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Acceleration Problem On Our 2010 Prius Gen V

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by StevieB, Nov 27, 2009.

  1. StevieB

    StevieB New Member

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    Just read the stunning news about the acceleration problem in many Toyota models. It apparently does not include the 2010 Prius models.

    My wife actually experienced a rapid unintended acceleration problem while driving her 2010 Prius Gen V a few weeks back. It scared the heck out of her.

    Has anyone else experienced a similar problem?
     
  2. Airbalancer

    Airbalancer Active Member

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  3. dmvp

    dmvp Member

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    She was braking while going over a rough patch of road, drop-off, or pot-hole. It's happened to me twice, and now I learn to brake until the rough patch, let off the brake while going over it, and re-engaging the brake once past the patch. There are a LOT of posts about this "phenomenon".
     
  4. antoine

    antoine New Member

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    Yes, I too have experienced this when breaking going down hill over
    rough pavement. What causes this?
     
  5. chrisj428

    chrisj428 Active Member

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    Antoine,

    Your answer to the braking issue will be found in this thread: "Felt the brake cut-out thing..... "
     
  6. sdleo726

    sdleo726 New Member

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    That phenomenon is the feeling of an ABS brake system kicking in... it happens when your wheels are skidding in poor weather conditions or when they become airborne - due to a pothole or rough roads when driving fast.

    That sinking feeling is one reason race cars no longer use ABS.
     
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  7. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    It happened on both my 2001 GMC Z71 and 2002 Chevy 1/2 ton trucks. It is less pronounced in my Prius though. To clarify this was not a case of sudden acceleration, it was a case of lack of braking power after going over a very rough surface. There is a big difference between the two.
     
  8. bac

    bac Active Member

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    No.

    -Brad
     
  9. StevieB

    StevieB New Member

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    I'm the OP . . . so did Toyota change the (problematic) design starting with the 2010 Prius? They must have, since the recall only goes thru 2009.

    Then again . . .

    Anyone know for sure?
     
  10. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Depends... if your wife felt what everyone above has been describing, no. That is just a quirk of the system and you will have to make a mental note.
    If you wife had the floor map wrapped in the gas pedal than yes, Toyota is working on that with some models through 2010. I do not believe the 2010 Prius will be part of the recall.
     
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Don't confuse unintended acceleration with the transition between regen and friction or the ABS cutting in. There'll be a slight moment where you feel like the car isn't braking despite the fact that you're braking. No worries. It's a lot better on the Gen 3 vs. the Gen 2.


    The 2010 Prius could've use a different accelerator design. They can change it with or without the fact that there is an issue with the older design.


    I think Toyota should just go with a floor-based accelerator. That might take the guesswork out.
     
  12. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    The reason NASCARs don't use ABS is that people go to see NASCAR racing to see crashes, not racing.
    The reason other forms of motor sport have banned ABS is to keep driver skill as an important part of driving a race car.

    If you experience ABS activation keep braking hard, don't let off.
     
  13. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    My FJ Cruiser does the same thing. Just about every ABS-equipped vehicle I have ever driven has done that

    Matter of fact, the owner manual in my FJ has an entire page related to ABS cautions, most prominent that ABS is not intended to shorten vehicle stopping distances. If anybody wishes, I can scan that page and post it
     
  14. jim256

    jim256 Member

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    The same info and the same prominent quote on p.247 of the Prius Gen 3 manual.
     
  15. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    You may be correct about a few who attend races to see crashes but I don't think most race fans go for that reason. I think the real reason that NASCAR doesn't allow ABS and other electronic systems is to keep costs down for the competitors.

    I am a Formula 1 fan and F1 does not allow ABS or certain kinds of stability control systems. In the case of F1 it is done to give the drivers a bigger role and put them back in control of the cars. F1 management deemed that it takes more driver skill to go fast in a car without these systems.

    BTW you have a countryman who is doing rather well in NASCAR, Marcos Ambrose; and another in F1, Mark Webber. Peter Windsor, also from Australia, will be managing an American Formula 1 team next year.
     
  16. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    The reason I made the NASCAR comment is the only thing ever reported on NASCAR is the crashes.

    Marcos made his mark in V8 Supercars here so he is no novice but of course he is a relative newcomer to NASCAR. His efforts over there have had some press here. Webber is a household name here, you can most likely hear us cheer when he is racing. Maybe not.
     
  17. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    Yes we used to get the V8 Supercar series here on Speed Channel and I remember Marcos from that series. A lot more interesting than NASCAR, I soon get tired of cars going around in circles, but road courses are great.

    Have we gone "off topic"? oh well. :focus:
     
  18. rachaelseven

    rachaelseven New Member

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    For once, I could not be happier to be off topic :cheer2:

    Rock on! :rockon:
     
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  19. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    There is a topic? Sorry I just thought there was no topic. I never pay the topic any mind.

    Only thing I don't like about V8 Supercars is the rules exclude all but 2 makes and models, so it is a Holden versus Ford thing. Holden and Ford own the series and use it to promote their brand. It is very contrived in that if one make proves to have an advantage it is handicapped in some way.
     
  20. sciguy125

    sciguy125 Junior Member

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    Did it happen to occur just after coming out of a turn? I've noticed that the power cuts out if I turn too hard.

    I have a habit of trying to jump into traffic by making a sharp turn and trying to accelerate in the turn. For whatever reason, I don't get the normal amount of power. My guess is that the computer keeps tabs on the steering position and it's some sort of traction control. To compensate, I have to press down on the pedal harder. When it decides I'm allowed to have full power again, it ramps back up (fast enough to catch me off guard if I'm not paying attention).

    Can anyone else confirm my observations?