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 was driving my 2010 Prius (built before January, 2010) on icy conditions. I coasted to a stop sign and applied the brakes. The car seemed to ignore my braking and continued through the stop sign 2-3 feet. I attributed the problem to the weather conditions and proceeded with caution. At the next stop sign, I was especially careful, but when I applied the brakes, the car seemed to surge forward for 1-2 seconds, enough time to put me in the path of an oncoming pick-up truck. Nobody was hurt, but the damage will come to about $11,000. After hearing about the Prius' brake problems, I realized that the lack of brake action that I experienced is very similar to other complaints about Prius' built prior to Toyota's January programming fix. I am upset that Toyota knew about this problem, but failed to tell me about it. As a result, I will end up with a less valuable repaired vehicle with a known brake defect and higher insurance rates which will plague my wallet for years to come.
I have had a 2010 Toyota Prius since September 2009. I bought it from a dealer-Toyota of lake city, seattle, wa. I have been experiencing the following problem: A momentary reduction in braking performance while traveling over an uneven road surface or bumps and applying the breaks. It feels like the brakes slip and the car jerks forward when the brakes are applied while traveling (especially downhill) on an uneven road surface or bumps. This problem occurs every time/day I drive on an uneven road surface or bumps, and try to apply the brakes. Nothing has been done to correct the failure as no recall has been issued yet. Dealer notified of problem.
Toyota Prius 2010: I have experienced momentary loss of braking capability while traveling down the hill and made a right turn. This has happened twice.
In June I purchased a 2010 Toyota Prius. I live in a cold winter climate and have noticed that the car brakes seem to disengage for short periods of time, particularly as I come to a stop on a snowy/ice rutted road, or am going over a bumpy surface. If I leave my foot on the brake, it will reingage quickly. In other words, I put on the brake, and the car starts to respond but then "jumps ahead" as if it's sliding on glare ice before coming to a complete stop. The problem is intermittent, depending upon the condition of the road at the time. I have reported the problem to the dealership.
2010 Toyota Prius loss of brakes - this has happened four times in the seven months that I have owned this vehicle. All four times were when the vehicle was on ice or hard packed snow. Details; when coming to a stop at relatively low speed (approx. 10mph) on either ice or hard packed snow the vehicle will lose all braking for about 5 to 10 feet. The first several times this happen I thought that I hit a patch of black ice but didn't understand why the anti-lock brakes did not chatter.
- Muscatine, IA, USA
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This problem seems to occur when I am just beginning to brake or in the middle of braking, if I go over any uneven terrain (I.e. pothole, dips, etc.), the braking system feels like it is giving. It generally only lasts for a second or so, but it is unnerving. I do feel the car lunge forward at this point, and feel that I have no control over my car. I drive in the city on a daily basis, and that was one of the main reasons for me purchasing this car. It is not a comfortable feeling, and it is terrifying to my passengers. When I contacted Toyota, they were very condescending. Made it seem like it is just because the automobile is so advanced and technical, and that is supposed to happen. However, my 2 brothers both have older priuses, and neither have experienced this.
2010 Prius braking problem. We thought is was us or the car. We bought in August 2009. My wife almost hit another car on 2/4. slow speed, bumps, the car did not appear to stop while braking, then it finally stopped. I told my wife of problems earlier, but they were periodic.
While driving my 2010 Toyota Prius I approached a red light with traffic stopped in front of me at the light. It had been raining and the pavement was wet. I began to gently brake to stop well behind the stopped traffic at the light. I passed over some rough/bumpy road and the brakes failed for about 1 second and the car shot forward approximately 10 feet. The brakes then began working again in ABS mode and I was able to avoid hitting the stopped traffic in front of me by only 12 to 24 inches. This has happened a number of times since purchasing this 2010 Prius in November of 2009. It has happened 3 or 4 times in the 3 months I have owned the vehicle. The loss of braking causes a severe sense of panic and distress and the vehicle does shoot forward for that second or so. And in the case noted above came very close to causing an accident. It is only time before it will cause an accident and harm to me and/or others. Toyota has not offered any remedy. They know the problem exists and have known it for quite some time. Communication from Toyota about the problem has been almost non-existent.
My Toyota Prius has a problem with sudden shaking when lightly applying the brakes. The problem is intermittent. The dealer does not know what to do until Toyota gives clear direction.
Both my 2006 Toyota highlander hybrid and my 2010 Toyota Prius have predictable brake lapses when traveling. I am aware of one site on the way to work, and one on the way home which have predictable surges during braking. I first reported this to my dealer in 2006, who could not replicate the event in the neighborhood near the dealer. The Prius acts exactly the same. For my cars it always occurs when braking on a road at the place where a descend turns into an ascend.
When braking to a stop at relatively low speeds, if you hit a bump or a pothole, the car stops breaking and lurches forward. This lasts for less than a second before normal braking resumes.
I have owned a 2010 Prius since August 2009. Since the purchase I have put 10,000 miles on the vehicle. To date I have experienced the braking problem on three separate occasions. My husband had one experience. It appears that when the front tires hit an uneven or different surface the brakes will disengage very briefly and then catch when the tires hit even ground.
While approaching a stop sign and applying my brake, car would not slow down. Pressed harder on brake, wheels locked up and my car slid through the intersection, car stopped when it hit the curve across the street. Approx. 50 feet. I was driving at 10-15 mph when approaching the stop sign. The antilock brakes did not work. There was about 1-2 inches of snow on the road.
2010 Prius VIN brakes will delay and grab at times. Are family got two 2010 Prius Aug 2009 and both have this same problem. Delay and grabbing problem.
I own a 2010 Toyota Prius. I have noted that there is a frequent occurrence of the brakes not working properly especially going over rough road (ie railroad tracks). The car appears to skid but the anti locks brake light does not come on like it does when the anti lock brakes are working. This is an anxious situation as it feels like the brakes are not going to be able to stop the vehicle. It creates anxiety and a need to apply more foot pressure to control the car.
I purchased a 2010 Toyota Prius in Sept 2009. Since then, I have had 3 or 4 instances where the brakes let go momentarily as mounting reports are similarly describing. Each instance has occurred at roughly the same place on my drive home from my child's day care, where the road is slightly uneven and sloping down, as I am breaking for a stop sign. Since this is a residential area, I am not driving fast to begin with (<20 mph), and the brakes only let go for 1-2 seconds. Prior to hearing all of these other reports, I had not thought to file my own and for that I apologize. My feeling is that unless this issue is corrected somehow by Toyota, these instances will continue, and I do see potential for an accident.
Toyota Prius anti-lock braking issue has happened 3 times in our 2010 Prius as described in media reports. It happens on slippery surfaces when the anti-lock brakes kick in, there is a split second of hesitation before they do. It causes a pretty good adrenalin rush for the driver.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Keene, NH, USA