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.
I have a 2007 Toyota Prius that is approaching 36,000 miles soon. Its brakes stutter when I try to come to a smooth stop. Its engine also vibrates excessively as if its misfiring, when idling. The symptoms do not happen all the time, but they happen frequently. I have taken the car to the local dealership several times, but they have not been able to fix the problems permanently. After my most recent visit to the dealer, they claimed they could not replicate the brake stutter symptoms and that the car\'s computer had no record of it misfiring. If you do a google search on the internet about "2007 Prius brake stutter problems", it appears to have happened to many other people. Please help. I want the problem fixed, or the vehicle replaced. There has been no physical damage nor crashes nor injuries. However, I am concerned that such symptoms detract from the value of the automobile, or at worst may result in an actual crash and injuries later on. The symptoms are a distraction and annoyance while driving.
I own a 2007 Prius. I was driving on the interstate when a car in front of me stopped abruptly. When I stepped on the brake, there was a delay before it engaged. To prevent running into the car in front of me, I veered to the left while continuing to step down on the brake with more force. When it engaged, the car was out of control "fish tailing" from side to side. In an emergency situation, there is no room for a delay. This created a very dangerous situation which could have been fatal. I experienced a similar delay while driving in the city, not on a highway. It was the same sensation of the brakes failing. When one is braking in an emergency situation, this is terrifying and not acceptable and not safe...
Whenever I brake when going over a bump, such as a manhole cover, pothole, or cobblestone road, the ABS system engages and for a moment the brake does not seem to be working, the car is not slowing. I am worried it could lead to an accident if another car were close in front of me. When my husband mentioned the problem to the Toyota dealer, the brakes were checked and we were told there was nothing wrong. However, this continues to happen and the moment without braking is too long for comfort.
2007 Toyota Prius---repeatedly on rough pavement, if my wife or I attempt to brake the car, it is as if the car is running away with us in it. I just had the car serviced at our local Toyota Agency (landers Toyota), and was told that our problem was normal. I tell you it is not normal, and has never occurred in any other car I own or have owned.
I own a 2007 Prius that has a brake issue concerning me. When the brakes are engaged and I go over a rough spot or bump, the brakes "fail" for about 1 second and it feels as though the car is propelled forward. I have been told by the dealer on 2 occasions that "it's just the ABS brakes kicking in", however I have never had this happen with any other car I have driven. I have not had an accident (yet) but have become extremely cautious when I can identify a spot in the road that might cause trouble. The lack of brakes for even 1 second might mean that I am unable to stop from hitting a car ahead of me if that car stops quickly and the road if rough.
- Cromwell, CT, USA
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This is an incident involving the brake stability system of our Prius (2007). It did not result in a crash or injury. My wife had been going to different stores and on leaving a store, suddenly the brake system acted very strange. The vsc icon was on and the red parking brake light remained on. My wife could barely drive the car home. We read the instruction book and learned that she should not have driven the car. But this information is buried in a very large instruction manual. The car was towed to our Toyota dealer yesterday (March 18th). Working on it today, they still have not found the problem. The service advisor is joe and his phone number is 540 382 2981 ext 6326. We thought our experience might provide a clue to the problems that others are encountering with Toyota brakes.
Two months ago, I purchased a used 2007 Prius and have been experiencing some odd incidents with the brakes. For instance, when I was exiting the freeway last week, I ran over a small pothole and the car lunged forward even though I was braking the whole time. Also, when I drive at speeds higher than 60 mph and press on the brake, it always feels like there is a slight delay before the brakes actually take hold. It feels as if the brake pads on the tires are momentarily disconnected (for less than a second). I asked the Toyota dealership if the 2007 model has been affected by all of the recent recalls, but they reassured me that my Prius is fine. Nonetheless, I wanted to report these incidents to the NHTSA in case others are experiencing similar problems. Thank you.
I currently own a 2010 Prius and have had the brake recall work done. Previously when I was living in belgium, I leased a 2007 Prius. I complained to the Toyota dealer about the lurching forward of the car when I braked if there was even mildly rough or damp pavement. They told me that it wasn't a problem. My husband and I were in an accident in belgium due to this problem. A stop light turned red and when we tried to stop, the car kept going and we ran into a motorcyclist. Thankfully he wasn't injured but we had about $1,000 worth of damage to the front end of our car that we had to pay for. The dealer continued to claim that there was nothing wrong with the brakes.
I drive a 2007 Prius. While going over rough patches, potholes, etc., my car seems to lurch forward and momentarily lose braking control. The vsa light flashes as well. It is definitely worse in the rain, and if I am turning.
For the last 10 months starting after ownership of the car for approx 15 months, after braking and while at a stop with foot on brake pedal, my 2007 Toyota Prius makes a loud sound like a large metal coil being tightened. Toyota has attempted repair three times over the last 10 months to no avail. Toyota has repeatedly stated that have no knowledge of the cause but are attempting to determine a "fix". after the third repair attempt, the dealer declared my car a "lemon" and suggested I contact their third part arbitration center who has now turned down my case because although the defect was reported while the car was under warranty, the car no longer is under warranty. My state's lemon laws do not support cars no longer under warranty either. I have a car that could not be sold to anyone due to the loud and frightening noise. In addition, the situation worsened considerably after the last attempt at repair.
Vehicle was sb in lane 2 of 2 when it is reported that the driver lost control struck a guard rail on the right then traveled across two lanes crossing onto a shoulder where it eventually struck a tree. Eye witnesses saw no brake lights at any point. Autopsy concluded that the driver died from trauma caused by impact with the tree. The vehicle was a 07 Prius.
Prius 2007, failed to stop at very low speed. With a guest inside my car, I drove over a railroad track. There was a street light up front, and a couple of cars ahead of mine. As I pressed my brakes, the car did not stop. My car rear ended the front car, and my insurance was charged for it. Indeed, I had no idea the Prius could have a brake problem. To make it less expensive for my future insurance, I did not had my front bumper replaced, and the driver side outside mirror plastic cover, thinking that perhaps the insurance would not go up. Now I have a doubled car insurance payment. The accident occurred on May 21, 2009. I took my car on the 26 May 2009 for a 40 miles maintenance paid in advance when I bought the car. The brakes were also checked and no problems found by the Toyota dealer. I took my car again Feb 20, 2010, again, no problems found. Today I am reluctant, on my mind, if the Prius will stop or not when brakes a pressed. Car was purchase on February 2007.
When I drive my 2007 Prius to work, I pass by 101 South to 110 South freeway. At that curve, there is a little bump, when I drive about 30 mph at that bumpy spot, I experienced four times lost my breaking system for a second or two. (whenever I loose braking system brake light come on for a second or two) one tine I had nearly miss the car in front. Whenever I drive that spot I am slowing down to 20 mph. 2007 Prius definitely has braking problems. I am afraid to drive my Prius. I need help.
This has happened dozens of times, to myself and my wife. We are braking, and whilst braking drive over a pothole or drain. The traction control comes on, and the car disengages the brakes and the car lurches forward. After clearing the pothole, the traction control then disengages, and the brakes re-engage. Several times, I have come close to hitting the car in front. Conditions: Clear, sunny, dry roads. Car: Toyota Prius, year 2007.
When braking while driving over potholes, speed bumps, manhole covers, or any kind of bump in the road, car lurches forward, and brakes do not work at that moment, in addition, the traction warning light flashes telling driver car has lost traction with road. It occurs every single time the brakes are depressed while driving over a bump, pothole, manhole cover, or any kind of bump in the road. Have come extremely close to rear-ending an individual in front of me at an intersection because there was a bump as I approached the intersection, and was braking to slow down. Have taken to dealer once and told brakes are fine, unable to duplicate problem. Taking back again to have service technician ride with us so we can demonstrate problem.
Driving on icy road. Slowly approached red light. Brakes did not work, no pumping or slowing. This occurred twice. Able to avoid accident. Took to dealer who said brakes checked out ok. Why did they fail?
I have an ongoing problem with my 2007 Prius with braking and traction control in slippery conditions (rain, snow, ice), and on slippery or uneven surfaces (railroad/trolley tracks, manhole covers, etc.). I have reported it to the Toyota dealer several times starting in the summer of 2007 and have been told there is no problem. The car seems to lurch or slide under these conditions which is alarming even at very low speeds. The traction control light flashes, and there is a momentary inability to brake or stop the car.
I believe it is the vehicle's right rear wheel that spins and speeds up going over (stone, bump, deviation in road) and lunges forward. I felt loss of control for a brief second but thought I was going to crash into car ahead of me. Car frequently does this since I purchased it in 2007 and was told by dealer that this happens when the car changes from standard braking system to other braking system. The complaint has never been registered until it happened again and in Feb 2010 and I had heard of this happening to the Prius 2010. I have since had the complaint put in writing. The dealer stated it was because I needed new tires and I tried to explain that this has happened since I bought the car. Frequently when I start to drive, whether the road is wet or dry, the car warning light shows that it is skidding. I can feel it skidding but I do not understand why. The dealer stated there is no fix for this problem it is just how the car is. They stated that if Toyota gets enough complaints they will look into it. They stated if this is a problem that Toyota finds and they figure out how to fix it, I will be able to have the problem resolved. I have not contacted the Toyota corporation on this problem. I bought new tires on 2/8/2010 at the recommendation of the dealer.
I have a 2007 Prius. When it is really cold outside (below 15 degrees) the brakes are less effective. I noticed this last year during a cold week. I was driving 15 miles an hour and gently applied the brakes for a stop sign. There was a significant delay in the brakes working and I had to slam down on the pedal to stop. This happened about 10 times last winter and has happened once so far this winter. Most of my driving is in town and I try to go slow, particularly in the cold, so I have always been able to stop in time. I called the Toyota dealership about this last year and was told that it happens to all cars in cold weather and there was nothing they could do. With the recent discussion of the brake system for Toyota I thought it was best to report this in case that wasn't true.
I own a 2007 Toyota Prius and have experienced occasional momentary loss of braking (my foot firmly on the brake pedal) while driving over a bumpy surface. While braking over small pot holes, railroad tracks, rough patches, etc., the car seems to lunge forward apparently as the brakes release for a split second (approximately 1/4 to 1/2 second). The road conditions can be wet or dry. At the same time, my traction control light will flash on and off until the road smoothes out. This issue is ongoing, so incident date below is meaningless.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Luis Obispo, CA, USA