Tokyo warns Toyota about Prius brake complaints (CNN)

[AG4]

Tokyo, Japan (CNN) -- The Japanese government has warned Toyota to take seriously mounting complaints of brake problems with its 2010 Prius hybrid.

Toyota Vice President Shinichi Sasaki met with Japan's transport minister on Wednesday, when he was urged to take notice of the mounting complaints against one of the automaker's most popular models.

In Japan, 14 complaints about brakes in the Prius have been lodged since July. Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has asked Toyota to investigate, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.

"The complaints received via our dealers center around when drivers are on a bumpy road or frozen surface," said Paul Nolasco, a Toyota Motor Corp. spokesman in Japan. "The driver steps on the brake and they do not get as full of a braking feel as expected."

In the United States, more than 100 complaints alleging poor brake performance have been lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration against the 2010 Prius, a newly designed version of the car that was introduced last summer.

"NHTSA has received a number of complaints about a potential defect affecting the brake system in Toyota's Prius hybrid and is conducting field work to examine the issue," the agency said Wednesday.

A search of NHTSA's complaint database turned up many similar-sounding complaints in the United States.

For the whole article and video Click link: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS...s.investigate/

[valskie01]

grabe after gas pedal problem ngayon brake issues naman

[renzo_d10]

These problems could bring Toyota's name down.

They should immediately fix these problems because these problems are connected to our safety. Gas pedals + Brakes = Terrible disaster.

[boybi]

In their desire to keep their number 1 position among auto manufacturers, Toyota seems to neglect their quality control. It looks like their objective now is Quantity over Quality.

Or maybe their plants just can't cope with the huge production.

[OldSchoolHack]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100204/...lvdGFzYXlzcHI-

This news, plus the engine sludge problem and the brake problem have been happening for sometime now.

Scary. Good thing is that this was not prevalent with older Toyota vehicles.

[Monseratto]

Ford has recalled their Hybrids too, with exactly the same problems with the Prius. You won't see the US goverment breathing down their knecks cuz they only a measly few...

Ford to fix brake problem on Milan, Fusion hybrids
Ford to fix brake problem with 17,600 Mercury Milan, Ford Fusion hybrids


DETROIT (AP) -- Ford Motor Co. plans to fix 17,600 Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion gas-electric hybrids because of a software problem that can give drivers the impression that the brakes have failed.

The automaker says the problem occurs in transition between two braking systems and at no time are drivers without brakes.

The decision to fix the 2010 model cars came after a test driver for Consumer Reports magazine experienced the problem as he was driving a Fusion Hybrid.

Ford spokesman Said Deep says braking power seems to drop away as the car makes a transition from regenerative brakes to the conventional system. The Ford hybrids have regenerative brakes, which capture energy from braking to help recharge the battery, in addition to a conventional system that stops the car using hydraulic pressure.

Deep says Ford will notify the car owners to bring their cars in for a software fix. He said there is no safety problem with the cars. The automaker called the repairs a "customer satisfaction program" and said it was not a full-fledged recall. Deep said Ford reported the problems to a U.S. safety agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The move comes on the same day that NHTSA began an evaluation of braking problems on the 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid. With the Prius, antilock brakes can fail momentarily while the car transitions between its gasoline and electric motors.