Prius Sales Drop 45 Percent • Prius Tops Consumer Reports Best New-Car Value List • Toyota Parks Plans For New Prius Plant • Prius Vandalism On the Rise in California • Toyota Plans Prius Plant in Mississippi • Solar Panels to Power Prius Air Conditioning • Unexpected Problems Confront Prius Owners • NHTSA to Hear 'Silent Killer' Complaints • Reports of Prius Price Gouging Rise with Gas Prices • Prius, Porsche Models Top Most-Satisfied Lists • Should You Buy a Second-Hand Prius? • Winter Weather Warning for Prius Drivers • Prius Again Tops Owner Satisfaction Survey • Prius Helps Toyota Knock Off Ford for #2 Spot • Toyota Recalls Floor Mats, NHTSA Warns Prius Owners • Feds Probe Prius Runaway Acceleration • Prius Owners Report More Unintended Acceleration Incidents • Runaway Acceleration Plagues Prians • Toyota Delays Third-Generation Prius • Sales Top 1 Million but Some Owners Find Prius Doesn't Age Well • Prius Owners Losing Ground in Traction Battle • Prius Traction Control Complaints on the Rise • Prius Stalls in Snow; Owners Steamed • Prius Shuts Down in the Snow, Reader Complains • Prius Supplies Increase as Sales Slow • Prius Discounts Popping Up in Showrooms • EPA Finds Prius #1 in Gas Mileage • Prius Owners Question Mileage Claims • Prius Tops Consumer Satisfaction Survey • Hybrids Don't Always Deliver the Expected Fuel Economy

Many consumers tell us they like their Prius just fine, if only it would go in snow. Ironically, it seems that the traction control is to blame.

Mitchell of Bellingham WA (12/23/08)
The traction control sytem on our 2007 Prius caused the engine and brakes to cut out while we were trying to drive up our not-very-steep driveway in the snow causing the car to drift off the driveway into a brick wall. My wife had frequently said that she had trouble driving up any kind of incline when roads were slippery but I mistakenly assumed it was technique not a dangerous flaw in the car design. It was not until the fateful day that I tried to drive up the driveway and crashed that we discovered the cause. She saw the event and noticed that the wheels stopped turning which seemed odd so she looked on-line and saw that, in fact, it is a known -- and dangerous-- design problem with the car. We called the local Toyota dealer where we bought the car who took no responsibility. He said that we should have changed the tires becasue the tires they sell with the car are cheap and designed for milage not traction. He also refused to give us a loaner as it was not their policy.

The front bumper was cracked and needs to be replaced. The wall at the side of the driveway will need to be rebuilt. I had to rent a 4 wheel drive car so I could safely drive to work as it is clear that the Prius is unsafe in wintery conditions.

Raphael of Stamford, CT December 20, 2008

Raphael of Stamford CT (12/20/08)
I bought my Prius new in 2006 and moved straight to Florida with it. No problems until we moved back up north to Connecticut and had our first snowfall today. I couldn't understand why the car seemed to have no traction and no power getting up even the slightest hill with less than an inch of snow cover. . . until I started reading the similar complaints of other Prius owners.

Apparently a complete power shutdown -- which stops the car and driver helplessly in the middle of the road -- in the presence of any loss of traction is a planned response of the vehicle manufacturer. This is extremely dangerous and certainly was not an advertised feature of the car. It is a virtual death trap in snowy weather, as it is impossible to slow down and make a sharp turn into the driveway, let alone drive uphill to get home even in the lightest flurry.

Thankfully I was alone on the road when I was stuck, so nobody came up and hit me from behind. But I don't know how I will be able to use the car through the CT winter with any confidence.

Karen of Brookfield, WI December 20, 2008

Karen of Brookfield WI (12/20/08)
My Toyota Prius has caused me to be stuck numerous times because the traction control doesn't have an off switch. With no power to wheels, deep snow is impossible to free yourself from. Toyota needs to change this to keep this awesome care awesome!

Need tow truck when I could have rocked myself free if I could have turned the traction off!

Michael of Buffalo, NY December 19, 2008

Michael of Buffalo NY (12/19/08)
My 2005 Toyota Prius almost got me killed in a small snowstorm. While stopped at a red light on a very slight uphill climb, I stepped on the gas when the light turned green. NOTHING happened...the wheels would not even spin. I was there for 4 turns of the light, and finally I put the car in reverse, which allowed me to move. I was backing up into ONCOMING traffic ! It was the only way I could move the car...otherwise i would have had to abandon the car at this large intersection.

The traction control feature on this car is likely to get somebody killed, and anyone I spoke with at the dealer, actually multiple dealers, tells me the car is acting properly. I want this feature dis-abled from my car, or I want a Prius that does not have this feature.

Walter of Placerville, CA December 19, 2008

Walter of Placerville CA (12/19/08)
Toyota Prius has traction control that stops the car completely when trying to go up hill, then the ABS does not stop the car going down hill. The emergency brake is more effective!! Toyota will not acknowledge problem

Car is unusable to me. Paid over 26,000 for it.

Troy of Pollock Pines, CA December 18, 2008

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