Class Action Lawsuit for 2010 Prius

Good post, great logic. Welcome to PriusChat !

Keith :welcome:

 

Being a first time Prius owner, ( actually my wife`s recommendation, as she is the main user..) I do not have any experience with the first or second generation Prius, but I`m amazed by the aggressive tone in many of the posts in this thread.
During my many years of experience as Technical Manager in a large distributor of cars in Norway, we receive recall TSB`s from time to time for all of our distributed brands. We are a large company distributing cars from Daimler Benz, Peugeot, Daihatsu and Kia in Norway, and ALL of the mentioned brands have recall actions from time to time on various safety/service related issues. This is quite normal and will not create any "media hysteria" similar to what we have experienced in the US "Toyota acc. pedal issue" and now for the Prius "brake issue". Maybe someone has a second agenda ..?
I have experienced this brake phenomenon myself a few times, but only when doing regenerative braking in slow speed, slippery road surface and very light pressure on the brake pedal.The sensation is a bit strange, and the feeling of brake loss makes the heartbeat frequency increase for a moment. I have informed the Toyota distributor in Norway about my experience, and as far as I`m told, the late january production Prius models will have an upgrade of the software for ABS ECU ( computer). I believe the problem is related to the time gap between regenerative braking and the ABS controlled friction braking. In addition, since the MG2 only will brake the front wheels, the brake force is not ultimate when using regenerative brakes on very slippery roads. However, the massive media hysteria in some countries ( especially in the US of A ) does not make any sense to me based upon my experience with our other makes.
Due to the fact that electronic/computer controlled devices are controlling a major number of systems on a modern car, we will have to live with a software upgrading similar to that of Microsoft etc...
This being the fact, I still can understand people who worry about the safety of their car and family, but in terms of the "Prius scenario" there is no reason to put the car in the garage. By pushing the brake pedal a bit harder, the braking force will be like in any other car with mechanical/ hydraulic brake system.
Take care and drive green....

 

Hey ScottG10, I think you've got something there. That must be what that post is talking about----- "NO-CLASS" action lawsuit!
Things get a little "wild" in "DODGE" don't they! "Loss of Value",---- there is no loss of value till you sell, and why the hell would you sell. It's like selling a stock after it's declined, maybe a better tact would be GO OUT AND BUY ANOTHER GIII --quick!

 

If you will sell it to me for half price, you will evidence of a real loss, then sue for $1.95 collectible in 2030. Meanwhile, base prices go up $1000 on new vehicles that everyone gets to pay to cover the costs of a lawsuit that made lawyers filthy rich collectible immediately.

Do we have a deal?

 

Your opinion about how this was handled is probably not misplaced. But it is not illegal nor is it unethical that you didn't know about it 12 days ago. That's the way the auto industry runs and that's how it's regulated. Not to divert attention but just to keep things in perspective

• there are 200 complaints worldwide on this feeling about loss of braking on the 2010's since July; Toyota is in discussion with the NHTSA about a recall or not. It involves 270,000 vehicles.
• there are 1100+ complaints in N America about the Cobalt actually losing its power steering capability; GM is in discussion with the NHTSA about a recall or not. It involves 900,000 vehicles.
• Chevy Cobalt Power Steering Failures Probed - GM Inside News Forum
• Cobalt recall that Dealer refuses to fix - GM Inside News Forum
• Did you know that Ford has very similar issues with its transitioning of the braking on its hybrids since last Fall? I didn't until this week either. But they went ahead and fixed it quietly without announcing anything to anybody. No announcement and no recall. This involved almost 20,000 vehicles.

Note the commentary from owners on one of the prime GM fan sites. In your particular case the people from whom you purchased your Prius were certainly in the same position as every one of us not knowing that Toyota had been developing a solution to this customer satisfaction issue.

Turn down the volume on the hysteria and take a minute to understand how big business works. Take a minute and understand how regulators and big business cooperate for the benefit of the public - even if they seem in conflict sometimes.





Now this idea that you've lost value due to this easily correctable situation is simply bogus. I know it's bogus because I've lived through several of these with several of my vehicles.

• My wife's Highlander had a recall two years ago for loose carpetting; production was not stopped; no real danger was encountered; the value of our Highlander ( should we ever sell it ) is exactly where it should be after 5-1/2 years.
• My 05 Prius had the steering reinforcement recall done in early 2008. It was done during an oil change and I noticed nothing. The value of my 2005 Prius jumped 20% in summer of 2008!!! . I kid you not. But they would have had to pay me a 40% premium for me to give it up. Loss of value? Be serious, it increased in value.
• The 04s and 05s had a stalling issue reflashing done on them in 2005. None of them had any loss of value, they even increased in value in 2008, and right now they're right where they should be as 5 and 6 y.o. vehicles.
• Oh Yeah, I had two vehicles that allegedly were subject to the sludge problem. Nothing ever happened to either vehicle ( 97 & 00 Camry's ). I sold them for full value when I was finished with them.

Simply put, this is more irrational hysteria. So if you want to be irrational and hysterical, well continue on. Otherwise drive your perfectly good vehicle for as long as you wish. It'll take you well past 200,000 miles easily, just take care of it.

 

It's not a case of "fan boi" syndrome. It is simply a matter of retarded people jumping to conclusions due to media induced hype then creating multiple posts on the same subject ad nauseam. The fact that many of these people just joined the forum and their only posts are to bitch and whine about Toyota makes the situation even more annoying.

 

I'll tell ya what. Park it and don't drive it any more until late spring or summer. A typical trade-in 'loss' on a same-year vehicle is about 20-25% off MSRP ( taxes, etc not included ). In June / July when gas begins to bump against $3.50 and $4.00 again I'll make you an offer on your Prius III with 3600 miles on it in mint condition. Fair enough. Don't damage it.

 

You haven't done much research in the way mechanical things work in today's world. Toyota didn't design a sledge hammer, it's a complicated device with many untrieds and unknowns. It's called innovation, and not all of it is successful and reliable out of the box.

While you park your Prius you better stay off of any airliners. We operate them every day with known problems because it's impossible to have a "Boeing" dealership at every airport. When my anti-skid isn't working, I don't depart for runways that are slick and short. Get a grip dude. Brand new aircraft come out of the factory with known deficiencies, we work around them until a fix is developed.

 

just curious


how old are you and how many cars have you had before?

 

You and I both know what happens to the values of these cars in Spring and Summer. We will be fighting to get that car!

 

LOL, you used the "R" word.

 

Yeah well with the way I'm feeling after chemo it could have been worse than trisomy 21. I didn't include you in that though. Even though we may not agree on politics I still think you're an alright guy.