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 26 of 38)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #245

Dec 112009

Prius

  • 6,000 miles

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

During the first snowfall in Dec 09 I was driving my wife's 2010 Prius because I wanted to take this new car out to see how it would perform in icy conditions. As I approached a roundabout/traffic circle at less than 10 mph the brakes did not respond at first. I nearly rear ended the SUV that was stopped at the circle. The ground was covered in ice. I had to spin the car at an angle to avoid hitting the SUV. I am now reading that other people have had the same problem. I read that Toyota has addressed that there is a problem but has not issued a recall. I have experienced brake slippage/not engaging when first pressing on the brakes 6-10 times with this car. Applying the brakes over potholes seem to have the same effect but it seems more dangerous that this happens on icy roads since I live in the frozen Tundra of green bay Wisconsin.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

problem #244

Feb 012010

Prius

  • 11,820 miles
I have a 2010 Prius and am having braking problems when driving over pot holes, bumpy services, or down hills. The 2010 Prius releases the brakes when driving over these surfaces and has becomes dangerous to me and my family. I also live on a rather steep hill and when traveling down the hill any debris on the surface of the road such as leaves causes the brakes to give way. "please help" "please help".

- Monroe, WA, USA

problem #243

Feb 022010

Prius

  • 340 miles
Brake was not working when applied trying to slow down on a snow covered frozen road at about 25mph. It's not for a stop or sudden braking.

- Okemos, MI, USA

problem #242

Jan 032010

Prius

  • 1,500 miles

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

While braking on a downhill road and approaching a signal light, I hit a pothole and the momentarily lost braking power and the vehicle lurched forward. I continued to apply the brakes and they engaged again. Fortunately, I was decelerating and there were no other vehicles in front of me. I concerned that this could occur again with other consequences.

- Santa Clara, CA, USA

problem #241

Dec 092009

Prius

  • 5,013 miles
When driving my car the brakes don't always seem to respond immediately. Occasionally, but no always, the car will fail to brake when pedal is depressed and seems to move forward faster before finally braking. It is sporadic and when I first asked a dealership they said I was just unaccustomed to Prius braking systems and that over time I would become more familiarized. This has happened several times and each time the vehicle was at a low velocity = 35mph.

- Salem, NH, USA

problem #240

Aug 132009

Prius

  • 540 miles
Loss of braking capability on rough surface or bumps.

- Lower Burrell, PA, USA

problem #239

Feb 032010

Prius

  • 2,000 miles

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

2010 Toyota Prius. Brakes would not work at low speed when approaching an intersection covered with sand/ gravel from recent snow abatement work. Car rolled through stop sign.

- Blacksburg, VA, USA

problem #238

Nov 072009

Prius

  • 300 miles
I bought a 2010 Prius V on 10-31-09. On several occasions, I have experienced the temporary loss of braking now making news. I've noticed it at least a half dozen times on snowy or icy roads. Mistakenly attributing the zero slowing to being on black ice, I pumped the brakes. The brakes immediately took effect and slowed the car. The immediate response upon pumping the brakes, plus the number of times this has happened in just the handful of times I've driven on slick roads, tells me it wasn't black ice at all. Please do something about this. Thanks.

- Slc, UT, USA

problem #237

Feb 042010

Prius

  • 3,000 miles
2010 Prius braking issue. I have felt the loss of braking while going over potholes atleast 4 times since I have owned my 2010 Prius since last year.

- Islip, NY, USA

problem #236

Dec 012009

Prius

  • miles
When braking at slow speeds and on bumpy roads, the car will surge forward a bit rather than stop as expected.

- Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #235

Oct 012009

Prius

  • 500 miles

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

Problem vehicle: 2010 Toyota Prius purchased in September 2009. When foot is on or off brake at speeds < approx 45 mph, and a large bump/pot hole/etc is traversed, the brakes fail for about a second (which feels like an uncontrolled acceleration). For that second the car is uncontrolled. This has happened at least 15 times since September 2009. This is especially dangerous is sudden braking is required or road conditions are hazardous.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #234

Feb 042010

Prius

  • 1,200 miles
I purchased a 2010 Toyota Prius in December 2009. I live in duluth Minnesota where the streets are hilly, bumpy, and often icy. At least twice a day, as I'm coming down a hill toward a stop sign and apply the brakes, I notice the brakes seem to give out (I.e., cease to function) for a brief interval, perhaps a second or two. During this brief interval, the car seems to surge forward. I reported this to the dealer this morning and they said no fix is yet available.

- Duluth, MN, USA

problem #233

Dec 012009

Prius

  • 2,000 miles
Under certain conditions my 2010 Toyota Prius momentarily looses its brakes. I took delivery in October, 2009.

- Meadville, , PA, USA

problem #232

Jan 132010

Prius

  • 6,000 miles
Braking does not occur immediately on occasion on Toyota 2010 Prius. Traction light even comes on as if you are skidding. This has occurred several time for me since owning the car in Sept 2009. I have had a Prius from each generation (this is my third Prius) - this did not occur in those. Did call dealer on this. Exact dates not kept but will put an estimate of last time below.

- Stafford , VA, USA

problem #231

Feb 022010

Prius

  • 1,200 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that the brakes were ultra-sensitive and when she lightly depressed the pedal, the vehicle would jerk as if she made an abrupt stop. Other times, she had to push the brake pedal extremely hard to stop the vehicle. She called the dealership and was told that it was not a problem. She had not contacted the manufacturer to-date. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The current mileage was 1,218. The failure mileage was approximately 1,200.

- Oro Valley, AZ, USA

problem #230

Jan 252010

Prius

  • 350 miles
I purchased a 2010 Prius on January 18, 2010. Within 1 week of the purchase, the car had hydroplaned two times. Each time, I thought I had hit "black ice" as there had been rainy/cold conditions that evening.the feeling I had was that the car surged forward momentarily as I was driving slowly or slowing down. These 2 incidents happened within a mile of each other. I was driving very slowly at the time. I called the dealer, northbrook Toyota, and reported the problem to the salesman. The problem happened again a week later when the surged forward as I passed over what looked like a slick sewer cap.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #229

Jan 022010

Prius

  • 10,000 miles
My 2010 Prius loses braking for a split second when going over a pot hole. I've noticed this a couple of times.

- Bothell, WA, USA

problem #228

Feb 032010

Prius

  • 5,000 miles
Sometimes when our 2010 Prius hits a pothole, ice chunk or other bumpy road conditions we will very temporarily lose braking power. It seems to occur as the traction control or anti-lock kicks in. This has not been a one time incident, but also does not occur every time.

- Spokane, WA, USA

problem #227

Nov 062009

Prius

  • 100 miles
On five separate occasions, when applying the brake to stop at an intersection the car would initially begin to slow down and then, while the brake is still being applied feel like it skipped or accelerated for another 10-15 feet before stopping. The term scary could be applied to the sudden feeling of having the car accelerate when the brakes are being applied.

- Newton, MA, USA

problem #226

Nov 252009

Prius

  • 4,000 miles
Our 2010 Prius bought in October 2009 failed to stop in time and got into an accident in November 2009. We had suspected a brake issue since we bought the car but were not concerned until now that Toyota has acknowledged this issue with brakes, we want Toyota to fix this issue and issue a recall.

- Chantilly, VA, USA

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