2010 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE AND MY BRAKES TEMPORARILY QUIT WORKING. 2010 PRIUS. *TR

TOYOTA-PRIUS HYBRID-2010 BRAKING PROBLEM. I HAVE EXPERIENCE A BRAKING PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE BRAKING PROBLEM RESULTS ONLY WHEN IN A PANIC STOP (WHEN ABS IS ACTIVE). I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT THE BRAKE IS RELEASING FOR A SECOND WHILE THE ABS COMPUTER IS TAKING OVER CONTROL OF THE BRAKING. THIS CAUSE WHAT SEEMS TO THE DRIVE AS A SLIP. WHERE THE DRIVE FEELS THE BRAKE RELEASE AND A SECOND LATER THE ABS KICKS IN AND STOPS THE CAR. I HAVE FELT THIS BRAKE RELEASE THREE TIMES IN THE FEW MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AND MOST TIMES WHEN TURNING RIGHT INTO A DRIVEWAY. *TR

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING ISSUES, WHEN BRAKING, IF A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD IS HIT, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THE TRACTION LIGHT BLINKS. EVEN WHEN THERE ARE NO BUMPS, THERE IS A LAG IN THE TIME I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND WHEN THE BRAKES ACTIVATE. THE CAR ALMOST COASTS FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS, WHICH CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN AN ACCIDENT OR NOT. *TR

BRAKING FAILURE ON 2010 PRIUS ON ROUGH OR UNEVEN DRIVING SURFACES. NO FIX HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED OR MADE. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM IN THE 2010 PRIUS. *TR

CONFIRMATION OF BRAKE ISSUE WITH PRIUS. CAR BRIEFLY ACCELERATES ON ROUGH PATCHES OR GOING OVER POTHOLES WHEN USING BRAKE. NO ACCIDENTS. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS, WHICH HAS EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE DELAY PROBLEM THAT I READ ABOUT IN THE NEWS TODAY. IT HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2009. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW IMMEDIATELY. EACH TIME THERE WAS A MOMENTARY DELAY, WHICH FRIGHTENED ME. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS III -- BRAKE PROBLEM, SIMILAR TO THAT DESCRIBED IN NEWS RELEASE OF 4FEB10. CAR MOMENTARILY ACCELERATES WHENEVER HITTING BUMP, EVEN THOUGH BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED. ONGOING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. *TR

AS OWNER OF A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ABOUT 10,000 MILES ON IT, MY WIFE (THE REGULAR DRIVER) AND MYSELF HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ANOMALY IN BRAKE OPERATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. EACH OCCASION INVOLVES EITHER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING OR BEING ON WET PAVEMENT WHILE BRAKING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IF FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES RELEASE FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND (CREATING A SHORT SENSATION OF ACCELERATION) AND THEN RESUME OPERATION. I DON'T THINK THE CAR IS ACTUALLY ACCELERATING IN THAT MOMENT. MY THEORY IS THAT WHILE BRAKING, A SINGLE WHEEL LOOSES TRACTION (AND PERHAPS MOMENTARILY STOPS) AND THEN THE SYSTEM RELEASES ALL WHEELS FOR A MOMENT BEFORE REGULAR BRAKING RESUMES. THE FACT THAT YOU ARE SITTING IN THE CAR WITH YOUR FOOT APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE MAKES THIS VERY ATTENTION GETTING. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE GETTING THE CAR LAST AUGUST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 15 MPH OVER A POTHOLE, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND RESET THEMSELVES WITHIN MINUTES WITHOUT HAVING TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2200.

I OWN A 2010 PRIUS. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR, SOMETIMES THE BRAKE STOPS WORKING. IF I THEN QUICKLY TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND REAPPLY, IT WORKS AGAIN AND THE CAR STOPS. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE DECEMBER 2009. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE APPROACHING A DRIVEWAY AT SPEEDS UNDER 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE BRAKES FAILED MOMENTARILY. WITHIN SECONDS THE BRAKES BECAME TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT IS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 200.

WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP OR HIT A SIGNIFICANT POTHOLE, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS SEEMS TO FREEZE UP. I AM UNABLE TO USE THE BRAKES PROPERLY AND IT FEELS LIKE I DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OF MY CAR FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATES AFTER HITTING POTHOLES. CANNOT SLOW VEHICLE AS BRAKES DON'T WORK IMMEDIATELY. THIS PROBLEMS IS RANDOM AND DOES NOT OCCUR ON A REGULAR BASIS. *TR

AROUND THE FIRST OF JANUARY, 2010, WE HAD TURNED INTO THE DRIVE OF OUR HOME IN GRENADA, MS. AS THE DRIVE CURVES IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE IT IS BORDERED BY A BRICK RETAINING WALL. WE WERE GOING SLOWLY AND INTENDED TO APPLY THE BRAKE. INSTEAD OF SLOWING THE 2010 PRIUS SPEED UP AND STRUCK THE WALL. THE RESULTING DAMAGE WAS BETWEEN $4500 AND $5000. I ASSUMED WE HAD MISTAKENLY USED THE ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. I STILL BELIEVE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED. HOWEVER, WITH THE ISSUES AROUND THE PRIUS, I WANTED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO INJURY AND THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED WITH INSURANCE PROCEEDS. I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION IF YOU LIKE. *TR

EXPERIENCED EXACT SAME TEMPORARY LOSS OF BRAKING AFTER DRIVING OVER BUMPS, POT HOLE AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY SINCE FIRST DAYS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR

WHILE ENGAGING THE BRAKE, BRAKES SEEM TO RELEASE FOR 1 SEC WHILE HOLDING DOWN BRAKE WHILE HITTING BUMP OR WHENEVER TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS ENGAGED. *TR

WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE IS SLIPPERY AND/OR UNEVEN (I.E, POTHOLE IS BEGINNING TO FORM), MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS "SURGED" OR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER 30 MPH, FOR NO APPARENT REASON OTHER THAN COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE BUMPY/SLICK ROAD SURFACE. THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESPONDS TO BRAKING AND HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 5-8 TIMES, WITH MORE FREQUENCY SINCE THE RAINY WEATHER BEGAN. THIS IS FRIGHTENING FOR A FEW BRIEF SECONDS, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AS A CONSEQUENCE, I TRY TO AVOID UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES BUT IN HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS WHEN THE ROAD IS COVERED WITH WATER, POT HOLES AND BRAKES IN THE BLACKTOP ARE NOT AS EASILY VISIBLE AND ONCE I SWERVED TO MISS IT BY MOVING INTO THE NEXT LANE A LITTLE BIT AND A BIG TRUCK WAS MERGING INTO THE SAME LANE AT THE SAME TIME AND BLEW HIS HORN SO HARD IT SCARED ME EVEN MORE SO THAT I SWERVED BACK INTO MY LANE, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I PLAN TO CONTACT MY DEALER TODAY ABOUT THIS ACCELERATION DEFECT. *TR

MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. *CN

USING CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE,WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE FOR SPLIT SECOND THE CAR SPEEDS UP BEFORE DISENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL THIS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME NOT ON JUST THE DATE BELOW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE WHILE WEARING SUN GLASSES HE STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1000. UPDATED 3/24/10 *CN UPDATED 05/10/10*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. HE STATED WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES OR SPEED BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE WOULD MOMENTARILY LOSE BRAKING POWER. ALSO, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL OVER ANY TYPE OF UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE MOMENTARILY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED A SECOND TIME WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, HOWEVER DID NOT HAVE AN EXPLANATION OR A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED A THIRD TIME WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE VEHICLE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 10V039000:SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE) AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO PERFORM THE RECALL SERVICE. AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000 AND THE CURRENT IS 7600.

TL* CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN RECENTLY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AND THE FAILURE CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, AND IT IS WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE REPAIR WAS DONE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ROAD IS WET HE LIGHTLY DEPRESSES THE BRAKE AND IT FEELS AS IF HIS VEHICLE ACCELERATES INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THE FAILURE HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20MPH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND HE LEFT A MESSAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT IS A 5,200. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ

WHEN STANDING STILL , THE BRAKE PEDAL CAN BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR, EXTREMELY SPONGY FEEL . TOYOTA SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. WHEN THE BRAKES FAIL DUE TO SOFTWARE ERROR ( RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED TODAY FINALLY ) I CAN ALSO EASILY PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. I DO NOT LIKE THIS FEELING HOPEFULLY THE RECALL WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS . VISIBILITY IS TERRIBLE DUE TO THE ROOF SUPPORTS, ARE PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS UP, WE CAN NOT SEE ,TO RETURN TO THE RIGHT LANE AFTER PASSING. *TR

WHEN BRAKING, IF A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD IS HIT, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND. THIS HAPPENS ON ALMOST A DAILY BASIS AND HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY ALL DRIVERS OF THE CAR. *TR

WHILE ACCELERATING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN SIGNAL (SPEED APPX 30MPH) I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO A REASONABLE SPEED TO SAFELY MAKE THE TURN, THE CAR SLOWED, I BEGAN THE TURN BUT MID- TURN WITH MY FOOT STILL DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR MADE A 1 ' 2 SECOND ACCELERATION. *TR

1. APPLYING BRAKES NORMALLY, BUT DURING BRAKING HIT A BUMP, OR A SEAM IN THE ROAD, OR WET PAVEMENT, OR SMALL PATCH OF ICE. 2. ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN, HOWEVER APPEARS TO KICK IN TOO AGGRESSIVELY AND ALL BRAKING FORCE SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR WHILE CAR FEELS AS IF IT IS ACCELERATING. MAINTAINING BRAKE FORCE OR RE APPLYING BRAKE EVENTUALLY BRINGS CAR TO HALT. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THIS. NO WARNING LAMPS ARE LIT, ETC. I WILL CALL TOYOTA TOMORROW. HAVE OWNED CAR SINCE NEW, ABOUT 6 MONTHS, AND THIS SCENARIO HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES NOW. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS (PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2009). I HAVE NOTICED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY DON'T WORK AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP. I FEEL A LOSE OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR

WITH OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, MY WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE SLID INTO A SNOW BANK WITHIN 1 BLOCK OF OUR HOME. JUST PRIOR TO THIS, I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKE DID NOT SEEM TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I USED TO WORK FOR GENERAL MOTORS IN MICHIGAN AND KNOW THE SOUND THAT COMES FROM WORKING ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES USED TO WORK EARLIER IN 2009...I HAD TO STOP ON A WET PAINT STRIPE AND THE ANTI-LOCKS MADE THE DISTINCTIVE RATCHETING SOUND. IN DECEMBER 2009, THAT SOUND AND THE LOSS OF BRAKING TRACTION WAS EVIDENT. NOT UNTIL I SEE THAT THERE IS NEWS IN THE MEDIA RECENTLY ABOUT THE PRIUS DID I THINK TO LODGE A COMPLAINT. THIS ACCIDENT CAUSED ME (AND MY INSURER) $1,024 IN DAMAGE TO OUR FRONT BUMPER. *TR

WE PURCHASED NEW 2010 PRIUS AT THE END OF LAST SEPTEMBER IN 2009. BOTH OF US HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF "LOSING CONTROL" OF THE CAR WHILE BRAKING ON ICY ROADS. MY FIRST EXPERIENCE HAPPENED DURING OUR FIRST BIG SNOW FALL. I WAS APPROACHING THE ENTRANCE RAMP TO AN EXPRESS WAY AND HAD TO APPLY THE BREAKS WHEN A CAR INFRONT OF ME BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND SLIDE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RAMP. AS I APPLIED THE BREAKS, THE CAR BEGAN A SERIES OF QUICK FORWARD JERKS ASSOCIATED WITH KNOCKING SOUNDS. I ALSO HEARD A SLIGHT CHANGE IN HOW THE ENGINE SOUNDED. FORTUNATELY, I ESCAPED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT SINCE MY PRIUS DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT BEFORE CONTROL WAS REESTABLISHED. IT WAS FRIGHTENING. THIS IS THE FIRST CAR I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS AN ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. I ASSUMED THAT IS WHY I EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND WHY IT FELT SO UNCOMFORTABLE. WHEN I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT, I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE CAR TO AN OPEN AREA AND PRACTICE USING THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO GET USED TO IT. SINCE THEN, MY HUSBAND HAS HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE CAR ON ICY ROADS. HE TELLS ME THAT THE "JERKING" AND THE KNOCKING SOUND IS NOT PART OF A NORMAL ANTI LOCK BREAKING SYSTEM. THIS IS WHY I AM REPORTING OUR EXPERIENCE TO THE U.S. NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU. *TR

1. I WAS DRIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA ON CITY ROADS. IN BOTH EVENTS, I WAS BRAKING TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF DRIVING OVER POTHOLES OR UNEVEN PAVEMENT (HOLES THAT WERE RECENTLY FILLED WITH ASPHALT) SEEN AHEAD. 2. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THERE WAS A BRIEF, MOMENTARY SURGE IN POWER FOLLOWED BY NORMAL BRAKING. ON ONE OCCASION, A PASSENGER RIDING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ALSO NOTICED THE SURGE AND COMMENTED ON IT. 3. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN SO FAR. AWAITING NEWS ON A POSSIBLE RECALL AND INSTRUCTIONS FROM CAR MARKER ON CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN. *TW

WHEN I BRAKE MY PRIUS WHERE THE SURFACE IS VERY ROUGH OR BROKEN, THE BRAKES SEEM TO ENGAGE INITIALLY BUT THEN RELEASE. I HAVE TO PRESS DOWN AGAIN VERY HARD TO GET THEM TO ENGAGE TO THE POINT OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE. YESTERDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE COMPLETING LONG SLOW BRAKING AT THE BOTTOM OF A STEEP HILL, I ENCOUNTERED SOME ROUGH PAVEMENT JUST BEFORE THE STOP SIGN AND SUDDENLY THE BRAKES SEEMED TO RELEASE. WHEN I FORCEFULLY PRESSED THEM AGAIN, THEY RE-ENGAGED AND STOPPED THE CAR, BUT NOT BEFORE IT HAD NOSED INTO THE INTERSECTION. *TR

I BOUGHT TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 IN EARLY DECEMBER 2009 AND HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES BRAKE PROBLEM. I BASICALLY CAN'T MAKE MY CAR STOP EFFECTIVELY WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE. IT IS WORSE WHEN YOU DRIVE FAST OR IN A SNOWY OR ICY DAYS. NOW I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN WAY BEFORE THE STOP SIGN SO I CAN AVOID THE BRAKE PROBLEM, AND I WOULDN'T LET ANYONE ELSE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE FEAR OF CAR ACCIDENT. *TR

SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 PRIUS ONLY TO FEEL THE CAR CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT ANY FEELING OF BRAKE ENGAGEMENT... THIS WOULD LAST ONLY A SHORT TIME... PERHAPS A SECOND... THIS OCCURRED WHEN TRYING TO STOP ON BUMPY ROADWAY. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2010. ON THREE OCCASIONS ON ICE AND/OR SNOWY ROADS THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE CAR SAFELY. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE CAR CAME DOWN THE BRICK STREET AND INTO THE CROSS STREET. FORTUNATELY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. FIRST TIME IN DEC. 2009, TWICE IN JAN. 2010. *TR

I OWN A 2010 PRIUS THAT I PURCHASED IN AUGUST, WHICH HAS BETWEEN 4 AND 5 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEALING FOR ABOUT A MONTH, INTERMITTENTLY BUT FAIRLY OFTEN (SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS). ALSO, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT ("SLIPPERY" WARNING) SOMETIMES BEEPS/FLASHES EVEN WHEN I AM SITTING STILL ON DRY LEVEL PAVEMENT, ESPECIALLY IF I DEPRESS THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCED ANY LIFE OR PROPERTY LOSS AS A RESULT AND AM PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION ON A PURELY FYI BASIS AS YOU TRY TO FIGURE OUT ISSUES WITH 2010 PRIUS BRAKES. (THE ISSUES AS I UNDERSTAND THEM DO NOT SEEM TO EXCEED THE NORMAL RISKS OF DRIVING, SO I DON'T PLAN TO DO ANYTHING EXCEPT MENTION IT AT THE 5K CHECKUP, UNLESS I HEAR OTHERWISE IN THE NEWS.) *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER SHE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES CEASE TO WORK PERIODICALLY WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR A POT HOLE. THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD AS THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED WHENEVER SHE HITS A BUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND CONTACT WAS TOLD IT WAS HER IMAGINATION AND NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED FROM THE DAY OF PURCHASE . UPDATED 03/15/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED OCASSIONALLY, THE BRAKING MECHANISM WOULD FAIL MOMENTARILY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD . THE CONSUMER HAD REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. UPDATED 09/15/10

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS WHICH I BOUGHT IN AUGUST 2009. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, APPROXIMATELY 8-10 TIMES, I HAVE BEEN BRAKING AT SLOWER SPEEDS WHEN COMING TO AN INTERSECTION. WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR HAPPENS TO HIT A BUMP OR HOLE IN THE ROAD AND THE CAR NOTICEABLY SURGES. MY FOOT IS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FLOOR MATS BECAUSE MY FLOOR MAT IS PINNED TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS 12/28/2009. *TR

COMING UP TO STOP SIGN, PERHAPS 25MPH, AT INTERSECTION OF SERVICE ROADS LEAVING WORKPLACE. CAR COMING (ALSO PROBABLY 25MPH) FROM THE LEFT. THERE WAS SOME LIGHT SNOW (NOT COVERING), BUT NOTHING UNUSUAL. APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP. BRAKES WORKED AT FIRST, BUT THEN SEEMED TO STOP WORKING FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, LEAVING MY WONDERING IF I WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND HAVE A SLOW-SPEED COLLISION WITH THE CAR COMING FROM THE LEFT. LUCKILY THE BRAKES EVENTUALLY SEEMED TO GRAB, AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. *TR

IT WAS SNOWING AND VERY SLIPPERY. I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY IT FELT LIKE I HAD NO BRAKES. THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM ABS WHICH HAD GONE OFF OCCASIONALLY DURING THE TRIP. AS A RESULT I ENDED UP HITTING A SNOW BANK AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

2010 PRIUS HAS JERKY BRAKES! WHEN BACKING DOWN A SLOPE LIKE OUR DRIVEWAY WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR WHEN GOING DOWN A SMALL INCLINE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR OFTEN JERKS. BASICALLY, AS I START TO BACK UP IT WILL JERK AND THEN THE CAR STOPS AND THEN IT RELEASES AGAIN AND THEN IN A FEW MORE INCHES IT JERKS AGAIN AND THEN RELEASES AND THEN JERKS AGAIN. IT DOES THIS GOING FORWARD TOO. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR BUT IT HAS HAPPENED MAYBE 20 TIMES OR SO IN THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS. MY CAR IS 6 MONTHS OLD WITH 3000 MILES AND THIS STARTED HAPPENING WITHIN THE FEW 100 MILES OF HAVING THE VEHICLE. *TR

BRAKES LOCKED UP WHEN GENTLY PUSHING ON PEDAL AT LOW SPEEDS IN FORWARD AND REVERSE, ANTI LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE WHILE STOPPED IF YOUR FOOT WIGGLES ON BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE STRONG IF YOU HIT A SMALL BUMP WHILE BRAKING CAUSING YOU TO NOT STOP ON TARGET AND ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYMBOL BRIEFLY FLASHES ON AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH WHILE DRIVING OVER POTHOLE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT OWN. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED 5 TIMES AND HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 900.

BRAKES ARE TERRIBLE. VEHICLE COMPUTER CAUSES BRAKES TO UNLOAD WHEN GOING OVER VERY ROUGH ROAD OR POTHOLES. IF STOPPING JUST BEHIND TRAFFIC, COLLISION IS ALWAYS IMMINENT. BRAKES ARE ALSO EXTREMELY SENSITIVE, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. WHILE TRYING TO FEATHER THE BRAKES WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE (FOR INSTANCE) THE COMPUTER SEEMS TO TELL THE BRAKES TO FULLY CLAMP DOWN WITHOUT APPLYING ADDITIONAL FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS CAUSES A LURCHING MOTION AS OPPOSED TO A SMOOTH BACKUP AT IDLE SPEED. ALSO, WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE SLOWER YOU GO, THE MORE SENSITIVE THE BRAKING BECOMES SUCH THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO NOT OVER-APPLY THE ALREADY SENSITIVE BRAKES YOU INEVITABLY END UP STOMPING ON THEM AT THE LAST MINUTE BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL FROM ZERO TO FULL BRAKING IS MINISCULE. I HAVE OWNED ALL THREE GENERATIONS OF PRIUS. THE FIRST HAD BRAKES THAT WERE UNUSUAL DUE TO THE REGENERATIVE SYSTEM, BUT THEY HAD ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF PEDAL TRAVEL AND WERE NOT A PROBLEM. THE SECOND GENERATION'S BRAKES WERE MUCH IMPROVED OVER THE FIRST EDITION AND THEY FELT ALMOST LIKE NORMAL BRAKES. BUT THIS THIRD GENERATION'S BRAKES ARE ABSOLUTELY HIDEOUS! I COMPLAINED ABOUT THEM TO THE DEALER ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NORMAL AND THAT ALL PRIUS BRAKES WERE LIKE THAT. THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT! I AM GLAD ALL THIS PUBLICITY HAS VINDICATED MY ASSERTIONS. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS (BOUGHT IN 10/2009). WHEN GOING OVER A RECESSED MANHOLE COVER OR POTHOLE WHILE BREAKING, IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKE IS SLIPPING AND THE CAR JERKS FOR A MOMENT. CONTINUED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE BRINGS THE CAR TO A STOP. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED EXCEPT WHEN GOING OVER SOME OBSTRUCTION AND ONLY WHEN TRAVELING OVER 20 MPH. GOING OVER SPEEDBUMPS IN A PARKING LOT IS FINE. *TR

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS PURCHASED NEW IN OCTOBER 2010. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 5 INSTANCES OF THE BRAKE FAILURE THAT HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED IN RECENT REPORTS. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN BRAKING AND GOING OVER A ROUGH SPOT LIKE A MAN-HOLE COVER OR POTHOLE. THERE IS A MOMENTARY AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

DRIVING IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS AND WE ATTEMPTED TO STOP ON A MANHOLE COVER AND THE BRAKES DID NOT CATCH. WE ALMOST HAD A CRASH, BUT MANAGED TO STOP JUST IN TIME. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED. WE HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT WHEN WE HIT A LARGE POTHOLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE LA TIMES REPORTED 124 REPORTS OF BRAKES FAILING, I WISH TO ADD MY EXPERIENCES. TWICE, WHILE I WAS BRAKING, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN SURGE, A LOSS OF BRAKING - AN INCREASE OF POWER. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH AN AUTOMATIC SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. NO ACCIDENT, NO INJURY OCCURRED BUT I NOW REFUSE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE "WHAT IF" FACTOR IS TOO HIGH. I COULDN'T LIVE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF POSSIBLE HARM TO SOMEONE CAUSED BY MY DRIVING MY PRIUS! TOYOTA HAD BETTER SET THIS STRAIGHT - I'M SHOCKED THEY HAVEN'T RECALLED THE CAR. I'M PERPLEXED YOUR AGENCY HASN'T INSISTED!! *TR

WE HAVE A VERY LONG STEEP DRIVEWAY. I APPLY SOME BRAKING WHEN DESCENDING AND THEN MORE AS I REACH THE BOTTOM BEFORE I ENTER THE STREET. THERE IS A WATER DIVERTER BUMP ABOUT TEN FEET BEFORE THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY. IT IS ABOUT AN INCH OR SO TALL AND ABOUT SIX INCHES WIDE, CROSSING THE FULL WIDTH OF THE DRIVEWAY. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I HAVE ROLLED OVER THE BUMP AND I AM APPLYING MORE BRAKES, THE BRAKES STOP WORKING FOR A SECOND OR SO AND THEN REGAIN POWER. AT FIRST IT FELT LIKE I WAS ACCELERATING, UNTIL IT HAPPEN A SECOND TIME AND I WAS MORE AWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. APPLYING HEAVIER BRAKING BEFORE THE BUMP, SEEMS TO STOP THIS SENSATION. THE LAST TIME THE BRAKES DID THIS WAS WHEN PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO LET FASTER TRAFFIC BY, ONTO A ROUGH GRAVEL DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE. INITIALLY THE BRAKES WORKED THEN FOR AN INSTANT THEY ARE GONE, THEN BACK AGAIN. BEFORE THE RECALL WE CALLED THE DEALER WHO SAID WE WERE JUST NOT USED TO ANTI LOCK BRAKES! WE HAVE HAD ANTI LOCK BRAKES FOR MANY MANY YEARS IN MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES. WE KNOW WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE DOING THEIR JOB. THIS IS NOT THE SAME TYPE OF PULSING UPON HEAVY BREAKING. THIS HAPPENS IN THE 2010 PRIUS WHEN USING NORMAL BRAKING PRESSURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH TRAVELING OVER AN ICY ROAD SURFACE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SNOW BANK. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE DURING THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 400.

ON 12/28/09 AT APROX. 6:30 A M, WHILE DRIVING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, I ATTEMPTED TO STOP ON A ROUGH ICE/SNOW PACKED SURFACE. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE SLID FOR ABOUT 20 TO 25 FEET BEFORE CRASHING INTO A SNOW BANK. THE ABS DID NOT OPERATE, AS I NEVER FELT THE DISTINCT PULSATING IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO ACTUALLY LOOSE ALL BREAKING POWER FOR A INSTANT AND SURGE FORWARD. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR ABOUT $1,400. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, WHILE DRIVING OVER ROUGH SURFACES, AT TIMES, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP PROPERLY. AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKES. IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES STOP WORKING FOR AN INSTANT AND THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. I EVEN REMARKED TO MY WIFE, WHILE DRIVING, THAT THE BRAKED DID NOT FEEL RIGHT WHEN STOPPING SOMETIMES. THERE HAS SINCE BEEN A RECALL FOR THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKES. MY PRIUS IS NOW AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE BRAKE RECALL WILL BE PREFORMED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING OVER 38 YEARS AND HAVE A VERY GOOD DRIVING RECORD. IT IS MY OPINION, THAT THE ACCIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED HAD THE BRAKES IN MY 2010 PRIUS BEEN WORKING PROPERLY.