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 2010 Prius and would like to log a complaint that I too am experiencing the lag effect on the braking system. I read today that it could be a computer software problem. Please log this complaint so the real magnitude of this problem is tallied.
2010 Prius. I have the braking problem exactly as it's described in your report, "momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump". this seems to occur about every 50 miles of city driving, but it's totally unpredictable. When it happens, I have to depress the brake pedal about two more inches to regain the lost braking. I indicated this on Toyota's new owner survey but never heard from the company. Please add this to the list of complaints.
Over the past 2-3 weeks we have had unpredictable occurrences of the brakes of our 2010 Prius grabbing/locking when only gentle/gradual pressure has been applied to the brake pedal. The sudden full-braking of the vehicle causes it to lurch and, if drivers do not take off the brake completely, to stop short.
We purchased a 2010 Toyota Prius in July 2009 and have been having problems with the brakes that correspond precisely to what is now being widely reported in the news. Specifically, when going over bumps in the road while braking, several times I have experienced the car suddenly and momentarily speeding up and lurching forward rather than slowing down. My wife has also report braking problems. Indeed, just last week I queried her to make sure it was the brakes rather than the accelerator, and she confirmed the problem occurred while braking. So far these incidents have not resulted in damage or crash, but we are obviously now very concerned about use of the car, especially during slippery winter conditions here in Washington, DC. The date below only represents the most recent of multiple times we experienced this problem.
When I go over a bump or hit a significant pothole, the anti-lock braking system on my 2010 Toyota Prius seems to freeze up. I am unable to use the brakes properly and it feels like I do not have control of my car for a couple of seconds. Fortunately, I have not had an accident as a result but I am very concerned about this.
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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I have had 3 incidents in the last 8 months with my 2010 Prius where when braking there is a slight acceleration before the brakes get in. In all cases I was driving at slow speeds (30mph) on a flat surface. It eventually brakes ok, but it is very nerve wracking.
When driving my Prius, I have noticed the feeling of being thrown forward for a split second after I have applied the brakes when on an uneven surface, ie a grate in the road. This occurs nearly everytime I round a corner by my apartment in which I am forced to brake as I go across a metal plate in the road.
This complaint is regarding my 2010 Toyota Prius which I purchased in August of 2009. Before my first oil change was due I had noticed the vehicle's tendency to not respond instantly to my stepping on the brake, and then lurch forward when the brakes did engage. My brakes also squeal even when the weather is dry. I reported this to the dealer when I took it in for tire rotation and oil change. Of course they told me the momentary pause of the brakes "was normal" and they did not hear the brakes squeal. Well my vehicle is still doing both of these things and it seems I am not the only one with a concern regarding the brakes. Please add my vehicle to the list of owners who are worried about these brakes. I have been driving for 40 years, every make and model, including tractors on the farm and I know there is a problem no matter what that dealership or Toyota says.
2010 Toyota Prius while braking, if the car drive over a bump, the car accelerates. To stop the car, the brakes must be pressed to the floor board to stop and avoid an accident. The car has had this problem since purchased 8/2009.
When carefully braking my 2010 Toyota Prius at low speeds (40 mph and lower), a small dip or bump in the road will cause the car to release the brakes and the effect is a sudden acceleration or release of the braking system which lasts approximately 1 second. This failure in the vehicle is seemingly unrelated to a mechanical issue and feels more like an electrical issue, since there is no stiff pedal or obstruction near the pedal. The failure occurs on a semi-regular basis. I took the car into the Toyota dealership where I bought my vehicle, Suburban Toyota located in troy, Michigan, and reported the problem, approximately 4 months from the time I bought the car (June 2009). The mechanics kept the vehicle over night. The dealer then reported that they did experience the problem when testing the vehicle and said it was related to the anti-lock braking system and that the car was designed to move around an object rather than heavy braking. They did nothing to fix the car. The problem persists and I have heard similar complaints of unintended acceleration, both when braking and coasting. I am concerned I will at some point hit a car that is too close in front of me.
2010 Toyota Prius model III. During light braking, when the vehicle is using the regenerative brakes, rather than the mechanical friction brakes, if a pothole or railroad track is crossed, the brakes feel like they slip a bit before they catch again. The car does not accelerate, but the deceleration from braking does decrease for part of a second. This has happened to me several times in the past 6 months and is repeatable.
I purchased a 2010 Prius in August 2009. It shows no evidence of an anti-lock braking system. I reported this to the taylor Toyota of alexandria in October who told me that they had not heard of the problem and they did nothing. Additionally, the avid factory tires on the car are not effective on wet pavement; they skid. Again, I reported this to the dealer and again they told me they had not heard of a problem but referred me to their parts department to buy new tires. Finally, when I engage cruise control, the car surges forward in speed until I depress the brake. I stopped using the cruise control.
When my 2010 Prius goes over a pothole it surges and brakes aren't responsive enough to prevent hitting the car in front of me. So far I haven't hit any body or another vehicle.
Brake problem with my 2010 Toyota Prius. Has been happening since I purchased the car but didn't realize it was such a wide-spread problem. One out of every 500 times I push on the brake pedal, the car will first lunge forward for a split second and then begin to decelerate. It is a very clear jolt when the brake pedal is first depressed.
2010 Prius brake failures at least 4 times in past 6 months after hitting pothole or ice on road at about 30mph or less; brake pedal goes to floor and car sort of shimmies.
Early Dec. 2009 I hit a pothole and felt my brakes fail for a second then grab again. At first I thought this was black ice but it happened again a week or so later and then again toward the end of Dec. 2009.
I purchased a new 3rd generation Toyota Prius in August of 2009. I have noticed two incidents where my brakes did not respond properly immediately after passing over distinct potholes. They had way too much "give." On the second pump of the brakes, the full braking power appeared to be restored.
2010 Prius surges when a bump is hit while braking. This is fairly repeatable and can occur as much as once a day. We have not taken back to the dealer, because being in the automotive electronics industry, I am certain it is a software bug and that the dealer will not find anything wrong or know how to fix it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Minneapolis, MN, USA