2009 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS, AND THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE I FELT THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, ONE TIME I EVEN ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IT FROM GOING INTO MY GARAGE WALL. I HAVE HAD IT INTO MY DEALER ABOUT 4 TIMES, AND EACH TIME THEY HAVEN'T FOUND ANY PROBLEM AND THAT "IT IS JUST THE WAY THE CAR WORKS" .*TR

I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID . OCCASIONALLY WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE THE CAR DOES NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY EVEN AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN BRAKING. I NOW HIT THE BRAKES ABOUT 10 FEET BEFORE A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT, SO I WONT GO INTO THE ONCOMING LANE. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN TO GET LOOKED AT YET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON AN UNEVEN ROAD. SUDDENLY, WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS A TEMPORARY DELAY OF BRAKING POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

2009 TOYOTA GOES FORWARD WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE. I APPLY BRAKES, TRY AGAIN, AND IT GOES INTO REVERSE, SOMETIMES AFTER TWO TRIES. TOYOTA SERVICE HERE CLAIMS THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THIS. I DON'T BELIEVE THEM. IT DOESN'T DO THIS EVERY TIME, BUT MOST TIMES. AFRAID TO PARALLEL PARK. HAVE YOU HEARD THIS ONE? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ACROSS THE RAILROAD TRACKS, THE BRAKES WOULD RELEASE MOMENTARILY BEFORE BEING REAPPLIED. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AFTER DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ABOUT TWO HUNDRED TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10.

I WAS DRIVING A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS AND CAME TO A STOP AT A FRIEND'S GARAGE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD, IT HIT AN OLD FIR TREE AND A BRICK WALL. I CHECKED AND THE FLOOR MAT WAS IN THE SAME POSITION IT ALWAYS WAS. A FRIEND PUSHED THE FENDER BACK INTO PLACE AND THE TOYOTA DEALER BUFFED OUT THE SCRATCHES. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT CHECKING OUT THE ACCELERATOR. BUT THEY ALWAYS TELL ME THAT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR A LETTER. I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND AM HAVING NIGHTMARES ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH UP HILL, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO AN 18-WHEEL TRUCK. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEG AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA HELICOPTER. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND WAS TOWED BACK TO THE RENTAL CAR COMPANY. THE CONTACT SECURED LEGAL COUNCIL TO HANDLE THE MATTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,299 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

ON OUR 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT SHORTLY AFTER TURNING IT ON I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRING CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET TOYOTA TO RESOLVE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO ME. *TR

I WISH TO REPORT A BREAKING PROBLEM WITH MY 1999 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS OCCURED IN ABOUT SEPT. 2009. I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT HAD ABOUT 18,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THIS FAILURE. I HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF A GAS STATION (FOR GAS ONLY) WHEN I GOT A NUMBER OF WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD. (ABOUT 4 AS I RECALL) ALL THE WARNINGS WERE EITHER TIRE OF BREAK RELATED WARNINGS. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE BREAKS. ONLY MAXIMUM FOOT PRESURE WOULD ACTUATE THE BREAKS AND THEN THEY WOULD GRAB VERY HARD. FORTUNATELY, THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, SO I CAREFULLY LIMPPED THE CAR IN. NO DAMAGE OR ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THIS FAILURE. TOYOTA DID FIX THE PROBLEM THE NEXT DAY AND REPORTED THAT THE FRONT BREAKS HAD STOPPED WORKING AND ONLY THE REAR BEAKS WERE STOPPING THE CAR. IF I RECALL THE FIX CORRECTLY, THEY REPLACED SOME PART CALLED THE "BREAK ACTUATOR" SINCE THEN, NO PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL REVERSING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN SHIFTED BACK INTO REVERSE AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE FORWARD. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. HE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN PRESSING THE START BUTTON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKES ARE NOT ENGAGED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10000.

I WAS FIRST IN LINE AT A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I ACCELERATED AGGRESSIVELY IN ORDER TO CHANGE LANES AS I PULLED AWAY. WHEN I WAS ACROSS THE INTERSECTION I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SHOCKED I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT ON THE ACCELERATION. THERE WAS NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME SO I PULLED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HIT THE POWER BUTTON AND THE CAR STOPPED. I GOT OUT AND IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE MAT. THEY WERE NOT NEAR THE GAS PEDAL. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND IT SEEMED FINE. I TOOK ALL SIDE STREETS TO GET HOME AND STAYED AWAY FROM ALL CARS AND PEOPLE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO TOYOTA THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE EVENT AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. MY CAR WAS A PRIUS 2009 PACKAGE #3 WITH 7500 MILES ON IT. UNTIL THAT DAY, IT DROVE PERFECTLY AND I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH IT. I WON'T DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENTION. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. HE STRUCK A CURB WHICH DAMAGED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4000.

I HAVE NOTICED FOR SOME TIME NOW ALLOT OF TOYOTA PRIUS CARS DRIVING IN DARK CONDITIONS WITH NO HEADLIGHTS ON. THE TAIL LIGHTS ARE ON BUT NO HEADLIGHTS. THIS WOULD SUGGEST TO ME THAT THERE IS A MANUAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH OR ELSE DIFFERENT PARAMETERS FOR THE HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS. AS FOR THE REASON, I BELIEVE TO CONSERVE POWER ON THE ELECTRIC BATTERIES. IF THE DRIVER IS IN CONTROL OF THE HEADLIGHTS THIS CONTROL SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY. IT IS RARE IN THIS DAY AND AGE FOR A MANUAL HEADLAMP SWITCH EVEN ON THE MOST BASIC CARS, SO I BELIEVE TOYOTA WAS FULLY AWARE OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND WHAT THE DRIVERS WERE LIKELY TO DO. BUT YET TOYOTA MADE SURE THEY WERE LEGALLY COVERED WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS. AFTER ALL IF THE DRIVER HITS A CAR OR PEDESTRIAN ITS THE DRIVERS FAULT BUT IF TOYOTA PRIUS CARS SUDDENLY START GETTING REAR ENDED, ITS TOYOTA'S FAULT. IF THE HEADLAMP IS NOT IN CONTROL OF THE DRIVER WHY THE DIFFERENCE IN TIMING WHEN THEY COME ON? I WOULD SUGGEST AGAIN TO CONSERVE POWER AND MAKE THEIR CARS GO FARTHER ON ELECTRIC POWER AT THE EXPENSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY. I AM WRITING THIS PRIMARILY FROM A PEDESTRIAN POINT OF VIEW BECAUSE I AM A RUNNER AND HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF SEMI CLOSE CALLS BECAUSE OF THE HEADLIGHT ISSUE AND ONE CLOSER CALL BECAUSE THEY ARE SO QUIET. *TR

I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2009 PRIUS AS DESCRIBED BELOW. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND HAVE GOTTEN NO SATISFACTION. I HAVE HAD 4 FRIENDS WITH PRIUS CARS DRIVE MINE AND THEY ALL AGREE THAT MY CAR'S STEERING IS BAD. HTTP://WWW.SFGATE.COM/CGI-BIN/ARTICLE.CGI?F=/N/A/2010/02/17/FINANCIAL/F012558S46.DTL SMALLER, LESS-EXPENSIVE VEHICLES SUCH AS THE 2009 AND 2010 COROLLA USE ELECTRIC-ASSIST POWER STEERING. THEY ARE USUALLY EQUIPPED WITH POWER STEERING SYSTEMS THAT ARE AIDED BY A SMALL ELECTRIC MOTOR, A SYSTEM KNOWN AS ELECTRIC-ASSIST STEERING. THE MOTOR ESSENTIALLY HELPS ALIGN THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE TIRES. THE SYSTEM IS CHEAPER TO INSTALL THAN STEERING SYSTEMS THAT RELY ON HYDRAULICS. PROBLEMS CAN ARISE IF THE MOTOR IS OUT OF SYNC WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO WANDER WITHOUT ANY TURNING OF THE WHEEL, HE SAID. "CAR COMPANIES WORK ON IT A LOT," SAID JIM DE CLERCK, A PROFESSOR IN THE MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY'S MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND A FORMER GENERAL MOTORS ENGINEER. "IT IS A PRETTY WELL-KNOWN CUSTOMER-SATISFACTION ISSUE." *TR

TWO UNACCOUNTED ACCELERATION SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENTS WITH 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER ACCIDENT OF APRIL 30, 2010 PER MY REQUEST, VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CONSULTANT FROM TOYOTA.[MAY 26, 2010]. TOYOTA IS SAYING CAR IS SAFE. CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON MAY 28, 2010. FIRST ACCIDENT OCCURRED AUGUST, 31, 2009. BOTH ACCIDENTS OCCURRED UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES; DRIVING AT SLOW ACCELERATION WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. ACCIDENT #1 TURNING A CORNER, ACCIDENT #2 PULLING INTO A PARKING SLOT IN A PARKING LOT. BOTH TIMES ENGINE REVVED AND CAR LURCHED FORWARD. IN FIRST ACCIDENT CAR CRASHED INTO A TREE, IN SECOND ACCIDENT CAR RAN OVER A LANDSCAPING BOULDER WHICH STOPPED IT FROM CRASHING INTO THE STREET. THE BOULDER WAS STUCK UNDER THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR. TWO WHEELS ON EACH SIDE OF IT AND FRONT WHEELS WERE OFF OF THE GROUND. THE FRONT WHEELS WERE STILL TURNING AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I AM REQUESTING TOYOTA REPLACE THIS VEHICLE WITH A LIKE VALUE VEHICLE. I HAVE PICTURES TAKEN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT OF APRIL 30, 2010 AND DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF BOTH ACCIDENTS. DAMAGES FROM BOTH ACCIDENTS WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000 DOLLARS . MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOUND ME AT FAULT FOR THE ACCIDENT OF AUGUST 31, 2009 BECAUSE ALL OF THE CAR'S WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND I GLANCED AT THE DASH. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS FOUND ME NOT AT FAULT FOR THE ACCIDENT OF APRIL 30, 2010. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA AFTER THE ACCIDENT OF APRIL 30TH. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACCIDENTS. MY CAR HAS HAD A NUMBER OF UNUSUAL ISSUES SINCE ITS PURCHASE. THIS IS DOCUMENTED WITH TOYOTA SERVICE. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAS 11,000 MILES ON IT. UPDATED IVOQ 09/08/10*JB *TR

NOXIOUS FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE. SMELLS LIKE BURNING PLASTIC / METAL. FUMES BURN EYES AND PERMEATE CLOTHING, CAUSE LIGHT-HEADEDNESS. DLR HAS TRIED 3X TO REPAIR, CAN NOT IDENTIFY SOURCE. DLR'S SVC MGR CONFIRMS IT IS NOT A NORMAL ODOR FOR THIS VEHICLE, AGREES FUMES GIVE HEADACHE. MFR'S TECH DEPT CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL, DESPITE NOT HAVING EXAMINED VEHICLE. (MFR IS WILLING TO SEND FIELD SVC TECH IN APPX 1 MONTH, WILL NOT PROVIDE LOANER OR OTHERWISE ACCOMMODATE ME IN THE INTERIM.) MFR SUGGESTED IT IS A PERSONAL HEALTH ISSUE AND THAT I "SHOULD CONSIDER IF VEHICLE IS RIGHT FOR ME." *TR

HEADLAMP FAILURE ON 2006 HID TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

I HAVE WRITTEN TOYOTA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO RESPOND. I OWN A 2009 PRIUS. FIRST,NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS VERY POOR AND SENDS YOU TO WRONG ADDRESSES. ON AUG 17,2009,THE FUEL GAUGE WAS AT ONE BAR AND A RED TRIANGLE CAME ON DASH AND CAR STARTED PULLING AND DRAGGING. I PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD ON THE SHOULDER AND TRIED TO RESTART CAR. IT STARTED AGAIN AND THEN IT PULLED AND DRAGGED AND I GOT BACK ON THE SHOULDER. IT WOULD NOT MOVE.I TRIED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL BUT IT WOULD ONLY STAY IN PARK. THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR AND THEN THE TOW TRUCK HAD TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS BECAUSE CAR WOULD NOT LEAVE PARK. AS I WAITED FOR 2 HOURS FOR THE TOW TRUCK,THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS I TURNED ON AND THEN THEY ONLY WOULD BLINK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT WAS MY LEFT SIDE THAT WAS EXPOSED TO TRAFFIC. I WAS LATER TOLD THAT THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS. THIS DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE NONFUNCTIONAL HAZARD LIGHT SYSTEM,THE VEHICLE BEING FROZEN IN PARK AND THE PULLING AND DRAGGING ON THE HIGHWAY. WAS THE GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONING? I HAVE WRITTEN TOYOTA MANY TIMES AND COMPLETED SURVEYS EXPLAINING THESE CONCERNS AND THEY FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR RESPOND. I THINK A SAFETY ISSUE IS RAISED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPROACH AN INTERSECTION AT 20 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. CONSEQUENTLY THE DRIVER REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THAT VEHICLE TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE FRONT BUMPER WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,485. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,023. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHILE CROSSING A SMALL BRIDGE OVER AN EXPRESSWAY, APPLYING BRAKES AT THE POINT OF BUMPY TRANSITION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE SECOND. THIS CAUSED A SUDDEN PANIC, BUT NO OTHER EFFECTS. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE AT THE EXACT SAME BRIDGE TRANSITION AND BUMP OVER THE COURSE OF 8 MONTHS. THERE ARE NO RECOGNIZABLE SIDE EFFECTS. THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER, NOR TO THE COMPANY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A WET CITY ROAD, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, MY CAR WAS OVER RAILROAD TRACKS. INITIALLY THE BRAKES DIDN'T RESPOND AND MY CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN. I DIDN'T HEAR ANTI-LOCK OR OTHER BRAKE NOISES. AFTER A 2-3 SECOND DELAY, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO WORK NORMALLY. HAD THE BRAKES DELAYED MUCH LONGER, I MAY HAVE COLLIDED WITH CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE ABOUT 6,000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND THIS IS THE ONLY INCIDENT WHEN THE BRAKES DIDN'T RESPOND AS EXPECTED. *TR

IN MAY 2009 I PURCHASED A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS MY PRIUS HAS HAD SIMILAR BRAKING PROBLEMS AS THOSE DESCRIBED AS AFFECTING THE 2010 PRIUS MODELS. IN AUGUST 2009 I BROUGHT MY PRIUS IN TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I HAD EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT LAG IN BRAKING (MORE THAN 1 SECOND) WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP. SINCE THEN I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. UNLIKE THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, THE RECENT OCCURRENCES HAVE HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE AND HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND WHEN BRAKING AND HIT A LANE DIVIDER. ALTHOUGH THE MEDIA REPORTS DO NOT INDICATE THAT THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS PRIUS MODELS OTHER THAN THE NEW 2010 MODELS SOLD PRIOR TO JANUARY 2010 I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA TO BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT MY 2009 PRIUS IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

I HAVE A 2009 PRIUS AND ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS IN CRUISE CONTROL MY CAR HAS ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY DOING SO. ALL OF THE TIMES I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND BRING DOWN MY SPEED. WE TRIED TO REPORT THIS TO TOYOTA BUT THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED. WE THEN REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT " THAT SOMETIMES HAPPENS". NO REPORT WAS FILED OR ACTION TAKEN. *TR

ANY TIME THE "SLIPPERY CONDITION" LIGHT COMES ON (FOR INSTANCE, WHEN GOING OVER A POTHOLE OR A PATCH OF WATER ON THE ROAD), MY 2009 PRIUS JUMPS FORWARD. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS IN THE FALL AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS WORKING PROPERLY. NOW, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WITH 2010 PRIUSES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT MINE IS A 2009. I HAVE A YOUNG DAUGHTER AND I WON'T PUT HER IN THIS CAR ANYMORE BECAUSE IT'S WINTER NOW AND IT HAPPENS ON SLIPPERY ROADS NEARLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE. *TR

IN ADDITION TO THE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, GAS PEDAL/FLOOR MAT PROBLEMS WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS THERE IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE POWER BUTTON. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, LIKE THE DOOR COMING OPEN, THROTTLE GETTING STUCK, ETC. YOU CAN'T POWER OFF THE VEHICLE QUICKLY. YOU MUST HOLD THE POWER BUTTON FOR SOME AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF. UNLIKE THE TOYOTA CAMRY EXAMPLE WHERE THEY SUGGESTED TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON THE PRIUS. YOU ALSO CAN'T REMOVE THE KEY/FOB TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF OR POWER IT OFF. THERE IS ALSO AN EXTREME UNDER STEER PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN. IN WET CONDITIONS IT IS EXACERBATED. IT CAN BE OBSERVED ON CLOVER LEAF OVERPASSES AND GENERAL CORNERING. *TR

IN MARCH 2009, WE PURCHASED A TOYOTA PRIUS AT THE TOYOTA OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TOYOTA DEALERSHIP OF ROGERS, AR. ON JULY 29, 2009, I PULLED UP TO THE CURB TO PARK AT A STRIP MALL. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I TURNED RIGHT ON THE SIDEWALK AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR RAN INTO A POST/UPRIGHT THAT HOLDS UP THE ROOF OVER THE SIDEWALK, DAMAGING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR (BOTH DOORS, ETC) AND THE POST/UPRIGHT. THE COST TO REPAIR THE CAR AND THE POST/UPRIGHT WAS APPROXIMATELY $5,300. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES (THANK HEAVENS NO ONE WAS ON THE SIDEWALK). THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND THE POLICEMAN SAID IT WAS A NON-REPORTABLE ACCIDENT SINCE IT DID NOT OCCUR ON A STREET AND NO PERSONAL INJURIES WERE INVOLVED. WE SAW PRESS RELEASES CONCERNING FLOOR MAT PROBLEMS AND REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT. WE ALSO STOPPED AT THE DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING MORE WE SHOULD DO AND WERE GIVEN A TELEPHONE NUMBER TO CALL. THE PERSON WE SPOKE WITH ASSURED US THAT THE PROBLEMS DID NOT PERTAIN TO THE 2009 CAR WE HAVE. HOWEVER, WITH THE WASHINGTON POST SAYING "TOYOTA SAID IT HAD CORRECTED PROBLEMS WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IN PRIUS MODELS SOLD SINCE LATE LAST MONTH. BUT THE COMPANY WAS STILL DECIDING WHAT STEPS TO TAKE TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN PRIUS CARS SOLD . . . . BEFORE LATE JANUARY. OUR QUESTION: WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR US? *TR

THIS IS A REQUEST IN ORDER FOR THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO BEGIN SAFETY AND DEFECT INSPECTIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS: TOYOTA, HONDA, MITISHIBISHI. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED WHILE DECREASING THE SPEED DRIVEN, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT WHEN THE ELECTRICAL ENGINE SWITCHED TO THE GASOLINE ENGINE IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS FREQUENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,500.

I PURCHASED A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS IN APRIL 2009. ON AT LEAST FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD ISSUES OF MY VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD OR BEING HARD TO STOP AFTER DRIVING OVER A POTHOLEAND WHEN DRIVING ON A WASHBOARD ROADS (1 TIME ON THE POT HOLE THE OTHER TIMES WERE WHILE ON THE DIRT ROAD). I JUST FIGURED THE VEHICLE DIDN'T HANDLE WELL DIRT ROADS AND POT HOLES SO I AM JUST EXTRA CAREFUL IN THOSE CONDITIONS WHICH IS WHY I DID NOT THINK TO REPORT THIS UNTIL NOW WHEN I HEARD THE REPORT ON BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE PRIUS. I DO NOT KNOW IF MY PROBLEM IS SIGNIFICANT OF NOT, I THOUGHT I WOULD REPORT IT JUST IN CASE. I DO NOT HAVE APPROXIMATE DATES, JUST BETWEEN APRIL AND SEPTEMBER 2009. *TR

I OWN A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS AND WHEN THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS A POT HOLE OR ANY ROUGH ROAD SERVICE, IT JUMPS AHEAD AND THERE IS A DELAY WHEN I ATTEMPT TO BRAKE. ON THE DASHBOARD THE ICY ROADWAY INDICATAOR APPEARS AT THESE TIMES. THIS SIITUATION HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN APRIL 2009 *CN

WHEN DRIVING MY 2009 PRIUS IN EITHER WET OR SNOWY CONDITIONS, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE CAR "SKIPS"/DOESN'T HOLD THE BRAKING WHEN I APPLY MY FOOT STEADILY TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. I'VE NOTICED THIS IN WET CONDITIONS FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE, IN JUNE 2009, AND AGAIN MORE RECENTLY IN SNOW. I'VE WOUND UP NOT DRIVING THE PRIUS WHEN THE ROADS ARE EITHER WET OR SNOWY NOW, BUT OBVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THESE CONDITIONS WHEN RAIN OR SNOW STARTED WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. IT IS NOT A SAFE FEELING TO FEEL THE CAR SLIPPING. *TR

2009 PRIUS, ON THREE OCCASIONS I EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT HESITATION IN THE BRAKING OF THIS CAR. I EMAILED TOYOTA ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON 2/15/2010, AND BIB NOT RECEIVE A ANSWER UNTIL 5/10/2010. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP BEFORE I RECEIVED THEIR ANSWER ON 5/10. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM OR ANY BRAKE ERROR ON THE COMPUTER. WHY SHOULD IT TAKE SO LONG TO ANSWER MY EMAIL AND I STILL HAVE NO SOLUTION TO MY BRAKING TROUBLES. *TR

WHILE IN 'CRUISE CONTROL' WITH NO USE OF THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR STARTED TO INCREASE SPEED BEYOND THE SET SPEED. WHEN I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE WHICH OVERRODE SPEED CONTROL AND BEGAN SLOWING DOWN AS IT NORMALLY WOULD IF THE CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING BUT AT STEADY SPEED, NOTE: DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATE. EVENT HAPPENED TWICE DURING SUMMER OF 2009 AT HIGH SPEED (SETTING AT 70MPH). *TR

I OWN A TOYOTA PRIUS. ON JUNE 22, THE FUEL GAUGE STARTED TO ACT UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER HAVING MY CAR FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS THEY CLAIMED IT WAS FIXED. THEY REPLACED ALMOST EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL. I THEN TOOK IT BACK LESS THAN A MONTH LATER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND JUST TO NEVER LET MY TANK GO BELOW 1/4. TO ME, THIS IS A DANGER. I NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN MY GAS TANK OR WHEN I MAY RUN OUT OF GAS. I THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS, YET TOYOTA DOES NOTHING TO FIX THIS. EVERY FEW DAYS I HAVE TO STOP AND GET GAS BECAUSE MY GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. I AM DRIVING AROUND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

WAITING FOR MY HUSBAND AT HIS MOTHER'S ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE, I PUT MY 2009 PRIUS IN PARK MODE. DECIDING TO RETURN TO THE BLDG ENTRANCE, I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE (OUT OF PARKING MODE) AND LET IT GO AT ITS OWN SPEED. MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS ABOUT TO TURN THE WHEEL TO REENTER THE ENTRANCE AREA, WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I QUICKLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. I THEN SAW A WOMAN IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, ABOUT A FOOT FROM ME STANDING ON THE CURB IN FRONT OF THE BLDG'S GLASS FAADE. I TURNED THE WHEEL JUST MISSING HER AS WELL AS THE BLDG. FRANTICALLY PRESSING THE BRAKES WHILE THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING MORE, I ALMOST WENT ON TO A BUSY ST. ACROSS FROM A MALL. SOMEHOW I SAVED MYSELF & OTHERS BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RT, REENTERING THE PROPERTY VIA A CURB CUT FOR WHEELCHAIRS, ETC. I MISSED HITTING A POLE BUT RAN OVER 2 TREES, WHICH THE CAR SEVERED & WHICH ABRUPTLY STOPPED THE CAR, JUST BEFORE HITTING A BRICK WALL. THIS ALL HAPPENED AT NIGHT, IN THE DARK, IN REVERSE.THE POLICEMAN & THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR WERE INCREDULOUS HOW THE CAR GOT INTO THAT SPACE. IT WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY TOYOTA DEALER, WHERE THE BRAKES WERE PRONOUNCED "PERFECT". SO MY HUSBAND INSISTED I BE CHECKED OUT. WHILE RELATING THE INCIDENT TO THE DOCTOR, THE DR. GOOGLED "PRIUS BRAKE/ACCELERATION PROBLEMS" & FOUND MANY & PRINTED 1 OF A 2009 PRIUS WHERE THE DRIVER ENCOUNTERED 3 SUCH OCCURRENCES "DUE TO A COMBINATION OF MYSTERIOUS ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF BRAKES". THE DR. WAS CERTAIN I WAS THE 'VICTIM", BUT SUGGESTED I HAVE AN MRI "TO BE SURE"--WHICH I DID & I'M FINE. THAT I WAS IN CONTROL IN A TOTALLY UNCONTROLLABLE SITUATION AT NIGHT WITH A CAR IN REVERSE, WHERE I ALMOST KILLED SOMEONE & POSSIBLY KILLED OR HURT OTHERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, AND DONE CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE ALONG THE WAY IS A MIRACLE AND THE CULPRIT, I'M CONVINCED, IS/WAS A "GLITCH" IN THE CAR'S COMPUTER. *TR

HI THERE, I RENTED A NEW 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AS I WAS DRIVING IN ONE OF THE INSIDE STREETS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT EVEN THOUGH I WAS DRIVING WITH A LOW SPEED OF 15-20 MPH I REAR ENDED A CAR THAT SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES ALL OF A SUDDEN. I SLAMMED HARD ON MY BRAKES AND IT SKIDDED A LITTLE AND HIT THE VAN REAR END BUMPER AHEAD OF ME. THE ACCIDENT DID A QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE TO MY RENTAL PRIUS. THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO HERTZ AND THEY SWAPPED THE CAR; I TOLD HERTZ TO CHECK THE BRAKES THOROUGHLY; BECAUSE THERE IS A DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEED. PLEASE HELP. EVEN THOUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL TAKE CARE OF THE DAMAGE; I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION OF LOW SPEED AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EITHER ONE HEAD LIGHT WILL GO OUT OR ON SOME OCCASIONS BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT. IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON THEY WILL COME BACK ON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN THE "ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WERE NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH VARIOUS COMPONENTS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMPTION MPG SCREEN ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED INACCURATE INFORMATION. THE ENGINE EXHIBITED A REDUCTION OF ENGINE POWER. WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AN EXCESSIVE DECREASE IN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. THE FM AND AM RADIO SELECTOR FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE VIN WAS REJECTED AND WILL BE UPDATED UPON RECEIPT OF THE SAFETY COMPLAINT FORM.

ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 9, 2009 I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-93 NEAR THE TOWN OF MEDFORD, MA. I WAS ON MY WAY TO LOGAN AIRPORT TO RETURN THE 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS I HAD RENTED THAT PREVIOUS WEDNESDAY. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 9:30 AM; THE FREEWAY WAS STILL BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WITH RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS IN THE LEFT-HAND LANE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO. A GAP OPENED UP IN TRAFFIC AND I ACCELERATED. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME (APPROXIMATELY 60') SUDDENLY STOPPED. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES BUT MY CAR KEPT GOING. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AS MY CAR PLOWED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AT THE SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE IMPACT WAS SUFFICIENT TO DISLODGE MY FRONT LICENSE PLATE. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, HOWEVER THE TWO PASSENGERS WERE EXTREMELY SHAKEN UP. THERE WAS A MASSACHUSETTS STATE TROOPER ON THE SCENE WHO TOOK ALL THE INFORMATION BUT DID NOT FILE A REPORT. AS SOON AS I COULD, AT ABOUT 11:00 AM, I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA TO REPORT THE ACCIDENT, AND I EXPLAINED ALL OF THE DETAILS TO THEM. *TR

I AM WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW OF A PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING WITH A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT I PURCHASED NEW JUST ONE WEEK AGO AND WHICH STILL HAS LESS THAN 500 MILES ON IT. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO I WAS APPROACHING A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, IN TOWN WHERE MY SPEED HAD BEEN ONLY ABOUT 15 MPH. WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, JUST PRIOR TO A FULL STOP, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PRESSING HARD, AND THE BRAKE EVENTUALLY OVERRODE THE ACCELERATOR AND STOPPED. LOOKING AT THE DASH I SAW THAT THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT FLASHED ON BRIEFLY. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, NO RAIN, NO SLICK SURFACE. NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME, SO NO DAMAGE TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE. ANOTHER INCIDENT HAPPENED THIS MORNING IN MY GARAGE. I GOT INTO THE PRIUS, FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON, AND THEN A MOMENT LATER, STILL IN PARK, I FELT A SURGE. THE CAR DID NOT LUNGE FORWARD, BUT I STRONGLY FELT THE REVVING AND SURGE OF POWER, AND THE CAR LIFTED FROM THE POWER. THESE INCIDENTS CAUSED ME TO SEARCH THE WEB FOR SIMILAR EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS, AND I HAVE FOUND MANY, SOME WITH SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT IN HINDSIGHT I REALIZE THAT TWO OTHER THINGS I HAVE NOTICED ABOUT THE BRAKES MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO RELATE. I SOMETIMES HEAR A SLIGHT GRINDING DISK SOUND WHEN I BRAKE, AND I HAVE ON A FEW OCCASIONS NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES ARE SKIPPING AND THE ABS ENGAGING, AS IF I WERE ON A SLIPPERY OR GRAVELED SURFACE. YET THAT WAS NEVER THE CASE; THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND TAR WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I LOOKED BACK EACH TIME TO SEE WHAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE BRAKES TO ACT STRANGELY. THERE WAS NO APPARENT CAUSE. IN RETROSPECT, AFTER HAVING EXPERIENCED THE ACCELERATION AT THE STOP SIGN, I REALIZE THAT THESE OTHER ODD BRAKING ISSUES MIGHT BE SYMPTOMS OF THE BIGGER BRAKING ISSUE. *TR

BRAKE FAILURE WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT OR POTHOLE IN BOTH 2005 AND 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WE HAVE OWNED TWO PRIUS, A 2005 AND NOW A 2009, AND BOTH HAVE EXHIBITED THE BRAKING ANOMOLY THAT IS BEING DESCRIBED IN THE PRESS AS ONLY OCCURING WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. I EXPERIENCE THIS FAILURE FREQUENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS ONLY BRIEFLY -ABOUT ONE OR TWO SECONDS AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. HOWEVER, IT IS DISCONCERTING AND IF THIS IS A MALFUNCTION, IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF FOR ALL PRIUS, NOT JUST 2010. *CN

I HAVE THE BRAKE PROBLEM BEING REPORTED FOR THE PRIUS, BUT MINE IS A 2009 MODEL. WHEN BRAKING ON ROUGH SURFACES, THE BRAKES QUIT FOR A MOMENT. SINCE I DON'T TAILGATE, I'VE NEVER FELT IN DANGER. BUT IT IS A SLIGHTLY OUT OF CONTROL FEELING. I'VE FILLED IN THE DATE BELOW AS MAY 2009, WHEN I PURCHASED (LEASED) THE CAR. BUT THE SITUATION HAS BEEN CONTINUOUS. *TW

WE RENTED A 2009 PRIUS WHEN WE WERE IN LAS VEGAS. WE ALMOST GOT INTO A COLLISION IN THE PARKING LOT OF A CASINO WHEN SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME ALL OF A SUDDEN. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS A COULD AND THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO STOP. I T WAS IF THE PEDAL WAS PUSHING ON AIR. IT DID NOT GO DOWN AS EXPECTED AND THE CAR BARELY CAME TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED WELL BEFORE ALL THE RECALLS WITH GAS PEDALS STICKING AND SUCH. I THINK THAT THE SUDDEN APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL MIGHT OF LOCKED UP THE CYLINDER. THE EFFECT WAS SIMILAR TO TRYING TO PUSH ON A SHOCK ABSORBER REALLY FAST. THEY LOCK UP AND DON'T MOVE VERY MUCH. I AM NO SMALL PERSON 6'-2" AND 285 LBS. AND I WAS STOMPING ON IT ! *TR

LAST MAY, I PURCHASED A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. FOR SOME TIME NOW, I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF BRAKING ISSUES THAT SOUND EERILY SIMILAR TO WHAT IS BEING DESCRIBED WITH THE 2010 PRIUS RECALLS. I HAVE NOT REPORTED ANYTHING UNTIL NOW BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, AND ADJUST MY DRIVING ACCORDINGLY. WHENEVER I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY GOING OVER ROUGH, BUMPY, OR POTHOLED AREAS OF ROAD...MY "SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS" LIGHT FLASHES MOMENTARILY ON MY DASHBOARD. ADDITIONALLY, IT ALMOST FEELS AS THOUGH THE CAR ACCELERATES IN THAT SPLIT SECOND, BUT AS LONG AS I KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I MAKE SURE TO KEEP ADEQUATE SPACE BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CARDS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IF I EVER HAD TO STOP TOO QUICKLY ON ROAD CONDITIONS SUCH AS I HAVE DESCRIBED ABOVE I AM CERTAIN THAT I WOULD CRASH INTO THE OTHER CAR BEFORE MY BRAKES ACTUALLY TOOK OVER. I AM SIMPLY REPORTING THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I WONDER IF, DESPITE TOYOTA'S CLAIM THAT ONLY THE 2010 MODEL IS BEING AFFECTED, OTHER YEAR MODELS OF THE PRIUS ARE HAVING ISSUES AS WELL. I AM ENTERING AN APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE BELOW, HOWEVER, I REALLY CAN'T PICK JUST ONE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A MULTITUDE OF OCCASIONS SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY OF 2009. *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID (GAS/ELECTRIC) ON MARCH 31, 2009. THE CAR WORKED GREAT, BUT WITH ONLY 490 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, I DID A ROUTINE SHUT DOWN OF THE CAR ON MAY 20, 2009 WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE ANYTHING BUT ROUTINE. DURING THIS EVENT, I SHUT THE CAR OFF USING THE PROCEDURE TAUGHT TO ME BY THE DEALERSHIP SALESMAN, WHICH WAS THE SAME PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THE USER MANUAL. HOWEVER, AT THIS SHUT DOWN, A VERY DRAMATIC POWER SURGE WENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM, JOLTING THE ENGINES IN THEIR MOTOR MOUNTS (I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD SQUEAL WHEN THE ENGINES, BOTH GAS AND ELECTRIC, JOLTED TO A STOP, WHICH I ASSUME WAS THE MOTOR MOUNTS TAKING THE FORCE OF THE POWER SURGE), AND MOVING THE CAR VIOLENTLY FORWARD STOPPING WITH THE TRANSMISSION LOCK AND BRAKE WHICH I HAD SET). THIS WAS A VERY UNPLEASANT AND UN-NATURAL EVENT. FOLLOWING THIS EVENT, THE CAR DID START AND OPERATE THROUGH ITS FUNCTIONS, BUT THE DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. WHAT HAD BEEN A SMOOTH OPERATING SYNERGY DRIVE SYSTEM WAS NOW SLIGHTLY GRABBY BOTH IN ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION, AND I EXPERIENCED HARD 'CLUNK' SHIFTS WHEN DRIVING. APPROXIMATELY EVERY 15TH GAS ENGINE SHUT DOWN, THE GAS ENGINE WOULD 'DIESEL' AND HAVE A DISTURBING LONG CYCLING SHUT DOWN VIBRATING AND JOLTING THE CAR IN AN ALARMING FASHION WHICH IS NOT SAFE. ON JUNE 2, 2009, I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO MY TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WAS TOLD THE CAR "CAN'T DO THAT" AND WAS TOLD THE COMPUTER SHOWED NOTHING WRONG. ON JULY 8, 2009, I WENT TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID THE CAR WAS ROUGH, AND TRIED TO RE-SEAT THE ENGINES IN THE MOUNTS, WHICH TEMPORARILY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM UNTIL A MAJOR GAS ENGINE JOLTING SHUT DOWN OCCURRED AGAIN. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN ON 24 SEPTEMBER, 2009, AND ASKED TO HAVE THE ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED. THEY TRIED TO RESEAT THE ENGINES AGAIN, WITH NO SUCCESS, AND THE RANDOM JOLTING GAS SHUTDOWNS ON THE HYBRID SYSTEM CONTINUE, WHICH ARE A SAFETY HAZARD DURING OPERATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROX 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT WAS REAR ENDED BUT THE VEHICLE STILL DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING SO THE DRIVER SWERVED AND HIT A SIGN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED AT THE SCENE, BUT AFTER 3 PEOPLE IN THE OTHER VEHICLE REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE BODY REPAIRS WERE DONE AND THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. HE WAS STILL AWAITING A RESPONSE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. UPDATED 03/12/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/30/10

MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD. AS I WAS PARKING IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT, I COULD FEEL THE CAR STILL ACCELERATING WHILE I HAD ALREADY MOVED MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE. BRAKING AS HARD AS I CAN I REALIZED MY CAR WASN'T RESPONDING AT ALL. THE CAR CLIMBED ON TO THE CURB INTO THE GRASS, HIT A LIGHT POLE, TILTED TO ITS RIGHT SIDE (I WAS PARKING TO MY RIGHT) AND FELL DOWN ON ITS SIDE. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR OFF, BUT WONT TURN OFF. THE WHEELS WERE STILL ACCELERATING AS I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE SEAT BELT, CALLED OUT FOR HELP AND GOT OUT THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. I CALLED 911. POLICE HELPED ME TURN OFF THE VEHICLE; UNTIL THAT TIME, THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS 2ND GENERATION. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS AT VERY LOW SPEED (LIKE IN MY CASE, WHILE PARKING) OR WHEN ITS FLOORED ALL THE WAY. THIS SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED. THE CAR IS WITH GEICO, MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS POSITIONED IN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE ENGINE TURNED OFF WHEN THERE WAS FORCEFUL PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY THE STICKING OF THE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RELEASED WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION THE DRIVER APPLIED PARTIAL FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO AVOID THE PEDAL STICKING. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I NOTICED IT AROUND MAY 2009, AND REPORTED IT DURING MY MAY PRE-PAID TOYOTA SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE., WHICH WAS THE LAST ONE FOR MY PLAN. TOYOTA SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. THE INCIDENT IS NOTED ON MY TOYOTA PAPERWORK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A PARKING RAMP AND DAMAGED THE BUMPER OF HER VEHICLE.THERE WERE NO INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEY TOLD CONTACT IF THE FAILURE HAPPEN AGAIN TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 5,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 13,000.