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.
2007 Toyota Prius. In the 3 years since we've owned the car, we have noted about 10 to 15 times that the car lurches forward when we have applied the brakes while going over a bump. It is always in conjunction with the traction control being activated. It has never been at high speed, but we have felt that we are not able to break for a second or two. After learning of problems with other Prius models, we are concerned that this is a safety issue with our vehicle. We are contacting our dealer to see if there is a fix available. We have not had an accident as a result of this issue.
When braking, the vehicle seems to momentarily accelerate when going over puddles, bumps, grooves or train tracks. This can happen repeatedly on wet or gravel roads... vehicle has slid off a gravel road and sideways going over traintracks when the brake slipping occurs. The anti-slip regulator light goes on when this happens.
The Toyota braking problem is not a new issue. I own a 2007 Prius and my brakes have always failed when driving on slick surfaces or over potholes. The "slippery surface" icon flashes on the dashboard and the car does not stop immediately. Most recent was Wednesday morning in an inch of snow when my car failed to stop and came to a halt inches from a brick wall. I hope the system is inspected on all cars and not just 2010 models.
2007 Toyota Prius braking issue. This issue is not limited to the 2010 Prius models. I had similar braking issues on uneven or frozen terrain for 2 years with my 2007 model. I just assumed it was a quirk of the hybrid, and that it had to just be a "sense" of lost control, not that the situation was truly dangerous. Please urge them to look into this and issue a recall of all affected vehicles.
The braking problem on the Toyota Prius is not limited to the new model. I have a 2007 Prius and it has exactly the same issue - momentary loss of braking power when hitting bumps, potholes, or going over a slippery surface. The brakes do re-engage after a second, but the problem has definitely affected the way I drive and the confidence I have in being able to avoid an accident if there was a sudden need to brake quickly in a short space.
- Belmont, MA, USA
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On May 21, 2009, I had a rearend collision, where my 2007 Toyota Prius did not stop, as the traffic stopped at a red light. I was less than 10 miles/hr. My car has extended warranties as well as change of oil every 5K miles paid in advance. No one at the Toyota service dealership did not find any problems with my brakes. Now I hear on the news about 2010 Prius brake problems. I do believe the brake problem is also in my 2007 Prius model.
Traveling slow speed 25-35 apply brakes and hit a dip in the road or bump in the road and the car quickly lunges forward. I don't feel like I necessarily lose the brake but that the car just lunges forward. I thought I reported this to Toyota soon after getting the car but I checked my records and I reported it twice last year after my husband confirmed that it happened to him. Toyota checked the brakes and said everything looked okay and that they could not duplicate the problem.
My 2007 Toyota Prius has braking problems similar to the ones I've read about today in the 2010 model. When conditions are wet or I go over uneven roadway or a pothole, the brakes do not function properly; they seem to take a second or two to engage, resulting in a jerking motion and a failure of the car to stop as quickly as it should. I first noticed the problem last year and took it to my local Toyota dealer to have them address the problem, but the said they could detect no problem other than bald tires. I replaced the tires, but the problem has continued. I have not had any accident as a result of the braking problem, but it is an ongoing concern, especially on rainy days.
Traveling slow speed 25-35 apply brakes and hit a dip in the road or bump in the road and the car quickly lunges forward. I don't feel like I necessarily lose the brake but that the car just lunges forward.
Toyota Prius braking issue. When going over manhole cover or approaching a toll booth going about 20 mph, I cannot brake for a few seconds. In addition, a yellow light flashes on the dashboard. This happens consistently in certain spots.
I have a 2007 Toyota Prius. When something causes the vehicles anti-skid control to act, the car briefly accelerates or lurches forward, which seems dangerous when it's caused by something like a pothole or construction plate at a point where I am slowing down. This has happened on multiple times for as long as I've owned the vehicle, which was purchased new in 2007.
I have a 2007 Toyota Prius and I have experienced poor braking and slippage when traveling over bumpy and/or wet surfaces, the most noticeable of which is the non-asphalt surfacing around and between railroad tracks. I understand you're aware of this on the 2010 models, but it happens on the earlier models too, and these should be made part of the recall. This has happened to me on multiple dates, the latest is below. Luckily, I leave more room between me and the car in front than the average person.
I purchased a 2007 used Toyota Prius in June 2009. On two or three occasions in the past 7 months, the brakes have failed to respond momentarily. This happened at low speeds, when braking around a corner or when the road was wet. The lack of brake response was accompanied by a delay in acceleration. The problem only lasted for a moment and was accompanied by a warning sign on my dashboard. In all prior instances, control of the vehicle resumed after a few seconds.
When braking, if the car hits any kind of pothole, speed bump, or imperfection in the road that causes the traction control light to illuminate, all braking power is lost and the car glides (as if neither the brake or gas pedal are depressed) until the traction control light goes off, at which point braking power is returned. The traction control is very sensitive and many small bumps or imperfections can set it off, and the lack of braking power has caused me some close calls in the past.
I was driving under normal conditions and suddenly my 2007 Prius "brake" light, "vsc", "ABS", circle-exclamation point lights all lit up on the dash. Toyota manual states that the user should drive immediately to a dealer. I took the vehicle to the dealer, and after a day's examination, they explained that they cannot locate any issues, the lights are no longer on, and it is safe to drive. A couple of days later, again under normal driving conditions, all of the light illuminate again. I immediately take it to a different Toyota dealer, and they indicate that the brake actuator assembly has failed. They explained that it is not safe to drive, and the replacement part alone is $1900 +labor.
This was a first time occurrence for my 2007 Prius. I was stopped midway on my mountain, long & steep, dirt driveway trying to park along the rock side. It was too tight to park so decided to continue down to the bottom. I was in reverse and shifted, with my foot on the brake, into drive. The car suddenly bolted forward propelling me through the fence and down a steep embankment to our deck where 12 people were having a dinner meeting. My brakes didn't work, nor did the steering. The bolting force was heard by all on the deck. There is no way I would have pressed the gas by mistake for two reasons: Your foot must be on the brake to shift; and as is typical on our steep gravel roads, one never presses the gas pedal while proceeding down. The car propelled 10 or 12 feet forward crossing the drive at a diagonal, crashed through the fence boarding the drop off, and proceeded down the embankment stopping only when it hit the big tree by our deck. To my right were all the guests and my husband, just feet away from the oncoming, out of control car. Had I missed that particular tree, I would have rolled down an even steeper ravine because of rocks to bounce off and very sharp drop off.
2 incidents: 1) 05.15.09 I was approaching a car going 20 mph; I pressed my brake to the floor but my Toyota Prius 2007 didn't stop. I tried to avoid the car in front of me. I ran into the explore. 2) 07.27.09 I was exiting my driveway. I tried to slow down, but my brakes failed. I was able to use the emergency break to prevent me entering traffic.
Driver was on a local road, accelerated and turned left to pull into a commercial parking lot, then applied brakes when the front tires left the road and made contact with the parking lot entrance (slight concrete curb between asphalt road and lot). The brake pedal depressed fully with little resistance, and neither the regenerative braking system nor the brake pads were activated. After approximately two seconds, the regenerative braking system applied, braking the car normally. No visible indicators were noticed on the dashboard.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Middleton, WI, USA