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 20 of 38)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #365

Feb 042010

Prius

  • miles

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

Prius 2010 slow braking. I thought it was just me but now I found out the braking is rather slow and a lot of others feel the same way. I have to adjust my braking when I switch cars with my wife and have to extra careful when I switch back to Prius.

- Tracy, CA, USA

problem #364

Aug 302009

Prius

  • 1,000 miles
2010 Toyota Prius brake issue. We are experiencing a momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #363

Jan 232010

Prius

  • 7,000 miles
2010 Toyota Prius II--purchased August 2009. On January 23, 2010 I crashed my vehicle into a car that had stopped in front of me. I applied the brakes but was unable to stop the car before it hit the car in front of me. I am contacting you because I believe the brake issues with the 2010 Prius may have been a contributing factor in the crash. In the 5 months that I owned the car I remarked that the brakes did not seem to function like ABS brakes on other cars that I had driven. I chalked it up to the fact that car was new to me and had many features that were different from a traditional car.

- Litchfield, CT, USA

problem #362

Jan 042010

Prius

  • 150 miles

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

2 weeks after purchasing a 2010 Prius (December 2009) I was slowing down to make a turn and while braking I hit a small pothole in the road my car lunged forward. At first I thought I had been rear-ended but looked and saw that the nearest car was a good 20 feet behind me. The same thing happened to me again last week (week of February 1). This time I was braking for a stoplight when the car hit a bump in the road and again lunged forward. The lunging is quick but very noticeable. I have changed my driving habits in the hopes that I won't rear-end someone. I have not called in to the dealership about this but did fill out a satisfaction survey from Toyota yesterday that I got due to the purchase of the car and included these problems in that survey.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #361

Feb 032010

Prius

  • 5,000 miles
2010 Prius when driven over pothole while braking seems to surge forward until the wheels have passed the pothole. Then brakes seems to catch and perform normally.

- Somerville, MA, USA

problem #360

Aug 012009

Prius

  • 300 miles
Prius 2010, purchased July, 2009, dch Toyota, mamaroceck, NY. Braking problems since purchase: Brakes disengage, car jumps, steering wheel needs to be controlled - while going over a bump, pothole or ice. In order to accommodate to this defect I must drive car carefully and slowly. This occurs regularly on routine drives in the metropolitan area.

- Riverdale, NY, USA

problem #359

Jan 212010

Prius 4-cyl

  • 1,400 miles

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

The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. While driving at speeds of less than 20 mph in overcast weather conditions and approaching a stop sign at a busy intersection, the brakes failed to engage and the vehicle proceeded with caution through the intersection. The dealer was contacted and stated that they never heard of any similar failures. There were no recalls or repairs made to the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were 1,400. Updated 03/18/10 updated 05/12/10.

- Altus, OK, USA

problem #358

Dec 252009

Prius

  • 4,500 miles
From a dead stop, moving forward or in reverse, brakes will lock or grab & will not release easily.

- Lake Ozark, MO, USA

problem #357

Jan 122010

Prius

  • 1,000 miles
Several times since I purchased my 2010 Toyota Prius on Dec. 23rd 2009, I've experienced momentary loss of brake control while braking. It happens for like a split second then return to normal. I haven't noticed any connection between when it happens and rough road surfaces.

- Farmingdale, NY, USA

problem #356

Jul 012009

Prius

  • 50 miles
Momentary brake failure on 2010 Prius, has occurred on numerous occasions.

- Colts Neck, NJ, USA

problem #355

May 012009

Prius

  • 300 miles

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

2010 Toyota Prius purchased April 2009. Reported to dealer shortly after purchase that antilock brake system releases brakes and lunges car forward if tires encounter uneven surface (e.g., pothole) while braking. Occurrence has resulted in missing stop signs, but no accident to date. Toyota dealership reported that this was normal operation despite my calling the dealership on two separate occasions.

- Stamford, CT, USA

problem #354

Feb 022010

Prius

  • 3,000 miles
While approaching a stop sign at a particular intersection with a bump and pothole just before the stop area at approx 30mph, car momentarily loses braking power when passing over bump and pothole. I can replicate this issue every time I approach this intersection, and it has happened several times since we bought the car in 8/09. Problem was reported to dealer in September, and we were told there was no issue with the brakes on the vehicle.

- Mequon, WI, USA

problem #353

Dec 012009

Prius

  • 11,000 miles
I own a 2010 Toyota Prius and have experienced several times the braking failure problems recently discussed in the national media on snow and ice and on rough road surfaces. This has happened several times during the winter weather season particularly on snow and ice. I purchased my Prius in July 2009.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #352

Oct 302009

Prius

  • 500 miles
I bought a 2010 Prius in October 2009. I brought the Prius back to the dealer, stevenson Toyota, for a problem that would occur when the vehicle brake was completely depressed and the traction control light would come on. I also mentioned that when I would hit a bump or drive on ice, it did not seem that the vehicle would stop properly and that when hitting a bump, the vehicle would seem to "lurch forward". the dealer said this was a safety aspect of the vehicle and was normal operation. A few weeks later, I called the dealer again to reiterate my concerns about the braking problem and the lurching forward when hitting a bump, they again repeated that it was a safety measure new on the 2010 Prius models. Now that the recall is out, I am skeptical on the validity of their statements saying that it was a new 2010 safety feature. My wife who also drives the vehicle does not feel safe driving in the snow because of the feel of the brakes when attempting to stop. I bought the car for her but now drive it more because she does not fee safe in the vehicle.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #351

Dec 282009

Prius

  • 5,000 miles
Brakes are terrible. Vehicle computer causes brakes to unload when going over very rough road or potholes. If stopping just behind traffic, collision is always imminent. Brakes are also extremely sensitive, especially at low speeds. While trying to feather the brakes while backing out of a parking space (for instance) the computer seems to tell the brakes to fully clamp down without applying additional force to the brake pedal. This causes a lurching motion as opposed to a smooth backup at idle speed. Also, when coming to a stop, the slower you go, the more sensitive the braking becomes such that you are trying to not over-apply the already sensitive brakes you inevitably end up stomping on them at the last minute because the amount of travel from zero to full braking is miniscule. I have owned all three generations of Prius. The first had brakes that were unusual due to the regenerative system, but they had acceptable amount of pedal travel and were not a problem. The second generation's brakes were much improved over the first edition and they felt almost like normal brakes. But this third generation's brakes are absolutely hideous! I complained about them to the dealer about a month ago and they said they were normal and that all Prius brakes were like that. That doesn't make it right! I am glad all this publicity has vindicated my assertions.

- Bothell, WA, USA

problem #350

Dec 092009

Prius

  • 1,500 miles
My 2010 Prius won't stop on rough or iced up roads.

- River Hills, WI, USA

problem #349

Sep 062009

Prius

  • 1,000 miles
I have noticed an issue with the brakes in my 2010 Prius (iv) purchased in late August 2009 from wellesley Toyota in wellesley, MA. I have noticed an odd pulsing in the brakes, much like the feeling of alb system kicking in. The car seems to continue moving right through my braking. I sometimes have to then slam the brakes to make the car stop. This is usually taking place as I am slowing to a stop sign or light -- and frequently when I'm going downhill. I had thought it had something to do with the switch between gas & electric powering but I can't be sure of that.

- Holliston, MA, USA

problem #348

Jan 052010

Prius

  • 700 miles
I like many others have had skidding and non-responsiveness when I hit the brakes on the 2010 Prius.

- Westbury, NY, USA

problem #347

Jan 012010

Prius

  • 1,000 miles
I have a 2010 Prius, which has experienced the brake delay problem that I read about in the news today. It has happened approximately 3 times since I purchased the car in November 2009. I pressed on the brake, and the car did not slow immediately. Each time there was a momentary delay, which frightened me.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #346

Jan 202010

Prius

  • 5,010 miles
I own a 2010 Toyota Prius, purchased in October of 2009. I contacted the dealer about slippage when braking and they were not helpful. When the brakes are applied, the car does not stop but feels like it is slipping and you need to reapply the brakes. I contacted Toyota about this problem and they did not respond. I have now recontacted the dealer and they told me to wait to hear back from them. They have not offered to loan me a car until this problem is resolved. I am deeply disappointed by Toyota and the dealership.

- Arlington, MA, USA

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