Toyota Prius Complaints (2010)

2,829 consumer complaints on file.

#10304686February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2010 TOYOTA PRIUS - BRAKING ISSUE ON SLIPPERY SERVICE - I FIND THE BRAKING DISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IS EXCESSIVE WHEN COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE ON SLIPPERY SERVICES. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING FORWARD INTO INTERSECTIONS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. I LIVE IN MN WHERE ROAD CONDITIONS CAN BECOME LESS THAN IDEAL. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT I AM TRAVELING AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED BUT I HAVE KNOW ADJUSTED MY DRIVING HABITS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE EXTRA DISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304689February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ON DEC. 23 2009 IN COLUMBUS OH, AND EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEM TWICE. WHEN I WAS COMING OUT OF MY STREET TO MERGE TO A BIGGER STREET, I USED THE BRAKE TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. INSTEAD OF COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD. I HAD TO BRAKE IT AGAIN AND HARD TO STOP IT. I FELT AS IF THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ENERGY PUSHING THE CAR FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS 3 WEEKS AGO, THE SECOND 2 WEEKS AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304708February 3, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. SINCE PURCHASING IT IN AUGUST, I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF ODD, COMPLETELY REPRODUCIBLE BRAKING BEHAVIOR. I HAVE NOT REPORTED THE COMPLAINT UNTIL NOW BECAUSE I ASSUMED IT WAS SOMETHING NORMAL WITHIN THE OPERATION OF THE PRIUS, BUT WITH THE REPORT IN THE NEW YORK TIMES THAT JAPAN IS INVESTIGATING THE PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM, I THOUGHT I SHOULD FILE A REPORT. I LIVE NEAR TRAIN TRACKS THAT HAVE A GRADE CROSSING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLOCK. THE CROSSING ITSELF IS IN ANN ARBOR, MI, ON W. WILLIAM ST. BETWEEN S. ASHLEY ST AND S. 1ST ST. WHEN DRIVING WESTBOUND ON WILLIAM ST, ONE TRAVELS DOWNHILL AND ENCOUNTERS THE GRADE CROSSING NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, ABOUT 20-30 FEET BEFORE AN INTERSECTION. EVERY TIME I CROSS THE TRAIN TRACKS AT THIS GRADE CROSSING--REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS--I NOTICE AN ALARMING LOSS OF BRAKING POWER THAT OCCURS EXCLUSIVELY WHEN CROSSING THE TRAIN TRACKS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL, THAT PERHAPS THE CAR WAS JUST SLIPPING, BUT NOW IT SEEMS AS IF THIS REPRESENTS THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION IN JAPAN. THE PROBLEM IS 100% REPRODUCIBLE. TYPICAL TRAVEL SPEEDS ARE 15-30 MILES PER HOUR. THE BRAKING ACTION IS ONLY INTERRUPTED WHILE TRAVELING OVER THE BUMPY SURFACE OF THE RAIL TRACKS, AND THEN BRAKING ACTION IS RESTORED. HOWEVER, IF THERE ARE CARS QUEUED UP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AT THE INTERSECTION, IT OFTEN LEADS TO SHORT BRAKING TIMES AND HAS CAUSED CONCERN REGARDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BRAKES. I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO MY DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE PROBLEM, NOR HAD ANY SERVICE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE PROBLEM. AGAIN, I BELIEVED THIS TO BE MORE OF A DESIGN ISSUE THAN A PERFORMANCE PROBLEM, BUT IT IS ALARMING, NONETHELESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK KEEPING AMERICA'S CARS SAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304709February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. WHEN BRAKING (WHICH I DO OVER A LONGER THAN USUAL DISTANCE AND TIMEFRAME BECAUSE OF THE CAR'S ABILITY TO REGENERATE POWER WHILE BRAKING), THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHENEVER THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP OR POTHOLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2009. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HAVE RESULTED, BUT I MUST BE PARTICULARLY CAUTIOUS OF ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN BRAKING BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE ACCIDENTS OR PEDESTRIAN INCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304681February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS FOR 4 MONTHS AND EVERYDAY I DRIVE OVER THIS ROAD NEAR MY WORK THAT'S NOT A TOTAL FLAT SURFACE WITH A BUMP, MY PRIUS JUST JERKS AND SLIDES FORWARD AND ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND. THIS HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE DAY I DRIVE TO WORK OVER THIS BUMPY ROAD. IT WORRIES ME IF A PEDESTRIAN IS WALKING IN FRONT OF ME I AM NOT SURE IF I CAN PULL TO A COMPLETE STOP IN TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304711February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF BRAKE MALFUNCTION IN OUR 2010 PRIUS. WHEN BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE, ON 3 OCCASIONS, WHEN MY FOOT WAS JUST RESTING GENTLY OVER THE BRAKE, IT FELT AS THOUGH I WAS STOMPING ON THE BRAKE. IT DID THIS 4-5 TIMES WHERE IT LURCHED TO A STOP WHEN I WASN'T APPLYING IT BUT JUST RESTING MY FOOT ON IT AS I BACKED UP. I HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE I WAS ENTERING A CAR WASH AND WHEN I WENT OVER A BUMP INTO THE CAR WASH STALL, THE CAR LURCHED UNCONTROLLABLY FORWARD. I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND IT WOULDN'T STAY IN NEUTRAL BUT KEPT POPPING BACK INTO DRIVE AN LURCHING FORWARD.. ALSO, WE HAVE 3 INCIDENTS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WHERE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL OR DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY. ON A SNOWY DAY, I SLID RIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES DID NOT KICK IN NOR DID THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT COME ON. MY HUSBAND HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE IF FELT AS THOUGH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FUNCTIONED ONLY ON ONE SIDE OF THE CAR, PROPELLING HIM STRAIGHT SIDEWAYS UPON BRAKING. WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF PRIUS THAT POSES A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO OUR SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304691February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I PURCHASED A 2010 PRIUS IN JUNE, 2009. I HAVE NOTICED A "SURGE FORWARD" IF I APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS LIKE RAILROAD TRACKS OR POTHOLES. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. I JUST SAW A REPORT IN THE MEDIA THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WILL REPORT IT TO MY DEALER IN MADISON, WISCONSIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304696February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2010 TOYOTA PRIUS FREQUENTLY ACCELERATES BRIEFLY WHEN BRAKING AFTER HITTING POTHOLE OR GOING OVER A BUMP. IN ADDITION, FREQUENTLY AT START UP, THE BRAKE PRESSURE IS EXTREMELY HIGH, AND THE SLIGHTEST RELEASE OF THE BRAKE CAUSES THE CAR TO LURCH RAPIDLY EITHER FORWARD OR BACK, DEPENDING UPON WHETHER IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304700February 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TOYOTA PRIUS 2010, SUDDEN SURGE OF POWER, WHEN SLOWING OR BRAKING TO COME TO A STOP. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC OR WHEN PARKING. HAVE REPORTED TO TOYOTA, WHO CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF PRIUS'S HAVING THIS DEFAULT. ANOTHER SAID THIS WAS A COMMON FUNCTION OF THE HYBRIDS. RECENT SERVICE DEPT. CLAIMED CHECKED BUT FOUND NO EVIDENCE. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. BECAUSE WE KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM, ARE EXTRA CAUTIOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304702February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKING POWER SUDDENLY GAVE OUT MOMENTARILY. THIS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED. HOWEVER, I WAS APPROACHING A CROSSWALK WITH A PEDESTRIAN IN IT. IF FELT LIKE THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. I READ THE ARTICLE IN THE NYT THIS MORNING WHICH NOTED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE PRIUS AND THIS DEFINITELY FITS MY SITUATION. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN FREQUENTLY (3 OR 4 TIMES AT MOST), BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE. I PURCHASED MY 2010 PRIUS NEW ON NOV. 3, 2009 FROM TOYOTA OF SEATTLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE A FEW DAYS AGO, BUT HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304703February 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN
EVERY TIME MY 2010 PRIUS GOES OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR SEEMS TO ACCELERATE OR "LUNGE FORWARD." IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY 2009. I HAVE NOT ASKED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304719February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC AND BRAKING FIRMLY AS TRAFFIC SLOWED, ONE OR BOTH OF MY RIGHT-SIDE TIRES PASSED OVER A MANHOLE COVER OR HIT A SHALLOW POTHOLE (THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES). BRAKING EFFORT COMPLETELY STOPPED FOR A SECOND OR TWO -- THE CAR FELT AS IF IT WERE SURGING FORWARD, BUT THIS WAS PROBABLY JUST THE CHANGE FROM DECELERATION TO COASTING. BRAKING RESUMED, EITHER AUTOMATICALLY OR FOLLOWING INCREASED PRESSURE BY ME ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I'M NOT SURE WHICH. NO COLLISION RESULTED, BUT ONE EASILY COULD HAVE IF I HAD BEEN FOLLOWING ANOTHER CAR EVEN A FEW FEET CLOSER THAN I WAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304734February 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING 2010 PRIUS TYPE III ON DOWNHILL. BECAUSE IT WAS DOWNHILL, I RELEASED GAS AND PREPARED TO PUSH BRAKE. THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY TURNED TO RIGHT SIDE AND THE SURFACE WAS A LITTLE BUMPY. WHEN THE CAR PASSED THE BUMPY SURFACE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT PUSH GAS. AS THE RESULT, I PUSHED THE BRAKE AND FORTUNATELY THE CAR STOPPED. HOWEVER, I DEFINITELY FELT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AT HIGH SPEED(I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH IT WAS ACCELERATED). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304728February 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS THE CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO ACCELERATE FORWARD AS I AM HITTING THE BRAKES. I HAVE NOTICED THIS IS USUALLY AROUND POTHOLES OR ANY OTHER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IT HAPPENS PRETTY REGULARLY AND IT SCARES THE PANTS OFF ME; TO SAY THE LEAST. I HAVE FOUND NO RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA CONCERNING FIXING THIS PROBLEM AND AM WORRIED THAT WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS I'LL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MISTAKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304755February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
1. SMALL PATCH OF SNOW OR BUMP 2. LOSS OF BRAKES, 2 TIMES DUE TO SNOW AND 1 TIME DUE TO A BUMP, LOSS OF BRAKING FOR ABOUT 5 FEET ABOUT 20 FEET BEFORE A STOP SIGN. THERE IS NO PULSING (ABS) JUST A LOSS OF BRAKING. WHEN IT HAPPENS, I PUSH THE BRAKES HARDER AND AFTER ABOUT 5 FEET AT 5 MPH, I GET SUDDEN STRONG BRAKING. THE SNOW HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THIS IS NOT JUST LOSS OF TRACTION BECAUSE I DON'T HEAR THE NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. 3. NONE, READ OTHER SIMILAR ACCOUNTS THAT THE DEAL IS CALLING NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304745February 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WE LIVE IN CHICAGO AND OWN A 2010 PRIUS. WE ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ACCELERATION (FORWARD SURGE) UPON BRAKING ON UNEVEN TERRAIN REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS. NO ACCIDENT, BUT IT HAPPENS OFTEN ON OUR CITY STREETS AND IT IS A LITTLE UNNERVING. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS YESTERDAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304732February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS AND APPROACHED A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION ON A LOCAL ROAD. (AS I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION I WAS PROBABLY DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH OR LESS). AFTER I HIT THE BRAKES AND HAD BEEN DECELERATING FOR A VERY BRIEF PERIOD, I WENT OVER A POTHOLE OR SOME SIMILAR PROTRUSION. AT THAT POINT, MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD, ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR. THAT CAR HAD BEEN ABOUT HALF CAR LENGTH IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I HIT THE POTHOLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304749February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I BOUGHT A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS ON DEC. ON 12/21/2009, AND HAVE NOTICED ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS THAT WHEN I BRAKE ON TOP OF A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CAR ACTUALLY LURCHES FORWARD, INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN AND STOPPING. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME, BUT THEN I HEARD A STORY ABOUT IT ON NPR, AND NOW FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY OTHERS. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT ON THE OCCASIONS WHEN IT HAS HAPPENED, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, OR I MIGHT HAVE HIT THEM FROM BEHIND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304752February 3, 2010
WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2010 PRIUS ON OR AROUND JAN 23RD AT AROUND 2:30PM CST, SAW A POT HOLE AHEAD AND STARTED BRAKING. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT OVER THE POT HOLE BUT THE BRAKES SKIPPED AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP AND CONTINUED TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE SAME SPEED. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS THERE IN FRONT. RE-APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN QUICKLY TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304775February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE TRAVELING OVER A ROUGH TERRAIN AT A LOW SPEED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WILL SUDDENLY DISENGAGE AND THEN CORRECT ITSELF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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