This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I read about the recall of the 2010 Prius concerning the ABS software. My 2007 Prius experienced the same problems recently when I ran over a curb at low speed and the car lurched forward at high speed after I applied the brakes and I hit a wall about 5 feet away. Damage to my car was a cracked bumper, slightly dented hood, cracked head light. I used to get 50 to 60 miles per gallon and I can not get over 41 miles per gallon now. I bought new tires and had them balanced and aligned but the mileage had not improved. Damages to the exterior of the car will amount to about 2 to 3 thousand dollars. My Toyota dealer says that my 2007 model is not part of the recall. I have read blogs where people with my model Toyota have had similar experiences. I believe that the ABS software is faulty in more than the 2010 priuses.
Prius braking behavior I owned a new 2007 Prius which I leased and drove for the first 2 years of the lease and then traded for a vehicle with a larger interior. This vehicle was leased in February 2007 during the president's day sale at karl malone Toyota in albuquerque. This vehicle consistently "paused" braking for most of a second when one of the front wheels passed thru a small pothole on paved roads. It may have also had this behavior in other situations, but I didn't encounter any other cases. I expected more braking misbehavior when albuquerque installed some redlight cameras because they also installed warning strips in the pavement approaching these intersections. In some cases they didn't install strips in the four grooves cut in the pavement perpendicular to vehicle travel, but neither the grooves or the strips bothered my Prius during braking. Maybe that was because both wheels saw the same transients. I didn't report this to the dealer/manufacturer/government because I chalked it up to more nonsense from modern anti-locking braking systems, and because the behavior was consistent/predictable and most anti-locking systems annoy me with their behavior. We've continue to "improve" anti-locking brake systems, but diminishing marginal returns has caused the improvements to actually reduce the value of these braking systems to drivers. For example, braking distances in typical (I.e. most) conditions are lengthened by the preventable. Overly cautious actions of these systems. More problematic, these braking systems do not deliver the performance in urgent situations which they seem to promise in day-to-day driving. Even braking for an unexpected yellow light can surprise the driver with a firmer than usual pedal which then requires more effort than expected to get the desired urgent braking. The needed braking is ultimately available, but it ends up coming too late because the driver had to adjust his actions.
When attempting to use the brakes on my 2007 Toyota Prius when driving over a bumpy surface, pothole, etc., it takes a short distance or 1-2 seconds for the brakes to take hold and slow/stop the car. It feels as though the car lurches forward a bit before braking and the "slip indicator" warning light on the dash flashes. This has happened approximately 10 times since buying the car in April of 2007. I have notified the original dealer (Toyota of North hollywood), but was informed that there is no way to correct the problem on my car's particular model.
I have a 2007 Toyota Prius and am experiencing braking problems similar to the ones described as part of the 2010 model recall. I have lost control over the brakes momentarily several times throughout the past few years of ownership and chalked it up to adjusting to a new make of a car. Now I realize that I am part of a bigger problem, the experience I have is not normal and I do not feel safe. I strongly encourage the NHTSA to broaden the recall to all Prius owners who are experiencing the same problem, not just 2010 models or those whose VIN number match up to the computer system.
I've owned a 2007 Prius since it was new and the problem that I see written about for the 2010 model, momentary loss of brakes when hitting a pothole or rough road, is exactly what I feel in my 2007 and have seen reported by other drivers for various year Prius's. this problem is not a 2010 problem only!!! this symptom has been present since I bought the car.
- Wading River, NY, USA
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I have a 2007 Toyota Prius and have experienced the same braking issue that is being reported about the 2010 Prius. I have noticed that when I am driving or braking while going over pot-holes, railroad tracks, or very bumping roads I can feel a sudden and momentary loss of braking and/or acceleration. I also noticed that the traction control indicator light on the dash always turns on when this happens. I took the dealer just after I purchased the vehicle and was told that everything was normal. This has been happening for the last 2 and a half years. It has happened 3 or 4 times this week alone. I have gotten used to this happening but have also been very concerned that it will cause a rearend collision, or something even worse. This needs attention asap. Thank you
Car did not stop and seemed to accelerate when brakes hit during turn into driveway. Hit curb. Lost steering control and car had to be towed because of significant damages to wheel and also possibly steering. Snowy road. I was already driving very slowly. No reason why this much damage to my car or this level of impact unless car suddenly accelerated beyond my current speed while I braked. Car seems to accelerate on slippery, uneven surfaces and evs light comes on, even when brakes applied. Acceleration is beyond that seen with normal slippage. It is not simply slippage but actual brief acceleration.
While approaching intersection, our 2007 Toyota Prius failed to stop. While braking, the car continued to roll - into the side of a truck. The car was totaled. At the time, we explained that the brakes were applied, but the car failed to stop. We asked the insurance company and Toyota if there were any reports of problems with the Prius, and we were told "no reported problems" with the car. Prior to the incident we had just had the 25,000 mile maintenance done so we knew it was not the brakes. About a year later, we were informed of the car mat problem, and now there is talk of possible accelerator/electronic problems. We now have a 2008 Prius, and experience a momentary loss of the electronic system when the car hits a bump. We contacted Toyota last week, and were promised a callback in two days, but so far we have not heard anything. So until we get assurance that our car is safe, we have decided to stop driving the Prius. Subsequent to the accident, my back pain went from manageable to unbearable, which led to spine surgery in 1/09. My physicians believed that the accident might have aggravated the symptoms to the point that I required surgery - possibly from the impact from the airbags.
I have a 2007 Prius. Every time I hit a bump or pothole, the car feels airborne, and the skid control light comes on. The car has terrible traction in wet or snowy weather. I believe that the braking system on all Prius should be investigated.
I have a 2007 Prius. And I love it, however before all this came out about Prius brakes, in December 2009 the brakes started acting weird. They would not engage when I stepped on the brake pedal and then would jerk to a stop a few seconds later. The first time it happened my passenger and I just looked at each other and commented on how that was strange. It has continued to happen usually when I am going slow (25mph) or less, when it is damp (I live in Oregon, when is it not damp in the winter) and cold.
I have a 2007 Prius. I don't know if it is the braking system or a sudden acceleration but I have definitely experienced a surge when braking. This does not happen all the time but has happened on more than one occasion. It feels like the car stops braking for a second and surges forward before re-engaging the brakes.
Date: 02/09/2010 time: 10:01:20 creation date: 02/09/2010 creation time: 09:58:43 I would like to report a braking/traction control/loss of engine power safety problem with my 2007 Toyota Prius. The problem happens while driving on snow covered flat road surfaces (1 inch of snow), snow covered hilly roads (1 inch of snow), and bumpy road surfaces. When the traction control system (trac) engages on these road surfaces, I lose the ability to brake and also lose power to the engine simultaneously. I have had four (4) near-accidents due to this safety problem. 1.snow covered (1 inch of snow) going downhill (slight hill)- lost brakes after trac traction control system engaged was unable to stop car - went through stop sign. Car went onto busy highway (50 mph zone) and would not stop. Luckily no cars were coming and I avoided a very serious accident. 2. snow covered (1 inch of snow) going downhill - lost brakes after trac traction control system engaged and almost crashed into cars that were slowing down ahead of me. 3. snow covered (1 inch of snow) going uphill - trac traction control system engaged and I lost all engine power as I was turning left up a steep hill. I almost crashed into large rocks at the roadside. I was able to avoid a crash. 4. snow covered (1 inch of snow) driving on flat road surface. I turned off of snow covered road into a parking lot area. Trac traction control system engaged and I lost the ability to brake. My car went at least 15 feet in the parking lot area before stopping. Luckily there were no parked cars there and I did not have an accident. A recurring problem with trac and loss of engine power also occurs on the hilly road leading up to my house. When the road is snow covered (1 inch of snow) or icy the trac traction control system engages and I lose all power to the engine. It makes it nearly impossible to get my car up the hill due to the loss of power when trac engages!
I own a 2007 Toyota Prius and have experienced occasional momentary loss of braking (my foot firmly on the brake pedal) while driving over a bumpy surface. While braking over small pot holes, railroad tracks, rough patches, etc., the car seems to lunge forward apparently as the brakes release for a split second (approximately 1/4 to 1/2 second). The road conditions can be wet or dry. At the same time, my traction control light will flash on and off until the road smoothes out. That split second is enough to cause an accident with the car in front of me if I don't give myself extra room or slow down prior to the bumpy condition (1/2 second at 20 mph = 15 feet of unwanted travel). I drive over the same railroad tracks just prior to a traffic light every day and I have had to adjust my driving habits to keep this dangerous, additional stopping distance from recurring. This has occurred approximately 15 to 20 times in various bumpy conditions since I bought the car over 3 years ago. I have had some close calls, but no accident yet. I have not complained to Toyota, but due to all the complaints I have read about online, I assumed they would do something eventually.
Prius 2007 hydraulic braking/traction control. There is a delayed interaction between the hydraulic brakes and the traction control, that overrides the actions or the driver's braking, for several seconds. This typically occurs if there is any momentary loss of traction due to, even a minor ripple in the road. The effect is most dangerous at speeds over 40mph, because quite some distance is covered before braking resumes. The traction control relinquishes hydraulic braking for 2-3 seconds, before normal braking action is restored. The delay appears to be software related, and the Toyota dealer insisted that the behavior is normal. I disagreed but found no relief. I adjusted my driving to account for this.
I own a 2007 Prius. It experiences a lapse in braking power when on uneven terrain (ie a pothole or railroad tracks). This has occured nearly every single time I have driven on an uneven surface since purchasing the vehicle in early 2007. The consequence is a momentary surge in the vehicle speed during times that I am attempting to slow down-it is a frightening situation that makes one's heart jump every time it happens. I have reported the issue to my dealership-their response was that they have not received any complaints about the issue and that they will wait and see what happens with the anticipated 2010 model recall. This appears to be the same problem that is being described in the 2010 Prius.
The 'brake cut-out driving over a pothole or manhole cover' is >not< restricted to the 2010 Prius. My 2007 has done that since day one [65K miles ago]. there are hills near my house where I have to go out of my way to avoid manhole covers -- particularly the last one near a stop sign. The car just goes into free-wheel mode for a second or so.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Phoenix, AZ, USA