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 31 of 38)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #145

Nov 102009

Prius

  • 3,000 miles

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

Vehicle surges forward when braking over road surface that is not smooth. Symptom makes safely judging stopping distance very difficult, and in our opinion, increases likelihood of an accident. Toyota dealer claimed they could not replicate issue and that vehicle's computer did not report/record any problems. We can replicate issue over same bump everyday.

- Rocky River, OH, USA

problem #144

Feb 012010

Prius

  • 6,450 miles
From the first days with this vehicle we have had an intermittent issue with the brakes. So far, this issue only occurs at very slow speeds, such as when backing out of the garage or when backing out of parking spaces. On occasion, we have experienced this problem in the forward direction when stopping in the slow conditions of a parking lot. Following is a description of the braking action: 1. I start the car (power button with foot on the brake). 2. I place the shift lever in reverse or drive with foot on the brake. 3. I release the brake pedal. 4. the car eases backward (or forward, as the case may be). 5. I apply the brake, either to shift into drive or to check for traffic before continuing. 6. several times per week the brakes lock the instant my foot touches the brake pedal. 7. when this problem occurs, the locking action will repeat each time I release the brake, ease backward or forward, and brake again. 8. the brake locking is so instantaneous that passengers' heads jerk and they look surprised. 9. the braking action is more like that of flipping an electrical switch than of pressing a brake pedal. 10. from the beginning, I have tried to determine if a certain sequence of actions triggers the locking. I cannot come up with anything. So far, the only constant is that this locking happens with the first stops after starting the car. I have not experienced it with subsequent stops. However, heaven help us if this were to occur at higher speeds! at the 5000 mile service, I asked about this issue. The service rep said that some Prius owners had mentioned that their brakes "grabbed" once in a while. The rep said that it could be a "wet brake" issue.

- Corvallis, OR, USA

problem #143

Feb 012010

Prius

  • 4,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated her vehicle surges when she goes over a pothole and hit her brakes. This has been happening since she purchase her vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the technician test drove the vehicle with her but the failure did not occur again. The failure mileage was 4,000.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #142

Feb 012010

Prius

  • 4,233 miles

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

2010 Prius. Car lurches everyday when braking at stop signs. Car drifts forward and does not immediately respond to brake pedal being pushed down. Often happens in the middle of the stop. Brakes will start working but then "slip" in the middle at very low speeds. Doubt the anti-lock brake system could be the problem as speed are very low. Has been occurring since the car was purchase in the summer of 2009.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #141

Jan 102010

Prius

  • 50 miles
When I brake my 2010 Prius and hit a bump it lurches forward, causing momentary loss of control.

- Chillicothe, IL, USA

problem #140

Oct 092009

Prius

  • 6,248 miles
2010 Prius brakes does not work if the vehicle goes over a bump or a pot hole while brakes being applied..it has happened several times...even complained to the dealer once...dealer says there are no technical buliton or technical fix on the issue.

- Exton, PA, USA

problem #139

Feb 012010

Prius

  • 12,000 miles

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

My 2010 Toyota Prius seems to loose braking on or over bumps. It seems to not want to stop for a few seconds after hitting a bump in the road. I have to remove my foot from the brakes and re apply inorder to regain breaking. This happens almost every time when simultaneously applying the brakes and going over a bump/pothole in the road.

- Davie, FL, USA

problem #138

Jan 302010

Prius

  • 3,500 miles
When braking over a smooth surface such as a manhole cover, the vehicle tends to lurch forward.

- Westminster, CO, USA

problem #137

Jan 152010

Prius

  • 6,200 miles
My 2010 Prius brakes briefly stop working when I'm braking while driving over a bump or pothole. I have not been in an accident however this can lead to an accident in the future. This happens periodically and can be recreated.

- Devon, PA, USA

problem #136

Feb 022010

Prius

  • 4,029 miles
My 2010 Prius lurches over bumps. The dealership said I was the only one with this problem and found nothing wrong on two visits. I read that I am not the only one with this problem, so I want to issue a complaint and ask what I should do now.

- Beverly Hills, CA, USA

problem #135

Aug 172009

Prius

  • 150 miles

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

The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact noticed that there were occasions when he lost braking power and slight acceleration when he drove over a pothole or bump in the road. He stated that the issue occurred when driving at low speeds in normal road conditions. The contact was able to regain control and resume normal operation almost immediately after the failure. He experienced the issue at least 12 different times. He had neither taken the vehicle to the dealership nor spoken with the manufacturer at the time of the complaint. The vehicle had not been repaired to-date. The current mileage was approximately 3,000. The failure mileage was approximately 150.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #134

Jan 202010

Prius

  • 6,500 miles
When braking numerous times, my 2010 Toyota Prius has stopped braking and gives the feeling that it is lurching forward. My most recent incident occurred when I was driving over a man hole at about 30-35 mph. These incidents typically occur when braking over non-smooth road surfaces, such as potholes. I have owned the car since June 2009.

- Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #133

Jul 012009

Prius

  • miles
My 2010 pruis tends to lurch forward when braking. This mainly seems to occur when the surface changes while braking, like driving over a manhole cover, pothole or slippery surface. I have experienced this every since I bought the car in June 2009. I reported it to the dealer at my first check-up, and was told that it was a function of the unique braking system on the Prius, and that they hadn't heard the complaint before (too new in the model year). No record was made of my complaint. I have lived with it ever since, and it happens at least twice a week; just happened again yesterday. At one intersection on my commute I hit the same surface every time and it lurches almost every time. It feels almost as if I have lifted my foot off the brake pedal and it lurches forward, although I can't say if it feels like it is accelerating or if it is just the inertia of the car that causes it to lurch forward. It has not caused an accident yet, but since the car lurches a few feet forward, I know that I would hit any car too close in front of me. I also worry that in snow or ice it would cause a skid to occur or send me into a different lane. I was not at all surprised to hear about this on the news this morning, and regret that I did not know about this complaint form to file or I would have back in July. I can't state an incident date since it is ongoing.

- Honeoye Falls, NY, USA

problem #132

Nov 012009

Prius

  • 3,500 miles
I lose all braking for a few seconds on my 2010 Toyota Prius while going over rough roads at slow speed. I have not tried this at highway speeds. I wanted to wait to learn more of the problem from my dealer. So when I was at my Toyota dealership on 28 Jan 10, for my car's first scheduled maintenance, the assistant service manager stated that the problem is prevalent on most Toyota vehicles including the truck he owned. But that's not what reports heard today, 3 Feb 10.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #131

Jan 042010

Prius

  • 2,750 miles
Low speed brake failure on 2010 Toyota Prius. This describes just one of multiple times I have had what seems like a short, but total loss of brakes on this vehicle. Each time, I was easy to medium braking and hit a bump or was on rough surface. The brakes just appear to fail. Natural reaction is to press harder on brake pedal. Usually by this reaction time the brakes are back and you stop abruptly or skid to a stop. It has something to do with rough roads or bumps that happen at a given point during braking. Very scary situation. This has happened on both dry pavement and snow packed roads. Again, the common factor is the "bump" during braking. Each time I was the only person in the vehicle and the vehicle had no additional rear weight. Speed was under 25-30 mph.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #130

Jul 012009

Prius

  • 500 miles
While driving my 2010 Prius, I have experienced unintended brake release on 6 occasions since taking delivery of the car in June 2009. During the summer, on dry pavement, the 1st incident occurred while approaching an intersection and going into a right turn, the left front wheel rolls over a (flush to the pavement) manhole cover. The car lost braking and jumped/slipped forward. Fortunately, there was no car close in front of me. This occurred 2X as this is one of my normal routes to work. On 2 other occasions, near my home approaching an intersection in which I needed to slow down, the car jumped when applying the brakes. The pavement was in 2 sections (split horizontally), one part concrete and the adjoining section asphalt. The car slipped/jumped forward while braking. The 5th occasion occurred approaching an intersection and the car lurched forward as I tried to stop almost hitting the car in front of me. This was on dry pavement, don't know the reason. Going over potholes on at least 1 occasion, the same reaction. Had mentioned to the dealership several times, the first time being at a new owner orientation meeting. They were not familiar with this issue. Was advised if it keeps occurring, to bring the car in for an inspection. I now have an inspection scheduled for Friday Feb 5th at the dealership.

- Greendale, WI, USA

problem #129

Jan 062010

Prius

  • 2,000 miles
My vehicle has gone into a slide when braking...feels like the brakes are locked although I have antilock brakes. I have slid into an intersection twice and I would say there was sand left over from snow melt. This is a brand new car and I definitely can feel a difference that has caused alarm possibly 4 or 5 times in 4 months.

- Leawood, KS, USA

problem #128

Dec 112009

Prius

  • 4,000 miles
I'm the owner of a 2010 Prius and twice now when applying the brakes firmly during a rain soaked day while going over the temporary steel plates used during road repairs as soon as the back wheels hit the surface the car shoots a head as if the brakes are temporarily not applying pressure at all. No one was hurt it is just very unsettling.

- Chatsworth, CA, USA

problem #127

Jan 122010

Prius

  • 10,000 miles
I bought a 2010 Toyota Prius in June of 2009. On several occasions, I have noticed the brakes not working properly when I have tried braking while going over a speed bump. Instead of slowing or stopping, the car feels like it actually is lurching forward. It corrects itself almost immediately, but there is that second when it feels like it isn't going to stop. In reading several stories about reported brake issues with the Prius, I realized that other people are having the same issue. I have put in below the approximate date that was the last time this happened.

- Doylestown, PA, USA

problem #126

Feb 022010

Prius

  • 7,000 miles
Brakes on Prius 2010 periodically have a "lag" or delay time before they engage. I apply the brakes, and no grabbing or slowing down occurs for 2-3 seconds. This began to happen during January (car purchased in November). I have 7000 miles on the car. 1st time- went over rough part of road and applied brakes, delayed time until brakes acted. Felt as if I was floating- loss of traction feeling. Brought car into Toyota westport ct dealer on Jan 14, 2010 and was told no problem found. It has continued to occur: 2nd time - cold morning and 3X no braking traction as driving about 10-20 mph and trying to slow down for a stop sign and when a car entered from a side street 3rd time (Feb 2, 2010) - on highway around 2 pm. Cruise control was on and applied brakes - no slowing down for about 3 seconds. Very scary feeling as it happens.

- Westport, CT, USA

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