Toyota Prius Complaints (2010)

2,829 consumer complaints on file.

#10306435February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1. I BOUGHT MY 2010 PRIUS NEW FROM A TOYOTA DEALER IN EARLY DECEMBER OF 2009. 2. WHEN I AM APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, IF I HIT A POTHOLE, BUMP, OR SPEED BUMP THE BRAKES WILL STOP WORKING AND THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BRAKE FAILURE AT LEAST 20 TIMES, WITH VARYING SEVERITY. IT CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME I AM TRYING TO SLOW DOWN AND HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE (E.G.. TRYING TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME IS STOPPING, OR BECAUSE I AM APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, OR BECAUSE I AM TURNING OR GOING INTO A CURVE). SO FAR, THIS BRAKE FAILURE HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT IT HAS CAUSED ME TO COME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ON ONE OCCASION. I HAVE COME TO NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY PRIUS BECAUSE I CANNOT TRUST THE BRAKES WHEN THERE ARE BUMPS OR POTHOLES IN THE ROAD. 3. I BROUGHT MY PRIUS TO THE SERVICE CENTER OF THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON 2/4/2010. THAT EVENING WHEN I SPOKE TO THE MECHANIC, HE TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKES ARE NORMAL AND THAT HE DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX MY CAR AND THAT I COULD PICK MY CAR UP. I THEN SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER AND TOLD HIM THAT I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL THEY FIXED THE BRAKING PROBLEM. MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BECAUSE THEY ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING SAFELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306452February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE NOTICED A BRAKING PROBLEM WITH MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. I WAS SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE OF A COW IN THE ROAD AND AS I WAS SLOWING I HIT A SMALL BUMP AND SUDDENLY MY BRAKES COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING FOR ABOUT A SECOND AND IT ALMOST FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO RUN INTO THE COW AND THEN THE BRAKES GRABBED AGAIN AND I CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN. IT WAS NOT A GOOD FEELING. I ALSO EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR ISSUE WHEN I HIT SOME ICE ON THE ROAD. WHEN I HIT THE ICE THERE WAS A BRIEF SECOND WHERE THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BE DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL. I COULD NOT FEEL THE NORMAL ABS FEEL OR ANYTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306453February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
PRIUS 2010 OWNER. I WAS BRAKING TO ENTER A PARKING LOT FROM THE ROAD. AS I ENTERED THE LOT, THE CAR WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE PAVEMENT AND THE BRAKES FAILED FOR A VERY SHORT INSTANCE. IT DIDN'T PUT ME IN DANGER BUT IT WAS AN IMMEDIATE SCARE. (THIS HAPPENED JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE MEDIA REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE CAME OUT, SO I RELATED WITH THE REPOTS WHEN THEY CAME OUT.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306457February 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I BOUGHT AT 2010 PRIUS ON 12/26/09 FROM THE VERY BEGINNING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I GO TO STOP THE CAR WON'T STOP (MY CHEST TIGHTEN) ITS AS IF THE BACK OF THE CAR IS BEING PUSHED FORWARD EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. YOU A GET A HESITATION AND THEN THE CAR STOPS. MY HUSBAND SAID IT WAS THE TRACTION CONTROL I WAS NOT USE TO IT.BUT THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. ITS IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO STOP. NOW EVEN THE PASSENGERS HEAR AND FEEL THE PROBLEM. YET WHEN I CALL TOYOTA TO BRING THE CAR IN THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306430February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I PURCHASED A 2010 PRIUS IN JULY 2009. WHENEVER I GO OVER A BUMPY ROAD OR HIT A POTHOLE WHILE BRAKING THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD. I BROUGHT IT TO WALSER TOYOTA IN BLOOMINGTON, MN FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID MY BRAKES WORK FINE. I'M STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. IN FACT...I HAVE IT SO OFTEN WE HAVE NICKNAMED IT "PRIUS BRAKING." SO EACH TIME IT HAPPENS WE SAY "PRIUS BRAKING." WE KNOW TO NOT FOLLOW CLOSELY TO ANYONE AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT IN FEAR OF REAR-ENDING THEM WHEN THE "PRIUS BRAKING" HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306451February 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I EXPERIENCE A FEW TIMES WEEK SINCE LAST SUMMER WHEN I GOT MY 2010 PRIUS THE "1 SECOND" BRAKE FAILURE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR 2010 PRIUS VEHICLES. AS AN OWNER OF SUCH VEHICLE, THE POTHOLE ON MY USUAL FREEWAY ON RAMP AND THE SPEED BUMP IN MY WORK'S PARKING GARAGE BOTH CAUSE A QUICK ACCELERATION FEELING FOR ABOUT 1/2 SECOND IF I'M APPLYING THE BRAKES AT THE MOMENT OF PASSING OVER THE POTHOLE OR SPEED BUMP. THAT 'FEELING' MAY BE NOT AN ACCELERATION BUT A MOMENTARY BRAKE FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS ONLY ABOUT 1/2 SECOND AND I'M USED TO IT NOW, THOUGH OBVIOUSLY IT IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION. IF I COME ACROSS SUCH EVENTS WHILE, SAY, BRAKING HARD WHEN I SEE A PEDESTRIAN IN THE PARKING LOT, I COULD FAIL TO AVOID HITTING THE PERSON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306431February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES BEFORE GOING OVER A POTHOLE I NOTICED THAT MY 2010 PRIUS APPEARED TO SPEED UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND RATHER THAN SLOW DOWN. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WENT OVER THE POTHOLE. I ALSO NOTED THE SAME SENSATION WHEN BRAKING BEHIND CARS AT A STOP LIGHT. IF I HIT A BUMP THE CAR SEEMS TO SLIGHTLY ACCELERATE RATHER THAN DECELERATE. ADDITIONALLY WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN A ICY HILL AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE WAS A DELAY IN ANY BRAKING. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES HARDER THE CAR DID DECELERATE EVENTUALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES, BUT IS HARD TO REPLICATE ON DEMAND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306449February 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS DOES NOT ALWAYS CANCEL WHILE BRAKING. THIS HAS RESULTED IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AFTER BRAKING WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS BEEN SET. A DRIVER EXPECTS THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL AUTOMATICALLY CANCEL WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN UNDER LIGHT BRAKING. THIS IS EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED WHILE DRIVING UP A STEEP HILL. ON JANUARY 11TH, 2010, I WAS IN A SITUATION WHERE I ACTUALLY APPLIED THE BRAKES TO REDUCE MY SPEED WHILE TRAVELING UP A STEEP HILL AND FELT THE CAR "FIGHTING" AGAINST ME TO MAINTAIN A STEADY SPEED. AFTER I HAD SLOWED MY PRIUS TO MATCH THE SPEED OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, THE CRUISE CONTROL UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSED THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AGAIN, PLACING ME AT A LESS THAN SAFE DISTANCE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AS WE CRESTED THE HILL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306450February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON AN UNEVEN RAISED ROADWAY SURFACE; PROCEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION AFTER APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306455February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1. LOW DRIVING SPEEDS (<30 MPH), MOVING DOWN HILL, DECELERATING AS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. 2. WHEN THE FRONT WHEEL STRIKES POT HOLE, THE BRAKING ACTION STOPS/DECREASES, THE CAR MOVES FORWARD MORE QUICKLY. IN THE CURRENT CASE, THERE ARE A SERIES OF THREE POT HOLES, SO HITTING EACH POT HOLE INCREASES THE FORWARD MOTION DESPITE HAVING BREAK PEDAL DEPRESSED. CONSEQUENCE, IS IMMEDIATE DIFFICULTY TO COME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. 3. NO CURRENT CORRECTION HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306461February 5, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS DO NOT ILLUMINATE UNDER LIGHT BRAKING. THERE IS A VERY DISCERNIBLE "GAP" AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. UNDER LIGHT BRAKING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT WARN THE DRIVER OF THE CAR BEHIND ME THAT I AM ACTUALLY BRAKING. THIS RESULTS IN PEOPLE TAILGATING ME, AND SOMETIMES SOUNDING THEIR HORN SIGNAL AT ME, WHILE I AM SLOWING DOWN. ONCE THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED FAR ENOUGH -- UNDER MODERATE TO SEVERE BRAKING -- THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL EVENTUALLY ILLUMINATE. THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY SEVERAL CO-WORKERS AND FRIENDS WHO ALSO OWN THIS MODEL OF PRIUS. ALL OF OUR CARS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306467February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS MOMENTARILY QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING OVER ROUGH SURFACES SUCH AS POTHOLES, RAILROAD TRACKS OR VERY UNEVEN PAVEMENT. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY UNDER BRAKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306485February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE 2010 PRIUS. LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR A FEW SECONDS A FEW TIMES ESPECIALLY IN UNEVEN DOWN ROADS AND SLOW OR SLIPPERY ROADS. IT JUMPS (MOVE FORWARD) A FEW FEET, BEFORE IT STOPS, EVEN I APPLY THE BRAKE. I FELT THAT BRAKES DIDN'T WORK DURING THE PERIOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306510February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHENEVER HE ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS RANGING FROM 5 MPH OR HIGHER OVER A POTHOLE, A BUMP IN THE ROAD, ICE OR ANY CHANGE IN THE ROAD SURFACE THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY ACCELERATED BEFORE THE BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HEARD A RATTLING NOISE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BUT PRODUCED NO CODES. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO THE OWNER. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 8,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306504February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
AT 15 MPH AND BRAKING, BRAKES DISENGAGE FOR LESS THAN ONE SECOND AFTER HITTING A ROAD IMPERFECTION (AN OLD METAL AND RUBBER SENSOR PLACED ABOUT 10 OR 15 FEET FROM CROSSWALK) THAT IS PERPENDICULAR TO DRIVING DIRECTION. AT 35 MPH, BRAKES DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING AND CROSSING A BRIDGE/OVERPASS CONNECTOR PLATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306505February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE FAILURE WHILE GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS. SOMETIMES ON FLAT SURFACES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306530February 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN NOVEMBER 2009. WE BOTH HAVE NOTICED A SORT OF JERKY FEELING WHILE BRAKING OVER A SMALL BUMP OR POTHOLE BUT WE DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH MY CHILDREN. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AT ABOUT 30 MILES/HR. AND WAS SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. WHILE I WAS BRAKING I HIT A MEDIUM SIZED POT HOLE. MY CAR JUST LEAPT FORWARD ABOUT 10 FEET. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE FIRMLY THE ENTIRE TIME BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. FINALLY MY CAR CAME TO A STOP. I WAS VERY SHAKEN BY THIS INCIDENT. IF THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HAVE TOTALLY REARENDED THEM. I CAME HOME AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I LEFT A MESSAGE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. MY CALL WAS RETURNED BY THE MANAGER THIS MORNING. SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM TOYOTA ABOUT ANY BRAKE ISSUES AND THEN SHE ASKED ME WHETHER I WAS SPEEDING! SHE DID NOT SEEM TO BELIEVE ME AND BASICALLY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306501February 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN, UNINTENDED ACCELERATION--2010 PRIUS ON FREEWAY, ACCELERATED WITH GAS PEDAL TO 75. PUT ON CRUISE CONTROL. SEVERAL SECONDS LATER, CAR SURGED FORWARD, HARD AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION. FIRST TIME HAPPENED--THREE DAYS AGO, NOT DRIVEN SINCE. HAVE DONE NOTHING YET . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306502February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
ANTILOCK BRAKES DON'T SEEM TO WORK EFFECTIVELY ON MY 2010 PRIUS, BROUGHT JUNE 2009. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 48 YRS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK; AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER IN THE SNOW/ICE ROADS. THIS 2010 PRIUS IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON SNOW/ICE ROADS. I THOUGHT MAYBE THE TIRES WERE LOUSY OR THAT I'M NOT ACCUSTOMED TO ANTILOCK BRAKES. BUT NOW THAT I'M HEARING ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM WITH OTHER 2010 PRIUS, I'M CONVINCED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE CAR'S ANTILOCK BRAKES. IF THERE'S ANY SNOW ON THE ROAD, I KNOW THAT I NEED ALOT OF ROOM TO COMPLETE A STOP AND THIS IS NOT GOING FAST AT ALL. I'VE HAD TWO NEAR CRASHES SO FAR AND AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306499February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE LA TIMES REPORTED 124 REPORTS OF BRAKES FAILING, I WISH TO ADD MY EXPERIENCES. TWICE, WHILE I WAS BRAKING, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN SURGE, A LOSS OF BRAKING - AN INCREASE OF POWER. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH AN AUTOMATIC SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. NO ACCIDENT, NO INJURY OCCURRED BUT I NOW REFUSE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE "WHAT IF" FACTOR IS TOO HIGH. I COULDN'T LIVE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF POSSIBLE HARM TO SOMEONE CAUSED BY MY DRIVING MY PRIUS! TOYOTA HAD BETTER SET THIS STRAIGHT - I'M SHOCKED THEY HAVEN'T RECALLED THE CAR. I'M PERPLEXED YOUR AGENCY HASN'T INSISTED!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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