2010 Toyota Prius complaints

THERE IS AN APPARENT MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. GOING OVER A RISE IN THE ROAD, OR BUMPS, AND BEGINNING A DESCENT TO AN INTERSECTION, PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS TO HAVE NO EFFECT FOR ABOUT 500MS. THIS SEEMS SOMEWHAT MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN THE ROAD IS WET, ALTHOUGH POSSIBLY THE EXPLANATION FOR THIS IS WE BRAKE EARLIER IN THE DESCENT AS A PRECAUTION IN LESS-THAN-IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES. WE HAVE MADE OUR LOCAL DEALER AWARE OF THIS AT THE 5K MILE SERVICE APPOINTMENT, AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED OTHER COMPLAINTS, AND CONTACT WITH TOYOTA. THEY REPORT THAT TOYOTA IS LOOKING IN TO A FIX. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABILITY TO BRAKE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WITH NO SAFETY MARGIN. THIS SEEMS REPRODUCIBLE. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WE HAVE NOTICED REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. WHENEVER WE GO OVER A POTHOLE WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR SURGES FORWARD. THIS DOES NOT JUST APPEAR TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL; THE PASSENGER CAN FEEL THE SURGE AS WELL. THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE ALARMING. WE ARE TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER TODAY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2009. IT NOW HAS JUST OVER 5000 MILES ON IT. SINCE THE BEGINNING, PROBABLY THE FIRST WEEKEND I OWNED THE CAR, WHEN BRAKING IF I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, UNEVEN SURFACE, OR A POTHOLE OR SOMETHING, THE CAR OFTEN FEELS LIKE IT LURCHES FORWARD AND I HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY RELEASE AND REBRAKE. THE CAR FEELS OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE VERY OFTEN FELT LIKE I NARROWLY MISSED LURCHING FORWARD INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSISTS THEY ONLY KNOW OF RECALLS REGARDING THE STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDALS, NOTHING ABOUT THIS BRAKING ISSUE. YET I READ PLENTY ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, SO I KNOW IT ISN'T ONLY HAPPENING TO ME. WHAT CAN YOU DO?? I'VE LISTED ALL THREE TYPES OF BRAKES IN THE EQUIPMENT AREA OF THIS FORM, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS - SOMETHING ABOUT THE HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM ALSO CHARGING THE ENGINE? ALSO I LISTED THE DATE AS THE DAY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT THIS IS ONGOING, NOT A SINGLE INCIDENT BY ANY MEANS. *TR

WHILE ACCELERATING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN SIGNAL (SPEED APPX 30MPH) I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO A REASONABLE SPEED TO SAFELY MAKE THE TURN, THE CAR SLOWED, I BEGAN THE TURN BUT MID- TURN WITH MY FOOT STILL DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR MADE A 1 ' 2 SECOND ACCELERATION. *TR

AT A RIGHT TURN I ENCOUNTERED A POTHOLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. WHEN MY CAR ACTUALLY HIT THE POTHOLE I FELT, FOR A VERY BRIEF TIME, THAT THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK AND THE ENGINE REV UP A LITTLE BIT. I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. I COULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

1. EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: MODERATE BRAKING (~0.2 - 0.4 G) AT MODERATE SPEED (~20 MPH) WHILE DRIVING OVER CHOPPY PAVEMENT SUCH AS MIGHT EXIST WHERE ROAD WORK IS BEING DONE. 2. FAILURE: AS THE CAR PASSES OVER THE CHOPPY PAVEMENT, BRAKING FORCE DECLINES SHARPLY WITHOUT A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS IS THAT THE CAR STOPS FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD THAN EXPECTED DESPITE REFLEXIVE INCREASED BRAKE PRESSURE ON MY PART. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN 7500 MILES OF VERY MODERATE DRIVING. SO FAR I HAVE NOT HAD A COLLISION OR OTHER ACCIDENT FROM THIS UNEXPECTED BEHAVIOR. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEHAVIOR IN ANY OTHER CAR INCLUDING DOZENS OF RENTAL CARS. 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. NOTHING. TW*

WHEN BREAKING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, IF I GO OVER A BUMP OR POT HOLE, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES CUT OUT AND MY CAR JOLTS FORWARDS. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD SHAKE THE CAR A BIT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AS OF YET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TW*

I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, AND COMING TO A STOP SIGN. I STARTED BRAKING, AND WHILE BRAKING, I HIT A SMALLISH POTHOLE. IT FELT LIKE MY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. FORTUNATELY THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING AGAIN BEFORE WE REACHED THE INTERSECTION. I THINK WE WERE DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR NEW CAR WHICH IS ONLY 1 MONTH OLD. THIS WAS IS SCARY FEELING, AND UNLIKE ANY OTHER I'VE FELT. IT WAS NOT "ANTI-LOCK" BRAKES, AS I'VE EXPERIENCED THAT BEFORE.*CW

LOSS OF BRAKING AFTER HITTING POT HOLE ON FREEWAY AT LOW SPEED, LESS THAT 10 MPH, SIMILAR TO OTHER INCIDENCES ON THIS CAR.*CW

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH TERRAIN AT ANY SPEED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL RELEASED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. THE BRAKING DISTANCE AND PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ALSO INCREASED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8300.

I NOTICED THAT THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHENEVER DRIVEN ON A MANHOLE, OR A ROUGH PATCH ON ROAD, OR A SPEED HUMP DESPITE THE BRAKING. THOUGH I REGAIN CONTROL WITHIN SECONDS, THE MOMENT OF LURCH IS SCARY AND MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE IN OTHER TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. THIS HAPPENS AT ALMOST ALL SPEEDS. I GUESS FROM NOW ONWARDS I WILL MAINTAIN ENOUGH GAP BETWEEN THIS CAR AND THE FORWARD ONE AS I SEEM TO BE NOT ABLE TO TRUST THIS CAR ANY FURTHER. PERHAPS I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND THIS CAR OR ANY TOYOTA TO ANYONE IN FUTURE. *CN

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS 1) LURCHES FORWARD WHEN BRAKING WHILE DRIVING ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE, LIKE A POTHOLE, INDENT/CREVICE IN ROAD, ETC. 2) THE BRAKES REPEATEDLY GRAB AND CAUSE THE CAR TO LURCH WHEN BACKING UP ON AN UNEVEN/SLIPPERY SURFACE. BOTH PROBLEMS SEEM TO HAPPEN WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE AND BRAKING AT A SLOWER SPEED. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES (APPROXIMATELY 4-5) SINCE PURCHASING THE PRIUS IN JUNE 2009. *CN

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS. WHEN I GO OVER SMALL BUMPS WHILE BREAKING, THE BRAKES STOP WORKING AND THE CAR ACCELERATES FOR A BIT. DISCONCERTING. *CN

WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER AN UNEVEN OR BUMPY [SURFACE,] OR DOWN AN INCLINE, THE CAR ACCELERATES OR LURCHES FORWARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND IS UNNERVING TO THE POINT I HAVE SWITCHED CARS WITH MY HUSBAND. ALSO, WHEN COMING OUT OF MY GARAGE MOST EACH DAY, THE CAR ROLLS BACK ON BATTERY POWER, BUT THE BRAKES ARE STIFF, JUST LIKED YOU WOULD PUMP THEM WHEN THE CAR IS OFF (REAL HARD) UNTIL THE CARS MOTOR TURNS ON. BUT BY THEN, YOU HAVE ROLLED 15 OR SO FEET BACKWARD WITH LITTLE TO NO BREAK CONTROL. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WON'T STOP THE CAR. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST THREE TIMES IN MY 2 MONTH OLD 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS A LURCH FORWARD WHEN BRAKING WHEN MY CAR DRIVES OVER A BUMP, POTHOLE, OR SOMETHING SLICK. MOST RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL IN DENSE TRAFFIC AND THE LURCH FELT LIKE AN ACCELERATION. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS BRAKING PROBLEM CLEARLY CAN BE A HAZARD TO SAFE DRIVING AND TO ANY PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER CLOSE VEHICLE. *TR

2010 PRIUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TIMES NOW. SOMETIMES WHEN I BRAKE, I EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. IT RANGES FROM SLIGHT TO A LURCH. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING ON THE ROAD AND IGNORED IT. WHEN IT WAS MORE PRONOUNCED AND HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MORE TIMES, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THEY HAD NO OTHER REPORTS AND COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOOK ME ON A TEST DRIVE AND THE CAR WAS FINE. I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN AS THE ACCELERATION IS ONLY OCCASIONAL. I WAS ADVISED TO CALL TOYOTA NATIONAL, WHICH I DID, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THIS COULD NOT BE REPLICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND NO RECOURSE I HAD AS THE COMPLAINT COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE, SO I HAVE PAID CLOSE ATTENTION, AS MY HEART HAS BEEN RACING, TO THE CONDITIONS. IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN I AM BRAKING WHILE GOING OVER MANHOLES, SPEED STRIPS, CRACKS IN THE PAVEMENT. IT FEELS LIKE THE TIRE IS GETTING HUNG UP SLIGHTLY, DOESN'T GET ANY TRACTION.THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON. ALSO, ON THE MULTI-INFORMATION DISPLAY, THE INDICATOR HAS JUST MOVED FROM ECO TO CHG.THE OTHER DAY, IT WAS 34 DEGREES AND I WAS BRAKING AS I CAME UP TO A LIGHT AND THE CAR SLID AND VIBRATED. I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MILES AN HOUR. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME BLACK ICE OR FROST ON THE GROUND, BUT THE SHAKING WAS INTENSE AND I HAD DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE CAR FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL I STOPPED. *TR

WHILE BRAKING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 25 MPH, WHEELS HIT A POTHOLE AND THE CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE AND LURCH FORWARD FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND BEFORE BRAKING RESUMED. *TR

YESTERDAY, I ONCE AGAIN EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE THAT I HAVE OBSERVED SINCE I GOT MY 2010 PRIUS IN OCTOBER 2009. THERE ARE TWO INTERSECTIONS CLOSE TO MY HOME THAT BOTH ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL AND HAVE POTHOLES ABOUT 5 YARDS FROM THE STOP SIGN. IN BOTH LOCATIONS, WHEN MY PRIUS HITS THE POTHOLES, I HAVE THE SENSATION THAT THE BRAKES RELEASE EVEN THOUGH I AM KEEPING PRESSURE ON THEM AS I APPROACH THE STOP SIGN. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH OUR 2007 RAV4. I NOW KNOW THAT I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN AS IF THE STOP SIGN IS BEFORE THE POTHOLE, BUT I WORRY ABOUT MY WIFE DRIVING IT AND ABOUT A CONDITION THAT I WON'T BE PREPARED FOR. *TR

WHILE BRAKING WHILE GOING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER AND SMALL POTHOLE, THE BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY SLIPPED. THE CAR STOPPED BRAKING FOR ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ACCELERATED FOR A FEW SECONDS AS I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION IT HAPPENED AS I WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT AND NO INJURIES. THE ACCELERATION OCCURRED FOR A FEW BRIEF SECONDS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD OCCUR WHEN THERE IS A PEDESTRIAN OR AUTO CLOSE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

WHEN I AM BRAKING/SLOWING AND TURNING AND HIT A CURB OR CHUNK OF ICE, OR DRIVING STRAIGHT AND HIT A CHUNK OF ICE, MY 2010 PRIUS BRAKES WILL COMPLETELY GO AWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES DURING THE PAST 3 WEEKS OF WINTER WEATHER. *TR

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE BRAKES OF MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE RELEASED, OFTEN WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR AM GOING OVER A HILL. THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT'S SUDDENLY ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGH I AM PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 - 5 TIMES PER WEEK SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR IN JULY 2009. TODAY, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AS I APPROACH AN INTERSECTION DESPITE PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR HESITATED AND FINALLY THE BRAKES ENGAGED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS COMING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION FOR IF THERE HAD BEEN, I SURELY WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED; HOWEVER, IT HAS NEVER OCCURRED WHEN HE MADE A LEFT TURN. HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5000. UPDATED 03/12/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/21/10

MANY TIMES WHILE BRAKING, WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE OR BUMP, THE BRAKES GO OUT, CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. I FEEL A LOSS OF CONTROL, WHICH IS REGAINED A FEW SECONDS LATER. IT'S LED TO SEVERAL TERRIFYING SITUATIONS WHERE I'VE ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

CAR: PRIUS 2010 (PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2009) PROBLEM: BRAKING FAILURE ON UNEVEN SURFACES OR POTHOLES I FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS WHENEVER I HIT UNEVEN SURFACES OR POTHOLES BECAUSE I FEEL I AM LOSING CONTROL OVER MY OWN CAR, ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM IN LOS ANGELES WHERE ROADS ARE NOT THAT GREAT CONDITION. I ALMOST HIT PEOPLE SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE BRAKE AND HIT SEVERAL CARS WHEN I WAS BRAKING.... AND, THE BRAKE IS SO WEAK THAT IT DOESN'T HOLD THE CAR THAT WELL ON THE HILLS. IT GOES BACKWARD WHENEVER I STOP AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ON THE HILL AND DRIVING. I TRIED TO TALK TO THE DEALER WHO HELPED ME WITH PURCHASE, BUT HE MADE ME LOOK LIKE I AM A BAD/UNSAFE DRIVER WHO DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE WELL. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY MY FAULT TO NOT HANDLING THE "NEW" TECHNOLOGY CAR WELL. IT IS VERY REGRETFUL TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE LIKE THIS WITH SO MUCH MONEY. *TR

ON ROUGH ROADS AND TERRAIN, THE 2010 PRIUS THAT I RECENTLY BOUGHT CONSISTENTLY DISPLAYS DEFECTIVE BEHAVIOR. WHEN I AM TRYING TO BRAKE, AND DURING BRAKING HIT A BUMP (ALWAYS DURING A SLOW BRAKE), THE CAR ACTUALLY SPEEDS UP. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MY CHANGING MY DRIVING HABITS TO BE FURTHER AWAY FROM CARS IN FRONT OF ME, ESPECIALLY ON BUMPY ROADS. HOWEVER, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT AT SOME POINT I WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE PROPERLY WHEN EXPECTING THE CAR TO CONTINUE A SLOW BRAKE, AND INSTEAD IT HITS A BUMP AND DOES NOT BRAKE. I DON'T BELIEVE TOYOTA IS ADDRESSING THE DEFECT AT THIS TIME FROM REPORTS I HAVE READ. MY MOTHER (WITHOUT GOING INTO ANY DETAIL AFTER HAVING READ REPORTS) ASKED IF I HAD EXPERIENCED ANY ISSUES WITH MY PRIUS AND I TOLD HER OF THIS EXACT ISSUE PRIOR TO BEING AWARE OF MEDIA COVERAGE. *TR

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS IT FEELS AS THOUGH THIS VEHICLE HAS LOST BRAKING FORCE FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME (NO MORE THAN 1 SECOND) WHEN THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERS AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE WHILE BRAKING. I BELIEVE THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS USING REGENERATIVE BREAKING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT'S LURCHING FORWARD BECAUSE THE BRAKING FORCE HAS BEEN REMOVED. ONCE I PRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKES TO FORCE THE FRICTION BRAKES TO APPLY, OR AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR DOES CONTINUE TO SLOW DOWN. I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND, BUT I CAN IMAGINE HOW ONE COULD HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT HAS 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH INTO A POT HOLE. ONCE THE CONTACT DROVE INTO THE POT HOLE THE BRAKES RELEASED AND SHE WAS FORCED TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE AS WELL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,600. *CN UPDATED 02/17/10

THREE TIMES, TWICE WITH ME AND ONCE WITH MY WIFE, THE AUTOMOBILE ACCELERATED DURING BRAKING. THE ACCELERATION (OR LOSS OF BRAKES, IT'S HARD TO TELL) LASTED FOR ONLY A SECOND, BUT ENOUGH WHERE I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKES WITH FORCE TO COME TO MY INTENDED STOP. I COULD HAVE EASILY ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. *TR

WHEN I HIT PARTICULAR INTERSECTIONS OR WHEN THE GROUND IS COVERED WITH ICE OR SNOW, MY BRAKES WILL BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. BUT THEN THEY FAIL. I LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE TO RE-PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR IT TO ACTUALLY BRAKE. IT IS SCARY AND DANGEROUS BECAUSE I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER MY CAR WHEN THE BRAKES ARE OUT AND ONE OF THESE TIMES IT IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW IN JULY, IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME OVER 10 TIMES. I ONLY HAVE 5300 MILES ON MY CAR. I'M NOT SURE WHAT I CAN DO TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN 10 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD HE LOST THE BRAKING POWER AND THE VEHICLE SURGED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800. UPDATED 02/19/10. *LJ

THERE ARE BRAKING ISSUES WITH MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. 1) IN MULTIPLE INSTANCES, PERHAPS 12 TIMES, WHEN BRAKING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THERE IS A MOMENT WHERE THE BRAKES APPEAR TO BE INACTIVE. PRESSING MUCH HARDER BRINGS THE BRAKES BACK ON LINE. I HAVE DRIVEN FOR 40 YEARS, IN DOZENS OF CARS AND NEVER FOUND THIS. THE SITUATION IS COUNTER-INTUITIVE, BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO JAM ON THE BRAKES IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. 2) IN 3-4 INSTANCES WHEN BRAKING AND GOING OVER A POTHOLE OR LARGER BUMP, THE SAME AS THE ABOVE OCCURS, THAT IS MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING. AGAIN, PRESSING HARDER ALLEVIATES THE PROBLEM. *TR

I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG, EVEN BEFORE READING THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS AND ITS BRAKING PROBLEMS THAT ECHOED MY SUSPICIONS---- WHEN SOMETIMES BRAKING OVER A POTHOLE OR RAILROAD TRACKS OR ICE OR ANY KIND OF BUMP, THERE IS A SURGE OF ACCELERATION. TO THE EXTENT THAT ONE TIME MY 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SAID, 'WHAT WAS THAT?" I'D DRIVEN A SAAB 93 FOR 130,000 MILES BEFORE WE RECENTLY BOUGHT THE PRIUS--I NEVER FELT ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2010- CAR SURGED WHILE BRAKING TO A HALT. IT FELT AS THOUGH I HAD SUDDENLY LOST BRAKING POWER FOR A FEW MOMENTS, LIKE I HAD HIT AN ICE PATCH. BUT THE ROAD SURFACE WAS DRY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME, THE FIRST ABOUT A WEEK OR 10 DAYS AGO. CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 1/4, DELIVERED ON 1/8/2010. THE PROBLEM IS NOT REPRODUCIBLE, BUT BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS MOVING AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED (10 MPH OR LESS). *TR

I OWN A 2010 PRIUS WITH APPROXIMATELY 8,400 MILES ON IT. I HAVE ONLY RECENTLY BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED BEFORE BY OTHERS. WHEN DRIVING OVER SOME EXTREMELY ROUGH SPOTS, THE CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF. IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES AN ACCELERATOR. MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT IT ONLY LASTS ABOUT 2 OR 3 SECONDS BUT IS VERY OBVIOUS. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I HAVE OWNED A SIENNA, CAMRY, AVALON AND A 2005 PRIUS PRIOR TO PURCHASING MY PRESENT 2010 PRIUS. THIS 2010 PRIUS HAS MORE SQUEAKS, RATTLES AND STRESS NOISES THAN ALL OF MY OTHER TOYOTA PRODUCTS COMBINED. FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS, I HAVE DRIVEN ONLY TOYOTA'S ., BUT HAVE BECOME DISILLUSIONED WITH THIS CAR. THE ROAD NOISE IS EXCESSIVE AND THE MPG SHOWN ON THE DISPLAY SHOWS 2-3 MPG MORE THAN ACTUAL MPG. IF I COULD TRADE THIS CAR IN FOR NEAR THE AMOUNT I PAID FOR IT. I WOULD DO IT TOMORROW. THOUGH IT IS ONLY MY OPINION, I FEEL THAT THE QUALITY OF TOYOTA PRODUCTS HAS DECREASED DRAMATICALLY DURING RECENT YEARS. THIS IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF RECALLS DURING RECENT YEARS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR; HOWEVER, WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE BRAKE WOULD RESPOND. SHE EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE FAILURE THREE TIMES; DURING THE SECOND FAILURE THE BRAKES DIDN'T RESPOND AND SHE COLLIDED INTO A VEHICLE AND INJURED HER NECK. SHE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY WHEN SHE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. SHE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 03/09/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH HER VEHICLE TWICE WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A STOP OR TO MAKE A TURN. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE FELT A RELEASE OF THE BRAKES AND A SURGE AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE IN THE ROAD. TWO AGO, WHILE DRIVING, SHE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND SHE FELT THE SAME ACCELERATION, LIKE THE GAS PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT SHE WAS BRAKING AT THE TIME. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE SHE WAS REAR-ENDED. SHE WAS AT A STOP WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE WAS HIT, SHE WAS PUSHED FORWARD AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. UPDATED 05/13/10

WHEN MY VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNING THE BRAKES GRAB SUDDENLY. THIS OCCURS AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK. I HAVE OWNED THE NEW CAR FOR 1.5 MONTHS. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *TR

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS LURCHES FORWARD WHEN BRAKING WHEN I HIT AN UNEVEN SURFACE, LIKE A POTHOLE, INDENT/CREVICE IN ROAD, OR OTHER TYPE OF UNEVEN SURFACE. THERE IS A LOSS OF BRAKING FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND AND YOU INSTINCTIVELY HIT THE BRAKE AGAIN TO REGAIN BRAKING. IT IS AS IF THE CAR ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND YOU LOSE CONTROL BEFORE YOU HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN I AM BRAKING AT A SLOWER SPEED AND COMING TO A STOP. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES (APPROXIMATELY 12) SINCE I PURCHASED AND RECEIVED MY PRIUS IN SEPTEMBER 2009. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED THUS FAR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM., BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND MY/OTHERS SAFETY. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM IN OCTOBER 2009. THEY PERFORMED A HEALTH CHECK ON THE CAR TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OPERATING FINE AND REPORTED THAT IT WAS, AND TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO TALK TO SOMEONE ON 1/13/10 TO AGAIN DISCUSS THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE SAID THEY HE IS AWARE OF REPORTS OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL GET BACK TO ME WITH ANY NEW INFORMATION. *TR

2010 PRIUS HAS JERKY BRAKES! WHEN BACKING DOWN A SLOPE LIKE OUR DRIVEWAY WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR WHEN GOING DOWN A SMALL INCLINE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR OFTEN JERKS. BASICALLY, AS I START TO BACK UP IT WILL JERK AND THEN THE CAR STOPS AND THEN IT RELEASES AGAIN AND THEN IN A FEW MORE INCHES IT JERKS AGAIN AND THEN RELEASES AND THEN JERKS AGAIN. IT DOES THIS GOING FORWARD TOO. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR BUT IT HAS HAPPENED MAYBE 20 TIMES OR SO IN THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS. MY CAR IS 6 MONTHS OLD WITH 3000 MILES AND THIS STARTED HAPPENING WITHIN THE FEW 100 MILES OF HAVING THE VEHICLE. *TR

TODAY AT AROUND 220- PRIUS JUMPED OR .. LURCHED FORWARD AS I WAS BRAKING - I THINK ON BUENA VISTA - FRONT OF ST JOES - I HAD COME FROM PARTNERS CREDIT UNION - WAS GOING TO FREEWAY 134 - I WAS GOING SLOW MAYBE 20 MPH - CARS WERE COMING TO STOP AT STOPLIGHT BEFORE FREEWAY ON RAMP - AS I BRAKED GENTLY I HIT A METAL COVER ON GROUND - BUT INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD - FORTUNATELY - THERE WAS AMPLE ROOM IN FRONT OF ME- I WAS GOING SLOW AND BRAKED EARLY - OTHERWISE I MIGHT HAVE HIT THE STOPPED CAR IN FRONT - MORE THAN JUST SLIPPING - LIKE WHEN BRAKING ON ICE.. THE CAR ACTUALLY JERKED FORWARD - EARLIER IN WEEK - I WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AT HOUSE - AND AS I WAS BACKING UP AND BRAKING THE BRAKES WERE REAL JERKY - HARD - OVER - RESPONSIVE - THEN WHEN I HIT THE ROAD - GOING FORWARD - BRAKES WENT BACK TO NORMAL. *TR

BRAKING IRREGULARITY ON ICY SURFACES, VEHICLE FEELS LIKE REAR WHEELS SKID 4-8 FEET THEN ALL WHEELS GRAB WHEN NORMAL BRAKING FOR A STOP SIGN. ENOUGH DECELERATION TO HAVE SEATBELT GRAB AND DOG PROJECTED INTO FRONT SEAT AREA FROM REAR CARGO PLATFORM. SAME FEELING AS IF BRAKES WERE LOCKED UP WHILE MOVING ON SOLID ICE AND THE SURFACE CHANGED TO DRY ROAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE FELT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED DOWN THE HILL. THIS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 67,000. UPDATED 04/01/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE, IT DIDN'T ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY SURGED FORWARD BEFORE THE BRAKE FINALLY ENGAGED. UPDATED 07/06/10.*JB

THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 PRIUS. THERE IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE IF I APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE ROLLING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT. WHEN IT FIRST OCCURRED, IT WAS ON SNOW. ONCE I SAILED INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE SECOND TIME, I ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WENT HOME AND THEN DROVE MY WIFE'S ACURA IN THE SAME SNOWY CONDITIONS AT THE SAME INTERSECTIONS AND DIDN'T EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS. I KNOW THE PROBLEM WASN'T DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. I HAVE SINCE THEN BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE IT IN DRY CONDITIONS. THE COMMON CONDITION IS BRAKING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT IT FEELS LIKE SUDDEN SURGE OF ACCELERATION. THE GASOLINE ENGINE ISN'T (USUALLY) ON WHILE THE CAR IS BRAKING. THE SURGE ISN'T DUE TO THE ELECTRIC MOTOR MALFUNCTIONING BECAUSE ON SMOOTH SURFACES, IT BEHAVES AS EXPECTED. I BELIEVE WHAT THEY FEEL IS A LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WHICH MAKES THE CAR FEEL LIKE IT IS ACCELERATING. SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL ABS BEHAVIOR. I'VE OWNED SEVERAL CARS WITH ABS AND THIS IS NOT THE SAME NOR WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER 'NORMAL' BEHAVIOR. IT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF THE UNEVEN SURFACE WITH ABS, REGENERATIVE BRAKES, FRICTION BRAKES, SUSPENSION SPRING RATE AND TIRES. WHILE NORMAL ABS WILL EXHIBIT LESS BRAKING FORCE AND LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP WHEN IT IS ENGAGED, IT ISN'T THE SAME AS THIS CONDITION. OR AT LEAST IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS TOUCHY TO ENGAGE. WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT IS RATHER ALARMING. I REALLY LIKE THIS CAR. I THI

BOUGHT NEW CAR LESS THAN 10 DAYS. DROVE 10-15 MPH IN DOWNTOWN LA FOLLOWING A CAR. THOUGHT IT WAS ME SINCE CAR WAS NEW BUT I STEP ON BRAKE BUT IT DIDN'T RESPOND QUICKLY ENOUGH..RESULT...REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. HEAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM WIFE'S COWORKERS ABOUT PRIUS BRAKE RESPONSES SO I THOUGHT I SHOULD FILE COMPLAINT. LOVE THE CAR BUT BRAKE NEEDS TO BE FIXED IF DEFECTED. LOST $500 IN INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE. FOR ALL I KNOW, IT MAY HAVE BEEN PRIUS DEFECTED BRAKES. $2000 APPROX. DAMAGES TO PRIUS. *TR

OCCURRING SEVERAL TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN OCTOBER 2009, I EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT BURST OF ACCELERATION WHEN HITTING A POTHOLE OR SIZEABLE BUMP IN THE ROAD. DURING AN EXIT ONTO A HIGHWAY ACCESS ROAD (20-30 MPH) AND A SLOWING FOR A 90 DEGREE TURN (10-20 MPH) THE CAR EITHER DISENGAGED THE BRAKES OR ACCELERATED CAUSING A VERY BRIEF AND UNEXPECTED LURCH FORWARD. AFTER PASSING THE ROAD IMPERFECTION NORMAL BREAKING RETURNS. COMPARING THIS EXPERIENCE TO OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED, I BELIEVE MY PROBLEM IS THE SAME AND POSES A POTENTIAL DANGER TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND TRAFFIC AROUND THE CAR. *TR

WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT , I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND AT THE SAME TIME , WENT OVER A SMALL POT HOLE. IT SEEMED TO ME LIKE THE CAR SPED UP. IT ONLY HAPPENED FOR A SPLIT SECOND BUT THAT SECOND COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HITTING SOMEONE AND MISSING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME AND I DO THINK IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS BY DESIGN BUT IF IT IS ,IT IS A POOR DESIGN. *TR

I HAVE NOTICED THE BRAKES IN OUR 2010 PRIUS ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS SLOWING THE CAR AS THEY WERE IN OUR 2004 PRIUS. ON JANUARY 3 I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY. AS I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE HIGHWAY WHILE BRAKING I ENCOUNTERED A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE PAVEMENT. I NOTICED THAT WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS DROPPED SUBSTANTIALLY, TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR FELT AS THOUGH THERE WERE NO BRAKES BEING APPLIED. AS SOON AS THE BUMP WAS GONE THE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS RETURNED. *TR

BRAKES TEMPORARILY DISENGAGE DURING BRAKING IF CAN HITS A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. IT IS ONLY A MOMENTARY INSTANCES BEFORE THE BRAKES RE-ENGAGE, BUT IT GIVES THE FEELING OF ACCELERATING. IT HAS HAPPEND TO ME ABOUT A HALF DOZEN TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR (2010 TOYOTA PRIUS) IN AUGUST 2009. LUCKILY NO CARS OR PEDESTRIANS WERE IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. *TR

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT AN ONCOMING INTERSECTION, STOP LIGHT, OR STOP SIGN. THIS ONLY OCCURS IF THE CAR COMES TO A POT HOLE OR "WASHBOARD" SURFACE IN THE ROAD WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF NORMAL BRAKING. I DON'T BELIEVE THE TRACTION CONTROL IS RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THE TRACTION LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT ALSO DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ABS BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE FOR ABOUT A SECOND DUE TO THE TIRE OR TIRES LOOSING TRACTION FOR A SPLIT SECOND. I HAVE DUPLICATED THIS EVENT MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE SAME AREA AND HAVE LEARNED TO ANTICIPATE IT WHEN DRIVING THIS ROUTE. HOWEVER, WHEN IT HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY, IT CERTAINLY GETS YOUR ATTENTION. *TR

SOMETIMES WHEN GOING IN TO REVERSE THE BRAKES GRAB AGGRESSIVE RESULTING IN A JERKING MOTION. *TR