2010 Toyota Prius complaints

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE PROBLEM. BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY PARTICULARLY IN SNOWY DAY. *TR

THE BRAKES ON OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS MOMENTARILY STOP WORKING AT LOW SPEEDS ON BUMPY ROADS. THE BRAKES STOP WORKING FOR ONLY A SECOND OR TWO WHEN BRAKING ON A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE, THE REENGAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN JULY 2009. *TR

WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS, IF THE CAR HITS A MANHOLE COVER OR UNEVEN, BUMPY ROAD, THERE IS A SPLIT-SECOND LOSS IN BRAKING (WHICH FEELS LIKE ACCELERATION SINCE THE DRIVER EXPECTS TO BE DECELERATING AT THE TIME). OTHER PRIUSCHAT SITE USERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 PRIUS - SOME USERS CLAIMED THIS WAS "NORMAL" WHEN THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES SWITCH OVER TO HYDRAULIC BRAKES AND THAT THERE WAS REALLY NO LOSS IN BRAKING. IT MAY BE "NORMAL" BUT IT'S SCARY AS HECK WHEN IT HAPPENS AND IF A PEDESTRIAN CROSSES IN FRONT OF THE CAR OR A CAR IN FRONT OF A 2010 PRIUS STOPS QUICKLY UNDER JUST THE WRONG CIRCUMSTANCES, I SUSPECT AN ACCIDENT WOULD RESULT. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS AND SAW AN ARTICLE ABOUT THERE BEING POSSIBLE BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THE MODEL. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM PROBABLY ABOUT 6 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE CAR LAST JULY AND, WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES WHEN THEY RAN THE DIAGNOSTIC. WHEN IT HAPPENS, I'M IN THE PROCESS OF BRAKING, AND THERE'S A "PUSH", ALMOST LIKE THE BRAKES DIDN'T "TAKE", FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF STEERING FOR A SECOND OR TWO. IT'S ALSO HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND ONE TIME. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHEN IT HAPPENS (WET ROAD VS. DRY ROAD, TURNING OR GOING STRAIGHT, FLAT OR HILL). I ORIGINALLY ASSOCIATED THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES BECAUSE I ALSO HAVE THE "SLIDING" ICON COME ON THE DASHBOARD WHEN I'M COMPLETELY STOPPED AND LEAN FORWARD IN MY SEATBELT. HOWEVER, I'M NOW WONDERING IF IT'S NOT THE BRAKES, BUT THE TRANSMISSION, SINCE IT SORT OF FEELS LIKE IT'S NOT DOWNSHIFTING WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO, OR IT SHIFTS BACK INTO A HIGHER GEAR FOR A SECOND WHILE BRAKING. I CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION AFTER WAITING IN THE CAR WHILE IT WAS RUNNING. WITH THE CAR ON, EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, BUT NOT IN PARK, THERE WAS A DEFINITE "JOLT" WHEN THE GAS ENGINE WOULD TURN ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN A FEW MINUTES LATER. ALTHOUGH THERE HASN'T BEEN A CRASH YET, THERE WERE TWO TIMES WHEN IT CAME REALLY CLOSE TO THAT, AS I WAS TURNING AND ALMOST HIT THE CARS ON THE SIDE STREET THAT WERE IN THE LEFT TURN LANE WAITING TO TURN ONTO THE STREET I HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON. *TR

BRAKE PROBLEM WHEN ON UNEVEN SURFACE OR HILL, SOMETIMES TURNING. CAR HYDROPLANES AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES SINCE BUYING THE CAR LAST AUGUST. THREE TIMES HAVE COME CLOSE TO HITTING ANOTHER CAR. REPORTED PROBLEM TO DEALERSHIP. WAITING TO HEAR BACK. *TR

LISTED ONE DATE, BUT NOT A SINGLE INCIDENT - HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED CAR IN AUG 2009. WHEN BRAKING AND HIT A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD, CAR ACCELERATES/JERKS FORWARD FOR A MOMENT. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY SO FAR THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN CLOSE TO ANOTHER CAR OR A PEDESTRIAN WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED - THOUGH I CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE BACK OF ONE CAR THAT STOPPED QUICK IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

WHILE BRAKING MY 2010 PRIUS THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THE CAR APPEARS TO SURGE FORWARD. THE INITIAL BRAKING OCCURS FINE BUT NEAR THE POINT OF COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP (IE LESS THAN 10MPH) IS WHEN THE SURGE OCCURS. INITIALLY I ATTRIBUTED THIS TO ICY ROAD CONDITIONS BUT THIS HAS NOW OCCURRED ON DRY PAVEMENT. THE DASH LIGHT INDICATING SLIPPAGE OF THE CAR DOES NOT APPEAR WHEN THIS OCCURS. THE PROBLEMS SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN WITHIN THE FIRST 5 MILES OF STARTING THE CAR. THIS SURGE DOES NOT OCCUR EVERYDAY NOR EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE STRICTLY TEMPERATURE RELATED ALTHOUGH IT HAS STARTED OCCURRING ONLY IN THE WINTER (CAR PURCHASED IN JULY). *TR

WHEN BRAKING OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, THE BRAKES SOMETIMES RELEASE WHILE THE DRIVER'S FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DRIVER NEEDS TO RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RE-APPLY PRESSURE FOR THE BRAKE TO RE-ENGAGE. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY DAY BUT IT HAS OCCURRED OFTEN ENOUGH THAT BOTH DRIVERS OF OUR CAR HAVE NOTICED THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING THE SIX MONTHS THAT WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. IT APPEARS TO OCCUR MORE AT SPEEDS BELOW 15 MPH, ON DOWNHILL SLOPES, IN COLDER WEATHER AND ON SLIPPERY ROADS. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE PROBLEM TENDS TO HAPPEN WHEN APPROACHING INTERSECTIONS, WHERE MOST BRAKING TAKES PLACE, MAKING IT A MORE DANGEROUS DEFECT. WE PURCHASED THE CAR AT THE END OF JULY, 2009. WE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHEN THE CAR WAS IN FOR ITS FIRST 5000 MILE SERVICE IN JANUARY, 2010. THEY ROAD-TESTED THE CAR BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE OUR EXPERIENCE, SO THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. *TR

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WILL HAVE A REDUCTION IN BRAKING POWER. IT WILL GIVE THE ILLUSION OF ACCELERATION, BUT I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS A REDUCTION IN BRAKING POWER. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY AND I FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE IT IN A LOCATION I REGULARLY DRIVE. AS I APPROACH A 4-WAY STOP THERE IS A BUMP THAT COVERS THE WIDTH OF MY LANE. AS THE FRONT TIRES GO OVER THE BUMP THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT START TO TAKE OFF JUST SHORT OF THE STOPPING POINT. IT QUICKLY RECOVERS AND I AM ALWAYS ABLE TO STOP, BUT THE FEELINGS IS UNNERVING SINCE IT HAPPENS SO CLOSE TO THE STOPPING POINT. I HAVE CONTACTED MY TOYOTA DEALER, BUT THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO REPORTED PROBLEMS AND DID NOT EVEN TAKE ANY INFORMATION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THIS MORNING AND HIT SMALL POT HOLE AS I WAS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN AFTER GOING OVER THE POT HOLE, THE BRAKE DID NOT SEEM TO WORK FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, BUT IT SEEM OKAY LATER ON. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS - WHEN BRAKING, IF YOU HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE IN THE ROAD, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD (ACCELERATES). YOU HAVE TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION FOR THIS OCCURRENCE OR YOU WILL REAR END SOMEONE. I HAS HAPPEN ABOUT 5 TIMES NOW. THIS SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRONICS ISSUE NOT A PEDAL PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS. WHEN I BRAKE OVER A BUMPY SURFACE, I LOOSE BRAKING POWER FOR 1-2 SECONDS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AT LEAST 10 TIMES. I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM SOON AFTER THE PURCHASE AND CONTINUES. I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK FOR SERVICE AT TOYOTA BUT I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO REPORTED PROBLEMS AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY ROAD TESTED MY CAR. THIS IS DOCUMENTED IN THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS. A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME! THERE IS A DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 FAILED TO STOP AT STOP SIGN. I GOT A BRAND NEW TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 IN LATE OCTOBER 2009. MOST OF THE TIME THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD HOWEVER I NOTICED SEVERAL TIMES THAT WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES THE CAR KEPT GOING FOR A GOOD FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT STOPS. YESTERDAY I WAS IN A SMALL LOCAL ROAD WITH SPEED AROUND 28 MILE/HR. WHEN APPROCHING THE INTERSECTION, I PRESSED THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WAS NOT SLOW DOWN, I KEPT PRESSING THE BRAKE VERY HARD AND IT FINALLY STOPPED BUT THE CAR WAS INTO THE INTERSECTION ALREADY. THANK GOD, THERE WAS NOBODY CROSSING THE STREET. I GOOGLED PRIUS 2010 BRAKE PROBLEM AND FOUND THERE WERE MANY SAME COMPLAINTS OUT THERE AND SINCE DEALERS COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE DEFECT, THEY CAN NOT OFFER A FIX. *TR

I HAVE NOT YET HAD THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED, BUT WHEN I DECELERATE IN MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND I HAPPEN TO GO OVER A BUMP (CAN BE A POTHOLE, OR ICE, ETC.), IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE SOMETIMES DISENGAGES BRIEFLY AND I HAVE TO RE-ENGAGE TO RE-ESTABLISH BRAKING. THE LOSS OF BRAKING IS UNRELATED TO THE POSITION OF MY FOOT, IT'S AS IF THE BRAKE SUDDENLY IS NOT PRESENT (NOT A DECREASE IN BRAKE PRESSURE). I'VE CAUGHT IT QUICKLY EACH TIME, SO NEVER THOUGHT TO COMPLAIN UNTIL THE RECENT RECALLS. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS A MAJOR FLAW IN THE REGENERATIVE / HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM. IF THE CAR IS SLOWING GRADUALLY WITH REGENERATIVE BRAKING ACTIVE AND THE ROAD SURFACE CHANGES DUE TO A POTHOLE, UNEVEN/BROKEN SURFACE, OR SPEED BUMP, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING IS REENGAGED VERY SLOWLY. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO APPEAR TO ACCELERATE FOR A SECOND OR TWO UNTIL HYDRAULIC BRAKING IS ENGAGED BY THE CAR'S COMPUTER OR BECAUSE THE DRIVER HAD TO INCREASE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE DRAMATICALLY TO SLOW/STOP THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS DAILY ON A NUMBER OF THE ROADS I CONSISTENTLY TRAVEL. SPEED DURING THESE INCIDENTS IS USUALLY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5 AND 30 MPH. ONE EXAMPLE: DRIVING ON A ROAD AND COMING TO A STOP LIGHT... SLOWING GRADUALLY ON REGEN BRAKING, THEN I HIT A PART OF THE ROAD WHERE THERE IS AN UNEVEN SURFACE. REGEN BRAKING STOPS AND CAR COASTS WITH NO BRAKING, SOMETIMES FOR UP TO A SECOND OR TWO. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AS IT COULD RESULT IN A CAR ACCIDENT OR PEDESTRIAN DEATH. I HAVE ALREADY HAD AT LEAST TWO NEAR MISSES WHERE I HAVE HAD TO SLOW OR STOP SUDDENLY WHILE BRAKING IN REGEN MODE AND THE SWITCH TO HYDRAULIC MODE IS SEVERELY DELAYED. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN REAR-ENDING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ISSUE HAS BEEN OBSERVED SINCE I FIRST OBTAINED THE CAR IN JULY 2009. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATES WHEN BRAKE IS PRESSED. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO JUMP FORWARD DEPENDING ON ROAD CONDITIONS. IT SEEMS TO BE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THE PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS 2 TO 3 TIMES A MONTH. *TR

MULTIPLE EVENTS/FAILURES, HERE IS A SUMMARY: 1) WHILE BRAKING OVER ROUGHER ROAD CONDITIONS -- NOT POTHOLES, BUT REGULAR ROUGHNESS/BUMPS IN ROADS -- BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY MOMENTARILY NO LONGER FUNCTION/GO OUT. AS SOON AS YOU RETURN TO SMOOTH ROAD SURFACES, THE PROBLEM CORRECTS ITSELF. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE DEALERSHIP WITH WHOM I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE WERE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN I CALLED THEM, EVEN THOUGHT IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE NATIONAL NEWS. 2) BRAKE MALFUNCTION ON SLIPPERY ROADS. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND GOING VERY SLOW, LEAVING MORE THAN ENOUGH SPACE TO STOP FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT AND LIGHTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES. HAVING PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP, I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT SLOWING AS IT SHOULD. REGARDLESS OF THE PRESSURE APPLIED THERE WAS NO CHANGE. I ENDED UP STOPPING BY REARENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL, BUT SCARY NONETHELESS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS (A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES SO FAR). THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. SHE HAD NEITHER TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP NOR CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 800. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED HIS BRAKES ARE NOT HOLDING WHEN HE STEPS ON THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED IT FEELS AS IF HE IS BRAKING ON ICE, SLIDING TO MAKE A STOP. THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE REPAIRED.THE FAILURE MILEAGE 6700.

I PURCHASED A TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR. I HAVE HAD ONE BRAKING FAILURE INCIDENT WHEN THE CAR FAILED TO BRAKE AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOP STREET. THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER KICKED IN AND THE CAR CAME TO A SLOW STOP. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED ABOUT 6 INCIDENTS WHERE MY CAR ACCELERATED WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN I TRAVELED OVER A BUMP OR VARIANCE IN THE ROAD. I HAVE SCHEDULED A SERVICE SO THAT TOYOTA CAN REVIEW THE BRAKING SYSTEM IN MY CAR. *TR

I DRIVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE FOUND ON MULTIPLE TIMES (5-10), WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR SEEMS TO ACCELERATE FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME (1 SECOND) THEN BEGIN TO BRAKE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON BUMPY ROADS. IT HAS HAPPENED EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN OCT 2009. *TR

WHILE INITIATING BRAKING AT SPEEDS <30MPH, THE BRAKES WILL INFREQUENTLY, BUT OCCASIONALLY ENGAGE W/ NORMAL FORCE BEFORE THE BRAKES LOSE NORMAL BRAKING FORCE FOR A SPLIT SECOND BEFORE RE-ENGAGING (ESPECIALLY IF BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED FURTHER). FEELS LIKE AN ISSUE W/ ENGAGING REGENERATIVE BRAKES. NOT EASILY REPLICABLE, HAS HAPPENED GOING DOWNHILL AND WHILE HITTING A SMALL POTHOLE 2-3 TIMES IN LAST FEW MONTHS (VEHICLE PURCHASED NOV '09). *TR

I GOT INTO A WRECK WHEN DRIVING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BECAUSE I FEEL THE BREAKS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES AND I SLAMMED ON MINE, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A 3 CAR PILEUP. I DID NOT RECEIVE A CITATION BECAUSE I WAS NOT FOLLOWING TO CLOSE, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE BREAKS WERE NOT WORKING AS GOOD AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. I AM IN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER AND I BELIEVE THIS IS MOST LIKELY A COMPUTER PROBLEM. I DROVE A HONDA CIVIC FOR 13 YEARS AND THE BREAKS WERE MUCH SHARPER, ONCE ACTIVATED THEY STOPPED THE CAR MUCH FASTER. I NEVER GOT INTO A WRECK WITH MY CIVIC, HOWEVER, AFTER OWNING MY PRIUS FOR ONLY 2 WEEKS I GOT INTO A WRECK. THE INCIDENT NUMBER PROVIDED BY THE OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IS 102719. *TR

WE OWN A 2010 PRIUS AND SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED IT IN NOVEMBER 2009 WE HAVE NOTICED ISSUES WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. ON EACH OCCASION WE WERE DRIVING OVER AN UNEVEN OR SLIPPERY SURFACE (E.G., POTHOLES, ICY MANHOLE COVERS) AND WHEN THE BRAKE WAS PRESSED IT DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE OR CATCH. RATHER, THE BRAKES ENGAGED AFTER THE CAR PASSED THE SLIPPERY OR BUMPY SURFACE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO RESULT IN AN ACCELERATION (OR PERHAPS SLOWER DECELERATION) WHEN ONE STEPS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION, AN INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH DISPLAY LIT UP. *TR

WHILE BRAKING AND COMING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, AND IF THERE IS A BUMP ON THE ROAD, THE AUTO CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD, EVEN IF YOU DEPRESS THE BRAKE COMPLETELY, THE AUTO CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD, ABOUT ANOTHER 10 TO 15 FEET. THIS HAS HAPPEN NUMEROUS OF TIMES AND DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE NO ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. AT LEAST 10 TIMES, WHEN PASSING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD, THE CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT MY APPLYING ANY PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL. THAT IS, IT ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING SOMETIMES WHEN I PASS OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE. THEN, WHEN I TRY TO SLOW IT DOWN FROM THIS UNWANTED ACCELERATION, THE BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THAT IS, THE BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO PROPERLY AND INSTANTLY "CATCH" TO SLOW THE CAR. RATHER, THERE IS A PULSATING SENSATION FOR AN ESTIMATED 2-5 SECONDS UNTIL THE BRAKES FINALLY AND COMPLETELY "CATCH" TO SLOW THE CAR FROM THE UNWANTED AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I NOTICED THIS SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR ON AUGUST 11, 2009. FURTHER, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PHENOMENON WITH ANY OTHER AUTOMOBILE THAT I HAVE DRIVEN IN THE LAST 30 YEARS. IT IS NOT SOME PHENOMENON OR PROBLEM THAT HAS DEVELOPED OVER TIME. RATHER, IT WAS A PHENOMENON THAT OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY NEW WITH FAR LESS THAN 1,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT AFTER READING IN AN INTERNET NEWS ARTICLE THAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AS WELL AS THE OTHER RECALLED TOYOTA AUTOMOBILES. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AND SWIFT U.S. GOVERNMENT ACTION IS BOTH WARRANTED AND NEEDED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS III, PURCHASED IN JUNE 2009, AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. IF WHILE BRAKING I HAPPEN TO HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD MY BRAKES FAIL FOR A BRIEF MOMENT CAUSING THE CAR TO SPEED UP RATHER THAN SLOW DOWN. IN ORDER TO STOP THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION I HAVE TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN EVEN FURTHER WITH MORE PRESSURE AND/OR QUICKLY LIFT MY FOOT AND BRAKE AGAIN. THIS FAILURE HAPPENS FAIRLY CONSISTENTLY IF THE CONDITIONS ARE CORRECT. THE SIZE OF THE BUMP IN THE ROAD DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER AS THE BRAKE "FAILURE" HAS HAPPENED WITH EVERYTHING FROM A SMALL POTHOLE TO RAILROAD TRACKS. THE FAILURE SEEMS TO LAST ONLY A MATTER OF SECONDS, BUT IT'S ENOUGH TO POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY WHILE IN A HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATION. I DIDN'T START TO NOTICE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL CLOSE TO A MONTH INTO OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE BUT HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY AWARE OF IT EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS. I HAVE CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM DURING MY LATEST SERVICE APPOINTMENT ON 1/19/10 SINCE I EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WHILE ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2010 PRIUS IN AUGUST 09 AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CAR "LURCHES" FORWARD WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON A BUMPY SURFACE. I WAS FORTUNATE ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS THAT THERE WAS DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER 3 OR 4 OCCASIONS OF EXPERIENCING THIS, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IN OCT TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE, NOTHING SHOWED UP IN COMPUTER ELECTRONICS AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE A HYBRID AND ONLY DRIVE ON SMOOTH SURFACES! WHAT CITY HAS SMOOTH ROADS WITH NO SEAMS OR BUMPY SURFACES ON IT. IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP A WEEK LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT IF I COULD RECREATE THE PROBLEM THE SHOP FOREMAN WOULD GO OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE WITH ME. RECREATING THE PROBLEM IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I AM A REALTOR AND MY LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON MY HAVING A RELIABLE CAR. I AM NERVOUS DRIVING MY CAR AND FIND THAT I DRIVE ALWAYS ANTICIPATING THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM...THIS IS NOT A SAFE WAY TO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE. I AM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE LOOKING INTO IT. ALSO, CHECK OUT THE PRIUS CHAT ROOM FOR MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKING PROBLEM. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR INVESTIGATIVE WORK. *TR

MY WIFE AND I HAVE BOTH EXPERIENCED RARE BUT SCARY BRAKING IN OUR NEW 2010 PRIUS. UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS THERE IS A DEFINITE LAG (LESS THAT TWO SECONDS)BETWEEN APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WHEN THE BRAKES ACTUALLY ENGAGE. I SUSPECT AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM IS NOT TELLING THE ELECTRIC TRACTION MOTOR TO SHUT OFF FAST ENOUGH DURING THESE BRAKING EVENTS, SO THE CAR IS BRAKING AGAINST ITS TRACTION MOTOR WHICH IS STILL PUSHING THE CAR. WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO PINPOINT THE CONDITIONS WHEN THIS UNUSUAL BRAKING BEHAVIOR OCCURS AND HERE IS OUR BEST DESCRIPTION: 1. HAPPENS WHEN ONE FRONT WHEEL HITS A SLICK SPOT LIKE A WET MANHOLE COVER OR STORM GRATE DURING BRAKING AND THE ABS CUTS IN 2. IT HAPPENS DURING BRAKING ON VERY BUMPY ROADS ESPECIALLY IN TIGHT CORNERS WHERE TRACTION MAY BE LOST MOMENTARILY ON BRAKING CAUSING THE ABS SYSTEM TO CUT IN. 3. IT HAPPENS AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS BELOW 25MPG AND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IN NOT PRESSED AND USUALLY WHEN THE TRACTION MOTOR IS RUNNING. WE DRIVE TWO OTHER CARS (NON-HYBRID)OVER THE SAME ROADS IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS AND DON'T EXPERIENCE THESE BRAKING ANOMALIES. THE TOYOTA DEALER CAN'T IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL ISSUES WHEN BRAKING. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I AM BRAKING AND HIT A POTHOLE (OR ANY FORM OF DIP IN THE ROAD) MY CAR SEEMS TO LUNGE FORWARD (I.E., ACCELERATE) UNTIL THE TIRES ARE BACK ON LEVEL PAVEMENT. ONE OF THE MORE FRIGHTENING INCIDENTS OCCURRED THIS PAST JANUARY. IT WAS BELOW FREEZING OUTSIDE, BUT THERE HAD BEEN NO PRECIPITATION. HOWEVER, THERE WAS ONE AREA NEAR A RED LIGHT WHERE THE SPRINKLERS HAD BEEN LEFT ON OVERNIGHT. THIS AREA HAD TURNED INTO A SMALL SECTION OF ICE. I CAME UP TO THE INTERSECTION AND BEGAN TO BRAKE WHEN I HIT THIS SPOT. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO MALFUNCTION, BUT IT WASN'T AS IF I WAS SKIDDING ON THE ICE. RATHER, I COULD FEEL THE CAR LUNGING FORWARD AGAIN AS IT DOES WHEN IT HITS A POTHOLE. I HEARD ON NPR THAT OTHER PRIUS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES SO I WANTED TO LODGE A COMPLAINT TO ENSURE THAT THIS GETS THE PROPER ATTENTION. *TR

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS (NEW) IN JULY, 2009. WE HAVE DRIVEN IT SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 8,000 MILES. I HAVE TWO SAFETY RELATED COMPLAINTS TO REPORT WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM: COMPLAINT #1 - SEVERAL TIMES (PERHAPS 10-15) WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AFTER COASTING A SHORT DISTANCE AS I PREPARE TO STOP, I HAVE MOMENTARILY LOST ALL BRAKING. IT FEELS AS IF I HAVE HIT A PATCH OF GLARE ICE WITH ALL FOUR WHEELS. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS THE MOMENT I FIRST APPLY THE BRAKES, AND THEN AFTER A MOMENT (PERHAPS A SECOND OR LESS) THE BRAKING SYSTEM RETURNS TO NORMAL OPERATION. FOR THAT BRIEF TIME THERE IS NO BRAKING ACTION AT ALL. COMPLAINT #2 - SEVERAL TIMES (PERHAPS 8-10) WHEN TAKING THE CAR FROM "PARK" TO "REVERSE" TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS SO SENSITIVE THAT IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE CAR'S SPEED. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS NEARLY NO "PLAY" OR "FEEL" TO IT, CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK TO A STOP WHEN THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THIS RESULTS IN A PATTERN OF "COAST A FEW FEET AND JERK TO A STOP, COAST A FEW FEET AND JERK TO A STOP", REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE BACKING UP THE NECESSARY 30 +/- FEET. I DON'T RECALL EVER EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WHILE MOVING FORWARD. SINCE I HAVE EXPERIENCED EACH OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THESE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, THE "APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE" BELOW IS ARBITRARY. *TR

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS DOES EXPERIENCE MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE WHEN HITTING BUMPS OR POTHOLES. THE PROBLEM NEVER LASTS MORE THAN A MOMENT AND HAS NOT CAUSED ANY ACCIDENTS OR NEAR ACCIDENTS. I HAVE NOT BROUGHT THE CAR FOR REPAIR. *TR

THE BRAKING SYSTEM TEMPORARILY DISENGAGES WHEN HITTING A BUMP, MANHOLE, GRAVEL, ETC. CAUSING CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD. TOYOTA OF NAPERVILEE TOLD ME THAT SOME LUNGING IS TO BE EXPECTED. IT IS SCARY WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE BRAKES. I'M CONCERNED THAT IT MAY RESULT IN A FUTURE ACCIDENT. *TR

THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE 5 MONTHS THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. I WOULD GO OVER A POT HOLE OR LARGER BUMP AND INSTEAD OF MY BRAKES INITIATING WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES THERE IS A QUICK ACCELERATION AND THE CAR LITERALLY LURCHES FORWARD INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN. ALSO, THERE IS A LONG LAG TIME BETWEEN PRESSING THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES ACTUALLY INTIATING WHICH IS CONSISTENT AND OCCURS ALL THE TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED HIS VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHEN HE STEPS ON THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED HE HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON THE NEWS AND HE WAS REPORTING THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,010.

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE ISSUES. WHEN BRAKING AND THE CAR HITS A ROUGH SPOT OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD THE CAR DOES NOT BRAKE WELL. IN FACT IT LURCHES FORWARD A FEW FEET UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR

1) DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 TO 40 MPH ON A FLAT SMOOTH ROAD APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. APPLYING THE BRAKES LIGHTLY TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE STOPPING. HIT A SHALLOW POTHOLE ON RIGHT SIDE. PROBABLY A MANHOLE COVER. 2) VERY QUICKLY, LASTING ONLY A SPLIT SECOND, THE BRAKES SEEMED TO COME LOOSE AND THEN RE-ENGAGE. THIS DIDN'T GET MY ATTENTION TOO MUCH THE FIRST TIME, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS LATER AGAIN AT THE SAME PLACE UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. IT IS APPARENTLY REPEATABLE WITH MY 2010 PRIUS! 3) NOTHING DONE YET. DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT WORRYING ABOUT RIGHT NOW. *TR

WHILE DRIVING OVER A SMALL UTILITY ACCESS COVER IN THE ROAD, AT A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED, OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS MOMENTARILY LOST BRAKING POWER AND SEEMED TO ACCELERATE FOR A VERY BRIEF MOMENT. ALTHOUGH BRAKING POWER WAS REGAINED VERY QUICKLY, THIS WAS ALARMING SINCE THERE WAS A PEDESTRIAN IN THE CROSSWALK IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THIS HAS OCCURRED ONLY ONCE AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT, WE HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED UNUSUALLY SENSITIVE BRAKING WHILE IN REVERSE. THIS PROBLEM WAS ALLEVIATED BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN AGAIN INTO REVERSE. THE PROBLEM WHILE IN REVERSE HAS OCCURRED TWICE AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT. THIS IS MY 3RD TOYOTA PRIUS AND THE FIRST WITH ANY BRAKING ISSUES. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 2500 MILES ON IT NOW AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 1500 AT THE TIME OF THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. *TR

SOMETIMES WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE THERE IS A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME (.5 SEC, OR SO) WHERE THE BRAKES STOP WORKING. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING - LETTING UP JUST ENOUGH TO LET THE CAR CONTINUE ROLLING WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ROUGHLY 5 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JULY OF 2009. *TR

INFREQUENTLY, BUT REPEATEDLY, WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS WILL BRIEFLY CUT OUT. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAR WILL OFTEN SEEM TO SURGE FORWARD FOR THE BRIEFLY PERIOD; IT IS HARD TO TELL IF THIS IS SIMPLY A PERIOD OF DISCONTINUED DECELERATION, OR IN FACT A BRIEF BURST OF ACCELERATION. IN OVER SEVEN MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 10 TIMES, BUT CERTAINLY LESS THAN 50. IT TYPICALLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN TRAVELING ON WET ROADS (I LIVE IN SEATTLE) OR AFTER SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE NATURE OF THE ROAD (I.E. A POT HOLE OR CHANGE OF ROAD SURFACE HEIGHT/TYPE). SO FAR THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY INJURY OR CRASH, BUT IS CONCERNING. *TR

MY 2010 PRIUS HAS ISSUES WITH BRAKING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY WHEN I AM BRAKING ON BUMPY ROADS OR GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT LITERALLY FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS SURGING FORWARD WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO ACTUALLY MAKE ME FEEL LIKE IT IS ACCELERATING. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME BUT, THEN, MY WIFE HAD THE SAME ISSUE JUST THE OTHER DAY. IN ADDITION TO THE BUMPY ROAD, IT WAS ICY AND IT CAUSED HER TO SLIDE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. TODAY, I JUST HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE FROM A CO-WORKER SO, I HAVE DECIDED TO ADD MINE TO THE LIST. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS (PACKAGE IV) SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHILE BRAKING OVER A BUMP, LIKE A MANHOLE COVER. IT OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES PER WEEK. NO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES SO FAR, BUT COULD BE TROUBLESOME IF IT OCCURS NEAR OTHER CARS AT A LIGHT OR STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA AGENCY WHERE THEY DROVE MY CAR WITH ME AND DID NOTICE IT, BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT OR THINK IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. WE ALSO DROVE ANOTHER 2010 PRIUS ON THEIR LOT TO DETERMINE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTED IN IT. I DON'T KNOW IF THE BRAKING IS AIR, HYDRAULIC, OR ELECTRIC, SO I SELECTED ALL THREE. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IV. ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS, WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HIT A POTHOLE, THE CAR'S BRAKES SEEMED TO HAVE STOPPED WORKING FOR 1-3 SECONDS. IT FELT AS IF I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT I WAS PRESSING IT ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY DOWN. THIS INCREASED MY BRAKING DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR OR PEDESTRIAN IN FRONT OF ME. IF THERE WAS ONE, I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY HIT THEM. *TR

FROM AUGUST 1ST OF 2009, I HAD BEEN DRIVING A 2010 PRIUS. IT IS A GREAT VEHICLE FOR ECONOMY BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND IF THERE IS A BUMP, THE VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD OR ACCELERATES AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASES. USUALLY A SAFE DISTANCE BEHIND A VEHICLE IS WHEN THE TAIL PIPE OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU IS VISIBLE. WITH THE PRIUS, TO BE SAFE, I STOP AT LEAST TEN FEET BEHIND A VEHICLE BECAUSE IF THERE IS A BUMP, THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP FORWARD. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS THAT IS NOW ABOUT SIX MONTHS OLD. I THOUGHT I WAS NUTS WHEN I DESCRIBED TO MY WIFE THE INCIDENT OF BRAKING OVER A MANHOLE COVER AND FEELING THE CAR SEEM TO SLIP AND JERK FORWARD FOR A SECOND. SEEING AN ARTICLE AT CNN.COM THIS MORNING CAUSED ME TO WRITE AS THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE. *TR

I HAD TROUBLE BRAKING MY 2010 PRIUS--WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES AND WENT OVER A BUMP AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR SPED UP INSTEAD OF STOPPING. *TR

THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS FAILED DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE SOUTH 405 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGLES NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I ALMOST REAR ENDED A NISSAN 370 ZX. IN GENERAL THE BRAKES SEEM SUBSTANDARD AND FEEL MUSHY AFTER DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR ESPECIALLY RAIN AS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING IN CALIFORNIA. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE BRAKES ON THE CAR AND HAVE STARTED SHOPPING FOR ANY UPGRADE KITS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS VERY UNSETTLING AND I READ REPORTS TODAY ABOUT OTHER PRIUS DRIVERS COMPLAINING AS WELL. THEREFORE I FELT THAT I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT TO ENSURE THAT THE BRAKES ARE LOOKED INTO BY TOYOTA. *TR

THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES (AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN TIMES) SINCE I'VE PURCHASED MY NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN JULY 2009. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS (~20 MPH), THE BRAKES HAVE MOMENTARILY STOPPED WORKING (CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD) AFTER DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE OR SIMILAR OTHER UNEVEN SURFACE. I HAVE TRIED TO ADJUST HOW I DRIVE, IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID THE SURPRISE OF THE SURGE, AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS, RELATED TO THIS BRAKING PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT YET SOUGHT A REPAIR FROM TOYOTA. *TR

THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MY 2010 PRIUS. WHEN I GO OVER A SMALL BUMP, SUCH AS A METAL PLATE ON THE STREET, SO FAR ALWAYS AT LOW SPEED IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE CAR ACCELERATES. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY JUST NOT BRAKING THE WAY I EXPECT IT TO, OR PERHAPS THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY FAIL. IT LASTS LESS THAN A SECOND, AND OF COURSE I WAS WORRIED THAT IT REPRESENTS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAS CAUSED THE BIG TOYOTA RECALL. BUT I THINK IT'S DIFFERENT. THERE'S AN ARTICLE IN TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES ABOUT THIS. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEMS. NOT ALWAYS CONSISTENT BRAKING PRESSURE OR BRAKING FORCE. *TR