2010 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

I PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ON DEC. 23 2009 IN COLUMBUS OH, AND EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEM TWICE. WHEN I WAS COMING OUT OF MY STREET TO MERGE TO A BIGGER STREET, I USED THE BRAKE TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. INSTEAD OF COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD. I HAD TO BRAKE IT AGAIN AND HARD TO STOP IT. I FELT AS IF THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ENERGY PUSHING THE CAR FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS 3 WEEKS AGO, THE SECOND 2 WEEKS AGO. *TR

MY 2010 PRIUS HAS BEEN EXHIBITING MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING WHEN PASSING OVER A ROUGH SURFACE. MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS SEVERAL ROADS WITH STEEP SLOPES AND ALTHOUGH MY SPEED ON THESE ROUTES IS ALMOST ALWAYS UNDER 20 MPH, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE NOTICED AN UNEASY FEELING OF LOSS OF CONTROL ON PASSING OVER POTHOLES OR SEAMS IN THE PAVEMENT WHEN GOING DOWNHILL. I HAD WRITTEN THIS OFF TO UNFAMILIARITY WITH A NEW VEHICLE, SINCE I ONLY PURCHASED THE CAR ON 12/31/09 BUT WHEN I READ TODAY'S NY TIMES ARTICLE, THE SYMPTOMS IT DESCRIBED WERE EXACTLY WHAT I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING. I HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP BUT PLAN TO DO SO RIGHT AWAY. *TR

MY 2010 PRIUS HAS BRAKES RELEASING WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IN REVERSE THE BRAKES FREQUENTLY "STICK" ON. IN THIS MOST RECENT INCIDENT I WAS CHANGING LANES LOOKING TO MAKE A FUTURE LEFT TURN AND I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE OF A 4 LANE ROAD, I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO CHANGE LANES AND DID NOT SEE A CAR IN MY "BLIND SPOT" WHERE MY MIRRORS DID NOT SHOW THE CAR. ONCE I SIDE SWIPED THE ACURA MDX, I MADE EMERGENCY MANEUVERS TO GET BACK TO THE RIGHT LANE, WHICH INCLUDED SWERVING RIGHT AND HITTING THE BRAKES AFTER THE CAR STARTED MOVING RIGHT. AT THAT POINT MY VEHICLE SEEMED TO MOVE ON IT'S OWN IRREGARDLESS OF MY PEDAL AND STEERING ACTIONS (I WAS IN PANIC MODE SINCE I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT IN DECADES - EXCEPT A PARKING LOT "BUMP"). I WROTE OFF THE FACT THAT I WAS UNABLE TO DEFENSIVELY DRIVE AS I HAVE RELIED ON FOR ALL THESE YEARS SINCE I COULDN'T PULL OUT OF THE ACCIDENT. NOW HOWEVER, AFTER HEARING OF THE SIMILAR ISSUES ON 2010 PRIUS I AM WONDERING WHETHER THE VEHICLE PLAYED A PART IN THE ACCIDENT THAT I COULD NOT COMPENSATE FOR? *TR

WHEN BRAKING NUMEROUS TIMES, MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS STOPPED BRAKING AND GIVES THE FEELING THAT IT IS LURCHING FORWARD. MY MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING OVER A MAN HOLE AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH. THESE INCIDENTS TYPICALLY OCCUR WHEN BRAKING OVER NON-SMOOTH ROAD SURFACES, SUCH AS POTHOLES. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE JUNE 2009. *TR

2010 PRIUS WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES RELEASING WHEN WE DRIVE OVER POT HOLES OR A SLICK SURFACE. THIS HAS BEEN A REOCCURING THING. IT PREVENTS US FROM STOPPING QUICKLY OR REACTING TO A SITUATION. IT HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS A STRONG POSSIBILITY TO IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS. I HAVE HAD 2 OCCASIONS WHERE I HAVE HIT BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND MY CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. *TR

WHEN BRAKING TO COME TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES FORWARD OR THE BRAKES FAIL FOR JUST A MOMENT. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS UNEVEN, OR IF THERE IS A POTHOLE. IT IS NOT REPRODUCIBLE, BUT HAS CONSISTENTLY HAPPENED ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH SINCE I PURCHASED THE NEW VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER, 2009. *TR

1) DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 TO 40 MPH ON A FLAT SMOOTH ROAD APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. APPLYING THE BRAKES LIGHTLY TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE STOPPING. HIT A SHALLOW POTHOLE ON RIGHT SIDE. PROBABLY A MANHOLE COVER. 2) VERY QUICKLY, LASTING ONLY A SPLIT SECOND, THE BRAKES SEEMED TO COME LOOSE AND THEN RE-ENGAGE. THIS DIDN'T GET MY ATTENTION TOO MUCH THE FIRST TIME, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS LATER AGAIN AT THE SAME PLACE UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. IT IS APPARENTLY REPEATABLE WITH MY 2010 PRIUS! 3) NOTHING DONE YET. DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT WORRYING ABOUT RIGHT NOW. *TR

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. AT LEAST 10 TIMES, WHEN PASSING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD, THE CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT MY APPLYING ANY PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL. THAT IS, IT ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING SOMETIMES WHEN I PASS OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE. THEN, WHEN I TRY TO SLOW IT DOWN FROM THIS UNWANTED ACCELERATION, THE BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THAT IS, THE BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO PROPERLY AND INSTANTLY "CATCH" TO SLOW THE CAR. RATHER, THERE IS A PULSATING SENSATION FOR AN ESTIMATED 2-5 SECONDS UNTIL THE BRAKES FINALLY AND COMPLETELY "CATCH" TO SLOW THE CAR FROM THE UNWANTED AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I NOTICED THIS SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR ON AUGUST 11, 2009. FURTHER, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PHENOMENON WITH ANY OTHER AUTOMOBILE THAT I HAVE DRIVEN IN THE LAST 30 YEARS. IT IS NOT SOME PHENOMENON OR PROBLEM THAT HAS DEVELOPED OVER TIME. RATHER, IT WAS A PHENOMENON THAT OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY NEW WITH FAR LESS THAN 1,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT AFTER READING IN AN INTERNET NEWS ARTICLE THAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AS WELL AS THE OTHER RECALLED TOYOTA AUTOMOBILES. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AND SWIFT U.S. GOVERNMENT ACTION IS BOTH WARRANTED AND NEEDED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATES WHEN BRAKE IS PRESSED. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO JUMP FORWARD DEPENDING ON ROAD CONDITIONS. IT SEEMS TO BE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THE PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS 2 TO 3 TIMES A MONTH. *TR

WHEN BRAKING OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE BRAKES SOMETIMES RELEASE WHILE THE DRIVER'S FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DRIVER NEEDS TO RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RE-APPLY PRESSURE FOR THE BRAKE TO RE-ENGAGE. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY DAY BUT IT HAS OCCURRED OFTEN ENOUGH THAT BOTH DRIVERS OF OUR CAR HAVE NOTICED THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING THE SIX MONTHS THAT WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. IT APPEARS TO OCCUR MORE AT SPEEDS BELOW 15 MPH, ON DOWNHILL SLOPES, IN COLDER WEATHER AND ON SLIPPERY ROADS. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE PROBLEM TENDS TO HAPPEN WHEN APPROACHING INTERSECTIONS, WHERE MOST BRAKING TAKES PLACE, MAKING IT A MORE DANGEROUS DEFECT. WE PURCHASED THE CAR AT THE END OF JULY, 2009. WE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHEN THE CAR WAS IN FOR ITS FIRST 5000 MILE SERVICE IN JANUARY, 2010. THEY ROAD-TESTED THE CAR BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE OUR EXPERIENCE, SO THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. *TR

2010 PRIUS LOSES BRAKE FORCE WHEN REGENERATIVE BRAKING IS USED OVER POTHOLES OR OTHER UNEVEN SURFACES. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN WHEEL SLIP OCCURS WHEN BRAKING IN SUCH INSTANCES, THE REGENERATIVE SYSTEM IS DISENGAGED CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING UNTIL THE FRICTION BRAKES ARE ENGAGED BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL FARTHER. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND CAN BE REPLICATED. *JB

I BOUGHT A 2010 PRIUS IN OCTOBER. I LIVE IN MAINE WHERE WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE NOT GREAT. I HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENTS NOW OF DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED ON PLOWED BUT SNOWY ROADS WHERE THE BRAKES DID NOT CATCH WHEN I APPLIED THEM. ONCE WAS GOING AROUND A DOWNHILL CURVE WHICH WAS SCARY. EACH TIME THEY EVENTUALLY CATCH BUT NOT UNTIL I HAVE SKIDDED FOR ABOUT 3-6 FT. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE NOT HIT ANYONE YET. I CALLED MY DEALER YESTERDAY AND WAS TOLD THERE HAD NOT BEEN A RECALL AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE ABOUT IT YET. *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS (WHICH I'D TAKEN DELIVERY ON ABOUT JANUARY 6), AND I NOTICED WHAT SEEMED TO BE A POWER SURGE OR A MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE WHEN I WENT OVER A POTHOLE WHILE I WAS SLOWING DOWN AFTER EXITING A HIGHWAY. THE CAR SEEMED TO LURCH FORWARD, SO THAT I HAD TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND RE-APPLY IT. THIS HAPPENED FIRST ON JANUARY 20, BUT HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES SINCE THEN. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS; AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A POWER SURGE. BUT WHEN I SAW THE ARTICLE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ON FEBRUARY 3, I KNEW THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME. EVERY TIME IT'S HAPPENED AS I WAS BRAKING OVER A SPEED BUMP OR POTHOLE. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY TOYOTA DEALER BUT HAVE NOT GONE YET. *JB

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS EXPERIENCES BRIEF LOSS OF BRAKING WHEN TRAVELING DOWNHILL ON SAME SECTION OF THE ROAD. I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES AND IT'S BEEN VERY NOTICEABLE. EVEN WITH FIRM BRAKE PRESSURE, THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND. IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ON THE EXACT SAME SECTION OF THE ROAD, WHICH IS ON A DOWNHILL GRADE. *TR

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, PURCHASED IN OCTOBER OF 2009. I CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT SLIPPAGE WHEN BRAKING AND THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE CAR DOES NOT STOP BUT FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING AND YOU NEED TO REAPPLY THE BRAKES. I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND. I HAVE NOW RECONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO WAIT TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED TO LOAN ME A CAR UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. I AM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED BY TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

WHILE TURNING OFF FOUR LANE ROAD ONTO FRONTAGE ROAD WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED ACCELERATING. I APPLIED MORE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL QUICKLY AND GOT A SORT OF CLUNKING SOUND AND THE CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL DRIVING SPEED? *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2010 PRIUS FOR ABOUT 45 DAYS, AND ON THREE OCCASIONS WHILE TRAVELING OVER BUMPY SURFACES AND VERY FIRMLY APPLYING THE BRAKES, I NOTICED A LACK OF STOPPING POWER FOR ABOUT HALF A SECOND RIGHT AFTER I HIT A BUMP. THEY WEREN'T TINY BUMPS, BUT THEY WEREN'T CRATERS EITHER. THE TRACTION OF MY TIRES DID NOT SEEM TO BE IMPAIRED. IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES JUST LET OFF FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND. *TR

ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS, I HAVE HAD UNEVEN, JERKY ACCELERATION FROM MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. ACCELERATION WAS FROM A STAND STILL AND WAS AT LOW RATES OF SPEED. BOTH INSTANCES HAVE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD, BUT THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE WAS PROBABLY ABOVE 30 DEGREES. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2010 PRIUS IV AT BOCH TOYOTA IN ATTLEBORO MASS ON JAN 9TH . ON JAN 20TH (ODOMETER ABOUT 300 MILES), ABOUT 5:20 PM I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC ON ALLENS AVE NEAR RIHOSPITAL (PROVIDENCE, RI) AT ABOUT 10 MPH OVER A ROUGH SURFACE (INCLUDING RAILROAD TRACKS THAT CROSSED NEARLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROAD). WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY, UNTIL AFTER A FEW ANXIOUS SECONDS, THE BRAKES FINALLY GRABBED AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 1 INCH FROM THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. NO SUBSEQUENT OCCURRENCE HAS BEEN NOTED IN THE NEXT 300 OR SO MILES. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT REPORTS OF FAULTY SOFTWARE CAUSING JUST SUCH MALFUNCTIONS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM, I AM REPORTING THIS TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY DIVISION. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE END OF DECEMBER 2009. SINCE THEN I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE MOMENTARILY BRAKE LOSS WHEN DRIVING OVER THE UNEVEN SURFACE. IT ONLY HAVE HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES BUT IT MAKES ME WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. *CN

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS; PURCHASED NEW ON 3 JAN., 2010. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 4400 MILES. RECENTLY IN THE NEWS I'VE HEARD LOSS OF BRAKING COMPLAINTS. MY COMPLAINT IS THE OPPOSITE. SOMETIMES WHEN TRAVELING VERY SLOWLY BACKWARDS OR VERY RARELY SLOWLY FORWARD AND I PRESS LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKES THEY GRAB AS THO I PRESSED HARD FOR AN EMERGENCY STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TIMES. THIS HAS YET TO OCCUR WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS ABOVE ABOUT 5 MPH. THIS OCCURS USUALLY WHEN BACKING AND USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. IF IT HAPPENS IT USUALLY HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES IN JUST ONE ATTEMPT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. *CN

BRAKES EITHER SLIP OR CAR LEAPS FORWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE ENGAGED AND CAR GOES OVER ROUGH OR SLIPPERY PAVEMENT OR A POTHOLE *TW

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSES BRAKE RESPONSE COMPLETELY AFTER HITTING ANY MEDIUM SIZED OR LARGER BUMP. HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK AND HAS RESULTED IN SLIDING AND HITTING A CURB ONCE. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD "THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS ISSUE AT THIS TIME" I WAS GIVEN THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE PHONE NUMBER AND WHEN I CALLED I WAS GREETED WITH A RECORDED VOICE SAYING "WE CANNOT TAKE YOUR CALL AT THIS TIME" "IF YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO A REPRESENTATIVE CALL BACK LATER" AND THEN HUNG UP ON. *CN

MY 2010 PRIUS HYBRID ACCELERATES FROM ELECTRIC TO FUEL MODE ON ITS OWN. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. TOYOTA SERVICEMEN STATES IT WILL OCCASIONALLY DO THAT DEPENDING ON THE MODE THE VEHICLE IS IN. I FIND IT TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AS I DO NOT HAVE CONTROL WHEN IT WILL HAPPENS. SERVICEMEN ALSO SAID THAT IS WHY THERE IS AN ALARM BEEPING TO LET DRIVER KNOW IT IS BACKING UP. THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THE ALRM IS NOT GOING TO CONTROL THE MODE THE VEHICLE IS IN. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE ALMOST HIT OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS WHEN BACKING UP. I NOW TRY NOT TO USE REVERSE TO AVOID A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF OTHER VEHICLES HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE GASOLINE ENGINE WAS ENGAGED IN ANY GEAR, INCLUDING THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE. HE ALSO STATED THAT UPON TURNING THE GASOLINE ENGINE OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD MOMENTARILY ROLL BACKWARDS. THIS WOULD OFTEN OCCUR WHILE ANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE WAS UTILIZED, TO INCLUDE THE HEATER, DEFROST AND RADIO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS IT WAS DESIGNED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,398.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V039000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE) AND HAD THE REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH OVER A UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. HAD THE RECALL DONE BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE AND THE DEALERS SAY THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. UPDATED 11/16/2011 *LN *TR

2010 THIRD GENERATION TOYOTA PRIUS. MY WIFE AND I ARE EXPERIENCING UNPREDICTABLE MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE AND SENSE OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS UNPREDICTABLY UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS SUCH AS UNEVEN PAVEMENT, POT HOLES OR PATCHES OF SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACE. THE LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE IS BRIEF, BUT THE RESULTING REENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKES CAN BE HARSH AND STARTLING AND HAS CREATED MOMENTS OF ERRATIC AND DANGEROUS CONTROL LAPSE. THIS PATTERN OF BRAKE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED BY MY GUESS GREATER THAN 20 TIMES SINCE OUR PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE APPROX 4 MONTHS AGO AND OVER THE COURSE OF 10,000 MILES SO FAR DRIVEN. OVER ALL WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS BRAKING UNPREDICTABILITY AND ABRUPT REENGAGEMENT WILL EVENTUALLY BE THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS III, PURCHASED IN JUNE 2009, AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. IF WHILE BRAKING I HAPPEN TO HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD MY BRAKES FAIL FOR A BRIEF MOMENT CAUSING THE CAR TO SPEED UP RATHER THAN SLOW DOWN. IN ORDER TO STOP THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION I HAVE TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN EVEN FURTHER WITH MORE PRESSURE AND/OR QUICKLY LIFT MY FOOT AND BRAKE AGAIN. THIS FAILURE HAPPENS FAIRLY CONSISTENTLY IF THE CONDITIONS ARE CORRECT. THE SIZE OF THE BUMP IN THE ROAD DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER AS THE BRAKE "FAILURE" HAS HAPPENED WITH EVERYTHING FROM A SMALL POTHOLE TO RAILROAD TRACKS. THE FAILURE SEEMS TO LAST ONLY A MATTER OF SECONDS, BUT IT'S ENOUGH TO POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY WHILE IN A HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATION. I DIDN'T START TO NOTICE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL CLOSE TO A MONTH INTO OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE BUT HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY AWARE OF IT EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS. I HAVE CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM DURING MY LATEST SERVICE APPOINTMENT ON 1/19/10 SINCE I EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WHILE ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT WITH TRAFFIC STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AT THE LIGHT. IT HAD BEEN RAINING AND THE PAVEMENT WAS WET. I BEGAN TO GENTLY BRAKE TO STOP WELL BEHIND THE STOPPED TRAFFIC AT THE LIGHT. I PASSED OVER SOME ROUGH/BUMPY ROAD AND THE BRAKES FAILED FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND AND THE CAR SHOT FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET. THE BRAKES THEN BEGAN WORKING AGAIN IN ABS MODE AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE STOPPED TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME BY ONLY 12 TO 24 INCHES. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THIS 2010 PRIUS IN NOVEMBER OF 2009. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES IN THE 3 MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE LOSS OF BRAKING CAUSES A SEVERE SENSE OF PANIC AND DISTRESS AND THE VEHICLE DOES SHOOT FORWARD FOR THAT SECOND OR SO. AND IN THE CASE NOTED ABOVE CAME VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT IS ONLY TIME BEFORE IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND HARM TO ME AND/OR OTHERS. TOYOTA HAS NOT OFFERED ANY REMEDY. THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTS AND HAVE KNOWN IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. COMMUNICATION FROM TOYOTA ABOUT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ALMOST NON-EXISTENT. *TR

MY 2010 PRIUS STALLED IN TRAFFIC CUTTING OFF ALL POWER INCLUDING EMERGENCY FLASHERS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART FOR 8 MINUTES. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER AND REPORTED MY PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH WHICH WAS IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED. *TR

ON OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN BRAKING ON A FAIRLY STEEP DOWNHILL ROAD, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

PURCHASED 2010 PRIUS IN SEPTEMBER 2009. IN JANUARY 2010 THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN BRAKING ON A SLIPPERY ROAD. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED BUT WE NOTED THE RISK IT REPRESENTED. *TR

AT 08:00 WHILE PARKED & IN READY MODE MY PRIUS V-AT SHIFTER WOULD NOT PHYSICALLY MOVE OUT OF PARK. *TR

BRAKES DID NOT WORK ON ICE. CAR WENT FORWARD ABOUT 15 FEET WITH NO BRAKE ACTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE WAS DRIVING 5 MPH SHE SLOWED DOWN AND APPLIED THE BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND IT LUNGED FORWARD. THIS HAPPEN TWICE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

I HAVE A 3RD GENERATION 2010 PRIUS. WHEN BRAKING, MY CAR LURCHES FORWARD WITH BRIEF SPURTS OF ACCELERATION IF I HIT A BUMP. THE BUMP OR POTHOLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE VERY BIG AND THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER IS FOR A SECOND OR TWO. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE GAS PEDAL. *TR

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL ISSUES WHEN BRAKING. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I AM BRAKING AND HIT A POTHOLE (OR ANY FORM OF DIP IN THE ROAD) MY CAR SEEMS TO LUNGE FORWARD (I.E., ACCELERATE) UNTIL THE TIRES ARE BACK ON LEVEL PAVEMENT. ONE OF THE MORE FRIGHTENING INCIDENTS OCCURRED THIS PAST JANUARY. IT WAS BELOW FREEZING OUTSIDE, BUT THERE HAD BEEN NO PRECIPITATION. HOWEVER, THERE WAS ONE AREA NEAR A RED LIGHT WHERE THE SPRINKLERS HAD BEEN LEFT ON OVERNIGHT. THIS AREA HAD TURNED INTO A SMALL SECTION OF ICE. I CAME UP TO THE INTERSECTION AND BEGAN TO BRAKE WHEN I HIT THIS SPOT. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO MALFUNCTION, BUT IT WASN'T AS IF I WAS SKIDDING ON THE ICE. RATHER, I COULD FEEL THE CAR LUNGING FORWARD AGAIN AS IT DOES WHEN IT HITS A POTHOLE. I HEARD ON NPR THAT OTHER PRIUS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES SO I WANTED TO LODGE A COMPLAINT TO ENSURE THAT THIS GETS THE PROPER ATTENTION. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS AND ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS I OBSERVED A BRIEF LACK OF BRAKING WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES. THE FIRST INCIDENT CAME AT A FREEWAY SPEED OF ABOUT 60 MPH AND I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES HARDER THAN NORMAL AS TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME WERE BRAKING DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. THE SECOND INCIDENT CAME IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA TRAVELING AT AROUND 35-40 MPH AND I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES HARD AS A VEHICLE TURNED ON RED IN FRONT OF ME. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE PAUSE MIRRORED THE DESCRIPTIONS THAT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN REPORTED IN THE MEDIA. THERE IS DEFINITELY A FLAW IN THE BRAKE DESIGN. *TR

BRAKES DID NOT IMMEDIATELY CATCH WHEN APPLIED AND CAUSED SLIGHT SKIDDING. *TR

I HAVE THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE NEWS RECENTLY. THE BRAKES SEEM TO FAIL BRIEFLY WHEN I'M STOPPING. IT SEEMS TO HAVE OCCURRED WHEN SLOWING ON TURNS WITH AN UNEVEN ROADWAY OR AN ICY SURFACE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT I HAD HIT AN ICY SPOT AND THE CAR SLID A BIT, BUT AFTER ABOUT THE 4TH OR 5TH TIME I REALIZED THAT WAS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. IT'S QUITE SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS, ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM IN A TURN AT THE TIME. IT MAY OF HAPPENED ON STRAIGHT ROADWAY ALSO. I CAN'T REMEMBER FOR SURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A NOISE AND VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. WITHIN MINUTES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY; ALTHOUGH, THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS. HE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NOR HAD HE SPOKEN TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,700. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,700.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN 10 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD HE LOST THE BRAKING POWER AND THE VEHICLE SURGED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800. UPDATED 02/19/10. *LJ

WHEN DRIVING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS THE CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO ACCELERATE FORWARD AS I AM HITTING THE BRAKES. I HAVE NOTICED THIS IS USUALLY AROUND POTHOLES OR ANY OTHER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IT HAPPENS PRETTY REGULARLY AND IT SCARES THE PANTS OFF ME; TO SAY THE LEAST. I HAVE FOUND NO RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA CONCERNING FIXING THIS PROBLEM AND AM WORRIED THAT WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS I'LL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MISTAKE. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS - WHEN BRAKING, IF YOU HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE IN THE ROAD, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD (ACCELERATES). YOU HAVE TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION FOR THIS OCCURRENCE OR YOU WILL REAR END SOMEONE. I HAS HAPPEN ABOUT 5 TIMES NOW. THIS SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRONICS ISSUE NOT A PEDAL PROBLEM. *TR

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DRIVES THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND TRAVELS OVER AND BUMP OR A POT HOLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WILL MOMENTARILY DISENGAGE AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5500. BML

I HAVE A NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT I BOUGHT IN DEC 2009. I DID EXPERIENCE SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS SIMILAR TO THE BRAKE PROBLEM NOW BEING INVESTIGATED - A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKE POWER WHILE GOING OVER A POTHOLED/BUMPY PATCH OF ROAD. IT WAS JUST FOR A MOMENT AND NO ACCIDENT RESULTED, BUT I AM WORRIED NOW THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT NOT HAVE JUST BEEN A RANDOM FLUKE. SEPARATELY, I HAD ANOTHER STRANGE INCIDENT WITH THE CAR. BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I HAD NOT YET HIT THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY JUMPED BACKWARDS AS THOUGH I HAD HIT THE GAS HARD. THE ONLY WAY PREVENT IT FROM BUCKING BACKWARDS WAS TO HIT THE BRAKE. I HAD TO SORT OF JOLT OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO IN BETWEEN OF NORMAL/SLOW ACCELERATION. ONCE I GOT OUT OF THE SPACE AND PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, IT WAS ACCELERATED NORMALLY. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS III WITH BRAKE ISSUES. SPORADICALLY, WHEN DRIVING BACKWARDS FROM A PARKED POSITION THE BRAKES BECOME INCREDIBLY SENSITIVE AND I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN FOR THEM TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. ON ABOUT 01/17/2010, AFTER A HEAVY RAIN, WHEN I WAS AGAIN PULLING BACKWARDS OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY MY BRAKES MADE A GRINDING SOUND AS IF THE PADS WERE GONE. MIND YOU I HAVE LESS THAN 9,000 MILES ON THE CAR. AGAIN, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND BACK ON TO FIX. HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IT HASN'T RAINED EITHER. *TR

I OWN 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2010. TWICE I HAVE ENCOUNTERED BRAKING PROBLEM. IN BRAKING FROM 40 MILES AN HOUR FOR TRAFFIC CONGESTION, I HAD TO RESORT TO LAST SECOND ADDITIONAL FOOT PRESSURE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. UNLIKE THE COMPLAINS I HAVE READ IN THE MEDIA, MY PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR DUE TO SLIPPERY ROAD OR ANY KIND OF BUMP. SIMPLY PUT, STOPPING REQUIRED UNUSUAL FOOT PRESSURE THAT I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED IN ANY PREVIOUS VEHICLE. *TR

VEHICLE PARKED ON A DOWNWARD SLOPE. VEHICLE STARTED AND PROCEEDED DOWN SLOPE...APPLIED BRAKE LIGHTLY, BUT VEHICLE BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING A SEVERE JERKING STOP MOTION...RELEASED BRAKE AND APPLIED AGAIN, AND IT CONTINUED AGAIN, HARD BRAKING, JERKING VEHICLE TO A STOP. NO CHANGE IN BRAKE PRESSURE SEEMED TO RESOLVE THIS HARD BRAKING, LOCKING UP EFFECT. ONLY AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MILES DID THE BRAKES RETURN TO NORMAL. *CN