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.
Shortly after date of purchase of my Prius I have reported to Toyota service department on numerous occasions that the brake system feels faulty: The brakes often lock or do not function at all when the car is at a slight incline either going up or down a road. There is also a constant high pitched noise emanating from the wheels. Toyota has claimed that it is a "characteristic feature" of the car and have been unable to locate the issue. Toyota has reviewed this issue at a minimum or 5 or 6 times and have not done any repairs to my car at all. The car was purchased and is always taken to keyes Toyota in van nuys, ca. I am submitting a date below with this form as requested, but the issue has been ongoing for many months since June 2009. I specifically expressed my concern to Toyota because I often have my infant and toddler niece and nephew in the car with me. Toyota claimed there is no reason for concern and that they "could find nothing wrong with the car".
The brakes on our 2010 Prius have repeatedly had problems. Most have occured with my wife driving the vehicle. She had told me several months ago about the car feeling like it was "sliding" or the brakes not being very effective for a short time. I passed this off as the the car being different than other cars since it was a hybrid. Then about 3 weeks ago I had it happen to me. While turning and going over a small hump in a driveway about 15 mph, the brakes just seemed to release for about a half second and I almost ran into an iron gate. I cannot describe the other events that my wife has had in detail because occurred over the last several months and she does not remember the specific details besides that they happened over uneven pavement while applying the brakes.
Toyota Prius 2010 - it has happened to me, multiple times this winter, during icy roads that when I try to brake the car accelerates as if someone hit the car from behind. Then, the car eventually stops. I have had the car for 6 months and I live in the midwest and it has only happened this winter when roads are icy or slushy.
While driving our 2010 Toyota Prius on a snowy and bumpy road, my wife pressed on the brake pedal and it took a second or two for the brakes to work. This happened several times. She thought it was due to lack of traction in the snow, but based on all of the other braking complaints about the Prius, she felt it was not due to snow, but rather a problem with the braking system
- Winnetka, IL, USA
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My 2010 Toyota Prius is having braking problems when I apply the brakes while/after hitting a bump or pothole. For example, when I approach a stop sign and apply the brakes while hitting a bump, the car lurches forward briefly (1-2 seconds) before the brakes kick in. The brakes work fine when no bump is encountered during braking. I can repeat this failure consistently with a bump in my neighborhood. No fix yet.
While driving eastbound on moorpark street, approaching dixie canyon avenue, I braked in preparation to make a right hand turn, and the brakes released when I hit a small pot hole. The brakes re-engaged approximately 1-2 seconds later.
I suffered a temporary loss of braking while approaching a toll booth on the New Jersey garden state parkway. The loss occured immediately after hitting a large bump as I was slowing to pay the toll. Soon after braking returned and I was able to continue slowing and did not strike anything.
I have a 2010 Prius III that was purchased on Dec 23, 2009. I experienced a momentary loss (approx 0.5-1 sec) of braking power when I was driving over a road with some bumps. Essentially, the brakes completely cut out, but came back while I was holding back the brake pedal. My mileage at the time was approx 4000 miles. So far, this has not repeated. Another issue is inconsistent braking. Holding the brake pedal down with constant force (my judgment) will cause the car to slow abruptly while at low speeds(<10 mph). This is a very different feeling from the regenerative braking portion (feels like little/no braking at all) and braking at higher speeds (>10 mph).
1. event: Normal city driving (I.e., car in drive and cruise control off) 2. the failure: Press on brake and feel softness instead of firmness; must press much harder on brake than typically required to bring car to stop in same distance. Failure occurs sporadically during course of regular driving. Have not associated failure with traveling over rough surfaces. 3. contacted Toyota dealer and was told that we would receive letter in mail instructing us on what to do, because no correction has been developed yet for this problem in existing cars.
2010 Toyota Prius loses brake response completely after hitting any medium sized or larger bump. Happens at least twice a week and has resulted in sliding and hitting a curb once. Car is unsafe to drive. Took car to Toyota dealer and was told "there is no fix for this issue at this time" I was given the Toyota customer experience phone number and when I called I was greeted with a recorded voice saying "we cannot take your call at this time" "if you need to speak to a representative call back later" and then hung up on.
My wife's 2010 Prius occasionally surges forward when the brakes are applied. This typically occurs when driving down hill and over bumps. It happens about 1 time per 14 days. The surge is only for a split second. Control of the car has not been lost yet. Nothing has been done to fix the problem
Driving a 2010 Prius coming to a stoplight. Went over a raised portion of road resulting in a very noticeable bump. Car seemed to lurch forward and braking didn't seem to work for a short time. Thought I was going to go through the red light into cross traffic but brakes took hold and I was able to stop.
I have on at least 4 occasions experienced the braking issue (that is being investigated) on my 2010 Prius. It happens when I go over railroad tracks, or hit a pothole. Please add my complaint to the others that report similar problems.
Brakes on 2010 Toyota Prius fail when the vehicle encounters a rough road surface when braking.(four incidents) I suspect many of these complaints are going unreported because dealer service departments are telling customers the vehicles are braking as designed.
The brakes on my 2010 Toyota Prius at times do not engage immediately. It may be necessary at those times to depress the brake pedal by 1/3rd before braking begins. There is a similar delay when braking is used to turn off cruise control. Neither of these have caused an accident, but in both cases there is some risk.
I have experience a problem with my 2010 Prius, while turning right on to another street traveling around 20 mph, I press on the brakes to down slightly when suddenly the car accelerated very fast, I pressed on brake harder and it stop this acceleration. Later I had 2 problems at the same intersection, # 1: I turned right into the street to my right and I noticed my brakes hesitated for about 1 or 2 seconds, I then continued without a problem. # 2: I turned right at the same intersection with the brakes on to slow me down, when the car seemed to accelerate slightly without my foot on the gas pedal. There are many small pot holes at the intersection.
My 2010 Toyota Prius brakes fail briefly (1-2 seconds) when braking at low speeds and driving over a pothole, speed bump, or manhole, especially on wet roads. Brakes resume appropriately when brake pedal is pressed again or pressed in harder. I first noticed this during the first month I owned the car (August 2009). This happens to me about once every two weeks. Nothing so far has been done to correct the problem.
Dear sir, I would like to bring a problem to your attention. I purchased a 2010 Toyota Prius, VIN# [xxx], in June 2009. The problem is not the brake problem being described in the predicted recall. My problem is as follows: When the vehicle is driven and then parked (shut down ) and started again, the brakes will lock up at the slightest pressure on the brake pedal. When starting out of a parking spot, either forward or backward, the slightest touch of the brake pedal will lock the brakes and stand the car on it's nose. I have found that if the problem occurs, I can either stop the vehicle ( shut off with the start button ) or hold down hard on the pedal for 10 to 20 seconds, the brakes perform normally. I returned the vehicle to the dealer in August 2009 for an oil change and reported the problem, but the service department dismissed the complaint as 'could not duplicate the complaint' even though I explained that it did not occur every time. I can not connect the problem with any particular situation. It can occur with normal driving or in eco mode. I feel it is an annoyance more than anything else, but could pose a problem in certain circumstances. I will gladly answer any questions you may have regarding this problem. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2010 Toyota Prius braking problem. Going down steep long hill, with rough surface, we encounter this problem 1 or 2 times a week, repeatedly. It feels like we are "flying" down the hill briefly, out of control, while in fact, we are going approximately 15 miles per hour and are applying the brake in the same manner as always. This is very scary, as the hill has a huge deep ravine on one side, and a high cliff on the other side, and a cliff off a beach into the salt water at the bottom of the hill. The road is very narrow, with 2 vehicles going up and down only able to pass at selected positions, otherwise, one lane traffic. Please demand that Toyota recall this vehicle, and replace the software that controls the braking system. I understand from the news that they have this fix in place on new cars since last month. Please recall this vehicle asap! my vehicle number is [xxx] production date 6/09. Thank you. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Sherman Oaks, CA, USA