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.
1. traffic came to a sudden stop so I hit the brakes. 2. vehicle hit a pothole while I was trying to stop and the brakes felt like they released. I had to hit the brakes again in order to gain control of the vehicle and bring the car to a stop. 3. I was told by the dealership that nothing could be done.
There is an apparent momentary loss of braking ability that we have experienced several times. Going over a rise in the road, or bumps, and beginning a descent to an intersection, pressing the brake pedal seems to have no effect for about 500ms. This seems somewhat more pronounced when the road is wet, although possibly the explanation for this is we brake earlier in the descent as a precaution in less-than-ideal circumstances. We have made our local dealer aware of this at the 5K mile service appointment, and they acknowledged other complaints, and contact with Toyota. They report that Toyota is looking in to a fix. We are concerned about the ability to brake in an emergency situation with no safety margin. This seems reproducible.
When I am braking and my car hits a pothole, it surges forward and the brakes do not work for a few seconds. This problem occurs every time I hit a pothole or bump in the road.
At a right turn I encountered a pothole and applied the brakes. When my car actually hit the pothole I felt, for a very brief time, that the brakes didn't work and the engine rev up a little bit. I was driving at low speed. I could have hit the car in front of me.
I have a 2010 Prius purchased in September of 2009. It now has just over 5000 miles on it. Since the beginning, probably the first weekend I owned the car, when braking if I hit a bump in the road, uneven surface, or a pothole or something, the car often feels like it lurches forward and I have to immediately release and rebrake. The car feels out of control. I have very often felt like I narrowly missed lurching forward into the car in front of me. The Toyota dealership service department insists they only know of recalls regarding the sticking accelerator pedals, nothing about this braking issue. Yet I read plenty online about this problem, so I know it isn't only happening to me. What can you do"? I've listed all three types of brakes in the equipment area of this form, because I don't know what it is - something about the hybrid braking system also charging the engine" also I listed the date as the day after I bought the car but this is ongoing, not a single incident by any means.
- Fremont, CA, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
1. events leading up to failure: Moderate braking (~0.2 - 0.4 G) at moderate speed (~20 mph) while driving over choppy pavement such as might exist where road work is being done. 2. failure: As the car passes over the choppy pavement, braking force declines sharply without a change in brake pedal pressure. The consequence of this is that the car stops farther down the road than expected despite reflexive increased brake pressure on my part. This has happened three times in 7500 miles of very moderate driving. So far I have not had a collision or other accident from this unexpected behavior. I have never experienced this behavior in any other car including dozens of rental cars. 3. what was done to correct the failure. Nothing. Tw*
My 2010 Toyota Prius 1) lurches forward when braking while driving on an uneven surface, like a pothole, indent/crevice in road, etc. 2) the brakes repeatedly grab and cause the car to lurch when backing up on an uneven/slippery surface. Both problems seem to happen when applying pressure and braking at a slower speed. This problem has occurred multiple times (approximately 4-5) since purchasing the Prius in June 2009.
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. Whenever the vehicle travels over a rough terrain at any speed the contact noticed that the brake pedal released causing the vehicle to suddenly accelerate. The braking distance and pressure applied to the brake pedal also increased in order to stop the vehicle. The dealer stated that the failure could not be reproduced. There were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 8300.
I have experienced at least three times in my 2 month old 2010 Toyota Prius a lurch forward when braking when my car drives over a bump, pothole, or something slick. Most recently I was driving downhill in dense traffic and the lurch felt like an acceleration. I had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting the car in front of me. This braking problem clearly can be a hazard to safe driving and to any pedestrian or other close vehicle.
2010 Prius. This has happened about 10 times now. Sometimes when I brake, I experience a sudden acceleration. It ranges from slight to a lurch. When it first happened, I thought it was something on the road and ignored it. When it was more pronounced and happened a couple of more times, I brought it to the dealer. They said they had no other reports and could not replicate it. The service manager took me on a test drive and the car was fine. I knew this would happen as the acceleration is only occasional. I was advised to call Toyota national, which I did, and was told that since this could not be replicated that there was nothing they could do and no recourse I had as the complaint could not be replicated. It has happened several times since, so I have paid close attention, as my heart has been racing, to the conditions. It has happened when I am braking while going over manholes, speed strips, cracks in the pavement. It feels like the tire is getting hung up slightly, doesn't get any traction.the brake malfunction light comes on. Also, on the multi-information display, the indicator has just moved from eco to chg.the other day, it was 34 degrees and I was braking as I came up to a light and the car slid and vibrated. I was going about 5 miles an hour. There may have been some black ice or frost on the ground, but the shaking was intense and I had difficulty controlling the car for a few seconds until I stopped.
Yesterday, I once again experienced an issue that I have observed since I got my 2010 Prius in October 2009. There are two intersections close to my home that both are at the bottom of a hill and have potholes about 5 yards from the stop sign. In both locations, when my Prius hits the potholes, I have the sensation that the brakes release even though I am keeping pressure on them as I approach the stop sign. This does not happen with our 2007 rav4. I now know that I have to slow down as if the stop sign is before the pothole, but I worry about my wife driving it and about a condition that I won't be prepared for.
Car: Prius 2010 (purchased in August 2009) problem: Braking failure on uneven surfaces or potholes I feel very unsafe and dangerous whenever I hit uneven surfaces or potholes because I feel I am losing control over my own car, especially since I am in los angeles where roads are not that great condition. I almost hit people several times because the brake and hit several cars when I was braking.... and, the brake is so weak that it doesn't hold the car that well on the hills. It goes backward whenever I stop at the traffic light on the hill and driving. I tried to talk to the dealer who helped me with purchase, but he made me look like I am a bad/unsafe driver who doesn't know how to drive well. The incident happened shortly after I purchased the vehicle, but I thought it was really my fault to not handling the "new" technology car well. It is very regretful to purchase a vehicle like this with so much money.
Many times while braking, when I hit a pothole or bump, the brakes go out, causing the car to accelerate. I feel a loss of control, which is regained a few seconds later. It's led to several terrifying situations where I've almost hit the vehicle in front of me.
There have been several times when the brakes of my 2010 Toyota Prius have released, often when I hit a bump or am going over a hill. The car feels as if it's suddenly accelerating even though I am pushing down on the brakes. This has happened at least 4 - 5 times per week since I bought my car in July 2009. Today, I was unable to stop as I approach an intersection despite pushing down on the brakes. The car hesitated and finally the brakes engaged. Luckily no one was coming through the intersection for if there had been, I surely would have hit them.
When I am braking/slowing and turning and hit a curb or chunk of ice, or driving straight and hit a chunk of ice, my 2010 Prius brakes will completely go away. This has happened 4 times during the past 3 weeks of winter weather.
On several occasions my 2010 Toyota Prius accelerated for a few seconds as I placed my foot on the brake. On at least one occasion it happened as I went over a bump in the road. There has been no accident and no injuries. The acceleration occurred for a few brief seconds. I am concerned that this problem could occur when there is a pedestrian or auto close in front of me.
When I hit particular intersections or when the ground is covered with ice or snow, my brakes will begin to slow down the vehicle. But then they fail. I lose control of my vehicle. I have to re-push the brake pedal for it to actually brake. It is scary and dangerous because I have no control over my car when the brakes are out and one of these times it is going to cause an accident. Since I purchased the car brand new in July, it has happened to me over 10 times. I only have 5300 miles on my car. I'm not sure what I can do to correct the problem.
Three times, twice with me and once with my wife, the automobile accelerated during braking. The acceleration (or loss of brakes, it's hard to tell) lasted for only a second, but enough where I had to press the brakes with force to come to my intended stop. I could have easily ended up in the middle of the intersection.
The contact has 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact was engaging the brake pedal while driving 15 mph into a pot hole. Once the contact drove into the pot hole the brakes released and she was forced to pump the brakes in order to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a loud screeching noise as well. The failure mileage was 600. The current mileage was 5,600. Updated 02/17/10
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Renton, WA, USA