AP/Yahoo News: Toyota hit by over 100 Prius brake complaints

Fear has been an effect tool-of-influence in the past.

Remember, that's how they pushed large SUVs on us.

Why not use it to tarnish the reputation of a competitor, rather than actually dealing with issues like fuel efficiency? After all, they've led an intense campaign to lower those expectations.
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Interesting contrast:

• Japan ~2 times(*) 2010 Prius - 14 reports
• USA ~1/2 number 2010 Prius - 100 reports

Of course one explanation:

• USA roads trigger more incidents.

Bob Wilson

* - estimate based on spotty Japanese and USA sales reports.

 

And another possible explanation:

• For cultural reasons, Japanese report these sorts of problems less often than do Americans.

 

The NYT Writes:

"Drivers complained that the brakes on Toyota’s newest Prius momentarily stopped working at low speeds, especially on slippery surfaces, said Kenji Sato, a Transport Ministry official in charge of recall policy."

Sounds like the problem that people have been discussing on this forum for years. Wonder why Toyota didn't fix it for Gen 3. Wonder why regulators are just picking up on it now.

 

The break problem in the 2010 Prius is the next bubble ready to explode.... If I were Toyota I would come up front about it and offer a solution as soon as possible before it gets to a point where negligence could be a factor, like with the pedal problem. I described how the break problem almost made me crash my Prius recently in another thread and I'm filling an official complain to Toyota shortly... I drive a lot in the hwy at relatively high speeds... I'm starting feeling really unsafe in my Prius with the latest news....