My Prius jumps off the road!

[ny biker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lefat1 @ Nov 15 2007, 05:12 PM) [snapback]540187[/snapback]</div>

this has happened to every car i've ever owned, it seems that the dampening system (aka shocks) is trying to catch up to the springs and causes this effect on bumpy roads. even tho the shocks/struts are the same unit, they respond at different rates
[/b]

Agreed. I've only owned one other car before, but this used to happen all the time with my old '98 Camry. Specifically on this one very bumpy hill in DC (Foxhall Rd south approaching the intersection with Reservoir Rd, for those keeping score). It also happens at this same spot with the Prius.

[statultra]

when it jumps over something it switches to conventional braking, so you get that "feeling of no braking", your brakes still work but the amount of braking force has changed

[F8L]

My 2001 and 2002 GMC/Chevy full-size trucks did the same thing when braking and hitting bumps or railroad tracks. It sems to be an ABS issue or traction control related (although my trucks diudn't have traction control)

[subarutoo]

Maybe its taking "SUV avoidance action", since it knows the SUV behind you probably won't stop as fast.