In the US, there are many complaints about the regenerative braking system of the Toyota Prius III

It seems that in the US, the regenerative energy braking system fitted to the Toyota Prius is far from being truly efficient. A recent report indicates that there are already too many complaints against the brand, due to the scares some drivers have experienced when the braking system responds late or reacts excessively.

Under certain conditions, the Prius does not brake normally at a routine stop, such as at a traffic light or in traffic; there have been cases where it needs a great deal of force on the brake pedal for it to respond. On the other hand, it can happen that the next time the brakes are applied, the Prius brakes almost locking the wheels, with very little pressure on the pedal. The culprit seems to be the brake energy regeneration, which tends to fail after the car has driven over a pothole or some obstacle on the road.

Clearly, it is never possible to know whether the car will brake or not. Dissatisfied owners have already complained to the national highway safety agency (NHTSA), which is investigating the problem to decide whether or not to issue a mass recall. Toyota acknowledges “some problems”, but it seems to be in the same situation of studying the case.

Can you imagine driving a car that brakes literally whenever it feels like it? The Japanese brand is closing a year it will not remember fondly with regard to safety and recalls.

Source | The Detroit Bureau