2010 Toyota Prius Complaint Log

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND LEFT THE DEALER ON OCTOBER 23, 2009. I HAD TO STOP SHORT AT ONE OF THE STOPLIGHTS ON THE WAY HOME AND NOTICED A DISTURBING LAG BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGED. HOURS LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN TRAFFIC STOPPED SUDDENLY AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND MODESTLY DAMAGED THE CAR I HIT AND SEVERELY DAMAGED MY NEW PRIUS. FORTUNATELY NOONE WAS HURT. MY SIX YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN HE PULLED THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER UP TO INCREASE THE SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN LEFT AND WHEN HE PULLED THE LEVER DOWN TO DECREASE SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN TO THE RIGHT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHT WHEN INCREASING OR DECREASING THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEED AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT HE HAD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTER THAN NORMAL AT ALL TIMES. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000. UPDATED 05/24/10 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO HAVE A FIRM GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO ADJUST OR SET THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WAS AFFECTED WHENEVER HE ADJUSTED THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER MECHANISM. UPDATED 06/01/10. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO AND THROUGH A GARAGE; THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRUISED HEART, BROKEN STERNUM AND TWO BROKEN RIBS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE OUTSIDE OF TAKING A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,400.

EMERGENCY BRAKING DELAY IN BRAKE ACTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME IMMEDIATELY HARD-BRAKED ON A YELLOW STOP LIGHT AT A "RED LIGHT" CAMERA MONITORED INTERSECTION (WESTBOUND ILLINOIS 38 AT SUMMIT IN VILLA PARK, IL) I HAD TO BRAKE HARD AND MANEUVER TO AVOID REAR-ENDING HIM. THIS WAS THE FIRST, AND ONLY, EMERGENCY STOP SITUATION I HAVE HAD WITH MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WE WERE TRAVELLING JUST A BIT BELOW THE POSTED 35 MPH LIMIT, AND I WAS FOLLOWING AT AN APPROPRIATE INTERVAL (3+ SECONDS OR ABOUT 3 CAR LENGTHS). THERE WAS ABOUT A 1 SECOND DELAY BETWEEN JAMMING ON THE BRAKE AND SIGNIFICANT BRAKING ACTION. I NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A DELAY IN MY ABS EQUIPPED 2000 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS OR MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR LX, SINCE THIS EXPERIENCE I DRIVE THE PRIUS WITH A GREATER INTERVAL, ALTHOUGH THIS MEANS OTHER DRIVERS REGULARLY MERGE INTO THE "SAFETY" GAP THAT I AM TRYING TO PROVIDE. *JB

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS V ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2009. IT PERFORMED BEAUTIFULLY, AND WAS A REAL PLEASURE TO DRIVE. HOWEVER, A MONTH OR SO LATER, WITH THE CAR IN REVERSE, I STARTED BACKING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED AN UNUSUALLY INTENSE "REVVING" OF THE ENGINE. STARTLED, I IMMEDIATELY PRESSED ON THE FOOT BRAKE, RELEASING IT IN LITTLE STEPS UNTIL THE CAR WAS "INCHED" OUT OF THE PARKING PLACE. I THEN SHIFTED THE LEVER INTO "DRIVE" AND PROCEEDED ON MY WAY QUITE NORMALLY WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBLEM WHATSOEVER. IN THE ENSUING MONTHS, THIS STRANGE PHENOMENON HAS ONLY REPEATED ITSELF TWO MORE TIMES OUT OF HUNDREDS OF BACKOUTS FROM PARKING SLOTS. THERE HAS BEEN NO OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE IN WHICH THIS SEVERE " REVVING" HAS RE-OCCURRED. IN THE AFOREMENTIONED THREE CASES, I HAD NO RECOLLECTION WHATSOEVER OF PRESSING THE FOOT THROTTLE, AND THEREFORE HAVE PRESUMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE ELECTRONICS OR SOFTWARE, RATHER THAN IN THE FLOOR THROTTLE MECHANICS. IN EVERY OTHER RESPECT SO FAR, MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS V HAS PERFORMED PERFECTLY. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS (GENERATION 3). PURCHASED ON 10/15/2009. I HAVE EXPERIENCE UNEXPECTED LOSS OF BRAKING WHEN DECELERATING TO ABOUT 5-10 MPH AND WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS OR GOES OVER A BUMP. THIS HAVE HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THERE WERE NO PROPERTY DAMAGE, HOWEVER, THE UNEXPECTED LOSS OF BRAKING AND A FEELING OF ACCELERATION IS UNSETTLING. I FEEL THIS MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A VEHICULAR COLLISION. *TR

ON MY WAY TO WORK THERE IS A ROUGH PATCH OF PAVEMENT WHERE I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE A TURN AND A STOP. IF I AM APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN I HIT IT, THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD, FEELING OUT OF CONTROL LIKE ON ICE, UNTIL THE CAR IS ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT AGAIN. FORTUNATELY THERE WASN'T A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, AND FROM THEN ON, I SLOW DOWN WELL BEFORE THE ROUGH PATCH, AND DON'T APPLY MY BRAKES ON THE PATCH, OR SIMILAR PATCHES. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2010 PRIUS IN AUGUST 09 AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CAR "LURCHES" FORWARD WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON A BUMPY SURFACE. I WAS FORTUNATE ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS THAT THERE WAS DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER 3 OR 4 OCCASIONS OF EXPERIENCING THIS, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IN OCT TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE, NOTHING SHOWED UP IN COMPUTER ELECTRONICS AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE A HYBRID AND ONLY DRIVE ON SMOOTH SURFACES! WHAT CITY HAS SMOOTH ROADS WITH NO SEAMS OR BUMPY SURFACES ON IT. IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP A WEEK LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT IF I COULD RECREATE THE PROBLEM THE SHOP FOREMAN WOULD GO OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE WITH ME. RECREATING THE PROBLEM IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I AM A REALTOR AND MY LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON MY HAVING A RELIABLE CAR. I AM NERVOUS DRIVING MY CAR AND FIND THAT I DRIVE ALWAYS ANTICIPATING THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM...THIS IS NOT A SAFE WAY TO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE. I AM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE LOOKING INTO IT. ALSO, CHECK OUT THE PRIUS CHAT ROOM FOR MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKING PROBLEM. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR INVESTIGATIVE WORK. *TR

MY 2010 PRIUS HAS TROUBLE BRAKING WHEN I'M TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEEDS OVER UNEVEN OR SLIPPERY SURFACES. IT'S AS IF THE BRAKES LOSE TRACTION/SLIP. I FIRST REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA IN OCTOBER 2009. I SENT EMAILS AND PLACED PHONE CALLS AND BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP REPEATEDLY. THEY SAY THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CAN'T FIX IT TILL THEY REPLICATE IT. THEY HAVE NO SOLUTIONS FOR ME. I CALLED TOYOTA TODAY AND THEY SAID THEY DID NOT REFER MY COMPLAINT TO NHTSA...EVEN THOUGH I FILED IT WITH TOYOTA MONTHS AGO. THEY SAY ITS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO SHARE MY COMPLAINT WITH THE GOVERNMENT. *TR

UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN I HIT ROUGH ROAD, POT HOLE, DEBRIS, UNLEVEL PAVEMENT, THEY SEEM TO SLIP. I DON'T SLOW DOWN LIKE I WANT THE CAR TO, I FISHTAIL A LITTLE AND THE STABILITY CONTROL COMES ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED WHENEVER THERE WAS A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY SINCE THE ELECTRICAL ENGINE WAS SWITCHING TO THE GASOLINE ENGINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500.

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS SLIPS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED OVER MANHOLES, POTHOLES, AND UNEVEN SURFACES (DIFFERENCES IN PAVEMENT, ETC), AT WHICH TIME I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, AND AT LOW SPEEDS - SINCE I'M APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE SPEEDS HAVE BEEN 30 MPH OR LESS. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A TEST DRIVE 2/4/10, HOWEVER, NO POTHOLES WERE AVAILABLE DURING THE TEST DRIVE, AND THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK VIA COMPUTER INDICATED NO ERROR MESSAGES HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN THE SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS, AND THAT THE BRAKES ARE WORKING CORRECTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH IN REVERSE AND REMOVING HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND HAD NOT RESPONDED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED AND DOESN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5400.

TEMPORARY LOSS OF BRAKING ON 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT. ONE OCCURRENCE ON 10/20/2009. AN EARLIER OCCURRENCE ALSO OCCURRED ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT - PROBABLY IN SEPTEMBER 2009, BUT I DO NOT HAVE A RECORD OF THE DATE. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE RECALL MAINTENANCE TODAY (02/16/2010). PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CAR ALSO EXHIBITS EXTREME BRAKING IMMEDIATELY AFTER A COLD START UNDER WET CONDITIONS. THIS EXTREME BRAKING IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER CARS PREVIOUSLY OWNED OVER NEARLY 40 YEARS. THE EXTREME BRAKING DOES SUBSIDE AFTER A SHORT DISTANCE IF THE BRAKES ARE LIGHTLY APPLIED WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED TO MAINTAIN SPEED. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. GOING DOWNHILL AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. MY FOOT IS STEADY ON THE BRAKE AND I AM GRADUALLY COMING TO A STOP. THEN, I INADVERTENTLY GO OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE PRIUS LUNGES FORWARD. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY SLAM HARD ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GOING INTO THE INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO CAR OR PERSON IN FRONT OF ME AS I WAS STOPPING. (I LOOKED AT PRIOR COMPLAINTS AND THIS MATCHES MINE). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMPS AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHENEVER SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. SHE HAS NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10.

WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT , I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND AT THE SAME TIME , WENT OVER A SMALL POT HOLE. IT SEEMED TO ME LIKE THE CAR SPED UP. IT ONLY HAPPENED FOR A SPLIT SECOND BUT THAT SECOND COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HITTING SOMEONE AND MISSING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME AND I DO THINK IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS BY DESIGN BUT IF IT IS ,IT IS A POOR DESIGN. *TR

PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE 2010 PRIUS AND ITS' BRAKING SYSTEM. WHILE BRAKING ON A WET PAVEMENT, GOING DOWN HILL OR BRAKING WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER AN UNEVEN OR BUMPY SERVICE, THE CAR ACCELERATES OR LURCHES FORWARD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS A SAFE DISTANCE FROM OTHER CARS OR COULD HAVE HIT SOMETHING WITH THIS SURGE EFFECT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 400 MILES AND THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 4 TIMES, THE MOST RECENT TODAY ON A HILL WITH WET PAVEMENT AS THE CAR WAS HEADING DOWN HILL. THE BRAKE WAS GENTLY DEPRESSED AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, 4500 MILES WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR HIT A SET OF FLUSH RAILROAD TRACKS. THE BUMP OF THE TRACKS CAUSED THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO FEEL LIKE IT STOPPED WORKING, AND I HAD TO RE-PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET BRAKING TO RE-ENGAGE. THE CAR HAS HAD A COUPLE MORE SIMILAR EPISODES OF THE BRAKES SEEMING TO DIS-ENGAGE. *TR

ONCE, WHEN TRANSITIONED FROM SMOOTH TO UNEVEN SURFACES DURING A PARKING OPERATION ON UNEVEN, DOWNHILL PAVEMENT, I EXPERIENCED A LACK OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE. I DO NOT RECALL ANY CHANGE OF ACCELERATION, SIMPLY THE LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE FOR A VERY BRIEF TIME, PERHAPS FOR A SECOND. IT SURPRISED AND SHOCKED ME TO A FAIR DEGREE AS I THOUGHT, AT THE TIME, THAT MY BRAKES HAD FAILED. BY PRESSING HARDER THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR NORMALLY. I NOW TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE PAVEMENT SURFACE CONDITION WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKES AS I FEEL THE CAR'S BRAKING SYSTEM IS PECULIARLY SENSITIVE TO UNEVEN PAVEMENT SURFACES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PETAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AND IT STOPPED. SHE THEN TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT DROVE NORMALLY. THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLIANT.THE DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2500.

I'VE EXPERIENCED 2 PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE FIRST HAPPENS WHEN I AM APPLYING MY BRAKES WHILE GOING OVER A POT HOLE. THE BRAKES APPEAR TO RELEASE AND CATCH AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. SECONDLY, I'VE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED AND THE WHEELS GET WET, WHETHER BY RAIN OR FROM WASHING THE CAR, AS I BACKUP OR GO FORWARD DOWN AN INCLINE, THE BRAKES SEEM TO "GRAB" OR "STICK" WHEN LIGHT PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE RESULTING STOP IN THE CAR IS AS THOUGH I HAD JAMMED ON THE BRAKES QUICKLY AND WITH A GREAT DEAL OF FORCE. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN MID-JUNE. I AM WRITING TO REPORT THAT I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES THREE SEPARATE TIMES. IT IS QUITE UNNERVING WHEN YOU ARE IN MID-BRAKE AND IT MOMENTARILY STOPS WORKING. I AM A VERY SAFE DRIVER, KEEPING A GOOD DISTANCE BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND THE CARS AHEAD OF ME; HOWEVER, SOMETIMES YOU DO NEED TO STOP SUDDENLY AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THERE IS A POT HOLE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR, THE PRIUS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY CRASHES BUT I HOPE THAT TOYOTA TAKES THESE COMPLAINTS SERIOUSLY AND DOES EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO FIX THE 2010 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BEFORE JANUARY 2010. ON THAT NOTE, I WAS EXTREMELY SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT TOYOTA KNEW OF THIS ISSUE AND FIXED IT MID-YEAR BUT DID NOTHING TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE INITIAL 2010 MODEL OF THEIR FINDINGS OR OFFER A FIX. THAT IS BAD BUSINESS PRACTICE, SOMETHING I DID NOT EXPECT FROM TOYOTA. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT STOP WHILE ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE ALSO ACCELERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HAS INFORMED A LOCAL DEALER ABOUT THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH TO OCCUR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 8,000.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN SEPTEMBER 2009 FROM DARCARS TOYOTA IN FREDERICK MD. I HAVE EXPERIENCED (2) INSTANCES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION DURING THE TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE INFORMED DARCARS TOYOTA AND TOYOTA CORPORATION. DARCARS RAN A "HEALTH TEST" ON FEBRUARY 4, 2009 ON MY VEHICLE AND THE TEST INDICATED EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. DARCARS THEN CONTACTED THEIR TOYOTA CALIFORNIA (TAC) AND RELATED MY PROBLEM TO THEM. THE RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA WAS THAT MY EPISODES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WAS JUST THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGING NORMALLY. THIS IS AFTER THE PRESS RELEASE FROM TOYOTA CORPORATION ON THE MORNING OF 02/04/10 ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM EXISTING WITH THE 2010 PRIUS BUT CLAIMING TO HAVE ALREADY FIXED THE PROBLEM ON ALL NEW 2010 PRIUS AUTOMOBILES SOLD SINCE JANUARY 2010. MY TWO QUESTIONS ARE 1) IF TOYOTA DISCOVERED A PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 PRIUS THAT THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED ON ALL 2010 PRIUS VEHICLES SOLD SINCE JANUARY, WHY HAS TOYOTA NOT CONTACTED ME ABOUT WHAT IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE? I HAVE OWNED AND BEEN DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS SINCE SEPTEMBER '09. 2) WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC REPAIR THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY PERFORMED ON ALL 2010 PRIUS AUTOMOBILES SINCE JANUARY 1, 2010? WHY DID MY TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH A REPAIR? WAS THERE A SAFETY BULLETIN ISSUED BY TOYOTA? WHY HAS TOYOTA NOT ALREADY AGREED TO REPAIR MY 2010 PRIUS (SOLD IN SEPTEMBER '09) WITH THE SAME REPAIR ALLEGEDLY ALREADY PERFORMED ON 2010 PRIUS AUTOMOBILES SOLD AFTER JANUARY 1, 2010? *TR

I PURCHASED 2010 PRIUS 3RD GENERATION LAST AUGUST AND MY WIFE AND ME EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN I PASSED BUMPY ROAD AT LOW SPEED I FELT LOST BRAKING (SURGED FORWARD) FOR A SECOND. MY WIFE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN IT RAINED IN LOS ANGELES. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER LAST OCTOBER BUT THEY SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN MY CAR. SO I INSISTED THE INSPECTION SO THE DEALER ARRANGED TO SHOW MY PRIUS TO THE EXPERT FROM TOYOTA CENTER AND I HAD TO WAIT IT 2 MONTHS. LAST MONTH (EARLY JANUARY) IT WAS INSPECTED BY THE EXPERT FROM TOYOTA CENTER AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT I HEARD THE SIMPLE ANSWER FROM THE DEALER THAT THE TECHNICIAN FOUND NO PROBLEM. SINCE THE INSPECTION MY WIFE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR 1 YEAR OLD BABY PASSING ON THE POTHOLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. *TR

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS DOES NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THE KEY AND WILL NOT OPEN DOORS AND NOT START THE VEHICLE. THE GEAR SHIFT JUMPS OUT OF GEAR GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND VICE VERSA. THE HEATER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LURCH FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS OR BUMPY AND ICY ROAD SURFACES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V039000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE). THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2010 PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM. CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS JUMPING FORWARD WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND TRAVELING OVER BUMPY ROADS OR POTHOLES. PURCHASED CAR IN OCTOBER 2009 AND THIS HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN 10 TIMES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY NO POWER RESPONSE FOR A SECOND. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN AFTER A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING EXCESSIVELY. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.

I BOUGHT A 2010 PRIUS IN SEPTEMBER 2009. IN OCTOBER, I DROVE OVER A POTHOLE THAT WAS ABOUT 6 INCHES DEEP AND COVERED THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE LANE. HERE IS WHAT IT FELT LIKE HAPPENED: WHEN THE BACK WHEELS HIT THE BOTTOM OR THE TOP OF THE POTHOLE, MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME STOPPING IT. I MANAGED TO NOT CRASH INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT JUST BARELY. IT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE. THE POTHOLE WAS APPARENTLY THE RESULT OF WORK ON THE ROAD, B/C IT WAS SQUARED, LIKE THE PAVEMENT HAD BE INTENTIONALLY CUT. *TR

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE NOTICED THAT IF YOU ARE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND ONE OF THE WHEELS OF THE CAR HAPPEN TO HIT A POTHOLE OR BUMP THE BRAKES SEEM TO MOMENTARILY RELEASE AND THEN GRAB AGAIN. MY FOOT IS NOT COMING OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT'S AS IF THE CAR LUNGES AHEAD FOR A SPLIT SECOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE BRAKES BEGAN TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT AFTER THE FINAL INSPECTION THE BRAKES WERE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,500.

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS - DRIVING ON ALABAMA STATE HIGHWAY CLOSER TO NASHVILLE, TN WE HIT A DEER. THIS WAS ON OCT 12, 2009 AROUND 8:30 AM IN THE MORNING. THE ROAD WAS VERY EMPTY AND CLEAR VISIBILITY. THE DEER CAME IN FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD FROM THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND JUMPED INTO OUR LANE. I HAD CLEAR VISIBILITY OF THE DEER AND APPLIED SUDDEN BRAKES...WE HIT THE DEER AND HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ON THE CAR. WE NEVER THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR...BUT NOW WITH SO MUCH OF SCRUTINY GOING ON WITH THIS NEW PRIUS, WE DO WANT TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF YOUR ORGANIZATION THAT FROM DAY 1 OF PURCHASING THE CAR THE BRAKES ARE REALLY FUNKY. WE HAD AN SUV BEFORE AND COMPARED TO THAT THIS CAR IS VERY VERY SENSITIVE ON THE BRAKES. IF WE ARE GOING IN AT HIGH SPEED AND BRAKE SUDDENLY IT DOES NOT COME TO AN ABRUPT HALT AND WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IS WAY THESE CARS WERE. I NEVER HAD A NEW CAR AND NEVER COULD IMAGINE SOMETHING LIKE A BREAK ISSUE. SO COMING TO THE DEER HIT I FEEL NOW IN HIND SIGHT THAT WE HAD ENOUGH TIME AND DISTANCE TO AVOID HIITTING THE ANIMAL AND COULD NOT STOP ON TIME. THE CAR TOOK AN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND WE GOT IT REPAIRED AT A TOYOTA DEALER SHIP IN NASHVILLE AND TOOK A RENTAL CAR HOME. THE CAR LOOKS GREAT LIKE A NEW ONE BUT THE BRAKE IS STILL THE SAME. ON LOW SPEEDS IF I BREAK IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE PLACED REALLY HARD/SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND ON HIGH SPEED THE CAR DEFINETLY NEEDS LOT OF TIME TO STOP *CN

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES BEFORE GOING OVER A POTHOLE I NOTICED THAT MY 2010 PRIUS APPEARED TO SPEED UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND RATHER THAN SLOW DOWN. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WENT OVER THE POTHOLE. I ALSO NOTED THE SAME SENSATION WHEN BRAKING BEHIND CARS AT A STOP LIGHT. IF I HIT A BUMP THE CAR SEEMS TO SLIGHTLY ACCELERATE RATHER THAN DECELERATE. ADDITIONALLY WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN A ICY HILL AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE WAS A DELAY IN ANY BRAKING. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES HARDER THE CAR DID DECELERATE EVENTUALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES, BUT IS HARD TO REPLICATE ON DEMAND. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES WHEN I AM ON A BUMPY ROAD AND WANT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE PROBLEM DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN WHEN SLOWING OVER A BUMPY ROAD, ONLY WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR ALMOST SEEMS TO SKID A BIT AND I DEFINITELY DO NOT FEEL AS IF I HAVE CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHILE IT'S ONLY A SPLIT SECOND, IT'S NOT A VERY COMFORTABLE SPLIT SECOND. THANKFULLY I HAVE NOT BEEN IN THIS SITUATION WITH ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE DRIVER STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROADWAY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO VIOLENTLY REV. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND HE RESUMED NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION IN WHICH THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,700. UPDATED 01/15/10. *LJ UPDATED 01/19/10.*JB

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. FROM THE FIRST WEEK I OWNED THE CAR HERE IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM. FREQUENTLY, WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, THEN AS IT BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD - THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH ON THE BRAKE CAUSED THE WHEELS TO LOCK-UP, BADLY LURCHING MYSELF AND THE PASSENGER. AFTER DRIVING FOR A SHORT WHILE THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR ITS 5,000 MILE OIL CHANGE - TOLD THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (RODLAND TOYOTA EVERETT WA) ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS CHECKED OUT AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN TO GO AROUND A CURVE THAT ALSO GOES DOWNHILL, MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS SEEMS TO SPEED UP FOR A FEW SECONDS IN THE MIDST OF THE TURN. I CAN'T TELL IF THIS IS THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILING OR THE ACCELERATOR KICKING IN. IT'S NOT CENTRIFUGAL FORCE, BECAUSE THERE IS A CLEAR SURGE FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS PRETTY REGULARLY, AS THIS IS A MANEUVER THAT I MAKE REGULARLY ON MY WAY HOME. I PUT IN AN ARBITRARY DATE BELOW, BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. I NOTICE THIS HAPPENING AT OTHER TIMES TOO, BUT I DON'T HAVE A CONSISTENT RECORD OF WHEN AND WHERE IT HAPPENS. *CN

2010 PRIUS BRAKES DOES NOT WORK IF THE VEHICLE GOES OVER A BUMP OR A POT HOLE WHILE BRAKES BEING APPLIED..IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES...EVEN COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ONCE...DEALER SAYS THERE ARE NO TECHNICAL BULITON OR TECHNICAL FIX ON THE ISSUE. *TR

THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AT TIMES DO NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY. IT MAY BE NECESSARY AT THOSE TIMES TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BY 1/3RD BEFORE BRAKING BEGINS. THERE IS A SIMILAR DELAY WHEN BRAKING IS USED TO TURN OFF CRUISE CONTROL. NEITHER OF THESE HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IN BOTH CASES THERE IS SOME RISK.

2010 PRIUS. WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED, AND VEHICLE IS SLOWING NORMALLY, IF THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS A POTHOLE OR OTHER VERY ROUGH ROAD SURFACE, THE BRAKE WILL SOMETIMES DISENGAGE BRIEFLY, BUT ABRUPTLY. THE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE FORWARD. IN THE THREE TIMES I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS, THE BRAKES 'CATCH' AGAIN VERY SHORTLY AFTER THE POTHOLE -- LESS THAN A SECOND. *TR

MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING ON A 2010 PRIUS MODEL IV. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON THE 30TH OF SEPTEMBER 2010 AND CURRENTLY HAS 3460 MILES. DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF OPERATION THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO WORK CORRECTLY. WE THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE DO TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS NEW AND THE BRAKES NEED TO BE USED AS A BRAKE IN PERIOD. WE NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP DURING THE SECOND WEEK OF OPERATION. THEY INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST CONCERN THEY HAVE RECEIVED. THEY STATED THAT WHEN WE BRING IT IN FOR THE FIRST 5000 MILE SERVICE THEY WOULD CHECK THE BRAKES. SINCE THE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING DID NOT HAPPEN THAT OFTEN AND ONLY ON BUMPY ROADS OR OVER SPEED BUMPS WE WERE NOT TOO CONCERNED.I DID CALL THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN ON 2/4/2010 AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS THAT A PERSON IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO OWNS A 2006 PRIUS STATED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS BUT IS MUCH MORE NOTICEABLE IN THE 2010 MODEL.. TOYOTA HAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER TO OUR COMPLAINT ( 1002108541 ). NO ACCIDENT TO DATE BUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT INCLUDE WORRYING WHETHER OR NOT THE BRAKES WILL STOP IN TIME. *TR

2010 PRIUS VIN BRAKES WILL DELAY AND GRAB AT TIMES. ARE FAMILY GOT TWO 2010 PRIUS AUG 2009 AND BOTH HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. DELAY AND GRABBING PROBLEM. *TR

ON 7 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASING OUR TOYOTA PRIUS 6 MONTHS AGO, WHILE PUSHING THE BRAKES, THE CAR HAS LURCHED FORWARD AS THOUGH SOMEONE PUSHED DOWN ON THE GAS. *JB

PRIUS 2010. 1. WHEN STOPPING AND ONE OF MY FRONT TIRES GOES OVER A POTHOLE, STICK, OR ANY OTHER MARKEDLY UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE BRAKES RELEASE PROPELLING THE CAR FORWARD. 2. I NOTICE MOST WHEN I AM GOING DOWN HILL. SO FAR IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I AM GOING SLOWLY AND BRAKING HARD ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC WHEN I AM MERELY SLOWING DOWN IN TRAFFIC. 3. I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE WAY THE BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. I POINTED OUT THAT I HAVE OWNED 11 CARS OVER THE YEARS AND RENTED FAR MORE AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE. THE COMPLAINT FELL ON DEAD EARS. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2010 PRIUS IN AUGUST 2009. IT SHOWS NO EVIDENCE OF AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. I REPORTED THIS TO THE TAYLOR TOYOTA OF ALEXANDRIA IN OCTOBER WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY DID NOTHING. ADDITIONALLY, THE AVID FACTORY TIRES ON THE CAR ARE NOT EFFECTIVE ON WET PAVEMENT; THEY SKID. AGAIN, I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AND AGAIN THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF A PROBLEM BUT REFERRED ME TO THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT TO BUY NEW TIRES. FINALLY, WHEN I ENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR SURGES FORWARD IN SPEED UNTIL I DEPRESS THE BRAKE. I STOPPED USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE SUMMER OF 2009 AND ON THE 2ND DAY OF OWNERSHIP WHEN I WAS BRAKING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON TO MY STREET WHERE I LIVE THE CAR INCREASED IN SPEED UP WHEN I WAS MAKING MY TURN WHILE BRAKING OVER A BUMPY SURFACE IN THE ROAD.YHIS CONDITION ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ROADWAY HAS IMPERFECTIONS AND IS ROUGH.I HAD TOLD THE DEALER ABOUT THIS CONDITON AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE SENSORS AND IT WAS A NORMAL CONDITON WHICH I THINK IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THIS HAPPEND WHEN I WAS BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AND CAME CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *CN

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND IT ACCELERATES RANDOMLY. USUALLY WHEN I PUSH ON THE BRAKE A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT ALL THE WAY, IT WILL JUMP FORWARD AND ACCELERATE. I HEARD ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THE MAT AND I REMOVED THE MAT MONTHS AGO. ITS IS STILL UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATING. IT HAS HAPPENED MAY 6 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY SPARE CAR UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE BY TOYOTA OR SOMEONE ELSE THAT CARES ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS. *TR

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT AN ONCOMING INTERSECTION, STOP LIGHT, OR STOP SIGN. THIS ONLY OCCURS IF THE CAR COMES TO A POT HOLE OR "WASHBOARD" SURFACE IN THE ROAD WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF NORMAL BRAKING. I DON'T BELIEVE THE TRACTION CONTROL IS RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THE TRACTION LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT ALSO DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ABS BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE FOR ABOUT A SECOND DUE TO THE TIRE OR TIRES LOOSING TRACTION FOR A SPLIT SECOND. I HAVE DUPLICATED THIS EVENT MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE SAME AREA AND HAVE LEARNED TO ANTICIPATE IT WHEN DRIVING THIS ROUTE. HOWEVER, WHEN IT HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY, IT CERTAINLY GETS YOUR ATTENTION. *TR