10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
49 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 1
Average Mileage:
5,881 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2010 Toyota Prius brakes problems

brakes problem

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2010 Toyota Prius Owner Comments (Page 12 of 38)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #525

Jan 282010

Prius

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have experienced braking problems with my 2010 Prius during the following circumstances, which I have mentioned to my husband and my coworkers when it happened. 1: on my way to work there is a stop sign where I need to make a left turn. Just before the stop sign the road is uneven. When I brake there, I feel a jerk and jump before the car stops. 2: I was on my way to work, on 01/28/2010 when it was snowing lightly, the vehicle speed might have been at the most 5-8 miles/hour. I saw the light turning yellow from 50 feet ahead and I started applying the brake. The road had little slope but the vehicle was not only skidding, but also not stopping and I was praying that it will stop before it goes into the cross road. I am the primary driver for this vehicle and I love this car. But I have experienced from the very beginning that the vehicle doesn't stop quickly when I brake, but always thought that was part of hybrid technology and may be to force the driver maintain some space from the vehicle in the front.

- Kendall Park, NJ, USA

problem #524

Aug 012009

Prius

  • 200 miles
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.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #523

Feb 052010

Prius

  • 3,800 miles
Temporary brake failure when braking over potholes or braking in a turn

- Costa Mesa, CA, USA

problem #522

Nov 182009

Prius

  • 1,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #521

Aug 302009

Prius

  • 2,000 miles
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.

- Bloomington, IL, USA

problem #520

Jan 202010

Prius

  • 2,000 miles
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.

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

problem #519

Feb 062010

Prius

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I stepped on break padel on my 2010 Toyota Prius on a bumppy uneven road but the car didn't stop properly and slipped a few feet instead.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #518

Aug 252009

Prius

  • 10 miles
I own a 2010 Prius. The day after the purchase, the brakes would grab when in reverse as brakes were applied. I returned to the dealer who said they could find nothing wrong and was perhars due to a little rust on the rotors and and to return in problem recurred. The grabbing and jerking continued while braking in reverse at low speed and I again returned to dealer. This time they said it could be due to interaction between the mechanical brake and the the regenerative brake but had no improvements to offer. The problem continus to date. It does not happen when going forward. However, I thought you might be interested as it may indicate a general software error ifor controlling the interaction between braking modes.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #517

Feb 052010

Prius

  • 1,210 miles
While driving on 2/5/10 in snowy conditions at about 15 mph, I slid through a stop light in my 2010 Prius. I was driving cautiously, applied my brakes early, knowing the light might change. It changed to yellow and I had no brakes and slid into the intersection as the light turned red. I have had anti-lock brakes in my last two cars and have had my ABS engage previously on my 2010 Prius. During this event, no braking of any sort took place even though I had the brake pedal depressed. Fortunately, I was not hit by other cars in the intersection. I have not had the problem examined yet, but will be taking my Prius to the dealer.

- Westerville, OH, USA

problem #516

Feb 052010

Prius

  • 220 miles
Momentary brake loss. 2010 Prius, mfg. Date 12/09. Purchase date 2/1/10. Low speed slowing down with light braking for stop light. Happened over a man hole cover (I think). When it felt like the brakes quite momentarly.

- Brighton, CO, USA

problem #515

Dec 152009

Prius

  • 3,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My Toyota Prius has the problem that has been reported in the news. The vehicle has brake/stability control issues as soon as one of the wheels leave the suface of the road. The anti-lock "system" seems to be too aggressive and thereby is dangerous. There is nothing that the driver can do to avoid this. It is a traction-control/brake issue. Also, rear vision is about as bad as looking out the rear of the oscar mayer weiner mobile. The side mirrors need more rear vision.

- Harvey, LA, USA

problem #514

Nov 302009

Prius

  • 50 miles
Brakes are unresponsive at times, it jerks during slow and steady application of brakes on rough or slick road surfaces.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #513

Jan 152010

Prius

  • 7,800 miles
Toyota Prius 2010 - breaks failed to stop car on 3 separate occasions during the past month. Each occurrence was at an intersection (roads each time were plowed for snow, but still a bit slick). The car eventually stopped due to the vehicle slowing down, but still not breaking. One occurrence was at an intersection where the car did not break at a red light and I quickly turned the wheel to the right to proceed onto a side road. I have called the service department at the Toyota dealership (where the car was purchased last fall), and have not received a response.

- Sheffield, MA, USA

problem #512

Sep 012009

Prius

  • miles
Have experienced the 2010 Prius brake condition several times

- City Island, NY, USA

problem #511

Jul 252009

Prius

  • 300 miles
My 2010 Toyota Prius has been having braking issues. It has happened 4 times that when I am stopping and hit a bump the brakes seem to not engage.

- Onarga, IL, USA

problem #510

Oct 022009

Prius

  • 75 miles
I bought my 2010 Toyota Prius in the summer of 2009 and on the 2nd day of ownership when I was braking to make a left turn on to my street where I live the car increased in speed up when I was making my turn while braking over a bumpy surface in the road.yhis condition only happens when the roadway has imperfections and is rough.I had told the dealer about this conditon and they said it was the sensors and it was a normal conditon which I think is dangerous because this happend when I was behind another car and came close to hitting the car in front of me.

- Oak Forest, IL, USA

problem #509

Jan 022010

Prius

  • 4,000 miles
Toyota Prius antilock brakes stop braking after a disturbance such as a slippery spot, or pothole. This occurs quite frequently and is likely to cause an accident.

- Issaquah, WA, USA

problem #508

Jan 152010

Prius

  • 5,000 miles
I have noticed on a few occasions that my 2010 Prius lurches forward for a brief second in the middle of braking at a stop sign. I have noticed this happen occasionally, but was more frequent in the last month, about 3 times. I made a written complaint to Toyota service a week ago, but was told it was not unusual. However, I just read in the news about the issue with braking in this model car and am alarmed and thought I should make a note of my observation to NHTSA. I will call Toyota service again to have them take a second look at my car. Thanks

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #507

Dec 102009

Prius

  • 1,000 miles
Bought a 2010 Prius in October 2009. It currently has 3500 miles on it. At least three times the car felt as if it slipped on ice when applying the brakes (weather conditions were perfect - no ice, snow or rain). Their is difficulty in clearing fog from the windows and one time I had trouble setting the cruise control.

- Delaware, OH, USA

problem #506

Aug 012009

Prius

  • miles
I have experienced very strong grabbing sensations from the brakes a few times when backing up. The car reacts as though you are slamming the brakes even though only slight pressure is applied.

- Lake Forest, CA, USA

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