2005 Toyota Prius complaints

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. AT FIRST THE LH HEADLIGHT WOULD INTERNITTENTLY GO OUT. IT WOULD ALSO COME ON DURING MY DRIVE ALSO. THEN MY RH HEADLIGHT WOULD DO THE SAME. I HAVE HAD FOUR INSTANCES WHERE BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT COMPLETELY LEAVING ME IN A SERIOUS SITUATION SINCE I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WITH NO STREET LIGHTING AND CURVEY ROADS. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BLOGGING AND COMPLAINING OF THEIR SAME PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD BY LANCASTER, CA. DEALERSHIP IT NEEDS HEADLAMPS REPLACED. ONLINE PEOPLE ALL STATE THEY HAVED HAD THEM REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MINE GOES OUT SOMETIMES MINUTES AFTER TURNING ON THE CAR. OTHER TIMES IT GOES FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. IT IS RANDOM AND SEEMS TO HAVE NO PATTERN. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS ONLY THE HEADLAMPS BECAUSE OF WHAT THE NUMEROUS PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE SAID IS THE RESULT AFTER THEIR HEADLIGHTS BEING CHANGED. IT STILL GOES OUT ON THEM, JUST EVERY 30 MINUTES NOT EVERY 20 SECONDS THEY WRITE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I HAVE ALSO TRIED LIKE THE ONLINE PEOPLE SUGGEST BY TURNING ON THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH. IT WORKS SO HOW COULD IT BE THE LAMP ONLY? THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $600. TO CHANGE THE LIGHTS. I SAY THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS. *CN

BRAKES STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLIED GOING OVER ROUGH SURFACES SUCH AS RAILROAD TRACKS AND POTHOLES. THIS RESULTS IN A BRIEF SUSPENSION OF BRAKING ACTIVITY. OCCURS EACH TIME THE ABOVE CONDITIONS ARE MET AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. SINCE I ALWAYS REDUCE SPEED IN THESE POTENTIAL SITUATIONS, NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, BUT IT DOES RESULT IN AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN REAR END COLLISIONS. PREVIOUSLY MY 1999 CHEVROLET SUV DID THE SAME THING AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN INHERENT CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ANTILOCK BREAKING SYSTEM. *CN

I NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH BREAKING. IT WOULD LUNGE FORWARD IF I HIT A MANHOLE COVER OR ANY BUMP. I COMPLAINED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL BECAUSE OF THE ABS. IT DIDN'T SEEM NORMAL AND I'VE GOTTEN USED TO IT BUT I WAS FRIGHTENED THE FIRST FEW TIMES. *CN

OUR SON WAS KILLED ON OCT 22ND IN A SINGLE CAR CRASH WHILE DRIVING A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS( THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT HE LOST CONTROL, JUMPED THE CURB AND DIED IN THE ENSUING CRASH) WHILE NEGOTIATING A CURVE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY IN TUCSON AZ. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND OR BRAKE PROBLEMS. I KNOW THIS IS AN OLDER MODEL, BUT IN LIGHT OF TOYOTA'S LIES AND COVER-UPS TIME WILL ONLY TELL. UPDATED 02/19/10 *BF *CN UPDATED 03/10/10 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 09/02/10*JB UPDATE 9/19/2011*CW

ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, ON ROUTE 840 IN UTICA, I FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS TO PASS A CAR. THE PRIUS DOES NOT HAVE A LOT OF POWER, SO FLOORING IT WAS SOMETIMES NECESSARY TO PASS UPHILL. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING. I TOUCHED THE BRAKES. NOTHING. FINALLY, I PUSHED DOWN HARD ON THE BRAKES AND GOT THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED IT OFF. I HAVE RUBBER MATS. I THOUGHT ONE OF THEM HAD GONE UNDER THE PEDAL. "CASE SOLVED" SO I THOUGHT. LAST DECEMBER, AGAIN PASSING A TRUCK UPHILL ON ROUTE 840, I FLOORED THE PRUIS GAS PEDAL. THE SAME THING HAPPENED! THIS TIME I KNEW IT WAS NOT THE MAT BECAUSE I HAD DRILLED HOLES IN IT AND ATTACHED IT TO THE MAT POSTS. IT WAS INCHES AWAY FROM THE GAS PEDAL WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I PUSHED THE BRAKES DOWN HARD AND STRUGGLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD RIGHT BEFORE THE LANES MERGED AND THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE CUT ME OFF (INTO A SWAMP). THE BRAKES, WITH A BURNING SMELL, FOUGHT THE RACING CAR. I FINALLY GOT IT TURNED OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, THE GAS WAS STILL RACING! I TURNED IT OFF AGAIN. AFTER WAITING,IT STARTED NORMALLY. IT HAS DONE IT EVERY TIME THE PEDAL WAS FLOORED(SELDOM). I WENT TO THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM AND TOYOTA WAS PLANNING A PRIUS RECALL, WITH PARTS TO REPAIR AVAILABLE IN APRIL. I WAS VERY SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR, BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO SELL IT (WRONG) OR BUY ANOTHER. SO I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR THE RECALL. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON PINS AND NEEDLES SINCE. AND

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS OF THE BRAKES IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AND BRIEF, AND ONLY OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN OR POTHOLES. IT IS IDENTICAL TO THE RECENT ADVISORIES ISSUED ON THE 2010 MODEL PRIUS. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A NORMAL 'ANTI-SKID' FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE, BUT NOW I BELIEVE OTHERWISE, AFTER READING ABOUT THE 2010 MODEL ISSUES. *CN

WHEN APPROACHING A LIGHT, I CHANGED LANES INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE, APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, LET UP ON THE BRAKE TO GO OVER A DEPRESSED AREA WHERE A PIPE WAS BEING REPLACED AND THE ROAD REPAIRED. I THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES FIRMLY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WENT ON WHEN I WENT OVER THE BUMP AND IT TOOK ABOUT 2 SECONDS OF HEADING TOWARDS THE BACK OF A TRUCK FOR THE BREAKS TO ENGAGE AT ALL. WHEN THEY FINALLY ENGAGED, THE CAR STOPPED VERY QUICKLY (AS I WOULD EXPECT) AND I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY THE PERSON BEHIND ME. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES NOT ENGAGE ON ONE OTHER INCIDENT THAT ALSO INVOLVED SWITCHING LANES AND A BUMP. TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS ON THIS PRIUS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT KILL. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE "BRAKING PROBLEM" WAS "LIMITED" TO 2010 PRIUSES. IT IS NOT. THIS ISSUE HAS CLEARLY OCCURRED TWICE FOR ME IN THE PAST 5 YEARS OF MODERATE DRIVING (ABOUT 10K MILES PER YEAR). TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT I WAS MAKING IT UP, IT NEVER HAPPENED, I MUST HAVE NOT PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. I NEVER RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL AND THE CAR STOPPED JUST FINE AFTER A SIGNIFICANT DELAY. THEY DID NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, ONE OR BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. IF YOU TURN THEM OFF USING THE SWITCH AND THEN TURN THEM ON, THE RE-ILLUMINATE SO THE BULBS ARE NOT BURNED OUT. *TR

2005 PRIUS THAT I PURCHASED NEW LOSES BRAKING MOMENTARILY WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR A POTHOLE. I NOTICED THIS SOON AFTER I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER CONTACTED THE DEALER REGARDING THIS BUT FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION IT AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

WE HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THE CAR TAKING OFF ON IT'S OWN AND THE BRAKES NOT WORKING. THE PRIUS ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT ANOTHER CAR AND THEN WE WERE UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TURNED OFF. THIS WAS NOT DUE TO THE FLOOR MAT RECALL. THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND TOOK OFF, WOULD NOT STOP EVEN WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES, IT STOPPED ONLY UPON IMPACT. LITERALLY WAS SECONDS AWAY FROM PINNING A PERSON INBETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES. THIS COULD HAVE LED TO A DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. SINCE THEN THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BUT TOYOTA ENGINEERS TEST DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 10 MILES AND OF COURSE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN TO THEM SO THEY INDICATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE HAD 51,000 MILES ON THE CAR BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. CURRENTLY THE CAR SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY NOT BEING USED BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT. THIS MODEL IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL YET BUT OBVIOUSLY IS DEFECTIVE. WE HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL 2007 PRIUS MODELS IN THE FAMILY THAT ARE OF CONCERN. THIS IS OF MAJOR CONCERN AS NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT OR ADDRESS THESE MODELS, ONLY THE NEWER PRIUS MODELS. WE SEE TOYOTA AS IGNORING THE CONCERNS ON THIS MODEL. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AS WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND ON THE ROADS, MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE STILL IN USE. *TR

MY 2005 PRIUS HAS PERIODICALLY EXPERIENCED THE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2010 MODEL. THE PROBLEM HAS USUALLY OCCURRED ON A BUMPY DOWNGRADE, WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. WHEN THE CAR ENCOUNTERED AN ESPECIALLY LARGE BUMP, OR SOMETIMES ON LEVEL GROUND WHEN IT HIT A POTHOLE, IT SUDDENLY FELT AS IF IT WERE AIRBORNE. THIS SENSATION WAS VERY BRIEF, AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY REGAINED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. HOWEVER, IT WAS DISCONCERTING. *TR

2005 PRIUS BRAKE MY BRAKES FAILED IN THE RAIN. I WAS DRIVING ON A ROAD THAT HAS OLD TROLLEY TRACKS AND I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 20 MPH AND I DECIDED TO STOP FOR A YELLOW LIGHT. I PUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I JUST KEPT ROLLING DOWNHILL. NO ABS NOTHING. IF THERE HAD BEEN SOMETHING IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HAVE HIT IT. AFTER ABOUT 20 FEET MY BRAKES STARTED TO WORK AND AT THAT POINT THE SKID LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS REALLY LUCKY THAT THIS INTERSECTION HAS A STOP 20 FEET BEFORE THE CORNER OR I WOULD HAVE GONE RIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. *TR

THE CAR SUDDENLY AND MOMENTARILY ACCELERATES WHEN COMING OUT OF A DIP OR POTHOLE, OR OVER A SPEED BUMP. MOMENTARILY SOUNDS UNIMPORTANT BUT ONE SPEED BUMP WAS AHEAD OF A CROSSWALK AT THE ZOO, WITH MANY PEOPLE CROSSING. IT HAS ALSO ACCELERATED FOR LONGER PERIODS (30 SECONDS) ON THE HIGHWAY. I DID NOT REPORT THIS TO TOYOTA BECAUSE MY IN-LAWS PRIUS DID THE SAME THING, ONLY THEY ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT AND WHEN THEY REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA, THEY WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THEIR CAR. THEY ENDED UP SELLING IT OUT OF FEAR. THE MOMENTARY ACCELERATIONS HAPPEN FREQUENTLY. THE LONGER ACCELERATION HAS HAPPENED TWICE, ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE MOMENTARILY UNRESPONSIVE AT LOW SPEEDS INCLUDING 10 MPH WHEN DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE OR ROUGH SURFACE AND APPEARED TO LUNGE FORWARD. HE NOTICED THE PROBLEM CONTINUOUSLY SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. HE HAD NEITHER TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP NOR SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000. UPDATED 03/18/10 *BF UPDATED 06/17/10*JB

I AM AN OWNER OF A TOYOTA PRIUS 2005. AFTER READING THE INVESTIGATION ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKE PROBLEMS I FEEL I EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM IN MY CAR. WHEN BRAKE SOMETIMES IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE CAR MOMENTARILY SPEEDS UP BEFORE THE BRAKING ACTION OCCURS. IT IS BRIEF (ABOUT A SECOND IN DURATION) AND THEN THE CAR BRAKES AS EXPECTED. I HAVE ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS I'VE HAD MY CAR SERVICED AT SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE SENSATION AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL AS THE CAR SWITCH REGENERATING THE BATTERIES TO WHEN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES ARE ENGAGED AND NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I UNDERSTAND TOYOTA HAS ADMITTED A PROBLEM IN THE 2010 MODEL YEAR BUT I FEEL THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN MY CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS NOT JUST FOR 2010 MODEL YEAR OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS. *TR

THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A 2005 PRIUS. IF YOU HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE WHILE BRAKING FROM A NORMAL SPEED, THE CAR WILL BRIEFLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THIS CAUSES ADDITIONAL BRAKING PRESSURE TO BE NEEDED AND PRECISE STEERING. MANY PRIUS OWNERS SINCE 2004 HAVE INDICATED THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED 20 TIMES AND MORE FREQUENT WHENEVER IT RAINS. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37047.

WE HAVE THE SAME BRAKE DEFECT IN OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AS THE DEFECT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING REPORTED IN THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. IN OUR CAR, WHEN WE GO OVER A MANHOLE COVER OR SIMILAR IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS MOMENTARILY HYDROPLANING AND YOU HAVE LOST TRACTION. MY WIFE STOPPED DRIVING THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THIS SENSATION THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2005 AND HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR IS LIGHT WEIGHT SO I NEVER REPORTED IT UNTIL I READ PEOPLE'S DESCRIPTIONS OF THE 2010 PRIUS PROBLEM. OUR PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME THING. *TR

RARE BUT OCCASIONAL, SPORADIC BRAKE "FAILURE" IN 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. LAST OCCURRENCE I REMEMBER WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO. I WAS BACKING SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SLOT ON A LOT AT A STORE. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO BRAKING FOR JUST A SECOND OR 2, THEN BRAKES ENGAGED PROPERLY. WE HAD DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES, SO ENGINE WAS WELL WARMED UP. IT WAS COLD OUT, SO HEATER BLOWER WAS BLOWING WARM AIR. *TR

WHEN CROSSING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES OR DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES WILL OCCASIONALLY MOMENTARILY DISENGAGE WHILE THE PEDAL IS PRESSED DOWN. DURING SUCH CONDITIONS ON A HANDFUL OF OCCASIONS, I CAME VERY CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKE ISSUE, I IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED WITH THE PROBLEM WHICH I'VE EXPERIENCED SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2005 PRIUS AS A NEW VEHICLE. MY PRIOR VEHICLE WAS THIS WAS AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SO I ASSUMED IT WAS A "QUIRKY PRIUS THING", BUT GIVEN THE RECENT NEWS, I BELIEVE THIS MAY IN FACT BE A DEFECT SIMILAR TO THAT DESCRIBED FOR THE 2010 PRIUS. EACH TIME IT OCCURS, THERE IS A FEELING OF BRIEF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH IS FRIGHTENING. THE DATE PROVIDED IS THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED AS I CROSSED OVER A BUMPY STRETCH OF ROAD WITH UNEVEN PAVING. *TR

I HAVE 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT WAS BOUGHT ON DEC 2004. WHILE DRIVING TO MY WORK ON JUNE 30TH 2009, MY PRIUS CAR SPEED REDUCED SLOWLY FROM 45MPH AND DID NOT GO FASTER THAN 30 MPH ON RTE 28 NORTH FROM MANASSAS,VA TO CENTERVILLE VA. SINCE I CANNOT DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR, I PARKED THE CAR ON LOCAL ROADS AND ASKED AAA TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO OURISMAN TOYOTA DEALER, CHANTILLY. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND GAVE CAR BACK. I BELIEVE, THIS IS DUE TO COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILURE. BUT DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY. IT HAPPENED ONLY ONE TIME FROM DEC 2004 SO FOR. BUT I AM SCARED OF DRIVING THE CAR TO LONG TRAVEL AND USING ONLY FOR LOCAL DRIVE. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING DELAY ON BUMPY/WET ROADS SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT 04/16/2007 ON RT 70 IN BRICK, NJ. *TR

I DRIVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. I RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT TOYOTA ADMITTING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN MY DRIVING. WHEN I EITHER BEGIN BRAKING OR HAVE BEEN BRAKING AND HIT A POTHOLE OR ROUGH PAVEMENT, IT FEELS LIKE THE PRIUS STOPS BRAKING MOMENTARILY AND THEN QUICKLY RESUMES. THE DURATION IS MAYBE A SECOND, BUT A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN A SECOND. LUCKILY THIS LAPSE IN BRAKING HASN'T HAPPENED WHEN THERE HAS BEEN A CAR RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I THINK IF IT DID, I WOULD HIT THE CAR BECAUSE I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THIS BRAKING LAPSE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND IF THIS IS A DEFECT THAT COULD BE FIXED, WHY WOULDN'T IT BE FIXED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FROM WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE PRIUS IN 2008. I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT COMPLAINING UNTIL I JUST READ THE NEWS ARTICLE RECENTLY. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING ISSUES - PRE 2010 MODELS. ON JAN 18TH, WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON WET PAVEMENT, I APPLIED THE BRAKES ON MY 2005 PRIUS AND FELT WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SLIGHT DELAY IN THE BRAKES ENGAGING. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS CONTRIBUTED TO MY SLIDING OUT INTO THE INTERSECTION AND HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. HAD I STOPPED AN INCH OR TWO EARLIER I WOULD NOT HAVE HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE. TOYOTA HAS ADMITTED TO ITS DEALERS THAT THERE ARE BRAKING ISSUES WITH ITS 2010 MODEL AND I BELIEVE THESE ISSUES MAY GO BACK TO PREVIOUS MODELS ALSO. THE HYBRID SYSTEM HAS NOT CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE PAST 5 TO 6 YEARS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO THOROUGHLY TEST THIS SYSTEM ON ALL PRIUS MODELS. *TR

I READ LOTS OF NEWS REPORTS YESTERDAY THAT THE 2010 PRIUS HAS A BRAKING ISSUE WHEN RUN OVER SPEED BUMPS. MY 2005 PRIUS HAS A SIMILAR BEHAVIOR WHICH SEMI-KNOWN CAUSE WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN THIS, WHILE BEING SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS IN ANOTHER WAY. WHEN ONE DRIVES A 2005 PRIUS TOO FAST OVER A SPEED BUMP, OR THROUGH ANOTHER SITUATION WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO THINK ONE OF ITS WHEELS IS SLIPPING OR SPINNING AT A DIFFERENT RATE THAN THE OTHERS, THE CAR TEMPORARILY (AS I BELIEVE IS IN THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL) FLASHES A BRIEFLY APPEARING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE FRONT PANEL INDICATING IT IS SLIPPING, AND TEMPORARILY CUTS BACK ON ENGINE POWER. AVOIDING THIS REQUIRES KNOWING THE DRIVING BEHAVIOR OF THE PRIUS, AND I WONDER IF THIS IS THE BEHAVIOR CERTAIN 2010 PRIUS OWNERS MAY BE NOTING. {IF ONE IS LOOKING AT THE ROAD AND SCARED BY THE SUDDEN DROP IN ENGINE POWER, ONE MAY NEVER LOOK DOWN AT THE DASH TO SEE THE INDICATOR FLASH FOR 1-2 SECONDS EITHER.} NORMALLY THIS IS MIGHT SEEM LIKE REASONABLE, BUT THIS BECOMES POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SHOULD ONE TRY TO MAKE A SHARP RIGHT TURN ONTO A HIGHER-SPEED MAIN ROAD (40 MPH+) FROM A DEAD STOP ON A SIDE ROAD WITH A HIGH RATE OF ACCELERATION TO ATTEMPT MERGE INTO HIGH-VOLUME, FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC. IN SUCH CASES (ESPECIALLY IF WATER IS PRESENT, BUT EVEN IF THE ROAD IS DRY), I HAVE HAD THE ANTI-SKID FEATURE KICK IN AND CUT BACK ON ENGINE POWER FOR A HALF-SECOND OR SO, WHICH RISKS STALLING THE CAR TEMPORARILY IN FRONT OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, I TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 5-19 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD SURFACE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS INACTIVATION AND FAILED TO DEACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING ABNORMAL ROADS INCLUDING ICY ROAD SURFACES. THERE WERE NO INJURES. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS. THREE TIMES, THE CAR HAS SURGED FOR A FEW SECONDS WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS SLOWING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER ON 5-25-05. I WAS TOLD THAT SOMETIMES THAT'S THE WAY THE BRAKES OPERATE. ANOTHER PUZZLING OCCURRENCE WHICH I REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON 4-25-06, WAS THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS, NOTHING HAPPENS, AND THEN IT SURGES FORWARD. *TR

THIS MORNING'S AP STORY ABOUT THE NHTSA LOOKING INTO ALLEGATIONS OF MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES, POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN 2010 PRIUSES JOGGED MY MEMORY ABOUT THIS HAVING HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES TO ME IN MY 2005 PRIUS. I CAN'T STATE DATES, BUT I'D SAY THAT EVERY 3 MONTHS OR SO, I WILL BRAKE WHERE THE ROAD IS UNEVEN, THE SLIP INDICATOR LIGHTS UP ON THE DASHBOARD, AND I FEEL A LOSS OF CONTROL JUST FOR A MOMENT UNTIL I FEEL THE CAR REGAIN CONTROL. MAYBE THAT'S JUST THE ANTILOCK BRAKES KICKING IN, BUT IT IS AN UNEASY FEELING. *TR

I JUST READ ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKING COMPLAINTS. I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS AND CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCE WHAT IS BEING DESCRIBED. EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP OR A POT HOLE, THE PRIUS LUNGES FORWARD ESPECIALLY IF I'M BRAKING AT THE TIME. ALSO, WHEN I BRAKE ON SLICK ROADS I OFTEN EXPERIENCE THE PRIUS' BRAKES NOT ENGAGING AS THEY SHOULD. ONCE I TRIED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, GOING A PROPER RATE OF SPEED, ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD. THE PRIUS' BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE ENOUGH TO SLOW THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE TURN. I WAS FORCED TO GO STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION. THIS "PROBLEM" HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2005. I KNEW IT WAS THE COMPUTER SYSTEM CAUSING THE ANOMALY, BUT I FIGURED THAT I JUST NEEDED TO GET USED TO IT. NOW, AFTER READING THE MEDIA REPORTS, I BELIEVE THIS IS INFACT A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLES SENSORS AND SOFTWARE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKES DID NOT FULLY ENGAGE WHICH INCREASED THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 47000.

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. OCCASIONALLY, AND ALMOST ALWAYS IN RAIN, THE CAR JERKS WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP OR ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB, ON A SLOPE, MY 2005 PRIUS DID NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLOPE (HUNDREDS OF FEET), THE BRAKE STOPPED THE CAR JUST AT A VERY BUSY, FAST MOVING INTERSECTION. I TOLD THIS TO THE FLOOR MAT RECALL DESK (AS MY FLOOR MAT WAS FINE) AND THEY INSISTED I CALL A DIFFERENT NUMBER, WHICH I NEGLECTED TO DO. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND IN MOTION. I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT I HAD JUST DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 25 MILES AND THEN WAS ON LOCAL ROAD. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR WAS NOT RESPONSIVE TO GAS AND ENGINE WAS SHUT. SO I HAD TO PULL OVER. THE CAR WILL NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS DURING OFF PEAK TIME AND I WAS ON LOCAL ROAD. IF IT HAD BEEN DURING PEAK TIME AND ON HIGHWAY, THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT. THE DEALER HAD NO TECHNICAL DETAILS AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. HE SAID IT WAS SOFTWARE ISSUE. *TR

I BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA PRIUS IN 2005. WHEN THE VEHICLE RIDES OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT THE STABILITY CONTROL MAKES THE CAR QUICKLY LURCH FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. RECENTLY, I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES IN ICY CONDITIONS. I WAS CRUISING AT ABOUT 15 MPH TO A STOP SIGN, NOT ON SNOW, IT WAS JUST BELOW FREEZING THAT DAY, WHEN I APPLIED THE FOOT BRAKE I FELT NO RESISTANCE IN THE PEDAL. I COULD FEEL THE ABS SYSTEM DISENGAGE FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR USING THE BRAKES SO I ROLLED TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW MINUTES LATER. *TR

THE PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO 2010 MODELS. I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE NOTICED THAT AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, IF THE CAR MOVES OVER AN UNEVEN OR SLICK SURFACE, THE BRAKES SEEM TO DISENGAGE FOR A MOMENT. AN EXAMPLE IS APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING OVER A CROSSWALK STRIPE THAT HAS BEEN MOISTENED BY FOG OR RAIN. THE CAR SEEMS TO LURCH FORWARD AS THE BRAKES SEEM TO DISENGAGE AND THE SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. THEN THE BRAKES COME BACK ON. THIS CAN BE SOMEWHAT DISCONCERTING AND COULD BE HAZARDOUS IF THERE WERE AN OBSTACLE OR PEDESTRIAN IMMEDIATELY AHEAD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND BRAKING UPON APPROACHING A CURVE AND A METAL PLATE ON THE ROAD ABOUT 40 FEET BEFORE A STOP SIGN. THE CAR ACCELERATED MOMENTARILY (SURGED) ON THE UNEVEN SURFACE, FOR LESS THAN 1 SECOND. AS I DROVE THIS STRETCH OF ROAD ONCE PER WEEK, I THEN APPROACHED IT MORE SLOWLY. AT LOWER SPEEDS, THE BRAKING PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR, BUT WEEKS WHEN I FORGOT TO DRIVE MORE SLOWLY, THE BRAKING PROBLEM RECURRED (NOT SURE OF THE HIT RATE - PERHAPS 40% OF THE TIME AT ~35 MPH). I AM UNCERTAIN OF THE DATES: VERY ROUGHLY, APRIL 2009 - SEPTEMBER 2009, WHILE THE METAL PLATE WAS IN PLACE. // I HAVE EXPERIENCED A BRAKING PROBLEM ON ONE OTHER OCCASION ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF UNEVEN ROAD, GOING ABOUT 35 MPH AND OVER A POTHOLE. THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 1, 2010. ONCE AGAIN, THE CAR ACCELERATED/SURGED FOR LESS THAN 1 SECOND. *TR

TEMPORARY LOSS OF SPEED CONTROL WHEN HITTING UNEVEN SURFACE (POTHOLE) DURING BRAKING. HAS OCCURRED ON AT LEAST TWO OR THREE OCCASIONS RECENTLY (BASED ON MY RECOLLECTION FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT OF BRAKING ISSUE WITH 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS). I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR WITH NO OTHER CONSEQUENCES (STAYED ON ROAD; DIDN'T HIT ANOTHER CAR OR PEDESTRIAN). *TR

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AND I WANT TO REPORT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IN THAT MODEL AS WELL. DURING THE 4 1/2/ YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR THERE HAVE BEEN THREE INCIDENTS WHERE THE ABS SYSTEM TOOK TOO LONG TO KICK IN. IN TWO OF THOSE INCIDENTS, IF THERE HAD BEEN ONE MORE SECOND BEFORE THE BRAKES WORKED, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. ALL THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED ON SMOOTHLY PAVED FREEWAYS. I WANT IT TO BE KNOWN THAT THE ABS FAILURE IS OCCURRING IN 2005 MODELS AND ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT. DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR THE BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THIS DID NOT PREVENT THE ABS FAILURE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THE INCIDENT DATE I AM INCLUDING IS THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAPPENED ON THE NORTH 5 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES IN DECEMBER 2009. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS - WHEN APPLYING BRAKE LIGHTLY IN THE PHASE OF SLOWING DOWN, AS I GO OVER A DEFECT IN THE ROAD, THE CAR SPEEDS UP IMMEDIATELY UNTIL I PUT HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER HAS TEST DRIVEN THE CAR AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECONSTRUCT THE DEFECT WHICH IS INTERMITTENT. THEIR RESPONSE IS DISBELIEF! APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE IS LATEST DATE BUT PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE ALL ALONG. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH OVER RAIL ROAD TRACKS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 12 TIMES LAST YEAR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56000. UPDATED 3/8/10 *CN UPDATED 06/04/10.*JB

I REALIZE YOU'VE JUST OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO 2010 PRIUS' SURGING FORWARD ON THEIR OWN, BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW IT HAPPENS WITH EARLIER MODELS. I'VE BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS BECAUSE I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS. AND I HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH SURGES THAT'S BEEN REPORTED AS 'ONLY' A 2010 MODEL PROBLEM. IT'S NOT. WHENEVER I GO OVER A POTHOLE, OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD, OR EVEN SOMETIMES, A WET SURFACE (IF IT'S RAINING) MY CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT ME HAVING USED THE GAS. I KEPT WAITING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE MENTIONED IN THE REPORTS BUT TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD IT. IT COULD EASILY BE REPLICATED IN MY CAR, IF TESTED. IT DOES IT EVERYTIME. I'VE NEVER HIT ANYONE, THOUGH I'VE BEEN CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING OTHER CARS BEFORE. IT HAPPENS WITHOUT MY FOOT BEING ON THE GAS OR EVEN THE BRAKE. THEN ONCE I SLAM ON THE BRAKE IT WILL STOP. HOWEVER, THE CAR DOES THIS SURGE ALL ON IT'S OWN. I'M GROWING MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND AM GROWING SCARED ABOUT DRIVING MY PRIUS. I USED TO LOVE IT-- NOW I WANT TO TRADE IT IN FOR A FORD! PLEASE HELP. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO-- DURING SOME RAIN. *TR

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE BRAKING PROBLEM IN THE TOYOTA PRIUS IS NOT A 2010 MODEL PROBLEM ONLY. I COMPLAINED TO MY DEALER AT LEAST 3 YEARS AGO THAT MY 2005 PRIUS LURCHED FORWARD WHEN BRAKING ON BUMP OR EVEN A MANHOLE COVER. THEY DID NOT CONSIDER IT A SERIOUS PROBLEM AT THE TIME. YOUR INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO GO BACK TO EARLIER MODELS! *TR

MY 2005 PRIUS HAS THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE NEWS AS ONLY OCCURRING IN THE 2010 MODEL. ANYTIME I AM BRAKING AND HIT AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE I FEEL A LOSS OF MY ABILITY TO BRAKE. IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR STOPS BRAKING IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE OR BUMP WHILE YOU ARE PRESSING THE BRAKE. IT ONLY LASTS FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN THE CAR STARTS TO BRAKE AGAIN. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING MY PRIUS AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, UNDER 5 MILES PER HOUR, IN THE RAIN, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES CEASED TO WORK. I GLIDED INTO THE BACK OF A VERY LARGE SUV. WHILE HIS CAR WAS NOT DAMAGE AND NEITHER OF US WERE INJURED MY CAR CRUMPLED. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS ACCIDENT TO OCCUR OTHER THAN THE BRAKES NOT ENGAGING. I AM VERY VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING MY CAR IN THE RAIN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE SEEN DISCUSSION BOARDS WERE MANY PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH HE WAS GOING OVER A RIDGED ROADS WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE WOULD VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED EVERYDAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS . THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 HAS THE SAME BRAKING ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE MEDIA TODAY FOR THE 2010 MODEL. IN ADDITION, THE SKID CONTROL CAUSES A SUDDEN POWER LOSS DURING ACCELERATION IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS TO THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED WITH BRAKING FAILURES IN THE 2010 MODEL (POTHOLES, EVEN SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD, RAPID ACCELERATION AROUND CURVES, IN ADDITION TO WHEN THERE IS ICE ON THE ROAD) THAT REPORTEDLY HAS BEEN FIXED. ALTHOUGH THE COMPLETE POWER LOSS LASTS LESS THAN A SECOND RECOVERY OF POWER IS SLOW ENOUGH TO HAVE STRANDED ME IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAITING FOR ACCELERATION IN A NUMBER SITUATIONS WHERE THERE WAS NO RISK ASSOCIATED WITH LOSS OF TRACTION. I CONTACTED TOYOTA SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND TRIED FILED A COMPLAINT (I WAS REALLY PERSISTENT), BUT THEY REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A DESIGN FLAW SAYING ONLY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT THE VEHICLE, AS DESIGNED, WAS DANGEROUS, THEY ONLY REITERATED THAT IT WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND REFUSED TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION. IT FELT TO ME THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT ADMITTING THE PROBLEM COULD AVALANCHE INTO A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY HAVE NOW. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING AND PERSISTENT ISSUE THAT HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR (FOUR PLUS YEARS). *TR

JUST HEARD A REPORT ABOUT BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. MY 2005 PRIUS DOES THE EXACT SAME THING - SOMETIMES ACCELERATES WHEN PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL ON BUMPY ROADS OR STREETS WITH POTHOLES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *TR

WHEN BRAKING ON BUMPY ROADS OR POTHOLES MY PRIUS LURCHES FORWARD BEFORE THE BRAKE FINALLY ENGAGES. I PUT TODAY'S DATE AS THE "INCIDENT DATE" BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. THERE IS A BUMPY ROAD NEAR MY HOME WHERE I FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE THIS. *TR

BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. *JB

BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. *JB