2009 Toyota Prius complaints

I HAVE A 2009 PRIUS, PURCHASED IN MARCH 2009. SEVERAL TIMES MY BRAKES HAVE STOPPED WORKING ON ROUGH SURFACES AND THE SURGED FORWARD. EACH TIME I WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I WOULD BRAKE, THE BRAKES WOULD WORK, AND THEN I WOULD HIT A ROUGH PATCH IN THE ROAD, THE BRAKES WOULD STOP WORKING, AND THE CAR WOULD SURGE FORWARD. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY LETTING UP ON THE BRAKES AND THEN BRAKING AGAIN. LUCKILY I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. ONE TIME THOUGH I ALMOST WENT INTO THE INTERSECTION BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STOP. *TR

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. STRANGE BEHAVIOR OF ANTILOCK BRAKES/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WHEN HITTING A SINGLE POTHOLE OR SMALL PATCH OF ICE ON OTHERWISE CLEAR ROAD SURFACE. VEHICLE SIGNIFICANTLY DAMPENS BRAKE RESPONSE AND DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE TIRES ARE NOW ON A GOOD CONTACT SURFACE AND CONTINUES TO BE IN TC MODE FOR EXCESSIVE TIME PERIOD. ONLY WAY TO ASSURE YOU WILL STOP WITHIN REASONABLE DISTANCE IS TO LIFT UP ON BRAKE PEDAL AND REDEPRESS (NOW OUT OF TC MODE CAR WILL STOP QUICKLY). THIS PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF REGULARLY WHEN ROAD CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT. THE PROBLEM IS THE MOST NOTICEABLE AT MODERATELY LOW SPEEDS I WOULD ESTIMATE 5-25 MPH BUT LIKELY OCCURS AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHICH IS LESS NOTICEABLE. IT SEEMS TO BE A FACTOR OF DISTANCE OR THE FACT THAT THE CAR DOES NOT REALIZE THE WHEEL IS GETTING TRACTION AGAIN. *TR

THE UNINTENDED SPEEDING ALSO HAPPENS ON 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD, THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WHEN I HIT A POT HOLE ON ONE TIRE, CAR PULLS TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE AT AN INCREASED SPEED AND BRAKE SEEMS TOO SLOW TO REACT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS POSITIONED IN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE ENGINE TURNED OFF WHEN THERE WAS FORCEFUL PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY THE STICKING OF THE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RELEASED WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION THE DRIVER APPLIED PARTIAL FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO AVOID THE PEDAL STICKING. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

2009 PRIUS DISPLAYS ERRATIC BRAKING BEHAVIOR WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON IRREGULAR SURFACES...RR TRACKS, GRAVEL ETC. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2009 PRIUS. WHEN COMING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT (ICY CONDITIONS) I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, STARTED TO COAST AND THEN BEGAN TO BRAKE. I HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. THE CAR KEPT GOING AND I HEARD A THUMPING LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE TRYING TO ENGAGE. I FINALLY HAD TO THROW THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 MPH, THE DRIVER ENCOUNTERED A BUMP WHENEVER SHE DROVE OVER A BUMP OR A POTHOLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE OCCURRENCE WAS NORMAL CONTRIBUTING TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. UPDATED 4/27/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE BRAKING, THERE WAS A MOMENTARY LAPSE IN THE BRAKES. UPDATED 05/17/10

I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE PROBLEM I DESCRIBE HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR, IT IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, STOPPED CAR OR RED LIGHT, THE CAR DOES NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY IT SEEMS TO BE DELAYED IN IT'S RESPONSE AND THEN I HAVE TO STEP DOWN HARDER ON THE BREAK TO MAKE IT STOP AND THEN IT BECOMES A "HARD" STOP. THIS HAPPENS USUALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. 20-55MPH. I'VE NOTICE THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MANY TIMES DURING THE WEEK, TODAY I ALREADY EXPERIENCED IT ONCE AND I AM BECOMING AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE PROBLEM WILL OCCUR, THERE IS NO FOREWARNING. I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED FOR A LONG TIME AND FEAR THAT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS BREAKING PROBLEM RESULTS IN AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK MY CAR IN YESTERDAY TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND/RECREATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE MENTIONED IT TO THEM IN THE PAST AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST A DIFFERENT FEEL BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE "VACUUM" DESIGN. *TR

SNOW COVERED ROAD, WAS BRAKING FOR STOP SIGN, WENT OVER MANHOLE COVER, ABS (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) KICKED IN, LOST BRAKING FOR ABOUT THREE FEET. *TR

EVERY DAY I ENCOUNTER A LARGE POT HOLE ON MY WAY TO WORK. IT IS ABOUT 20 FEET FROM A STOP SIGN, SO AT THIS POINT I AM ALREADY DRIVING SLOW AND BRAKING. HOWEVER, WHEN THE ONE WHEEL DIPS INTO THE HOLE, THE YELLOW TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON, AND I FEEL WHAT COULD BE A SLIGHT LOSS IN BRAKING, AS IF THE CAR IS COASTING FOR A SPLIT SECOND (VERSUS BRAKING/SLOWING) OR PERHAPS ACCELERATING FORWARD. THE CAR/SYSTEM RECOVERS AS SOON AS ALL WHEELS PASS THE POTHOLE. NOT HAVING HAD A TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM PRIOR TO THIS CAR, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS NORMAL SO I DIDN'T PURSUE IT, BUT I KNOW I DON'T LIKE HOW IT FEELS! THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY TIME I DRIVE OVER THAT POTHOLE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. LUCKILY THEY JUST PAVED THE HOLE LAST MONTH FINALLY. OTHERWISE I TRY TO AVOID ROUGH ROADS AS A MATTER OF COURSE. PERHAPS A RELATED PROBLEM IS WHEN TRYING TO GO UP AN ICY/SLUSHY SLOPE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SHUTS OFF THE WHEELS TO KEEP THEM FROM SLIPPING/SPINNING. SINCE I LIVE ON A HILL, THIS MAKES WINTER ESPECIALLY STRESSFUL AND MAKES ME FEARFUL OF DRIVING TO FROM WORK AND ENCOUNTERING EVEN A SLIGHT INCLINE THAT IS NOT PLOWED OR SALTED --WHAT IF THE CAR STOPPED AND I GOT HIT? TOYOTA SAYS THIS IS "NORMAL" TO KEEP THE ELECTRIC ENGINE FROM BEING OVER STRESSED OR SOME SUCH THING. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS II BRAKE ISSUES. I HAVE A 2009 PRIUS THAT EXHIBIT SIMILAR BRAKING PROBLEMS AS THE RECALLED 2010 PRIUS. WHEN I'M COMING TO A STOP AND HIT A BUMPY PATCH, THE BRAKES WILL RELEASE MOMENTARILY. THE RELEASE IS FOR A SECOND RESULTING IN THE CAR TRAVELING 3 FEET BEFORE I HAVE TO APPLY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. THIS COULD EASILY MEAN A FENDER BENDER IF I'M A BIT CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. IT IS ESPECIALLY AN ISSUE WHEN STOPPING DOWN HILL WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON HERE IN SEATTLE. I BOUGHT MY CAR (BRAND NEW) IN SPRING OF 2009. I'VE ALWAYS NOTICED THE PROBLEM BUT THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE NATURE OF THE HYBRID DRIVE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS MAY WORSEN WITH THE AGE OF THE CAR. PLEASE ADVISE. I WOULD HATE TO SEE THIS ISSUE DISREGARDED. *TR

I HAVE A 2009 PRIUS. I'VE BEEN COMPLAINING TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY, SINCE I GOT IT ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, ABOUT ITS INSTABILITY WHEN I GO OVER SMALL BUMPS AND RUTS IN THE ROAD. THE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE AHEAD, SWERVE A BIT, AND LOSE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE OTHER MAJOR PROBLEM IS THE CAR'S HORRIBLE TRACTION ON WET HIGHWAYS. IF I'M TRAVELING OVER 45 M.P.H., MY CAR BEGINS TO HYDROPLANE. THE EXPERIENCE IS UNNERVING. I'VE NEVER DRIVEN A CAR THAT FEELS SO UNSAFE AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL SUCH A LACK OF CONFIDENCE, AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 35 YEARS. PLUS, DURING THE LAST SNOWSTORM, WHEN I PUT MY PRIUS IN PARK ON A SLIGHT INCLINE ON THE ROAD IN FRONT OF MY HOME, THE CAR SLID ABOUT 20 FEET, IN PARK. I HAD TO PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. IT SLIDES ALL OVER THE ROAD, IN SNOW. I HATE THIS CAR AND WISH I'D NEVER BOUGHT IT. I BELIEVE THAT ITS MERITS WERE MISREPRESENTED. DESPITE THE CHOSEN DATE THAT YOU'VE REQUIRED ME TO ENTER, UNFORTUNATELY THESE PROBLEMS ARE ONGOING. *TR

ANY TIME THE "SLIPPERY CONDITION" LIGHT COMES ON (FOR INSTANCE, WHEN GOING OVER A POTHOLE OR A PATCH OF WATER ON THE ROAD), MY 2009 PRIUS JUMPS FORWARD. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS IN THE FALL AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS WORKING PROPERLY. NOW, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WITH 2010 PRIUSES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT MINE IS A 2009. I HAVE A YOUNG DAUGHTER AND I WON'T PUT HER IN THIS CAR ANYMORE BECAUSE IT'S WINTER NOW AND IT HAPPENS ON SLIPPERY ROADS NEARLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS IN APRIL 2009. ON AT LEAST FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD ISSUES OF MY VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD OR BEING HARD TO STOP AFTER DRIVING OVER A POTHOLEAND WHEN DRIVING ON A WASHBOARD ROADS (1 TIME ON THE POT HOLE THE OTHER TIMES WERE WHILE ON THE DIRT ROAD). I JUST FIGURED THE VEHICLE DIDN'T HANDLE WELL DIRT ROADS AND POT HOLES SO I AM JUST EXTRA CAREFUL IN THOSE CONDITIONS WHICH IS WHY I DID NOT THINK TO REPORT THIS UNTIL NOW WHEN I HEARD THE REPORT ON BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE PRIUS. I DO NOT KNOW IF MY PROBLEM IS SIGNIFICANT OF NOT, I THOUGHT I WOULD REPORT IT JUST IN CASE. I DO NOT HAVE APPROXIMATE DATES, JUST BETWEEN APRIL AND SEPTEMBER 2009. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN SLIPPERY WEATHER, WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, HE DID NOT NOTICE AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IT SEEMED TO "LAG" SO HE WOULD CONTINUE PRESSING DOWN UNTIL IT KICKED IN. HE NOTICED THE ISSUE EVERYTIME IT WAS RAINING OR THERE WAS SLIPPERY WEATHER. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. HE HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,248. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50.

MY 2009 MODEL TOYOTA PRIUS IS HAVING SIMILAR BRAKING PROBLEMS BEING REPORTED ON 2010 MODEL PRIUS. CAR LOSES BRAKING POWER WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH HE HAD TO BRAKE HARD AND FAST. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN BUT CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPDATED 04/28/10.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER FELT THE ABS ACTIVATE. UPDATED 02/24/10.*JB UPDATED 3/8/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID NOT HEAR THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM SOUND OR FEEL THE USUAL BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE SLOWED INITIALLY, THEN DECELERATION BEGAN WITH NO LOCK UP OF TIRES AND NO APPARENT ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGEMENT. THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE VEHICLES FAILURE TO STOP AS EXPECTED. UPDATED 05/11/10. *JB

PRIUS BRAKING FAILURE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL INSTANCES (FOUR OR FIVE) OF A BRAKING FAILURE ON MY 2009, SECOND GENERATION TOYOTA PRIUS. IT HAS OCCURRED DURING RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED BRAKING, SUCH AS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, COINCIDENT WITH HITTING A SEVERE BUMP, SUCH AS A POT HOLE OR CROSSING ROUGH RAILROAD TRACKS. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SURGE WHERE THE BRAKES ARE INEFFECTIVE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME---LESS THAN A SECOND. I DESCRIBE IT AS A SURGE BUT IT MAY WELL BE JUST A TOTAL RELEASE OF THE BRAKES. IT SEEMS TO BE MOST SEVERE THE GREATER THE BUMP. I HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED THIS AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 30 MPH OR SO. THERE HAS BEEN NO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NORMAL BRAKING RETURNS IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE NOVEMBER, 2008. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO MY DEALER WHO SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS NORMAL ANTI-LOCK BRAKING ACTION AND EXPRESSED LITTLE INTEREST IN TRYING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND AT LEAST 10 YEARS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND HAVE NEVER FELT THIS TYPE OF ACTION FROM ANY OTHER VEHICLE. *TR

I OWN A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS AND NOTICE A DELAY IN BRAKING SPECIALLY OVER BUMPY ROADS OR ICE, ALSO AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKE THE VSC LIGHT COMES ON IN THE DASHBOARD AND THE CAR TRAVELS FREELY FOR A COUPLE OF METERS SOMETIMES EVEN ACCELERATING A BIT BEFORE THE BRAKES ACTUALLY ENGAGE. THIS IS OBSERVED VERY OFTEN. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS - ARE YOU GUYS PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE TAKING LONGER THAN USUAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9500.

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS ALSO SUFFERS FROM TEMPORARY LOSS OF BRAKING AFTER HITTING POTHOLES OR OTHER ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR

I NOTICED ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2009 TAKES ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO TO ACTUALLY BRAKE. I NOTICED THAT EVEN WHEN I START BRAKING SLIGHTLY THE CAR DOES SLOW DOWN BUT I HAVE TO PRESS HARDER (MORE THAN HALF WAY IN) FOR THE CAR TO RESPOND ON BRAKING. *TR

IN MAY 2009 I PURCHASED A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS MY PRIUS HAS HAD SIMILAR BRAKING PROBLEMS AS THOSE DESCRIBED AS AFFECTING THE 2010 PRIUS MODELS. IN AUGUST 2009 I BROUGHT MY PRIUS IN TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I HAD EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT LAG IN BRAKING (MORE THAN 1 SECOND) WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP. SINCE THEN I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. UNLIKE THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, THE RECENT OCCURRENCES HAVE HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE AND HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND WHEN BRAKING AND HIT A LANE DIVIDER. ALTHOUGH THE MEDIA REPORTS DO NOT INDICATE THAT THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS PRIUS MODELS OTHER THAN THE NEW 2010 MODELS SOLD PRIOR TO JANUARY 2010 I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA TO BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT MY 2009 PRIUS IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

CONTINUAL PROBLEM WHENEVER WE TRY TO BRAKE, THE CAR WILL BEGIN TO ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN APPARENT SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND EACH TIME WE MENTION IT AT THE SERVICING, WE ARE TOLD THE BRAKES ARE WORKING FINE. *TR

ON MY 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS, I CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCE BRAKING DIFFICULTIES ON ROUGH OR UNEVEN SURFACES. IF I AM PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AND PASS THRU A HOLE OR HUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CAR FLASHES THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS AND I HAVE NO BRAKES WHAT-SO-EVER FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE A FEW SECONDS. IF I RELEASE THE BRAKE AND PRESS DOWN AGAIN, I THEN HAVE BRAKE CONTROL BACK. I REPORTED THIS TO MY DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE SAME RESPONSE 'THAT IS THE WAY THE BRAKES ARE ON THE PRIUS.' *TR

I AM EXPERIENCING MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE DRIVING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY IN MY CAR. SOMETIMES EVEN ON A STOP SIGN AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A STATE HIGH WAY IT FEELS LIKE JUMPING OFF WITH NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR

BRAKING OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE SUCH AS MANHOLES, RAILROAD CROSSINGS AND BROKEN PAVEMENT, THE CAR'S RATE OF DECELERATION IS BRIEFLY HALTED (GIVING A SENSATION OF ACCELERATION). *TR

I PURCHASED A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS FROM DUNNING TOYOTA IN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN IN OCTOBER 2008. UNFORTUNATELY I, AS WELL, HAVE ABSOLUTELY EXPERIENCED SUDDEN BRAKE LOSS WHEN HITTING MY BRAKES "HARD AND SUDDENLY". IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE SLIDING ON ICE AND THE VEHICLE IS "LOCKED" - YOU HAVE NO CONTROL. AS OTHERS HAVE STATED RECENTLY, THIS SUDDENLY LOCKED BRAKE LOSS OCCURS FOR APPROXIMATELY A SECOND TO SECOND AND A HALF. THIS HAS OCCURRED TO ME 4 OR 5 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. I DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL THE NEWS REPORTS, AND MY WIFE INDICATED THAT IT TOO HAS OCCURRED TO HER 3 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. I NOTICED THAT WHEN IT DOES OCCUR THAT IF I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THEN SLOWLY DEPRESS DOWN I REGAIN MY BRAKES AGAIN. ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE HAS BEEN GOOD THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP, I HAD TO BE HONEST IN FILING THIS COMPLAINT FOR MYSELF AND THE PUBLICS SAFETY. *TR

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HIT POTHOLE AND CAR LURCHES FORWARD. BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON FOR A SECOND. *TR

I DRIVE A LEASED 2009 PRIUS. THIS IS MY FAMILY'S FIRST HYBRID VEHICLE. ENROUTE HOME AFTER WORK EACH WEEKDAY (A DRIVE TOTALLING 5 MILES), I DRIVE DOWN A TYPICAL LOS ANGELES MAIN STREET, THAT HAS NUMEROUS POTHOLES. IF BRAKING WHEN RIDING OVER THE POTHOLES, THE CAR SURGES FORWARD FOR A SECOND, AND SEEMS UNCONTROLLABLE. BECAUSE IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE OUR LEASE OF THE PRIUS (WE GOT IT LAST MARCH, NEW), I ATTRIBUTED IT TO MY NEEDING TO GET USED TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HYBRID AND THE 2008 CAMRY WE OWN, AND TRY TO REFRAIN FROM BRAKING OVER POTHOLES WHEN POSSIBLE. NOW THAT I KNOW THIS IS A DEFECT, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT CONTINUING TO DRIVE EITHER CAR WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD IN IT..... PLEASE EXPAND THE RESEARCH ON TOYOTA'S BRAKING SYSTEM FOR PRIUS BEYOND 2010 MODELS. *TR

THE BRAKING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE 2010 PRIUS IS NOT LIMITED TO THAT MODEL YEAR. I HAVE A 2009 (2ND GENERATION) PRIUS AND I HAVE AT TIMES EXPERIENCED THE SAME SLIGHT BRAKING PROBLEM WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR A RAILROAD TRACK. *TR

ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 9, 2009 I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-93 NEAR THE TOWN OF MEDFORD, MA. I WAS ON MY WAY TO LOGAN AIRPORT TO RETURN THE 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS I HAD RENTED THAT PREVIOUS WEDNESDAY. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 9:30 AM; THE FREEWAY WAS STILL BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WITH RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS IN THE LEFT-HAND LANE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO. A GAP OPENED UP IN TRAFFIC AND I ACCELERATED. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME (APPROXIMATELY 60') SUDDENLY STOPPED. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES BUT MY CAR KEPT GOING. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AS MY CAR PLOWED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AT THE SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE IMPACT WAS SUFFICIENT TO DISLODGE MY FRONT LICENSE PLATE. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, HOWEVER THE TWO PASSENGERS WERE EXTREMELY SHAKEN UP. THERE WAS A MASSACHUSETTS STATE TROOPER ON THE SCENE WHO TOOK ALL THE INFORMATION BUT DID NOT FILE A REPORT. AS SOON AS I COULD, AT ABOUT 11:00 AM, I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA TO REPORT THE ACCIDENT, AND I EXPLAINED ALL OF THE DETAILS TO THEM. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS FROM MY LOCAL DEALER AND HAVE HAD THE BRAKES DO THE SAME SKIPPING AS THE 2010 MODEL. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE LOCAL DEALERS ATTENTION THEY STATED THAT IS THE WAY THE BRAKES WORK IN ANTI LOCK MODE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES TO HER AND JUST RECENTLY TO ME AT NIGHT. SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. THANK YOU. *TR

IN MARCH 2009, WE PURCHASED A TOYOTA PRIUS AT THE TOYOTA OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TOYOTA DEALERSHIP OF ROGERS, AR. ON JULY 29, 2009, I PULLED UP TO THE CURB TO PARK AT A STRIP MALL. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I TURNED RIGHT ON THE SIDEWALK AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR RAN INTO A POST/UPRIGHT THAT HOLDS UP THE ROOF OVER THE SIDEWALK, DAMAGING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR (BOTH DOORS, ETC) AND THE POST/UPRIGHT. THE COST TO REPAIR THE CAR AND THE POST/UPRIGHT WAS APPROXIMATELY $5,300. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES (THANK HEAVENS NO ONE WAS ON THE SIDEWALK). THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND THE POLICEMAN SAID IT WAS A NON-REPORTABLE ACCIDENT SINCE IT DID NOT OCCUR ON A STREET AND NO PERSONAL INJURIES WERE INVOLVED. WE SAW PRESS RELEASES CONCERNING FLOOR MAT PROBLEMS AND REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT. WE ALSO STOPPED AT THE DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING MORE WE SHOULD DO AND WERE GIVEN A TELEPHONE NUMBER TO CALL. THE PERSON WE SPOKE WITH ASSURED US THAT THE PROBLEMS DID NOT PERTAIN TO THE 2009 CAR WE HAVE. HOWEVER, WITH THE WASHINGTON POST SAYING "TOYOTA SAID IT HAD CORRECTED PROBLEMS WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IN PRIUS MODELS SOLD SINCE LATE LAST MONTH. BUT THE COMPANY WAS STILL DECIDING WHAT STEPS TO TAKE TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN PRIUS CARS SOLD . . . . BEFORE LATE JANUARY. OUR QUESTION: WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR US? *TR

I OWN A 2009 PRIUS, PURCHASED APRIL 2009. I HAVE MORE THAN ONCE, IF BRAKING IN A SECTION OF BUMPY ROAD OR ON SLICK SURFACES (SUCH AS IN SNOW OR ICE), EXPERIENCED THE CAR JERKING FORWARD/ACCELERATING FOR A SPLIT SECOND. IT ALMOST SEEMS TO STUTTER AS IF THE ABS BRAKES ARE ENGAGING, BUT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WORKING. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY INEXPERIENCE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE IN THE PRIUS, BUT I AM REALIZING NOW THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME. *TR

MY 2009 PRIUS, WHICH I LEASED IN NOVEMBER OF 2008, HAS HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS SINCE THE DAY I DROVE IT HOME. OCCASIONALLY THE BRAKE WILL CATCH (WHEN APPLIED), THEN RELEASE, THEN CATCH AGAIN. I'VE REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA 3 TIMES AND TOLD EACH TIME BY THE SERVICE DEPT THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. IT HAPPENED AS RECENTLY AS 3 WEEKS AGO, WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY IN ARIZONA IN 22 DEGREE WEATHER. IT WAS A LITTLE SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. I CAN'T GET TOYOTA TO RESPOND TO MY INQUIRY - AND HAVEN'T DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED WHILE DECREASING THE SPEED DRIVEN, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT WHEN THE ELECTRICAL ENGINE SWITCHED TO THE GASOLINE ENGINE IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS FREQUENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,500.

WHEN BRAKING ON ROUGH ROAD, LIKE WHEN YOU HIT A SMALL POTHOLE, OUR 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HANDLES IMPROPERLY. THE "SLIP INDICATOR" LIGHT FLASHES. IT BRIEFLY FEELS LIKE THERE IS A LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

I OWN A 2009 PRIUS AND ANYTIME THAT I APPLY THE BRAKES AND HIT A POTHOLE OR ANY RAISED OBJECT ON THE ROADWAY THE VEHICLE SKIDS OR ACCELERATES FORWARD. THE PRIUS WAS PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY OF 2009. THIS FAILURE OCCURS EVERYTIME I HIT A POTHOLE, MANHOLE COVER OR ANY RAISED OBJECT IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THE YELLOW SKID WARNING LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE AUTOMOBILE WHILE THIS FAILURE IS OCCURRING. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS IN MARCH 2009. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE BRAKING OVER ROUGH ROADWAYS, THE BRAKES HAVE SEEMED TO SKIP (AND THE ABS DASHBOARD LIGHT COMES ON). MY WIFE HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES. WHILE WE INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO THE ROAD CONDITIONS, AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING THE BRAKE ISSUE WITH THE 2010 MODEL, I HAD TO REPORT THAT THIS ISSUE IS ALSO PRESENT IN MY 2009 MODEL. *TR

THE BRAKES ON MY 2009 PRIUS ARE DANGEROUS. WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP OR ROUGH PART IN THE ROAD, I CAN FEEL THE PEDAL ROLL UNDER MY FOOT AND IT FEELS LIKE I MOMENTARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE BRAKES. *TR

MY 2009 PRIUS CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCES LOCKING BRAKES WHEN SMALL BUMPS ARE HIT. I CAN RECREATE THIS ISSUE CONSISTENTLY ON SPECIFIC ROADS. *TR

APPLYING LIGHT TO MODERATE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKING PEDAL OF MY 2009 PRIUS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY GOING OVER A POTHOLE AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEED (SUCH AS IN TRAFFIC) CAUSES THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO RELEASE AND THE CAR WILL FAIL TO STOP. REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE PEDAL AND REAPPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL USUALLY REGAINS BRAKING FUNCTION BUT CAUSES A FEW SECONDS OF LOST BRAKING. THIS IS EASILY REPEATABLE AND FREQUENTLY OCCURS IN THE SAME SPOTS ON A DAILY COMMUTE FOR THE PAST YEAR I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. ON TWO OCCASIONS SOON AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IN OCTOBER 2008 I WAS STILL UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS BRAKING "QUIRK" AND REAR ENDED TWO SEPARATE CARS ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO BOTH BUMPERS OF THE VEHICLES. BOTH OCCASIONS WERE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TRAVELING UNDER 10 MILES PER HOUR, ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE WITH UNWITTINGLY HITTING A POTHOLE AT THE SAME MOMENT.*TR

THE PROBLEM IS THAT OUR 2009 PRIUS AT TIMES SEEMS TO ACCELERATE MOMENTARILY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. MY WIFE AND I DROVE THIS CAR FOR ELEVEN MONTHS AND DIDN'T REALIZE WE HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR DURING THE START OF THE SNOW STORM WITH 2" OF SNOW. I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL THAT I HAVE DRIVEN ON IN DIFFERENT CARS A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE SNOW. WITH THE PRIUS, EVERYTIME I APPLIED BRAKES TO KEEP THE CAR AT SLOW SPEED , IT SEEMED TO ACCELERATE A BIT BEFORE THE BRAKES WOULD WORK, THEREBY CAUSING THE REAR OF THE CAR TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME (I HAD MY WIFE AND GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE CAR). SO I INCHED DOWN THE HILL. A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF CARS BACKED UP BEHIND OUR CAR. SINCE THEN I HAVE NOTICED THE MOMENTARY ACCELERATION BEFORE BREAKING ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS IN DRY WEATHER AS WELL.. TODAY, I TOOK THE CAR INTO NEWARK TOYOTA WORLD IN DELAWARE AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM, INCLUDING THE SERVICE MANAGER. THEY DROVE THE CAR AND SAID THEY RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS BUT COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I AM SORRY BUT, TO ME, THAT'S NOT SATISFACTORY BECAUSE NEITHER MY WIFE NOR I TRUST THIS CAR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS. *JB

2009 PRIUS - I'VE HAD WHAT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS RECOVERING FROM A SKID BUT THERE WAS NO SKID. DURING THIS TIME I SOMETIMES SEE THE SKID WARNING LIGHT ON AND HEAR ONE WHEEL SPINNING FAST. IT OCCURS VERY RARELY BUT WHEN IT DOES OCCUR THE ROAD IS WET OR BUMPY. AN EASY WAY TO SEE THIS PROBLEM IS TO DRIVE DOWN THE FDR NORTH OF THE TRIBORO BRIDGE. IF YOU WANT A TEST TRACK OF BUMPS THIS IS IT. IT HAS OCCURRED RANDOMLY SINCE I GOT THE CAR. A FRIEND WITH A 2004 PRIUS REPORTS THE SAME PROBLEM. I GUESS WE JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THE PRIUS DID. I HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF IT AS A SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB *TR

I OWN A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS AND AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BRAKING THAT THE 2010 PRIUS' ARE HAVING. WHEN BRAKING ON AN UNEVEN OR BUMPY SURFACE, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A MOMENTARY PAUSE OR HESITATION. *JB

MY 2009 PRUIS HAD A BRAKING PROBLEM I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER I TOLD THEM I THOUGHT IT WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND IT CAUSED MY CAR TO SPIN OUT ON A WET ROAD IT IS FIXED NOW AND HAS NOT DONE IT AGAIN. *JB

I HAVE READ ABOUT THE BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE GEN 3 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. MY GEN 2 2009 PRIUS HAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUES WITH BRAKES RELEASING AFTER DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE. I CAN DEMONSTRATE THIS ISSUE TO ANYONE AT WILL ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. IT IS QUITE EASY TO REPRODUCE. THERE IS A POTHOLE NEAR MY WORK THAT I DRIVE OVER OFTEN AND THERE IS A TRAFFIC LIGHT SHORTLY AFTER THE POTHOLE. IF THE LIGHT CHANGES AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BRAKES FOR THE LIGHT, I HAVE COME VERY CLOSE TO CRASHING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE LEARNED TO LEAVE AN EXTRA AMOUNT OF SPACE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR IN FRONT TO ALLOW FOR THIS SITUATION. BUT THAT ONLY WORKS FOR POTHOLES THAT I KNOW ARE THERE. A NEW OR UNKNOWN POTHOLE IS STILL A DANGER. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS I SAID, I CAN DEMONSTRATE THIS ISSUE AT WILL TO ANYONE WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IT. *JB

PURCHASED A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. AFTER A WEEK, I STARTED TO NOTICE SERIOUS ISSUES IN KEEPING THE VEHICLE TRACKING STRAIGHT, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER TWICE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ISSUE. DECIDED TO BRING VEHICLE TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALIGNMENT WAS DEFINITELY OFF. ISSUE WAS FIXED, BUT HAS COME BACK. *JB