2009 Toyota Prius Traction Control Problems

MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS, SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED IT APRIL 2009, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SEEM TO FAIL. WHEN I BRAKE AND HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE AND RELEASE THE BRAKES. IT FEELS AS IF I AM SLIDING ON ICE. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE TOYOTA DEALER LAST MONTH, WHO DISMISSED THIS AS NORMAL ANTI-LOCK BRAKE ACTIVITY. I FEEL THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. *TR

IT IS A RECURRING INCIDENT/PROBLEM WITH MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME ONE IS GOING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR DURING INTERMITTENT SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. WHEN BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR IS GOING OVER A MODERATELY ABRUPT BUMP OR PARKINGLOT DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING ENGAGES BUT THERE APPEARS TO BE DELAY - POSSIBLY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SWITCHING FROM THE REGENERATIVE BRAKE MECHANISM - CAUSING THE SENSATION THAT THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND OR 2 - QUITE A DISCONCERTING FEELING AND CONCERN THAT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF THE SAME ROAD CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT DURING A PANIC STOP. DURING INTERMITTENT SLIPPERY CONDITIONS - E.G. SNOW OVER THE ROAD, PARTIALLY PLOWED SNOW OR ICY CONDITIONS - THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING/TRACTION CONTROL IS OVER-ACTIVE, CUTTING POWER ABRUPTLY TO ONE WHEEL THEN THE OTHER CAUSING A WHIPPING ACTION FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE. THIS RANGES FROM ANNOYING TO TERRIFYING INCLUDING ONE INCIDENT THAT THE CAR SPUN OUT 3 TIMES ON ONE SECTION OF A RURAL SNOWY ROAD - FORTUNATELY NO ON-COMING TRAFFIC WAS PRESENT AND THE CAR DID NOT GO INTO THE DITCH. WHEN THE DEALER WAS ASKED ABOUT THESE TENDENCIES THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL - SO NO ADJUSTMENT TO A PART OR SOFTWARE HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE MADE. *TR

WHEN BRAKING ON THE PRIUS IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE THE CAR LOSES TRACTION AND SKIPS OVE THE POTHOLE. LOSS OF FEELING FOR THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OF A SECOND OR TWO. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME WHEN BRAKING AND HITING A POTHOLE OR MANHOLE

MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS IS EXHIBITING THE SAME BRAKING BEHAVIOR AS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IN THE 2010 MODELS. THERE IS A MANHOLE COVER ON A STREET I FREQUENTLY DRIVE NEAR A STOP LIGHT. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP I HAVE HIT THE MANHOLE COVER AND AT WHICH POINT THE CAR SEEMS TO LOOSE CONTROL. WHILE MOST DAYS THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME, ON OCCASION I HAVE COME CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE HYBRID, BUT THE RECENT ARTICLES ABOUT THE 2010 MODELS HAVE PUSHED ME TO BRING THIS ISSUE TO THE FOREFRONT. IT MIGHT NOT BE SIMPLY THE 2010 MODELS. *TW