2005 Toyota Prius complaints

WHEN I AM BRAKING AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND HIT A POT HOLE OR SOME OTHER ROAD DEFECT, MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES/BRAKING DOES NOT FUNCTION FOR ABOUT 1/2 A SECOND. IF I HIT 2 POTHOLES CONSECUTIVELY, THE PROBLEM WILL OCCUR EACH TIME. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AS IT OCCURS FREQUENTLY. THE DEALERSHIPS COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 PRIUS RECALL. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING TEMPORARY BRAKE FAILURES SINCE THE FIRST WINTER IN 2005, OFTEN ON RAINY OR SNOWY DAYS, DRIVING DOWN HILL WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AT A STOP SIGN. I HAVE HAD 4 NEAR-MISSES, TWICE WITH THE CAR COMING INTO THE MIDDLE OF BUSY STREET AND WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS HAD THERE BEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, EACH TIME BEING TOLD THAT THE CAR IS PERFORMING TO SPEC, AND HYBRIDS TAKE LONGER TO BRAKE. I DO NOT BUY THIS ARGUMENT SINCE IT DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY BEHAVE THIS WAY, AND IF THE BRAKE CANNOT BE ENGAGED IN TIME, THEN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE TO BEGIN WITH. PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATION BRINGS OUR FAMILIES NO COMFORT WHEN WE LIE DEAD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THIS SAME PROBLEM IS BEING INVESTIGATED AND ADDRESSED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT TOYOTA WILL CONTINUE TO REFUSE ACKNOWLEDGING AND ADDRESSING THIS FATAL DEFECT UNTIL NHTSA PRESSURES THEM TO. PLEASE BROADEN THE PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE GEN 2 PRIUS ALSO, FROM YEARS 2004 THROUGH 2009. A QUICK GOOGLE WILL DEMONSTRATE HOW WIDE-SPREAD THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AMONG MANY UNHAPPY PRIUS OWNERS.*TR

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING TEMPORARY BRAKE FAILURES SINCE THE FIRST WINTER IN 2005, OFTEN ON RAINY OR SNOWY DAYS, DRIVING DOWN HILL WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AT A STOP SIGN. INSTEAD OF RESPONDING TO THE BRAKE, THE CAR WILL APPEAR TO TEMPORARILY SURGE FORWARD. I HAVE HAD 4 NEAR-MISSES, TWICE WITH THE CAR COMING INTO THE MIDDLE OF BUSY STREET AND WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS HAD THERE BEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, EACH TIME BEING TOLD THAT THE CAR IS PERFORMING TO SPEC, AND HYBRIDS TAKE LONGER TO BRAKE. I DO NOT BUY THIS ARGUMENT SINCE IT DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY BEHAVE THIS WAY, AND IF THE BRAKE CANNOT BE ENGAGED IN TIME, THEN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE TO BEGIN WITH. PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATION BRINGS OUR FAMILIES NO COMFORT WHEN WE LIE DEAD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THIS SAME PROBLEM IS BEING INVESTIGATED AND ADDRESSED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT TOYOTA WILL CONTINUE TO REFUSE ACKNOWLEDGING AND ADDRESSING THIS FATAL DEFECT UNTIL NHTSA PRESSURES THEM TO. PLEASE BROADEN THE PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE GEN 2 PRIUS ALSO, FROM YEARS 2004 THROUGH 2009. A QUICK GOOGLE WILL DEMONSTRATE HOW WIDE-SPREAD THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AMONG MANY UNHAPPY PRIUS OWNERS. *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 2005 PRIUS ON 3/29/2006. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT REMAINS A MYSTERY. I WAS SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION, WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT I PULLED OUT INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. DUE TO THE INJURIES I SUFFERED (A MINOR CONCUSSION RESULTING IN RETROGRADE AMNESIA), I HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF THE PERIOD PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT THE INTERSECTION UP UNTIL THE PARAMEDICS REMOVED ME FROM THE VEHICLE. AS SUCH, I CAN'T EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. WHILE I HAVE NO PROOF OF THIS, IT SEEMS THAT A POSSIBILITY WOULD BE AN ISSUE WITH THE STUCK ACCELERATOR THAT'S BEING REPORTED RELATING TO THE PRIUS. I'VE BEEN AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN WHY I WOULD HAVE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION THAT I WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH. WHEN I HEARD OF THE ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH THE PRIUS, I WONDERED IF THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, IT'S NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. I THOUGHT I'D SUBMIT THIS REPORT TO ADD TO THE SUSPECTED CASES OF ACCELERATOR ISSUES. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS THE SAME BRAKE/ACCELERATION PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE MEDIA. SOMETIMES WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES ON BUMPY SURFACES, THE CAR TENDS TO ACCELERATE - OR EVEN LIFT UP SLIGHTLY - UNTIL THE WHEELS TOUCH DOWN AND REGAIN CONTACT WITH A FLAT SURFACE. I NEVER PUMP THE BRAKES, BUT WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MY CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE IS MOMENTARILY INTERRUPTED. THIS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT I IGNORED IT. HOWEVER, WHEN I READ A DESCRIPTION OF THIS BRAKING PROBLEM BEING REPORTED ON 2010 MODELS, I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED IT AS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED FROM TIME TO TIME. NOTE: THE "INCIDENT DATE" IS MERELY AN ESTIMATE OF THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2005 PRIUS SHOWS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE "CAUTION: THE TRANSMISSION P LOCK MECHANISM IS ABNORMAL. PARK YOUR CAR AT A FLAT PLACE, AND APPLY PARKING BRAKE COMPLETELY". IF I TURN OFF THE POWER AND TURN IT ON EVERYTHING IS OK. DEALER WANTS 57 USD TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG. *TR

CONTINUATION TO INCIDENT# 10310144, THE PROBLEM SHOWED UP AT THE DEALER'S SERVICE BAY. THE SERVICE TECHNICAL PEOPLE SAW THAT BUT STILL WANTED A SEPARATE DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF $57 TO TELL ME THE REAL ISSUE. I AM SURE THEY WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD ANY DAMAGE. FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, I'VE BEEN NOTICING A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER. USUALLY IN COLD WEATHER (BELOW ABOUT 40 DEGREES F), THE GEAR SHIFTER DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS. FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL PUT IT IN DRIVE, RELEASE THE GEAR SHIFT, AND IT IMMEDIATELY REVERTS TO NEUTRAL. SAME THING HAPPENS WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE. TO GO ANYWHERE, I HAVE TO HOLD THE GEAR SHIFT IN THE GEAR I NEED. SOMETIMES, IF I HOLD IT IN DRIVE FOR ABOUT A MINUTE, IT FINALLY STAYS IN DRIVE WHEN I RELEASE IT. SO FAR IT HASN'T JUMPED GEARS WHILE DRIVING - ONLY WHEN I FIRST TURN THE CAR ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TODAY AND HE SAID HE'S SEEN SEVERAL CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND SAID I HAVE TO GET THE ENTIRE GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM REPLACED, WHICH COSTS ~$700. I'M NERVOUS THAT IF I DON'T GET IT REPLACED, THE GEARS COULD JUMP WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT BEHIND A VAN, THE VAN ABRUPTLY STOPPED. I HIT THE BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENABLE RIGHT AWAY AND THE CAR I WAS DRIVING REAR-ENDED THE VAN. *TR

AFTER CHANGING LANES FROM THE LEFT RIGHT LANE TO THE LEFT LANE NEAR DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, A CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ON A YELLOW LIGHT. I QUICKLY HIT THE BRAKES WHICH SEEMED TO SLOWLY ENGAGE AND WAS HIT THE CAR FROM BEHIND. *TR

CAR ALWAYS SURGES WHEN I HIT A SLIPPERY PATCH. IT HAS DONE THIS FOR YEARS AND I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. (LOCAL SERVICE AT DEALER), BUT AM ALWAYS TOLD IT'S NORMAL. *TR

HEADLIGHT HEIGHT CONTROL SENSOR FAILED ON MY 2005 PRIUS. STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS IN 2008 WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN I TOOK IT TO DEALER, BECAUSE PROBLEM WAS ON AGAIN/OFF AGAIN, HE COULDN'T FIND IT. BY THE TIME DEALER FINALLY FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS - IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

AFTER LISTENING TO PUBLICITY ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS PROBLEM I REALIZE THAT I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF BRAKE FADE IN MY 2005 PRIUS. THERE IS A BRIDGE SECTION THAT I DRIVE OVER SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH. THIS BRIDGE SECTION IS 1 INCH HIGHER THAN THE ASPHALT ROAD AND ON A STEEP HILL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE A STOP SIGN. SO IF I AM BRAKING AS I HIT THE BRIDGE SECTION, I NOTICE AN IMMEDIATE BRAKE FADE. SO FOR ALL THESE YEARS, I ASSUMED IT WAS AN ABS PECULIARITY WITH CAR UNWEIGHTING. I'VE LEARNED TO BRAKE HARD IMMEDIATELY BEFORE I ENTER THE BRIDGE SECTION, RELEASE THE BRAKES AS I HIT THE EDGE OF THE BRIDGE SECTION, BRAKE HARD ON THE BRIDGE SECTION AND RELEASE AS I DROP OFF THE SECTION, THEN BRAKE TO THE STOP SIGN. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER SITUATIONS BUT I AM AWARE OF THE BRAKE FADE AND MIGHT BE ANTICIPATING THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2005. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT,IT STARTED IN DECEMBER 2009 AND AS OF TODAY THEY GO OUT ABOUT EVERY 5-10 MINUTES ... I CALLED TOYOTAS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY IMPLIED THERE WAS NO WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2005 PRIUS ... I HAVE AN ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT SAYS (THE PRIUS IS A HIGHLY COMPUTERIZED CAR AND HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS IN THE PAST ... IN 2005 TOYOTA REPAIRED 75,000 PRIUS THAT HAD A SOFTWARE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL AND THE PRIUS ALSO HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT SINCE 2001 ) IS THERE A FIX THAT THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME ABOUT ... THANKS. *TR

MY WIFE AND I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED 2005 PRIUS FROM WILDE TOYOTA IN WEST ALLIS, WI. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE ON ICY ROADS, SLICK ROADS, AND SNOW COVERED ROADS. WE HAVE HAD THREE BRAKE FAILURES. THE FIRST WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE-STREET. I WAS GOING SLOW, LESS THEN 15 MILES PER HOUR, AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO MAKE A TURN. THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE FOR APROX. 2 SECONDS CAUSING ME TO ROLL BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE. THE SECOND OCCURED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, UNDER 40 MILES AN HOUR, ON A MAIN ROAD. AS SHE APPROACHED THE STOPLIGHT SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, WHICH ALSO FAILED TO ENGAGE. DUE TO HER HIGHER SPEED SHE ROLLED OVER 10 FEET AND CAME CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF HER BEFORE THE BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED. THE FINAL OCCURANCE ALSO OCCURED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, THIS TIME AT A HIGHER SPEED BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES ON AN OVERPASS THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE CAR PHYSICALLY SEEMED TO SHAKE A BIT. AFTER BEING UNABLE TO STOP FOR SEVERAL FEET THE BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGED. WE BELIEVE THESE OCCURANCES ARE DUE TO AN ERROR WITH OUR ABS SYSTEM. IN EACH OCCURANCE THE "SLIPPERY ROAD" WARNING HAS APPEARED. WE TOOK IT TO WILDE TAYOTA THIS MORNING. AFTER SOFTWARE TESTING AS WELL AS ROAD TESTING ON THEIR SNOW COVERED LOT THEY FAILED TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO SYSTEM ERRORS WERE PRESENT AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION. WE ARE, HOWEVER, STIL

EASILY REPLICATED, UNEXPECTED BRAKE RELEASE ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. 1) DRIVE OVER ROUGH PART OF ROAD, OR SLICK SPOT 2) APPLY BRAKES 3) NO RESPONSE FROM BRAKES FOR A SECOND OR SO. *TR

WE HAVE A 2005 PRIUS HYBRID. IT HAS, EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED IT, OCCASIONALLY ACCELERATED WHEN WE HAVE PUT ON BRAKES. IT STOPS AFTER A SECOND OR TWO, AND HAS NEVER CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, THOUGH IT IS SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS. I BELIEVE THE ONLY RECALL THAT APPLIES TO THIS MODEL YEAR IS THE FLOOR MAT PROBLEM, WHICH IS NOT THE ISSUE. WHAT I'VE READ IS THAT THE OLDER PRIUS'S DON'T HAVE THE BRAKING/ACCELERATION PROBLEM. BUT OURS CERTAINLY DOES. WE LOVE THE CAR OTHERWISE, BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOME ACTION WE SHOULD TAKE REGARDING THIS, AND IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 AND 2010 PRIUS. I HAVE NOTICED A SENSE OF"SURGE" WHEN BRAKING SLOWLY OVER IRREGULAR PAVEMENT WITH BOTH CARS. I ALWAYS JUST CONSIDERED IT A QUIRK OF THE CAR. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT THIS BRAKING PROBLEM IS AT LEAST PRESENT IN THE 2005 PRIUSES. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS RELATING TO THIS. NOTHING YET HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS. *TR

MY 2005 MODEL PRIUS LOST BRAKE MOMENTARILY AND ACCELERATED ON A BUMPY STRETCH OF ROAD. IT HAPPENS ALWAYS I PASS OVER THE SAME STRETCH JUST ON A STOP SIGNAL. IT STOPPED VERY CLOSE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT AFTER REGAINING THE BRAKE LUCKILY AVOIDING ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED ON THE 2010 PRIUS AND IS BEING RECALLED. *TR

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE PREPARING TO STOP FROM 40 MPH IN 05 TOYOTA PRIUS LAST SEPTEMBER. HAD AT LEAST THREE OCCURRENCES DURING THE SUMMER OF THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING QUICKLY AND EASILY TO THE FLOOR, MAKING A "THUNK" NOISE, SOUNDING AND FEELING LIKE METAL ON METAL, BUT THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AGAIN IMMEDIATELY, AND CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR MY MECHANIC TO HEAR. TOYOTA DIAGNOSED A COMPUTER FAILURE THAT COST ME $2000 TO REPLACE. *TR

I OWN A 2005 PRIUS, BOUGHT NEW. I NOW HAVE 130,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED AND MAINTAINED AT SCHEDULED INTERVALS, MOSTLY BY A TOYOTA DEALER. #1: I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SINCE THE FIRST WINTER THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR THAT THE "TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM" IS DANGEROUS IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. WHENEVER THE ROAD IS SLIPPERY, IF THE CAR SENSES WHEELSPIN, IT CUTS POWER TO THE ENGINE. THIS IS SCARY IF YOU'RE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC ON A RAINY DAY, AS THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES JUST QUIT RUNNING FOR A SECOND, LEAVING YOU VULNERABLE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SNOW IS FAR WORSE. I LIVE ON A HILLY ROAD. IF IT'S SNOWY THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN, AND SIMPLY STOP TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE FIRST STEEP SLOPE I COME TO. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD I MASH ON THE ACCELERATOR, OR IF I BACK OFF AND TRY AGAIN, THE CAR WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE. ONCE THE CAR STOPS MOVING FORWARD IT BEGINS TO SLIDE BACKWARDS, AND CONTROL IS TOTALLY LOST. I WAS NEARLY KILLED THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED (IN ABOUT ONE INCH OF SNOW) AS MY CAR EVENTUALLY SLIPPED SIDEWAYS ACROSS THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. AN SUV CAME DOWN THE HILL AND NEARLY BROADSIDED ME BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TURNED BACK DOWN THE HILL. (MY CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH AGGRESSIVE SNOW TIRES AT THE TIME.) EVER SINCE THEN, IF I'M COMING HOME FROM WORK IN THE SNOW, I LEAVE MY CAR IN THE SHOPPING CENTER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND CALL MY HUSBAND, WHO PICKS ME UP WITH HIS FORD BRONCO. # 2: ANTI-LOCK BRAKING. THE 2010 PRIUS'S AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WIT

I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER SINCE I HAVE HAD MY 2005 PRIUS (I BOUGHT IT NEW) THAT AT SLOW SPEEDS ON OCCASION WHEN I JUST VERY LIGHTLY TOUCH THE BRAKE MY PRIUS WILL SUDDENLY STOP AS IF I HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THEY INSIST THAT THEY HAVE TO SEE THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NATURALLY THE CAR DOESN'T DO IT WHEN THEY HAVE IT FOR SERVICE. I SELECTED "SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC" BELOW BECAUSE, YOU DON'T HAVE A SELECTION FOR JUST "BRAKES". *TR

BRAKING ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP AND YOU HIT A BUMPY SURFACE OR MANHOLE COVER THE ANTILOCK BRAKES GO OFF AND THE BRAKES RELEASE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS AND YOU FEEL AS IF YOU ARE SKIDDING ON ICE. *TR

ABOUT 1-2 TIMES PER MONTH, I'VE NOTICED WHAT FEELS LIKE A VERY SMALL MOMENTARY ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING, IF I HIT A BUMP/POTHOLE AT THE SAME TIME. I'VE ONLY NOTICED THE ISSUE WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, SINCE TRANSFERRING AND USING A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO GET TO/FROM WORK. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS - I HAVE HAD BRAKING PROBLEM. NEAR WHERE I LIVE THERE IS A SMALL POTHOLE NEAR AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGH. WHEN TRYING TO STOP IF I HIT THE POTHOLE THE CAR'S BRAKES JUST SEEM TO DISAPPEAR FOR A SECOND. ALMOST RAN OUT THROUGH STOP SIGN. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES SO I AM NOW VERY CAREFUL TO AVOID THE HOLE BY NEARLY RUNNING OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. NOW I HEAR THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME THING WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. I'VE ALREADY HAD THE "FLOOR MAT" RECALL. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I WONDER IF IT IS REALLY THE FLOOR MATS OR THE RUN AWAY GAS PEDAL PROBLEM. I'M GOING ON VACATION AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING RENTING A CAR BECAUSE I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS I'VE NOTICED A STRANGE SENSATION WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR RIPPLES IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BUT DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS A RARE OCCURRENCE. AFTER READING ABOUT TOYOTA'S RECENT RECALL OF THE 2010 PRIUS I REALIZED THAT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS THE BRAKES WERE RELEASING WHILE GOING OVER THE BUMPS. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE FEW TIMES IN THE SNOW, I HAD THE SENSATION THAT THE ANTI-LOCK FUNCTION RELEASED THE BRAKES FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS DURING WHICH I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO SENSATION OF PULSING OR SKID MARKS. THERE IS A RIPPLED SPOT ON A NEARBY ROAD THAT I CAN ALWAYS REPRODUCE THE BRAKE RELEASE ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 (EARLY 2ND GENERATION) PRIUS AND I EXPERIENCED THE LATEST REPORTED "DESIGN FLAW" IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM FROM DAY 1 IN 2005. THE BEST DESCRIPTION I'VE HEARD OF IT IS "INCONSISTENT BRAKING OVER ROUGH SURFACES". THAT IS, WHEN DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE OR BUMP WHEN APPLYING THE (REGENERATIVE) BRAKES, THE BUMP SEEMS TO PUSH BACK, MOMENTARILY DISENGAGING THE BRAKES. THE EFFECT IS AT BEST, UNNERVING, AND AT WORST, SCARY, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO WHEN IT HAPPENS (IE, SLOWING VS TRYING TO STOP). I BROUGHT THIS EXPERIENCE TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER SERVICE PERSONNEL A COUPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND WAS MET WITH THE EQUIVALENT OF BLANK STARES AND THE SOUND OF CRICKETS. BOTTOM LINE, THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM IN 2010 MODEL PRIUS ONLY. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS THAT HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE ISSUES INCLUDING SURGING FORWARD WHEN BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT IS A BIT SCARY. I PLAN TO BRING IT UP TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHEN I GO FOR MY 45,000 MILE TUNE UP, PROBABLY NEXT WEEK. *TR

I CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCE THE FEELING OF MY BRAKES MOMENTARILY RELEASING WHEN GOING OVER A POT HOLE OR TRAIN TRACKS WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS (USUALLY AT LOW SPEED). WHEN I GLANCE TO SEE IF THE ANTI SKID LIGHT IS ON , ON THESE OCCURRENCES IT IS NOT. I HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THE ODD FEELING AND THE SITUATION IS ALWAYS ONLY MOMENTARY SO I CAME TO THINK NOTHING OF IT. HOWEVER, WITH ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT PRIUS BRAKES FAILING COMPLETELY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS ALSO OCCURRING ON MY 2005 MODEL. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BRAKING. IT HAPPENS MOSTLY IN WET WEATHER WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. IT ALWAYS BRAKES AFTER SO I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY SHOULD KNOW IT IS NOT JUST 2010 CARS, IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

THE BRAKES "SLIP" WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THIS EXPERIENCE IS SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL RECALL. I AM DRIVING A 2005 PRIUS HYBRID AND HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SLIPS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN OCTOBER OF 2005. TO DATE THE SLIPPING HAS NOT RESULTED IN A CRASH, INJURY OR FAILURE HOWEVER I HAVE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES FAILED WHEN I TRIED TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS RED UNTIL I WAS VERY CLOSE TO IT, SO I "SLAMMED" ON THE BRAKES. I HAD MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE PEDAL AND IT WAS LIKE THE BRAKES RELEASED. LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LATER, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE PRIUS AND TRAFFIC INFRONT OF US STOPPED VERY QUICKLY. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM, THE BRAKES RELEASED WHEN HE HAD THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN. AGAIN THIS WAS AN "EXTREME" BRAKING SITUATION. I TOOK THE PRIUS TO DARCARS IN FREDERICK, MD, WHERE I BOUGHT IT, TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN. THEY SAID IF ANYTHING WENT WRONG IT WOULD BE RECORDED IN THE SOFTWARE OF THE CAR AND IT WASN'T SO THAT MEANT THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I THEN TRADED THE CAR IN FOR A RAV4 BECAUSE I WASN'T GOING TO DRIVE A CAR THAT HAD UNRELIABLE BRAKES. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES FAILED TOTALLY WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I TOUCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES LOCKED HARD, AND THE SMELL OF THE BRAKE BANDS WAS HIGH. I SLOWED TO 20 MPH AND WENT TO TONIO DIVION TOYOTA IN RIVERDALE UTAH. THE DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY HAD NOT EXPIRED, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT A PART OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE ELECTRONIC BOARD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $985.87. IF THIS QUALIFIES ON A PRIUS RECALL CAN I GET ANY MONEY BACK? *TR

SEVERAL TIMES OVER PAST 5 YEARS MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS ABS SYSTEM HAD RELEASED THE BRAKES FOR UNCOMFORTABLE AMOUNT OF TIME (0.5-1.0 SECONDS) WHEN COMING TO A STOP OVER SLIGHTLY BUMPY ROAD. IF I DIDN'T KEEP GOOD DISTANCE I COULD HAVE CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

2005 PRIUS THAT HAS THE SAME BRAKING ISSUES THAT THE 2010 PRIUS IS BEING RECALLED FOR. THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY FAIL WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND HITTING ROUGH OR SLICK ROAD SPOTS. THIS BEHAVIOR HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED MY PRIUS. *TR

MY 2005 PRIUS SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD DURING A SNOW STORM. I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF SPEED. MY CAR HIT 2 TREES HEAD ON AND WAS TOTALED. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I INFORMED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND TOYOTA (SENT THEM PICTURES) AND NEITHER SEEMED TO FEEL IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH TOYOTA'S RESPONSE, AND SINCE I WOULD NEVER BUY A SMALL CAR UNLESS I HAD ABSOLUTE FAITH IN ITS AIRBAG SYSTEM'S ABILITY TO PROTECT ME IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, I CHOSE NOT TO BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA VEHICLE. THE PRIUS WAS MY THIRD TOYOTA, AND I HAD BEEN VERY LOYAL TO THE BRAND FOR YEARS DUE TO THEIR RECORD OF QUALITY, RELIABILITY AND SAFETY. I STILL HAVE PICTURES OF MY WRECKED CAR. PLEASE CONTACT ME, IF ANYONE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN REVIEWING THEM. I DID NOT FILE A REPORT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT IN RETROSPECT THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE. I AM ONLY WRITING NOW TO ALERT YOUR AGENCY THAT THERE MAY ALSO BE AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT PROBLEM WITH EARLIER PRIUS MODELS. *TR

I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT WAITING FOR IT TO TURN GREEN WHEN MY BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I ONLY HAD A FEW BLOCKS TO GET TO MY DESTINATION AND THE BRAKES STILL WORKED IF I PUSHED ON THEM REALLY HARD. I GOT IT PARKED AND LEFT IT FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS AND WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THEY WORKED FINE AGAIN. IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE. I HAVE ABS BRAKES. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS BRAKE ISSUE. WHEN BRAKING OVER POTHOLE OR BUMP, I MOMENTARILY LOOSE ALL BRAKE. THE BRAKE COMES BACK ABOUT 1 SEC LATER. THIS HAS ALWAYS HAPPENED, I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT I AM ONLY TOLD THAT I NEED TO 'GET USED TO IT'. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS I HAVE THE SAME BRAKING ISSUE THAT THE 2010 PRIUS HAS WITH BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACES AND HITTING POT HOLDS MY BRAKES HAVE MEMORY LOSS THEY HIT THE UNEVEN SURFACE THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE, IT FEELS LIKE IT GETS AIR BORNE ALSO WHEN THE WEATHER IS WET THE BRAKES LOCK UP, I BARELY TOUCH THEM THEN BRAKES LOCK THROWING EVERYTHING FORWARD. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKE ISSUES THE LAST TIME WAS ABOUT 10/09 THEY FOUND NO TROUBLE, BOTH PROBLEM ARE CURRENT ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO TELL ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *TR

DURING A DRIVE ON US224 IN OHIO, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA ON CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER PASSING A VEHICLE, HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BY BRAKING BUT THE CAR WAS STILL TRYING TO ACCELERATE. IT TOOK FOUR ITERATIONS OF PUSHING ON THE BRAKE TO FINALLY MAKE THE CAR SLOW DOWN. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND STOP. DURING THE INCIDENT, WE COULD FEEL THE PULL OF ACCELERATION EVEN WHEN HE WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. IF HE LET OFF OF THE BRAKE THE CAR WOULD BEGIN ACCELERATING AGAIN. WE DID HAVE AN AFTERMARKET FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE, HOWEVER IT IS A VERY HEAVY, THICK MAT THAT DOES NOT MOVE. WE ARE 100% CONVINCED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT ON TOP OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DURING THIS INCIDENT (AS PROVEN BY THE CAR FINALLY SLOWING DOWN AND STOPPING WITH OUT THE FLOOR MAT BEING ADJUSTED).

I HAVE NOTICED THE ONGOING DISTURBANCE WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, AS DESCRIBED IN MEDIA REPORTS ON THE NEWER PRIUS MODELS. DURING THE BRAKING PROCESS, IF I ENCOUNTER ANY DISTURBANCE IN THE ROAD SUCH AS A POT HOLE OR AN EXPANSION JOINT, I FEEL A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING. THE CAR WILL REGAIN BRAKING CONTROL IF I CONTINUE TO HOLD THE BRAKES DOWN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WAS JUST TO BE EXPECTED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ISSUE EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2008.

CAR SEIZING UP IN 2005 PRIUS WHEN I GO OVER LARGE BUMPS IN THE ROAD-- HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM CONTINUOUSLY OVER PAST 2 1/2 YEARS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 2007 WITH 19,000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE 2010 PRIUS AND A VERY LARGE RECALL IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM IN MY 2005.

FEBURARY 13, 2009, MY BREAKS FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION. NO WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED. MY BREAKS JUST DIDN'T WORK. IN ORDER TO STOP MY VEHICLE FROM SLAMMING INTO CARS WAITING AT THE LIGHT AND PEOPLE CROSSING AT THE CROSS WALK, I APPLIED THE PARKING BREAK AND TURNED OFF MY CAR. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO STOP MY CAR IN TIME. I TURNED MY CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON; INDICATING SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. TOYOTA DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM CITING THE BREAK ACTUATOR AND COMPUTER SKID CONTROL. *CN

I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN OVER A ONE CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS THE DRIVER. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURED ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS DRIVING A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS IS THE SAME EXPLANATION I GAVE TO THE POLICE AND TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I WAS DRIVING SOMEWHERE AROUND 40MPH WHEN I APPLIED THE BREAK. WHEN I DID THIS I DID NOT STAMP ON IT HARSHLY RATHER IN A NORMAL BREAK APPLICATION. IMMEDIATELY MY CAR SLAMMED ACROSS THE ROAD VERY VERY FAST, AND IT ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE. MY SEATBELT HELD ME FIRMLY IN PLACE BUT I WAS TILTED WITH MY HEAD DOWN BY THE PASSANGER SEAT AND MY LEGS UPWARDS TO TOWARD THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I REMAINED IN THAT POSITION FOR ABOUT 20 OR 25 MIN.UNABLE TO MOVE UNTIL THE EMERGENCY SQUAD ARRIVED. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE AMBULANCE. MY CAR WAS DECLARED TO BE TOTALLED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY KEEPS SAYING THAT THE CAR IS NOT ON A RECALL LIST BUT MY ACCIIDENT EXPERIENCE IS CURIOUSLY SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 TOYOTA HYBRIDS.. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE INVESTIGATING ALL POSSIBLE VEHICLE ISSUES. HOW CAN I PERSUE THIS? DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? *CN

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I HIT A BUMP AND TRY TO SLOW DOWN, THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES THE CAR ACCELERATES. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME BUT IS INTERMITTENT. I HAVE TRIED TO COMPLAIN TO TOYOTA BUT CANNOT GET THROUGH. *TW

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. SIMILAR "BRAKING" PROBLEM AS IS IN NEWS FOR 2010 PRIUS. AFTER GOING OVER A (EVEN A SMALL) BUMP, CAR ALMOST LURCHES FORWARD; GLAD I WASN'T NEAR ANOTHER CAR, OR MIGHT HAVE HIT IT. HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS TOOK TO DEALER-DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. SEEMS LIKE MORE OF AN ACCELERATION. DRIVETRAIN PROBLEM. SECOND POSSIBLE PRIUS ISSUE: A FEW TIMES WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ACCELERATOR TO ENTER HIGHWAY FROM FULL STOP, NOTHING FOR A SECOND-A DELAY THAT COULD BE LETHAL. SEEMS AS BAD AS NADER'S CORVAIR-BASED "UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED". WOULD NOT BUY ANOTHER PRIUS. *TW

WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THE PROBLEM WITH BRAKING ON ROUGH PAVEMENT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE 2010 PRIUS. WE HAVE SUFFERED WITH THIS PROBLEM ON OUR 2005 PRIUS SINCE THE BEGINNING *TW

2005 AND 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEMS. I HAVE A 2005 AND A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON BOTH OF THESE VEHICLES, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS WHICH ARE BEING DESCRIBED IN THE NEWS ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE POTENTIAL IS CERTAINLY THERE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN I AM MOVING FORWARD, HAVE THE BRAKE SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED, AND I HIT A POT HOLE OR SPEED BUMP. THE WHEELS MOMENTARILY SPEED UP, SO I REACT BY PRESSING HARDER ON THE BRAKES AND THE WHEELS SLOW DOWN. *TW

2005 PRIUS LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TIRE SLIPPAGE (TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATION.: WHEN THE VEHICLE DETECTS A TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING (GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, RAIN OR WET CONDITIONS, LOOSE GRAVEL, ETC.) ALL POWER IS CUT TO THE WHEELS LEAVING THE CAR IN AN UNCONTROLLED SKIDDING CONDITION. THERE IS NO ANTI-LOCK BRAKING TO THE WHEELS (PULSED ON-OFF-ON) TO KEEP CONTROL. PULLING INTO TRAFFIC OR STOPPING ON WET ROADS HAS ALMOST LED TO ME BEING HIT OR HITTING ANOTHER CAR OR PEDESTRIAN. PRIUS OWNERS OF THE SECOND GENERATION HAVE WELL DOCUMENTED BEING UNABLE TO GO UP DRIVEWAYS AND MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED ACCIDENTS. *TW

WE HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE BRAKING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN NOTED WITH THE 2010 MODELS - THE BRAKES SEEM TO PAUSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN STOPPING ON ROUGH OR SLIPPERY PAVEMENT. WE HAD NOT REPORTED THIS EARLIER, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS WAS JUST AN ILLUSION RESULTING FROM THE HYBRID SYSTEM. NOW THAT THE RECALL IS IN FULL EFFECT, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE SAME DEFECT THAT IS BEING REPORTED. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT ITEM SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2005. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TW