2011 Toyota Prius complaints

SINCE THE FIRST SET OF BULBS HAVE WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE AT AROUND 48,000 MILES I WILL NOW BE INSTALLING THE 4TH SET OF BULBS... ORIGINAL + 3. THE BULBS IN THE PRIUS FAIL WITHIN 24 HOURS OF EACHOTHER EACH TIME AND IT IS GOING THREW HEADLIGHTS AROUND EVERY 10,000 MILES AT THIS TIME. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS FOR A COMMUTER VEHICLE. *TR

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN DECEMBER OF 2013, WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS, THE BRAKES ON OUR 2011 MODEL YEAR PRIUS (PURCHASED NEW IN FEBRUARY 2012), FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE FIRST TIME OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING (WITH ONE OF MY TEENAGERS IN THE CAR WITH ME), AND THE SECOND TIME OCCURRED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR ALONE. IN BOTH INSTANCE WE PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AT ALL. ALTHOUGH IT IS WINTER, THE ROADS WERE CLEAR, AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED / APPLIED. INTERESTINGLY, AFTER 30 - 60 SECONDS, THE BRAKE FUNCTION RESTORED ITSELF. SINCE DECEMBER THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE SHOP AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. THE SHOP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THE SHOP INDICATED THEY CONTACTED TOYOTA MECHANICS AND SERVICE SUPPORT STAFF TO HELP IDENTIFY AND FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT TOYOTA CLAIMED THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM OR ANYTHING LIKE IT. MOREOVER, TOYOTA REFUSES TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS OR CHANGE ANY PARTS (EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY). YET, THIS PAST WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 12, 2014), TOYOTA ANNOUNCED A RECALL ON RAV4'S AND OTHER MODELS FOR A SOFTWARE PROBLEM THAT CAUSES THE ANTI-BRAKES TO INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TROUBLING, GIVEN TOYOTA'S CLAIM THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO FIX. FURTHER, TOYOTA ANNOUNCED A RECALL ON THE PRIUS ITSELF, FOR A SOFTWARE PROBLEM THAT MIGHT CAUSE THE CAR TO TUR

ON JAN. 18TH, 2014 I WAS LEAVING FL TO RETURN TO NC, WHEN I STARTED UP MY PRIUS AND WAITED FOR THE GAS ENGINE TO START, IT DID NOT WANT TO START. IT SOUNDED LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE, MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THE WHOLE CAR SHOOK. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE ISSUE AGAIN. I DROVE BACK TO NC AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE ISSUE AT ALL. THE CAR WAS DUE FOR MAINTENANCE, SO B-4 TAKING IT IN, I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE. I FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE "PRIUSCHAT.COM" WEB SITE, THERE WERE ALSO LINKS TO YOUTUBE VIDS THAT SHOWED THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO FOUND THAT THERE IS A TSB OUT FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT IT ONLY COVERS CERTAIN VINS AND THE DEALERS USUALLY REQUIRE THAT THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM B-4 THEY WILL PERFORM THE TSB. THE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, BUT THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED WITH THE 2010 MODEL WITH THE 1.8L MOTOR AND HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED. *TR

I PURCHASED A SET OF 4 MICHELIN DEFENDER XT TIRES FOR MY 2011 PRIUS II FROM COSTCO ON 11/29/2013. THE TIRES ARE MARKETED BY MICHELIN AS LLR (LOW ROLLING RESISTANCE) TIRES. HOWEVER UPON INSTALLING THEM AND OPERATING THE VEHICLE FOR NEARLY 1000 MILES, I FOUND THE MPG TO BE NEARLY 10 MPG. LESS THAN THE OEM TIRES THAT THESE REPLACED. THE ROLLING RESISTANCE OF THESE TIRES ARE HIGH. VEHICLE ALMOST FEELS LIKE BEING DRIVEN OVER SAND. AS SOON AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE DECELERATES RAPIDLY, MUCH FASTER THAN THE OEM TIRES. I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE, ALIGNMENT, AND WHEEL BEARINGS, ALL ARE WITHIN SPECS. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE HYSTERESIS LOSSES IN THIS TIRE MATERIAL ARE FAIRLY HIGH. THIS TIRE SHOULD NOT BE SOLD AS A LOW ROLLING RESISTANCE TIRE. IT IS BEING FALSELY ADVERTISED AS HAVING THIS CAPABILITY TO INCREASE SALES. THE MPG DIFFERENCE WAS MEASURED BY CALCULATING THE TRUE MILES FROM MY GPS UNIT AND DIVIDING THE RESULT BY THE GALLONS TO FULL AT THE SAME PUMP. THIS WAS DONE THREE TIMES TO ACCURATELY ACCESS THE TRUE MPG DIFFERENCE. NO OTHER FACTORS ON THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHANGED. ONLY CHANGE HAS BEEN REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. *TR

UNNECESSARY MINOR INJURY PRODUCING DESIGN MY PRIUS, WHICH I LIKE, HAS SEVERAL TIMES GIVEN ME A MINOR BRUISE THAT LASTS FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOORS, AT THE BOTTOM CORNERS, END IN A SHARP RIGHT ANGLE. IN CONTRAST, MANY OTHER CAR DOORS HAVE A SLIGHTLY ROUNDED BOTTOM CORNER WHICH HAVE NEVER INJURED ME. AS I AM WALKING AROUND THE PRIUS, LOADING AND UNLOADING FOR EXAMPLE, THAT SHARP CORNER SEEMS TO CATCH MY SHIN AND BRUISE IT. I AM IN MY 70'S AND GUESS THAT THESE MINOR INJURIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN WITH CHILDREN AND SENIORS. IF THIS WAS A NEEDED ELEMENT OF DESIGN, THEN I WOULD NOT CALL THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. HOWEVER IT SEEMS TO BE PRIMARILY POOR ERGONOMICS ON THE PART OF THE DESIGNER. IF THE INJURY POTENTIAL OF SHARP CORNERS WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF CAR MANUFACTURERS, PERHAPS, WHEN DESIGNS ARE CHANGED, THE SAFER CORNER COULD BE INCORPORATED AT ESSENTIALLY NO COST AND NUMBERS OF FUTURE MINOR INJURIES COULD BE AVOIDED. *TR

CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON BUMPY OR UNEVEN SURFACES, AS WELL AS SLIPPERY SURFACES SUCH AS METAL PLATES THAT YOU SOMETIMES FIND COVERING CITY STREETS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. ON ICE, WHEN APPLIED FORCEFULLY, NO BRAKING ACTION OCCURS WHATSOEVER, EVEN WHEN PUMPED OR RELEASE AND REAPPLIED. IN JAN 2013, CAR SLID MORE THAN 150' ON A LIGHTLY SNOWY ROAD INTO A DITCH. MY SENSE IS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE, BUT IT COULD BE SOME OTHER COMPUTER OVERRIDE THAT KICKS IN. WHEN STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A BUMPY ROAD, OR OVER ONE OF THOSE CONSTRUCTION PLATES, IT'S SCARY, AND I FEEL LUCKY I HAVEN'T HIT ANYONE. *TR

POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILS TO CLOSE WINDOW WHEN LIFTED UP INTO THE FULL AUTO-UP MODE. THE WINDOW GOES TO THE TOP OF THE DOOR AND THEN REBOUNDS TO APPROXIMATELY 1/2 WAY DOWN. DRIVER IS REQUIRED TO PUT WINDOW UP BY ONLY LIFTING SLIGHTLY ON THE SWITCH TO MANUALLY STOP IT. *TR

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY PRIUS 2011 - I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE WERE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AND HE HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE. SUDDENLY THE CAR SURGED AHEAD ALTHOUGH MY SON STILL HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IMMEDIATELY LIGHTS CAME UP ON THE DASH - BRAKE, ABS? AND PICTURE OF A CAR WITH SKID MARKS. THE BRAKES WERE THEN SPONGY, THERE SOMETIMES AND THEN NOT. I HAVE IT IN THE TOYOTA SHOP NOW AND THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED TO BE $4,440. I DID NOT BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE MET WITH THE DEALER AND THEY WERE NO HELP. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY OFFERED ME $1,500.00 AFTER I PAY THE BILL AND TOLD ME IT COULD TAKE UP TO 8 WEEKS FOR ME TO RECEIVE PAYMENT. *TR

LOVE MY PRIUS UNTIL I STARTED TO BECOME SCARED DAILY BY THE UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO THE CAR'S TENDENCY TO LURCH FORWARD WHILE BRAKING OVER BUMPY GROUND OR POTHOLES WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN TO TURN. IT'S RATHER STARTLING AND FORTUNATELY HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT YET FOR NO OTHER CAR HAS BEEN AROUND WHEN THIS HAPPENS. A DIFFERENT STORY WITH THE OTHER MORE SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN NEEDING TO COME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP DUE TO SUDDEN STOPPING OF THE CAR IN FRONT. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I EXPERIENCED THE "NO BRAKE" ISSUE WHEN SUDDENLY NEEDING TO PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKE FOR A STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD PLENTY OF DISTANCE FOR STOPPING BUT BECAUSE OF THE "NO BRAKE" ISSUE HAD TO STEER OFF TO THE SIDE TO MISS THE CAR. SHOCKED AND CONFUSED AT WHAT HAPPENED, THOUGHT MAYBE I DID SOMETHING WRONG BY NOT PUMPING THE BRAKE. THEN TWO DAYS AGO, I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN IT TURNED GREEN, TRAFFIC STARTED MOVING BUT THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED FOR AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE TO GO THROUGH THE INTERCEPTION. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE HARD AND JUST KEPT MOVING RIGHT INTO THE REAR OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT. I NOW HAVE ABOUT $1,800 OF DAMAGES FOR THE TRUCK (NO DAMAGE CAUSED TO IT) HAD AN HITCH WHICH PUNCTURED MY BUMPER AND BENT THE AIR CONDENSER. I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO FIX IT FOR IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. WHEN I DECIDE WHAT'S MY NEXT SAFE CAR TO PURCHASE, I WILL HAVE IT FIXED AND TRADE IT IN FOR IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR I'M NOW SCARED TO DRIVE IT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLY TO MY

WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHILE AT THE RED LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. *JS

WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND WAS BRAKING ON THE OFF RAMP WHEN I LOST BRAKES AND HAD TO DRIVE UP ON THE BANK. UPON RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RE-ENGAGING THE BRAKES, I HAD BRAKES AND CAME TO A STOP. *JS

IN JANUARY 2012, I PURCHASED A NEW 2011 PRIUS III BECAUSE I COMMUTE ROUGHLY 90 MILES PER DAY BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL. THINKING THIS WAS THE OPTIMAL VEHICLE I DIDN'T THINK TWICE WHEN SIGNING ON THE LINE. THIS WAS MY FIRST NEW VEHICLE, AND TO BE HONEST I HAD HEARD NOTHING BUT GREAT THINGS ABOUT TOYOTA & THOUGHT I WAS GOING CRAZY WHEN I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH MY BRAKES. PRIOR TO OWNING THIS VEHICLE I OWN A SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT THAT WE HAD TRADED DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO BALANCE THE AWD SYSTEM & PUT A HOLE IN MY BRAKE LINE. BEING THE MY PRIOR CAR HAD BRAKE ISSUES I DENIED THE FACT THAT MY BRAND NEW CAR COULD HAVE THEM AS WELL. THE ISSUE IS THAT ANYTIME YOU HIT ICE, POT HOLES, GRAVEL ROAD, WET ROADS, BUMPY ROADS ETC, YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THE BRAKES. IT FEELS AS IF THEY SLIP/ACCELERATE AND LEAVE YOU IN A MOMENT OF PANIC BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALWAYS A SITUATION YOU CAN AVOID. MY CAR HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP THREE TIMES OVER THE ISSUE WITH A COMPLAINT ON MY BRAKING SYSTEM, AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY KNOWN PROBLEM FROM TOYOTA. IT TOOK MY DEALERSHIP 3 COMPLAINTS BEFORE THEY CONSULTED THEIR PRIUS TECH, AND BASICALLY PRINTED OFF A PAPER WITH EVERY COMPLAINT I LISTED ABOVE WITH NO SOLUTION. THEY TOLD US TO CALL THE TOYOTA CARE NUMBER, WHICH HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN ITSELF. WHEN MY FATHER SPOKE TO THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON WEDNESDAY THEY SAID THEY HAD TO ALLOW THEM THREE DAYS TO ILLICIT A RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT. KEEP I'M MIND THAT THE THREE DAYS

WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED, THE TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE AND ABS FAILURE LIGHTS CAME ON. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ACTUATING THE ABS SYSTEM. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE SERVICE BRAKES. SINCE I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED, I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND COME TO A FULL STOP USING THE PARKING BRAKE. NOW THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND UNDRIVEABLE. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER REQUESTING SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER OR HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER IN STOCK. I CHECKED A SECOND DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT YOU CAN ONLY GET THE TWO UNITS TOGETHER AND THAT THEY WERE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER WITH NO ETA. SINCE PURCHASE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING WHERE THE BRAKES RELEASE OVER ROUGH ROAD SURFACES AND THE VEHICLE FEELS AS IF ITS ACCELERATING. IF YOU RELEASE AND REAPPLY THE BRAKES IT WOULD STOP. LIKE OTHERS, I DISMISSED THIS AS A PECULIAR DYNAMIC OF THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER I AM NOW CONVINCED THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THIS BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH REQUIRES A DEEPER INVESTIGATION. I HAVE BEEN IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND I CAN ATTEST THAT IT IS NOT NORMAL TO HAVE A TOTAL LOSS OF YOUR BRAKING SYSTEM LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY IN A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE THAT IS RELATIVELY NEW AND HAVE LOW MILEAGE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOW PARKED AND AVAILABLE FOR YOUR INSPECTION IF NEEDED. *TR

THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IN THE PRIUS IS DEFECTIVE. IT IS PRONE TO GROWING MILDEW AND/OR MOLD IN THE SYSTEM, WHICH RESULTS IN TOXIC AIR BEING PUMPED INTO THE CAR. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A LARGE BODY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE MILDEW PROBLEM ONLINE WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG PRIUS FROM 2010 TO THE PRESENT. SINCE NOTICING THE MILDEW SMELL IN MY CAR, I HAVE HAD SEVERE ALLERGY PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT IS ADVERSELY AFFECTING MY HEALTH, AND GIVEN ITS PREVALENCE AMONG CARS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL, I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FLUSH DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND IN FACT MAY HAVE MADE IT WORSE. *TR

WAS DRIVING A 2011 PRIUS WITH JUST UNDER 25,000 MILES ON OCTOBER 18, 2012 ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY. A REAR TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. THERE WAS A ROLLOVER END FOR END DOWN A VERY STEEP AND LONG DITCH. THERE WERE SEVERE BACK INJURIES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 20 WITH MY WIFE WHEN THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE ARE TWO PANES OF GLASS AND THE EXTERIOR PANE SENT SHARDS OF GLASS OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE INTERNAL PANE OF GLASS STAYED IN PLACE BUT SOME SHARDS OF GLASS FELL ON MY WIFE AND MYSELF. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THIS WAS DUE TO A CRACK FROM DEBRIS WHICH HIT THE CAR AND COMPROMISED THE INTEGRITY OF THE SUNROOF. THEY COULD NOT PROVE OR SHOW ANY MARK INDICATING THIS AS A FACT. IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION AND I FEEL OUR SUNROOF WAS MATERIALLY FLAWED AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

VEHICLE LOSES BRAKING FUNCTION WHILE TRAVELING OVER POTHOLES, RECESSED MANHOLE COVERS, AND ALL OTHER TYPES OF ROUGH ROAD SURFACES. BRAKING FUNCTION IS DELAYED AND DOES NOT RETURN TO PREVIOUS POWER/BRAKING STRENGTH AFTER TRAVERSING THE OBSTACLE; THIS RESULTS IN THE NEED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL FURTHER TO RE-ENGAGE ENOUGH BRAKING FUNCTION TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY. SERIOUS CONCERN IS THAT IF THE VEHICLE IS UNDER HARD BRAKING AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT WILL THERE BE ENOUGH TRAVEL LEFT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REENGAGE THE BRAKES ENOUGH TO STOP. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS REGULARLY, ONE OR MORE TIMES PER MONTH, SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. UP UNTIL NOW MOST OCCURRENCES HAVE BEEN JUST A MINOR ANNOYANCE. I RESEARCHED THE PHENOMENON ON THE WEB AND MANY JUST WRITE IT OFF AS A NUISANCE / MINOR QUIRK OF THE VEHICLE SO I ACCEPTED THAT OPINION AND CONTINUED ON ENJOYING THE CAR. THAT IS UNTIL MAY 21, 2013 WHEN UNDER HARD BRAKING (30-35MPH DRIVING SPEED THEN HEAVY BRAKING TO 0MPH) THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A RECESSED MANHOLE COVER AND IT FELT LIKE IT FULLY LOST ALL OF ITS BRAKING POWER AND NEARLY SENT ME INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE STOPPING HARD AHEAD OF ME. I HAD TO FLOOR THE BRAKES BEFORE I FELT ANY BRAKING POWER RETURN AFTER THE BUMP. THIS ISSUE WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY. PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON IT. *TR

HAPPEN TWICE HIT THE BRAKES FAIRLY HARD ON ROUGH PAVEMENT NOT REAL ROUGH DIDN'T BOUNCE JUST FELT LIKE I WAS ON ICE NOTHING THERE JUST A SECOND OR SO BUT FELT LIKE A LONG TIME IF A CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN IN FRONT OF ME DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE STOPPED IN TIME. *TR

WITHIN 2 YEARS OF PURCHASING NEW 2011 PRIUS VEHICLE, HID HEADLIGHT LAMP FAILED. *TR

WITHIN 2 YEARS OF PURCHASING NEW 2011 PRIUS VEHICLE, BOTH HID HEADLIGHT LAMPS FAILED (ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS) WITHIN ABOUT 3 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. NO WARRANTY AVAILABLE, AT CUSTOMER EXPENSE. *TR

I WAS APPLYING MY BRAKES AS I WAS GOING DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE OVER A BRIDGE THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION SO THE ROAD IS BUMPY. THE CAR ACTED LIKE THE GAS WAS APPLIED INSTEAD OF THE BRAKES. IT LURCHED FORWARD A LITTLE BEFORE THE BRAKES FULLY ENGAGED. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKE ISSUES WITH MY 2011 PRIUS MODEL SINCE I LEASED THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2011. WHEN I AM TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND I TRY TO BREAK GOING DOWN HILL AND /OR BREAK OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CAR ACCELERATES PRIOR TO FULLY STOPPING. THIS HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES SINCE I LEASED THE VEHICLE. IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHILE I TRAVEL AT LOWER SPEEDS AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AS I HIT THE BREAKS. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WAS EXPERIENCED WITH 2010 MODELS OF THE PRIUS AND APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER ACCELERATION ISSUE WITH TOYOTA MODELS IN GENERAL. WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON THE 2011 PRIUS FOR DEFICIENT AIRBAGS, THIS IS AN EQUALLY CONCERNING FAULT IN THE CAR THAT SHOULD BE REVIEWED. *TR

CAR WAS OFF AND PARKED. WHEN I ENTERED THE VEHICLE TO TURN THE CAR ON, I HELD THE BRAKE AND PRESSED THE POWER BUTTON IN ORDER TO START THE CAR. AND WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE, I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO PULL OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT. AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE CAR MOVED BACKWARDS WITH MY FOOT FULLY PRESSED ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGED. I LOOKED DOWN TO MAKE SURE I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE, AND THE BRAKE WAS COMPLETELY DEPRESSED. I COULD EVEN FEEL THE HILL ASSIST THRESHOLD BUT THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGING. IN A PANIC I PRESSED THE "P" (PARK) BUTTON TO TRY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROCKED BACK AND FORTH AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE "P" BUTTON WAS PRESSED. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF I WAS ON A POTHOLE OR HILL, ANYTHING TO EXPLAIN THE MOVE, BUT NOTHING WAS THERE, COMPLETELY FLAT ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPEN QUITE A FEW TIMES WHEN AT A PARK AND I HAD TO CONTACT CDSP OVER ELECTRONIC ISSUES OVER THIS VEHICLE. I AM NO LONGER GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

FIRST INCIDENT: WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 68 MPH ON 405 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES (DOWNHILL INTO THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY). DRY CONDITIONS. ATTEMPTED TO STOP AS CARS AHEAD OF ME BEGAN TO SLOW/HALT AND CAR LURCHED FORWARD, CARRYING ME TO ALMOST HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME, STOPPING ONLY INCHES BEHIND. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE AND DISMISSED MY CONCERNS. MULTIPLE SIMILAR INCIDENTS ALL IN GOOD WEATHER HAVE OCCURRED. MOST RECENTLY ON SURFACE ROAD WITH UNEVEN PAVEMENT, TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 15 MPH. BRAKING FOR STOPPED VEHICLES AHEAD, RESULTED IN CAR LURCHING AHEAD. *TR

PERIODICALLY, AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP AT FAIRLY LOW SPEEDS, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE. IN LIGHT OF THE OTHER UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE REPORTED UNDER ODI 10499911, I WONDER IF THESE TWO EVENTS ARE RELATED -- POSSIBLY SOMETHING TO DO WITH GOING FROM THE MOTOR TO THE BATTERY? *TR

FIRST INCIDENT: WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 15 MPH ON SIDE STREET. ICY CONDITIONS. ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT STOP SIGN AND CAR LURCHED FORWARD, CARRYING ME THROUGH INTERSECTION. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE AND THOUGHT MAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY SEATED. TOYOTA CASE # [XXX] 2ND AND THIRD INCIDENCES ONE MONTH LATER (BOTH ON 2/23/2013) IN FINE WEATHER CONDITIONS. 25 MPH. ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT STOP SIGN AND CAR LURCHED FORWARD. TOYOTA CASE # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR.... UPDATED 03/08/13 *BF

I AM AN EXCELLENT DRIVER. I PURCHASED THIS PRIUS IN THE SUMMER OF 2011. WE (MY WIFE AND YOUNG DAUGHTER) WERE PROCEEDING ON JUANITA DRIVE N.E. IN KIRKLAND, WA. MY WIFE AND I AGREE THAT OUR SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 30-33 MPH AND THAT THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 3+ CAR LENGTHS BETWEEN US AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. THE WEATHER WAS DRY AND SUNNY. SUDDENLY, A VEHICLE THREE VEHICLES AHEAD OF US STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, AND THE TWO VEHICLES BEHIND IT WERE ABLE TO STOP. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED MY BRAKES TO THE FLOOR AS SOON AS I OBSERVED THE STOPPED VEHICLE AHEAD. I FELT NO RESPONSE - NO GRIPPING OF THE BRAKES OR GRIPPING OF THE WHEELS TO THE ROAD, NO SQUEALING, NO SKIDDING, NO SENSE OF THE BRAKES SLOWING THE VEHICLE IN THE THREE SECONDS I APPLIED THEM. DUE TO VEHICLES IN THE OPPOSING LANE, A NARROW ROAD AND NO SHOULDER (A DITCH WITH TELEPHONE POLES ON THE RIGHT), I WAS FORCED TO DESIGN THE LEAST HARMFUL IMPACT - MY FRONT RIGHT CORNER TO THE REAR LEFT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE IMPACT TORE OPEN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD NEXT TO MY WIFE AND CAUSING HER LEGS TO FLY UP AND STRIKE THE DASHBOARD, INJURING HER LEGS IN SEVERAL PLACES. HER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY 7-YEAR-OLD WAS IN HER CAR SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT. THE LARGER SPLIT BACK WAS BEHIND HER. THE BACK BECAME UNHINGED AT IMPACT AND FLIPPED FORWARD, FORCING MY DAUGHTER'S UPPER BODY FORWARD. SHE SUSTAINED MINOR FACIAL INJURIES. WHILE IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE AIRBAG NON-DEPLOYMENT WAS APPROPRIATE

ON OCTOBER 18,2012 I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 PRIUS 2 ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR YOKOHAMA TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE SIDEWALL. I SWERVED IN TO THE LEFT LANE TWICE BEFORE LEAVING THE ROAD, SNAPPING OFF A UTILITY POLE, GOING DOWN A REVINE AND ROLLING OVER END FOR END AND SIDE TO SIDE. I ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK SEAT ON MY STOMACH FACING THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS BROKEN BACK AND MY SEATBELT WAS STILL ON. I WAS IN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A MONTH FOLLOWING BACK SURGERY. I HAD 3 CRACKED VERTIBRE AND ONE CRACKED RIB AS WELL AS MANY BRUISES. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I AM STILL RECOVERING 3.5 MONTHS LATER. *TR

SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT DOWN IN A PARKING LOT WITH BOTH HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS OPERABLE. UPON RETURN TO THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, NEITHER LOW BEAM FUNCTIONED, REQUIRING AN EXTENDED NIGHT DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS (FULLY FUNCTIONAL). UPON EXAMINATION THE NEXT DAY, BOTH LOW BEAMS BULBS WERE BURNED OUT AND REPLACED. PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT, CONTACT WITH DEALER RESULTED IN NO ASSISTANCE OR INFORMATION (THEY SUGGESTED IT WAS SIMPLY COINCIDENCE.) *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE 101 N FREEWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH AND I HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. I HAD NEVER HAD A TIRE BLOW BEFORE SO I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING UNTIL I HEARD THE FLAT TIRE. LUCKILY IT WAS MY LEFT REAR TIRE SO I WAS NOT INJURED AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MAKE MY WAY ACROSS THE FREEWAY ONTO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WHERE I CALLED AAA TO COME AND CHANGE IT TO MY SPARE. I CALLED TOYOTA, THEY SAID THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TIRES AND COULD NOT HELP ME AND I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT TO YOKOHAMA, THE TIRE COMPANY. I CALLED THE TIRE COMPANY, THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND IT WAS FOUND THAT IT WAS A ROAD CONDITION THAT LED TO THE TIRE DAMAGE AND THEREFORE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE EXACT SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN ON 01/15/2013, THIS TIME I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON THE 101 S FREEWAY. MY REAR RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT AND I HAD TO GET ACROSS TRAFFIC WHERE I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO CALL FOR HELP. MY CONCERN IS NOT WHETHER THE TIRE COMPANY WILL BE ABLE TO FOOT THE COST, BUT THE FACT THAT MY TIRES WILL BLOW OUT WHEN I'M DRIVING UNDER OR ABOUT THE SPEED LIMIT FOR A ROAD CONDITION THAT EVERYONE ELSE MANAGES TO DRIVE ON WITH NO PROBLEMS. I REPORTED BOTH INCIDENTS WITH TOYOTA AND YOKOHAMA. *TR

WHEN I BRAKE AT THE END OF MY ROAD WHICH HAS SMALL HOLES OR BUMPS, THE CAR SHOOTS FORWARD VERY FAST BEFORE IT STOPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIME. I THOUGHT AT FIRST I IMAGINED IT, OR MY FOOT SLIPPED, BUT SINCE IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES I KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT. SO I GOT ON WEB AND STARTED GOGGLE IT. AND SURE ENOUGH ITS HAPPENED TO OTHER DRIVERS. *TR

2011 PRIUS, USA EQUIPMENT PACKAGE FIVE. 20000 MILES DRIVEN -- RECOMMENDED SERVICE DONE EVERY 5000, INCLUDING THE 20000 SERVICE DONE LESS THAN 1000 MILES AGO. EASTBOUND ON I-78, A FEW EXITS WEST OF ALLENTOWN PA. SPEED LIMIT 65, RADAR CRUISE SET TO 68 AND DEFAULT THREE-BARS [MAX DISTANCE]. ALL WAS GOOD FOR 30 OR SO MILES OF ROLLING HILLS AND LIGHT TRAFFIC. THEN, WITH NO CHANGE IN TRAFFIC DENSITY OR AVERAGE TRAFFIC SPEED, THE PRIUS STARTED SLOWING DOWN -- AS WOULD BE QUITE APPROPRIATE IF THE DRIVER AHEAD OF ME HAD EASED UP ON THE GAS. 60, 55, 50, 45. NOT QUICKLY -- NO WHERE NEAR AS QUICKLY AS IF I WERE TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE. IT WAS AS THOUGH THERE WAS TRAFFIC SLOWING DOWN AHEAD AND THE RADAR WAS JUST RESPONDING TO IT. BUT THE TRAFFIC AHEAD WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. NO BEEPS, NO BRAKE ASSIST -- THE PRIUS JUST GENTLY SLOWED DOWN -- IN FACT, THE 'CAR AHEAD' ICON WAS STILL DISPLAYED ON THE CRUISE INDICATOR -- BUT IN REALITY, THE CAR AHEAD WAS FAR BEYOND WHERE 'CAR AHEAD' SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISPLAYED. HE WAS STILL DOING 65 WHILE I WAS DOWN TO 45. I WAS WATCHING AHEAD AND BEHIND ME -- STILL WONDERING IF THE RADAR HAD SEEN SOMETHING I WAS MISSING -- AND DIDN'T REALLY RESUME ACTIVE CONTROL TILL CARS BEHIND STARTED TO GET CLOSE [I REALLY WAS CONCERNED THE PRIUS SAW SOMETHING I DIDN'T!]. AS THE CARS BEHIND GOT CLOSER, I JUST PUSHED DOWN ON THE GAS -- NEVER DE-ACTIVATED THE CRUISE -- AND WHEN BACK AT 60 OR SO, THE CRUISE AGAIN STARTED TO ACT 'NORMALLY'. THERE WERE NO CODES RECORDED, SO I DON'T

HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) BULB IN FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY THIS OCCURRED; IT SIMPLY BURNED OUT. THESE BULBS SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THAN 26,000 MILES. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A MOUNTAINOUS ROAD AND THE ROAD SURFACE CHANGED FROM GRAVEL TO ASPHALT. I WAS ALSO BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME WHEN THE BRAKES SEEM TO BECOME NONEXISTENT AND THE CAR JUST LURCHED FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES BEFORE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AFTERMARKET HEATED SEAT WARMER MANUFACTURED BY PHILIPS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATED SEAT WARMER FAILED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD BECOME HOTTER THAN NORMAL THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT A HOLE HAD BURNED INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE SERIAL AND MODEL NUMBERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56, 200. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING ON A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR LOST ITS BRAKES OR THE POWER TO THE BRAKES AND SURGE FORWARD. THERE WAS A FEELING THAT THE ABS HAD ENGAGED THAN DISENGAGED LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO BRAKES. NORMALLY THE BRAKES ARE VERY CONSISTENT, THEY SLOW AND STOP THE CAR QUICKLY AND SAFELY, HOWEVER WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHILE RIDING ON ROUGH ROADS THEY BECOME VERY INCONSISTENT AND UNRELIABLE. IT FEELS THAT THE BRAKES STOP FUNCTIONING, BRAKING DISTANCE BECOMES LONGER AS DOES THE TIME REQUIRED TO STOP THE CAR. I FIRST NOTICED THIS CONDITION WHILE BRAKING ON A ROUGH ROAD AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE CONDITION NOW OCCURS NOT ONLY WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS (PAVED ROADS WITH POTHOLES/POTHOLE REPAIRS) BUT ALSO ON WET/SLICK ROADS. THIS CONDITION IS INTERMITTENT BUT IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY AND AT ANY SPEED, ROAD SURFACE AND WEATHER CONDITION. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN REPLICATING THE CONDITION BY DRIVING THE CAR OVER ROUGH ROADS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THEY TELL ME THAT UNLESS THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE CONDITION (SEE FOR THEMSELVES) THEY CAN NOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE CONDITION. TOYOTA CORPORATE TELL ME THEY STAND BEHIND THE DEALERSHIP AND CAN DO NOTHING. *TR

WE PURCHASED A 10 MONTH OLD TOYOTA PRIUS ON MARCH 16ND 2012 WITH ONLY 1367 MILES. THE PRIOR OWNER WHO WAS LEASING THIS CAR RETURNED THE CAR DUE TO MILEAGE INCONSISTENCY..... ON OCT 5TH 2012, I WAS DRIVING ON SUNNY DRY DAY AT 22MPH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED DOWN. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO SLOWDOWN BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE IT DID NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY, I APPLIED COMPLETE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE HOWEVER THE CAR STILL DID NOT SLOW DOWN ENOUGH AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. PER THE REPORT FROM TOYOTA THE SPEED WENT DOWN FROM 22MPH TO 5MPH AT THE TIME OF THE IMPACT. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE TOYOTA REPORT THAT I ONLY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE FOR 2 SECONDS AS IT WAS MUCH MORE... BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE BRAKE WAS MUCH HARDER AND LESS FORCEFUL PRESSURE MADE THE CAR STOP AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE BRAKE FEELS SOFTER AND MORE PRESSURE IS NEEDED TO MAKE THE BRAKE WORK. THIS IS AN ALMOST BRAND NEW CAR WITH 7K MILES ON IT HOWEVER I DO FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR ANYMORE AFTER THIS ACCIDENT AND I FEAR FOR MY LIFE AND PUBLIC SAFETY. WHAT WILL HAPPEN I DRIVE ON A HIGHWAY AT 60MPH AND THE BRAKE WILL NOT WORK?? TOYOTA DENIES ANY TECHNICAL ERROR WITH THE CAR AND BLAMES THE ACCIDENT ON ME. THERE ARE PLENTY OF REPORTS OF SIMILAR ACCIDENTS REPORTED BY CONSUMERS ON THIS SAME ISSUE HERE: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0DB60B. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE SPIDERS IN THE HVAC DRAINAGE HOSE AND THE SPIDERS HAD CREATED A NEST EGG IN THE HOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER HER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT, BUT THE MOST NOTICEABLE. WHEN BRAKING AND COMING TO A STOP, IF THE TIRES HIT A POTHOLE OR ANY KIND OF HOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES SUDDENLY. TODAY, IT ACCELERATED AS I WAS BRAKING AND COMING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. MY BACK RIGHT TIRE WENT OVER A POTHOLE, AND THE CAR JUMPED AND ACCELERATED ABOUT 10 FEET. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS REAR TAIL LIGHTS ARE REFLECTING SUNLIGHT IN EARLY MORNING AND LATE AFTERNOON AS THE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT CANNOT BE SEEN, THE SILVER CLEAR LENSES ARE TURNING INTO A PRISM . *TR

WE'VE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE DRCC (DYNAMIC RADAR CRUSE CONTROL) ON OUR 2011 PRIUS. THE DRCC LOCKS UP (FREEZES) -LOCKING ONTO A PHANTOM VEHICLE AHEAD AND ACTIVATING THE BEEPER/APPLYING THE BRAKES -' EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO VEHICLE IS AHEAD! THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATES AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS WITH NO WARNING TO VEHICLES BEHIND. WE HAVE HAD 7 OCCURRENCES OF THIS PROBLEM. A SEARCH OF THE HTSA DATABASE YIELDS TWO SIMILAR REPORTS (10448415 & 10421208). IN ALL CASES THIS HAS OCCURRED ON CLEAR SUNNY DAYS AS THE CAR WAS PASSING A SEMI TRACTOR-TRAILER ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN OUR CAR WAS PASSING THE SEMI'S CAB. IN MOST CASES, THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT (CAR IN CONSTANT SPEED MODE) - IT JUST SUDDENLY ACTED LIKE THERE WAS ONE! WHENEVER THIS OCCURS, THE CAR KEEPS BRAKING AND THE ONLY IMMEDIATE SOLUTION IS TO TURN DISENGAGE THE CRUSE CONTROL. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS HIGH (ABOVE 90 DEGREES) WHEN WE RE-ENGAGE THE DRCC, THE UNIT IS STILL LOCKED UP! WHAT CLEARED THE LOCKED UP CONDITION WAS TURNING OFF THE CAR. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE HAD DROPPED BELOW 90 DEGREES THE DRCC CLEARED ITSELF. I HAVE A LOG OF ALL 7 OCCURRENCES OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (CASE #S [XXX] & [XXX]) AND THEY HAD ME TAKE THE CAR TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHO USED THEIR TECHSCAN TOOL TO DOWNLOAD ANY SYSTEM GENERATED ERROR CODES - THEY FOUND NONE. (OF COURSE, IF THE SOFTWARE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT MALFUNCTI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER THE BRAKES AND START BUTTON WERE DEPRESSED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28,600.

ON APRIL 3 2012 WE DROVE OUR 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS TO A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. WHILE WE WERE STOPPED, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. MY WIFE, WHO AS DRIVING LOOKED DOWN TO CHECK THAT HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. WHILE STARING AT HER FOOT SQUARELY ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AGAIN ABOUT 3 FEET. THE CAR THEN SURGED FORWARD AGAIN ABOUT ONE FOOT BEFORE STOPPING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CROSSING TRAFFIC, PEDESTRIANS OR ANY OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS. NO COLLISION OCCURRED AND NO ONE WAS HURT. WE CALLED TOYOTA CARE IMMEDIATELY AND THEY PROMPTLY PICKED UP THE CAR AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER LATER CALLED US AND INFORMED US THAT THEY HAD DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND THAT NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND. WE DISPUTED THAT WE WERE UNWILLING TO TAKE THE CAR BACK UNTIL A PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY HAD DONE EVERYTHING THEY COULD DO AND EVEN HAD DRIVEN THE CAR 10 MILES WITH NO INCIDENT. I INFORMED THEM THAT WE HAD DRIVEN THE CAR NEARLY 10,000 MILES AND IT HAPPENED ONCE. ONCE IS TOO MANY TIMES. THE DEALER TOLD US WE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. WE ASKED FOR A WRITTEN STATEMENT GUARANTEEING THE SAFETY OF THE CAR AND THAT THE ISSUE WOULD NOT OCCUR. THEY SAID THEY COULD OFFER NO WRITTEN STATEMENT, SO WE REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK WHAT FOLLOWED WAS ESSENTIALLY THE DEALER PASSING THE BUCK TO TOYOTA CORPORATE WHO BASICALLY TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THAT IF WE STILL HAD A PROBLEM WE COULD

WHEN I PUSH ON THE BRAKES AND I HAPPEN TO GO OVER A BUMP OR A POT HOLE, MY PRIUS SPEEDS UP. IT ACCELERATES WHEN I TRY TO DECELERATE. I HAVE TO PUSH HARDER ON THE BRAKES TO REALLY SLOW THE CAR DOWN. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING AT AROUND 40MILE/HR. I HAVE A 2011 TYPE III PRIUS. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTAL BS BECAUSE AS SOON AS I GOT IT BACK FROM THEM I COULD REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM ON MY WAY BACK HOME. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF WHAT TO DO. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NOTICED BRAKES BREAKING INTERMITTENTLY ABOUT A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE. DISMISSED IT BECAUSE OF WEATHER AND IT WAS A NEW CAR, THOUGHT IT WAS JUST DIFFERENT FEEL FROM MY LAST VEHICLE. I DON'T DRIVE OFTEN AVERAGING 10,000 MILES OR LESS PER YEAR, SO WHEN I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM REPEATING, AND ACTUALLY NEAR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT I GOT CONCERNED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY, THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, AND ON THE WAY HOME EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE INABILITY TO STOP COMPLETELY PRESENTS A HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS OCCURS UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. IF THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM WHAT RECOURSES DO CONSUMERS HAVE? *TR

WHEN YOU GO OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT A SLOW SPEED THE TIRE SLIPS SLIGHTLY ON THE ROAD BED. YOKOHAMA REPRESENTATIVE SAYS THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS (TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, 5/9/12, PART OF THEIR CASE #[XXX]). I FOUND THE TIRE IS THE PROBLEM WHILE SEARCHING ONLINE COMMENTS ABOUT THE TIRE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

SINCE I PURCHASED A 2011 TOYOTA PRIUS IN DECEMBER 2011 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 IRREPARABLE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT YOKOHAMA AVIS S33 TIRES DUE TO SIDE WALL DAMAGE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE SIDE WALLS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO RESIST POTENTIAL HAZARDS. THIS IS PART OF YOKOHAMA CASE #[XXX] WHICH INCLUDED OTHER CONCERNS. I HAVE RARELY HAD A SIDEWALL PROBLEM AND NEVER A FLAT TIRE WITH NEW TIRES. THE FIRST OCCURRED AT ABOUT 300 MILES OF USE THE NEXT AT 8300 MILES, THE APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

STARTED CAR AFTER PROLONGED PERIOD OF COLD SOAK (PARKED FOR ONE WEEK OUTSIDE IN TEMPERATURES AROUND THE FREEZING MARK). ENGINE EXHIBITED A LOUD KNOCK/RATTLE AND HAD A DELAYED THROTTLE RESPONSE AS I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO THE STREET. HAD TO SHUT ENGINE DOWN (WITH VEHICLE LOCATED IN STREET, SAFETY CONCERN) TO STOP LOUD KNOCK AND RE-START ENGINE. RATTLE/KNOCK HAD DISAPPEARED. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHEN PRESENTED WITH ISSUE AND TOYOTA ISSUED TSB (T-SB 0012-10) ON THIS VERY ISSUE DECLINED TO PERFORM NECESSARY WORK SINCE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO "RECREATE" THE ISSUE. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE AND TO REPLICATE THEY WOULD NEED TO PARK IT IN THE SAME CONDITIONS FOR A WEEK. I CANNOT LEAVE MY CAR WITH THEM FOR THIS LONG AND THEREFORE THIS IS AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST. MULTIPLE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM (AS A QUICK SEARCH ON YOUTUBE WILL CONFIRM) YET TOYOTA IS DENYING TO FIX THIS. *JS

DROVE OVER A SPEED HUMP, AND AS THE FRONT TIRES HIT THE LEVEL PAVEMENT, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. RESPONDED TO BRAKES JUST FINE. HAPPENED AGAIN A WEEK LATER AS BOTH FRONT TIRES SIMULTANEOUSLY WENT OVER AN EDGE DROPOFF AT A CONSTRUCTION AREA. *TR

BRAKING OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE CAUSE LOSS IN BRAKING FORCE. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHILE BRAKING OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. VERY CLOSE CALLS. *TR