2010 Toyota Prius complaints

WHILE BRAKING, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND BRAKES DISENGAGED FOR A SPLIT SECOND. *CN UPDATED 9/29/11*CW

I EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF BRAKES AT LEAST TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY WITH MY 2010 PRIUS. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I PRESS ON THE BRAKE AND HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS AND OUR ROADS ARE NOTORIOUSLY BUMPY SO I LOOSE MY BRAKES OFTEN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK IN NOVEMBER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANTHING ABOUT IT, SAYING THAT IT WAS ACTING HOW IT WAS DESIGNED. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE THAT LOOSES IT BRAKES WHEN THE CAR HITS A BUMP. *CN

1) WHILE DRIVING MY NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS STRAIGHT AHEAD AT APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH ON A DRY, SUNNY DAY, I HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR SKIDDED LOUDLY ENOUGH THAT SEVERAL BYSTANDERS LOOKED AT ME. THIS WAS CLEARLY A FAILURE OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. I RECENTLY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY TOYOTA DEALER (TOYOTA SANTA CRUZ), WHICH INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND DECLARED THEM TO BE FINE. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED, THOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN SUCH A STRONG MANNER SINCE THAT ONE INCIDENT. 2) ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING THE SAME PRIUS AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS (PERHAPS 5 MPH) SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR, MY WIFE GENTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES; THE VEHICLE JERKED ALMOST TO A STOP. IN OTHER WORDS, A GENTLE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL LED TO A VERY RAPID, JERKY, STOP AS IF SHE HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. *CN

MY 2010 PRIUS STOPS BRAKING OR ACCELERATES WHEN HITTING A POTHOLE OR BUMP CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP LATER THAN ANTICIPATED. ALMOST HIT A PERSON IN THE CROSS WALK. *CN

TEMPORARY BRAKE FAILURE WHEN BRAKING OVER POTHOLES OR BRAKING IN A TURN *CN

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON PRIUS 2010 ARE VERY DIM PARTICULARLY FOR DRIVING ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS AND THEY ONLY PROJECT OUT A SHORT WAY ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP A HILL TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THEY WERE AJUSTED CORRECTLY SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY HAZARD HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE FINE *CN

WE PURCHASED OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN JUNE OF 2009. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I ACCIDENTALY HIT POTHOLES AND TRY TO APPLY THE BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD. I DO NOT HAVE A SET DATE WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THIS, SOME TIME IN LATE FALL ON A RAINY NIGHT. I THOUGHT I WAS JUST IMAGINING THIS UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN I HEARD OTHERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING.I LOVE THIS LITTLE CAR, BUT NOW I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT ANYWHERE.HOW DO I FIND OUT THE RESULTS OF YOUR INVESTIGATION? *CN

I BOUGHT A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE END OF DECEMBER 2009. SINCE THEN I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE MOMENTARILY BRAKE LOSS WHEN DRIVING OVER THE UNEVEN SURFACE. IT ONLY HAVE HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES BUT IT MAKES ME WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. *CN

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PASSING OVER ROUGH SPOTS(HAS HAPPENED WITH MANHOLE COVER). BRAKING STOPS THE ACCELERATION. *CN

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND FREQUENTLY (~1 X WEEK) EXPERIENCE A BRAKING PROBLEM AS BEING REPORTED BY THE MEDIA. IF, WHILE I AM BRAKING, THE CAR GOES OVER A BUMP, POT-HOLE, OR WAVY PAVEMENT, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT ISN'T BRAKING, AS IF THE WHEEL IS OFF THE GROUND OR SLIDING ON ICE. IT ONLY OCCURS WHILE THE CAR IS BEING BUMPED, SO USUALLY IT IS ONLY LASTS A MATTER OF A FEW FEET. I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINE A COURSE OF ACTION. *CN

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN TO GO AROUND A CURVE THAT ALSO GOES DOWNHILL, MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS SEEMS TO SPEED UP FOR A FEW SECONDS IN THE MIDST OF THE TURN. I CAN'T TELL IF THIS IS THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILING OR THE ACCELERATOR KICKING IN. IT'S NOT CENTRIFUGAL FORCE, BECAUSE THERE IS A CLEAR SURGE FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS PRETTY REGULARLY, AS THIS IS A MANEUVER THAT I MAKE REGULARLY ON MY WAY HOME. I PUT IN AN ARBITRARY DATE BELOW, BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. I NOTICE THIS HAPPENING AT OTHER TIMES TOO, BUT I DON'T HAVE A CONSISTENT RECORD OF WHEN AND WHERE IT HAPPENS. *CN

PRIUS 2010--PAUSE IN BRAKING WHILE APPROACHING STOP SIGN. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE SNOWY AND UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. BRAKING PAUSED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, ENOUGH SO THAT I WOULD HAVE COLLIDED IF THERE HAD BEEN CAR AHEAD AT STOP SIGN. HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT. *CN

4 INSTANCES OF FAILURE OF THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR 1ST TIME IN JUNE 2009 AT A STOP SIGN - HAD TO PUSH BRAKE VERY HARD TO GET CAR TO STOP 2NT TIME IN AUG 2009 AGAIN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN BRAKE WOULD NOT ENGAGE UNTIL PUSHED VERY HARD 3RD TIME SEPT 2009 SAME SITUATION LAST INCIDENT 2.1.10 SAME SITUATION. ROAD HAD SOME SNOW ON IT. *CN

THIS IS NOT THE SAME 2010 PRIUS BRAKE PROBLEM BEING REPORTED REGARDING TRANSIENT BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE WAITING IN GEAR AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL SLOWLY SINKS ALL THE WAY TO THE MECHANICAL STOP. HOWEVER, THE CAR DOES REMAIN STOPPED EVEN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS BRIEFLY TAPPED. THE BEHAVIOR IS REPEATABLE AND CONSISTENT. PERSONALLY VERIFIED THAT THERE ARE NO EXTERNAL HYDRAULIC LEAKS. OBSERVED THE FLUID SURFACE IN THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WHILE AN ASSISTANT SANK THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE SURFACE REMAINED UNDISTURBED, INDICATING THAT THE MASTER HYDRAULIC PISTON IS NOT LEAKY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE SALES & SERVICE MANAGERS OBSERVED BUT RELUCTANTLY ADMITTED THE BEHAVIOR, TESTED IT ON THEIR COMPUTER AND DECLARED IT ACCEPTABLE. I TESTED A SECOND 2010 PRIUS ON THEIR LOT AND THE BEHAVIOR WAS IDENTICAL. CONSEQUENCES: HAVING DEALT WITH DEALERS BEFORE, WE ARE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THE DEALER'S REASSURANCE FOR THIS SEEMINGLY UNSAFE BEHAVIOR, AND ARE NOW COMPELLED TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE AT EVERY WAITING STOP. *CN

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH BRAKES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED THREE TIMES AND LETTER TO TOYOTA WITH NO RESPONSE. THE BRAKES ARE NOT RIGHT AND I AM AFRAID I WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT. *CN

I HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2010 PRIUS DURING THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH I HAVE MENTIONED TO MY HUSBAND AND MY COWORKERS WHEN IT HAPPENED. 1: ON MY WAY TO WORK THERE IS A STOP SIGN WHERE I NEED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. JUST BEFORE THE STOP SIGN THE ROAD IS UNEVEN. WHEN I BRAKE THERE, I FEEL A JERK AND JUMP BEFORE THE CAR STOPS. 2: I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, ON 01/28/2010 WHEN IT WAS SNOWING LIGHTLY, THE VEHICLE SPEED MIGHT HAVE BEEN AT THE MOST 5-8 MILES/HOUR. I SAW THE LIGHT TURNING YELLOW FROM 50 FEET AHEAD AND I STARTED APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE ROAD HAD LITTLE SLOPE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ONLY SKIDDING, BUT ALSO NOT STOPPING AND I WAS PRAYING THAT IT WILL STOP BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE CROSS ROAD. I AM THE PRIMARY DRIVER FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I LOVE THIS CAR. BUT I HAVE EXPERIENCED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THAT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T STOP QUICKLY WHEN I BRAKE, BUT ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS PART OF HYBRID TECHNOLOGY AND MAY BE TO FORCE THE DRIVER MAINTAIN SOME SPACE FROM THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT. *CN

WHILE DRIVING 2010 PRIUS III TODAY, AS APPROACHING STOP SIGN AT ABOUT 10MPH, WITH RIGHT FOOT DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL FOR GRADUAL STOP, CAR MADE SUDDEN LURCH AS PASSED OVER SLIGHT DEPRESSION IN PAVEMENT. THERE WAS NO ICE, BUT THE SENSATION WAS LIKE SUDDEN SLIDE ON ICE SPOT. SAME THING OCCURRED THREE WEEKS AGO WHILE APPROACHING STOP SIGN. VEHICLE HAS 870 MILES AND IS THREE WEEKS OLD. *CN

ON OCCASION, THE BRAKES ON OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, PURCHASED JUNE 2009, MOMENTARILY DO NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO LUNGE FORWARD. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE TOYOTA SERVICING DEALER EACH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE, AND NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. *CN

VEHICLE PARKED ON A DOWNWARD SLOPE. VEHICLE STARTED AND PROCEEDED DOWN SLOPE...APPLIED BRAKE LIGHTLY, BUT VEHICLE BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING A SEVERE JERKING STOP MOTION...RELEASED BRAKE AND APPLIED AGAIN, AND IT CONTINUED AGAIN, HARD BRAKING, JERKING VEHICLE TO A STOP. NO CHANGE IN BRAKE PRESSURE SEEMED TO RESOLVE THIS HARD BRAKING, LOCKING UP EFFECT. ONLY AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MILES DID THE BRAKES RETURN TO NORMAL. *CN

SINCE PURCHASE IN OCTOBER 2009, I HAVE EXPERIENCED OCCASIONAL PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. SPORADICALLY, WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN GOING DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE OR STOPPING AT LIGHTS OR INTERSECTION, I FEEL A MOMENTARY LAG BEFORE THE BRAKES ACTUALLY FUNCTION. THE LAG IS NOTICEABLE AND SIMILAR TO FEELING AIRBORNE OR SLIPPING CAUSING ME TO FRANTICALLY PUSH DOWN HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THAN USUAL. THIS HAS RECURRED PERHAPS 10 DIFFERENT TIMES I ALSO HAD ONE INCIDENT WHEN THE BRAKE SEEMED TO LOCK WHEN THE GEAR WAS IN REVERSE AND I WAS BEGINNING TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. PLEASE NOTE THE DATE OF INCIDENT AND MPH IS ONLY AN ESTIMATE. *CN

WHILE SLOWING DOWN (FOOT ON THE BRAKE) FOR A LIGHT OR ROAD BUMP, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES UNTIL I PRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKE. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 10 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR SUMMER OF 2009. NO ACCIDENT BUT ALMOST REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SEVERAL TIMES. BROUGHT TO TOYOTA AND TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG AND I WASN'T USED TO THE ABS SYSTEM. THIS CAN'T EXPLAIN THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS. *CN

I PURCHASED A 2010 PRIUS (WHICH WAS IN STOCK) ON JANUARY 8. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE BRAKE DELAY PROBLEM, I REALIZED THAT I HAD HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WAS TRAVELING AT MEDIUM SPEED WHEN I FELT THE CAR DIP, THEN SHUDDER. I FELT THAT I HAD LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIDING (AS THOUGH ON ICE). NOW I REALIZE THAT I MUST HAVE PUT ON MY BRAKES, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO PROCEED. I HAD NOT NOTICED ANY PROBLEM IN THE ROAD, AND NO REASON TO EXPLAIN THE SHUDDERING. IT WAS ALL VERY BRIEF. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE AT TOYOTA GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9. *CN

MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. *CN

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID BRAKE PROBLEM: PURCHASED NEW IN OCTOBER, 2009, MY PRIUS HAS EXPERIENCED MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE WHILE STOPPING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN I HIT A BUMP WHILE BRAKING SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY RELEASE AND THE CAR LAUNCHES FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TO 10 TIMES SINCE I PURCHSED THE CAR. I ALERTED THE DEALER (BERNARDI TOYOTA IN FRAMINGAHM, MA) ABOUT 3 - 4 WEEKS AGO, AND THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED YET. *CN

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCIDENT- WE HAD NOTICED THE BRAKING PROBLEMS BUT IT WAS NOT AN ISSUE UNTIL WE WERE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT WHERE THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE CAR. AND IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT EVENT, IT IS BEST TO COMPLAINT ABOUT ABOUT. *CN

THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT I HAVE HAS VERY GRABBY BRAKES WHEN BACKING UP. THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKED POSITION. IT IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM AND CAN REPEATEDLY JERK THE CAR TO A FAST STOP WHEN BACKING UP. SUCH QUICK JERKING CAN MAKE ONE LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. *CN

MY PRIUS 2010 3RD GENERATION MODEL'S BRAKES SEEM TO GO OUT WHEN BRAKING OVER UNEVEN ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 10 TIMES STARTING FROM THE FIRST WEEK I GOT THE CAR. ESPECIALLY GOING OVER POTHOLES, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD SEVERAL FEET. I CALLED THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO REMEDY THE BRAKES. I WAS TOLD TO CALL BACK IF THERE WAS A RE-CALL ISSUED. *CN

COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT DOWNHILL ... HIT A BUMP ... BRAKES FAILED AND ALMOST SIDESWIPED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HIT THE BRAKES A SECOND TIME AND CAR STOPPED JUST IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ... BRAKES HAVE WORKED OK REST OF TIME. NOTHING DONE YET TO CORRECT THE "BUMP" DEFECT AT SLOW SPEEDS. *CN

AT LOW SPEED (LESS THAN 15 MPH) ON DRY, SMOOTH PAVEMENT, THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 PRIUS OCCASIONALLY FAIL TO ENGAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS. THIS HAS OCCURRED LESS THAN ONCE A MONTH SINCE AUGUST 2009, OR APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES. *CN

I OWN A 2010 PRIUS THAT I PURCHASED IN AUGUST, WHICH HAS BETWEEN 4 AND 5 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEALING FOR ABOUT A MONTH, INTERMITTENTLY BUT FAIRLY OFTEN (SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS). ALSO, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT ("SLIPPERY" WARNING) SOMETIMES BEEPS/FLASHES EVEN WHEN I AM SITTING STILL ON DRY LEVEL PAVEMENT, ESPECIALLY IF I DEPRESS THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCED ANY LIFE OR PROPERTY LOSS AS A RESULT AND AM PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION ON A PURELY FYI BASIS AS YOU TRY TO FIGURE OUT ISSUES WITH 2010 PRIUS BRAKES. (THE ISSUES AS I UNDERSTAND THEM DO NOT SEEM TO EXCEED THE NORMAL RISKS OF DRIVING, SO I DON'T PLAN TO DO ANYTHING EXCEPT MENTION IT AT THE 5K CHECKUP, UNLESS I HEAR OTHERWISE IN THE NEWS.) *CN

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND I NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE BREAKS. WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAKS, AND HIT AN UNEVEN ROAD, THE CAR LOSES THE BREAKS AND SURGES FORWARD. *CN

I PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN AUGUST, 2009. DURING THE FALL, 2009, I EXPERIENCED TWO INCIDENTS, WHICH IN RETROSPECT, I THINK INVOLVED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND WENT OVER A SPOT ON THE ROAD WHICH, BECAUSE IT WAS DARK, I COULDN'T SEE FOR SURE, BUT WHICH FELT LIKE A POT HOLE. (I ALSO THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN RAINING ON BOTH OF THESE OCCASIONS, ALTHOUGH I CAN'T RECALL FOR SURE). IMMEDIATELY AFTER HITTING WHAT I THINK WAS A POT HOLE, I FELT THE CAR SUDDENLY AND DRAMATICALLY ACCELERATE. BOTH TIMES I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. AT THE TIME, IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME WHAT WAS GOING ON. BUT, NOW THINKING ABOUT IT, I THINK IT LIKELY THAT THE SUDDEN JOLT TO THE CAR, PERHAPS COMBINED WITH MOISTURE, CAUSED SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION, WHICH THANKFULLY, WAS SHORT-LIVED (OR AT LEAST STOPPED BY BRAKING). SHORTLY AFTER THESE INCIDENTS, I MENTIONED THEM TO MY WIFE. SHE REPORTED THAT SHE HAD EXPERIENCED VERY MUCH THE SAME THING ON A SEPARATE (I.E., A THIRD OCCASION) DRIVING OUR PRIUS. *CN

THERE WAS A DELAY FROM THE TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES IN MY 2010 PRIUS WHEN DRIVING ON SLIPPERY, SNOW COVERED ROADS UNTIL I COULD FEEL THEM START TO SLOW THE CAR. THE ABS SYSTEM ALSO SEEMED TO ACT MORE SLOWLY. I ALSO DROVE MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER ON THE SAME ROADS SOON AFTER DRIVING THE PRIUS. THE EXPLORER ABS SYSTEM REACTED MORE QUICKLY AND DEFINITELY STOPPED MORE QUICKLY THAN THE PRIUS. *CN

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED OVER BUMPY OR ROUGH ROADS. OCCURS EVERYTIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT A PARTICULAR INTERSECTION. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE AUGUST 2009. THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM, IT RAISED SOME CONCERNS, BUT RECENT ARTICLES HAVE INDICATED THIS IS A SEVERE ISSUE. *TR

I OWN A BRAND NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES AT THIS POINT. I HAVE EXPERIENCE ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY WHEN I FORCEFULLY APPLIED THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO COME TO STOP WHILE TRAVELING OVER A POTHOLE OR A SERIOUS PAVEMENT DEFORMATION. MY WIFE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ON A COUPLE OF INSTANCES TOO. THE LOSS OF BRAKES IS VERY SHORT IN DURATION BUT IS ABSOLUTELY FRIGHTENING SINCE THE CAR TRAVELS QUITE A BIT BEFORE THE BRAKES TAKE EFFECT AGAIN. ON ONE OCCASION THE PRIUS WAS ABOUT ONE QUARTER OF A CAR LENGTH INTO THE INTERSECTION BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING ONLY 35 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A FULL STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY NO OTHER CARS WERE TRAVELING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT THE TIME. I ATTEMPTED TO CALL TOYOTA ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THROUGH TO A LIVE PERSON AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE VOLUME OF CALLS GENERATED BY THE RECALL. *TR

2010 PRIUS. PURCHASED 11/23/09. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK, THERE IS A MANHOLE COVER RIGHT BEFORE MY TURN, IF MY TIRE GOES OVER MANHOLE COVER MY CAR BOLTS FORWARD AS IF I STEP ON THE GAS. THIS HAPPENS 1-2 TIME A WEEK AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SINCE DECEMBER. 18-20 OCCURRENCES TO DATE. THERE WAS ONE OTHER TIME WHEN STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND I HIT A SLIGHT BUMP AND MY CAR BOLTED FORWARD. I ALWAYS WAS QUICK TO PRESS THE BRAKE HARD AND THE CAR WOULD STOP. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPEN WAS 2/2/10. I AM BRINGING IT IN FOR SERVICE 2/6/10. *TR

I DRIVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS WHILE BRAKING AND GOING OVER BUMPS/ROUGH PAVEMENT. I HAVE 6000 MILES ON MY CAR AND HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ABOUT 5 TIMES. DURING ONE OCCASION, WHILE SLOWING FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC, I DROVE OVER A BUMP, AND I FELT THE BREAK PEDAL VIBRATE LIKE THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WERE BEING ACTIVATED, THEN A QUICK "RELEASE SENSATION", DURING WHICH I HAD NO BRAKES, LIKE I HIT A PATCH OF ICE. I WAS JUST ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BY SWERVING INTO AN OPEN DRIVE WAY. I WAS ALSO WITH MY WIFE AS A PASSENGER IN THIS CAR AND SHE HAD A SIMILAR EVENT WHILE BRAKING AND HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTIBLE. *TR

I LIVE IN THE PHOENIX, AZ AREA. WHILE DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS, WHEN I GO OVER AN ABRUPT BUMP WITH BRAKES ENGAGED BRAKING COMPLETELY FAILS MOMENTARILY. FIRST FEW TIMES THIS HAPPENED I THOUGHT MAYBE MY FOOT HAD REDUCED PRESSURE ON THE PETAL DUE TO THE BUMP BUT LATER CONFIRMED THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. IT OCCURS ALMOST DAILY - EVERY TIME I GO OVER AN ABRUPT BUMP WITH BRAKES ENGAGED. I HAVE A DAILY DRIVE THAT TAKES ME OVER SOME SLIGHTLY ROUGH PAVEMENT AS I APPROACH A STOP LIGHT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM - I AM JUST AWARE OF IT AND AM CAREFUL TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT OCCURRENCE AS I APPROACH THE LIGHT. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2010 PRIUS IN LATE DECEMBER AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET, WHICH HAD SOME POTHOLES ON IT. I COULD SEE A POTHOLE AHEAD OF ME. ANOTHER CAR WAS COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, WHICH PROHIBITED ME FROM AVOIDING THE POTHOLE. I THEREFORE BRAKED SLOWLY AND CAME ALMOST TO A FULL STOP AS I WENT OVER THE POTHOLE. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE DURING THIS ENTIRE EPISODE, BUT AS I WENT OVER THE POTHOLE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR HIT ANYTHING, THE REACTION OF THE CAR WAS VERY UNUSUAL. SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OCCASIONS WHEN I HAVE BEEN AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IT HAS FELT AS IF THE CAR WERE ABOUT TO MOVE AHEAD, DESPITE MY FOOT BEING ON THE BRAKE; IT HAS FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE THAN NORMAL TO THE BRAKE IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKE MECHANISM TO WORK PROPERLY. *TR

OCCASIONALLY WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE THE CAR LURCHES BACKWARD, AND THEN SLIGHTLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES CAUSES THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY STOP. RELEASING THE BRAKES CAUSES THE CAR TO AGAIN LURCH BACKWARDS AND THEN SLIGHTLY PRESSING ON THE BRAKES AGAIN CAUSES THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY STOP. IT'S A WHIPLASH TYPE MOVEMENT. IT OCCURS SPORADICALLY. MY SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND START OVER (BASICALLY, "REBOOTING" THE CAR). I PURCHASED THE CAR AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2009. *TR

THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS DO NOT APPEAR TO WORK PROPERLY. THEY ARE NOT CONSISTENT IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE. ON OCCASION, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO SLOW THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. EVEN AFTER APPLYING MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ROLL. EVENTUALLY AFTER PRESSING VERY HARD ON THE PEDAL THE VEHICLE SLOWS. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. IT PRESENTS A PROBLEM WHEN IT UNEXPECTEDLY HAPPENS. *TR

BRAKE "GRABBING"/SEIZING WHILE REVERSING TOYOTA 2010 PRIUS II. *TR

I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2010 PRIUS, I BOUGHT MY PRIUS THIS PAST NOV. AT FIRST WHEN I FEEL THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION I THOUGHT ITS ME THINKING TOO MUCH. BUT THIS HAPPEN MORE THAN ONCE. IT IS A UNPLEASANT FEELING. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENS TO ME WHEN DRIVING ON A DOWNHILL GOING OVER A BUMP OR A HOLE IN THE ROAD. *TR

AN INCONSISTENT FEELING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES OVER BUMPY ROADS. *TR

ON WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5, 2010, DRIVING A 2010 PRIUS ON A MICHIGAN ROAD AT 25 MPH, SOME ICE OR FREEZE OVER, APPROXIMATELY 9:30AM. I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN AND THERE WAS NO BRAKE ENGAGEMENT, NO SOUND OR FEEL OF AN ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM . I COULDN'T STOP THE CAR, SO I HAD TO PROCEED THRU THE STOP INTERSECTION. THERE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT SINCE THERE WASN'T A CAR CROSSING THE INTERSECTION. *TR

PROBLEM IS ONSET OF ACCELERATION WHEN BRAKES APPLIED IN 2010 PRIUS 4, PURCHASED AT ANTWERPEN TOYOTA, CLARKSVILLE, MD IN AUGUST 2010. PROBLEM HAS BEEN DETECTED 2 TIMES, WITHOUT ACCIDENT, BUT WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ANXIETY. BOTH INCIDENTS WERE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, AND SEEMED TO BE RELATED TO CHANGE IN ACCELERATION DUE TO RAPID BRAKING. FIRST INCIDENT IN SEPTEMBER 2009 WAS CONSIDERED A 'DRIVER ISSUE' SINCE I HAD OWNED THE PRIUS ONLY 1 MONTH. HOWEVER, SECOND INCIDENT IN NOVEMBER 2009 WAS CLEARLY NOT A DRIVER ISSUE, AND WAS INITIATED THE SAME WAY--STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR SOME TIME. NEITHER INCIDENT INVOLVED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. *TR

MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE IN AT LOW SPEED (ABOUT 8 MPH) ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE OR WET CONDITIONS RESULTING IN A SURGE FORWARD. WHEN IN A TURN, MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CAN BE CHALLENGING. CONDITION IS REPLICABLE, I.E., I CAN REPRODUCE THE BRAKING LOSS/SURGE AT THE SAME PLACE IN THE SAME CONDITIONS, AT ANY TIME. *TR

WE PURCHASED NEW 2010 PRIUS AT THE END OF LAST SEPTEMBER IN 2009. BOTH OF US HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF "LOSING CONTROL" OF THE CAR WHILE BRAKING ON ICY ROADS. MY FIRST EXPERIENCE HAPPENED DURING OUR FIRST BIG SNOW FALL. I WAS APPROACHING THE ENTRANCE RAMP TO AN EXPRESS WAY AND HAD TO APPLY THE BREAKS WHEN A CAR INFRONT OF ME BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND SLIDE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RAMP. AS I APPLIED THE BREAKS, THE CAR BEGAN A SERIES OF QUICK FORWARD JERKS ASSOCIATED WITH KNOCKING SOUNDS. I ALSO HEARD A SLIGHT CHANGE IN HOW THE ENGINE SOUNDED. FORTUNATELY, I ESCAPED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT SINCE MY PRIUS DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT BEFORE CONTROL WAS REESTABLISHED. IT WAS FRIGHTENING. THIS IS THE FIRST CAR I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS AN ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. I ASSUMED THAT IS WHY I EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND WHY IT FELT SO UNCOMFORTABLE. WHEN I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT, I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE CAR TO AN OPEN AREA AND PRACTICE USING THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO GET USED TO IT. SINCE THEN, MY HUSBAND HAS HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE CAR ON ICY ROADS. HE TELLS ME THAT THE "JERKING" AND THE KNOCKING SOUND IS NOT PART OF A NORMAL ANTI LOCK BREAKING SYSTEM. THIS IS WHY I AM REPORTING OUR EXPERIENCE TO THE U.S. NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU. *TR

MY 2010 PRIUS HAS SPED UP AT LEAST THREE TIMES WHEN I EITHER DRIVE THROUGH A POTHOLE OR CROSS RAILROAD TRACKS, FORCING ME TO HIT THE BRAKES HARD. THE BRAKES WORKED AS THEY SHOULD AND NO ACCIDENT RESULTED. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2010. BRAKES NOT WORKING WHEN ON SLIPPERY SERVICE AND WHEN HITTING BUMPS. *TR