Toyota Prius Complaints (2010)

2,829 consumer complaints on file.

#10307835February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY 2010 PRUIS BRAKE PROBELM AS REPORTED IN THE NEWS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307856February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN AUGUST 2009. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKING PROBLEM I DESCRIBE BELOW, I ALSO HAVE AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I QUESTIONED MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN I AM BRAKING OVER METAL (MANHOLE COVER, REPAIR LIDS, ETC.) THE CAR IS QUICKLY PUSHED FORWARD ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET. SEVERAL OTHER NEW OWNERS SAID THEY HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. THE DEALER SAID THAT WHEN THEY CHECKED WITH TOYOTA, THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY MOTOR USED A MAGNET AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO RECHARGE IT. AND THAT THE PUSH FORWARD WAS FROM THE REPELLING ACTION OF THE MAGNET. MY SISTERS OWN A 2008 CAMRY HYBRID AND 2008 PRIUS, AND THEY BOTH HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROPELLING MOTION WHEN ON METAL SURFACES ALSO. THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEALERS ADVICE TO "NOT BRAKE ON METAL SURFACES" DOESN'T HELP IN SNOW OR WATER SITUATIONS. WILL THIS PROBLEM BE FIXED BY THE ABS BRAKES SOFTWARE CHANGE?? I ALSO HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD SUDDENLY GO TO THE FLOOR AND PRODUCE VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND THE DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER INSTANCES WHERE THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK WELL AND I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SO I NOW DRIVE WITH A LOT OF DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND OTHER CARS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. I SHOULD SAY THAT I'VE HAD OTHER CARS WITH ABS BRAKES AND THIS CAR DOES NOT FEEL LIKE I HAVE THEM. ON SLIPPERY SURFACES (SNOW, WATER) THE BRAKES DO NOT PUMP THEMSELVES LIKE OTHER ABS CARS THAT I HAVE DRIVEN. I HAVE DROPPED IT INTO LOW GEAR TO HELP BRAKE. THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN VERY CAREFUL AND NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307891February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO PROBLEMS WITH MY 2010 PRIUS V THAT I PURCHASED LAST SUMMER. FIRST, ON APPROXIMATELY 6-8 OCCASIONS, MY CAR HAS NOT STOPPED IMMEDIATELY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THIS OCCURRED 3-4 TIMES WHEN I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN ON A ROAD BETWEEN MY HOME AND CHURCH. THE SURFACE OF THE ROAD APPROACHING THE STOP SIGN HAD BEEN SCRAPED AND ROUGHENED TO GET READY FOR RE-PAVING. AS I APPROACHED AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, MY CAR SURGED FORWARD FOR ABOUT A SECOND, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP. THIS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES IN OTHER LOCATIONS, AS WELL. IT IS AN INCREDIBLY STRANGE AND HELPLESS SENSATION. THIS PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY NOTED BETWEEN LATE AUGUST 2009 AND LAST OCCURRED ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. EVEN THOUGH I WAS FORCED TO PUT AN EXACT DATE IN THE FIELD BELOW, I HAVE NO IDEA NOW WHEN THE EXACT DATES WERE IN WHICH THIS BRAKING ISSUE OCCURRED. WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE, I DESCRIBED WHAT HAD HAPPENED BUT WAS TOLD THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE MEDIA AS TO OTHER CARS. THE PERSON AT THE SERVICE DESK JUST KIND OF IGNORED MY COMMENTS AND WAS NOT INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT THE BRAKING ISSUE FURTHER. THE SECOND PROBLEM I HAVE EXPERIENCED IS THAT WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATE FUNCTION THE CAR JUST CONTINUED ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGH I WAS NO LONGER TURNING THE CRUISE FUNCTION LEVER. THIS STOPPED WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES. IT DID CAUSE ME TO STOP USING THE CRUISE CONTROL DURING THAT TRIP THOUGH. THE CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE PROBABLY OCCURRED LAST AUGUST IN I-5. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307955February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN
WHEN SLOWING DOWN, SUCH AS TO MAKE A TURN OR TO CHANGE TO REVERSE, WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THERE WAS SOME ACCELERATION ALSO OCCURRING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4-5 TIMES IN PAST FEW MONTHS, THE LAST TIME WAS ABOUT 7 OR TEN DAYS AGO. THE CAR DID BRAKE WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEM AND NO HARM OCCURRED AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308022February 9, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHILE APPLYING MODERATE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 PRIUS AND WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMPY ROAD, THE BRAKES SEEM TO MOMENTARILY, BUT COMPLETELY FAIL. THEN THE CAR SEEMS TO BRIEFLY ACCELERATE (OR AT LEAST FREE-WHEEL) BEFORE THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY'RE STARTING ENGAGE AND WORK AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS NEW CAR SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT IN JULY OF 2009. IT DOES IT EVERY SINGLE DAY, AS I DRIVE OVER THE SPEED BUMP WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE NEAR MY WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308025February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY CAR MOMENTARILY LUNGES FORWARD WHEN I GO THRU A POTHOLE WHILE BRAKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308059February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
SINCE I BOUGHT MY PRIUS BACK IN JULY 2009, MY BRAKES HAVE BEEN GREAT EXCEPT FOR THE 5 OR 6 TIMES WHEN THE BRAKES DISAPPEARED FOR A SECOND AS I PULLED UP TO A STOP SIGN ON A BUMPY ROAD. IT'S HAPPENED TWICE AT ONE STOP SIGN WHERE I DRIVE JUST ONCE A WEEK. THAT ONE HAS A BIG DIP IN THE ROAD WHERE THEY HAVE REPLACED A WATER LINE AND THEN REPAVED. MY OCCURRENCES HAVE ALL BEEN WITHIN 20 FEET OF THE STOP SIGN AND NEVER NEAR A CAR OR PEDESTRIAN FORTUNATELY. I NOW HAVE 14,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WITH SOMETHING THIS RARE, THE DEALERSHIP WAS OF COURSE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY TOYOTA ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM IN LATE JANUARY ON THE LINE BUT HAD NO FIX TO OFFER US YET. BRAKES ARE GREAT OTHERWISE; THE BEST I'VE HAD. RECENTLY I HAVE HAD PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO TEST ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROL. NO PROBLEMS EXCEPT FOR THOSE HALF-DOZEN INCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308120February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHILE DRIVING A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ROTORS WERE SQUEALING SO LOUD WE HAD TO PULL OVER AND CHECK THE ROTORS AND BRAKES. HOWEVER, NOTHING LOOKED UNUSUAL SO WE SLOWLY DROVE BACK HOME. ME AND MY WIFE THEN PROCEEDED TO RETURN HOME SLOWLY AND THE SOUND CONTINUED ALL THE WAY HOME (10 MILES). SINCE THEN WE HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE TO AWAIT RESULTS OF RECALL THAT, WHICH HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED TODAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308177February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 GOING DOWNHILL PUSHING THE BRAKES TO STOP BEFORE RED LIGHT IN THE UNEVEN PAVEMENT THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES ALL FOURS WHEELS BRAKES FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND . WHEN THE WHEEL THAT PASSED THE ROAD BUMP THE BRAKES COME BACK AGAIN AND STOP THE CAR. IT HAPPENED THREE TIME IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS THAT I HAVE THE CAR. SAME CAR DEFECT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. AFTER LEAVING IN THE GARAGE FOR 5 CONSECUTIVE DAYS, THE CAR DID NOT STARTED AUTOMATICALLY AS IT SHOULD DO. IT MADE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS A METAL TO METAL NOISE BEFORE THE ENGINE FINALLY STARTED TO FUNTIONING AS USUAL. SEAMS LIKE THE ENGINE STARVED OF FUEL. SAME CAR EXCESSIVE VIBRATION ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL WHEN THE RADIO OR MUSIC IS ON. IT STOPS WHEN I HOLD WITH MY KNEE THA PANEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308201February 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, PURCHASED NOV. 2009. USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR ACCELERATED QUICKLY ON IT'S OWN WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE SPEED BY USING THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER ON THE STEERING WHEEL. HAPPENED TWICE, THEN I STOPPED EXPERIMENTING FOR REASONS OF SAFETY. THE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE DESCRIBED BY STEVE WOSNIAK IN PUBLIC TWO WEEKS AGO--ONE THAT GOT A LOT OF PRESS. ACCELERATION STOPPED WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS TAPPED OR CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307350February 8, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REGARDING OUR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS PURCHASED IN AUGUST OF 2009, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING ISSUES IN TWO INSTANCES: 1) WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP SIGN AND HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE CAR SURGES FORWARD 2) WHEN BRAKING ON ICY SURFACE THE BRAKES SEEM TO LOCK UP CAUSING CONTROL PROBLEMS. IN SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAD KNOW KNOWLEDGE OF A FIX TO THE ISSUE AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH TOYOTA THEY GAVE US A RENTAL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE COME OUT OF PRODUCTION AFTER THE SOFTWARE WAS FIXED TO CORRECT THE BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING THE RENTAL WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WHILE BRAKING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307360February 8, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). [XXX] TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I PURCHASED A PRIUS 2010 IN THE SUMMER OF 2009. I CALLED MY DEALER A WEEK AGO TO REPORT THAT I TOO HAD EXPERIENCED THE BRAKING ISSUE THAT WAS REPORTED ON THE NEWS. I WAS NOT SURE IF THE CAR WAS SKIDDING THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED IT, I WAS GOING SLOWLY AND BRAKED OVER A SLIPPERY PATCH AND THE CAR LURCHED BEFORE BRAKING, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN OVER A ROUGH SURFACE. WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY DEALER, CONICELLI TOYOTA OF SPRINGFIELD, PA, I WAS TOLD THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ANNOUNCED, NO OTHER CONCERN OR CARE WAS GIVEN TO ME AT THAT TIME. I DID ASK FOR THE CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY AND WAS GIVEN AN 800 NUMBER AND THE WEBSITE. I TRIED CALLING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE OF TOYOTA TWICE TO REPORT MY EXPERIENCE, AND WAS ON HOLD FOR OVER 10 MINUTES BEFORE HANGING UP WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AGAIN AND SPOKE WITH THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER, I ASKED THAT THEY REPORT MY EXPERIENCE TO YOU AND THAT THEY WORK TO ADVOCATE FOR A SOLUTION FOR THE BRAKE ISSUE. I AM AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THEM. I AGAIN TRIED THE 800 NUMBER WITHOUT SUCCESS AND THEN ACCESSED YOUR WEBSITE. I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PLACE TO SEND OR POST MY COMMENT/CONCERN, SO I WROTE THIS LETTER. PLEASE ADD ME TO THE 210 COMPLAINTS REPORTED FOR THE PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEM. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA 'FIXED' THE PROBLEM ON THE PRODUCTION LINE BUT WAS NOT PROACTIVE IN FINDING A CORRECTION FOR THE MODELS PRODUCED BEFORE JANUARY 2010. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY LAWYER AND OTHER AUTHORITIES ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THOSE THAT SHARE THE ROAD WITH ME ARE OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO ME. I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE NOT OF THE UTMOST CONCERN OF TOYOTA, WHO WOULD LEAVE US ALL AT RISK UNLESS PUBLIC PRESSURE IS BROUGHT TO BEAR. . [XXX] *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307359February 8, 2010
EQUIPMENT
1) 2010 PRIUS IV: AFTER APPLYING THE BREAKS LIGHTLY, IF TRAVELING OVER A BUMP OR MAN-HOLE COVER OR PAINTED PAVEMENT STRIPE. 2) THE BREAKS DISENGAGE WHILE STILL BEING APPLIED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PROGRESS WITHOUT ANY BREAKING. 3) AFTER TAKING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA HAS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND WILL CONTACT ME WHEN A FIX IS AVAILABLE. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK SO FAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307374February 8, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS SEEMS TO LOSE BRAKING POWER WHENEVER I HIT A BUMP OR SLICK PATCH IN THE ROAD. NOT ONLY DO THE BRAKES SEEM COMPLETELY DISENGAGED, BUT THE CAR ACTUALLY FEELS LIKE IT ACCELERATES FORWARD. I'VE ADAPTED MY DRIVING, BUT ONLY AFTER I'D ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A COUPLE OF INTERSECTIONS BECAUSE THE CAR SHOT FORWARD WHILE I WAS OSTENSIBLY BRAKING. FORTUNATELY, I'VE NOT YET REAR ENDED ANYONE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307375February 8, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I OWN A 2010 PRIUS. I NOTICE THAT ON MANY OCCASIONS, THE WARNING LAMP ON THE DASHBOARD FOR THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM COMES ON VERY EASILY, WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN ANY DANGER WHATSOEVER OF SKIDDING, AND THAT IT SOMETIMES COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS ACTUALLY AT A STOP. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT, AT MODERATE SPEEDS OF ABOUT 30 MPH, THE BRAKES DO NOT FEEL RELIABLE, AND THAT SOMETIMES THEY FEEL VERY SLOPPY: SLOW TO REACT AND VERY SOFT IN THEIR IMPACT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING EARLIER MODEL PRIUS CARS FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND DID NOT NOTICE THIS SAME PROBLEM BEFORE I STARTED DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS. I AM NOT CONFIDENT ABOUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND FEEL RELUCTANT TO DRIVE THE CAR, EXCEPT AT VERY LOW SPEEDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307382February 8, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PURCHASED 2010 PRIUS V APPORX. MID-JUNE. DRVING IN FIRST WK OF OWNERSHIP, OBSERVED BREAK PROBLEM. VEHCILE HAD APPROX. 50 MILES ON. DRINING 25-30 MPH ON STRAIGHT, SMOOTH, BLACKTOP ROAD ON A SUNNY, NICE DAY. A CAR BACKED OUT OF A 45 DEG PARKING SPOT WITHOUT WARNING, I HAD TO SLAMP ON BREAKS AT THE SAME TIME THE GAS/ELECTRIC MOTORS WERE SWITCHING. THE BREAK PEDAL LOST FEELING THAT IT HAD PRESSURE UNTIL I PUSHED THE BREAK PEDAL ANOTHER 2 INCHES MORE TO FEEL PRESSURE AND THAT THE BREAKS WERE GRABBING. I DID NOT REPORT THIS IN JUNE, DUE TO I THOUGHT I WAS IMAGINING THINGS DUE TO THE EMERGENCY STOP TOOK MY ATTENTION TO SOME DEGREE. I WAS A SERVICE MANAGER FOR CHRYSLER YEARS AGO, SO I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH VEHCILE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND I HAVE PURCHSED APPROXIMATELY 25 NEW VEHCILES IN MY LIFETIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307400February 8, 2010
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES FAIL BRIEFLY WHEN CAR PASSES OVER BUMPY SURFACES AT LOW SPEED. THIS FEELS LIKE A SURGING FORWARD, OR SOMETIMES AS IF THE CAR HAS BEEN BUMPED FROM BEHIND. NO CORRECTIVE MEASURES YET BEING OFFERED. CAR PURCHASED 1/7/10.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307414February 8, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE BRAKING AND ON UNEVEN SUFRACE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE SROPPED WORKING AND THEN LATER CATCH, VEHICLE SEEMS TO ACTUALLY SPEED UP. IT OCCURES AT LEASE 1+ A DAY DEPENDING ON WHERE I AM DRIVING AND OR WEATHER CONDITIOND. SPEED DOSN'T ALWAYS MATTER, AS IF COMING OFF EXPRESSWAY AND BRAKING, SPEEDS CAN BE 55MPH AND IT STILL HAPPENS. LUCKILY I HAVE NOT HIT ANY THING YET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307419February 8, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 PRIUS DID NOT ENGAGE TWO TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS THIS WINTER. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO A CAR BOTH TIMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307424February 8, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
BRAKES DISENGAGE MOMENTARILY WHEN BRAKING ON A ROUGH OR RIPPLED SURFACE. IT GIVES THE FEELING THE VEHICLE IS BEING ACCELERATED. UNCONTROLLED TRAVEL DISTANCE CAN BE LENGTHLY. I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR SUCH INSTANCES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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