[size=2]I have been the new 2010 Purius owner since Setpember and I have had a few instances with the [b]brake[/b] issue myself. There are two instances I remember where the car just launches forward as if it had what they called a jump start in F1 when you press the [b]brake[/b]. The most memorable instance was when one night I was coming down from a moderate hill and upon coming to a roundabout I wanted to make a left and as I was approaching the roundabout I start to apply the [b]brakes[/b] early (since I have encounted the launching forward problem before) just to take precaution, and as I got closer to the roundabout my speed was reduced to about 5-10mph but just as I was about to make the left turn I pressed on the break once more and the car just shoot forward for about 2-3 meters. Least to say the experience was frightening and I was in shell shock for a while not knowing what have had happened. If that night there was another car in the opposite lane I would have smashed right into it.
After everything has occured and still occuring I thought it was a new Prius trait or characteristics since I've read so many reports of them in Priuschat forum and thought I needed to change my driving style and to which I did. Everytime I need to stop now, I make sure I [b]brake[/b] well in advance so not to encounter the problem and even if I did I would have enough time to correct the problem. Based on that fact I've never taken my car in or never reported to Toyota before.
After reading the press realease and realised everything I've experienced so far is not a Prius trait but a defect or problem, I started to get really upset and furious. Why? Because they issued a recall for all 2010 Prius in USA and Japan but not Europe or the UK. We all know that all the Prius in the world are made exclusively in Japan in the two plants and that all Prius from the rest of the world come from these two plants. So if America and Japan have the problem then the rest of the world have the same problem too. It is as if we are not important, as if our lives are more expendable than the Amercans or the Japanese.
As of 5th of February 2010 I called up Toyota GB HQ and asked why they have not issued a recall for the Prius in the UK and all the answer I've got was that they heard no such a problem in the UK and the [b]brake[/b] problem with the Prius has never been reported in the UK. Not only that I was told that the Prius made in the UK had different specifications than that of the Japane and USA model. WE all know thats not true. As a matter of fact they didnt' even bother adapting the Prius for UK owners because the rear wiper is exactly at the same place as the counter part in the USA but yet we drive in different positions. After all the BS on the phone I was told I had to go through procedures so I had to take my car into my Toyota dealer and they will take a look at it and test it out to see if there is a fault.
I called my dealer and the calls arn't so pleasant. At first I was transfered to the Service Manager and I was brushed off and tone was not very good but he didn't say anything in particular expect we agreed to take my car in for testing after a weeks time when they have spare cars available.
Later I recieved a call from the techinical department and this made me furious. First off the tone from this man was harsh and condensending. Later it started to brush me off as if I am a moron. He said he owns a Prius and this lurking forward after [b]braking[/b] is very normal. So normal infact that it is because of the ABS system and as if I don't know how ABS system behaved. Not only that he told me that he is the technically minded guy and I dont' know what I am talking about and only he is right and I am wrong. In the middle of the conversation I got so upset that I told him I will call him back on a recorded line so that he could repeat everything he has said to me. Only after I called him back his tone all changed and asked me to take my car in for a immediate 20 minute testing session.
I do have all the calls recorded.
Let me ask all new Prius owners here, ARE you not upset as to how we have been treated by Toyota? Even now they still deny the problem and worse they only recognise the problem in the USA and Japan but not UK and Europe.
Can't we all get together and put our voiced together? This is my first new car I have ever owned and I can't believe this kind of treatment and experience. [/size]