2010 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

WHILE BRAKING, MY CAR HIT A BUMP AND IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS A SUDDEN SURGE OF ACCELERATION. I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKES EXTRA HARD TO FEEL LIKE I REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A REPEATABLE PROBLEM, JUST DRIVE THE CAR OVER A POT-HOLE OR A BUMP WHILE YOU'RE BREAKING TO RECREATE THE CONDITION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH IN SNOWY CONDITIONS THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO STOP AND PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER TO REPAIR THE FRONT END. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,800.

I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION TYPE PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT AND POTHOLES, ETC. THE ACCELERATION IS FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND I SUSPECT IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE LACK OF TRACTION FROM THE TIRES. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH LOOSE FLOOR MATS OR A STICKING PEDAL. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. DEALER SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM WHEN I WENT IN LAST WEEK. I WAS OFFERED TO HAVE IT BROUGHT INTO SERVICE DEPART. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ON COMMAND SO I AM GOING TO WAIT FOR NHTSA INVESTIGATION. *TR

I WAS ON A TRIP TO ARIZONA AND WHEN DRIVING IN MY 2010 PRIUS FROM FLAGSTAFF TO PHOENIX DURING THE EVENING, THE BATTER DISPLAY'S TOP SEGMENT GLOWED RED MANY TIMES IN THE DESCENT FROM FLAGSTAFF. IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE TO KEEP THE TOP SEGMENT FROM TURNING RED AS THE VEHICLE WAS COASTING AND I DID NOT WANT TO EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT SO I REALLY DID NOT NOW WHAT TO DO. I DECIDED TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL SO THE ENGINE WAS NOT BREAKING. HOWEVER IN NEUTRAL I WAS WEARING OUT MY VEHICLES BRAKES WHICH ALSO WORRIED ME BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF OVERHEATING THE BRAKES. I LOOKED IN MY VEHICLE MANUAL BUT NOTHING AS IN THE BOOKLET ABOUT THIS TYPE OF OCCURRENCE. SO I ASKED MY TOYOTA SERVICE PERSONNEL AT RUDY LUTHER TOYOTA IN GOLDEN VALLEY, MN AND THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. HE GAVE ME A THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AT TOYOTA AND AFTER DISCUSSING THIS INCIDENT WITH MANY PEOPLE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT TOYOTA, THE END RESULT WAS "THAT THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED AND WHEN THIS OCCURS THE TOP BAR WILL GLOW RED BUT THIS WILL NOT EFFECT THE BATTERY". I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE OR TOYOTA IS JUST PUTTING ME OFF BUT OTHERS AT THE FOLLOWING TOYOTA FORUM HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. IS THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM, I DO NOT KNOW. IS IT A BATTERY WARRANTY PROBLEM, I DO NOT KNOW. BUT PLEASE LOOK AT THIS FORUM THREAD AND MAYBE YOU CAN DISCUSS THIS MORE FULLY WITH TOYOTA. HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/GEN-III-2010-PRIUS-MAIN-FORUM/67994-ALL-BARS-BATTERY-INDICATOR-4.HTML ON THE RETURN TRIP AND HERE IN MINNESOTA I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM OCCUR AS THERE ARE NOT MANY LONG DESCENTS. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN I AM TRYING TO STOP AND HIT A POTHOLE, OR MANHOLE COVER OR THE STREETS ARE WET, THE CAR'S BRAKES WILL DISENGAGE TEMPORARILY. IT IS SCARY AND I'VE ALMOST HAD A FEW ACCIDENTS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS - BRAKING ISSUE ON SLIPPERY SERVICE - I FIND THE BRAKING DISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IS EXCESSIVE WHEN COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE ON SLIPPERY SERVICES. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING FORWARD INTO INTERSECTIONS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. I LIVE IN MN WHERE ROAD CONDITIONS CAN BECOME LESS THAN IDEAL. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT I AM TRAVELING AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED BUT I HAVE KNOW ADJUSTED MY DRIVING HABITS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE EXTRA DISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP. *TR

FROM A DEAD STOP, MOVING FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, BRAKES WILL LOCK OR GRAB & WILL NOT RELEASE EASILY. *TR

IN REVERSE CAR SPEEDS AND BRAKE STIFFENS AND UNABLE TO SLOW REVERSE SPEED. ALSO, TWO TIMES WHILE ACCELERATING AT 25 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR SEEMED TO LIFT UP THEN SETTLE DOWN. VERY FRIGHTENING. *TR UPDATED 02/02/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE BRAKES FROZE. THE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, THE CONSUMER PARKED ON A SMALL INCLINE, THE FRONT FACING UP. WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHE PUSHED THE START BUTTON, PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, DISENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND IMMEDIATELY THE BRAKES FROZE AND THE CONSUMER STARTED TO GO BACKWARDS WITHOUT CONTROL OF THE BACKING UP THE CAR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE BACKWARDS MOVEMENT SO SHE IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE POWER. SHE THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN, PUT IT REVERSE, DISENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. UPDATED 03/01/10 UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB

DROVE CAR OVER SEVERAL POTHOLES AND ATTEMPTED TO BAKE QUICKLY. BRAKES FAILED AND I HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR BOUNCED OFF CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND I AGAIN HIT BRAKES SHARPLY. THEY FAILED AGAIN AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AGAIN. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET AND SLIPPERY. *JB

2010 PRIUS, LESS THAN 5000 MILES. ON THE I-5 (CA) GOING TO SAN FRANCISCO ON 12-24-09. ON A SLIGHT/MODERATE DOWNGRADE WITH CRUISE SET AT 70 MPH, THE CAR WAS BRAKING HARD AND WAS OVER 100 MPH BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT THE NOISE WAS - AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT OUT OF CRUISE AND BRAKED. IT CAME UNDER CONTROL. ON OR ABOUT 12-31-09 I WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE CRUISE ON THE FREEWAY BUT THE FOLLOWING DAY IT ENGAGED NORMALLY. *TW

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING BEHIND A CAR ON 17TH STREET IN MANHATTAN THE CAR IN FRONT BRAKED COMING TO A LIGHT I IN TURN HIT THE BRAKES AND HIT A POT HOLE AT THE SAME TIME, THE CAR'S BRAKES SEEMED TO JUMP OR RELEASE AND I HAD TO PUSH DOWN IN A PANIC TO TRY AND CONTROL THE CAR, I MISSED SLAMMING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT BY INCHES. *TR

BRAKES DID NOT APPEAR TO HOLD CAR WHEN APPLIED AS CAR WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE PAVEMENT. SEEMED LIKE THE CAR BRIEFLY ACCELERATED BUT THEN BRAKING DID RETURN AND SLOWED CAR PROPERLY. MOMENTARY APPARENT LOSS OF BRAKING CONTROL WAS FRIGHTENING. *TR

BRAKE NOT RESPONDING WHEN APPLIED. *TR

BRAKES DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS. *TR

WHILE INITIATING BRAKING AT SPEEDS <30MPH, THE BRAKES WILL INFREQUENTLY, BUT OCCASIONALLY ENGAGE W/ NORMAL FORCE BEFORE THE BRAKES LOSE NORMAL BRAKING FORCE FOR A SPLIT SECOND BEFORE RE-ENGAGING (ESPECIALLY IF BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED FURTHER). FEELS LIKE AN ISSUE W/ ENGAGING REGENERATIVE BRAKES. NOT EASILY REPLICABLE, HAS HAPPENED GOING DOWNHILL AND WHILE HITTING A SMALL POTHOLE 2-3 TIMES IN LAST FEW MONTHS (VEHICLE PURCHASED NOV '09). *TR

IN MY 2010 PRIUS, THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY ACCELERATES WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS DISENGAGED. THIS HAPPENS EVERY 10TH OR 15TH TIME OF DISENGAGEMENT. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED HARDER THE VEHICLE SLOWS PROPERLY. THE UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING IS WRONG. I CALLED FOR A SECOND TIME AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I WILL TAKE IT IN ANYWAY NEXT WEEK. *TR

I HAVE A NEW TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF BRAKING COMBINED WITH A SIMULTANEOUS ACCELERATION ABOUT 4 TIMES NOW. IT IS INCREDIBLY SCARY. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN ON ANY OTHER CAR THAT I'VE DRIVEN. IT HAPPENS WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE REAR. I NOW SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS AS I SAW AN ARTICLE ON MSNBC.MSN.COM. I NOW SEE THAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAS TO BE INVESTIGATED. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS FACING A CLIFF AND HAD THE CAR NOT STOPPED, MY DAUGHTER AND I WOULD HAVE GONE OFF THE CLIFF AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PERISHED. THIS IS ASKING FOR ACCIDENTS TO HAPPEN AND SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD. I DO NOT HAVE THE WIN NUMBER ON HAND, BUT WILL ADD IT TOMORROW. THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROX 4 TIMES AND THE CAR ACCELERATES AT THE SAME TIME I LOSE BRAKING CAPABILITIES. *TR

IN MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, AS I'M BRAKING ON A ROUGH SURFACE, IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE CAR ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND. IT HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY ON 12/22 AS I WAS COMING TO A STOPLIGHT ON A ROAD WITH PATCHES OF SNOW/ICE DEBRIS IN CAMBRIDGE, MA. IT HAS OCCURRED MAYBE 5 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST, AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WAS JUST IMAGINING IT. WHEN IT HAPPENS, MY HEART RACES AND I PRESS THE BRAKE HARDER, WHICH SEEMS TO MAKE IT ENGAGE. THE END RESULT IS THAT THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS LONGER THAN IT SHOULD BE, AND IT'S DEFINITELY SCARY. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23RD TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE CAR WAS APPROVED AS FUNCTIONING AS NORMAL, WITH A WRITE-UP SAYING THE MASTER MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT, TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE ON A BUMPY SURFACE, AND CLEARED IT AS FINE. THE CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT I JUST NEEDED TO GET USED TO THE SENSATION WHEN THE ABS KICKS IN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING FROM L.A. TO ROSEVILLE CA ON I-5 NORTH IN MY NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT IT WASN'T VERY BUSY AND I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 65 MPH. IN THE DISTANCE I SAW SOME CARS PUSHING THEIR BRAKE PEDALS SO I WANTED TO BRAKE AS WELL A LITTLE TO 1) DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL, 2) REDUCE SPEED. PUSHING IT VERY GENTLY, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS SCARED ME AND I PUSHED HARDER, THEN MY 2010 PRIUS STARTED BRAKING WAY MORE AGGRESSIVELY. I NOTICED ALONG THE WAY AND ALSO AFTER THIS THAT THIS BEHAVIOR IS CONSEQUENT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I CANNOT USE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND DIMINISH SPEED, BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL GENTLY, IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME BEFORE IT REACTS. I FIND THIS DISTURBING, BECAUSE IN MY 2000 FORD CROWN VICTORY, EVEN THE VERY SLIGHTEST TOUCH ON THE BRAKE PEDAL ALREADY CAUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL TO TURN OFF AND VERY LIGHTLY DIMINISH SPEED. IN THE PRIUS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD, THEN AFTER SOME DELAY IT STARTS BRAKING FAST. IN THE BEGINNING I THOUGHT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE PRIUS, BUT I FIND IT QUITE DISTURBING AND SOMETIMES SCARING. HENCE, I MUST TAKE WAY MORE DISTANCE TO CARS AHEAD OF MY ON THE HIGHWAY, BECAUSE I CANNOT BRAKE AS FAST AND STOP AS SOON AS THE OTHER CARS CAN. HONESTLY, IT IS VERY SCARY AND IT MAKES MY FEEL UNSAFE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE PRIUS. I AM DRIVING MY CROWN VICTORIA WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NOW A DAYS. *TW *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND THEN NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE WITHOUT WARNING UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4700.

MY 2010 PRIUS WAS DELIVERED ON DECEMBER 17, I TOOK IT ON TWO LONG ROAD TRIPS AND USED MY CRUISE CONTROL ON BOTH TRIPS. ON BOTH TRIPS WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON THERE WAS A SURGE OF ACCELERATION. NOTHING STUCK AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE CRUISE CONTROL CUT OFF AND THE CAR SLOWED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ONE OTHER TIME AND AGAIN IT WAS INTERSTATE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. *TR

I HAVE DRIVEN MY 2010 PRIUS (WHICH I BOUGHT NEW FROM LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER) SINCE JULY, 2009. I HAVE NOTICED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT WHEN THE CAR DRIVES OVER A BREAK IN THE PAVEMENT (POTHOLE, OR ROADWORK WHERE THE PAVEMENT HEIGHT DROPS), IT SUDDENLY FEELS "AIRBORNE," AND WILL NOT BRAKE OR SLOW DOWN FOR SEVERAL YARDS, NO MATTER WHAT I DO. I HAVE WORRIED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP AND HITTING A CAR OR A PEDESTRIAN FRONT OF ME, BUT SO FAR EACH TIME MY CAR HAS HAD THIS AIRBORNE-LIKE PROBLEM, I HAVE BEEN FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE CAR OR PERSON IN FRONT OF ME TO STOP. OTHER PEOPLE DRIVING 2010 PRIUS CARS HAVE REPORTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SOLVE THIS BRAKING ISSUE, AND RECALL THE 2010 PRIUS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATED FOR A FEW SECONDS AS I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION IT HAPPENED AS I WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT AND NO INJURIES. THE ACCELERATION OCCURRED FOR A FEW BRIEF SECONDS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD OCCUR WHEN THERE IS A PEDESTRIAN OR AUTO CLOSE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

WHILE COMING TO A STOP, MY VEHICLE (2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, MODEL IV) LOST BRAKING POWER (FELT LIKE AN ACCELERATION WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL) AS I WENT OVER A POT HOLE IN THE ROAD. I WAS AT A VERY LOW SPEED (~5MPH). I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL EVEN FURTHER AND THE BRAKING POWER RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP. *TR

I OWN A NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE ALWAYS SUSPECTED THE BRAKE HAS PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD ON SLIPPERY, UNEVEN SURFACE OR POT HOLES WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE. *TR

THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES (AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN TIMES) SINCE I'VE PURCHASED MY NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN JULY 2009. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS (~20 MPH), THE BRAKES HAVE MOMENTARILY STOPPED WORKING (CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD) AFTER DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE OR SIMILAR OTHER UNEVEN SURFACE. I HAVE TRIED TO ADJUST HOW I DRIVE, IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID THE SURPRISE OF THE SURGE, AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS, RELATED TO THIS BRAKING PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT YET SOUGHT A REPAIR FROM TOYOTA. *TR

2010 PRIUS: BRAKES HAD MOMENTARY FAILURE ON A SNOW-COVERED SPEED BUMP. VEHICLE SPEED WAS ABOUT 10 MPH. THIS WAS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL INCIDENTS. *TR

WHEN TRAVELING FORWARD OVER UNEVEN, BUMPY PAVEMENT, POT HOLES, OR SPEED BUMPS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES VERY STRONGLY. THE ACCELERATION HAPPENS EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND YOUR FOOT IS COMPLETELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION IS SO STRONG THAT IT NEARLY JERKS THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF YOUR HAND. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED ONCE WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THREE TIMES WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING. IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES STOP WORKING FOR A SECOND OR TWO AND THE CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT IS QUITE STARTLING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING ISSUES WITH A 2010 PRIUS PURCHASED IN JULY '09. WHILE BRAKING ON ICE OR SNOW WHEN FIRST DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR LIGHT BRAKING NOTHING HAPPENS, NO BRAKING. WHEN THEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MORE FIRMLY BRAKING THEN STARTS SUDDENLY BUT MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN DESIRED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ON ICE OR SNOW ONLY BUT I HAVE NOT DRIVEN ON EXTREME WASHBOARD OR GRAVEL ROADS. I HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE MORE THAN ONCE AND HAVE BEGUN TO ANTICIPATE IT HAPPENING REGULARLY ON ICE OR SNOW. *TR

UPON ENTERING THE ROAD TO MY DRIVEWAY THERE ARE A SMALL SERIES OF DIPS AND BUMPS OR SHORT SEQUENCE OF SMALL POTHOLES FROM THE RAIN. WHEN I LIGHTLY APPLY THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE PEDAL SEEMS TO HAVE "NO BRAKING AFFECT" WHEN I GO DOWN INTO AN COME OUT OF THE FIRST OF THE SERIES OF DIPS. THE BRAKES THEN RETURN TO NORMAL IN MY DRIVE WAY. WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING IS AVOIDING THE DIPS AND THEREBY AVOIDING THE EERIE FEELING THAT MY BRAKES HAVE FAILED. *TR

2010 PRIUS DELAYED BRAKING - MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER HE ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS RANGING FROM 5 MPH OR HIGHER OVER A POTHOLE, A BUMP IN THE ROAD, ICE OR ANY CHANGE IN THE ROAD SURFACE THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY ACCELERATED BEFORE THE BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HEARD A RATTLING NOISE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BUT PRODUCED NO CODES. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO THE OWNER. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 8,000.

I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2010 PRIUS, I BOUGHT MY PRIUS THIS PAST NOV. AT FIRST WHEN I FEEL THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION I THOUGHT ITS ME THINKING TOO MUCH. BUT THIS HAPPEN MORE THAN ONCE. IT IS A UNPLEASANT FEELING. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENS TO ME WHEN DRIVING ON A DOWNHILL GOING OVER A BUMP OR A HOLE IN THE ROAD. *TR

REGARDING OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS PURCHASED IN AUGUST OF 2009, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING ISSUES IN TWO INSTANCES: 1) WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP SIGN AND HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE CAR SURGES FORWARD 2) WHEN BRAKING ON ICY SURFACE THE BRAKES SEEM TO LOCK UP CAUSING CONTROL PROBLEMS. IN SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAD KNOW KNOWLEDGE OF A FIX TO THE ISSUE AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH TOYOTA THEY GAVE US A RENTAL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE COME OUT OF PRODUCTION AFTER THE SOFTWARE WAS FIXED TO CORRECT THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING THE RENTAL WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WHILE BRAKING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD.

BRAKES TEMPORARILY DISENGAGE DURING BRAKING IF CAN HITS A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. IT IS ONLY A MOMENTARY INSTANCES BEFORE THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGE, BUT IT GIVES THE FEELING OF ACCELERATING. IT HAS HAPPEND TO ME ABOUT A HALF DOZEN TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR (2010 TOYOTA PRIUS) IN AUGUST 2009. LUCKILY NO CARS OR PEDESTRIANS WERE IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. *TR

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES FAIL ( DISENGAGE OR RELEASE) WHEN BRAKING ON ICY SURFACE OR WHILE BRAKING AND A BUMP OR POT HOLE IS HIT. I FIST NOTICED THIS ISSUE ON DEC. 19, 2009 AFTER A SNOW STORM BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN EVEN ON DRY ROAD WHEN A SMALL BUMP IS HIT. I REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR ACTUALLY GOES FASTER WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP WHILE BRAKING. THE BRAKES RELEASE AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE NO BRAKES AT ALL FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS IS NOT RIGHT! IT HAPPENS VERY UNEXPECTEDLY AND YOU CAN NOT JUDGE YOUR BRAKING TIME CORRECTLY. IT HAPPENED TO ME RECENTLY WHEN STOPPING AT STOP SIGN BEFORE ENTERING A CROSS ROAD. I HIT A PATCH OF ROUGH ROAD AND IT DROVE ME TO STOP PASSED THE STOP SIGN AND WAS LUCKY THERE WERE NO ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH ITS BRAKES. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, WHEN I AM BRAKING AND HIT A POTHOLE OR OTHER UNEVEN SURFACE THE CAR LURCHES OR SLIPS FORWARD AND THE BRAKING ACTION STOPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH ME AND MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. THE FEELING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IS THAT THE CAR IS MOMENTARILY OUT-OF-CONTROL AND THAT THE CAR WILL NOT STOP IN TIME. *TR

I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION IN DECEMBER DURING A SNOW STORM. THE ROAD WAS SNOWY AND I BRAKED, BUT MY 2010 PRIUS DID NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP. I WENT 10 - 15 FEET BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED. IT WAS VERY SCARY, BUT LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER CAR IN THE ROAD, OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. *JB

WE DRIVE A 2010 PRIUS, PURCHASED THIS FALL. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE IN AN AREA WITH SOME ICE, THE CAR ACCELERATED RATHER THAN STOPPED. ON TWO OF THE OCCASIONS, I FAILED TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION (NO ONE COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION) AND ON THE THIRD, THE ICE PATCH WAS ABOUT 3 FT IN DIAMETER ON ONE SIDE OF THE CAR ONLY. I WAS GOING RATHER SLOWLY, FOLLOWING A CAR THAT SLOWED FOR A SPEED BUMP. LUCKILY THE OTHER CAR ACCELERATED AND I DID NOT HIT IT. THE SPEED BUMP SLOWED ME DOWN AND THEN THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING. *JB

I'VE EXPERIENCE BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2010 PRIUS. AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED I TOO HAVE HAD AT LEAST A DOZEN INCIDENTS IN WHICH I AM APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THERE IS EITHER A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR MORE OFTEN A POTHOLE. USUALLY THIS HAS BEEN WHEN I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND BRAKING MODERATELY. THE EXPERIENCE IS SUCH THAT THE BRAKES SEEM TO DISENGAGE AT THE TIME IN WHICH I HIT THE POTHOLE OR BUMP AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD FOR JUST A SPLIT SECOND. TO ME IT FEELS LIKE GOING OVER AN ICE PATCH AND THE SENSATION IS SIMILAR TO HYDROPLANING AS WELL. THIS HAS NOT CAUSED ANY ACCIDENT BUT DOES CONTRIBUTE TO A FEELING OF LOSE OF CONTROL AND CAUSES YOU TO POSSIBLY STOP A LITTLE LATER THAN YOU INTENDED TO. I HAVE 10,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND HAVE HAD IT SINCE AUGUST 2009. I ALSO EXPERIENCE ANOTHER BRAKING ISSUE. SPORADICALLY WHEN I START THE CAR AND THE ENGINE HAS NOT COME ONE AND THE CAR IS ONLY USING BATTERY, THE BRAKES SEEM TO HAVE NO PLAY IN THE PEDAL. THE CAR STARTS TO MOVE AND WHEN I TAP THE BREAKS THEY JUST LOCK WITH A THUD AND THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I THEN RE STEP ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WORK PROPERLY AND FEEL NORMAL. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS IN MY DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOTS AND MY FIRST REACTION IS THAT I HIT SOMETHING BECAUSE THE CAR SLAMS TO A STOP. *TR

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED PRIUS 2010 V WITH TECHNOLOGY OPTION. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR TWO WEEKS CAR DESIGN HAS CAUSED A LIFE-TREATING SITUATION FOR DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS (ONE OF THEM BEING A CHILD) BY STOPPING AT THE INTERSECTION IN A NON-DRIVABLE CONDITION IN A WAY OF HIGH TRAFFIC IN THE NIGHT. CAR HAD TO BE BLOCKED OUT BY POLICE FOR 1.5 HOURS AND LATER TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. LATER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT INABILITY TO DRIVE WAS CAUSED BY INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHT DIMMER TURNING OFF INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE SWITCHED ON. NOTE THAT DIMMER ITSELF WAS NOT OPERATED BY THE DRIVER (IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MOVED UNINTENTIONALLY SOME TIMES EARLIER) AND ACTUAL ACT OF TURNING INSTRUMENTAL PANEL OFF WAS TRIGGERED BY TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS WHICH INCREASED DIMMING LEVEL TO "FULL OFF" STATE. THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE ANY "NON-ELECTRONIC" INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND SO IS NOT DRIVABLE WITH IT OFF. IN FACT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WAS NOT AWARE THAT CAR IS EVEN ON AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THERE IS NO "DRIVE" SHIFT INDICATOR EXCEPT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND FIRST REACTION WAS TO TRY AND RESTART THE CAR, WHICH FURTHER MAKE DRIVE SHIFT POSITION UNCERTAIN. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE DESIGN. DIMMER SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE CARE NOT OPERABLE. IN THIS CAR WITHOUT ANY NON-ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTAL PANEL, IT SHOULD BE NEVER POSSIBLE TO COMPLETELY TURN IT OFF. THIS FUNCTION SHOULD BE ELIMINATED TO PREVENT AN EVENTUALLY FATAL ACCIDENT THAT IS WAITING TO HAPPEN (OR MAYBE ALREADY HAPPENED). NOTE THAT CAR MANUAL DOES NOT MENTION: 1) THAT INSTRUMENTAL PANEL CAN BE COMPLETELY OFF WITH THE DIMMER 2) THAT THERE IS A DEPENDENCY BETWEEN DIMMING LEVEL AND HEADLIGHTS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY MULTIPLE OTHER USERS AS INDICATED BY THESE THREADS: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/GEN-II-PRIUS-AUDIO-ELECTRONICS/11744-BLANK-INSTRUMENT-CLUSTER-PANEL.HTML HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/GEN-II-PRIUS-CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/9053-WHEN-MY-HEADLIGHTS-MY-DASHBOARD-DARK.HTML. *TR

EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: HITTING THE BRAKES AND HITTING A BUMP IN THE PAVEMENT OF THE ROAD AT THE SAME TIME. HOW OFTEN: ALL THE TIME, IF YOU ARE HITTING THE BRAKES, AND HITTING A BUMP AT THE SAME TIME. WHAT WAS DONE: NOTHING. TOYOTA CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG. *TR

1. GOING SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL, ONE OF THE FRONT TIRE WENT OVER A POTHOLE, ON OTHER OCCASIONS, GOING OVER A SLIGHTLY BUMPY WET ROAD 2. TEMPORARY (ABOUT 2-4 SECONDS) BRAKE LOSS, HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 3-5 TIMES IN 3 MONTHS 3. NOTHING DONE SO FAR, WAITING TO VISIT DEALER AT 5000 MILES OR FOR TOYOTA TO ISSUE SOME KIND OF RECALL. *TR

WHEN SLOWING FOR A STOP SIGN - I STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE BRAKE DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT APPLIED FOR A QUICK MOMENT. IT CAUSED ME TO STOP FURTHER IN TO THE INTERSECTION THAN I EXPECTED, OR WOULD HAVE LIKED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE THE BRAKES DID NOT FULLY ENGAGE WHICH INCREASED THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5000. UPDATED 03/09/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/13/10

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES ON TWO SEPARATE TIMES HAVE ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. BOTH TIMES SLIPPERY CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT. *TR

WHEN REVERSING, BRAKES OCCASIONALLY GRAB CAUSING OCCUPANTS TO JERK FORWARD. *TW

ON DECEMBER 18, 2009 AT 4:40 PM IN THE STILL-LIGHT LATE AFTERNOON WE STRUCK A DEER IN THE ROAD WITH OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN ONE MONTH OLD AND STILL ON ITS FIRST TANK OF GAS. WE HAVE LIVED IN A SEMI-RURAL AREA OF NEW JERSEY FOR OVER 30 YEARS. DEER IN THE ROAD IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE HERE. BUT IN 30 YEARS, THOUGH WE HAVE HAD COUNTLESS SUDDEN COLLISION-AVOIDANCE STOPS IN OTHER CARS INCLUDING OUR 2007 PRIUS, WE HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT. ON DECEMBER 18, TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON DRY, BUT AGED ASPHALT WE OBSERVED A DEER ENTERING THE ROAD. TO AVOID A COLLISION, THE BRAKES WERE JAMMED ON. BUT THIS TIME THE BRAKING EVENT SEEMED TO OCCUR IN SLOW MOTION. IT WAS THE FIRST SUDDEN STOP REQUIRED OF THIS NEW CAR. EVENTUALLY THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, BUT ONLY AFTER STRIKING THE DEER WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE CAR SUSTAINED $2500 WORTH OF FRONT END DAMAGE. LIGHTS, THE BUMPER AND FRONT PANELS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. POLICE AND INSURANCE REPORTS WERE FILED. TOYOTA HAS RECENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED A SOFTWARE-BASED DELAY OF ONE SECOND IN TRANSFERRING BRAKING FROM THE ELECTRONIC REGENERATIVE SYSTEM TO THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES. AT 35 MPH, THAT IS AN EXTRA 51 FEET TRAVELED IN THAT ONE SECOND BEFORE THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES ENGAGE. THAT 51 FEET WOULD HAVE PROVIDED MORE THAN ENOUGH DISTANCE TO AVOID THE COLLISION. UNTIL THIS UNSAFE CONDITION IS RESOLVED, WE HAVE TAKEN OUR 2010 PRIUS OFF THE ROAD. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ON ROADS WITH LOTS OF BUMPS, POTHOLES, SEWER COVERS, ETC, I HAVE BRAKING PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVING OVER ONE OF THESE "OBSTACLES" AND I TOUCH THE BRAKES, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AS IF ACCELERATING OR SLIPPING. I CAN THEN RELEASE THE BRAKE AND STEP ON IT AGAIN TO SLOW/STOP THE CAR, BUT IF THERE WAS A CAR CLOSE IN FRONT, I WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY HIT IT. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN AUGUST 2009 AND HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN AT LEAST 6-10 TIMES. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS V IN NOVEMBER 2009. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS MY WIFE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. SHE WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. SHE PRACTICALLY HAD TO STAND TO APPLY ENOUGH PRESSURE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. WE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR