2007 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING 18 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE CONTACT A STOP LIGHT. AS THE CONTACTS FOOT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATING. AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO APPLY ENOUGH PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,279.

I NOTICED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT THE "SLIPPERY" SIGN ON MY PRIUS 2007 CAME ON MANY TIMES EVEN UNDER VERY SAFE ROAD CONDITIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I DID A RIGHT TURN SLOWLY, THE "SLIPPERY" SIGN WOULD COME ON. ON FEBRUARY 26, 2010. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN IT STARTED TO SLEET. ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR LOST CONTROL AND STARTED TO SPIN UNTIL IT HIT THE SNOW BANK ON THE ROAD SIDE. IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK, THE CAR SLIPPED TWICE WHEN I APPROACHED STOP SIGNS SLOWLY AND APPLIED BRAKE LIGHTLY. WE EXAMINED THE REAR TIRES WHICH WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES WITH 48,000 MILES ON AND THE MARKINGS WERE MOSTLY WORN OUT. I WOULD ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THESE OLD TIRES PASSED INSPECTION ON THE SAME DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND WE JUST CHANGED THE TIRES HOPING TO IMPROVE THE TRACTION. AFTER THE TIRES WERE CHANGED ON MARCH 6, 2010, IT SLIPPED ONCE IN THE FOLLOWING TWO WEEKS UNDER THE SAME SITUATION WHEN I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN SLOWLY AND APPLIED BRAKE LIGHTLY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE ALL PERFECT WHEN THESE 3 SLIPPAGES HAPPENED AFTER FEB. 26, 2010. I HAVE READ SOME ARTICLES(CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM) AND CHAT ROOMS(PRIUSCHAT.COM) ONLINE AND FOUND QUITE A FEW SIMILAR EXPERIENCES FROM OTHER PRIUS DRIVERS. *TR

THIS HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES, TO MYSELF AND MY WIFE. WE ARE BRAKING, AND WHILST BRAKING DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE OR DRAIN. THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON, AND THE CAR DISENGAGES THE BRAKES AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. AFTER CLEARING THE POTHOLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL THEN DISENGAGES, AND THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGE. SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE COME CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT. CONDITIONS: CLEAR, SUNNY, DRY ROADS. CAR: TOYOTA PRIUS, YEAR 2007. *TR

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO GO OFF AND ON. DUE TO MY MILEAGE THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED REPAIR. FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA 7/2009, AGAIN REPAIR REFUSED. BY FLIPPING THE SWITCH THEY WOULD COME BACK ON AND WORK SPORADICALLY. THE FLICKERING CAUSES THE BULBS TO BLOW. AS OF TODAY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO STOP DRIVING. REPLACING THE BULB DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PREVIOUS DEALERSHIP IN JOHNSON CITY, TN ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECT BUT ONLY OFFERED TO PAY $400 TOWARDS REPAIR. SEEMS THIS ISSUE WON'T BE ADDRESSED UNTIL A DEATH OR ACCIDENT OCCURS. CAR IS VERY UNSAFE AT NIGHT WITHOUT WORKING LIGHTS! *TR

I DRIVE A 2007 PRIUS. RECENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER POT HOLES, THE STABILITY CONTROL KICKS IN AND THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD ( UNINTENDED ACCELERATION). THIS BEHAVIOR IS PRONOUNCED ON BIGGER POT HOLES AND LESS IN SEVERITY ON UNEVEN ROADS OR SMALLER POT HOLES. *TR

2007 PRIUS, WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME, LEAVING YOU IN TOTAL DARKNESS. WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN THE HIGH-BEAMS ON IN THIS CONDITION THE ENTIRE DASH LIGHTING SYSTEM BLACKS OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD THEY PROBLEM. IT WAS VERY INFREQUENT AT FIRST, STARTING ON THANKSGIVING 2009. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE THIS PAST WEEKEND. I HAVE CALLED A TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY TELL ME WE NEED TO REPLACE THE HEAD LAMPS. I FIND IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THE ENTIRE LIGHTING FAILS, BECAUSE OF A BAD HEADLIGHT, LET ALONE ADD IN THE ATTEMPT TO SWITCH ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND THE ENTIRE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP YET DUE TO SCHEDULING. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE HID HEADLIGHTS WERE FAILING INTERMITTENTLY. AT ONE POINT ALL OF THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. FOG LAMPS WERE STILL WORKING. REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT. 2 MONTHS LATER PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. DIDN'T WAIT FOR A COMPLETE FAILURE TO HAPPEN WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN. REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. *TR

I AM EXPERIENCING MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS IN MY 2007 PRIUS SIMILAR TO THAT DESCRIBED BY OWNERS OF SOME 2010 PRIUSES (HTTP://WWW.CBSNEWS.COM/HTDOCS/PDF/020410_TOYOTA.PDF). I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAVE TREATED IT AS A QUIRK OF THAT PARTICULAR CAR. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE RECALL AND SOFTWARE FIX FOR 2010 MODELS, I INQUIRED OF MY LOCAL DEALER ABOUT A SOFTWARE FIX FOR MY '07 MODEL. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL OF THE '07S AND THEREFORE THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I LIVE ATOP A HILL, AND THE ROAD COMING DOWN IT IS OFTEN BUMPY, CAUSING THE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING. BUT WE ARE USED TO IT BY NOW AND KNOW TO BEGIN BRAKING EXTRA EARLY ON THIS STRETCH OF ROAD, BUT IF THERE IS AN AVAILABLE FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, I WANT TOYOTA TO PROVIDE IT SOONEST. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY DURING A LANE CHANGE. I HIT THE BRAKES AND THIS REMEDIED. THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT INVOLVED. I MIGHT HAVE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER FOR SURE. *TR

I HAVE MULTIPLE TIMES EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS OVER-SENSITIVITY OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY CAR. IT CONSISTENTLY HAPPENS IN THE FOLLOWING SCENARIOS: A) IF I AM DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, SAY 20 MPH, ON A SMOOTH, DRY PAVED ROAD AND THEN "PANIC BREAK" THE TRAC SYSTEM KICKS IN AND TEMPORARILY CUTS POWER TO MY CAR, RESULTING IN A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING. B) IF I AM WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, AND THERE IS EVEN A MODERATE AMOUNT OF GRAVEL ON THE ROAD OR THE ROAD IS WET, THEN I ACCELERATE TO MAKE MY RIGHT TURN, THE TRAC SYSTEM AGAIN KICKS IN, RESULTING IN A MOMENTARY LOSS OF ACCELERATION. I HAVE BEEN COMPENSATING FOR THESE OCCURRENCES, HOWEVER I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS CAR YET NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY LITERALLY JUST SAID THAT THE CAR WAS "OPERATING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO." WELL THEN MAYBE IT IS THE DESIGN THAT NEEDS TO BE RE ASSESSED. *TR

WHEN BRAKING WHILE DRIVING OVER POTHOLES, SPEED BUMPS, MANHOLE COVERS, OR ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD, CAR LURCHES FORWARD, AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK AT THAT MOMENT, IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT FLASHES TELLING DRIVER CAR HAS LOST TRACTION WITH ROAD. IT OCCURS EVERY SINGLE TIME THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP, POTHOLE, MANHOLE COVER, OR ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD. HAVE COME EXTREMELY CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING AN INDIVIDUAL IN FRONT OF ME AT AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE THERE WAS A BUMP AS I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION, AND WAS BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER ONCE AND TOLD BRAKES ARE FINE, UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. TAKING BACK AGAIN TO HAVE SERVICE TECHNICIAN RIDE WITH US SO WE CAN DEMONSTRATE PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 PRIUS TO SONOMA FOR THE WEEKEND BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO WORK SIMULTANEOUSLY!! THIS LEFT ME DRIVING IN COMPLETE DARKNESS AT 60MPH AND MY 5 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT! IT WAS TERRIFYING FOR THAT SECOND IN WHICH I HAD NO LIGHT SOURCE WHATSOEVER. NO STREETLIGHTS, NO HEADLIGHTS, NOT EVEN ANY MOONLIGHT! THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH AS I WAS ON UNFAMILIAR ROADS AND I HAD TO TURN MY LIGHTS ALL THE WAY OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN TO GET ANY SOURCE OF LIGHT! I HOPE SOMEONE AT THIS AGENCY IS PLANNING ON DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM OUT THERE! *TR

WHEN I DRIVE MY 2007 PRIUS TO WORK, I PASS BY 101 SOUTH TO 110 SOUTH FREEWAY. AT THAT CURVE, THERE IS A LITTLE BUMP, WHEN I DRIVE ABOUT 30 MPH AT THAT BUMPY SPOT, I EXPERIENCED FOUR TIMES LOST MY BREAKING SYSTEM FOR A SECOND OR TWO. (WHENEVER I LOOSE BRAKING SYSTEM BRAKE LIGHT COME ON FOR A SECOND OR TWO) ONE TINE I HAD NEARLY MISS THE CAR IN FRONT. WHENEVER I DRIVE THAT SPOT I AM SLOWING DOWN TO 20 MPH. 2007 PRIUS DEFINITELY HAS BRAKING PROBLEMS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY PRIUS. I NEED HELP. *TR

THIS IS NOT ONE INCIDENT, IT HAPPENS WHENEVER THE ROAD IS SLICK (RAIN, OR EVEN SPRINKLER RUNOFF!) OR IF I DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE--THE POWER TO THE WHEELS IS CUT AND THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND NERVEWRACKING TO DRIVE WHILE IT IS RAINING. THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES THAT THIS HAPPENS IS WHEN I AM AT A SIGNAL, MAKING A RIGHT TURN I NEED POWER TO THE ENGINE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, AND MAKE SURE THAT ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS NOT INTERRUPTED. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT I FEEL LIKE MY CAR WON'T "GO" OR HESITATES WHEN I NEED IT TO GO! AND IF IT'S THIS BAD IN WET CONDITIONS, I WOULD NEVER EVEN CONSIDER DRIVING THE PRIUS IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS ALL DUE TO A PROBLEM IN THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. VERY UNSAFE!! *TR

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO USE THE BRAKES ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMPY SURFACE, POTHOLE, ETC., IT TAKES A SHORT DISTANCE OR 1-2 SECONDS FOR THE BRAKES TO TAKE HOLD AND SLOW/STOP THE CAR. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD A BIT BEFORE BRAKING AND THE "SLIP INDICATOR" WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH FLASHES. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES SINCE BUYING THE CAR IN APRIL OF 2007. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE ORIGINAL DEALER (TOYOTA OF NORTH HOLLYWOOD), BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ON MY CAR'S PARTICULAR MODEL. *TR

MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT TWICE THIS WEEK ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) [XXX]I OWN A 2007 PRIUS THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN 2007. IT'S BEEN A GOOD CAR EXCEPT FOR ONE DANGEROUS SAFETY PROBLEM. BACKGROUND: I AM 57 YEARS OLD AND A 20 YEAR + CAR SALESMAN AND THAT HAPPENS TO BE A CERTIFIED TOYOTA CONSULTANT. MY BACKGROUND ALSO INCLUDES 5 YEARS AS A SERVICE MANAGER FOR A DOMESTIC. THE 2007 PRIUS HAS AN AUTOMATIC CVVT TRANSMISSION WITH A TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE. PROBLEM: THE DANGER IS THE MOMENT TRACTION CONTROL IS TRIGGERED A LOST OF TRACTION BY A SIGNAL FROM THE WHEEL AREA IT "POWERS DOWN" THE ENGINE TO NO POWER FOR 1-2 SECONDS IT TAKES THE SYSTEM TO RECOVER. HITTING A MANHOLE COVER OR A POTHOLE GOING DOWN BROADWAY AT 30 MPG CAN SET IT OFF BUT THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION IS PULLING ONTO A BUSY ROAD. THE SECONDS IT TAKES TO RECOVER SEEMS A LOT LONGER WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC. THE SENSORS IN THE WHEEL AREAS THAT ACTIVATE THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE ARE SET UP TOO SENSITIVE. THE TOYOTA ADVISORS KNOW OF NO REPROGRAMMING FIX EITHER. TOYOTA OFFERS NO SHUT OFF FOR THIS FEATURE. IT IS HORRID TRYING TO GET UP THE SLIGHTEST SNOWY INCLINE. I'M NO ENGINEER BUT SUSPECT IT'S A FEATURE SELECTED BY TOYOTA TO PROTECT THE CVVT TRANSMISSION AGAINST THE ENORMOUS TORQUE PRODUCED BY THE HYBRID MOTOR'S ALMOST 300 FOOT LBS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHOW YOU. THE TOYOTA SERVICE ADVISORS DID NOT NEED TO DRIVE IT. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE COMPLAINT. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT BOTH GROOVE TOYOTA ON S BROADWAY AND GO TOYOTA ON ARAPAHOE BOTH WERE VERY COURTEOUS AND PROFESSIONAL. BOTH OF THE SERVICE ADVISORS TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO FIX BECAUSE THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. I HAVE 39,500 MILES AND AM ON MY SECOND SET OF 4 TIRES. THE TWO ADVISORS I TALKED TO TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THAT TOYOTA'S SUGGEST TO KEEP NEW TIRES ON THE CAR. I FOUND IT STRANGE THAT BOTH SAID TO CALL TOYOTA BUT THAT I WON'T GET ANYWHERE. *TR

CAR DID NOT STOP AND SEEMED TO ACCELERATE WHEN BRAKES HIT DURING TURN INTO DRIVEWAY. HIT CURB. LOST STEERING CONTROL AND CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE OF SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES TO WHEEL AND ALSO POSSIBLY STEERING. SNOWY ROAD. I WAS ALREADY DRIVING VERY SLOWLY. NO REASON WHY THIS MUCH DAMAGE TO MY CAR OR THIS LEVEL OF IMPACT UNLESS CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BEYOND MY CURRENT SPEED WHILE I BRAKED. CAR SEEMS TO ACCELERATE ON SLIPPERY, UNEVEN SURFACES AND EVS LIGHT COMES ON, EVEN WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. ACCELERATION IS BEYOND THAT SEEN WITH NORMAL SLIPPAGE. IT IS NOT SIMPLY SLIPPAGE BUT ACTUAL BRIEF ACCELERATION. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2007. WILL NOT MOVE WHEN ON ANY SLIPPERY SURFACE. THE TRACTION CONTROL HAS NO OVERRIDE. THIS COULD GET SOMEONE KILLED WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SHUTS THE POWER TO THE WHEELS WHEN IT IS SEVERELY NEEDED. THIS ONLY HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY, MY OTHER VEHICLES WENT THROUGH THE SNOW WITH NO PROBLEM, THE PRIUS KEPT LOSING POWER AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO SHUT IT OFF. SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND SITS THERE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS SMASHED BY THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. TO REITERATE ONCE THE TRACTION CONTROL TAKES OVER THE DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. *TR

ABS, VSC, BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

WHEN I HIT A BUMP, WHILE APPLYING MY BRAKES, THEY WILL STOP WORKING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. *CN

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME BRAKING ISSUE THAT IS BEING REPORTED ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I AM DRIVING OR BRAKING WHILE GOING OVER POT-HOLES, RAILROAD TRACKS, OR VERY BUMPING ROADS I CAN FEEL A SUDDEN AND MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING AND/OR ACCELERATION. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH ALWAYS TURNS ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I TOOK THE DEALER JUST AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 2 AND A HALF YEARS. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES THIS WEEK ALONE. I HAVE GOTTEN USED TO THIS HAPPENING BUT HAVE ALSO BEEN VERY CONCERNED THAT IT WILL CAUSE A REAREND COLLISION, OR SOMETHING EVEN WORSE. THIS NEEDS ATTENTION ASAP. THANK YOU *TR

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT EXHIBITS EXACTLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM THAT HAS CAUSED THE RECALL IN 2010 MODELS. WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP THE BRAKES APPEAR TO FAIL FOR ABOUT 1 OR 2 SECONDS WHICH GIVES THE ILLUSION THAT THE CAR IS LUNGING FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I AM APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ACROSS BUMPS OR RAILROAD TRACKS. I REPORTED THIS TO A TOYOTA DEALER TWICE SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THIS IS JUST HOW PRIUS'S ARE. *TR

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE CAR PULLS OR STARTS TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT ON ITS OWN, AND I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE ALERT TO PULL IT BACK INTO THE CENTER OF THE LANE. I READ THAT THE COROLLA HAS REPORTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WHICH PROMPTED ME TO REPORT IT. I HAVE NOT DISCUSSED IT WITH THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE - ABOUT 16,000 MILES. *TR

DRIVING ON ICY ROAD. SLOWLY APPROACHED RED LIGHT. BRAKES DID NOT WORK, NO PUMPING OR SLOWING. THIS OCCURRED TWICE. ABLE TO AVOID ACCIDENT. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID BRAKES CHECKED OUT OK. WHY DID THEY FAIL? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. WHENEVER THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON THEY WERE DIM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51000. THE VEHICLE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54000. UPDATED 04/05/10 *BF THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED IN 2008 AFTER ONLY 35,000 MILES. UPDATED 08/11/10

I WAS BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN AND MAKE A TURN. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES OVER THE UNEVEN SURFACE, THE BRAKES WERE WORKING, THEN LET UP FOR A SECOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED ENOUGH THAT I HAVE CHANGED MY DRIVING HABITS TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS SLIPPAGE IN BRAKES. IT'S NOT A SLIDING ISSUE - I CAN FEEL THE TENSION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL EASE UP MOMENTARILY EACH TIME. I'D SAY THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE PER MONTH SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2007. *TW

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS TURNS ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY. RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, THEN NEXT DAY AFTER ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF FOR A DAY, RIGHT HEADLIGHT BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. THEN 2 DAYS LATER LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND AFTER ENGINE SHUT OFF FOR A DAY, LEFT HEADLIGHT BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. BULBS ARE NOT BLOWN AS THEY CONTINUE TO WORK BUT TOYOTA RECOMMENDS CHANGING THEM AT A COST OF $400. I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT BOTH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. UPON FURTHER INQUIRIES, IT APPEARS MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS

MY 2007 PRIUS TOURING CAN/DOES EXPERIENCE BRAKING ISSUES WHEN SLOWING/BRAKING DOWNHILL AND COMING IN CONTACT WITH A MANHOLE COVER, POTHOLE, OR OTHER "EVEN" ROAD SURFACE. THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES, SO REPLACED THE ORIGINAL BRIDGESTONES FOR NOKIANS, BUT THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS. THE "SENSATION" IS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR MOMENTARILY. AS A RESULT, I'VE CHANGED MY COMMUTE ROUTE HOME AND DRIVE MUCH SLOWER (WAS ALREADY DRIVING SLOWER SINCE PRIUS MILEAGE IS DEPENDENT ON MPH). ON OCCASIONS, THE SPEED (ON A STRAIGHT AWAY) SET WITH CRUISE CONTROL WILL INCREASE BY ITSELF ... BY A COUPLE MPH .... W/O ME DOING ANYTHING OR TOUCHING ANYTHING. SO I'M FORCED TO TAP BRAKE ........ OCCURRED THIS WEEKEND WITH PASSENGERS - THEY SAID THEY FELT THE SURGE .....

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHEN TIRES LOSE TRACTION (2007 TOYOTA PRIUS - VIN: [XXX] ). *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING ISSUE!!!! THE ISSUES YOU ARE ADDRESSING WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AREN'T ISOLATED TO THE 2010 PRIUS. PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH BRAKING SYSTEM SEEMINGLY EVERY TIME THE "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT ILLUMINATES... FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I HIT UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR POTHOLES AND MOMENTS WHEN THE TIRES LOSE TRACTION ON WET/ICY ROADS. THE SENSATION WHEN DRIVING DURING THE SECOND OR TWO THAT IT FEELS IT TAKES FOR THE BRAKES TO REGAIN FULL FUNCTION LEAVES ME, THE DRIVER, FEELING SLIGHTLY OUT OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND UNSAFE ON THE ROAD. WHY ARE THEY/YOU NOT LOOKING AT EARLIER PRIUS MODELS, TOO, IN THIS RECALL?? FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, TOYOTA HAS HAD COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE SINCE 2006 WITH THEIR PRIUS MODEL. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ACKNOWLEDGE/CORRECT THIS ISSUE. *TR

2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH SAME BRAKE PROBLEM AS THE 2010 PRIUS. I COULD NOT DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM BETTER THAN WHAT IS BEING SAID NOW BY TOYOTA ABOUT THEIR 2010 MODEL. THIS PROBLEM THEY ARE HAVING GOES BACK TO PREVIOUS PRIUS MODEL YEARS. *TR

ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE 2007 (THE YEAR OF THE PRIUS BEING REPORTED ) A SLIGHT SKID OCCURS, WHICH ALSO RESULTS IN THE SKID LIGHT COMING ON, WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. HAS BEEN INCREASING IN FREQUENCY -- THREE TIMES IN LAST WEEK--AND USUALLY OCCURS WITHIN THE FIRST MILE OF CAR USE THAT DAY. I REPORTED THE LAST INCIDENT BELOW. HOWEVER, THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED SOMETIME IN 2007 AFTER JULY PURCHASE DATE. *CN

TRANSIENT LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY WHEN THE CAR ENCOUNTERS POTHOLES, BUMPY OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT. WHEN HITTING BRAKES OVER THESE ROAD CONDITIONS THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN; THE 'SLIPPERY PAVEMENT" INDICATOR ALSO LIGHTS UP ONTHE DASHBOARD TRANSIENTLY. HAS BEEN OCCURRING REGULARLY (EVERY WEEK OR SO) SINCE CAR PURCHASED IN 2007 BUT DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL RECENT DESCRIPTION I READ IN THE PAPER ABOUT BRAKING PROBLEMS IN THE 2010 PRIUS (WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE 2/5/10). . WHEN I READ THAT, IT SEEMED IDENTICAL TO WHAT I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING FOR A FEW YEARS WITH MY 2007 PRIIUS. FORTUNATELY ALL INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN AT LOW SPEED ON LOCAL ROADS, NO ACCIDENTS.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN THE LEFT HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY WENT OFF. I HAD TO STOP THE CAR BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE WELL. I TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURNED THEM BACK ON. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WAS WORKING FINE AGAIN. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND INVOLVED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED. NOW, THE SAME INCIDENT IS HAPPENING WITH THE LEFT HEADLIGHT. *JB

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS, AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM OF THE BRAKES NOT ENGAGING IMMEDIATELY WHEN I AM ON A BUMPY SURFACE. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE HEARD REPORTED ON THE 2010 PRIUS.' *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BRAKING PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THE ONES I'VE READ ABOUT TODAY IN THE 2010 MODEL. WHEN CONDITIONS ARE WET OR I GO OVER UNEVEN ROADWAY OR A POTHOLE, THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY; THEY SEEM TO TAKE A SECOND OR TWO TO ENGAGE, RESULTING IN A JERKING MOTION AND A FAILURE OF THE CAR TO STOP AS QUICKLY AS IT SHOULD. I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM LAST YEAR AND TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE THEM ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, BUT THE SAID THEY COULD DETECT NO PROBLEM OTHER THAN BALD TIRES. I REPLACED THE TIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKING PROBLEM, BUT IT IS AN ONGOING CONCERN, ESPECIALLY ON RAINY DAYS. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 PRIUS. MY COMPLAINT REGARDS THE BRAKING SYSTEM. MY ISSUE HAPPENS UNDER LOW SPEED CONDITIONS WHILE BRAKING. WHILE BRAKING AND HITTING A MINOR BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE BRAKE WILL COMPLETELY DISENGAGE FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND REENGAGE. THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WILL TURN ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS AS WELL. THIS WAS MENTIONED TO THE DEALER AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS "I'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE. IT'S BECAUSE IT HAS A LIGHT FRONT END." SEEMED LIKE AN UNINFORMED ANSWER TO ME. THIS ISSUE OCCURS FREQUENTLY AND HAS OCCURRED SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS SPORADICALLY LURCHES FORWARD IF I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE DURING BRAKING. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE IT WAS NEW AND THE DEALER HAS ALWAYS TOLD ME SINCE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. COULD THIS BE RELATED TO THE CURRENT ISSUES BEING CLAIMED ON THE 2010 MODEL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY ENTRY RAMP OUR 2007 PRIUS' BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED. NO BRAKING ACTION WAS FELT AND OUR CAR RAN INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER CAR ON THE ENTRY RAMP. ESTIMATED SPEED WAS ELEVEN MILES PER HOUR ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT. THIS WAS NOT A SKID SITUATION AS THE SPEED WAS SO LOW. THE BRAKES SIMPLY FAILED TO ENGAGE. OUR CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING EVALUATED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY.

I BELIEVE IT IS THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT REAR WHEEL THAT SPINS AND SPEEDS UP GOING OVER (STONE, BUMP, DEVIATION IN ROAD) AND LUNGES FORWARD. I FELT LOSS OF CONTROL FOR A BRIEF SECOND BUT THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO CRASH INTO CAR AHEAD OF ME. CAR FREQUENTLY DOES THIS SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2007 AND WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR CHANGES FROM STANDARD BRAKING SYSTEM TO OTHER BRAKING SYSTEM. THE COMPLAINT HAS NEVER BEEN REGISTERED UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND IN FEB 2010 AND I HAD HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING TO THE PRIUS 2010. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE COMPLAINT PUT IN WRITING. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS BECAUSE I NEEDED NEW TIRES AND I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. FREQUENTLY WHEN I START TO DRIVE, WHETHER THE ROAD IS WET OR DRY, THE CAR WARNING LIGHT SHOWS THAT IT IS SKIDDING. I CAN FEEL IT SKIDDING BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY. THE DEALER STATED THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM IT IS JUST HOW THE CAR IS. THEY STATED THAT IF TOYOTA GETS ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT. THEY STATED IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA FINDS AND THEY FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT, I WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CORPORATION ON THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES ON 2/8/2010 AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DEALER. *TR

HARD TO STOP CAR BECAUSE OF BRAKES FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS? *TR

HID BULB INTERMITTENTLY GOES OFF. *TR

PLEASE PROBE 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES TOO. MY BRAKES HAVE FELT WEAK FOR SOME TIME NOW. I BROUGHT IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP IN DECEMBER 2009 AND THEY SAID THEY WERE FINE AND WERE AT 50% WORN. THE REPAIR SHOP THOUGHT I WAS NUTS. THEY STILL GRIND, SQUEAK AND FEEL WEAK. *TR

THE TOYOTA BRAKING PROBLEM IS NOT A NEW ISSUE. I OWN A 2007 PRIUS AND MY BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS FAILED WHEN DRIVING ON SLICK SURFACES OR OVER POTHOLES. THE "SLIPPERY SURFACE" ICON FLASHES ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE CAR DOES NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY. MOST RECENT WAS WEDNESDAY MORNING IN AN INCH OF SNOW WHEN MY CAR FAILED TO STOP AND CAME TO A HALT INCHES FROM A BRICK WALL. I HOPE THE SYSTEM IS INSPECTED ON ALL CARS AND NOT JUST 2010 MODELS. *TR

THE COMPLAINT INVOLVES A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. SINCE NEW THIS VEHICLE EXHIBITS A MOMENTARY LOSS IN BRAKING WHEN SUDDENLY ENCOUNTERING BUMPY OR SLIPPERY SURFACES. THE EVENTS ARE TYPICALLY ACCOMPANIED BY A FLASHING WARNING LIGHT INDICATING A SLIPPERY SURFACE. THESE EVENTS RESULT IN A SLIGHT BUT NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN BRAKING FORCE. BOTH MY WIFE AND I CAN DETECT WHEN THIS OCCURS. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND WE HAVE NOT VISITED THE DEALER. WE THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATION FOR OUR CAR UNTIL RECENT TOYOTA NEWS RELEASES. *TR

THERE ARE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND BOTH TAIL LIGHTS ON MY 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS. BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. MY PRIUS INCLUDES THE HID HEADLAMP PACKAGE. HEADLIGHTS WILL APPEAR TO WORK WHEN TURNED ON INITIALLY, THEN ONE OR BOTH WILL FAIL WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED. FAILURE CAN BE TEMPORARILY RESOLVED BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON. TIME TO FAILURE IS NOT CONSISTENT; FAILURE MAY OCCUR WITHIN 60 SECONDS OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AT ALL DURING AN HOUR LONG DRIVE. THE TAIL LIGHTS APPEAR TO WORK RANDOMLY. I NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, BUT LATER FOUND IT WORKING AND PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING INSTEAD. THIS PROBLEM HAS RESULTED IN ONE POLICE TRAFFIC STOP. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS AND PERIODICALLY THE BRAKES SLIP ON DRY SURFACES. THE 'SLIP' INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP AND I FEEL THE SLIPPAGE. IT ONLY LASTS A SECOND OR TWO. I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE TOYOTA DEALER A YEAR AGO, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT, AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS, BUT IT IS DISCONCERTING. IT HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. *TR

MY 2007 PRIUS SEEMS TO HAVE A BRAKE ISSUE. IF I AM ON BUMPY GROUND OR HIT A POTHOLE WHILE BRAKING, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES FAIL FOR A BRIEF TIME. ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS WHEN VEHICLES ARE IN FRONT OF ME, I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED THAT I MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS JUST HAPPENED AGAIN, AND HAS HAPPENED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. I JUST FOUND OUT TODAY ABOUT THIS METHOD OF REPORTING A COMPLAINT, OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE REPORTED IT A LONG TIME AGO. *TR

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH I BOUGHT NEW. IF I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THEN HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKES SEEM TO RELEASE UNTIL I GET OVER THE BUMP. I BELIEVE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE 2010 PRIUS, BUT I WANT TO REPORT THAT I HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN IN MY 2007 PRIUS. *TR