Originally Posted by hybridbob

I've had my TCH since May. I have 16K + miles on it and have been very pleased. However, a couple recent experiences have been disconcerting. I wonder if anyone else has had similar ones.

First, as the weather has turned cold (below 20 F.) the MPG has dropped from about 36 to 30. This seems totally temperature related. I haven't changed my driving style but the mileage has dropped 20%.

Second, with fresh snow I learned how the traction control operates. I started out from a dead stop, but could not get the speed above 5 miles per hour. I can appreciate traction control if I'm creeping up a slick incline, but, if I'm crossing a highway intersection I'd like a bit of control over the vehicle. Even if it skids, I'd like to have the option of power to the wheels. In my experience, I had the accelerator floored and the wheels crept along as before. The only way to get some tire speed was to rapidly goose the accelerator. I felt like a sitting duck as a truck bore down on the intersection.

I called Toyota and they tell me the traction control is for safety and there is no way to disable or control it. It seems extremely unsafe to allow a computer to make all the decisions without the possibility of override.