2006 Toyota Prius complaints

1) TOYOTA PRIUS, 15MPH, ENGAGED BRAKES, HIT SMALL BUMP IN ROAD AND ANTI-LOCKING MECHANISM DISENGAGED BRAKES. 2) FAILURE IS BRAKING MECHANISM IN TOYOTA PRIUS WILL DISENGAGE. SEEMS TO BE DUE TO HOW THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM WORKS. IT CAUSES THE BRAKES TO QUIT FUNCTIONING. 3) NOTHING. TOYOTA WOULD NOT ADMIT TO ISSUE WITH BRAKING. ON 02/03/2010 TOYOTA ADMITTED TO BRAKE ISSUES WITH TOYOTA PRIUS FROM MY YEAR. THIS IS THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT. *TR

LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHEN SLOWING OVER POTHOLES AND LOOSE PAVEMENT. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE 2010 PRIUS - I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, IT'S NOT A NEW PROBLEM. I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND IT'S DONE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW. AT FIRST IT ALARMED ME, NOW I'M USED TO IT - HASN'T BOTHERED ME ENOUGH TO QUIT DRIVING IT OR TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS. HAPPENS 5-10 TIMES PER WEEK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING UP AND DOWN A HILL AT 3 TO 5 MPH IN THE SNOW THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO FISH-TAIL AND THE VSC (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) LIGHT WOULD FLASH AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK-UP. THE CONTACT STATED THIS ALMOST CAUSED 5 CRASHES WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HOME. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME BECAUSE THE CONTACT FELT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AT THIS TIME BUT SAW THE NEWS STORY TELEVISED AND FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

THREE SEPARATE TIMES I HAD THE GAS PEDAL OF MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS STICK TO THE FLOOR WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE AGENCY AWARE OF MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR THE 2010 MODEL BUT I HAVE VERY SIMILAR ISSUES WITH MY 2006. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND OCCURS REGULARLY FROM TIME TO TIME (AND HAS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW). WHEN PASSING OVER ROAD SURFACES THAT CAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE TO ACTIVATE (WET ROAD, GRAVEL, POT HOLE, SNOW, ETC.), BRAKING AND ACCELERATION CONTROL IS TEMPORARILY LOST. THIS LOSS OF CONTROL PERSISTS FOR 1-5 SECONDS WHEN BRAKING, AND INDEFINITELY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE (I.E. WHEN ON SNOW). BRAKING DISTANCE IS CLEARLY INCREASED, AS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT APPLY THE BRAKES AT ALL. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE I HAD MAINTAINED A SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCE, BUT NEARLY RAN INTO CARS STOPPING IN FRONT OF ME (DUE TO MY VEHICLE NOT BRAKING APPROPRIATELY). MERGING IS ALSO AN ISSUE AT TIMES, AS IS ACCELERATING (INTO TRAFFIC OR OUT OF A HAZARDOUS SITUATION ON SNOWY/WET ROADS). I FEEL THAT THE BEST SOLUTION WOULD BE THE ABILITY TO DEACTIVATE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY TOYOTA IS NOT CURRENTLY OFFERING A WAY TO DO THIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD ATTEMPT TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH OVER A SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACE, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FULLY ENGAGE WHICH ALSO INCREASED THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50000. UPDATED 03/09/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/13/10.*JB

I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF BRAKE SLIPPAGE WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP/POTHOLE DURING DECELERATION OR ACCELERATION. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH AT PRIUSCHAT.COM, AN ONLINE COMMUNITY OF PRIUS OWNERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ADVISED THAT THIS WAS "BY DESIGN" SINCE THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER THOUGHT THAT LOSS OF TRACTION WHEN GOING OVER AN OBSTACLE WAS CONSIDERED AS A STABILITY ISSUE HENCE DIS-ENGAGING THE BRAKES (ABS). I HAVE HAD SEVERAL FENDER BENDERS WITHOUT THE AIR-BAG DEPLOYING THOUGH. *TR

ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES UNNECESSARILY WHEN BRAKING ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES, POTHOLES, BUMP IN ROAD, OR ON WET SURFACES. *TR

I HAVE NOW HAD THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF THE BRAKE FAILING ON MY CAR: MARCH 15, 2007; DECEMBER 4, 2008; AND JANUARY 16, 2010. ON MARCH 15, 2007: 'I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY, TRAVELING ABOUT 15 MPH. 'I WAS ROLLING, WITH MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR. 'THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME (ABOUT 3 CAR LENGTHS) PUT ON BRAKES. 'I APPLIED MY BRAKE, AND IT FELT NORMAL, BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. 'I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO PRESS HARDER (PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AND GETTING NO RESPONSE WAS VERY DISORIENTING; I ACTUALLY CHECKED TO SEE IF MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE.) 'IT WAS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT STOPPED ME, NOT MY BRAKES. 'AFTER I WAS STOPPED BY THE COLLISION, MY BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. I FILED AN ACCIDENT REPORT WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CARLSBAD CA WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE CAR WAS 'QUARANTINED' BY YOUR COMPANY. I WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL A TOYOTA INSPECTOR CAME TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT MY CAR. THE INSPECTOR FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME. ON DECEMBER 4, 2008, SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES: 'I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, TRAVELING ABOUT 10-15 MPH. 'I WAS COMING TO A ROLLING STOP AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS ONE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. 'I APPLIED THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. 'I TOOK MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE BRAKE AND SLAMMED IT BACK DOWN ONTO THE BRAKE.THE CAR STOPPED, BUT I VERY NEARLY BUMPED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. 'I TOOK TH

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. IF IT ENCOUNTERS BUMPY ROAD WHILE TURNING AND BRAKING, THEN STABILITY INDICATOR WILL LIGHT UP AND BRAKES WILL STOP WORKING FOR ABOUT A SECOND. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ON ICE. IT CAN BE REPRODUCED AT WILL. JUST BUMPY ROAD SURFACE AND TURNING/BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME. DID NOT TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT IT THOUGH. LEARNED TO LIVE WITH IT. *TR

I AM CONTACTING YOU TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IN MY 2006 PRIUS ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. I DROVE HOME AND STOPPED AT MY MAILBOX TO GET THE MAIL. THE CAR SHIFTED OFF OF GAS AND ONTO ELECTRIC. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 MILES PER HOUR TO MAKE A Y-TURN TO BACK INTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE THE CAR THRUSTED FORWARD WHILE ON ELECTRIC WITH GREAT FORCE THROUGH THE NEIGHBOR'S SIX FOOT WOODEN FENCE WHERE THE CAR STOPPED (I DON'T KNOW IF IT STOPPED ON IT'S OWN OR GOT HUNG UP IN FENCE AND ALSO STUCK FROM HILL DECLINE.) I NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO TRY PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE A SECOND TIME DUE TO THE FACT IT HAPPENED THAT FAST AND FORCE FULL. THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON ELECTRIC AND BARELY MOVING. MY GAS PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK AND THE MAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE MAT AND ACTUALLY KICKED AT THE MAT TO SEE IF IT WOULD MOVE AND IT DID NOT. OUR MAT WAS NOT EVEN UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE MY HIGH HEELS MADE THE GAS PEDAL STICK. I DO NOT WEAR HIGH HEELS AND MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT THRUSTED FORWARD WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT YOU HAVE MORE OF AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION OF SOME TYPE. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO SENT A REPRESENTATIVE WHO CHECKED OUR CAR OUT WHILE AT THE BODY SHOP AND THE REPAIR GUY SAID HE WAS IN THE CAR FOR OVER AN HOUR THE COMPUTER APPEARED TO BE CLEARED. TOYOTA TOLD US THERE WAS NO PROBLEM? WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN FIGURE THIS OUT AND REASSURE US THAT OUR VEHICLE IS SAFE. I AM

WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH DRY ROAD AND GENTLY AND STEADILY BRAKING, THE BRAKING CEASES FOR A SECOND, RESULTING IN WHAT SEEMS LIKE A SURGE FORWARD, BUT IT MIGHT BE A CESSATION OF THE DECELERATION THAT RESULTS FROM THE BRAKING. FEELS LIKE A CAR IS PUSHING MY CAR FROM BEHIND. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 OR 15 TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, BUT IT'S SCARY. I NEVER REPORTED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER SINCE I KNEW I COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS GO BEYOND JUS THE 2010 MODEL. I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND IT DOES THE SAME THING RE: THE BRAKES SEEMING TO "SLIP" WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP OR A SLICK SURFACE. ALSO, WHEN YOU TAP THE BRAKES, AND THEN HIT THE ACCELERATOR (AS WHEN AVOIDING ANOTHER CAR THAT IS DOING SOMETHING STUPID) IT SORT-OF "STALLS" FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT WILL ACCELERATE. *TR

I EXPERIENCE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP WITH AN EARLIER MODEL TOYOTA PRIUS. MY PRIUS IS A 2006 MODEL (2ND WAVE). THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I GO OVER ONE PARTICULAR SPOT IN MY USUAL COMMUTE, AND ANY OTHER SPOT WHERE THE ROAD IS ROUGH. *TR

THE PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN LATE 06. IF I AM ON A WET ROAD OR A GRAVEL ROAD, IT SEEMS THAT WHEN PUSHING THE BRAKES, THEY NOT ONLY FAIL BUT THE CAR LURCHES. WHEN THIS OCCURS A LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD GOES OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY. I CONTACTED MY DEALER ABOUT IT 2 YEARS AGO AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A BRAKE FAILURE BUT WAS JUST THE WAY THE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BRAKES WORKED AND THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. I WAS INVOLVED IN A 6 CAR PILEUP ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO, IN WHICH I WAS THE 2ND CAR IN LINE. THE LIGHT WENT OFF DURING THE ACCIDENT ITSELF AND I BELIEVE THAT THE BRAKING MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE WRECK, NOW THAT I AM AWARE OF ALL OF THIS. IT FELT ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME. I JUST ASSUMED THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS PUSHING ME FORWARD, BUT NO AT FAULT PARTY COULD EVER BE DETERMINED. I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN TODAY ASKING (SINCE MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY) IF THIS COULD BE REPAIRED SINCE IT WAS NOW ACKNOWLEDGED AND WAS TOLD THAT UNTIL A RECALL OCCURRED, TOYOTA CORPORATE HAD NOT INFORMED THEM OF A FIX SO NOTHING COULD OR WOULD BE DONE. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE, AS I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE I AM PAYING A LOT (FOR MY INCOME ANYWAY) AND IT IS SO UNSAFE. I CARRY MY NEWBORN AROUND IN THIS THING! NOT ONLY ARE THE BRAKES A CONCERN TO ME BUT THE PRIUS IS ALSO PART OF THE FLOORMAT RECALL SO YOU COUPLE THE TWO ISSUES WITH BRAKE AND ACCELERATION AND YOU ARE ASKING FOR EXTREME RISK WHEN DRIVING. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE CAR I AM PAYING SO MUCH FOR IS SO RISK

AFTER GOING OVER SIGNIFICANT BUMPS OR POTHOLES, OCCASIONALLY BRAKES HESITATE TO CATCH. BEGAN WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASING VEHICLE. REPORTED TO DEALER, TEST DROVE FOR APPROX. 5 MINUTES AND COULD NOT REPEAT SO THEY IGNORED MY COMPLAINT. PROBLEM PERSISTS, BUT TO DATE HAVE NOT HAD VEHICLE FAIL TO STOP. HAVE OVER 80,000 MILES ON PRIUS. *TR

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2006 PRIUS THAT WE PURCHASED NEW. OUR PRIUS HAS THE EXACT SAME BRAKING PROBLEM THAT I READ ABOUT TODAY INVOLVING THE 2010 PRIUS THAT YOU ARE STARTING TO INVESTIGATE. APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS WILL CAUSE REPEATED MOMENTARY LOSE OF BRAKING. I NEVER REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. I JUST THOUGHT THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS AND WAS CAREFUL ABOUT BRAKING ON ROUGH ROADS. *TR

IN 10/06, I HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE THE BRAKES AND STEERING OF MY 2006 PRIUS CEASED TO FUNCTION BRIEFLY, AS I TRIED TO BRAKE AT AN INTERSECTION. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO MY TOYOTA DEALER SHORTLY AFTER -- THEY CHECKED IT BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG, SO NOTHING WAS DONE. THE DAY IN QUESTION WAS DRIZZLY AND THE ROADS WET. IT WAS DAYTIME, AND I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN BOSTON, APPROACHING THE FOREST HILLS INTERSECTION. THERE WERE TROLLEY TRACKS IN THE ROAD (SINCE REMOVED), WHICH I TRY TO AVOID, SINCE I KNOW THEY CAN BE SLIPPERY. AS I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION, GOING ABOUT 20 MPH, I PUT MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE. AT THAT POINT, IT SEEMED TO ME THAT BOTH THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING CEASED TO FUNCTION OR FROZE UP, SO THAT I COULDN'T STOP THE CAR OR KEEP IT GOING STRAIGHT. THUS THE CAR KEPT GOING, VEERING TO THE RIGHT, WITH ONE WHEEL BANGING INTO AND UP ONTO A CURB, BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED. THE WHOLE THING TOOK ONLY A FEW SECONDS. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND SAT THERE IN DISBELIEF, SINCE I'D EXPERIENCED NOTHING LIKE THIS IN 30 YEARS OF DRIVING. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS CLOSE BY, SO I DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND I HAD BEEN GOING SLOW ENOUGH SO THAT NEITHER I NOR MY TWO BOYS WERE HURT. I HAVE COME TO KNOW THE CAR BETTER, AND HAVE LEARNED THAT OFTEN WHEN THE ROAD IS SLIPPERY OR ROUGH, YELLOW WARNING LIGHTS WILL FLASH, AND THE BRAKES WILL SEEM BRIEFLY LESS CRISP. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE WET CONDITIONS AND THE TROLLEY TRACKS ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT HAPPENED. HO

TOYOTA 2006 PRIUS BRAKE PROBLEM...I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE PROBLEM THAT JESSICA YELLIN OUTLINED ON CNN. AS AN ENGINEER MYSELF LET ME DESCRIBE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THE SHORT ANSWER IS THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONFLICTS WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON BUMPS AND SLIPPERY SURFACES. IF YOU ARE BRAKING AND HIT A POT HOLE OR SERIES OF BUMPS (CAUSING A WHEEL TO SPIN SLOWER THAN THE REST) THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM KICKS IN AND DISABLES THE BRAKES IN AN UNACCEPTABLE MANNER. A YELLOW "TRACTION" LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHES DURING THIS EVEN, WHICH LASTS ABOUT A SECOND UNLESS FURTHER SLIPPING OCCURS. I UNDERSTAND THE GOAL OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THE IMPLEMENTATION ON THIS CAR IS JUST PLAIN POOR AND UNSAFE. I HAVE TAPPED OTHER'S BUMPERS IN SITUATIONS THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN. AT FIRST I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER, BUT AFTER DRIVING OTHER'S PRIUS CARS I FOUND OUT THEY ALL DO THE SAME THING. (AT LEAST 2005 AND 2007 MODELS.) I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR SINCE SEPTEMBER 30, 2006...AND HAVE OVER 40,000 MILES. I AM SURE THAT THIS ISSUE COULD BE ADDRESSED BY UPGRADING THE FIRMWARE IN THE VEHICLE. OR, DISABLE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM SO THEY WORK WHEN I STEP ON THEM! I HAVE HAD NO ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS IF IT WERE TEMPORARILY LOSING BRAKING CONTROL. WITHIN MOMENTS, THE BRAKES WOULD RESET AND FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL MALFUNCTION WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS OR REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,423.

YOU NEED TO BROADEN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKING ISSUE TO INCLUDE AT LEAST THE GEN II PRIUS (2004-2009). WHAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE PRESS (SINCE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO) REGARDING REPORTS OF BRAKING PROBLEMS ON THE 2010 PRIUS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ME WITH MY 2006 PRIUS SINCE I GOT IT. I CHECKED AND POSTED TO PRIUSCHAT.COM ON IT YEARS AGO, AND FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. NOTE THAT THE COMMON WISDOM ON THE SITE IS THAT THE ISSUE IS ACTUALLY "TRACTION CONTROL" THAT AGGRESSIVELY DISENGAGES THE DRIVETRAIN WHEN THE WHEELS SPIN AT A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENTIAL, IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE DRIVETRAIN. THIS ACTION DISENGAGES REGENERATIVE BRAKING. THE SWITCH TO CONVENTIONAL FRICTION BRAKING HAS A DELAY, AND CAUSES THE (QUITE STARTLING AND SCARY) ABSENCE OF BRAKING FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. THIS EXPLANATION IS CONSISTENT WITH THE FACT THAT AN ANALOGOUS PROBLEM HAPPENS FOR ACCELERATION, WHEN HITTING UNEVEN PAVEMENT, POTHOLES, ETC. I.E., ACCELERATION IS MOMENTARILY DISENGAGED. (THIS, ITSELF, CAN BE QUITE STARTLING IF ONE IS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, AND SUDDENLY LOSES POWER.) I MARKED THE INCIDENT DATE AS THE APPROXIMATE TIME I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. AS I SAID, IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE OUTSET. BEFORE I BECAME ACCLIMATED TO THE BEHAVIOR, I PROBABLY EXPERIENCED A STARTLING LOSS OF BRAKING ROUGHLY ONCE PER WEEK OR SO. ONCE I CAME TO RECOGNIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I LEARNED TO EASE OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL MYSELF, AS I APPROACHED A PROBLEM FEATURE IN THE ROAD (LIKE

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS- I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENCES WHERE I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT LOW SPEED AND THE BRAKES TOOK A VERY LONG SECOND TO ENGAGE- IT HAS OCCURRED WHEN I HAVE BEEN TURNING THE WHEEL AND ALSO WHEN MOVING IN A FORWARD DIRECTION I HAVE PUT ONE DATE BELOW - HOWEVER IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. *JB

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. BRAKING BEHAVIOR IDENTICAL TO WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODELS. WHEN TRAVELING OVER A ROUGH PATCH OF PAVEMENT OR POTHOLES AT LOW OR MODERATE SPEED, THE VEHICLE BRAKING SEEMS TO RELEASE. THE BEST WAY TO CHARACTERIZE THIS IS THAT AS THE VEHICLE BOUNCES OVER THE ROUGH PAVEMENT DURING BREAKING AND THE WEIGHT IS APPLIED AND RELEASED FROM THE WHEELS DUE TO THE UP/DOWN MOTION, THE BRAKES RELEASE AND RE-APPLY INCONSISTENT WITH THE STEADY PRESSURE I APPLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS BEYOND THE BEHAVIOR EXPECTED BY THE ABS. NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE HAS YET OCCURRED, BUT THE BEHAVIOR IS DISTURBING. NOT MEANING TO PILE ON WITH THE ONGOING TROUBLES WITH TOYOTA, BUT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE BRAKING IN MY 2006 VEHICLE IS IDENTICAL TO WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL. *JB

BRAKES ON MY 2006 PRIUS DO NOT WORK IMMEDIATELY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHEN THE ANTI-SKID FEATURE IS ACTIVATED. I NOTICED THIS SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2006. WHEN I READ IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY THAT THE 2010 PRIUS WAS EXHIBITING THIS SAME BEHAVIOR I DECIDED TO MAKE SURE NHTSA KNEW THIS WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 PRIUS SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW. IT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY AND CONSISTENTLY WHENEVER THE ANTI-SKID FEATURE IS ACTIVATED AND I APPLY THE BRAKES. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING I HAD TO GET USED TO BUT NOW I KNOW IT MAY BE A DEFECT. THE INCIDENT DATE I PROVIDED BELOW IS JUST THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OF THE SITUATION. *JB

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED DRAMATIC CHANGES IN BRAKING DECELERATION WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL AT CONSTANT PRESSURE, BUT WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS OR POTHOLES (SUCH AS THOSE ON MY HOME STREET). THE SUDDEN DECREASE OF DECELERATION IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD TELLING ME I'M GOING OVER BUMPY TERRAIN, THE BRAKING CHANGE LASTS ON THE ORDER OF A SECOND. THIS PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR, ALWAYS UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. IT OCCURS BOTH AT LOW SPEEDS (E.G. ON MY STREET) AND HIGH SPEEDS (E.G. ON A POTHOLED FREEWAY). YOUR REPORTING SYSTEM ASKS FOR A SPECIFIC DATE, MILEAGE, AND SPEED AT WHICH THE FAILURE OCCURS. I HAVE ENTERED ARBITRARY VALUES. I EMPHASIZE THAT (1) THIS PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY SINCE JUST AFTER MY PURCHASE OF THE NEW CAR AND CONTINUED TO THE PRESENT (THE CAR HAS 50K MILES AT PRESENT), AND (2) HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. *JB

MY 2006 PRIUS ALSO FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES AREN'T WORKING CORRECTLY WHEN I GO OVER A POTHOLE, SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE 2010 PRIUS IN TODAY'S NEWS REPORT. I SUSPECT THE PROBLEM IS NOT CONFINED TO JUST THE 2010 PRIUS, BUT ALL YEARS. *JB

2 BRAKE PROBLEMS: (1) BRAKES DO NOT WORK WELL ON SNOW. I HAVE SLID THROUGH 3 STOP SIGNS SINCE PURCHASED CAR IN 2006. BRAKE APPLIED BUT NO OR VERY SLOW RESPONSE. I TRY TO AVOID DRIVING DURING SNOWSTORMS AS A RESULT. (2) WHEN BRAKING ON WET OR UNEVEN (BROKEN PAVEMENT, POTHOLES, MANHOLE COVERS, ETC.) ROADWAY, YELLOW LIGHT BLINKS ON DASH AND CAR MOMENTARILY -- FOR 1/2 OR 1 SECOND -- DOES NOT RESPOND TO BRAKE PEDAL. CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS FLYING, LIKE YOU ARE TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST ONE DOZEN TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. *JB

ISSUE RELATING TO PRIUS BRAKES. I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE ISSUE EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. I DON'T THINK IT IS ENTIRELY BRAKES, BECAUSE I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED IT WHILE ACCELERATING AND ONE OF THE WHEELS LOSES TRACTION. I THINK IT IS THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM / ABS. ANYWAY, I'VE LEARNED TO COPE WITH IT, THE DROPOUT IS ONLY FOR LESS THAN A SECOND, AND THERE'S NEVER BEEN AN ACCIDENT (OR EVEN NEAR ACCIDENT) BECAUSE OF IT. THIS LATEST EVENT WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A TURN AND ONE OF THE WHEELS WENT OVER A MANHOLE COVER. THAT WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE BRAKES CUT OUT AND THEN BACK IN. *TR

INSUFFICIENT BRAKING WHEN A POT HOLE OR A PUDDLE IS HIT. ALSO THE CAR "SLIPS" WHEN DRIVING OVER WET SURFACES. *TR

BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS IS REDUCED OR NON EXISTENT WHEN HITTING A BUMP, POTHOLE OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE AT SLOWER SPEEDS AS REPORTED BY 2010 PRIUS OWNERS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE NEW VEHICLE IN JUNE 2006 AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY VARIOUS DEALERS THAT "THIS IS HOW ABS WORKS IN THE PRIUS, JUST KEEP APPLYING STEADY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY CATCH AGAIN AND YOU'LL STOP". UNTIL HEARING NEWS REPORTS TODAY OF OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES I THOUGH THIS WAS NORMAL (THOUGH SOMEWHAT UNNERVING BEHAVIOR) FOR A HYBRID WITH REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEMS. *TR

I READ THE ARTICLE TODAY REGARDING PRIUS BRAKES AND I DEFINITELY HAVE THAT ISSUE ALL THE TIME IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER I HIT A POTHOLE OR A SLIPPERY SERVICE AND APPLY THE BRAKE, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE STOPS WORKING AND THE CARS MOVES FORWARD MORE QUICKLY. THEN, IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR RE-ENGAGES THE BRAKES. I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN ACCIDENT RELATING TO THIS, BUT IT IS MOST DEFINITELY SOMETHING I HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY TIMES. I HAVE NOT APPROACHED TOYOTA OR MY DEALER ABOUT IT (IN PART BECAUSE I AM NOT NEARBY TO MY DEALER). *TR

I HAVE A 2006 PRIUS. TWICE IN 60,000 MILES, WHEN IN CRUISE CONTROL, DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND HAVING TO BRAKE SUDDENLY, THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED, AS IT SHOULD,. I BRAKE, THE CAR SLOWS, AS IT SHOULD. THEN THE CAR STARTS TO SURGE UP TO THE ORIGINAL CRUISE CONTROL SET SPEED. I AM ABLE TO BRAKE AND STOP IT, BUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND APPROACHING A NEAR EMERGENCY STOP SITUATION- THIS HAS SCARED ME. IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED TWICE...BUT MEMORABLE IN THE SURPRISE IT EVEN HAPPENED. I REPORTED IT TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, WHO COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM, THEN ALSO CALLED THE TOYOTA CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHICH SAID THEY HAD NO REPORTS OF THAT HAPPENING. *TR

2006 PRIUS BRAKE PEDAL SLOWLY MOVES TO FLOOR WHEN FOOT HELD ON BRAKE PEDAL, I.E., AT A STOP SIGN. TOYOTA SERVICE TECH SAID THIS IS NORMAL AND THAT BRAKE WOULD HOLD EVEN WHEN PEDAL IS FULLY DEPRESSED. I THIS TRUE? *TR

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC DATE SINCE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. I CONSTRUED THIS TO BE A PART OF THE PRIUS AND DID NOT THINK OF LODGING A COMPLAINT. BUT BASED ON TODAY'S (2/3/10) REPORT ON PRIUS' BRAKE ISSUES FROM JAPAN, I FEEL COMPELLED TO POINT OUT THAT: THERE HAS BEEN A TYPICALLY RECURRING PROBLEM OF THE TIRES SKIDDING AS THE BRAKES LOOSE THEIR GRIP WHEN I HAVE HIT THE BRAKE AS I AM CROSSING A POTHOLE OR A ROAD EXPANSION JOINT OR MINOR BUMP (NOT SPEED BUMPS) OR JUST A WET SPOT. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN NOTED REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITION OF THE TIRES - MEANING EVEN ON BRAND NEW TIRES. THE VSC LIGHTS COMES ON WHEN THE CAR GLIDES/SKIDS OVER AND MOVES PAST THE POINT WHERE I HAD WANTED TO SLOW DOWN. I AM NOT SURE OF THE TYPE OF BRAKE IN THIS VEHICLE SO I WILL BE CHECKING OFF ALL 3 KINDS. *TR

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BRAKES AND/OR TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND HAS BEEN ONGOING AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. I AM THE FIRST OWNER. THE FAULT IS AS FOLLOWS: WHEN PASSING OVER ROAD SURFACES THAT CAUSE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE TO ACTIVATE (GRAVEL, POT HOLE, SNOW, STANDING WATER, ETC.), BRAKING AND ACCELERATION CONTROL IS TEMPORARILY LOST. THIS LOSS OF CONTROL PERSISTS FOR 1-3 SECONDS. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN ARE INSTANCES IN WHICH A YIELDING SITUATION ACCOMPANYING A MERGING OR TURNING MANEUVER PRESENT THEMSELVES. IN THESE SITUATIONS, IF THE CAR PASSES OVER A ROAD SURFACE WHICH CAUSES AN ACTIVATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, I AM UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR OR TO ACCELERATE OUT OF DANGER. I FEAR THAT I WILL FIND MYSELF IN THE SITUATION WHERE I AM TRYING TO SLOW DOWN TO YIELD TO A VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON A RED LIGHT AND WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO DUE TO THE LOSS OF BRAKING/ACCELERATION CONTROL ACCOMPANYING THE ACTIVATION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. IN SUCH A SITUATION, I WOULD BE UNABLE TO AVOID A HIGH-SPEED COLLISION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE LIVED WITH THIS DANGER FOR THE LAST 4+ YEARS, BUT IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, I FEEL IT IS APPROPRIATE TO RAISE THIS ISSUE THROUGH THIS COMPLAINT SYSTEM. *TR

BACK IN 2009, I EXPERIENCED RUNAWAY ACCELERATION IN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN ENGAGED FOR BETWEEN 5 AND 15 MINUTES. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RACE. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE 70'S (MPH), AND IT SHOT UP TO NEARLY 100 BEFORE I GOT IT UNDER CONTROL. THE DEALER CLAIMED HE HAD NO SUCH OTHER COMPLAINTS AND COULD NOT REPLICATE MY PROBLEM. I BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN A FEW MONTHS. LATER BECAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO SET. I BROUGHT IT BACK A THIRD TIME, AGAIN, A FEW MOS. LATER. THIS TIME, THEY HAD A FIX, WHICH WAS A NEW CRUISE CONTROL MODULE. THE FIRST 2 TRIPS WERE UNDER WARRANTY. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME THE 3RD TIME BECAUSE IT WAS THEN BEYOND THE 3 YEARS OF WARRANTY. I FOUGHT THIS BECAUSE THE CONDITION WAS OBVIOUSLY PRE-EXISTING. YESTERDAY, STEVE WOZNIAK RECEIVED TELEVISION AND PRESS ATTENTION WHEN HE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM, A PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA TOLD ME THEY HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THIS COMPANY IS SCAMMING THE PUBLIC. THEY ARE PLAYING WITH PEOPLE'S LIVES. IT'S GOT TO STOP. IT'S MORE THAN JUST BRAKE PEDALS AND CARPET; IT'S APPARENTLY A WAY OF LIFE FOR THIS COMPANY. (I NO LONGER HAVE THE VEHICLE. DATES AND MILEAGE ARE APPROX.) *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. SEVERAL TIMES--POSSIBLY AS MANY AS 20--OVER THE COURSE OF OWNING THE CAR IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING EXPERIENCE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AFTER LETTING MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR WILL HAVE A SUDDEN SURGE FORWARD--EITHER AS IF THE BREAK ISN'T WORKING OR THE ACCELERATION WAS ACTUALLY INCREASING RATHER THAN STAYING THE SAME OR DECREASING. EACH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, THE CAR MONITOR LIGHT FOR "SLIPPERY ROAD" FLASHES ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE TWICE ASKED A TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT THIS. THEY SAY IT IS A COMMON FEATURE OF THE PRIUS WHEN IT SWITCHES BETWEEN THE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE. THIS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION. IT COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE HAPPENS TO BE IN FRONT OF ME THE NEXT TIME IT OCCURS. THIS HAS OCCURRED EVEN AFTER I REMOVED THE DRIVER FLOOR MAT, AS RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH EITHER THE GAS PEDAL OR THE FLOOR MAT. I THINK IT'S ELECTRICAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO OPERATE IN THE "NEUTRAL" POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE GEAR INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN INTO A BARRIER OF DIRT AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,404.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO APPLY ENOUGH BRAKING PRESSURE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, WHICH ALLOWED THE CONTACT TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO REMOVE THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES IS 23000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13153. UPDATED 4/7/2010 *CN UPDATED 05/06/10.*JB

STARTING UP MY TOYOTA PRIUS COMING OUT OF A CAR WASH THE ENGINE STUCK WITH HIGH REVS. I CONFIRMED IT WAS NOT THE CAR MAT BECAUSE I HAD BEEN IN THE CAR WASH AND THAT WAS MY THOUGHT. COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO STOP OVER REVVING (WAS CONSISTENTLY HIGH). NEVER WENT INTO HIGH SPEED. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT BY PUTTING IT IN LOW GEAR AND NEUTRAL AT THE INTERSECTIONS. IN LESS THAN 1 MILE I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND DID NOT HAVE ANY FOLLOW-ON PROBLEMS. NOT THE CAR MATS. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. BEFORE I HEARD OF ANY COMPLAINTS OF THE ENGINE REVVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THIS OCCURRED TO ME WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD, WHILE IT WAS IN PARK. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED REVVING AT HIGH SPEED SHORTLY AFTER I PRESSED THE POWER BOTTOM. I THOUGHT THE ENGINE MAY HAVE BEEN COLD. I WAS STILL IN PARK WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED ABOUT 2 MINUTES, THEN PUSHED THE START BUTTON AGAIN WITH THE ENGINE RETURNING TO NORMAL. AROUND THIS TIME I HAD HEARD OF A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE. *TR

I READ NEWS COVERAGE OF PRIUS BRAKES PROBLEMS. I OWN A 2006 PRIUS, AND HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE LAST 4 YEARS THAT WE'VE OWNED IT. SO IT IS NOT ONLY A 2010 PROBLEM. I DID NOT REPORT IT IN THE PAST, BECAUSE IT NEVER PUT ME IN DANGER (YET). HOWEVER, WHENEVER THE CAR GOES OVER A POTHOLE OR AN UNEVEN SURFACE OR A SLIPPERY PATCH, IT SEEMS TO ACCELERATE MOMENTARILY - IT'S SORT OF A "FLYING" SENSATION - NOT VERY PLEASANT, BUT SHORT ENOUGH, SO THAT CONTROL IS QUICKLY REGAINED. I AM NOT POSITIVE IF MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS. I CAN FOLLOW UP AND PAY MORE ATTENTION IF THERE IS FOLLOW-UP WITH THIS COMPLAINING. THANKS. *TR

MOMENTARY BRAKE SLIPPAGE AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN WE HIT SOMETHING SLIPPERY LIKE A WET MANHOLE--MUCH AS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED ELSEWHERE. IT HAS *NOT* YET BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR

WHEN MY 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS HITS A BUMP OR HOLE IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD. I HAVE ON MANY OCCASIONS ALMOST COLLIDED WITH VEHICLES THAT HAVE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AFTER THESE "SURGE" EPISODES. IT OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY FROM OR TO WORK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. HE STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN HE HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT A WARNING WHILE STILL HAVING HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 15 TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET SINCE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60000. UPDATED 03/09/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/13/10.*JB

WE OWN A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW,HAS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED AND IS OUR PRIMARY VEHICLE. ON JANUARY 26, 2010 AT 2:05 PM MY WIFE EXPERIENCE UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION AND DESPITE ATTEMPTING THE STRATEGIES RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH CAUSING HER AND OTHERS INJURY. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, THE ROAD WAS DRY AND STRAIGHT AND MY WIFE WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH PLENTY OF UNOBSTUCTED VISIBILITY. WE HAD FOLLOWED THE INITIAL RECALL INSTRUCTIONS AND HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL DEALER ABOUT ANY FOLLOW-UP INSTRUCTIONS PERTAINING TO OUR VEHICLE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I CONTACT, IN PERSON, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT PERFORMANCE TOYOTA IN LINCOLN, NE. HE STATED OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE MOST RECENT RECALL INVOLVING FAULTY GAS PEDALS. I ADVISED HIM I UNDERSTOOD THAT HOWEVER MY WIFE EXPERIENCED UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION AND DESPITE ATTEMPTING TO EMPLOY THE RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH RESULTING TO INJURIES TO HER AND OTHERS. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER HOW TO PROCEED AND HE ADVISED ME TO CALL THE "TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE LINE" AND SPEAK TO THEM. WHEN I STATED I HAD TRIED MANY TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO REACH A PERSON HE INSISTED THAT WAS THE APPROPRIATE MANNER TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP FEELING EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED DUE TO THE FACT THE RECORDED MESSAGE ON THE "TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE LINE" ADVISED IF YOU HAD EXPERIENCED AND ACCELERATOR/ACCELERATION PROBLEM CONTACT YOUR DEALER IMMEDIATELY. WE ARE AWA

ON 1/30/2010 AT OR ABOUT 9:00AM. MY DAUGHTER'S 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES FAILED ENROUTE TO MAMMOUTH. NO SNOW OR RAIN WAS ON ROADWAY. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REACH HE SINCE, BUT OUR SENDING THIS COMPLAINT TO DOCUMENT THIS INCIDENT IN THE EVENT AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

2006 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH HID HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLAMPS GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY. MY WIFE WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE BECAUSE THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT THE OTHER NIGHT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULB ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN JUNE 2009. NOW I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT SIDE BULB, THE TOYOTA DEALER WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY BY 5 MONTHS. THERE ARE MANY,MANY PRIUS OWNERS WITH HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT BUT REFUSES TO HELP ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. I REQUEST THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE TOYOTA HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. WE PRIUS OWNERS FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT AND A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD CORRECT OR REIMBURSE PRIUS OWNERS THAT HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS AFTER THE 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR

SAME INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AS EXPRESSED BY COUNTLESS OTHERS ON THIS SITE AND BEYOND: 2006 PRIUS HID HEADLIGHTS BLINK OUT RANDOMLY. TURNING SWITCH OFF AND ON AGAIN RESTORES LIGHT UNTIL NEXT OCCURRENCE. HISTORY: DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENT AFTER 30,000 MILES. REPEATED COMPLAINTS TO DEALER, FINALLY REPLACED BULB AT 38,000 MILES. HANDLED UNDER WARRANTY. PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENT AROUND 50,000 MILES. AFTER REPEATED COMPLAINTS TO DEALER, "STARTER BULB" WAS REPLACED AT 54,000 MILES - ALSO HANDLED UNDER WARRANTY. MOVED TO NEW ADDRESS - SO NEW DEALER. RECEIVED LAME TOYOTA LETTER THAT PRETENDS TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION BY LOWERING THE COST OF THE PART, WHILE NOT ADDRESSING THAT THIS PART SHOULD NOT BE FAILING IN THIS WAY OR AS QUICKLY AS IT IS! PRESENT SITUATION: DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT AGAIN INTERMITTENT - AROUND 80,000 MILES. ASKED DEALER TO INVESTIGATE AT LAST SERVICE (87,000). "NO PROBLEM FOUND" "BRING IT BACK WHEN IT'S TOTALLY OUT" "IF HEADLIGHT IS THE SAME ONE THAT FALLS INTO SPECIAL CATEGORY OF LIGHTS, IT'LL BE $150 PLUS LABOR" "BUT IT COULD BE 1 OF 2 DIFFERENT LIGHTS WHICH WILL BE $300+ OR $600+ - WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE PULL IT APART." EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE EXCLUDED. EVEN THOUGH PREVIOUSLY-REPLACED BULB IS ONLY SLIGHTLY OLDER THAN ORIGINAL PROBLEM. PROBLEM IS THAT TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING REAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LEVEL OF PROBLEM THAT THIS IS. THEY SHOULD BE COVERING LABOR COSTS, EXTENDING WARRANTIES AND PROVIDI

RECENTLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MY PRIUS BEGAN WINKING OFF AT RANDOM. TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN WILL RESULT IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS BEING BUT MOMENTS (SOMETIMES SECONDS) LATER ONE OF THEM WILL TURN OFF. (SO FAR NEITHER HAVE BOTH TURNED OFF AT THE SAME TIME.) I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER BEING TOLD BY MY USUAL MECHANIC THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO "GET TO" THE PRIUS HEADLIGHT TO REPLACE IT. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE COST OF REPLACING BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS (ONLY) IF $475. $170 PER LIGHT AND THE REST OF THAT IS FOR THE LABOR AS THEY HAVE TO REMOVE THE FRONT BUMPER, ETC. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ONLINE I SEE THAT THIS SAME ISSUE (THE HEADLIGHT "WINKING") SEEMS PRETTY COMMON AND SO I'M REPORTING MY EXPERIENCE. *TR