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New Prius Owners - Give Us Your Report

674 messages,  Last post on Oct 02, 2012 at 9:01 PM

You are in the Toyota Prius Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Hybrid Cars, Hatchback, Sedan

Messages Page 62 of 68

#611 of 674 Unintended engine shut down by subjective

Nov 17, 2011 (9:43 am)

This seems to me the only appropriate forum to post on. While out Tundra was serviced, the dealer service dept. loaned to us for two days a new 2011 prius with only 60 miles. An alert salesman warned us that if you touch the accelerator and brake at the same time, the Engine will shut off. Sure enough as my wife was backing out of a parking space into the road she was flustered when the engine shut off blocking traffic. It took about 5 minutes for her to get going again. I don't know when Toyota put this so called safety feature on the Prius, but I dont like it! I experimented with it and thats the way it works. Since I have a permanent leg injury in which I brake with my left leg and operate the accelerator with my right, I can see it very possible for me to be on a highway with trucks etc. and have a sudden dangerous loss of power. I think this "safety feature" by toyota opens more of a hazzard than without it.

#612 of 674 Re: Unintended engine shut down [subjective] by dmathews3

Nov 19, 2011 (9:23 am)

Replying to: subjective (Nov 17, 2011 9:43 am)
I agree with you but you are dealing with Toyota who think anything they do is right and the customer is always wrong. And only law suits convince them otherwise.

#613 of 674 Re: Unintended engine shut down [subjective] by aghosh

Nov 22, 2011 (4:00 pm)

Replying to: subjective (Nov 17, 2011 9:43 am)
Must be a 2011 addition. I have a steep driveway and I press accelerator and brake simultaneously all the time to negotiate the incline. Never did the engine misbehave in my 2010 model.

#614 of 674 Re: Unintended engine shut down [subjective] by jav7

Nov 22, 2011 (7:53 pm)

Replying to: subjective (Nov 17, 2011 9:43 am)
I will try that in my brand new 2011 Prius III. 500 miles on it 659.9 miles/g (on board computer)

#615 of 674 Re: Unintended engine shut down [jav7] by jav7

Nov 22, 2011 (7:54 pm)

Replying to: jav7 (Nov 22, 2011 7:53 pm)
I meant 59.6 miles/g

#616 of 674 Re: Unintended engine shut down [jav7] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 22, 2011 (10:53 pm)

Replying to: jav7 (Nov 22, 2011 7:54 pm)
yes, let us know. I'm curious about this feature.

#617 of 674 UNINTENDED ENGINE SHUT DOWN by subjective

Nov 27, 2011 (8:18 am)

Does anyone know when in 2011 Toyota started to install the "SAFETY FEATURE", when you push the brake pedal and accelerator at the same time, the engine shuts down? What do you think of this as a safety approach by Toyota? I have been told by a Toyota experienced salesman that Toyota is planning, or has already, installed this feature on all their auto transmission vehicles. I for one don't like it and feel that it is a safety hazard. In my opinion this would make it so many people with even minimal leg injuries could not safely drive Toyota vehicles with an understandable fear of a sudden and unexpected loss of power on a crowded high speed highway with big trucks etc.

#618 of 674 UNINTENDED ENGINE SHUTDOWN by subjective

Nov 28, 2011 (11:38 am)

I can now answer my own question. Toyota's official line is that this "engine shut down feature" started to be implemented in late 2010 and 2011. All 2012 Toyota's will have this feature. Toyota tells me that the 2011 and 2012 Prius cars completely shut off the engine when both the brake and accelerator are applied at the same time. In all other Toyota vehicles when both the brake and accelerator are applied, the brake stays on and power is cut but the engine is not turned off. I can not imagine anything more frightening than being on a multible lane highway in a heavy rain storm with large trucks bearing down on me and the vehicle i'm in has a sudden loss of power. My 25 yr new vehicle purchase with Toyota has now ended.

#619 of 674 Re: UNINTENDED ENGINE SHUTDOWN [subjective] by lowflyer1

Nov 28, 2011 (5:32 pm)

Replying to: subjective (Nov 28, 2011 11:38 am)
I can't say for sure but I'd bet this "safety feature" is a Toyota self-defense response to the government's unwarranted attack on the company a while back during the GM/Chrysler nationalization mess.
 
Toyota was doing too much business and was now in competition with the govt, so they used every dirty trick in the book to try to handicap them.
 
I didn't closely follow the incidents where Priuses allegedly ran away but seem to recall the investigations pretty well exonerated Toyota (floor mats jamming accelerators or some driver error have been blamed officially.)
 
Nonetheless the govt levied massive fines etc.
 
IMHO predatory lawyers and the govt. are far more worthy targets of blame than Toyota for the advent of this "safety feature"....even if my facts aren't 100% on the mark.
 
At any rate, I vowed to buy a Toyota as my next car, and I did. Last week I bought a 2011 Prius IV right off the truck.
 
Go Toyota!

#620 of 674 New 2011 prius lll by subjective

Jan 10, 2012 (11:17 am)

I'm happy to report that we purchased a new Prius lll Dec. 19, 2011 and it is working out well for our use of family errands. Milage indicated has been from 55 mpg on secondary highways at 50 to 65 mph down to 45 mpg at 70 to 75 mph. Earlier I posted concern about a new 2011 Prius ll loaned to us while our Tundra was being serviced in which the engine unintentionally shut down when the brake and accellerator were depressed at the same time. This has not occurred one time on our new one in 1200 miles. The experience has not been good with our dealer. We have reported the Toyota dealer, which we have purchased from and serviced with for 25 yrs, to the Florida Attorney General for what we see as deceptive sales practices. They advertised 20 % off on any 2011 Prius in stock which you simply don't get. We are also reporting this to the Chairman & CEO of Toyota Motor Sales USA.,

Messages Page 62 of 68

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