2010 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

TOYOTA PRIUS 2010- CAR SURGED WHILE BRAKING TO A HALT. IT FELT AS THOUGH I HAD SUDDENLY LOST BRAKING POWER FOR A FEW MOMENTS, LIKE I HAD HIT AN ICE PATCH. BUT THE ROAD SURFACE WAS DRY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME, THE FIRST ABOUT A WEEK OR 10 DAYS AGO. CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 1/4, DELIVERED ON 1/8/2010. THE PROBLEM IS NOT REPRODUCIBLE, BUT BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS MOVING AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED (10 MPH OR LESS). *TR

THERE IS AN APPARENT MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. GOING OVER A RISE IN THE ROAD, OR BUMPS, AND BEGINNING A DESCENT TO AN INTERSECTION, PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS TO HAVE NO EFFECT FOR ABOUT 500MS. THIS SEEMS SOMEWHAT MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN THE ROAD IS WET, ALTHOUGH POSSIBLY THE EXPLANATION FOR THIS IS WE BRAKE EARLIER IN THE DESCENT AS A PRECAUTION IN LESS-THAN-IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES. WE HAVE MADE OUR LOCAL DEALER AWARE OF THIS AT THE 5K MILE SERVICE APPOINTMENT, AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED OTHER COMPLAINTS, AND CONTACT WITH TOYOTA. THEY REPORT THAT TOYOTA IS LOOKING IN TO A FIX. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABILITY TO BRAKE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WITH NO SAFETY MARGIN. THIS SEEMS REPRODUCIBLE. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN DECEMBER 2010. TWICE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS MY CAR HAS UNEXPECTEDLY LURCHED FORWARD AS I WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP AT A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED. SINCE IT WAS THE SAME SPEED BUMP BOTH TIMES, I REASON THAT IT MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE HEIGHT OF THE BUMP AND/OR MY ANGLE OF APPROACH. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BOTH TIMES. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I HAVE READ THE NEWS ARTICLES ABOUT OTHERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH 2010 PRIUS' AND THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW. I HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE VEHICLE OR THE ROAD SURFACE. *TR

SUDDEN BRAKE LOSS. WHEN BRAKING AND WHEN THE CAR IS AT LOW SPEED, IF THE CAR HITS A BUMP OR MANHOLE COVER OR SNOW, SUDDENLY THE BRAKES NO LONGER WORK. *TR THIS HAPPENS ONCE A WEEK. I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT 10 TIMES IN TWO MONTHS.

WHEN USING THE BRAKES, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY VEHICLE BRIEFLY LURCHED FORWARD. MOST OF THE TIME IT HAPPENS WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 15 TIMES OVER THE PAST 4 MONTHS. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS ANTI-LOCK BRAKING ISSUE HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN OUR 2010 PRIUS AS DESCRIBED IN MEDIA REPORTS. IT HAPPENS ON SLIPPERY SURFACES WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES KICK IN, THERE IS A SPLIT SECOND OF HESITATION BEFORE THEY DO. IT CAUSES A PRETTY GOOD ADRENALIN RUSH FOR THE DRIVER. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2010 PRIUS (WHICH WAS IN STOCK) ON JANUARY 8. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE BRAKE DELAY PROBLEM, I REALIZED THAT I HAD HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WAS TRAVELING AT MEDIUM SPEED WHEN I FELT THE CAR DIP, THEN SHUDDER. I FELT THAT I HAD LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIDING (AS THOUGH ON ICE). NOW I REALIZE THAT I MUST HAVE PUT ON MY BRAKES, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO PROCEED. I HAD NOT NOTICED ANY PROBLEM IN THE ROAD, AND NO REASON TO EXPLAIN THE SHUDDERING. IT WAS ALL VERY BRIEF. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE AT TOYOTA GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9. *CN

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY 2010 PRIUS HAS FAILED TO STOP IMMEDIATELY WHEN I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKE AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE ON ICE SURFACES AS WELL AS CLEAR SURFACES. THERE IS JUST A FRACTION OF A SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES TAKE HOLD. FORTUNATELY THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN AN ACCIDENT BUT IF I WERE TO HAVE HAD LESS SPACE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR AHEAD, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH. *CN

LOSS OF BRAKING POWER (WEAK BRAKING) WHEN ROLLING OVER BUMPS, POT HOLES AND EVEN CRACKS IN THE PAVEMENT. *TW

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ON A SNOW COVERED, ROUGH RESIDENTIAL STREET. WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY TO TURN AROUND TO GRAB A PARKING SPOT, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY COMPLETELY RELEASED AND I SLAMMED TO THE SNOW PILED AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE DRIVEWAY. THE FRONT BUMPER COVER GOT A HOLE PUNCHED INTO IT THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL FROM THE FROZEN SNOW. SINCE THEN THE BRAKES HAVE RELEASED WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT NOT WITHOUT CONCERN. I CALLED AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY TOYOTA DEALER AND HE ASKED "DO I HAVE AN ERROR SHOWING UP ON THE DASH SCREEN" AND I SAID "NO". I ASKED WAS THERE A NEW UPDATED PROGRAM AND HE SAID HE DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THEY DON'T HAVE A FIX ANYWAY. THIS WAS BEFORE THE CAR WAS RECALLED BY A COUPLE OF WEEKS BUT AFTER TOYOTA HAD STARTED LOADING A DIFFERENT PROGRAM ONTO THE CAR. ON FEB. 17, 2010 TOYOTA DID FLASH THE CAR'S COMPUTER TO FIX THE PROGRAM ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO HAVE THE FRONT BUMPER COVER REPAIRED. THANKS. *TR

MANY TIMES WHILE BRAKING, WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE OR BUMP, THE BRAKES GO OUT, CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. I FEEL A LOSS OF CONTROL, WHICH IS REGAINED A FEW SECONDS LATER. IT'S LED TO SEVERAL TERRIFYING SITUATIONS WHERE I'VE ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

2010 THIRD GENERATION PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM , LOSS OF CONTROL ON ROUGH OR SLIPPERY SURFACE. *TR

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS FOR 6 MONTHS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING NEARLY 10 TIMES: WHEN BRAKING, IF A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD IS HIT, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND. THIS RESULTS IN LESS CONTROL OVER WHERE THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE MOST UNNERVING INSTANCES OF THIS OCCUR WHEN APPROACHING THE END OF A ROAD OR A CROSSWALK. I NEARLY HIT A CHILD BECAUSE OF THIS UNPREDICTABLE REACTION TO A POTHOLE. ALSO, THE BRAKES ARE LESS EFFECTIVE IN SNOW THAN ANY OTHER CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN. NO MATTER HOW SLOW I'M GOING OR HOW HARD I HIT THE BRAKES, I'VE FOUND THAT I'M GUARANTEED TO SKID SEVERAL FEET, OFTENTIMES INTO INTERSECTIONS/TRAFFIC. PERHAPS UNRELATED TO THE POTHOLE ISSUE, BUT MAYBE NOT. BOTH ISSUES ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

WE OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND NOTICED THAT THE CAR "KICKS" A LITTLE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES LIGHTLY. WE DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AT FIRST BECAUSE WE LIVE IN CHICAGO AND THE STREETS ARE QUITE WEATHERED. WE THOUGHT THE "KICKS" WE FELT MIGHT BE THE CAR BUMPING ALONG UNEVEN ROADS. THANKFULLY, WE HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS. OTHER THAN THIS ISSUE, WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE CAR. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BOUGHT ON SEPT 28, 2009. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING THRICE "WHEN BRAKING, IF A POTHOLE IS HIT, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES ." THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT I WAS IMAGINING IT, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENED ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS AFTER THAT I REALIZED IT IS REAL. I AM EXTRA CAUTIOUS WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR COMPARED TO MY FAMILY'S OTHER CARS. IN NORMAL COURSE OF OPERATION THE BRAKES ARE WORKING FINE. *TR

I OWN A 2010 PRIUS, AND HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ACCELERATION ISSUE ON ABOUT 3-4 OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 2009. THE ISSUE I HAD WAS PERFECTLY DESCRIBED IN A RECENT ON-LINE ARTICLE FROM MONEY.CNN.COM ON FEB 3. HERE IS THE QUOTE - "THE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED VIA OUR DEALERS CENTER AROUND WHEN DRIVERS ARE ON A BUMPY ROAD OR FROZEN SURFACE," A TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. SPOKESMAN IN JAPAN, SAID. "THE DRIVER STEPS ON THE BRAKE AND THEY DO NOT GET AS FULL OF A BRAKING FEEL AS EXPECTED." THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED, AND IT ALSO SEEMS TO POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO THE SHIFT FROM GAS TO ELECTRIC WHICH OCCURS WHEN SLOWING DOWN. AFTER BRAKING, THERE IS A SUDDEN, BRIEF SURGE OF ACCELERATION. I HAVE NOT BROUGHT THIS INTO THE DEALER, BUT PLAN TO SOON. *TR

SUDDEN SURGE WHEN HITTING A BUMP AT MEDIUM SPEEDS. MY PRIUS IS NOW SIX MONTHS OLD WITH ABOUT 6,000 MILES ON IT AND I EXPERIENCE A SURGE IN ACCELERATION WHEN I HIT A BUMP AT ABOUT 20 MPH. I USED TO BE AN AUTO MECHANIC (20 YEARS AGO), SO I MAY BE A LITTLE MORE ATTUNED TO NARROWING THE PROBLEM THAN MOST PEOPLE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN THIS SURGE HAPPENS I AM LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKES (TOTALLY OFF THE ACCELERATOR). THIS SEEMS TO PARTICULARLY HAPPEN WHEN THE BUMP (LIKE A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD) IS UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING IS THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME NOR ON EVERY BUMP. I CAN TELL YOU THE FLOOR MAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT AND I DO NOT THINK THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT EITHER. MY SHADETREEMECHANIC'S DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THIS IS A SOFTWARE GLITCH THAT GETS ACTIVATED WHEN THE BRAKING SOLENOID IS BUMPED. *TR

MY 2010 PRIUS BRAKES BRIEFLY STOP WORKING WHEN I'M BRAKING WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT HOWEVER THIS CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY AND CAN BE RECREATED. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2010 PRIUS IN AUGUST 2009. SINCE THEN, MY WIFE HAS COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT HOW THE BRAKES SEEM TO STOP WORKING WHENEVER SHE IS BRAKING AND ENCOUNTERS A BUMP (LIKE A POTHOLE OR SPEED BUMP). I'VE NOTICED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES MYSELF .. IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AND YOU HAVE TO RELEASE THE PEDAL AND PUSH IT DOWN AGAIN TO RE-ENGAGE THE BRAKES. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVEN'T HIT ANYTHING, YET -- BUT IT IS A RECURRING ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE DRIVEN MY 2010 PRIUS FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS. WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED AND SLOWING THE CAR, THE BRAKE RELEASES AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS EVENT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TO 10 TIMES IN THE 8 MONTHS AND SEEMS TO OCCUR AT SLOWER SPEEDS LIKE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. *TR

EVENT OCCURS AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON AN ICY SURFACE. INITIALLY BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WORKING PROPERLY. THEN THE BRAKES APPEAR TO STOP WORKING FOR SPLIT SECOND. THERE IS A SENSE THAT THE CAR IS ACCELERATING, BUT I BELIEVE THE SENSATION IS CAUSED BY THE BRAKES NOT WORKING. AFTER A SPLIT SECOND THE BRAKES APPEAR TO WORK PROPERLY AGAIN. HAS ONLY OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS ON AN ICY SURFACE. THE CONCERN IS THAT THE REQUIRED STOPPING DISTANCE IS EXTENDED BEYOND EXPECTATIONS. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 10 TIMES THIS WINTER. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS SLIDING ON THE ICE. HOWEVER AFTER REPEATED OCCURRENCES, THE SENSATION IS NOT SLIDING. THE SENSATION IS THAT THE BRAKES HAVE STOPPED WORKING FOR A SPLIT SECOND. *TR

THREE TIMES WHEN BRAKING WITH MY 2010 PRIUS I HAVE MOMENTARILY LOST BRAKING POWER AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE OR A BUMP. THE CAR ENDED UP STOPPING SLIGHTLY PAST WHERE I HAD INTENDED TO BRAKE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING OVER A SMALL UTILITY ACCESS COVER IN THE ROAD, AT A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED, OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS MOMENTARILY LOST BRAKING POWER AND SEEMED TO ACCELERATE FOR A VERY BRIEF MOMENT. ALTHOUGH BRAKING POWER WAS REGAINED VERY QUICKLY, THIS WAS ALARMING SINCE THERE WAS A PEDESTRIAN IN THE CROSSWALK IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THIS HAS OCCURRED ONLY ONCE AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT, WE HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED UNUSUALLY SENSITIVE BRAKING WHILE IN REVERSE. THIS PROBLEM WAS ALLEVIATED BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN AGAIN INTO REVERSE. THE PROBLEM WHILE IN REVERSE HAS OCCURRED TWICE AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT. THIS IS MY 3RD TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE FIRST WITH ANY BRAKING ISSUES. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 2500 MILES ON IT NOW AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 1500 AT THE TIME OF THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE PROBLEM. BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY PARTICULARLY IN SNOWY DAY. *TR

2010 PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM: WHEN BRAKING AND VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS A BUMP IN THE ROAD VEHICLE ACCELERATES AND SURGES FORWARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROX 15-20 OCCASIONS. FORTUNATELY WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY. REPORTED TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THIS WAS "NORMAL". *JB

MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 (5000 MILES) FEW TIMES ALREADY HAS AN "ACCELERATOR THAT GOES WILD", BUT LUCKILY FOR ME, I CAN HIT THE BRAKES. IT HAPPENED ONLY WHEN I DRIVE BACK FROM MY GARAGE. *JB

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IV HIT SOME ROUGH ROAD AND BEGAN TO SURGE/ACCELERATE EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I PRESSED HARDER UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE RE-ENGAGED. THIS HAS HAPPENED UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES (ROUGH ROAD) THREE TIMES SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR SEPT 15, 2009. *JB

WHEN DRIVING I SOMETIMES MOMENTARILY FEEL A PAUSE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF MY NEW PRIUS. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON A CERTAIN STREET AT A FAIRLY HIGH SPEED. WHILE I AM BRAKING MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE GOES THROUGH A POTHOLE WHILE MY FRONT LEFT TIRE REMAINS ON FLAT TARMAC. AS MY FRONT TIRE COMES OUT OF THE POTHOLE I FEEL AS IF THE BRAKES STOP WORKING FOR HALF A SECOND AND THEN THEY START WORKING AGAIN. I ESTIMATE THAT I AM DRIVING THROUGH THE POTHOLE AROUND 20-30 MILES AN HOUR. I DRIVE THIS WAY EVERY DAY FROM MY WORK TO HOUSE AND I AM ALWAYS BRAKING ON THIS STRETCH OF ROAD AS I TURN A CORNER RIGHT AFTER THE POTHOLE. THERE IS A TRAFFIC LIGHT RIGHT AFTER THE POTHOLE SO WHENEVER THE LIGHT IS GREEN AS I APPROACH THE POTHOLE THIS HAPPENS TO ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AROUND 50 TIMES - EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY NEW PRIUS IN SEPTEMBER 2009. *JB

2010 PRIUS BRAKE APPLIED IN ZERO TEMPERATURE WEATHER APPROACHING A RED LIGHT ON SLIGHT DOWN SLOPING ROAD COVERED IN ICE/SNOW. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED AS WOULD NORMALLY BE APPLIED (MAYBE APPROX 1/3 - 1/2 BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL) AND THERE WAS NO APPLIED BRAKING. THE CAR KEPT ROLLING FORWARD TO WHERE I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION TO CONTINUE ROLLING WITH A RIGHT TURN INTO THE INTERSECTION AND CONTINUE TRAVEL. LUCKILY THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS FAR ENOUGH AWAY TO NOT CRASH INTO ME. I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS, ENOUGH TRAVEL TIME TO FORCE ME TO MAKE A DECISION THAT I NEEDED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS SAME TYPE OF SCENARIO OCCURRED ON AN EXIT OFF OF AN INTERSTATE RAMP DOWN ANOTHER DOWN SLOPE WITH ICE/SNOW THAT AGAIN WHEN THE BRAKES WHERE APPLIED, THE REGENERATIVE ENGINE BRAKE APPLIED, BUT WHEN THE ABS WENT TO ENGAGE DUE TO THE SLIPPERY SURFACE, THERE WAS A 1-2 SECOND DURATION OF SENSATION OF NO BRAKES. PUSHING PEDAL FURTHER (OR JUST WAITING THE 1-2 SECOND DELAY) SEEMED TO EVENTUALLY APPLY BRAKES. I AM A SYSTEMS/TEST ENGINEER THAT PERFORMS NUMEROUS WORK ON COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY AIRCRAFT AND I NOW KNOW HOW TO ANTICIPATE THIS SITUATION FOR MYSELF (I.E., I AM MORE CAREFUL ON BRAKING EARLIER ESPECIALLY ON SLIPPERY SURFACES MORE THAN NORMAL DISTANCE FROM MY OTHER HONDA VEHICLES ON SAME TYPE OF SURFACES TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS POSSIBLE 1-2 DELAY TIME IN BRAKING); HOWEVER, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR MY WIFE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS I DO OR SAME TECHNICAL FEELING OF WHAT THIS VEHICLE IS DOING. AGAIN, IF THE TRAFFIC ON THAT ONE INTERSECTION WAS CLOSER TO ME THAN IT WAS, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. I HAVE YET TO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE ON SOLID ROADS OVER BUMPY SURFACES. WITH TODAY'S TOYOTA REVELATION THAT THE JAN 2010 PRIUS HAS A FIX FOR THIS, I DEMAND TO HAVE THIS SAME FIX APPLIED TO MY THREE MONTH OLD 2010 PRIUS. *JB

I BOUGHT A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN AUGUST 2009. AFTER HEARING ON THE RADIO AND TV THIS WEEK ABOUT OTHER BUYERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME BRAKING ISSUE I HAVE BEEN OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENCING, I DECIDED TO LET YOU KNOW IT'S HAPPENING TO ME TOO. NAMELY, THERE IS A MOMENT WHEN I AM BRAKING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 15-25 MPH, IN PREPARATION TO SLOW DOWN FOR A RIGHT TURN AT ONE PARTICULAR INTERSECTION--IT HAS A LARGE POTHOLE. IF I ROLL OVER THE POTHOLE WITH MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE, THE CAR SEEMS TO SPEED UP FOR A FEW SECONDS--INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN--AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT APPLYING MORE BRAKE PRESSURE CAN DO. SOMETIMES I'VE NOTICED THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO SLOW DOWN ON A PATCH OF BLACK ICE, BUT THAT SEEMS TYPICAL OF THE DIFFICULTY OF BRAKING ON BLACK ICE. THE POTHOLE ISSUE HAPPENS INVARIABLY AT THAT PARTICULAR POTHOLE, SO I HAVE HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID ROLLING OVER IT. THERE ARE OTHER POTHOLES THAT I'VE NOTICED CAN CAUSE ME THIS PROBLEM, BUT NONE WITH SUCH FREQUENCY AS THAT. THE GROUND IS LEVEL THERE, SO IT'S NOT A DOWNHILL PROBLEM. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR TOYOTA 2010 PRIUS V MODEL IN JANUARY 9, 2010. DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING WE NOTICED THAT IF WE APPLY BRAKE WHILE TURNING LEFT IT WILL SKIT FORWARD JUST MISSING THE DITCH IN OUR DRIVE WAY OR OFF SHOOTING IN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CROSSING THE MEDIAN. THESE INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THE DEALER TECH INFORMED US THAT PRIUS IS NOT IN RECALL AND WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE THEY DO NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WELL, WE SAID THAT IT DOES NOT APPEAR EVERY TIME BUT IT DOES VERY OFTEN. THEIR EXPLANATION WAS THAT IT MAY BE BECAUSE OF THE SNOW AS IT IS WINTER AND BEING MICHIGAN ROADS NOT CLEARED ON TIME. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 - I HAVE EXPERIENCED IRREGULARITIES WITH MY BRAKES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON DECEMBER 28, 2009. I ATTRIBUTED IT TO MY LACK OF EXPERIENCE DRIVING A CAR WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. HOWEVER, I NOW BELIEVE THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION OF PRIUS BRAKES. TWO THINGS HAPPEN: (1) SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I PLACE MY FOOT ON BRAKE TOO HARD, THE CAR PROPELS FORWARD, (2) UNDER SLICK CONDITIONS AND I PRESS THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES TAKE TOO LONG TO RESPOND AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS LOOSING BRAKING POWER FOR SHORT PERIOD OVER A BUMP. CAN REPEAT IT CONSISTENTLY OVER THE SAME AREA ON THE STREET VERY CLOSE TO MY WORKING PLACE. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS: AFTER TURNING CAR ON, TAKING EMERGENCY BRAKE OFF, FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED, SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE, THE CAR WILL BEGIN TO MOVE ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ME TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE. HAVE TO SHIFT IT BACK TO PARK AND TURN IT OFF FOR IT TO STOP. TOYOTA SERVICE SAID "THIS IS NORMAL". HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES, MOST RECENT JAN 15TH. ALL ON LEVEL SURFACES. ONLY HAPPENS IF CAR IS ON IN ELECTRIC MODE ONLY, NOT WITH THE ENGINE ON. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS. ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS, IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THE FOLLOWING HAS OCCURRED. WHEN I AM TRAVELING AND I APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO ACCELERATE. NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT DOES NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP THE VEHICLE. IT ACTUALLY BEGINS TO SPEEDS UP WHILE MY FOOT IS PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ACCELERATION HAS ONLY LASTED APPROXIMATELY 5-6 SECONDS. HOWEVER, IT IS VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND TRYING TO SLOW DOWN ESPECIALLY OFF A FREEWAY OFF RAMP. THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO AT THAT TIME IS ACCELERATE EVEN IF IT IS MOMENTARILY. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN VARIOUS PLACES. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE I AM GETTING OFF OF THE FREEWAY AND ON CITY STREETS. THERE WAS NOTHING I DID IN PARTICULAR THAT CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE PRIUS JUST STOPPED ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. *TR

I HAVE HAD 3 INCIDENTS IN THE LAST 8 MONTHS WITH MY 2010 PRIUS WHERE WHEN BRAKING THERE IS A SLIGHT ACCELERATION BEFORE THE BRAKES GET IN. IN ALL CASES I WAS DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS (30MPH) ON A FLAT SURFACE. IT EVENTUALLY BRAKES OK, BUT IT IS VERY NERVE WRACKING. *TR

BRAKE PROBLEM WITH MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR BUT DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS SUCH A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM. ONE OUT OF EVERY 500 TIMES I PUSH ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR WILL FIRST LUNGE FORWARD FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THEN BEGIN TO DECELERATE. IT IS A VERY CLEAR JOLT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FIRST DEPRESSED. *TR

I HAVE NOTICED ON A FEW OCCASIONS THAT MY 2010 PRIUS LURCHES FORWARD FOR A BRIEF SECOND IN THE MIDDLE OF BRAKING AT A STOP SIGN. I HAVE NOTICED THIS HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY, BUT WAS MORE FREQUENT IN THE LAST MONTH, ABOUT 3 TIMES. I MADE A WRITTEN COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA SERVICE A WEEK AGO, BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL. HOWEVER, I JUST READ IN THE NEWS ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH BRAKING IN THIS MODEL CAR AND AM ALARMED AND THOUGHT I SHOULD MAKE A NOTE OF MY OBSERVATION TO NHTSA. I WILL CALL TOYOTA SERVICE AGAIN TO HAVE THEM TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT MY CAR. THANKS *TR

I OWN A 2010 PRIUS PURCHASED AROUND SEPT. 2009. A FEW WEEKS AFTER WE GOT THE VEHICLE, MY WIFE AND I INDEPENDENTLY BOTH EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE CAR WENT OVER A BUMP. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. STEPPING ON THE BRAKE DID SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE LAST TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS WAS 2-3 WEEKS AGO. I DID ASK THE DEALER SHORTLY AFTER THE INITIAL INCIDENT IF HE HAD HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND HE SAID NO. I HAVE NOT SINCE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. WE HAVE NOTICED THIS ONLY WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER A BUMP.*TR

LACK OF BRAKING WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. IN MY CASE, THERE IS A BUMPY SECTION OF ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE INTERSECTION OF SHILOH RD AND FM 1171 IN FLOWER MOUND, TX. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME I BRAKE AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THAT INTERSECTION. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2010 PRIUS IN LATE DECEMBER AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET, WHICH HAD SOME POTHOLES ON IT. I COULD SEE A POTHOLE AHEAD OF ME. ANOTHER CAR WAS COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, WHICH PROHIBITED ME FROM AVOIDING THE POTHOLE. I THEREFORE BRAKED SLOWLY AND CAME ALMOST TO A FULL STOP AS I WENT OVER THE POTHOLE. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE DURING THIS ENTIRE EPISODE, BUT AS I WENT OVER THE POTHOLE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR HIT ANYTHING, THE REACTION OF THE CAR WAS VERY UNUSUAL. SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OCCASIONS WHEN I HAVE BEEN AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT HAS FELT AS IF THE CAR WERE ABOUT TO MOVE AHEAD, DESPITE MY FOOT BEING ON THE BRAKE; IT HAS FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE THAN NORMAL TO THE BRAKE IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKE MECHANISM TO WORK PROPERLY. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 - BREAKS FAILED TO STOP CAR ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS DURING THE PAST MONTH. EACH OCCURRENCE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION (ROADS EACH TIME WERE PLOWED FOR SNOW, BUT STILL A BIT SLICK). THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED DUE TO THE VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN, BUT STILL NOT BREAKING. ONE OCCURRENCE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION WHERE THE CAR DID NOT BREAK AT A RED LIGHT AND I QUICKLY TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO PROCEED ONTO A SIDE ROAD. I HAVE CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED LAST FALL), AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *CN

I HAVE OWNED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS. DURING THAT TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (6-8 TIMES) A FEELING THAT THE CAR IS ACTUALLY LURCHING FORWARD WHILE I AM DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT AND APPLYING THE BRAKE. IN MY CASE THE LURCHING OF THE CAR HAPPENS ONLY WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN. IT IS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU'RE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND YOUR CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF. THE SENSATION LASTS FOR A SECOND OR TWO NEVERTHELESS IT'S STILL AS I SAID FRIGHTENING. WHEN I FIRST MENTIONED IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER THE RESPONSE WAS THAT IT'S THE ABS BRAKES AND IT'S NORMAL. *TW

REGARDING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS I PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2009: SOMETIMES ON ICY, SNOWY STREETS THERE HAS BEEN A DELAY AFTER I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE. THE CAR HAS JUST SKIDDED AT FIRST. THIS DELAY IN BRAKING HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHEN I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKES ON BUMPY SURFACES. TOTAL INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN FIVE--THREE ON ICE, TWO ON BUMPY SURFACES. *TW *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKES ON MY 2010 PRIUS NUMEROUS TIMES UNDER VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. ALL OF THE INSTANCES OCCURRED AT FAIRLY LOW SPEEDS AND I CONSIDERED IT MORE OF A NUISANCE OR " NATURE OF THE BEAST " THAN ANYTHING ELSE. ONCE WAS ON A LEVEL, DRY, RESIDENTIAL ROAD APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. ANOTHER HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES AT THE SAME SPOT (A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET - MY ROUTE HOME FROM WORK ). AND A COUPLE OF TIMES ON SNOW COVERED ROADS ( I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THOSE WERE VERY SHORT SKIDS BEFORE THE ABS ENGAGED) *TW

WE HAVE TWICE EXPERIENCED A BRAKE CUT-OUT, WHERE WE ARE COMING TO A STOP SIGN WITH FOOT ON BRAKE AND HIT A BUMP/POT HOLE AND THE CAR LURCHES AHEAD AS THOUGH WE HAVE TEMPORARILY REMOVED OUR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T. *TW

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, PURCHASED 12/28/09, HAS BRIEFLY LURCHED FORWARD ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN I WAS BRAKING AND CROSSED A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I AM REPORTING ONE DATE BELOW, BUT THE BRIEF BRAKE FAILURE HAS RECURRED REPEATEDLY, ALWAYS AT THE SAME SPOT ON THE ROAD.

WE OWN A 2010 PRIUS. ALTHOUGH THE HESITATION IN THE BRAKING HAS BEEN AT ISSUE, WE QUICKLY LEARNED TO OVERCOME THE HESITATION. OF MORE CONCERN FOR US IS THE INABILITY TO STEER THE CAR ON WET OR SMOOTH SURFACES. WHEN ON WATER OR SNOW THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE COMPUTER AND THE STEERING WHEEL. WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND ALL STEERING CEASES. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. IF YOU LOOK ON EDMUNDS.COM AND PRIUS CHAT.COM YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR PRIUS OWNERS AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE A DEADLY PROBLEM IF IT HASN'T BEEN ALREADY. A CAR THAT DOESN'T STEER OR BRAKE IS A DEADLY COMBINATION. *TR

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL SOMETIMES JUMP FORWARD OR BACKWARDS WHEN YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS FOR A SPLIT SECOND. CONCERNS ME IF IT IS SAFE. IT HAS DONE IT 5 OR 6 TIMES. *TR

ON TWO DISTINCT OCCASIONS OUR 2010 PRIUS BRAKES APPEARED TO DISENGAGE WITH THE CAR CONTINUING FORWARD WITHOUT SLOWING. THIS OCCURRED REGARDLESS OF HOW HARD THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED. THIS IS NOT RELATED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IN EACH INSTANCE, OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY INSISTED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *TR