2010 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. DURING THE FIVE MONTHS I'VE HAD IT, I HAD 3 TO 4 ENCOUNTERS WITH BRAKE PROBLEM. TWICE I WAS DRIVING AROUND 20MPH AND WAS BRAKING AND PREPARING TO MAKE A TURN, BUT THE BRAKE FAILED TO WORK, AND I FELT THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. THIS LASTED FOR ONLY ABOUT A SECOND, AND I EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AND MAKE THE TURN. IN ONE CASE THE ROAD WAS VERY BUMPY, IN THE OTHER CASE THE CAR HIT A POTHOLE RIGHT AROUND THE TIME I BRAKED. ON A THIRD INCIDENCE, THE BRAKE DIDN'T WORK FOR A SECOND ON A SLIGHTLY ICY, SLIPPERY HIGHWAY, WHEN I WAS GOING AT AROUND 30MPH. THIS MAY SUGGEST THAT THE BRAKE FUNCTION POORLY ON SLIPPERY ROAD, ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T HAD ANOTHER CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THIS AGAIN. *TR

THE BRAKE OF MY CAR WAS MALFUNCTION. WHILE BREAKING, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN INITIALLY. HOWEVER, BEFORE THE CAR TOTALLY STOPPED, IT ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS CONDITION HAPPENED FOR 4 TIMES WITHIN 2 MONTHS. THERE WAS NO ICE ON THE ROAD AND THE ROAD WAS NOT BUMPING EITHER. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ON DEC. ON 12/21/2009, AND HAVE NOTICED ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS THAT WHEN I BRAKE ON TOP OF A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CAR ACTUALLY LURCHES FORWARD, INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN AND STOPPING. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME, BUT THEN I HEARD A STORY ABOUT IT ON NPR, AND NOW FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY OTHERS. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT ON THE OCCASIONS WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, OR I MIGHT HAVE HIT THEM FROM BEHIND. *TR

BRAKE PROBLEMS: MY 2010 PRIUS, WHICH I PURCHASED LAST OCTOBER, HAS BEEN HAVING SPORADIC PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. IT USUALLY OCCURS ON THE STREETS, AND AT LOW SPEEDS, AND THE CAR SEEMS TO LUNGE FORWARD EVEN THOUGH I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. IT'S AS IF I STOPPED BRAKING EVEN IN FACT, I'VE BEEN PUTTING UNIFORM PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES. THANKFULLY, THIS HAS NOT CAUSED ANY INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR

ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 28TH MY WIFE DROVE OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS TO WORK. THE WAS A SLIGHT COATING OF SNOW ON THE GROUND. LESS THAT ONE BLOCK FROM OUR HOUSE, DRIVING AT NO MORE THAN 10-15 MPH SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. SHE REPORTED THAT THE BRAKES SEEMED TO LOCK (NOT THE NORMAL ABS FEEL) AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, WHICH THEN SLID/SKIDDED INTO A CURB WHICH PUNCTURED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE CAR APPEARED TO HAVE ONLY A PUNCTURED TIRE WHICH WAS CHANGED BY A AAA SERVICE TRUCK. AFTER THE TIRE WAS CHANGED AND THE SERVICE TRUCK LEFT, I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY TIRE DEALER. AS I TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR, I HEARD AND FELT A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE THAT SOUND AND FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE STILL ENGAGED. EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOW ON CLEAR PAVEMENT IF I AT ALL TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES,THE ABS WENT ON, BUT IN AN AGGRESSIVE MANNER. THE ABS ALSO WENT ON A COUPLE OF TIMES EVEN WITHOUT ME PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. THE TIRE DEALER SAID HE THOUGHT WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FRAME AND TOLD US NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY BODY SHOP TO BE INSPECTED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY, STATE FARM. AS OF FEBRUARY 2, 2010 NO INSPECTION HAS TAKEN PLACE. IT IS OUR CONTENTION THAT SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONED WITH THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS DOWN THE ROAD HERE IN BERKELEY, CA, AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AS I WAS HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I THEREAFTER LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND HIT THEM AGAIN, AT WHICH POINT THE BRAKES WORKED CORRECTLY. *JB

WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE ON ICE, THE CAR JERKS FORWARD. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE JAN. 28TH, AS WELL. TODAY (FEB. 04, 2010) ... BRAKING ON BUMPY ROAD WITH SLIGHT SINK HOLE BEFORE RAILROAD TRACKS AND IT JERKED FORWARD ... NO TRAIN ON THE TRACK AND NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME, SO I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH MY GRANDSON IN THE CAR. I HAVE INFORMED BOULDER TOYOTA. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS V VEHICLE. EVERY TIME I APPROACH A STOP SIGN THAT HAS A FAIRLY DEEP TRANSVERSE RUT IN THE PAVEMENT IN FRONT OF IT, MY HEAD SNAPS BACK AS THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING THAT IS IN THE NEWS FOR THE 3RD GENERATION PRIUS. IT IS EXTREMELY REPEATABLE...IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME. THE DATE BELOW IS ONLY THE MOST RECENT TIME I'VE DRIVEN ON THAT ROAD. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT. *TR

2010 PRIUS DID NOT STOP EVEN THOUGH I PRESSED BRAKE HARD ENOUGH TO MAKE MY FOOT SORE. BRAKES HAD BEEN SQUEALING SLIGHTLY SINCE I PURCHASED CAR ON 12/30/09, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE COLD. *TR

I ATTEMPTED TO BRING MY 2010 PRIUS TO A STOP ON A DIRT ROAD LEADING TO AN ASPHALT SURFACE THAT WAS COVERED WITH A RECENT SNOWFALL OF ABOUT 2 INCHES. THE BRAKES DID NOT GRAB FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS DURING WHICH I ATTEMPTED TO PUMP THE BRAKES. THE CAR HAD 4 SNOW TIRES MOUNTED ON IT WHICH USUALLY GRAB RIGHT AWAY. *TR

WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING MY BRAKE,CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. PRESSED HARDER ON BRAKE,WHEELS LOCKED UP AND MY CAR SLID THROUGH THE INTERSECTION,CAR STOPPED WHEN IT HIT THE CURVE ACROSS THE STREET. APPROX. 50 FEET. I WAS DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH WHEN APPROACHING THE STOP SIGN. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THERE WAS ABOUT 1-2 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE ROAD. *TR

2010 PRIUS BRAKES GRAB ABRUPTLY COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT ABOUT 20 MPH. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED AND SUV BEHIND ME HAD TO PULL ASIDE TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME. ALSO, WHEN BACKING THE BRAKES WILL GRAB REPEATEDLY MAKING VEHICLE JERK - AND MAKES DRIVER LOOK LIKE WE CANNOT DRIVE. SEE 'PRIUS CHAT' SITE FOR MANY OTHER LIKE INCIDENTS BY OTHER DRIVERS AND SPECULATIVE SOLUTIONS. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN PULLING FORWARD FROM PARKING AND HIT BRAKES IN ORDER TO MAKE A 3-POINT TURN (EXAMPLE) ETC. THIS HAPPENED THE VERY FIRST TIME I GOT INTO THE CAR WITH THE SALESMAN SITTING BESIDE ME, AND HE REMARKED WHAT GOOD BRAKES THEY WERE. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AN ANNOYING TRAIT OF THE CAR (BEING A HYBRID) UNTIL THE INTERSECTION INCIDENT LAST WEEK - AND THE NEW BRAKE NEWS ON THE PRIUS. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS PART OF THE DEFECT BEFORE A PILE-UP COLLISION IS CAUSED. IT ALMOST SEEMS AS IF THERE IS NO 'POWER' TO THE BRAKES IN A 'GLIDING' TYPE MODE. *TR

MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE IN AT LOW SPEED (ABOUT 8 MPH) ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE OR WET CONDITIONS RESULTING IN A SURGE FORWARD. WHEN IN A TURN, MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CAN BE CHALLENGING. CONDITION IS REPLICABLE, I.E., I CAN REPRODUCE THE BRAKING LOSS/SURGE AT THE SAME PLACE IN THE SAME CONDITIONS, AT ANY TIME. *TR

AN INCONSISTENT FEELING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES OVER BUMPY ROADS. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2010 PRIUS DURING THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH I HAVE MENTIONED TO MY HUSBAND AND MY COWORKERS WHEN IT HAPPENED. 1: ON MY WAY TO WORK THERE IS A STOP SIGN WHERE I NEED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. JUST BEFORE THE STOP SIGN THE ROAD IS UNEVEN. WHEN I BRAKE THERE, I FEEL A JERK AND JUMP BEFORE THE CAR STOPS. 2: I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, ON 01/28/2010 WHEN IT WAS SNOWING LIGHTLY, THE VEHICLE SPEED MIGHT HAVE BEEN AT THE MOST 5-8 MILES/HOUR. I SAW THE LIGHT TURNING YELLOW FROM 50 FEET AHEAD AND I STARTED APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE ROAD HAD LITTLE SLOPE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ONLY SKIDDING, BUT ALSO NOT STOPPING AND I WAS PRAYING THAT IT WILL STOP BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE CROSS ROAD. I AM THE PRIMARY DRIVER FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I LOVE THIS CAR. BUT I HAVE EXPERIENCED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THAT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T STOP QUICKLY WHEN I BRAKE, BUT ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS PART OF HYBRID TECHNOLOGY AND MAY BE TO FORCE THE DRIVER MAINTAIN SOME SPACE FROM THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT. *CN

NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES FAIL BRIEFLY WHEN CAR PASSES OVER BUMPY SURFACES AT LOW SPEED. THIS FEELS LIKE A SURGING FORWARD, OR SOMETIMES AS IF THE CAR HAS BEEN BUMPED FROM BEHIND. NO CORRECTIVE MEASURES YET BEING OFFERED. CAR PURCHASED 1/7/10.

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES WORKING IN MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. I WAS DRIVING ON A COLD, WET ROAD THAT WAS BENDING TO THE RIGHT. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE CAR, THE CAR STUTTERED THEN ACCELERATED WHILE I WAS BRAKING. THE CAR SLID OFF THE ROAD, INTO A DITCH, AND ACCELERATED ITSELF OUT OF THE DITCH ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE WHOLE TIME I WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. NO ONE WAS INJURED, NO PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED, AND THERE WERE NO OTHER WITNESSES. THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER OF MY CAR SUSTAINED BODY DAMAGE THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED OR FIXED. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL WAS PUSHED OUT OF PLACE SO THAT WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AT A SHARP RIGHT, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WOULD RUB AGAINST THE HARD PLASTIC WHEEL WELL. I HAD TO PAY TO GET THE WHEEL WELL PUSHED AND BOLTED BACK INTO PLACE. THIS IS THE INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE ON JANUARY 28TH. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, I HAVE ALSO HAD OTHER TIMES WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED, MOST OFTEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN IT WAS COLDER OUTSIDE. THEY HAD FAILED AT LEAST THREE TIMES WHILE I WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKES TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. WHILE I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES THE CAR WOULD JUMP FORWARD AND ACCELERATE INSTEAD OF SLOWING. I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE AND REAPPLY PRESSURE TO GET THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS. WE HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES WHEN WE GO OVER A BUMP. IN ADDITION, IF I AM DRIVING IN CRUISE CONTROL AND HAVE TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, THERE IS A BRIEF FEELING OF ACCELERATION SO INSTEAD I HAVE GOTTEN USED TO TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL BEFORE PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES THEREBY DELAYING BRAKING FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. *TR

THIS IS AN UPDATE TO AN EARLIER COMPLAINT (#10304111). WE HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS WHICH WE FIRMLY BELIEVE WAS CAUSED BY BRAKE FAILURE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A SLIPPERY ROAD, IT WAS LIGHTLY SNOWING, AT ABOUT 10-15 MPH AND CAME TO A STOP SIGN. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SAID NOTHING HAPPENED. AS A CAR WAS AT THE STOP SIGN SHE TURNED TO AVOID THE CAR AND HIT A RAISED AND SHARP CURB, WHICH PIERCED THE TIRE AND BENT THE TIE-ROD. OUR CAR WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. AFTER ABOUT 10 DAYS, STATE FARM INSPECTED THE CAR, BUT BY THIS TIME THE RECALL FOR THE PRIUS HAD BEEN ANNOUNCED. THE BODY SHOP THEN REFUSED TO FIX THE CAR AND WE HAD TO TAKE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER. STATE FARM HAS SINCE DECIDED NOT PURSUE THIS INCIDENT AS THEY FEEL THE SNOW CAUSED THE ACCIDENT AND THAT THE TEMPORARY LOSS OF BRAKES IS NOT WHAT THE RECALL IS ABOUT. FROM OUR READING OF NUMEROUS ARTICLES (NY TIMES) AND THE RECALL INFORMATION ITSELF, PLUS WHAT HAPPENED, WE ARE STRONGLY STATING THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A TEMPORARY OR MOMENTARY LOSS OF THE BRAKES WHICH DIRECTLY CAUSED THIS ACCIDENT. FROM OUR READING OF THE RECALL AND OTHER COMPLAINTS, SLIPPERY CONDITIONS ARE ONE OF THE FACTORS WHICH CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. IN OUR CASE, THIS PROBLEM WAS EXACERBATED AS NOT ONLY WAS THERE SLIPPERY CONDITIONS, BUT THE CAR WAS ON A HILL AS WELL. WE HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT A SKIPPING OR MOMENTARY BRAKE PROBLEM WHEN GOING OVER BUMPY ROADS. WHEN ASKING ABOUT THIS WE WERE ALWAYS TOLD IT HAD TO DO WITH THE ABS SYSTEM AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL. WELL THE RECALL PROVES THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND NOW WE'VE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM ON SLICK ROADS AS WELL -- WHICH HAS NOW COST US MONEY. *TR

I NOTICED THAT THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHENEVER DRIVEN ON A MANHOLE, OR A ROUGH PATCH ON ROAD, OR A SPEED HUMP DESPITE THE BRAKING. THOUGH I REGAIN CONTROL WITHIN SECONDS, THE MOMENT OF LURCH IS SCARY AND MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE IN OTHER TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. THIS HAPPENS AT ALMOST ALL SPEEDS. I GUESS FROM NOW ONWARDS I WILL MAINTAIN ENOUGH GAP BETWEEN THIS CAR AND THE FORWARD ONE AS I SEEM TO BE NOT ABLE TO TRUST THIS CAR ANY FURTHER. PERHAPS I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND THIS CAR OR ANY TOYOTA TO ANYONE IN FUTURE. *CN

ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME WHEN APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION OF 20TH & BROADWAY (SANTA MONICA, CA) FROM THE EAST SO I CAN TURN RIGHT TO HEAD NORTH ON 20TH, MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS SURGES FORWARD WHEN I HIT A BUMP/POTHOLE IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING TO A STOP. THE SURGE IS ENOUGH TO LAUNCH THE CAR FORWARD INTO THE CROSSWALK, SO IF SOMEONE WERE CROSSING THE STREET IT IS POSSIBLE THE CAR MAY HIT THEM. I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, BUT I NEED TO SEE THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. SINCE PURCHASING IT IN AUGUST, I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF ODD, COMPLETELY REPRODUCIBLE BRAKING BEHAVIOR. I HAVE NOT REPORTED THE COMPLAINT UNTIL NOW BECAUSE I ASSUMED IT WAS SOMETHING NORMAL WITHIN THE OPERATION OF THE PRIUS, BUT WITH THE REPORT IN THE NEW YORK TIMES THAT JAPAN IS INVESTIGATING THE PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM, I THOUGHT I SHOULD FILE A REPORT. I LIVE NEAR TRAIN TRACKS THAT HAVE A GRADE CROSSING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLOCK. THE CROSSING ITSELF IS IN ANN ARBOR, MI, ON W. WILLIAM ST. BETWEEN S. ASHLEY ST AND S. 1ST ST. WHEN DRIVING WESTBOUND ON WILLIAM ST, ONE TRAVELS DOWNHILL AND ENCOUNTERS THE GRADE CROSSING NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, ABOUT 20-30 FEET BEFORE AN INTERSECTION. EVERY TIME I CROSS THE TRAIN TRACKS AT THIS GRADE CROSSING--REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS--I NOTICE AN ALARMING LOSS OF BRAKING POWER THAT OCCURS EXCLUSIVELY WHEN CROSSING THE TRAIN TRACKS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL, THAT PERHAPS THE CAR WAS JUST SLIPPING, BUT NOW IT SEEMS AS IF THIS REPRESENTS THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION IN JAPAN. THE PROBLEM IS 100% REPRODUCIBLE. TYPICAL TRAVEL SPEEDS ARE 15-30 MILES PER HOUR. THE BRAKING ACTION IS ONLY INTERRUPTED WHILE TRAVELING OVER THE BUMPY SURFACE OF THE RAIL TRACKS, AND THEN BRAKING ACTION IS RESTORED. HOWEVER, IF THERE ARE CARS QUEUED UP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AT THE INTERSECTION, IT OFTEN LEADS TO SHORT BRAKING TIMES AND HAS CAUSED CONCERN REGARDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BRAKES. I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO MY DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE PROBLEM, NOR HAD ANY SERVICE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE PROBLEM. AGAIN, I BELIEVED THIS TO BE MORE OF A DESIGN ISSUE THAN A PERFORMANCE PROBLEM, BUT IT IS ALARMING, NONETHELESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK KEEPING AMERICA'S CARS SAFE. *TR

I EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY WITH THE BRAKES OF MY 2010 PRIUS. SOMETIMES THE BREAKS DO NOT TAKE HOLD WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR SEEMS TO SKIP FORWARD FOR A SECOND OR TWO BEFORE IT BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN AND THE BRAKES TAKE HOLD. IT IS VERY UNSETTLING BUT I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT. MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR. I REPORTED IT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALER, SEEGER TOYOTA IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI. HE SAID HE KNEW OF NO COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS WHATSOEVER. THEN HE CALLED ME BACK AND SAID TOYOTA WAS INVESTIGATING A BRAKE ISSUE WITH THE 2010 PRIUS THAT ONLY OCCURRED ON ROUGH SURFACES AND WAS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE PROBLEM I DESCRIBED THAT HAPPENS ON SMOOTH SURFACES. *TR

AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, THEN EITHER MOVING FORWARD OR REVERSING, BRAKES WILL GRAB. BRAKE GRAB IS STRONG ENOUGH THAT IT FEELS LIKE I'VE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES WHEN THEY ARE BARELY TOUCHED. IN ORDER TO CORRECT, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THEN EITHER D OR R. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST 2009. *TR

I HAVE NOTICED THE TEMPORARY LOSS OF BRAKING IN MY BRAND NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2009. WHEN BRAKING ON UNEVEN GROUND, IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU HIT THE ACCELERATOR. PLEASE ENCOURAGE TOYOTA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE AT SLOW SPEEDS 2010 PRIUS. *TR

I AM COPYING BELOW AN INCIDENT WITH MY PRIUS' BRAKES THAT REPORTED TO TOYOTA EARLIER THIS WEEK (CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT FROM TOYOTA AND THEN MY DESCRIPTION OF EVENT): _____________ THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION AND HOPE TO HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. OUR CURRENT OFFICE HOURS ARE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 5 AM TO 6 PM AND SATURDAY 7 AM TO 4 PM PACIFIC TIME. IF YOU NEED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE, WE RECOMMEND YOU CONTACT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER AT YOUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. DISCUSSION THREAD CUSTOMER 02/03/2010 01:04 PM I HAVE HEARD/READ OF A FEW INSTANCES OF BRAKING ISSUES WITH PRIUS'. I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM THE OTHER DAY. I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED (~20) AND BRAKING LIGHTLY WHEN I WENT OVER A SMALL BUMP ACROSS THE ROAD. THE BRAKES/PEDAL IMMEDIATELY FELT USELESS. I QUICKLY LET UP ON THE PETAL AND HIT THE BRAKES MUCH HARDER AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFETY COME TO A STOP WITHOUT ANY DANGER OR LOCKING THE BRAKES. I WANTED TO BE SURE TO LET YOU KNOW AND BE ON RECORD OF THIS ISSUE WITH MY NEW PRIUS WHICH I LOVE SO FAR SHORT OF THIS INCIDENCE. IS THERE A KNOWN ISSUE OR FIX THAT I CAN HAVE MY DEALERSHIP LOOK INTO? *TR

WHILE GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP, MY 2010 TOYOTA SEEMED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON OTHER OCCASIONS. *TR

PRIUS PURCHASED NOV 2009: AT LEAST INCIDENTS OF CAR LURCHING FORWARD SIGNIFICANTLY AND MOMENTARY SENSE OF LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACE. OCCURED IN DEC 09,JAN 10, AND FEB 10. HAD A PEDESTRIAN BEEN CROSSING ILLEGALLY, THE PERSON COULD'VE BEEN HIT BEC I COULD NOT PREVENT OR CONTROL THAT LURCHING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I FEEL I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR SAFELY. I NEED MY CAR FOR WORK. I PHONED MY TOYOTA DEALER WHO SAID TO BRING IT IN FOR EVALUATION,BUT THEY SOUND TENTATIVE. I WANT A SOLUTION AND DON'T WANT TO BE MAKING NUMEROUS TRIPS FROM MY RURAL TOWN TO THE CITY DEALER FOR GUESSES. *CN

TOYOTA PRIUS 2010, HAVING DIFFICULT BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE BECAUSE THE BRAKE IS EXTREMELY TIGHT. AFTER I EVENTUALLY BACKED OUT, I DROVE A FEW YARDS FORWARD AND THEN TESTED IT BACKWARD, THE BRAKE FELT NORMAL. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS. WHEN I GO OVER SMALL BUMPS WHILE BREAKING, THE BRAKES STOP WORKING AND THE CAR ACCELERATES FOR A BIT. DISCONCERTING. *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH TERRAIN AT ANY SPEED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL RELEASED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. THE BRAKING DISTANCE AND PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ALSO INCREASED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8300.

I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, AND COMING TO A STOP SIGN. I STARTED BRAKING, AND WHILE BRAKING, I HIT A SMALLISH POTHOLE. IT FELT LIKE MY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. FORTUNATELY THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING AGAIN BEFORE WE REACHED THE INTERSECTION. I THINK WE WERE DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR NEW CAR WHICH IS ONLY 1 MONTH OLD. THIS WAS IS SCARY FEELING, AND UNLIKE ANY OTHER I'VE FELT. IT WAS NOT "ANTI-LOCK" BRAKES, AS I'VE EXPERIENCED THAT BEFORE.*CW

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING OVER BUMPS, POT HOLES AND SLICK ROADWAYS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS (A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES SO FAR). THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. SHE HAD NEITHER TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP NOR CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 800. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60.

BRAKING SYSTEM. I NOTICE THAT AS I PULL UP TO A STOP SIGN WHILE DRIVING, I APPLY THE BRAKES LIGHTLY TO SLOW DOWN GRADUALLY. I HAVE NOTICED MULTIPLE TIMES THAT WHEN I HIT A BUMPY SPOT OR A POTHOLE, THE CAR LOSES IT BRAKING CAPACITY. I MASH THE BRAKE DOWN HARDER TO SLOW DOWN IF NECESSARY AND THEN IT WORKS FINE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS RELATED TO THE CAR'S ABILITY TO ABSORB KINETIC ENERGY AND RECHARGE THE HYBRID BATTERY OR WHAT. I ALSO NOTICED ONE DAY WHEN IT BEGAN TO SNOW HEAVILY, THE ROADS WERE VERY SLIPPERY AND I ALMOST SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES. *TR

WHEN TRAVELING OVER A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD DURING BRAKE APPLICATION OF MY 2010 PRIUS, I SOMETIMES LOSE BRAKING POWER AND THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD OR SEEM TO ACCELERATE. IT'S SCARY BUT THANKFULLY I'VE BEEN FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT I HAVEN'T HIT IT. I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER TO REPORT THIS UNTIL I HEARD OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT YOU WERE RECEIVING AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2010 PRIUS AND WHEN STOPPING GOING OVER A REASONABLE 'BUMP' THE BRAKES SEEM TO DISENGAGE SO YOU GET AN ACCELERATION FEELING WHICH CAUSES YOU TO REACT AND PRESS THE BRAKE AGAIN. IT SHAKES YOU WHEN IS HAPPENS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN! *TR

I OWN A 2010 PRIUS AND TOOK THE CAR INTO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER 2 DAYS AGO FOR THE INITIAL 5,000 MILE CHECK UP TO DISCUSS A COUPLE ISSUES I HAVE FOUND WITH THE CAR. I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON 3 OCCASIONS A FEELING OF BRAKE FAILURE. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN I AM DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROAD. WHILE THE BRAKE IS BEING APPLIED IF I HIT BUMPS, THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS AND I LOSE THE BRAKES. I HAVE IMMEDIATELY LET UP ON THE BRAKE AND THEN REAPPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET BRAKING BACK. THE DEALER TRIED TO ACHIEVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE IT. HE SAID IT WAS JUST THE WAY THE PEDAL MUST FEEL TO ME. OUR DAUGHTERS BOTH HAVE 2006 PRIUS' WHICH I HAVE DRIVEN AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR CAR BRAKES. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS WITH CRUISE CONTROL. AGAIN, I HAVE DRIVEN A 2006 PRIUS AND USED CRUISE CONTROL AND NOT EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING IN THE 06 MODEL THAT OCCURS IN OUR 2010 MODEL. THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE IN CRUISE MODE. WE HAVE ALSO FOUND IT TAKES A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TAKE IT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. THE CAR JERKS WHEN TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL LIGHTLY TO TAKE OFF CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEALER AGAIN TOOK IT OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND SAID THIS IS THE WAY THE PRIUS FEELS. I KNOW DRIVING THE 2006 MODEL IT WAS NOT THE WAY THE PRIUS FEELS WHEN YOU TAKE IT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS EAST ON OHIO STREET (NEAR STATE STREET) IN CHICAGO. THE STREET HERE HAS SOME POTHOLES AND MANHOLE COVERS. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR DID NOT BRAKE; INSTEAD, IT SEEMED TO SURGE AHEAD. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. THIS WAS THE MOST RECENT EPISODE OF THIS PROBLEM. I DID NOT NOTE THE DATES OF THE THREE PRIOR EPISODES THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MONTHS AGO. *TR

I HAVE 2010 PRIUS. LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR A FEW SECONDS A FEW TIMES ESPECIALLY IN UNEVEN DOWN ROADS AND SLOW OR SLIPPERY ROADS. IT JUMPS (MOVE FORWARD) A FEW FEET, BEFORE IT STOPS, EVEN I APPLY THE BRAKE. I FELT THAT BRAKES DIDN'T WORK DURING THE PERIOD. *TR

WE HAVE THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM WITH OUR 2010 PRIUS AS DESCRIBED RECENTLY IN NEWSPAPERS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A MOMENTARILY LAPSE OF BRAKING POWER WHEN GOING OVER SLIPPERY OR BUMPY SURFACES. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS (WELL OVER 25 TIMES). *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS "JUMPED FORWARD" THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASE TWO WEEKS AGO. TWICE WHEN TRAVELING OVER A POT HOLE WITH MY FOOT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE AND ONCE WHEN BRAKING OVER A SPEED BUMP ON A SIDE STREET. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT ACCELERATED AND THAT I WAS NOT IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TW

AT A RIGHT TURN I ENCOUNTERED A POTHOLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. WHEN MY CAR ACTUALLY HIT THE POTHOLE I FELT, FOR A VERY BRIEF TIME, THAT THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK AND THE ENGINE REV UP A LITTLE BIT. I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. I COULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

PRIUS 2010. INTERMITTENTLY LOSE BRAKING ABILITY. ESPECIALLY WHEN ROAD IS WET AND UNEVEN. WHEN COMING TO A STOP LIGHT AND TRAVELING RELATIVELY SLOWLY, IF THE VEHICLE GOES OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT (POTHOLE OR JUST "RUBBLY"), IT'S AS IF THE ABS GETS CONFUSED AND VERY TEMPORARILY GIVES UP. THIS IS IN CITY DRIVING. STARTING FROM UNDER 20 MPH. TRYING TO STOP AT A LIGHT AND WITH CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE DRIVEN THE EXACT SAME ROUTE IN OTHER CARS AND NOT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. (PRIOR VEHICLE WAS BMW 528I (MODEL YEAR 2000). THIS IS A ROUTE I DRIVE DAILY (BETWEEN DROPPING MY DAUGHTER AT SCHOOL AND GOING TO WORK.) I HAVE OBSERVED THE PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A MAJOR FLAW IN THE REGENERATIVE / HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM. IF THE CAR IS SLOWING GRADUALLY WITH REGENERATIVE BRAKING ACTIVE AND THE ROAD SURFACE CHANGES DUE TO A POTHOLE, UNEVEN/BROKEN SURFACE, OR SPEED BUMP, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING IS REENGAGED VERY SLOWLY. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO APPEAR TO ACCELERATE FOR A SECOND OR TWO UNTIL HYDRAULIC BRAKING IS ENGAGED BY THE CAR'S COMPUTER OR BECAUSE THE DRIVER HAD TO INCREASE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE DRAMATICALLY TO SLOW/STOP THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS DAILY ON A NUMBER OF THE ROADS I CONSISTENTLY TRAVEL. SPEED DURING THESE INCIDENTS IS USUALLY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5 AND 30 MPH. ONE EXAMPLE: DRIVING ON A ROAD AND COMING TO A STOP LIGHT... SLOWING GRADUALLY ON REGEN BRAKING, THEN I HIT A PART OF THE ROAD WHERE THERE IS AN UNEVEN SURFACE. REGEN BRAKING STOPS AND CAR COASTS WITH NO BRAKING, SOMETIMES FOR UP TO A SECOND OR TWO. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AS IT COULD RESULT IN A CAR ACCIDENT OR PEDESTRIAN DEATH. I HAVE ALREADY HAD AT LEAST TWO NEAR MISSES WHERE I HAVE HAD TO SLOW OR STOP SUDDENLY WHILE BRAKING IN REGEN MODE AND THE SWITCH TO HYDRAULIC MODE IS SEVERELY DELAYED. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN REAR-ENDING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ISSUE HAS BEEN OBSERVED SINCE I FIRST OBTAINED THE CAR IN JULY 2009. *TR

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A SERIOUS BRAKING PROBLEM, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AFTER APPLY MY BRAKES OVER A BUMPY SURFACE. THIS IS VERY UNEXPECTED AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. THIS ALREADY HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND NO SOLUTION, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH A BRAND NEW LIKE THIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN . THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS AND THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALLS FOR HIS VEHICLE; HOWEVER, TO BRING IT INTO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3227. UPDATED 03/12/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/30/10*JB

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHICH I PURCHASED IN AUGUST, 2009. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A BRAKING PROBLEM AT LEASE 6 TIMES SINCE THEN. WHEN I BRAKE WHILE DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROADS INCLUDING DRIVING OVER METAL COVER PLATES IN ROADS, I LOSE ALL MY BRAKES FOR A SECOND OR SO. IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE HIT A PATCH OF ICE. IT IS VERY SCARY, AND REALLY GETS YOUR ATTENTION. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2010 PRIUS ON JANUARY 18, 2010. WITHIN 1 WEEK OF THE PURCHASE, THE CAR HAD HYDROPLANED TWO TIMES. EACH TIME, I THOUGHT I HAD HIT "BLACK ICE" AS THERE HAD BEEN RAINY/COLD CONDITIONS THAT EVENING.THE FEELING I HAD WAS THAT THE CAR SURGED FORWARD MOMENTARILY AS I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY OR SLOWING DOWN. THESE 2 INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITHIN A MILE OF EACH OTHER. I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY AT THE TIME. I CALLED THE DEALER, NORTHBROOK TOYOTA, AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE SALESMAN. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN A WEEK LATER WHEN THE SURGED FORWARD AS I PASSED OVER WHAT LOOKED LIKE A SLICK SEWER CAP. *TR