2009 Toyota Prius complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON AN UNEVEN ROAD. SUDDENLY, WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS A TEMPORARY DELAY OF BRAKING POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

I HAVE HAD MORE THAN 10 OCCASIONS OF BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2009 PRIUS. MOST RECENTLY, IN JANUARY 2010, BUT ALSO PRIOR TO THAT. AFTER THE LAST PROBLEM, I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF A BRAKE RECALL EXISTED BUT WAS TOLD "NO" ONLY RECALL FOR FLOORMATS ON MY MODEL. THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED ON PAVEMENT AND GRAVEL ROAD, IN SCHOOL ZONE, TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 20 MPH. WHEN SLOWLY PULLING UP TO STOP SIGN AND APPLYING EVEN BREAK PRESSURE THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY COME TO A JOLTING STOP BEFORE THE ANTICIPATED STOP. ALL THE KIDS IN THE CAR LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M CRAZY FOR MAKING THEIR HEADS SUDDENLY HIT THE BACK OF THE SEAT. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE HAS BEEN DRIVING CLOSELY BEHIND ME DURING THESE ABRUPT STOPS. I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE FEEL OF THIS VEHICLE, AS THIS IS MY 3RD PRIUS AND I DRIVE MANY MILES. *TR

BRAKING ISSUES WITH A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS MODEL. UNDER ROUGH ROAD CONDITION THE BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT SEEM TO ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY CAUSING A OVERRUN OF THE DISTANCE NEEDED FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *TR

AUTOMATIC PRIUS 2009 SOMETIMES EVEN THOUGH I SHIFT TO A NEW GEAR IT STICKS. SO IF I WENT IN REVERSE AND SHIFTED OUT SO THAT I SHOULD NOW GO FORWARD, THE CAR GOES IN REVERSE. THIS HAPPENED THE OPPOSITE WAY TOO. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. *TR

I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2009 PRIUS AS DESCRIBED BELOW. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND HAVE GOTTEN NO SATISFACTION. I HAVE HAD 4 FRIENDS WITH PRIUS CARS DRIVE MINE AND THEY ALL AGREE THAT MY CAR'S STEERING IS BAD. HTTP://WWW.SFGATE.COM/CGI-BIN/ARTICLE.CGI?F=/N/A/2010/02/17/FINANCIAL/F012558S46.DTL SMALLER, LESS-EXPENSIVE VEHICLES SUCH AS THE 2009 AND 2010 COROLLA USE ELECTRIC-ASSIST POWER STEERING. THEY ARE USUALLY EQUIPPED WITH POWER STEERING SYSTEMS THAT ARE AIDED BY A SMALL ELECTRIC MOTOR, A SYSTEM KNOWN AS ELECTRIC-ASSIST STEERING. THE MOTOR ESSENTIALLY HELPS ALIGN THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE TIRES. THE SYSTEM IS CHEAPER TO INSTALL THAN STEERING SYSTEMS THAT RELY ON HYDRAULICS. PROBLEMS CAN ARISE IF THE MOTOR IS OUT OF SYNC WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO WANDER WITHOUT ANY TURNING OF THE WHEEL, HE SAID. "CAR COMPANIES WORK ON IT A LOT," SAID JIM DE CLERCK, A PROFESSOR IN THE MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY'S MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND A FORMER GENERAL MOTORS ENGINEER. "IT IS A PRETTY WELL-KNOWN CUSTOMER-SATISFACTION ISSUE." *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION THE CONTACT TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 21,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE UNCONTROLLABLY WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR. ALSO, THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MALFUNCTION COULD CAUSE A POTENTIAL CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 3/8/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE YELLOW BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST TRACTION MOMENTARILY. UPDATED 05/11/10.*JB

THREE EVENTS DESCRIBE SAFETY INCIDENTS CONCERNING THE BRAKES IN MY 2009 PRIUS; 1) DESCENDING A RAMP ONTO ROCK CREEK PKWY AT CALVERT STREET, WASHINGTON, DC, WHERE ROAD FLATTENED OUT, CAR IN FRONT STOPPED ABRUPTLY ON A DRY SURFACE. I RESPONDED QUICKLY, APPLYING THE BRAKE WITH HARD, LASTING PRESSURE.THE CAR SLOWED BUT NOT TO MATCH THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES I WAS APPLYING--I HAD THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR COASTED SMOOTHLY, SEEMINGLY SLOWLY TO A STOP, TERRIFYINGLY ABOUT 1 INCH FROM THE STOPPED CAR. THE BRAKES DID NOT GRIP SUFFICIENTLY BUT MIRACULOUSLY I AVOIDED A CRASH. 2) AT TIMES WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP IN MY PRIUS AND HIT THE BRAKES, THE CAR "KICKS" AND JUMPS TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT OR A BIT AHEAD. THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE AND HAPPENS MOSTLY ON DRY ROAD SURFACES 3) I WAS DESCENING A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE ON A CITY STREET--RENO ROAD. THE ROAD WAS PARTIALLY DAMP FROM A SHOWER AN HOUR OR TWO BEFORE, BUT NOT PUDDLE. I WAS GOING ABOUT 28 MPH. THE CAR AHEAD STOPPED ABRUPTLY BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT TILDEN TURNED YELLOW. I HIT THE BRAKES AND THE REAR OF THE CAR BUCKED A BIT AND THEN SLID INTO THE LEFT LANE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE IN THAT LANE AND I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN MY POSITION IN THE LANE IN WHICH I'D BEEN TRAVELING. 15 SECONDS EARLIER AND I WOULD HAVE HIT SOMEONE IN THE LEFT LANE. NB--ON THIS FORM I AM NOT SURE I CHOSE THE RIGHT TYPE OF BRAKES. I HAVE REGULAR PRIUS 2009 BRAKES IN MY CAR AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE KNOWN AS HYDRAULIC BRAKES. *TR

2009 PRIUS (NOT 2010). WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON BUMPY SURFACE, BRAKES WILL MOMENTARILY STOP WORKING. OCCURS ALL THE TIME. *TR

I KEEP HEARING ABOUT THE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING ON THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. HOWEVER, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY 2009 PRIUS. WHEN PASSING OVER A SLICK, BUMPY, OR ICY SURFACE, I EXPERIENCE A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING, AND A WARNING LIGHT THAT LOOKS LIKE A CAR SKIDDING COMES ON FOR LESS THAN A SECOND. THIS GENERALLY OCCURS AT SLOW SPEEDS, BUT HAS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS UP TO 25-30 MPH. *TR

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS MY 2009 EXHIBITS SIMILAR BRAKING ISSUES TO THOSE BEING RECALLED ON THE 2010. AT LEAST WEAKLY DURING SLOW BRAKING OVER A BUMP, POTHOLE, OR DAMP SURFACE, THE "SLIP" INDICATOR COMES ON AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE SECOND. *TR

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC IN WET OR LOW TRACTION CONDITIONS EVERY TIME ONE OF THE FRONT WHEELS LOOSES TRACTION, THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY GOES TO IDLE FOR 3 SECONDS AND THE CAR SEVERELY DECELERATES. ONLY BY REMOVING YOUR FOOT COMPLETELY FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND REAPPLYING THROTTLE WILL THE CAR START GOING AGAIN. THIS EXTREME OVER-REACTION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. THIS OVER-REACTION IS MOST PRONOUNCED IF TURNING TO THE RIGHT WHEN A FRONT WHEEL STARTS TO SLIP. THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM MANUALLY. *TR

IN ADDITION TO THE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, GAS PEDAL/FLOOR MAT PROBLEMS WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS THERE IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE POWER BUTTON. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, LIKE THE DOOR COMING OPEN, THROTTLE GETTING STUCK, ETC. YOU CAN'T POWER OFF THE VEHICLE QUICKLY. YOU MUST HOLD THE POWER BUTTON FOR SOME AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF. UNLIKE THE TOYOTA CAMRY EXAMPLE WHERE THEY SUGGESTED TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON THE PRIUS. YOU ALSO CAN'T REMOVE THE KEY/FOB TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF OR POWER IT OFF. THERE IS ALSO AN EXTREME UNDER STEER PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN. IN WET CONDITIONS IT IS EXACERBATED. IT CAN BE OBSERVED ON CLOVER LEAF OVERPASSES AND GENERAL CORNERING. *TR

WE BOUGHT A 2009 PRIUS ON 2/14/09. ON 2/18/09 WHILE DRIVING 25MPH ON A LOCAL ROAD DURING LIGHT SNOWFALL, THE BRAKES FAILED. TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER, MY WIFE STEERED INTO THE CURB SUSTAINING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, AXLE, AND UNDERCARRIAGE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND MAINTAINED THE ACCIDENT WAS HER FAULT. A FEW MONTHS LATER WE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER BRAKE FAILURE INCIDENT, THIS TIME WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT AS WE WERE TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED AND WERE ABLE TO DECELERATE BY TURNING UP AN EMPTY INCLINE. AGAIN THE DEALERSHIP MAINTAINS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. SINCE THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES WHEN THEY TEST THEM, THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. WE SPECULATE THAT THERE IS A COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROBLEM, BUT TOYOTA IS NOT YET ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS IS THE CASE FOR THE 2009 MODEL. *TR UPDATED 04/19/10

MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE WHEN DRIVING OVER POTHOLES. ALSO, BRAKES ARE "GRABBY" AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. BOTH CONDITIONS HAVE EXISTED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. *TR

I LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD 2 MILES LONG WITH 1 MILE UPHILL. I BOUGHT MY NEW 2009 PRIUS ON MARCH 10TH 2009 AND ON MARCH 12TH COULD NOT DRIVE OUT. GOING UP THE HILL WHEN EVER THE DRIVE WHEEL SLIPPED THE TRACTION CONTROL WOULD BRAKE THE WHEEL UNTIL, WITH MANY BRIEF BRAKING, THE PRIUS CAME TO A STOP. I WAS UNABLE TO GO FORWARD AND HAD TO BACK DOWN THE HILL TILL I COULD FIND A PLACE TO TURN AROUND. THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAD THE CAR TOWED OUT AND TOYOTA CHECKED IT AND SAID ALL SYSTEMS WERE WORKING PROPERLY. I ASKED FOR AN OFF SWITCH AND THEY SAID IMPOSSIBLE. WHEN I CAME HOME THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AND WAS TOWED OUT AND AGAIN TOYOTA REFUSED TO DEAL WITH IT. I WENT TO ARBITRATION AND PRESENTED MY INFORMATION ALONG WITH ARTICLES I FOUND ON THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM AFFECTING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE NATION, SOME WITH BAD RESULTS, ESPECIALLY ON ICE, STRANDING THEM, IN INTERSECTIONS. TOYOTA SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED IN THE WARRANTY SO ALL MY INFORMATION AND MY CASE WERE TOTALLY DISREGARDED. THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR ADD AN OFF SWITCH. I ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTURES OF ALL OTHER HYBRID OR ELECTRIC CARS WITH TRACTION CONTROL AND THEY EITHER HAVE AN OFF SWITCH OR OFFER ONE JUST FOR THIS REASON. I WAS LUCKY THAT MY ROAD ASSOCIATION SPENT $16,000 ON THE ROAD SHORTLY AFTER THIS HAPPENED BUT AS THE ROAD IS DETERIORATING AND THERE WONT BE ENOUGH MONEY FOR SEV

THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND I FOLLOWED SUITE. HOWEVER, AS HAD HAPPENED IN MANY OCCASIONS BEFORE THE BRAKES WERE DELAYED FOR A SECOND OR TWO AND THE LIGHT SHOWING THAT THE CARE IS SLIPPING CAME ON. AS USUAL IT FELT AS IF I WAS SLIDING ON ICE ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NONE. I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE STOPPED IN TIME BUT THE DELAY WAS DEFINITELY A FACTOR. *TR

I HAVE A 2009 PRIUS AND ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS IN CRUISE CONTROL MY CAR HAS ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY DOING SO. ALL OF THE TIMES I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND BRING DOWN MY SPEED. WE TRIED TO REPORT THIS TO TOYOTA BUT THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED. WE THEN REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT " THAT SOMETIMES HAPPENS". NO REPORT WAS FILED OR ACTION TAKEN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A WET CITY ROAD, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, MY CAR WAS OVER RAILROAD TRACKS. INITIALLY THE BRAKES DIDN'T RESPOND AND MY CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN. I DIDN'T HEAR ANTI-LOCK OR OTHER BRAKE NOISES. AFTER A 2-3 SECOND DELAY, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO WORK NORMALLY. HAD THE BRAKES DELAYED MUCH LONGER, I MAY HAVE COLLIDED WITH CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE ABOUT 6,000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND THIS IS THE ONLY INCIDENT WHEN THE BRAKES DIDN'T RESPOND AS EXPECTED. *TR

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS, BRAKES DO NOT HOLD ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR ICY ROADS. YOU LOSE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE ICY ROAD PROBLEM WAS NOVEMBER 2008, AND THE UNEVEN LANE/WASHBOARD ROAD PROBLEM WAS IN THE SUMMER OF 2009. IT WAS MENTIONED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT SINCE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. *TR

WHEN PUTTING THE PRIUS INTO PARK AND SHUTTING OFF THE CAR, IT ROLLS BACK EVERY TIME. PUTTING ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HELPS BUT IT STILL ROLLS. ALSO PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL (IE GOING THROUGH A AUTOMATED CAR WASH) THE CAR DOES NOT STAY IN NEUTRAL, IT POPS OUT AND IS VERY HARD TO PUT BACK INTO NEUTRAL. *TR

I WAS SITTING ON A ROAD IN TRAFFIC WITH MY CAR RUNNING BUT IN PARK BECAUSE I WAS WAITING FOR A TRAIN TO PASS BEFORE PROCEEDING. THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD WHEN THE VEHICLE CHANGED FUEL MODES FROM THE ELECTRIC ENGINE TO THE GAS ENGINE. I ALMOST HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND HAD THEM CHECK THE CAR THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL. NO ONE EVER INFORMED ME OF THIS WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS IS A HAZARD IN THE ABOVE SITUATION AS WELL AS IF PEOPLE HAVE THEIR CARS IN THEIR GARAGE AND RUNNING OR IN A NUMBER OF OTHER SITUATIONS. *TR

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS ISSUE: DEALERSHIP: THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE/RECOMMENDATION DESPITE MULTIPLE VOICEMAILS AND EMAIL DATED 2/6/10 TO [email protected]. TOYOTA: AWAITING RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA CASE MANAGER AFTER TWO PHONE CALLS, ONCE ON 2/9/10 AND ONE ON 2/10/10. SUMMARY: 1. I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT I EXPERIENCED A STICKING ACCELERATOR PROBLEM SEVERAL WEEKS BACK, WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING IN REVERSE AND WOULD NOT STOP DESPITE THE BRAKE BEING PUMPED A FEW TIMES. THE CAR WAS FINALLY BROUGHT TO A STOP BY PRESSING THE POWER BUTTON FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. I DO NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL FLOOR MATS IN THE CAR, BESIDES WHATEVER WAS AVAILABLE WITH THE BASIC PACKAGE. 2. WHEN BRAKING ON PUDDLES/POT-HOLES THE CAR SEEMS TO STALL AND THE ORANGE LIGHT TURNS ON. *TR

I WAS DRIVING A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS AND CAME TO A STOP AT A FRIEND'S GARAGE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD, IT HIT AN OLD FIR TREE AND A BRICK WALL. I CHECKED AND THE FLOOR MAT WAS IN THE SAME POSITION IT ALWAYS WAS. A FRIEND PUSHED THE FENDER BACK INTO PLACE AND THE TOYOTA DEALER BUFFED OUT THE SCRATCHES. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT CHECKING OUT THE ACCELERATOR. BUT THEY ALWAYS TELL ME THAT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR A LETTER. I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND AM HAVING NIGHTMARES ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. *TR

WHEN DRIVING MY 2009 PRIUS IN EITHER WET OR SNOWY CONDITIONS, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE CAR "SKIPS"/DOESN'T HOLD THE BRAKING WHEN I APPLY MY FOOT STEADILY TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. I'VE NOTICED THIS IN WET CONDITIONS FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE, IN JUNE 2009, AND AGAIN MORE RECENTLY IN SNOW. I'VE WOUND UP NOT DRIVING THE PRIUS WHEN THE ROADS ARE EITHER WET OR SNOWY NOW, BUT OBVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THESE CONDITIONS WHEN RAIN OR SNOW STARTED WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. IT IS NOT A SAFE FEELING TO FEEL THE CAR SLIPPING. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2009 PRIUS IN APRIL 2009. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME BRAKE SLIPPING PROBLEM THAT THE 2010'S ARE BEING RECALLED FOR. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED. EACH TIME IT WAS NO FAULT FOUND AND "GOSH THESE BRAKES ARE COMPLICATED AND YOU WOULD HAVE AN IDIOT LIGHT GO OFF IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM". I AM FEELING VERY UNSAFE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WANT TO KNOW WHEN MY SOFTWARE WILL BE UPDATED. *TR

ON A DAILY BASIS, MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSES CONTROL, SKIDS, (THE TRACTION LIGHT GOES ON), FISHTAILS AND HAS BRAKE FAILURES ON ICE AND SNOW. WHEN I HIT POTHOLES OR BIG BUMPS, THE CAR ACCELERATES AND I HAVE TO QUICKLY BRAKE. THE NORTHBROOK TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER DROVE IT TODAY. THE CAR LOST CONTROL, SKIDDED, THE TRACTION LIGHT WENT ON, IT FISHTAILED, AND THE BRAKES FAILED ON THE ICE AND SNOW. HIS COMMENT WAS "THAT'S THE WAY THE CAR IS. IT DOESN'T DRIVE WELL ON ICE AND SNOW". WE COULDN'T FIND A GOOD POTHOLE FOR THE CAR TO DEMONSTRATE THE ACCELERATION TODAY. I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTOMECHANIC THAT WORKS ON OUR OTHER CARS THAT THE 2009 AND 2010 PRIUS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKES. PRESENTLY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 2009 PRIUS. I AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO KILL SOMEONE AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN I CAN'T STOP. YESTERDAY I HAD 2 CATHOLIC NUNS IN THE CAR AND THE CAR FAILED TO TURN LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION, ALMOST FISHTAILING INTO AN EMBANKMENT BEFORE IT RIGHTED ITSELF. A LEXUS SUV BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME WHILE TRYING TO AVOID ME. I AM HOPING THAT NO LIVES WILL BE LOST, OR SEVERE INJURIES OCCUR, BEFORE THESE PROBLEMS ARE ACKNOWLEDGED BY TOYOTA AND FIXED. *TR

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS VEHICLE SLID INTO INTERSECTION, NO COLLISION OCCURRED. APPROX 3 FT PAST STOP POINT. DURING MODERATE TO HARD BRAKING, IF A WHEEL HITS SAND OR A POTHOLE, THE "TRACTION CONTROL" SYSTEM ENGAGES, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO RELEASE FOR APPROX .25 TO .75 SECOND. IT IS VERY UNNERVING (TO SAY THE LEAST) TO BE OUT OF CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. IT IS ALSO REPEATABLE WHEN ACCELERATING ON A SHORT ENTRANCE RAMP AROUND A CORNER. THIS RAMP IS VERY UNEVEN. THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES AND THE CAR SEEMS TO STEER STRAIGHT, TOWARDS THE OUTSIDE OF THE CURVE. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE IS BEHAVING NORMALLY, AND THERE IS NO WAY FOR AN OPERATOR TO DISABLE THE TRACTION CONTROL. I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS, AND ASSUMED IT WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS VEHICLE... BUT NOW WITH THE INVESTIGATION ON 2010 I AM WONDERING IF MY REPORT IS SIMILAR AND IF THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE 2009. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE AND TRYING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SEEMED TO HYDROPLANE FOR A SHORT TIME. THE FAILURE NEVER OCCURRED ON SMOOTH SURFACES. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS "TOO PERFECT" WHICH WAS WHY SHE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. SHE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10.

I HAVE A 2009 PRIUS, AND THE BRAKES SEEM TO DISENGAGE WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE. I NOTICE IT EVERYTIME, IN PARTICULAR WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY, IF THERE ARE BUMPS ON THE OFF RAMP. *TR

WHEN I GO OVER A RAILROAD TRACK OR LARGE BUMPS THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF MY PRIUS STOPS OPERATING FOR A MOMENT. *TR

THE PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS IS THE ENHANCED VSC, NOT THE BRAKES! I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THE BRAKING PROBLEM IN THE TOYOTA PRIUS AND THEY ALL SEEM TO OCCUR UNDER ROUGH OR SLIPPERY DRIVING CONDITIONS. I OWN A 2009 PRIUS AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENHANCED VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC). PLEASE LOOK INTO THE ENHANCED VSC FOR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S THE BRAKES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH GOING DOWN HILL ON A WET ROAD THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE. THE BRAKES FULLY ENGAGED AFTER SHE CRASHED. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHENEVER SHE DROVE OVER A POTHOLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED 5 TO 6 TIMES. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE. A POLICE REPORT WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15500.

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS WHILE DRIVING ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR ICY ROADS, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR SLIDES AND IT FEELS AS IF YOU ARE LOSING CONTROL OVER THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS ON ANY UNEVEN SURFACE LIKE SPEED BUMPS AND OR WASH BOARD ROADS, AND DURING THE WINTER MONTHS FOR ICY ROADS. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA IN COLORADO TO FIX SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY SAY NO RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED ON THE 2009 MODEL. *TR

LAST MAY, I PURCHASED A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. FOR SOME TIME NOW, I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF BRAKING ISSUES THAT SOUND EERILY SIMILAR TO WHAT IS BEING DESCRIBED WITH THE 2010 PRIUS RECALLS. I HAVE NOT REPORTED ANYTHING UNTIL NOW BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, AND ADJUST MY DRIVING ACCORDINGLY. WHENEVER I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY GOING OVER ROUGH, BUMPY, OR POTHOLED AREAS OF ROAD...MY "SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS" LIGHT FLASHES MOMENTARILY ON MY DASHBOARD. ADDITIONALLY, IT ALMOST FEELS AS THOUGH THE CAR ACCELERATES IN THAT SPLIT SECOND, BUT AS LONG AS I KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I MAKE SURE TO KEEP ADEQUATE SPACE BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CARDS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IF I EVER HAD TO STOP TOO QUICKLY ON ROAD CONDITIONS SUCH AS I HAVE DESCRIBED ABOVE I AM CERTAIN THAT I WOULD CRASH INTO THE OTHER CAR BEFORE MY BRAKES ACTUALLY TOOK OVER. I AM SIMPLY REPORTING THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I WONDER IF, DESPITE TOYOTA'S CLAIM THAT ONLY THE 2010 MODEL IS BEING AFFECTED, OTHER YEAR MODELS OF THE PRIUS ARE HAVING ISSUES AS WELL. I AM ENTERING AN APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE BELOW, HOWEVER, I REALLY CAN'T PICK JUST ONE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A MULTITUDE OF OCCASIONS SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY OF 2009. *TR

TOYOTA 2009 PRIUS BRAKE PROBLEM 15 JAN. 2010 I TOOK MY 2009 PRIUS TO LAKELAND TOYOTA (MY DEALER), LAKELAND FLORIDA, USA 33880. THE BRAKES HAD GONE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THEY HAVE A MAINTENANCE RECORD OF THE EVENT. AT THE TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE BRAKE. I WAS DRIVING ON A ROUGH ROAD ON A COLD DAY JUST PRIOR TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. PLEASE EXPAND THE PRIUS RECALL TO INCLUDE THE 2009 YEAR. *TR

ACCELERATOR STICKING ON 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS

I OWN A 2009 PRIUS, PURCHASE DEC 2008. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR BRAKE PROBLEMS AS 2010. WHEN I HIT A ROUGH OR BUMPY ROAD, THE BRAKES GET SQUISHY & LESS EFFECTIVE. I NOTE THE ANTI-SKID CAUTION FLASHES, BRAKES DO BECOME SLIGHTLY LESS EFFECTIVE. I AM AN ENGINEER. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA 2/8/2010.

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2009 PRIUS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED FROM DAY ONE, AN ISSUE WHEN BRAKING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THE BRAKES DO NOT GRASP. A PICTURE OF A SWIRVING CAR APPEARS ON THE MONITOR OF THE CAR SHOWING OUT OF CONTROL VEHICLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2010 RECALL. PLEASE RECALL ALL AFFECTED PRIUS' WHICH NOW INCLUDE 2009.

1. DRIVING NORMALLY UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS 2. 2009 PRIUS PURCHASED IN APRIL OF '09 LOSES TRACTION OVER POTHOLES, BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE, SINCE I LIVE IN A CITY AND GO OVER POTHOLES AND UNEVEN ROADS OFTEN. IT IS NOT A PARTICULAR ISSUE IN THE SNOW- IN FACT IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN ON CLEAR ROADS. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, BECAUSE MY PRIUS WAS BOUGHT ONE MONTH BEFORE THE RECALL COVERS (APRIL OF '09, VERSUS THE NEW RECALL THAT GOES BACK TO MAY OF '09). MY CAR WITHOUT A DOUBT HAS THE SAME ISSUE. *CN

I OWN A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A SHOPPING CENTER WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I HIT A SMALL TREE AND THE CAR BESIDE ME. THE CAR IS BEING TOWED TO CAMELBACK TOYOTA IN PHOENIX AZ. THE CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. I DID NOT STEP ON THE BREAKE HARD BUT THE CAR JUST PULLED AHEAD *CN

I WISH TO REPORT A BREAKING PROBLEM WITH MY 1999 TOYOTA PRIUS. THIS OCCURED IN ABOUT SEPT. 2009. I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT HAD ABOUT 18,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THIS FAILURE. I HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF A GAS STATION (FOR GAS ONLY) WHEN I GOT A NUMBER OF WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD. (ABOUT 4 AS I RECALL) ALL THE WARNINGS WERE EITHER TIRE OF BREAK RELATED WARNINGS. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE BREAKS. ONLY MAXIMUM FOOT PRESURE WOULD ACTUATE THE BREAKS AND THEN THEY WOULD GRAB VERY HARD. FORTUNATELY, THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, SO I CAREFULLY LIMPPED THE CAR IN. NO DAMAGE OR ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THIS FAILURE. TOYOTA DID FIX THE PROBLEM THE NEXT DAY AND REPORTED THAT THE FRONT BREAKS HAD STOPPED WORKING AND ONLY THE REAR BEAKS WERE STOPPING THE CAR. IF I RECALL THE FIX CORRECTLY, THEY REPLACED SOME PART CALLED THE "BREAK ACTUATOR" SINCE THEN, NO PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED *CN

I HAVE THE BRAKE PROBLEM BEING REPORTED FOR THE PRIUS, BUT MINE IS A 2009 MODEL. WHEN BRAKING ON ROUGH SURFACES, THE BRAKES QUIT FOR A MOMENT. SINCE I DON'T TAILGATE, I'VE NEVER FELT IN DANGER. BUT IT IS A SLIGHTLY OUT OF CONTROL FEELING. I'VE FILLED IN THE DATE BELOW AS MAY 2009, WHEN I PURCHASED (LEASED) THE CAR. BUT THE SITUATION HAS BEEN CONTINUOUS. *TW

MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS IS EXHIBITING THE SAME BRAKING BEHAVIOR AS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IN THE 2010 MODELS. THERE IS A MANHOLE COVER ON A STREET I FREQUENTLY DRIVE NEAR A STOP LIGHT. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP I HAVE HIT THE MANHOLE COVER AND AT WHICH POINT THE CAR SEEMS TO LOOSE CONTROL. WHILE MOST DAYS THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME, ON OCCASION I HAVE COME CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE HYBRID, BUT THE RECENT ARTICLES ABOUT THE 2010 MODELS HAVE PUSHED ME TO BRING THIS ISSUE TO THE FOREFRONT. IT MIGHT NOT BE SIMPLY THE 2010 MODELS. *TW

1. BRAKES FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY 2. OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE WEEKLY; CONSEQUENCES -- EMOTIONAL DURESS AND CONCERN; NO ACCIDENTS YET, THANK GOD. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS YET. I WENT TO MY TOYOTA DEALER, TOYOTA CAVENDER IN SAN ANTONIO, TX 48 HRS AGO TO GET USUAL OIL CHANGE AND TO GET THE BRAKES CHECKED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THEY WERE CLOSING IN AN HOUR AND THE TOYOTA PRIUS TECHNICIAN WAS NOT THERE. I HAD TO CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH HIM -- EVEN THOUGH MY BRAKES HAD NEARLY FAILED TO STOP WHEN I PULLED INTO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE AREA. *CN

BRAKE FAILURE WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT OR POTHOLE IN BOTH 2005 AND 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WE HAVE OWNED TWO PRIUS, A 2005 AND NOW A 2009, AND BOTH HAVE EXHIBITED THE BRAKING ANOMOLY THAT IS BEING DESCRIBED IN THE PRESS AS ONLY OCCURING WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. I EXPERIENCE THIS FAILURE FREQUENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS ONLY BRIEFLY -ABOUT ONE OR TWO SECONDS AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. HOWEVER, IT IS DISCONCERTING AND IF THIS IS A MALFUNCTION, IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF FOR ALL PRIUS, NOT JUST 2010. *CN

I OWN A 2009 PRIUS AND I HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED AND I HIT A BUMP, I LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR A SPLIT SECOND. IT SEEMS THE BRAKES LOSE TRACTION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I NOTICE A ORANGE LIGHT ON THE DASH LIGHTS UP FOR A SECOND. *CN

I OWN A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS AND WHEN THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS A POT HOLE OR ANY ROUGH ROAD SERVICE, IT JUMPS AHEAD AND THERE IS A DELAY WHEN I ATTEMPT TO BRAKE. ON THE DASHBOARD THE ICY ROADWAY INDICATAOR APPEARS AT THESE TIMES. THIS SIITUATION HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN APRIL 2009 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MAKING CONTACT WITH A POTHOLE THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

I OWN A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AS THE REPORTED 2010 BRAKES. WHEN I DRIVE OVER POT HOLES OR STREET COVERS, MY VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT'S OUT OF CONTROL. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE 2010 WITH THE 2009 MODELS? *TR