Toyota Prius Complaints (2010)

2,829 consumer complaints on file.

#10306989February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD. BECAUSE IT WAS ICY, I STARTED BRAKING VERY EARLY BEFORE COMING TO A STOP SIGN. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES AT ALL. I BLEW THROUGH THE STOP SIGN OUT ONTO A 40 MPH ROAD. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION BY STEERING AWAY FROM CARS. I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE ENTIRE TIME, WHICH WAS SEVERAL SECONDS AND THE BRAKES NEVER ENGAGED. THE NEXT TIME I USED THE BRAKES, THEY WORKED. INITIALLY I THOUGHT THAT THE REASON THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN WAS BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAVE ANY TRACTION DUE TO THE ICY CONDITIONS. BUT AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT, I DID HAVE TRACTION BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO STEER QUITE WELL AND SUDDENLY CHANGE DIRECTIONS WITHOUT ANY SLIPPING AT ALL. THIS DID NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME UNTIL I READ ABOUT THE BRAKING PROBLEMS. MY HUSBAND HAS EXPERIENCED THE CAR LURCHING FORWARD WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON A SLIPPERY OR UNEVEN SURFACE MANY TIMES. HE APPLIES THE BRAKE AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306987February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS; PURCHASED NEW ON 3 JAN., 2010. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 4400 MILES. RECENTLY IN THE NEWS I'VE HEARD LOSS OF BRAKING COMPLAINTS. MY COMPLAINT IS THE OPPOSITE. SOMETIMES WHEN TRAVELING VERY SLOWLY BACKWARDS OR VERY RARELY SLOWLY FORWARD AND I PRESS LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKES THEY GRAB AS THO I PRESSED HARD FOR AN EMERGENCY STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 TIMES. THIS HAS YET TO OCCUR WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS ABOVE ABOUT 5 MPH. THIS OCCURS USUALLY WHEN BACKING AND USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. IF IT HAPPENS IT USUALLY HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES IN JUST ONE ATTEMPT TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306976February 6, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PRIUS PURCHASED NOV 2009: AT LEAST INCIDENTS OF CAR LURCHING FORWARD SIGNIFICANTLY AND MOMENTARY SENSE OF LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACE. OCCURED IN DEC 09,JAN 10, AND FEB 10. HAD A PEDESTRIAN BEEN CROSSING ILLEGALLY, THE PERSON COULD'VE BEEN HIT BEC I COULD NOT PREVENT OR CONTROL THAT LURCHING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I FEEL I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR SAFELY. I NEED MY CAR FOR WORK. I PHONED MY TOYOTA DEALER WHO SAID TO BRING IT IN FOR EVALUATION,BUT THEY SOUND TENTATIVE. I WANT A SOLUTION AND DON'T WANT TO BE MAKING NUMEROUS TRIPS FROM MY RURAL TOWN TO THE CITY DEALER FOR GUESSES. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306982February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
OCCASSIONAL VERY BRIEF LOSS OF BRAKING WHEN GOING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT, SPEED BUMPS OR TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES AT A SLOW SPEED. NO INJURIES OR COLLISIONS AS A RESULT. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET BUT AM AWAITING POTENTIAL RECALL NOTICE. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306977February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE BRAKING PROBLEM. WHEN BRAKING WITH THE FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD WITH ACCELERATION. IT WILL STOP WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES HARDER. THIS IS HAPPENING ON DRY PAVEMENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 SEPERATE OCCASSIONS. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306973February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I APPROACH A POTHOLE OR ROUGH PATCH IN THE ROAD AND APPLY THE BRAKES AS I AM DRIVING OVER IT, THE BRAKES SLIP AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. THIS HAS OCCURRED SIX TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2009. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA OF SANTA MONICA ON FEBRUARY 5,2010. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CONCLUDED THAT NOTHING WAS FAULTY WITHIN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS IS THE SAME DAY EVERY NEWS ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD WAS REPORTING THAT TOYOTA ADMITTED THERE IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM IN THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM AND WAS REPAIRED ON 2010 PRIUS MODELS BUILT FROM JANUARY 2010. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306995February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHILE BRAKING, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND BRAKES DISENGAGED FOR A SPLIT SECOND. *CN UPDATED 9/29/11*CW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306996February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF BRAKES AT LEAST TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY WITH MY 2010 PRIUS. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I PRESS ON THE BRAKE AND HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS AND OUR ROADS ARE NOTORIOUSLY BUMPY SO I LOOSE MY BRAKES OFTEN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK IN NOVEMBER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANTHING ABOUT IT, SAYING THAT IT WAS ACTING HOW IT WAS DESIGNED. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE THAT LOOSES IT BRAKES WHEN THE CAR HITS A BUMP. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306999February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
1) WHILE DRIVING MY NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS STRAIGHT AHEAD AT APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH ON A DRY, SUNNY DAY, I HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR SKIDDED LOUDLY ENOUGH THAT SEVERAL BYSTANDERS LOOKED AT ME. THIS WAS CLEARLY A FAILURE OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. I RECENTLY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY TOYOTA DEALER (TOYOTA SANTA CRUZ), WHICH INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND DECLARED THEM TO BE FINE. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED, THOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN SUCH A STRONG MANNER SINCE THAT ONE INCIDENT. 2) ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING THE SAME PRIUS AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS (PERHAPS 5 MPH) SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR, MY WIFE GENTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES; THE VEHICLE JERKED ALMOST TO A STOP. IN OTHER WORDS, A GENTLE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL LED TO A VERY RAPID, JERKY, STOP AS IF SHE HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307000February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT
MY 2010 PRIUS STOPS BRAKING OR ACCELERATES WHEN HITTING A POTHOLE OR BUMP CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP LATER THAN ANTICIPATED. ALMOST HIT A PERSON IN THE CROSS WALK. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307004February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
TEMPORARY BRAKE FAILURE WHEN BRAKING OVER POTHOLES OR BRAKING IN A TURN *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307002February 6, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON PRIUS 2010 ARE VERY DIM PARTICULARLY FOR DRIVING ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS AND THEY ONLY PROJECT OUT A SHORT WAY ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP A HILL TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THEY WERE AJUSTED CORRECTLY SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY HAZARD HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE FINE *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306993February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WE PURCHASED OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN JUNE OF 2009. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I ACCIDENTALY HIT POTHOLES AND TRY TO APPLY THE BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD. I DO NOT HAVE A SET DATE WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THIS, SOME TIME IN LATE FALL ON A RAINY NIGHT. I THOUGHT I WAS JUST IMAGINING THIS UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN I HEARD OTHERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING.I LOVE THIS LITTLE CAR, BUT NOW I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT ANYWHERE.HOW DO I FIND OUT THE RESULTS OF YOUR INVESTIGATION? *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307009February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I BOUGHT A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE END OF DECEMBER 2009. SINCE THEN I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE MOMENTARILY BRAKE LOSS WHEN DRIVING OVER THE UNEVEN SURFACE. IT ONLY HAVE HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES BUT IT MAKES ME WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307010February 6, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PASSING OVER ROUGH SPOTS(HAS HAPPENED WITH MANHOLE COVER). BRAKING STOPS THE ACCELERATION. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307013February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I OWN A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND FREQUENTLY (~1 X WEEK) EXPERIENCE A BRAKING PROBLEM AS BEING REPORTED BY THE MEDIA. IF, WHILE I AM BRAKING, THE CAR GOES OVER A BUMP, POT-HOLE, OR WAVY PAVEMENT, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT ISN'T BRAKING, AS IF THE WHEEL IS OFF THE GROUND OR SLIDING ON ICE. IT ONLY OCCURS WHILE THE CAR IS BEING BUMPED, SO USUALLY IT IS ONLY LASTS A MATTER OF A FEW FEET. I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINE A COURSE OF ACTION. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307015February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN TO GO AROUND A CURVE THAT ALSO GOES DOWNHILL, MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS SEEMS TO SPEED UP FOR A FEW SECONDS IN THE MIDST OF THE TURN. I CAN'T TELL IF THIS IS THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILING OR THE ACCELERATOR KICKING IN. IT'S NOT CENTRIFUGAL FORCE, BECAUSE THERE IS A CLEAR SURGE FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS PRETTY REGULARLY, AS THIS IS A MANEUVER THAT I MAKE REGULARLY ON MY WAY HOME. I PUT IN AN ARBITRARY DATE BELOW, BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. I NOTICE THIS HAPPENING AT OTHER TIMES TOO, BUT I DON'T HAVE A CONSISTENT RECORD OF WHEN AND WHERE IT HAPPENS. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307019February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
PRIUS 2010--PAUSE IN BRAKING WHILE APPROACHING STOP SIGN. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE SNOWY AND UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. BRAKING PAUSED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, ENOUGH SO THAT I WOULD HAVE COLLIDED IF THERE HAD BEEN CAR AHEAD AT STOP SIGN. HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307016February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
4 INSTANCES OF FAILURE OF THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR 1ST TIME IN JUNE 2009 AT A STOP SIGN - HAD TO PUSH BRAKE VERY HARD TO GET CAR TO STOP 2NT TIME IN AUG 2009 AGAIN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN BRAKE WOULD NOT ENGAGE UNTIL PUSHED VERY HARD 3RD TIME SEPT 2009 SAME SITUATION LAST INCIDENT 2.1.10 SAME SITUATION. ROAD HAD SOME SNOW ON IT. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307030February 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THIS IS NOT THE SAME 2010 PRIUS BRAKE PROBLEM BEING REPORTED REGARDING TRANSIENT BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE WAITING IN GEAR AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL SLOWLY SINKS ALL THE WAY TO THE MECHANICAL STOP. HOWEVER, THE CAR DOES REMAIN STOPPED EVEN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS BRIEFLY TAPPED. THE BEHAVIOR IS REPEATABLE AND CONSISTENT. PERSONALLY VERIFIED THAT THERE ARE NO EXTERNAL HYDRAULIC LEAKS. OBSERVED THE FLUID SURFACE IN THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WHILE AN ASSISTANT SANK THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE SURFACE REMAINED UNDISTURBED, INDICATING THAT THE MASTER HYDRAULIC PISTON IS NOT LEAKY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE SALES & SERVICE MANAGERS OBSERVED BUT RELUCTANTLY ADMITTED THE BEHAVIOR, TESTED IT ON THEIR COMPUTER AND DECLARED IT ACCEPTABLE. I TESTED A SECOND 2010 PRIUS ON THEIR LOT AND THE BEHAVIOR WAS IDENTICAL. CONSEQUENCES: HAVING DEALT WITH DEALERS BEFORE, WE ARE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THE DEALER'S REASSURANCE FOR THIS SEEMINGLY UNSAFE BEHAVIOR, AND ARE NOW COMPELLED TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE AT EVERY WAITING STOP. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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