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.
My 2007 Prius touring can/does experience braking issues when slowing/braking downhill and coming in contact with a manhole cover, pothole, or other "even" road surface. Thought it was the tires, so replaced the original bridgestones for nokians, but the issue still occurs. The "sensation" is you feel like you've lost control of the car momentarily. As a result, I've changed my commute route home and drive much slower (was already driving slower since Prius mileage is dependent on mph). On occasions, the speed (on a straight away) set with cruise control will increase by itself... by a couple mph.... w/O me doing anything or touching anything. So I'm forced to tap brake........ occurred this weekend with passengers - they said they felt the surge.....
2007 Prius brakes applied for yellow light on good roadbed, brakes stopped working approximately 1 second and a few feet later, an additional failure of approximately 1 second. Car stopped but braking distance greatly extended. This car has always had issues with stopping on rough surfaces. This is the first experience on good road.
The brakes on the 2007 Prius act the same as the 2010 brakes. Ever since I owned my Prius if I happened to brake on uneven surfaces no matter what the speed the brakes seem to release and then start braking again. The time span is short, maybe 1-2 seconds, but the traction light comes on for every incident. Called the dealership several times and then recently after hearing about the 2010 brakes and their response is the same, no injury, no accident, no problem. I hope someone makes them fix the entire Prius line brakes, all makes and models. The incident date is the first day I noticed the problem.
This involves a 2007 Toyota Prius. I have the same experience with the brakes of this vehicle as described with the 2010 Toyota Prius model. When braking somewhat forcefully and driving over a suddenly uneven surface, the braking ceases for a brief moment. I have reported this several times to the Toyota dealer/service center. That dealership/service center is Toyota of braintree, braintree, MA. Each time, I was told that they (the dealership/service center) and the wider Toyota organization had no knowledge and that it was probably operator related. The last time I brought this up was Saturday, January 30, 2010. I mention this date date below as the incident date although I reported these occurrences before.
On seven separate occasions since 2007 (the year of the Prius being reported ) a slight skid occurs, which also results in the skid light coming on, when brake pedal is pressed. Has been increasing in frequency -- three times in last week--and usually occurs within the first mile of car use that day. I reported the last incident below. However, this was first noticed sometime in 2007 after July purchase date.
- Titusville, FL, USA
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While driving my 2007 Prius on many occasions, the vehicle failed to stop while I was driving over any uneven road such as grooves and potholes. Braking system only became effective after the surface became more regular. This has occurred many times and I did not report issue to Toyota as I believe this was a normal vehicle "behavior" given the driving conditions. In view of Toyota's potential recall of 2010 Prius vehicles, it has become clear to me that vehicles from other years should also be evaluated.
Braking system fails to respond under circumstances of wet or uneven pavement. Traction control symbol lights up on dash. This has happened since new. (I filled in an approximate incident date only because it is a required field in this form.)
When I bought my new Prius in 2007 I knew there was something strange. Everytime I went down this big hill near my house the car would shoot forward a bit and it would be hard to brake. I called my dealer and they told me it was an advanced safty feature. The more I drove the car the worse it got. I would avoid routes with hills in the rain. In 2009 when I had my 2nd child I decided to get rid of the car because the problem was getting worse. It was as if I was sliding on ice in the middle of the summer
On December 6, 2009, automatic brakes kicked in at low speed coming to a stop at a red light. Shortly thereafter a screeching metal against metal sound. Took the car to the dealer and they said brakes were fine. On December 28th, again at low speed braking for a red light, applied the brakes and heard a loud bang and the car lurched. At first I thought I had been rear-ended but there was no car behind me. Drove immediately to the dealer. This time they said the brakes were grabbing and they cleaned and adjusted the brakes. This happened on a 2007 Prius, not a 2010 Prius, so I am wondering if the brake problem is more widespread than is currently assumed.
I own a Prius 2007 and have been experiencing the brake problems reported in the news since buying the car used in 12/08. Sometimes when applying the brakes on uneven surfaces, a dashboard slip indicator light comes on as the brakes release/stop working and the car feels like it is skidding forward for about a second. Then they reengage and the car can be stopped. I have not been in a accident yet. My dealership had told me that it is a normal function of the Prius. This happen again on 2/2/10 as I was turning into a parking lot and went over the lip of the entrance.
I am experiencing a problem with my '07 Toyota Prius. I purchased my Prius in may of '07 & have approximately 17,600 miles on the odometer. Since then I have experienced on approximately 6 occasions a lurching when braking to a full stop at a stop light. I am braking after a slow coast and gradually braking so it is not a sudden action. Since it happens so rarely and with no warning and doesn't repeat the problem for months I have not taken my car in to the dealership. After hearing similar complaints re: 2010 Prius I called my dealership to see if they could check my car for the same defect. The dealership said it would be difficult to diagnose unless the car would just happen to experience the behavior during a test drive. But for $79 I could bring it in which would document my complaint. I was also told that since the 2010 recall the dealership was being inundated with hypochondriac owner's reporting imagined problems. I think those owner's are more likely to be like me. Just now reporting a hard to replicate incident. I think the investigation needs to be broadened immediately for all Prius involved in the floor mat recall as I think that is just an invented problem to cover up the braking/acceleration defect. Updated 04/15/10.
I just wanted to let you know that the braking problem associated with the vsa icon in the Toyota Prius is not isolated to the 2010 model year. My 2007 Prius does exactly what I have seen described in the media. It has done this ever since it was brand new. I had never driven a hybrid before, so I thought it was just the nature of the beast. But it is very unsettling when the car lurches forward when I drive on a road with an uneven surface.
On 3 occasions, while stopped at a traffic light, and with my foot on the brake, the brake pedal would suddenly drop part way to the floor. The car would roll either forward or backward, depending on grade, until I put pressure on the brake pedal.
My 2007 Toyota Prius sporadically lurches forward if I hit a bump or pothole during braking. It has done this since it was new and the dealer has always told me since they cannot duplicate the problem there is nothing they can do about it. Could this be related to the current issues being claimed on the 2010 model.
I owned a 2007 Prius that was totaled after the brakes failed at a yield sign in biloxi ms, and I ran into the side of a car in an intersection. (previously, I had also had trouble with the brakes and it caused an accident in Chevy chase md. I hydroplaned when using the brakes in the rain, and rear-ended a car.)
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Prius. While driving various speeds to include approximately 35 mph and attempting to slow down to stop the vehicle, the vehicle lunged forward and accelerated. A local mechanic replaced the entire braking system for $800. The failure mileage was 75,000.
1. first time occurrence event: Icy roads, around freezing point, lasted one or two days. A few days ago recurred. 2. failure: Car brakes very abrupt opposed to the gentile brake that is applied 3. done: Nothing yet, waiting for recall info.
2007 Toyota Prius with same brake problem as the 2010 Prius. I could not describe the problem better than what is being said now by Toyota about their 2010 model. This problem they are having goes back to previous Prius model years.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Enfield, CT, USA