NHTSA Getting Toyota Prius Brake Complaints

WASHINGTON — In another unpleasant turn of events for Toyota, the 2010 Prius is the subject of a spate of complaints about brake performance coming in to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Office of Defects Investigation has received a few dozen reports of defective brake performance on the model, most dated within the past two months. An example of owner feedback is the report from an owner of a new 2010 Prius with 400 miles on the odometer who states, "When the car goes over an uneven or bumpy [surface,] the car accelerates or lurches forward....this has occurred at least four times." Others report a "disturbing lag," "jerky brakes" and "the brakes feel like they cut out for a brief (well under a second) period."

One driver suggests that the car's change-over from regenerative to friction braking could be the cause of the problem.

NHTSA has not yet opened an official investigation into the issue. The Detroit Bureau blog quoted a Toyota spokesperson as saying the company is "aware of the complaints filed with NHTSA" and that "We are investigating the issue based on internet traffic, customer comments to Toyota Customer Relations, and NHTSA complaints. It is too early to speculate the final conclusion(s) of our investigation and subsequent actions."

Inside Line says: Another potentially dangerous issue with the previously bulletproof name of Toyota on it. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent