Don't call it a recall (yet), but the U.S. government is launching an investigation into braking issues that 2010 Toyota Priuses may have. After the Japanese government ordered Toyota to look into the problem, the car manufacturer issued a statement, "In certain 2010 model year Prius vehicles, Toyota has received reports that some customers have experienced inconsistent brake feel when the vehicle is driven over potholes, bumps or slippery road surfaces. Toyota is currently in the process of confirming these reports and investigating the vehicle driving conditions under which the reported phenomenon occurs. It would be premature to comment until the investigation has been completed."
This comes as Toyota is dealing with the recall of other car models that have faulty gas pedals. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood helped send Toyota stock stumbling by first telling owners of recalled vehicles to stop driving them, but then called it a "misstatement...What I meant to say, what I thought I said, was if you own one of these cars, take it to the dealer. If you're in doubt, take it to the dealership today and have them look at it and have them fix it." (Of course, there is the small issue of whether dealers can actually fix it at this point.)
The Post has a diagram of the gas pedal problem (and solution) and speaks to nervous drivers: One Corolla owner said, "I drive all the time and I'm out here risking my life," while a Camry driver said, "I'm driving scared with my seat belt tight, hoping the advice works, to put it in neutral if the pedal sticks."
