2010 Toyota Prius complaints

OUR 2010 PRIUS UNEXPECTEDLY LURCHES WHEN BRAKING. THIS OCCURS WHEN IT HITS A POT HOLE OR WHEN THE SURFACE IS SLICK / SLIPPERY. IT DOES IT EVERY TIME A CERTAIN POTHOLE IS HIT - THAT IS, WE CAN REPRODUCE THE LURCHING. THIS LURCHING, WHICH FEELS LIKE AN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, SIGNIFICANTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASES THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN THE PRIUS STRIKING THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAFELY JUDGE YOUR BRAKING DISTANCE IN ORDER TO COME TO A SAFE STOP BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS PHENOMENON WILL OCCUR. THIS ALSO PUTS PEDESTRIANS IN THE CROSS WALK AT RISK, SINCE THE ABILITY TO STOP ACCURATELY IS AFFECTED. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE. THEY ARE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PHENOMENA. HOWEVER, THEY SAY THAT THE CAR TESTS OUT "WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS", THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, THAT IT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS MADE, AND THAT WE JUST HAVE TO GET USED TO IT. THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX OR REPAIR. THEY TOOK ANOTHER 2010 PRIUS OFF OF THEIR LOT AND RAN IT OVER THE SAME POT HOLE AND IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AN ARTICLE BY PAUL A. EISENSTEIN, MSNBC.COM CONTRIBUTOR, UPDATED 7:29 A.M. ET, TUES., DEC. 29, 2009 DESCRIBES EXACTLY THE PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING, AND IT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ONLY MY VEHICLE - IT APPEARS TO BE A FLEET-WIDE PROBLEM. HAVING THE BRAKES CUT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TR

2010 PRIUS ACCELERATION SURGE - WHEN I DRIVE OVER A SEWER COVER OR ANY SIMILAR INDENTATIONS IN THE ROADWAY THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD IN AN AGGRESSIVE MANNER. I NEED TO APPLY THE BRAKES OR STEER TO AVOID ANY OBJECT IN THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS VERY UNSETTLING AND DANGEROUS SINCE THE SURGE IS STRONG AND UNPREDICTABLE. *TR

I AM WRITING IN RESPONSE TO AN ARTICLE I READ ON MSNBC.COM WHERE PEOPLE MENTION A PROBLEM OF WHICH I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. I HAVE OWNED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS FOR 2 MONTHS/5,000 MILES. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, I CAN FEEL THE BRAKES SLIP. TO BE MORE EXACT, IT FEELS AS THOUGH, WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES, THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND THEN BEGINS BRAKING. THERE IS A SPECIFIC SITUATION NEAR MY HOUSE WHERE THIS CONSISTENTLY HAPPENS. IT IS WHEN I AM COMING DOWN A STEEP HILL, AND I APPLY THE BRAKES TO PREPARE FOR A RIGHT TURN, THE CAR PERFORMS AS I MENTIONED BEFORE. IT LURCHES, AND THEN BEGINS BRAKING. *TR

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS II. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A FEELING THAT, WHILE BRAKING HITTING A BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE BRAKES COMPLETELY RELEASE FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND. THIS CAN BE QUITE ALARMING IF ANOTHER VEHICLE IS IN FRONT OF YOU OR WORSE, PEDESTRIANS ARE CROSSING IN YOUR PATH. I'VE BEEN AN EMPLOYEE OF GENERAL MOTORS FOR 25 YEARS AND WORKED IN A DEPARTMENT THAT MADE ANTI LOCK BRAKES FOR 8 OF THOSE YEARS. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL FUNCTION OF THAT FEATURE BY ANY MANUFACTURER. OTHERWISE MY PRIUS IS A TECHNOLOGICAL TOUR DE FORCE EXCEPT SOME DASH BUZZING AND RATTLING. *TR

ONCE, WHEN TRANSITIONED FROM SMOOTH TO UNEVEN SURFACES DURING A PARKING OPERATION ON UNEVEN, DOWNHILL PAVEMENT, I EXPERIENCED A LACK OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE. I DO NOT RECALL ANY CHANGE OF ACCELERATION, SIMPLY THE LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE FOR A VERY BRIEF TIME, PERHAPS FOR A SECOND. IT SURPRISED AND SHOCKED ME TO A FAIR DEGREE AS I THOUGHT, AT THE TIME, THAT MY BRAKES HAD FAILED. BY PRESSING HARDER THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR NORMALLY. I NOW TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE PAVEMENT SURFACE CONDITION WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKES AS I FEEL THE CAR'S BRAKING SYSTEM IS PECULIARLY SENSITIVE TO UNEVEN PAVEMENT SURFACES. *TR

BRAKES DID NOT APPEAR TO HOLD CAR WHEN APPLIED AS CAR WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE PAVEMENT. SEEMED LIKE THE CAR BRIEFLY ACCELERATED BUT THEN BRAKING DID RETURN AND SLOWED CAR PROPERLY. MOMENTARY APPARENT LOSS OF BRAKING CONTROL WAS FRIGHTENING. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING BEHIND A CAR ON 17TH STREET IN MANHATTAN THE CAR IN FRONT BRAKED COMING TO A LIGHT I IN TURN HIT THE BRAKES AND HIT A POT HOLE AT THE SAME TIME, THE CAR'S BRAKES SEEMED TO JUMP OR RELEASE AND I HAD TO PUSH DOWN IN A PANIC TO TRY AND CONTROL THE CAR, I MISSED SLAMMING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT BY INCHES. *TR

WHEN I BRAKE IT SOMETIMES SEEMS THAT THE CAR JOLTS FORWARD FOR A SHORT WHILE, BEFORE I REAPPLY THE BRAKES. *TR

SOMETHING WEIRD HAPPENS WHEN I AM BRAKING. AS I AM SLOWING AND BRAKING EVENLY, THERE IS A VERY BRIEF SURGE LIKE I HIT THE ACCELERATOR, BUT MY FOOT IS NO WHERE NEAR THE ACCELERATOR. IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN I HIT A BUMP, BUT IT CAN ALSO HAPPEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES NOW AND IT SEEMS TO BE INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. IT ALSO HAPPENED ONCE WHEN MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I GO OVER UNEVEN GROUND (LIKE POTHOLES OR BUMPS) OR SLICK SURFACES (ESPECIALLY TRAIN TRACKS AND SEWER COVERS) MY BRAKES DON'T SEEM TO WORK. IT FEELS LIKE I AM NOT IN CONTROL OF MY CAR, AND FOR 2-3 SECONDS THE CAR IS NOT BRAKING EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT IS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. *TR

IN MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, AS I'M BRAKING ON A ROUGH SURFACE, IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE CAR ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND. IT HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY ON 12/22 AS I WAS COMING TO A STOPLIGHT ON A ROAD WITH PATCHES OF SNOW/ICE DEBRIS IN CAMBRIDGE, MA. IT HAS OCCURRED MAYBE 5 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST, AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WAS JUST IMAGINING IT. WHEN IT HAPPENS, MY HEART RACES AND I PRESS THE BRAKE HARDER, WHICH SEEMS TO MAKE IT ENGAGE. THE END RESULT IS THAT THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS LONGER THAN IT SHOULD BE, AND IT'S DEFINITELY SCARY. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23RD TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE CAR WAS APPROVED AS FUNCTIONING AS NORMAL, WITH A WRITE-UP SAYING THE MASTER MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT, TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE ON A BUMPY SURFACE, AND CLEARED IT AS FINE. THE CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT I JUST NEEDED TO GET USED TO THE SENSATION WHEN THE ABS KICKS IN. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, 4500 MILES WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR HIT A SET OF FLUSH RAILROAD TRACKS. THE BUMP OF THE TRACKS CAUSED THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO FEEL LIKE IT STOPPED WORKING, AND I HAD TO RE-PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET BRAKING TO RE-ENGAGE. THE CAR HAS HAD A COUPLE MORE SIMILAR EPISODES OF THE BRAKES SEEMING TO DIS-ENGAGE. *TR

I HAVE A NEW TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF BRAKING COMBINED WITH A SIMULTANEOUS ACCELERATION ABOUT 4 TIMES NOW. IT IS INCREDIBLY SCARY. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN ON ANY OTHER CAR THAT I'VE DRIVEN. IT HAPPENS WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE REAR. I NOW SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS AS I SAW AN ARTICLE ON MSNBC.MSN.COM. I NOW SEE THAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAS TO BE INVESTIGATED. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS FACING A CLIFF AND HAD THE CAR NOT STOPPED, MY DAUGHTER AND I WOULD HAVE GONE OFF THE CLIFF AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PERISHED. THIS IS ASKING FOR ACCIDENTS TO HAPPEN AND SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD. I DO NOT HAVE THE WIN NUMBER ON HAND, BUT WILL ADD IT TOMORROW. THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROX 4 TIMES AND THE CAR ACCELERATES AT THE SAME TIME I LOSE BRAKING CAPABILITIES. *TR

THE ROADS WERE COVERED WITH SNOW AND WERE QUITE SLIPPERY. I WAS COMING DOWN A HILL TO A STOP SIGN AT ABOUT 10 MPH. I HIT THE BRAKES LIGHTLY, THE ABS ENGAGED (I COULD HEAR/FEEL THE BRAKES PULSE), BUT THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN MUCH. I JAMMED ON THE BRAKES, THE ABS WAS STILL ENGAGED AND THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, AGAIN SLOWING DOWN VERY SLOWLY. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN A FOUR-WAY STOP, SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE HIT ME! I KEPT DRIVING AND THE SAME THING KEPT HAPPENING TO ME: I HIT THE BRAKES, THE ABS ENGAGED AND THE CAR STOPPED VERY SLOWLY. IN SOME CASES, IT FELT LIKE THE CAR EVEN ACCELERATED A LITTLE BIT BEFORE FINALLY (AND SLOWLY) COMING TO A STOP. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND USED TO WORK FOR GENERAL MOTORS - I HAVE DRIVEN LOTS OF CARS - AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE HOME AND DROVE MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC (WHICH DOES NOT HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES) DOWN THE SAME ROAD. WHILE THE CAR DID SLIDE IN THE SNOW, IT STOPPED IN ABOUT ONE-THIRD THE DISTANCE OF MY PRIUS. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THE MATTER WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND/OR THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WHEN THE ABS ENGAGES. *TR

WHEN I BRAKE MY PRIUS WHERE THE SURFACE IS VERY ROUGH OR BROKEN, THE BRAKES SEEM TO ENGAGE INITIALLY BUT THEN RELEASE. I HAVE TO PRESS DOWN AGAIN VERY HARD TO GET THEM TO ENGAGE TO THE POINT OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE. YESTERDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE COMPLETING LONG SLOW BRAKING AT THE BOTTOM OF A STEEP HILL, I ENCOUNTERED SOME ROUGH PAVEMENT JUST BEFORE THE STOP SIGN AND SUDDENLY THE BRAKES SEEMED TO RELEASE. WHEN I FORCEFULLY PRESSED THEM AGAIN, THEY RE-ENGAGED AND STOPPED THE CAR, BUT NOT BEFORE IT HAD NOSED INTO THE INTERSECTION. *TR

I HAVE OWNED A 2010 PRIUS FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AND HAVE DRIVEN JUST OVER 1000 MILES ON IT. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS NOW WHERE MY BRAKES HAVE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN FAILURE WHILE DECELERATING. EACH TIME OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE OR A BUMP IN THE ROAD. PASSENGERS IN MY CAR HAVE REPORTED A FEELING OF THE BRAKES "CATCHING" OR "JERKING" WHILE DRIVING ON BUMPY ROADS. THE THREE INCIDENTS I HAVE MENTIONED WERE DURING WINTER AND DURING POSSIBLY ICY CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, I KNOW HOW TO OPERATE A VEHICLE ON ICE, AND I AM AWARE OF HOW ABS BRAKING FEELS. DURING EACH INCIDENT, I WOULD BE BRAKING SLOWLY, WITH PLENTY OF TIME, THEN HIT A BUMP, AND EXPERIENCE A FEELING OF SKIDDING WHILE THE BRAKES DISENGAGED FOR A FEW SECONDS. I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN AT A TOLL BOOTH, A CONCRETE DIVIDER DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, AND ANOTHER MOTORIST AT A SUDDEN STOP CONDITION ALONG ANOTHER HIGHWAY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE CARS. I CAN COMPENSATE MY DRIVING SKILLS TO ADJUST FOR ROAD CONDITIONS THAT I AM AWARE OF. IF ANY SUDDEN BRAKING IS REQUIRED, AND I HIT A POTHOLE AT THE RIGHT TIME, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. DURING BRAKE APPLICATION WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A GRAVEL ROAD , THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY REPORTS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2800. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6000. UPDATED 01/29/10 *BF UPDATED 01/29/10.

MY NEW 2010 PRIUS HAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR ABOUT 2 MONTHS, AND HAVE PUT ABOUT 3000 MILES ON IT. ON THREE OCCASIONS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SITUATION WHERE THE BRAKES SUDDENLY RELEASED, AND I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. TWO OF THE SITUATIONS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS COMING TO A STOP NEAR AN INTERSECTION (I WAS MOVING INTO A LEFT TURN LANE, AND SUDDENLY THE BRAKES RELEASED). THE THIRD TIME WAS WHILE EXITING A FREEWAY, WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE, AND I FELT THE BRAKE RELEASE. AFTER THE THIRD EXPERIENCE, I RECALLED THAT, PERHAPS, THE CAR RAN OVER A SMALL BUMP WHEN I WAS MOVING INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE, AND THAT MAY HAVE HELPED TRIGGER THE RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I SUBSEQUENTLY READ (VIA AN MSNBC NEWS STORY THAT CAME OUT ON DECEMBER 29, 2009, AND WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT THE LINK BELOW) THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I EXPERIENCED. LINK TO THE NEWS STORY: HTTP://WWW.MSNBC.MSN.COM/ID/34611930/NS/BUSINESS-AUTOS/. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, WHEN I AM TRYING TO STOP AND HIT A POTHOLE, OR MANHOLE COVER OR THE STREETS ARE WET, THE CAR'S BRAKES WILL DISENGAGE TEMPORARILY. IT IS SCARY AND I'VE ALMOST HAD A FEW ACCIDENTS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. *TR

ON NOV. 3, 2009, I PURCHASED A PRIUS IV 2010. ON NOV. 10 COMING TO RED LIGHT ON A DRY ROAD. BRAKES GENTLY APPLIED. RIGHT FRONT TIRE HIT A BUMP IN ROAD. CAR SLIGHTLY ACCELERATED BEFORE BRAKES KICKED IN. IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. IN EACH CASE, THE ROAD WAS DRIVE. EVERY TIME WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND CAR THEN ROLLS OVER A BUMP OR HOLE IN PAVEMENT THIS ACCELERATION OCCURS. LAST TIME WAS ON DEC. 15. EAST HOUSTON IN NYC. COMING TO A LIGHT. BRAKES APPLIED. CAR WAS ALMOST AT A FULL STOP. TIRES TOUCHED ON GOOD SIZED FLAW IN THE PAVEMENT AND THE CAR SLIGHTLY SPED UP. I WAS REALLY FEARFUL THAT TIME THE PRIUS WAS GOING TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS (PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2009). I HAVE NOTICED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY DON'T WORK AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP. I FEEL A LOSE OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR

1. APPLYING BRAKES NORMALLY, BUT DURING BRAKING HIT A BUMP, OR A SEAM IN THE ROAD, OR WET PAVEMENT, OR SMALL PATCH OF ICE. 2. ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN, HOWEVER APPEARS TO KICK IN TOO AGGRESSIVELY AND ALL BRAKING FORCE SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR WHILE CAR FEELS AS IF IT IS ACCELERATING. MAINTAINING BRAKE FORCE OR RE APPLYING BRAKE EVENTUALLY BRINGS CAR TO HALT. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THIS. NO WARNING LAMPS ARE LIT, ETC. I WILL CALL TOYOTA TOMORROW. HAVE OWNED CAR SINCE NEW, ABOUT 6 MONTHS, AND THIS SCENARIO HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES NOW. *TR

I HAVE DRIVEN MY 2010 PRIUS (WHICH I BOUGHT NEW FROM LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER) SINCE JULY, 2009. I HAVE NOTICED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT WHEN THE CAR DRIVES OVER A BREAK IN THE PAVEMENT (POTHOLE, OR ROADWORK WHERE THE PAVEMENT HEIGHT DROPS), IT SUDDENLY FEELS "AIRBORNE," AND WILL NOT BRAKE OR SLOW DOWN FOR SEVERAL YARDS, NO MATTER WHAT I DO. I HAVE WORRIED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP AND HITTING A CAR OR A PEDESTRIAN FRONT OF ME, BUT SO FAR EACH TIME MY CAR HAS HAD THIS AIRBORNE-LIKE PROBLEM, I HAVE BEEN FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE CAR OR PERSON IN FRONT OF ME TO STOP. OTHER PEOPLE DRIVING 2010 PRIUS CARS HAVE REPORTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SOLVE THIS BRAKING ISSUE, AND RECALL THE 2010 PRIUS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

CAR HIT BUMP OR POTHOLE ON THE FREEWAY, WHILE BRAKING, BRAKING POWER WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: HITTING THE BRAKES AND HITTING A BUMP IN THE PAVEMENT OF THE ROAD AT THE SAME TIME. HOW OFTEN: ALL THE TIME, IF YOU ARE HITTING THE BRAKES, AND HITTING A BUMP AT THE SAME TIME. WHAT WAS DONE: NOTHING. TOYOTA CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG. *TR

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE. EVERYTIME WHILE BRAKING IF THERE IS A BUMP OR ON EVEN A SLIGHT BIT OF ICE ON 1 WHEEL ONLY, THE BRAKES WILL RELEASE COMPLETELY AND GO BACK TO ACCELERATING RATHER THAN BRAKING. IT HAPPENS WHEN I EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND THERE IS A CHANGE IN SURFACES FROM TAR TO CONCRETE. IT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN AND CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. THIS OCCURS AT ANY SPEED FROM 10MPH UP AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT FROM 10MPH AND AS HIGH AS 55MPH. THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED AROUND 500 MILES ON THE CAR AND I NOW HAVE OVER 8500 MILES. THIS STARTED IN AUGUST AROUND THE 15TH. I HAVE A 2007 HUMMER H3 AND I HAVE COMPARED THE BRAKING WITH THE SAME CONDITIONS AND SPEEDS AND THE PRIUS IS NOT RESPONDING CORRECTLY. THE HUMMER BRAKES EVEN WITH THE CHANGES. I HAVE ALSO COMPARED ON A 2006 VOLVO S60. THESE BRAKES ARE FAILING AND IT WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A CRASH OR A PEDESTRIAN BEING STRUCK. THERE IS NO PULSING OF THE BREAKS THERE IS ONLY RELEASING FOR ICE OR FOR ANY SURFACE OTHER THAN PERFECT. THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF REPAIR OR RECALL IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE NOTICED THIS BUT THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY ME UNTIL I SAW THE MSNBC ARTICLE. I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE THIS CAR SINCE SHE IS PREGNANT. IT IS NOT SAFE. WHILE SITTING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT KEEPS TURNING ON AND BLINKING AND WILL LOCK THE BRAKES UNTIL THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ANTI-LOCK OR ANY TYPE OF BREAKING ISSUE IN 15 YEARS OF DRIVING VARIOUS VEHICLES. *TR

IT WAS SNOWING AND VERY SLIPPERY. I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY IT FELT LIKE I HAD NO BRAKES. THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM ABS WHICH HAD GONE OFF OCCASIONALLY DURING THE TRIP. AS A RESULT I ENDED UP HITTING A SNOW BANK AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

COMING UP TO STOP SIGN, PERHAPS 25MPH, AT INTERSECTION OF SERVICE ROADS LEAVING WORKPLACE. CAR COMING (ALSO PROBABLY 25MPH) FROM THE LEFT. THERE WAS SOME LIGHT SNOW (NOT COVERING), BUT NOTHING UNUSUAL. APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP. BRAKES WORKED AT FIRST, BUT THEN SEEMED TO STOP WORKING FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, LEAVING MY WONDERING IF I WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND HAVE A SLOW-SPEED COLLISION WITH THE CAR COMING FROM THE LEFT. LUCKILY THE BRAKES EVENTUALLY SEEMED TO GRAB, AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. *TR

THERE ARE TIMES THAT ON MY 2010 PRIUS THAT THE BRAKES SEEM TO FAIL. IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN THE ROAD (I.E RAISED LANE MARKERS, POTHOLES, RAISED CONCRETE) THAT THE TIRE ENGAGES IN DURING BRAKING, IT TAKES LONGER THAN IT SHOULD TO MAKE A SAFE STOP. ALSO, WHEN I PARK ON A SLIGHT INCLINE THERE SEEMS TO BE BRAKING ISSUES WHERE THE CAR 'JERKS' WHEN I AM IN REVERSE. THESE TWO ISSUES CONTINUE ON A REGULAR BASIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. SHE EXPERIENCES POOR BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, SO HE COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

MY PRIUS STOPS BRAKING AND ALMOST FEELS LIKE IT IS ACCELERATING IF I APPLY THE BRAKE JUST AS I HIT A BUMP OR HOLE IN THE ROAD. THIS FEELS VERY DANGEROUS--IF I WERE NEEDING TO STOP SUDDENLY TO AVOID A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT AND MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK DUE TO A BUMP IN THE ROAD, IT COULD LEAD ME TO CRASH INTO THE OBJECT I'M TRYING TO AVOID. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE MONTHS SINCE JUNE 09 IN WHICH I BOUGHT MY CAR.*TR

WHILE BRAKING, MY CAR HIT A BUMP AND IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS A SUDDEN SURGE OF ACCELERATION. I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKES EXTRA HARD TO FEEL LIKE I REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A REPEATABLE PROBLEM, JUST DRIVE THE CAR OVER A POT-HOLE OR A BUMP WHILE YOU'RE BREAKING TO RECREATE THE CONDITION. *TR

WHEN DRIVING MY NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS III MODEL, I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKING WHEN THE CAR HITS A BUMP WHILE BRAKING. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, I PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKES, AT WHICH POINT THE CAR BEGINS TO BRAKE, AND THEN THE CAR HITS A SMALL BUMP OR POTHOLE AND THE BRAKES LET UP SUDDENLY AND IT FEELS AS THOUGH I LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE STILL APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION. I HAVE TO PRESS DOWN AGAIN HARD ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP BEFORE GOING THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AFTER THE BRAKES FAILED ME. LUCKILY, EACH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN TIME, HOWEVER I HAVE TO BRAKE VERY HARD IN ORDER TO STOP AND IT IS NOT SMOOTH. THE DEALER HAS SO FAR IGNORED THE COMPLAINT AND HAS NOT REPAIRED OR REPLACED ANY PARTS. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 PRIUS WHICH I BOUGHT IN AUGUST 2009. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, APPROXIMATELY 8-10 TIMES, I HAVE BEEN BRAKING AT SLOWER SPEEDS WHEN COMING TO AN INTERSECTION. WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR HAPPENS TO HIT A BUMP OR HOLE IN THE ROAD AND THE CAR NOTICEABLY SURGES. MY FOOT IS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FLOOR MATS BECAUSE MY FLOOR MAT IS PINNED TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS 12/28/2009. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. OCCASIONALLY WHEN HE DRIVERS OVER A ROUGH TERRAIN OR SPEED BUMPS WHEN ATTEMPTS TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 6000. UPDATED 01/29/10 *BF UPDATED 02/01/10.*JB

2010 PRIUS BRAKE LAG. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS (GENERATION 3). PURCHASED ON 10/15/2009. I HAVE EXPERIENCE UNEXPECTED LOSS OF BRAKING WHEN DECELERATING TO ABOUT 5-10 MPH AND WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS OR GOES OVER A BUMP. THIS HAVE HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THERE WERE NO PROPERTY DAMAGE, HOWEVER, THE UNEXPECTED LOSS OF BRAKING AND A FEELING OF ACCELERATION IS UNSETTLING. I FEEL THIS MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A VEHICULAR COLLISION. *TR

IN REVERSE CAR SPEEDS AND BRAKE STIFFENS AND UNABLE TO SLOW REVERSE SPEED. ALSO, TWO TIMES WHILE ACCELERATING AT 25 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR SEEMED TO LIFT UP THEN SETTLE DOWN. VERY FRIGHTENING. *TR UPDATED 02/02/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE BRAKES FROZE. THE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, THE CONSUMER PARKED ON A SMALL INCLINE, THE FRONT FACING UP. WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHE PUSHED THE START BUTTON, PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, DISENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND IMMEDIATELY THE BRAKES FROZE AND THE CONSUMER STARTED TO GO BACKWARDS WITHOUT CONTROL OF THE BACKING UP THE CAR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE BACKWARDS MOVEMENT SO SHE IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE POWER. SHE THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN, PUT IT REVERSE, DISENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. UPDATED 03/01/10 UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB

I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, AND LIKE MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE BRAKES "CUTTING OUT" WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND GOING OVER A ROUGH SECTION OF ROAD. I DRIVE THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON, TEXAS AREA AND HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE HAPPEN MANY TIMES, USUALLY UNEXPECTEDLY. THERE ARE A FEW PLACES I DRIVE REGULARLY THAT CREATE THE ISSUE AND I ANTICIPATE THEM AND ADJUST MY DRIVING ACCORDINGLY. *TR

WHILE BRAKING OVER A ROUGH SURFACE SUCH AS POTHOLES, TRAIN TRACKS OR JUST ROUGH PAVEMENT, THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY CUT OUT FOR A BRIEF (WELL UNDER A SECOND) PERIOD. THIS COULD BE ABS ACTIVATING OR IT COULD BE THE CHANGEOVER FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO FRICTION BRAKING OR SOMETHING I AM NOT AWARE OF. I WOULD DESCRIBE THE FEELING AS "FLOATING" OR HITTING A PATCH OF EXTREMELY SLIPPERY ICE OR LIKE MY FOOT HAS SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS EVENT INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE BUT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH AND IT MAY ONLY BE INCHES. I KNOW FROM READING, THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED YEARS AGO WITH THE PREVIOUS GENERATION PRIUS. OVERALL, I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THE CAR BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I BELIEVE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. OH YES, IT IS FAIRLY EASY TO REPRODUCE AND HAS HAPPENED TO ME 3-5 TIMES IN THE 6000 MILES I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR. IT IS NOT NEARLY AS TERRIFYING NOW AS IT WAS THE FIRST TIME BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS IT DEFINITELY GRABS YOUR ATTENTION! IT HAS NOT CAUSED ME TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT BUT I BELIEVE THE POTENTIAL IS THERE FOR AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR. *TR

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED PRIUS 2010 V WITH TECHNOLOGY OPTION. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR TWO WEEKS CAR DESIGN HAS CAUSED A LIFE-TREATING SITUATION FOR DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS (ONE OF THEM BEING A CHILD) BY STOPPING AT THE INTERSECTION IN A NON-DRIVABLE CONDITION IN A WAY OF HIGH TRAFFIC IN THE NIGHT. CAR HAD TO BE BLOCKED OUT BY POLICE FOR 1.5 HOURS AND LATER TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. LATER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT INABILITY TO DRIVE WAS CAUSED BY INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHT DIMMER TURNING OFF INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE SWITCHED ON. NOTE THAT DIMMER ITSELF WAS NOT OPERATED BY THE DRIVER (IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MOVED UNINTENTIONALLY SOME TIMES EARLIER) AND ACTUAL ACT OF TURNING INSTRUMENTAL PANEL OFF WAS TRIGGERED BY TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS WHICH INCREASED DIMMING LEVEL TO "FULL OFF" STATE. THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE ANY "NON-ELECTRONIC" INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND SO IS NOT DRIVABLE WITH IT OFF. IN FACT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WAS NOT AWARE THAT CAR IS EVEN ON AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THERE IS NO "DRIVE" SHIFT INDICATOR EXCEPT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND FIRST REACTION WAS TO TRY AND RESTART THE CAR, WHICH FURTHER MAKE DRIVE SHIFT POSITION UNCERTAIN. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE DESIGN. DIMMER SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE CARE NOT OPERABLE. IN THIS CAR WITHOUT ANY NON-ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTAL PANEL, IT SHOULD BE NEVER POSSIBLE TO COMPLETELY TURN IT OFF. THIS FUNCTION SHOULD BE ELIMINATED TO PREVENT AN EVENTUALLY FATAL ACCIDENT THAT IS WAITING TO HAPPEN (OR MAYBE ALREADY HAPPENED). NOTE THAT CAR MANUAL

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH 2500 MILES. SINCE PURCHASED ON 8/2009, I HAD MORE THAN TEN EXPERIENCES OF UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION (SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION) ON REVERSE THAT FEEL LIKE TWO OR THREE TIME (STRONGER) FASTER THAN NORMAL REVERSE. ACCOMPANY THE HIGHER SPEED REVERSE, A HEAVY, ABRUPT BRAKING WITH A SLIGHT TOUCH OF THE BRAKE DURING THIS EVENT. THE BIG "JERK" (BRAKING) ROCK THE ENTIRE CAR AND BANGED HEADS AGAIN THE HEADRESTS.THIS ONLY HAPPENED WITH ELECTRIC MODE AND MOST TIME WITH THE CAR PARKED A SLIGHT INCLINE. THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION SOMETIME HAPPEN A FEW TIME A DAY OR IT CAN GO TWO, THREE WEEKS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. AND TOYOTA HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IF YOU GO TO PRIUSCHAT FORUM UNDER GEN III 2010 PRIUS MAIN FORUM-BRAKING IN REVERSE, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF A NEW DRIVER GET IN MY CAR AND NOT KNOW ABOUT IT. THERE IS ONE POST IN PRIUSCHAT FORUM THAT BEST EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM: JUST YESTERDAY, MY PRIUS-III BACKED UP WITH SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, WITH MY FOOT ONLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.... I RECOGNIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE IT HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, JUST OVER 2 MONTHS AGO. JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER I GOT THE CAR. WHEN I WAS BACKING OUT OF AN INCLINED DRIVEWAY... I SUSPECT THAT SOME UNUSUAL ELEMENT OF THE TIMING OF TURNING THE CAR ON AND SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, AND POSSIBLY THE INTERNAL STATE OF THE COMPUTER AND THE HYBRID POWER

MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

2010 PRIUS "FREEWHEELS" IF YOU HIT A BUMP WHILE BRAKING. THIS OCCURS EVERY FEW WEEKS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT. *TR

ACCESS TO THE OIL DRAIN PLUG AND OIL FILTER IS THROUGH A PLASTIC DOORWAY OPENING UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DOORWAY IS A PARTIAL CUTOUT FROM A LARGER PLASTIC SHIELD WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE FRONT PORTION OF THE CAR. I PERFORMED MY 3RD OIL CHANGE AND DURING THIS PREPARATION I FOUND THAT THE DOOR PORTION OF THE SHIELD IS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE LARGER PIECE OF PLASTIC DUE TO BENDING/HINGING THE DOOR. ONLY AFTER 2 OIL CHANGES THIS PLASTIC DOOR HAS BROKEN OFF BECAUSE THE PLASTIC IS NOT DESIGNED TO BE REPEATEDLY BENT FROM OPEN TO CLOSE MORE THAN ONCE. UNLESS YOU CHANGE YOUR OWN OIL, YOU WILL NEVER SEE THIS DOOR BREAK OFF... AND AFTER 2 OIL CHANGES. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2010: WHEN THE CAR HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD IT WILL ACCELERATE SO FAST BY ITSELF WHICH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AND FATAL. IT CAN HIGHLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE DRIVER CANNOT STEP ON THE BRAKES IN TIME TO STOP THE CAR ACCELERATION. I WENT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER HERE IN QUEENS NEW YORK AND TO MY SURPRISE THE REP SAID" I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THAT COMPLAINT" AND DID NOT PURSUE THE MATTER AT ALL. ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT I HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND THE WHOLE TIRE WAS DAMAGED ON MY BRAND NEW 2010 PRIUS WHICH I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR BARELY TWO MONTHS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE SAFETY PROBLEMS AND DO NOT REALLY KNOW WHERE TO START GETTING ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR

I HAVE A NEW 2010 PRIUS II WITH ONLY 2500K MILES ON IT. NOW THREE TIMES FOR ME AND ONCE FOR MY HUSBAND WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING THE CAR TO STOP/SLOW DOWN WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE ON WET RAILROAD TRACKS AND PRIOR TO APPROACHING A PATCH OF ICE IN THE ROAD. YOU PRESS THE BRAKE EXPECTING IT TO SLOW DOWN. INSTEAD A HELPLESSNESS TAKES OVER AS YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THE CAR HAS SUDDENLY GONE INTO AUTO PILOT AND YOU GO SAILING ON AS THOUGH THE BRAKES NEVER ENGAGED AND YOU INSTEAD HIT THE ACCELERATOR. THANK GOD I'M A CAUTIOUS DRIVER AND HAVE NEVER IN 44 YEARS HAD AN ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND BUT, EVEN MY DEFENSIVE DRIVING SKILLS WOULD BE USELESS IF THE CAR DOES NOT DO WHAT I'M TELLING IT TO! I USE THIS CAR DAILY TO TRANSPORT MYSELF AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND NOW I'M SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE IT. I WAS GLAD MY HUSBAND HAD IT HAPPEN TOO. I HAD NOT TOLD HIM WHEN IT DID IT TO ME AND THE LOOK ON HIS FACE AS HE TURNED TO ME GOING OVER WET RAILROAD TRACKS AND SAID "DID YOU FEEL THAT?" I FELT VALIDATED KNOWING THAT IT WASN'T JUST ME. TODAY WHILE WITH MY MOM AND THE KIDS I SLOWED DOWN TO NAVIGATE OVER AN UNAVOIDABLE PATCH OF ICE IN AN INTERSECTION. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS IN FRONT AND THE ONCOMING CAR ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT DIDN'T GO BECAUSE I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND WE JUST SAILED ON THROUGH, BARELY MAKING THE TURN THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE JUST BEYOND THE INTERSECTION. MY POOR MOTHER SAID, "DID YOU MEAN TO DO THAT?" HAD ANY CAR OR PERSON BEEN IN THE WAY I HAVE NO DOUBT I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM. THIS IS MY

I BOUGHT MY 2010 PRIUS IN JULY 2009. SINCE THEN THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS IN WHICH MY CAR SEEMED TO SURGE FORWARD WHILE I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BRAKING AND HIT A BUMP, RAILROAD TRACKS OR POTHOLE. INITIALLY, I CONVINCED MYSELF I MUST HAVE BEEN LETTING UP ON THE BRAKE WHEN I HIT THE BUMP BUT WHEN THIS SAME THING HAPPENED 3 DAYS AGO ON SLIPPERY, ICY ROADS, I KNEW FOR 100% CERTAIN I HAD NOT LET UP ON THE BRAKE. MY CAR SURGED AS I WAS SLOWLY PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN AND GENTLY BRAKING. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, HAD TO PUSH DOWN ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD, WHICH ACTIVATED THE ABS. THE ABS HAD NOT BEEN ACTIVATED IN ANY OF THE PREVIOUS INCIDENTS BECAUSE I HAD NOT NEEDED TO PUSH HARD ON THE BRAKES AS I WAS IN NO DANGER OF HITTING ANYTHING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING TOYOTAS SINCE 1992 AND AM STUNNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING WITH NO FIX IN SIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP IN MY TOWN ASSURES US THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE, ALTHOUGH IT IS OBVIOUSLY HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS. I HAVE A 5 YEAR OLD AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR WITH (OR WITHOUT) HIM IN IT. *TR

MY 2010 PRIUS IS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD & WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, AT TIMES, IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE BACK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE ENTIRE CAR JUMPS FORWARD BEFORE COMING TO A FULL STOP. SOME WHAT LIKE AN ENGINE SURGE OR THAT THE BRAKES HAVE NOT APPLIED PROPERLY. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MY TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT & THEY HAVE SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE IT IS DUE TO THE GAS ENGINE TURNING ON OR OFF AT THAT EXACT MOMENT. I FIND THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS A DEFINITE SURGE FORWARD BEFORE THE CAR STOPS. IT HAS HAPPENED ON DIFFERENT ROAD SURFACES, SMOOTH, UNEVEN & BUMPY WHEN BOTH WET & DRY. THEY DID NOT FIND ANY SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM & TOLD ME TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED OR OTHER COMPLAINTS RECEIVED. *TR

NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION. NOT A FAILURE BUT A SAFETY PREVENTION MEASURE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS 1. EVENT: WHEN BACKING UP THE VEHICLE RUNS ON BATTERY POWER-HENCE IT IS SILENT WHEN BACKING UP. THE VEHICLE IN BUSY PARKING LOTS (WALMART) GOES UNNOTICED. 2. FAILURE: I HAVE SURPRISED PEOPLE WHO ARE DISTRACTED AND DON'T NOTICE ME UNTIL THEY NEARLY WALK INTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THEY DON'T HEAR THE CAR. 3. FAILURE CORRECTION: A BACK-UP WARNING DEVICE SHOULD BE INSTALLED TO ALERT PEDESTRIANS (BLIND FOLKS, NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS, PETS, ETC) OF A SILENT, BACKWARD MOVING VEHICLE APPROACHING. THERE IS SEVERAL BLIND SPOTS INHERENT TO THE PRIUS WHEN BACKING. HELPING OTHERS TO NOTICE YOU SEEMS LIKE "AN OUNCE OF PROTECTION THAT IS A POUND OF CURE" THAT IS MEASURED IN A SAVED LIFE OR CRIPPLING INJURY. *TR