Toyota Prius Braking System a Danger? December 29, 2009

Toyota Prius owner web forums are alive with complaints and concerns about the electric car’s braking system. It seems that when applying the brakes, if the car hits a pothole or other rough surface, a sudden loss of braking power results. Many people describe this loss of braking power as a feeling of helplessness. Although some have described the incident as only a sensation and not an actual event, most of the complaints indicate that the car retains its momentum and the stopping distances increase. Although no injuries have yet to be reported, many Prius owners are concerned that their inability to stop their car quickly could cause an accident.

As of today, 33 complaints have been made to the NHTSA website converning the car’s braking system. The complaints are being tracked by the Office of Defects Investigation to determine if  an engineering issue exists. Toyota is aware of the NHTSA complaints. Some mechanics believe that the problem is due to the brakes that the Prius has. As the Prius is an electric vehicle, the brakes are much more complex than in a gasoline powered vehicle. In order to squeeze out as much mileage as possible, the Prius uses kinetic energy generated during braking to generate electrical power to recharge the batteries. This regenerative braking occurs when the brakes are first pressed. When more braking power is needed, the braking system switches over to traditional hydraulic brakes. Some experts believe that the delay in switching from regenerative to hydraulic braking is causing the sudden perceived surge in acceleration or increased stopping distances.

Regardless that many feel that it is just a perception of acceleration, the NHTSA has recognized that stopping distances unintendedly increased. This increase in stopping distance ”could be fatal for pedestrians — [if] it happens when approaching stop lights if you hit a pothole” according to an internal NHTSA memo.

The danger has been recognized – when will Toyota act? They have already had significant damage to their reputation from the recent recall of defective floor mats. Are they delaying a possible recall because the financial damage to their reputation would be greater than a potential jury verdict involving a low-speed accident? I hope that Toyota will do the right thing and issue a voluntary recall before someone gets seriously hurt.

Frank Dito is a New York Personal Injury attorney specializing in New York real estate law , New York business law, and New York franchise law. You can visit his Law Firm Decker, Decker, Dito and Internicola website by clicking here, download his FREE New York Car Insurance book, or call him at 718-979-4300 or 1-800-310-5520 for a free case analysis.

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