Toyota Prius Complaints (2010)

2,829 consumer complaints on file.

#10297292December 29, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297290December 29, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297297December 29, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297301December 29, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297340December 29, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297364December 29, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297356December 29, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297420December 29, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297457December 29, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297119December 28, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297191December 28, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297256December 28, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
2010 PRIUS BRAKE LAG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297054December 27, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297058December 27, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296965December 26, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296970December 26, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296835December 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 DOES NOT MENTION: 1) THAT INSTRUMENTAL PANEL CAN BE COMPLETELY OFF WITH THE DIMMER 2) THAT THERE IS A DEPENDENCY BETWEEN DIMMING LEVEL AND HEADLIGHTS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY MULTIPLE OTHER USERS AS INDICATED BY THESE THREADS: HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/GEN-II-PRIUS-AUDIO-ELECTRONICS/11744-BLANK-INSTRUMENT-CLUSTER-PANEL.HTML HTTP://PRIUSCHAT.COM/FORUMS/GEN-II-PRIUS-CARE-MAINTENANCE-TROUBLESHOOTING/9053-WHEN-MY-HEADLIGHTS-MY-DASHBOARD-DARK.HTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296288December 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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 SYSTEM COMBINE TO PRODUCE THIS "ABRUPT" REVERSE ACCELERATION AS I AM GENTLY EASING OFF MY FOOT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL... THE ABRUPT BRAKING EFFECT DOES OCCUR, BUT ONLY IN RESPONSE TO THE MUCH MORE DANGEROUS "UNEXPECTED, UNINTENDED" REVERSE POWER (ACCELERATION), TO STOP THE CAR MOTION. NO MATTER HOW GENTLY THE BRAKE IS EASED FURTHER ON TO STOP, THE STOP IS "ABRUPT" BY GARYGID ORANGE COUNTY, CA. I AM TRYING TO WORK WITH TOYOTA ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295748December 15, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295801December 15, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2010 PRIUS "FREEWHEELS" IF YOU HIT A BUMP WHILE BRAKING. THIS OCCURS EVERY FEW WEEKS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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