2010 Toyota Prius complaints

THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AT TIMES DO NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY. IT MAY BE NECESSARY AT THOSE TIMES TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BY 1/3RD BEFORE BRAKING BEGINS. THERE IS A SIMILAR DELAY WHEN BRAKING IS USED TO TURN OFF CRUISE CONTROL. NEITHER OF THESE HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IN BOTH CASES THERE IS SOME RISK.

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, PURCHASED 12/28/09, HAS BRIEFLY LURCHED FORWARD ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN I WAS BRAKING AND CROSSED A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I AM REPORTING ONE DATE BELOW, BUT THE BRIEF BRAKE FAILURE HAS RECURRED REPEATEDLY, ALWAYS AT THE SAME SPOT ON THE ROAD.

BRAKES ON 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS FAIL WHEN THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE WHEN BRAKING.(FOUR INCIDENTS) I SUSPECT MANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS ARE GOING UNREPORTED BECAUSE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE TELLING CUSTOMERS THE VEHICLES ARE BRAKING AS DESIGNED.

THIS IS THE BREAKING PROBLEM IM HAVING WITH MY 2010 PRIUS: WHEN I AM STEPPING ON THE BREAK, AND ALSO GO OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CAR SEEMS TO ACCELERATE FOR A MOMENT AND THEN GOES BACK TO BREAKING AGAIN.

IT APPEARS THAT THE CAR EITHER DOES NOT RESPOND OR EVEN ACCELARATES WHEN BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACE. IT HAPPENED TO ME MORE THAN 10 TIMES, I HAVE THE CAR FOR 4.5 MONTHS.

I HAVE ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS EXPERIENCED THE BRAKING ISSUE (THAT IS BEING INVESTIGATED) ON MY 2010 PRIUS. IT HAPPENS WHEN I GO OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, OR HIT A POTHOLE. PLEASE ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE OTHERS THAT REPORT SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

WHEN ON A SLIPPERY ROAD AND YOU ARE APPLYING MODERATE BRAKE PRESSURE AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE ENGAGEING AND YOU HIT MULTIPLE BUMPS OR POTHOLES YOU HAVE A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE AND BRAKING ACTION UNTILL THE BUMPS STOP OR YOU PRESS THE BRAKE DOWN FURTHER AND BRAKING IS RESTORED. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND ONCE IN OUR PARKING LOT A VEHICLE WAS STRUCK REQUIREING $1200 IN REPAIRS.

WHEN I BRAKE ON BUMPY RAODS, THE CAR SOMETIMES LEARCHES AND THEN THE BRAKES ENGAGE, AND STOP THE CAR.

DRIVING A 2010 PRIUS COMING TO A STOPLIGHT. WENT OVER A RAISED PORTION OF ROAD RESULTING IN A VERY NOTICEABLE BUMP. CAR SEEMED TO LURCH FORWARD AND BRAKING DIDN'T SEEM TO WORK FOR A SHORT TIME. THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE RED LIGHT INTO CROSS TRAFFIC BUT BRAKES TOOK HOLD AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP.

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE AME TYPE OF BRAKE FLOATING AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED

ON OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN BRAKING ON A FAIRLY STEEP DOWNHILL ROAD, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

MY WIFE'S 2010 PRIUS OCCASIONALLY SURGES FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL AND OVER BUMPS. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 1 TIME PER 14 DAYS. THE SURGE IS ONLY FOR A SPLIT SECOND. CONTROL OF THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN LOST YET. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM

AS I BRAKED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, MY TWO WEEK OLD 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS STOPPED BRAKING WHEN I HIT A SECTION OF THE ROADBED THAT HAD SOME WINTER DAMAGE TO IT AND THE CAR'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ATTEMPTED TO CUT IN. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR SURGED FORWARD, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT WAS JUST A SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING AS THE TRANSFER BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT BRAKING MECHANISMS OCCURRED. SINCE I WAS TURNING ONTO A HIGHWAY SERVICE ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR, I FELT THE DELAY WAS A DANGER TO ME AND THE OCCUPANTS OF MY VEHICLE.

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS LOSES BRAKE RESPONSE COMPLETELY AFTER HITTING ANY MEDIUM SIZED OR LARGER BUMP. HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK AND HAS RESULTED IN SLIDING AND HITTING A CURB ONCE. CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD "THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS ISSUE AT THIS TIME" I WAS GIVEN THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE PHONE NUMBER AND WHEN I CALLED I WAS GREETED WITH A RECORDED VOICE SAYING "WE CANNOT TAKE YOUR CALL AT THIS TIME" "IF YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO A REPRESENTATIVE CALL BACK LATER" AND THEN HUNG UP ON. *CN

1. EVENT: NORMAL CITY DRIVING (I.E., CAR IN DRIVE AND CRUISE CONTROL OFF) 2. THE FAILURE: PRESS ON BRAKE AND FEEL SOFTNESS INSTEAD OF FIRMNESS; MUST PRESS MUCH HARDER ON BRAKE THAN TYPICALLY REQUIRED TO BRING CAR TO STOP IN SAME DISTANCE. FAILURE OCCURS SPORADICALLY DURING COURSE OF REGULAR DRIVING. HAVE NOT ASSOCIATED FAILURE WITH TRAVELING OVER ROUGH SURFACES. 3. CONTACTED TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE LETTER IN MAIL INSTRUCTING US ON WHAT TO DO, BECAUSE NO CORRECTION HAS BEEN DEVELOPED YET FOR THIS PROBLEM IN EXISTING CARS. *CN

ENTIRE SYSTEM SHUT DOWN TOW SERVICE FROM DEALER CAME AND CHARGED BATTERY TO NO AVAIL SYSTEM CAME BACK ONLINE AS VEHICLE WAS BEING RAISED ON FLATBED TOW TRUCK CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN AWAY UNDER ITS OWN POWER DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED BRAKE DELAY PROBLEM WHICH OCCURRED PRIOR TO SYSTEM SHUTDOWN HAS RECOCCURRED BRAKE DELAY OR TEMPORARY LOSS OF BRAKING WHEN PEDDLE DEPRESSED HAS OCCURRED BRAKE SQUEEK ALSO REPORTED TO DELALER WHO ADVISES THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES *CN

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS III THAT WAS PURCHASED ON DEC 23, 2009. I EXPERIENCED A MOMENTARY LOSS (APPROX 0.5-1 SEC) OF BRAKING POWER WHEN I WAS DRIVING OVER A ROAD WITH SOME BUMPS. ESSENTIALLY, THE BRAKES COMPLETELY CUT OUT, BUT CAME BACK WHILE I WAS HOLDING BACK THE BRAKE PEDAL. MY MILEAGE AT THE TIME WAS APPROX 4000 MILES. SO FAR, THIS HAS NOT REPEATED. ANOTHER ISSUE IS INCONSISTENT BRAKING. HOLDING THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN WITH CONSTANT FORCE (MY JUDGMENT) WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO SLOW ABRUPTLY WHILE AT LOW SPEEDS(<10 MPH). THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT FEELING FROM THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING PORTION (FEELS LIKE LITTLE/NO BRAKING AT ALL) AND BRAKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (>10 MPH). *CN

WHEN I BRAKE WHILE GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. PLEASE NOTE: I REALLY AM NOT SURE OF THE DATE. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY OF 2009. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME A FEW TIMES AND IT WAS SUCH A BIZARRE COMBINATION (ACCELERATING WHILE BRAKING) THAT I REALLY DIDN'T CLUE IN TO IT AS A CAR ISSUE RIGHT AWAY. WHEN I SAW PRESS ON IT AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS AN ACTUAL ISSUE AND NOT A "FLUKE" I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALER WHERE I GOT THE CAR (NORTH HOLLYWOOD TOYOTA). THEY BASICALLY REFUSED TO EVEN DISCUSS IT, SAYING THEY'D ONLY FOLLOW THE ORDERS OF TOYOTA CORPORATE. THEY GAVE ME A NUMBER TO CALL, AND OF COURSE, IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT ISSUES, THEY ARE SWAMPED. THE RECORDING INDICATED THEY WERE NOT ACCEPTING CALLS. SO NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT ACTUALLY HAS AN ISSUE AND CANNOT GET IT FIXED. *CN

PRIUS 2010 BRAKING ISSUE - PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES; ON ROUGH SURFACE, DOWNHILL SURFACE OR WHEN WHEELS ENCOUNTER A MANHOLE OR STEEL PLATE ROAD COVER. PROBLEM IS RECURRING. CAR HAS 12,600 MILES ON IT. *CN

I SUFFERED A TEMPORARY LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE APPROACHING A TOLL BOOTH ON THE NEW JERSEY GARDEN STATE PARKWAY. THE LOSS OCCURED IMMEDIATELY AFTER HITTING A LARGE BUMP AS I WAS SLOWING TO PAY THE TOLL. SOON AFTER BRAKING RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE SLOWING AND DID NOT STRIKE ANYTHING. *CN

WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON MOORPARK STREET, APPROACHING DIXIE CANYON AVENUE, I BRAKED IN PREPARATION TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, AND THE BRAKES RELEASED WHEN I HIT A SMALL POT HOLE. THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS LATER. *CN

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IS HAVING BRAKING PROBLEMS WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE/AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR POTHOLE. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I APPROACH A STOP SIGN AND APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE HITTING A BUMP, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD BRIEFLY (1-2 SECONDS) BEFORE THE BRAKES KICK IN. THE BRAKES WORK FINE WHEN NO BUMP IS ENCOUNTERED DURING BRAKING. I CAN REPEAT THIS FAILURE CONSISTENTLY WITH A BUMP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. NO FIX YET. *CN

I HAVE PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, AND NEVER NOTICED ANY PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKING, UNTIL 1/22/10. I WAS DRIVING OVER A SECTION OF ROAD, THAT WAS UNEVEN WHERE A BRIDGE MEETS THE ROAD. I WAS BRAKING FOR THE STOPLIGHT AHEAD THAT WAS RED AND CARS WERE WAITING IN THE LINE. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT ABOUT 10 MPH, AND HIT THE UNEVEN ROAD SECTION, THE CAR SEEMED LIKE IT LOST BRAKING, FOR AN INSTANT. I HAD TO PUSH HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ASSURE A STOP. I HAVE SINCE DRIVEN THAT SAME SECTION OF ROAD TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND IT HAD REPEATED ITSELF, BUT NOT ON EVERY OCCASION. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS SOME ISSUE WITH THE HYBRID BRAKE SYSTEM...BETWEEN REGENERATION AND FRICTION BUT NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. I ONLY HAVE 3800 MILES ON THE CAR SO HAVE NOT CALLED THE DEALER FOR SERVICE YET. WILL PLAN TO DO THAT IF IT CAN WAIT UNTIL THE FIRST 5,000 MILE SERVICE. *CN

OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IS EXPERIENCING PERIODIC, TEMPORARY BRAKE FAILURE/UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER AND STATES THAT ON 4-5 OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 9 MONTHS, WHEN BRAKING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES AT SPEEDS OF 10-30 MPH, THERE CAN BE A TEMPORARY PERIOD OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION LASTING 1-2 SECONDS. *CN

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ON A SNOWY AND BUMPY ROAD, MY WIFE PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT TOOK A SECOND OR TWO FOR THE BRAKES TO WORK. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO LACK OF TRACTION IN THE SNOW, BUT BASED ON ALL OF THE OTHER BRAKING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PRIUS, SHE FELT IT WAS NOT DUE TO SNOW, BUT RATHER A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM *CN

TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 - IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME, MULTIPLE TIMES THIS WINTER, DURING ICY ROADS THAT WHEN I TRY TO BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATES AS IF SOMEONE HIT THE CAR FROM BEHIND. THEN, THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS AND I LIVE IN THE MIDWEST AND IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED THIS WINTER WHEN ROADS ARE ICY OR SLUSHY. *CN

WHILE SLOWLY DECELERATING USING THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES, THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES TURN OFF OCCASIONALLY AT LOW SPEEDS (5-10 MPH). THERE IS A VERY SHORT (<1 SECOND) BURST OF FORWARD MOVEMENT BEFORE THE ACTUAL BRAKES ACTIVATE. DURING THIS WHOLE TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL IS CONSISTENTLY DEPRESSED. THIS BURST FORWARD DOES WHIP THE DRIVER BACK INTO THE SEAT A BIT DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED NATURE OF THIS EVENT. THIS HAS PROBABLY OCCURRED ABOUT 5 TIMES IN THE PAST 2.5 MONTHS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *CN

AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR 1 MONTH, I HAVE NOTICED THAT ON OCCASION, WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES, THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATE FOR A SECOND BEFORE BREAKING. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN A FEW TIMES DAY. I HAVE NO WAY OF FIGURING OUT WHAT COULD BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS SINCE IT JUST HAPPENS WHEN I AM BRAKING JUST BEFORE IT COMPLETELY STOPS, NO MATTER WHAT SPEED I AM DRIVING. *CN

TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AS I WAS GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP. I FELT LIKE MY BRAKES HAD FAILED. *CN

WHEN BRAKING WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND DOESN'T SEEM TO GRAB UNTIL AFTER THE BUMP. IT IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN EXITING A HIGH SPEED ROAD ONTO A DECELRATION LANE. IT HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE TO MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF OCCURENCES, BUT CANNOT ALWAYS FORESEE THE BUMPS OR RIDGES IN ROAD SURFACES THAT PRECIPITATE THE INCIDENT. *CN

THE BRAKES ON OUR 2010 PRIUS HAVE REPEATEDLY HAD PROBLEMS. MOST HAVE OCCURED WITH MY WIFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SHE HAD TOLD ME SEVERAL MONTHS AGO ABOUT THE CAR FEELING LIKE IT WAS "SLIDING" OR THE BRAKES NOT BEING VERY EFFECTIVE FOR A SHORT TIME. I PASSED THIS OFF AS THE THE CAR BEING DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CARS SINCE IT WAS A HYBRID. THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO I HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME. WHILE TURNING AND GOING OVER A SMALL HUMP IN A DRIVEWAY ABOUT 15 MPH, THE BRAKES JUST SEEMED TO RELEASE FOR ABOUT A HALF SECOND AND I ALMOST RAN INTO AN IRON GATE. I CANNOT DESCRIBE THE OTHER EVENTS THAT MY WIFE HAS HAD IN DETAIL BECAUSE OCCURRED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND SHE DOES NOT REMEMBER THE SPECIFIC DETAILS BESIDES THAT THEY HAPPENED OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. *CN

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS - DRIVING ON ALABAMA STATE HIGHWAY CLOSER TO NASHVILLE, TN WE HIT A DEER. THIS WAS ON OCT 12, 2009 AROUND 8:30 AM IN THE MORNING. THE ROAD WAS VERY EMPTY AND CLEAR VISIBILITY. THE DEER CAME IN FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD FROM THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND JUMPED INTO OUR LANE. I HAD CLEAR VISIBILITY OF THE DEER AND APPLIED SUDDEN BRAKES...WE HIT THE DEER AND HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ON THE CAR. WE NEVER THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR...BUT NOW WITH SO MUCH OF SCRUTINY GOING ON WITH THIS NEW PRIUS, WE DO WANT TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF YOUR ORGANIZATION THAT FROM DAY 1 OF PURCHASING THE CAR THE BRAKES ARE REALLY FUNKY. WE HAD AN SUV BEFORE AND COMPARED TO THAT THIS CAR IS VERY VERY SENSITIVE ON THE BRAKES. IF WE ARE GOING IN AT HIGH SPEED AND BRAKE SUDDENLY IT DOES NOT COME TO AN ABRUPT HALT AND WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IS WAY THESE CARS WERE. I NEVER HAD A NEW CAR AND NEVER COULD IMAGINE SOMETHING LIKE A BREAK ISSUE. SO COMING TO THE DEER HIT I FEEL NOW IN HIND SIGHT THAT WE HAD ENOUGH TIME AND DISTANCE TO AVOID HIITTING THE ANIMAL AND COULD NOT STOP ON TIME. THE CAR TOOK AN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND WE GOT IT REPAIRED AT A TOYOTA DEALER SHIP IN NASHVILLE AND TOOK A RENTAL CAR HOME. THE CAR LOOKS GREAT LIKE A NEW ONE BUT THE BRAKE IS STILL THE SAME. ON LOW SPEEDS IF I BREAK IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE PLACED REALLY HARD/SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND ON HIGH SPEED THE CAR DEFINETLY NEEDS LOT OF TIME TO STOP *CN

SHORTLY AFTER DATE OF PURCHASE OF MY PRIUS I HAVE REPORTED TO TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM FEELS FAULTY: THE BRAKES OFTEN LOCK OR DO NOT FUNCTION AT ALL WHEN THE CAR IS AT A SLIGHT INCLINE EITHER GOING UP OR DOWN A ROAD. THERE IS ALSO A CONSTANT HIGH PITCHED NOISE EMANATING FROM THE WHEELS. TOYOTA HAS CLAIMED THAT IT IS A "CHARACTERISTIC FEATURE" OF THE CAR AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE THE ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS REVIEWED THIS ISSUE AT A MINIMUM OR 5 OR 6 TIMES AND HAVE NOT DONE ANY REPAIRS TO MY CAR AT ALL. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND IS ALWAYS TAKEN TO KEYES TOYOTA IN VAN NUYS, CA. I AM SUBMITTING A DATE BELOW WITH THIS FORM AS REQUESTED, BUT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR MANY MONTHS SINCE JUNE 2009. I SPECIFICALLY EXPRESSED MY CONCERN TO TOYOTA BECAUSE I OFTEN HAVE MY INFANT AND TODDLER NIECE AND NEPHEW IN THE CAR WITH ME. TOYOTA CLAIMED THERE IS NO REASON FOR CONCERN AND THAT THEY "COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR". *CN

I HAVE BEEN HAVING BRAKING FAILURE SINCE THE FIRST WEEK I BROUGHT THE CAR HOME. I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT TO TOYOTA ARDMORE, WHERE I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR, AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT. SPECIFICALLY, I FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO BRAKE ON WET SURFACES AFTER RAIN. BECAUSE I WAS BRINGING THE CAR IN THE FIRST WEEK I TOOK POSSESSION FOR ANOTHER ISSUE, I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD BE LOOKED INTO. AFTERWARD, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. BUT THE ISSUE OF FAULTY BRAKING CONTINUED. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND HIT A POTHOLE AND FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS PAST WEEK WITH MAJOR SNOWFALL IN THE PHILADELPHIA REGION, THE CAR HAS BECOME VIRTUALLY UNDRIVABLE. IT HITS ICY PATCHES AND SKIDS FORWARD WHEN WE TRY TO BRAKE. I HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL MESSAGES WITH TOYOTA ARDMORE ASKING THEM TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT YET HEARD BACK FROM THE, *CN

DRIVING ON SLIPPERY ROADS, BUT NOT UNPASSABLE, MY 2010 PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE IN PREVENTION OF SLIPPING INTO A PARKED VEHICLE IN MY LANE, RESULTING IN 2900+ DOLLARS OF DAMAGE, PLUS, SINCE THE BODY SHOP WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSPECT THE DAMAGE WITHOUT TAKING THE CAR APART. I WAS FOUND AT FAULT FOR THIS ACCIDENT, FOR WHICH I FEAR MY INSURANCE RATES WILL RISE. I AM A SAFE DRIVER. NEVER HAVING HAD AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. I NEW THE CAR WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AS IT SHOULD, AND THAT WAS BEFORE THIS RECALL EVER CAME TO LIGHT. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON JAN. 22, 2010. *CN

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS WAS DELIVERED ON DECEMBER 15. I HAVE OBSERVED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS ABRUPTLY AT TIMES WHILE SLOWING. I AM NOT SURE YET IF IT IS AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR JUST THE TRANSITION OF SPEEDS. IT IS VERY SUDDEN. IT MIGHT RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL IF ONE IS NOT AWARE OF THIS. *CN

I WAS DRIVING ON PLEASANT GROVE BLVD IN ROSEVILLE CA WITH A SPEED OF 44 MPH. IT WAS ABOUT 7:16 PM. ON MY RIGHT A SAW A BLACK CAT ON THE CURB AHEAD OF MY WALKING, TRYING TO MAKE IT'S WAY ACROSS PLEASANT GROVE BLVD. I MADE AN EMERGENCY STOP (DIDN'T HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP) NOT TO HIT THE CAT. I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FULL FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP IN TIME. THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME AT THE TIME HAPPILY. HOWEVER, I NOTICED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM DIDN'T KICK IN AND HENCE MY BRAKES BLOCKED SHORTLY DURING THE EMERGENCY STOP. IN LA I HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE TO ME THAT THE ABS DIDN'T KICK IN AND MY WHEELS BLOCK. IT'S EASILY REPEATABLE BY MAKING A STOP THAT REQUIRES A SHORT DISTANCE TO STOP. HAPPILY THIS IS HARDLY EVER NECESSARY, BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DOING IT. I HAVE DRIVEN TWO TOYOTA COROLLAS, THEY NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE AND ALWAYS THE ABS WORKED GREAT. IN THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, THIS DOESN'T WORK WELL. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKING ISSUES ON THE HIGHWAY, THIS IS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS BRAKE. IT MAKES ME FEEL INSECURE ON THE ROAD WITH THE PRIUS AND I DON'T ENJOY DRIVING IT DUE TO THESE ISSUES. IT'S JUST NOT SAFE! *TW

I WAS DRIVING FROM L.A. TO ROSEVILLE CA ON I-5 NORTH IN MY NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT IT WASN'T VERY BUSY AND I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 65 MPH. IN THE DISTANCE I SAW SOME CARS PUSHING THEIR BRAKE PEDALS SO I WANTED TO BRAKE AS WELL A LITTLE TO 1) DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL, 2) REDUCE SPEED. PUSHING IT VERY GENTLY, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS SCARED ME AND I PUSHED HARDER, THEN MY 2010 PRIUS STARTED BRAKING WAY MORE AGGRESSIVELY. I NOTICED ALONG THE WAY AND ALSO AFTER THIS THAT THIS BEHAVIOR IS CONSEQUENT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I CANNOT USE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND DIMINISH SPEED, BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL GENTLY, IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME BEFORE IT REACTS. I FIND THIS DISTURBING, BECAUSE IN MY 2000 FORD CROWN VICTORY, EVEN THE VERY SLIGHTEST TOUCH ON THE BRAKE PEDAL ALREADY CAUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL TO TURN OFF AND VERY LIGHTLY DIMINISH SPEED. IN THE PRIUS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD, THEN AFTER SOME DELAY IT STARTS BRAKING FAST. IN THE BEGINNING I THOUGHT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE PRIUS, BUT I FIND IT QUITE DISTURBING AND SOMETIMES SCARING. HENCE, I MUST TAKE WAY MORE DISTANCE TO CARS AHEAD OF MY ON THE HIGHWAY, BECAUSE I CANNOT BRAKE AS FAST AND STOP AS SOON AS THE OTHER CARS CAN. HONESTLY, IT IS VERY SCARY AND IT MAKES MY FEEL UNSAFE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE PRIUS. I AM DRIVING MY CROWN VICTORIA WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NOW A DAYS.

ALL THREE DRIVERS OF OUR 2010 PRIUS HAVE REPEATEDLY EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING BRAKING PROBLEM: IF YOU DRIVE OVER A BUMP, POT HOLE OR MANHOLE COVER WHILE BRAKING NORMALLY AT SPEEDS UNDER 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FEEL AS IF THEY INSTANTANEOUSLY DISENGAGE FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND. NORMAL BRAKING SOON RETURNS, BUT THERE IS A DANGEROUS INCREASE IN BREAKING DISTANCE WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED CERTAIN ROAD LOCATIONS IN OUR AREA WHERE THIS PROBLEM IS REPEATABLE EVEN UNDER DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS PROBLEM HAS RESULTED IN A FEW CLOSE CALLS, BUT SO FAR, NO ACCIDENTS. HOWEVER, I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT A DEFECT SUCH AS THIS WILL RESULT IN SOME DRIVERS HAVING ACCIDENTS. *TW *TR

EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE DECELERATING ON A DOWN HILL SLOPE WITH RAMP FROM I-55 NORTH TO BAYLESS IN ST. LOUIS WHEN HITTING A POT HOLE IN THE 2010 PRIUS HYBRID. THE POTHOLE HAS SINCE BEEN FIXED AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS SINCE. *TW *TR

WE HAVE TWICE EXPERIENCED A BRAKE CUT-OUT, WHERE WE ARE COMING TO A STOP SIGN WITH FOOT ON BRAKE AND HIT A BUMP/POT HOLE AND THE CAR LURCHES AHEAD AS THOUGH WE HAVE TEMPORARILY REMOVED OUR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T. *TW

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES OVER A BUMPY OR METALLIC SURFACE, THERE IS A UNCOMFORTABLE DELAY UNTIL THE BRAKES "KICK IN". THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME.

DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEED...BRAKING AT STOP SIGN BEHIND ANOTHER CAR; NEEDED TO HIT THE BRAKES--NOT QUITE "SLAM ON THE BRAKES" --AS I REALIZED I WAS CLOSER TO CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAN I'D THOUGHT. CAR IN FRONT OF ME PULLED AWAY AT THE SAME TIME (FORTUNATELY) AS MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD; I DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS GOING TO STOP; WHEN I THEN PROCEEDED CAR MADE HORRIBLE NOISES...SOUNDED I THOUGHT BOTTOM WAS GOING TO FALL OUT. HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME "NOT GOING TO STOP" FEELING A SECOND TIME SINCE. WHAT FOLLOWED? CALLED DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY; THEY SUGGESTED I COME IN FOR BRAKE CHECK, WHICH I DID FOLLOWING DAY. TOLD IT WAS GOING TO COST $125; WE DISCUSSED LIKELIHOOD THAT PROBLEM PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAPPEN FOR THE MECHANIC, I DECIDED AGAINST SPENDING MONEY FOR BRAKE CHECK UP WHEN SERVICE DEPT. TOLD ME IT WAS "JUST THE WAY PRIUS' ABS BRAKES WORK." WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE NEWS REPORTS I'D HEARD ABOUT THIS BRAKING PROBLEM THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, POINTED TO ABSENCE OF INFO ON TOYOTA'S WEBSITE FOR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND SAID MEDIA OFTEN BLOWS THINGS OUT OF PROPORTION. CALLED TOYOTA CORP AND CASE MANAGER THAT RETURNED CALL TO ME HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT MEDIA REPORTS I REFERRED TO. *TW

I'VE BEEN HEARING IN THE NEWS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF A BRAKING ISSUE WITH THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I DEFINITELY NOTICED THIS ISSUE IN MY NEW PRIUS. APPROXIMATELY ONCE A MONTH, WHEN I'M BRAKING OVER AN UNEVEN OR SLIPPERY SURFACE, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE CAR GOING OVER THE SLIPPERY SURFACE, WHILE I'M BRAKING, THERE IS A MOMENT LASTING LESS THAN A SECOND WHERE IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DISENGAGE. (CAUSES YOUR HEART TO SKIP A BEAT WHEN IT HAPPENS.) I ALSO NOTICED A SEPARATE QUIRK THE OTHER DAY THAT I WANT TO PASS ON TO YOU. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WAS DONE DELIBERATELY BY TOYOTA OR WHETHER THIS IS A DEFECT, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE MY SPEEDOMETER IS CALIBRATED SO THAT IT READS A SPEED THAT IS 2 MPH FASTER THAN MY ACTUAL SPEED. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I WENT ON A TRIP AND USED MY WIFE'S TOM TOM, WHICH USES ITS GPS SIGNAL TO MEASURE THE SPEED OF THE CAR. THE TOM TOM IS USUALLY SPOT ON IN MY WIFE'S ACURA. IN THE PRIUS, IT WAS INDICATING THAT MY TRUE SPEED WAS 2 MPH LESS THAN WHAT MY SPEEDOMETER INDICATED. I'M WONDERING IF THIS WASN'T SOMEHOW INTENTIONALLY DONE BY TOYOTA TO GET BETTER PERCEIVED GAS MILEAGE BY THE DRIVER. HAVING THE CAR GET OVER THE 50 MPG THRESHOLD IS A BIG MARKETING ADVANTAGE FOR THEM. GETTING OVER THIS THRESHOLD WOULD BE EASIER IF THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE CAR WAS LESS THAN THE PERCEIVED SPEED. *TW

EXPERIENCED BRAKE "SLIPPAGE" ON 2010 PRIUS. "SLIPPAGE" OR QUICK TEMPORARY FEELING THAT BRAKE GAVE WAY OCCURRED WHILE DESCENDING A SMALL HILL WITH BUMPY PAVEMENT. OCCURRED ABOUT 6 TIMES WITHOUT INCIDENT. OCCURRED ALSO MORE RECENTLY ONCE ON ICY PAVEMENT. *TW

SINCE PURCHASING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, I HAVE HAD SERIOUS ISSUES AND SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. WHEN YOU BRAKE AND HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE OR LARGE DIP, THE BRAKE CUT OUT AND THE CAR IS NOT CONTROLLABLE UNTIL A FEW MOMENTS LATER. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AND WAS ASSURED IT WAS PERFORMING AS INTENDED AND NORMAL FOR AN ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM. HAVING USED ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, I KNOW THIS TO NOT BE THE CASE AND STATED THIS. I NOW UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. MY MOST RECENT EMAIL TO TOYOTA IS ATTACHED: DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2010 11:46:13 AM EST DEAR I RECEIVED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS THIS MORNING AND FELT I SHOULD FORWARD ON MY EARLIER EMAILS (REGARDING BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2010 PRIUS) TO COLONIAL TOYOTA DIRECTLY TO YOU - PLEASE FIND THEM BELOW. I UNDERSTAND THAT LATE FRIDAY TOYOTA CORPORATION ADVISED DEALERS THAT CORPORATE WOULD ANNOUNCE A FIX EARLY THIS WEEK. I HONESTLY WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO HAVE LEARNED THIS FROM COLONIAL, THAN FROM THE NY TIMES. AS I EXPRESSED DURING MY SALES EXPERIENCE AND TROUBLES WITH CASH FOR CLUNKER PROGRAM - I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS AS A DEALER THAT YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF, BUT I EXPECT AND WOULD APPRECIATE CLEAR AND TIMELY COMMUNICATION. MOREOVER, GIVEN THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS AS A SAFETY CONCERN, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT AT LEAST OFFERING TO HELP LOOK INTO MY BRAKING ISSUE WHEN I VERBALLY REPORTED IT DURING SERVICE. INSTEAD, I WAS ASSURED IT WAS NORMAL FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY CAR HAS HIT A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME, BUT THE SECOND TIME I REALIZED IT WAS REALLY HAPPENING AND SCARY. I WAS HEADED SOUTHBOUND ON ROWENA BLVD IN LOS ANGELES, WAS STARTING MY DECELERATION WHEN I HIT THIS POT HOLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS MY CAR STOPPED DECELERATING AND I COULD FEEL NO POWER ON THE BRAKE PADS, THEN SUDDENLY THE BRAKE POWER RETURNED. *TW

FAULTY BRAKES ON 2010 PRIUS. I NOTICED WITHIN A WEEK OR SO AFTER PURCHASE IN NOVEMBER, 2009 THAT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD AND I USED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS A DELAY WHEREIN THE CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE OVER THE PROBLEM IN THE ROAD, NEARLY LEADING ME TO COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIAN. SINCE NOVEMBER IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT, FRIGHTENING PROBLEM. *TW

WE BOUGHT A 2010 PRIUS III AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2009. WE HAVE NOTICED A BRAKING PROBLEM AS FOLLOWS: WITH BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED, GOING OVER A BUMP, THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD 1 TO 2 FEET, EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE IS PRESSED AND CAR MOVING VERY SLOWLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 OR 7 TIMES, MOST RECENTLY 2/4/10. WE ARE CAREFUL TO STOP WITH SIGNIFICANT ROOM BEFORE A CAR AHEAD AT STOP LIGHTS AND INTERSECTIONS BUT CANNOT FORESEE ALL SITUATIONS. WE HAVE A TEENAGE DRIVER AND IT IS THEREFORE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THIS BE FIXED. WE HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. *TW

I PURCHASED A 2010 PRIUS ON JULY 23, 2009. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER DECEMBER 14, 2009 WITH THE FOLLOWING COMPLAINT: REAR BRAKES WILL LOCK UP AND SLIDE WHEN TURNING CORNERS, THEY WILL ALSO LOCK UP WHEN BACKING SLOWLY. THE FIRST TIME THEY DID THAT I THOUGHT I HAD HIT SOMETHING. THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT. THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ACTION AND THE SHOP MGR. SPOKE WITH TOYOTA TECHNICIAN AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO KNOWN CONCERNS AT THAT TIME. SINCE THEN I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT NO ONE WOULD TAKE ME SERIOUS. *TW