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 32 of 38)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #125

Oct 132009

Prius

  • 3,500 miles

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

I own a 2010 Toyota Prius and have noticed that if you are applying the brakes and one of the wheels of the car happen to hit a pothole or bump the brakes seem to momentarily release and then grab again. My foot is not coming off the brake pedal. It's as if the car lunges ahead for a split second. This has happened more than once.

- Bartlett, IL, USA

problem #124

Jan 062010

Prius

  • 2,900 miles
When driving at moderate speeds on city/surface streets in my 2010 Prius, a braking problem occurs. If I hit a bump in the road while braking, the vehicle lurches forward as if the brakes have disengaged, even though I am still pressing the brake. I push the brakes down harder and nothing happens. A few seconds later, the brakes come back into play and the car slows down again. This has happened several times, and I have narrowly avoided accidents caused by this several times.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #123

Aug 032009

Prius

  • 6,200 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated when depressing the brakes to stop the vehicle it is grabbing and jerking. While using the vehicle's speed control upon setting it the vehicle would accelerate, but when the brakes are applied the vehcile would operate normally. The contact stated that he monitors the failures. The vehicle has not yet been diagnosed by the dealer.the failure mileage 6,200.

- Cincinnatti, OH, USA

problem #122

Feb 032010

Prius 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. While the contact was attempting to stop the vehicle while traveling at a low speed over a bump the contact noticed that the vehicles brakes would suddenly release for a short moment and then works properly. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 11000. The consumer stated he took the vehicle to the service dealer to have the recall performed on the brakes, however the vehicle continues to exhibit the same problem. When braking, the they seem to release. Updated 06/15/10.

- Commack, NY, USA

problem #121

Jan 282010

Prius

  • 6,700 miles
Brake problems: My 2010 Prius, which I purchased last October, has been having sporadic problems with the brakes. It usually occurs on the streets, and at low speeds, and the car seems to lunge forward even though I have my foot on the brakes. It's as if I stopped braking even in fact, I've been putting uniform pressure on the brakes. Thankfully, this has not caused any injuries or accidents, but I am concerned about the problem.

- Los Angeles , CA, USA

problem #120

Dec 182009

Prius

  • 1,000 miles
1. going slightly downhill, one of the front tire went over a pothole, on other occasions, going over a slightly bumpy wet road 2. temporary (about 2-4 seconds) brake loss, has occurred about 3-5 times in 3 months 3. nothing done so far, waiting to visit dealer at 5000 miles or for Toyota to issue some kind of recall.

- Delmar, NY, USA

problem #119

Nov 072009

Prius

  • 15,000 miles

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

When braking and hitting a bump at the same time there is a loss of braking power. The vehicle lunges forward as if the brakes have stopped working momentarily. This caused me to have to use additional crash avoidance maneuvers, in another circumstance could have caused an accident. It feels as if a portion of the braking system shuts off after hitting the bump.

- Carrboro , NC, USA

problem #118

Jan 062008

Prius

  • 1,500 miles
Driving normally on a rough road I came to an intersection where I had to apply the brakes. In this instance I applied the brakes and the vehicle started to slow as normal. I then hit a rough patch of road and the brakes appeared to have failed. There was no braking power at all. I then reapplied the brakes and the vehicle started to slow as normal and the vehicle then stopped. For the period where there was no brakes it was scary.

- Seekonk, MA, USA

problem #117

Jan 152010

Prius

  • 4,000 miles
Event occurs at slow speeds when coming to a stop on an icy surface. Initially brakes feel like they are working properly. Then the brakes appear to stop working for split second. There is a sense that the car is accelerating, but I believe the sensation is caused by the brakes not working. After a split second the brakes appear to work properly again. Has only occurred at low speeds on an icy surface. The concern is that the required stopping distance is extended beyond expectations. This has occurred about 10 times this winter. After the first incident, I thought the car was sliding on the ice. However after repeated occurrences, the sensation is not sliding. The sensation is that the brakes have stopped working for a split second.

- Wayzata, MN, USA

problem #116

Jan 202010

Prius

  • 3,040 miles
When braking to come to a stop, the vehicle suddenly accelerates forward or the brakes fail for just a moment. This usually happens when the road surface is uneven, or if there is a pothole. It is not reproducible, but has consistently happened about once or twice a month since I purchased the new vehicle in November, 2009.

- Pelham, NY, USA

problem #115

Feb 012010

Prius

  • 50 miles

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

2010 brand new Prius lurches forward occasionally when brakes are applied when turning sharp or going over a bump.

- Vista, CA, USA

problem #114

Oct 142009

Prius

  • 500 miles
2010 Prius braking problem. Car feels like it is jumping forward while applying the brakes and traveling over bumpy roads or potholes. Purchased car in October 2009 and this has occurred more than 10 times.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #113

Feb 012010

Prius

  • 5,000 miles
1. 2010 Prius, brakes release and car surges forward if one tire hits a bump, pothole or uneven surface 2. this brake failure and surging occurs daily in both directions on my commute. In two locations the uneven road surface fall directly before an intersection and I have a difficult time stopping for a red light or nearly hitting car in front of me. This has been the case since I bought the vehicle. 3. although it constantly scares me and seems odd, I have just turned 5000 miles on the 2010 Prius and have not yet had it for service at the dealer. No parts have been altered or replaced. I have often complained about it at home or to friends, but it didn't occur to me to report it. I have not yet had an accident as a result of the problem.

- Venice, CA, USA

problem #112

Jan 182010

Prius

  • miles
I have a 3rd generation 2010 Prius. When braking, my car lurches forward with brief spurts of acceleration if I hit a bump. The bump or pothole does not have to be very big and the loss of braking power is for a second or two. I do not believe this has anything to do with the gas pedal.

- Furlong, PA, USA

problem #111

Jan 022010

Prius

  • 100 miles
I have a 2010 Toyota Prius (purchased June 2009). The brake system routinely fails for 1-2 seconds if I am braking as I hit a pothole or bump in the road. It feels as if braking starts, then totally disappears for 1-2 seconds, then I feel the ABS system kick in after that. This has probably occurred on the average of once per week since I have owned my car. It occurs in routine city driving.

- Evanston, IL, USA

problem #110

Aug 252009

Prius

  • 500 miles
When applying brakes on my Prius 2010 while approaching a stop sign or light, if I hit a bump, the brakes will briefly disengage. This has happened on numerous occasions since I purchased the vehicle last summer.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #109

Jan 102010

Prius

  • miles
2010 Toyota Prius - owned car for 8 months. Five times car has accelerated while I am pressing on the brake. Happens when I am slowing down and hit a pot hole or bump. Very scary! have a teen who is learning to drive and she is not allowed to use the Prius. Mechanics at dealership looked at me like I was crazy. Said they would have to exactly re-create problem to investigate.

- River Forest, IL, USA

problem #108

Feb 032010

Prius

  • miles
I am writing about my 2010 Toyota Prius. I have noticed faulty brakes on the vehicle, mainly when I am attempting to brake on slippery or bumpy surfaces. I live in Chicago where there are many bumpy roads and potholes, so when I'm coming up to a red light and need to stop over a bumpy surface, it feels like the brakes are locking and that I will slide into the car in front of me. By pumping the brakes, the car will stop, but it is a frightening feeling that I don't have control over my car. The same thing happens when it is rainy or the roads are slick. This has been a continual problem since I purchased the car in August 2009, in fact I took the car back to the dealer a few moths later to have it checked out. They claimed that since I have not driven a hybrid car in the past that I was unfamiliar with its braking system, and this was how a hybrid's brakes worked. I did not accept that answer, but what else can I do? I do not want them to realize there is a problem only after a crash has occurred.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #107

Nov 152009

Prius

  • 2,500 miles
My 2010 Toyota Prius, has on at least five occasions, surged forward when I hit the brakes, especially coming off of cruise control heading to a highway off ramp. These have occurred between September 1 and the present, February 2. the car surges forward even though I am not accelerating and have in fact hit the brakes. I then hit the brakes harder and the car has slowed.

- Northampton, MA, USA

problem #106

Feb 012010

Prius

  • 14,191 miles
This is the 3rd time I have had a total lockout of braking on my 2010 Toyota Prius. This seems to happen most times if the road is slightly rough and downhill. Dealer denies any known problems but this last time I went completely through a stop sign. Had there been other traffic I would have had an accident.

- Woodhull, NY, USA

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