2010 Toyota Prius SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

FROM AUGUST 1ST OF 2009, I HAD BEEN DRIVING A 2010 PRIUS. IT IS A GREAT VEHICLE FOR ECONOMY BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND IF THERE IS A BUMP, THE VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD OR ACCELERATES AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASES. USUALLY A SAFE DISTANCE BEHIND A VEHICLE IS WHEN THE TAIL PIPE OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU IS VISIBLE. WITH THE PRIUS, TO BE SAFE, I STOP AT LEAST TEN FEET BEHIND A VEHICLE BECAUSE IF THERE IS A BUMP, THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP FORWARD. *TR

THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS FAILED DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE SOUTH 405 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGLES NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I ALMOST REAR ENDED A NISSAN 370 ZX. IN GENERAL THE BRAKES SEEM SUBSTANDARD AND FEEL MUSHY AFTER DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR ESPECIALLY RAIN AS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING IN CALIFORNIA. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE BRAKES ON THE CAR AND HAVE STARTED SHOPPING FOR ANY UPGRADE KITS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS VERY UNSETTLING AND I READ REPORTS TODAY ABOUT OTHER PRIUS DRIVERS COMPLAINING AS WELL. THEREFORE I FELT THAT I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT TO ENSURE THAT THE BRAKES ARE LOOKED INTO BY TOYOTA. *TR

THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MY 2010 PRIUS. WHEN I GO OVER A SMALL BUMP, SUCH AS A METAL PLATE ON THE STREET, SO FAR ALWAYS AT LOW SPEED IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE CAR ACCELERATES. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY JUST NOT BRAKING THE WAY I EXPECT IT TO, OR PERHAPS THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY FAIL. IT LASTS LESS THAN A SECOND, AND OF COURSE I WAS WORRIED THAT IT REPRESENTS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAS CAUSED THE BIG TOYOTA RECALL. BUT I THINK IT'S DIFFERENT. THERE'S AN ARTICLE IN TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES ABOUT THIS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT A NORMAL SPEED (20 - 60MPH), I START SLOWLY PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL EACH TIME I RUN OVER A POTHOLE OR A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND FOR A SPLIT SECOND I FEEL THE CAR ACCELERATE SLIGHTLY EVEN THOUGH I AM BRAKING. I HAVE NOTICED THIS 95% OF TIMES I GO OVER A POTHOLE AND PROBABLY IN A FEW OTHER SITUATIONS AS WELL (POSSIBLY WHEN DRIVING ON SLICK OR ICY ROADS). I HAVE NOT COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THE FAILURE. *TR

THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES (AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN TIMES) SINCE I'VE PURCHASED MY NEW 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IN JULY 2009. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS (~20 MPH), THE BRAKES HAVE MOMENTARILY STOPPED WORKING (CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD) AFTER DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE OR SIMILAR OTHER UNEVEN SURFACE. I HAVE TRIED TO ADJUST HOW I DRIVE, IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID THE SURPRISE OF THE SURGE, AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS, RELATED TO THIS BRAKING PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT YET SOUGHT A REPAIR FROM TOYOTA. *TR

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY 2010 PRIUS FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING ISSUES, WHEN BRAKING, IF A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD IS HIT, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THE TRACTION LIGHT BLINKS. EVEN WHEN THERE ARE NO BUMPS, THERE IS A LAG IN THE TIME I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND WHEN THE BRAKES ACTIVATE. THE CAR ALMOST COASTS FOR ABOUT 1-2 SECONDS, WHICH CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN AN ACCIDENT OR NOT. *TR

THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING ON THE 2010 PRIUS LOSE GRIPPING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS ON THE ROAD. WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER BUMPY GROUND AND I AM USING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES SEEM TO LOSE GRIP AND THE DECELERATION IS REDUCED. I HAVE NOTICED THIS HAPPENING ABOUT 10 TIMES IN THE 6 MONTHS THAT I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHILE BRAKING IN MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN I AM BRAKING AND THE CAR HITS A BUMP/POT HOLE. WHEN I HIT A BUMP THE BRAKES SEEM TO STOP WORKING FOR A SECOND OR TWO AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. FOR A MOMENT OR TWO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR. LUCKILY THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT YET. *TR

CARE SPEEDS UP WITH BREAKS APPLIED WHEN THE CAR HITS A BUMP. THE BRAKES ALSO GRAB WHEN BACKING UP. FREQUENCY: NOT OFTEN BUT IT NEED TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. REPORTED TO TOYOTA. THEY HAVE CHECKED AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THERE IS NOT ONE DATE AS IT HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 7 MONTHS. *TR

2010 PRIUS, WITH NO MODIFICATION MADE SINCE PURCHASE. WHEN DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED TO STOP THE CAR. THE CAR HIT A POTHOLE/SHARP BUMP 5 FEET BEFORE THE STOP SIGN AND THE CAR JERKED FORWARD FRIGHTENINGLY WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST ITS BREAKING ABILITY FOR 1 OR 2 SECONDS, BUT BECAME OPERATIONAL AGAIN AFTER THAT. DURING THE 1 OR 2 SECONDS, I FELT I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS DEFECT IS REPRODUCIBLE AND HAS OCCURRED 5 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 6 MONTHS AGO. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND I THINK WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF NOT FIXED. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2010 PRIUS IN AUGUST 2009. SINCE THEN, MY WIFE HAS COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT HOW THE BRAKES SEEM TO STOP WORKING WHENEVER SHE IS BRAKING AND ENCOUNTERS A BUMP (LIKE A POTHOLE OR SPEED BUMP). I'VE NOTICED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES MYSELF .. IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AND YOU HAVE TO RELEASE THE PEDAL AND PUSH IT DOWN AGAIN TO RE-ENGAGE THE BRAKES. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVEN'T HIT ANYTHING, YET -- BUT IT IS A RECURRING ISSUE. *TR

2010 PRIUS WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES RELEASING WHEN WE DRIVE OVER POT HOLES OR A SLICK SURFACE. THIS HAS BEEN A REOCCURING THING. IT PREVENTS US FROM STOPPING QUICKLY OR REACTING TO A SITUATION. IT HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS A STRONG POSSIBILITY TO IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *TR

1. I AM DRIVING ON A REGULAR ROAD. 2. WHEN I AM BRAKING AND MY CAR HITS A BUMP IT SEEMS TO JOLT FORWARD BRIEFLY AND I NEED TO HIT THE BRAKES HARDER TO STOP. *TR

TOYOTA-PRIUS HYBRID-2010 BRAKING PROBLEM. I HAVE EXPERIENCE A BRAKING PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE BRAKING PROBLEM RESULTS ONLY WHEN IN A PANIC STOP (WHEN ABS IS ACTIVE). I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT THE BRAKE IS RELEASING FOR A SECOND WHILE THE ABS COMPUTER IS TAKING OVER CONTROL OF THE BRAKING. THIS CAUSE WHAT SEEMS TO THE DRIVE AS A SLIP. WHERE THE DRIVE FEELS THE BRAKE RELEASE AND A SECOND LATER THE ABS KICKS IN AND STOPS THE CAR. I HAVE FELT THIS BRAKE RELEASE THREE TIMES IN THE FEW MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AND MOST TIMES WHEN TURNING RIGHT INTO A DRIVEWAY. *TR

WE HAD PICKED UP OUR BRAND NEW TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 ON SEP 24TH 2009. A WEEK LATER, ON OCT 1, I WAS DRIVING IN TO MY BROTHER IN LAW'S DRIVEWAY (MAYBE AT 5MPH) WHEN I FELT THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT ENGAGE. I CRASHED INTO THEIR GARAGE DOOR. SINCE, THIS WAS A METAL DOOR, WE THOUGHT WE COULD DENT IT BACK IN AND REPAINT IT. THEREFORE, IT WAS NOT REPORTED TO INSURANCE. SINCE THEN, I HAVE FELT A COUPLE MORE TIMES THAT THE BRAKE DID NOT ENGAGE EITHER QUICKLY ENOUGH OR HARD ENOUGH. I AM NOT A RASH DRIVER. I HAVE NOT HAD A TRAFFIC VIOLATION IN ABOUT 8 YEARS OR SO. I AM VERY WORRIED OUT THIS. WE HAVE 2 CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THE CAR A LOT WITH ME. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL IN THE 2010 PRIUS, THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE ALL BRAKING POWER IF YOU HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE IN THE ROAD. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. WHEN I DRIVE OVER THE BUMP IN THE ROAD (AND CONTINUE PRESSING THE BRAKE) THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD AS IF MY FOOT HAD RELEASED THE BRAKE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE IS TO IMMEDIATELY RE-ENGAGE THE BRAKE FULLY. I HAVE CAME VERY CLOSE TO REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO THIS DESIGN / MECHANICAL FLAW. I CAN RECREATE THIS SCENARIO EACH TIME I CROSS A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE ROAD I COMMUTE ON. *TR

I AM DRIVING A 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS SINCE AUGUST 2009. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE BRAKES SEEM TO MALFUNCTION. I CAN REPLICATE THIS ISSUE ON A CERTAIN ROAD WHEN I AM COMING DOWN A SLOPE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE (DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE) HITS A POTHOLE AS I AM BRAKING. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO GO FORWARD MOMENTARILY INSTEAD OF THE BRAKES WORKING AS THEY SHOULD. THE DATE MENTIONED BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. ALL TOGETHER THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROX. 10 TIMES SINF AUGUST. *TR

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE WHILE COMING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A SLIGHTLY ICY ROAD, THE CAR ACCELERATED. IT WAS NOT THE FUNCTION OF ANTILOCK BRAKES, BUT RATHER A SURGE THAT WAS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED AND SOMEWHAT FRIGHTENING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME, OR I WOULD HAVE SURELY REAR ENDED IT. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA AND THERE IS A CASE NUMBER - 1001142944. GIVEN TOYOTA'S SLOWNESS TO REACT TO THE GAS PEDAL ISSUE, I WANT TO NOTIFY NHTSA. *TR

MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS EXPERIENCES ACCELERATION WHENEVER I GO OVER A POTHOLE AND ATTEMPT TO BRAKE THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2009. I AM REPORTING IT NOW BECAUSE I NOW KNOW THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS NOT A RESULT OF MY INABILITY TO GET USED TO DRIVING A HYBRID. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS I'M ALARMED THAT I MAY BE UNABLE TO BRAKE SUDDENLY IF THIS HAPPENS IN A SITUATION THAT WARRANTS ME TO QUICKLY BRAKE. *TR

WHEN BRAKING, THE BRAKES SEEM TO LOOSE PARTIAL GRIP ON AND OFF. ALSO WHEN BRAKING OVER A POTHOLE OR UNEVEN ROAD THE CAR SEEMS TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY AND THERE IS A FEEL OF LOSS OF CONTROL. THESE ARE BOTH VERY SCARY. *TR

2010 PRIUS I HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN GETTING THE LURCHING OVER BUMPS THAT I'VE HEARD OTHER 2010 PRIUS OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT. HAPPENS A LOT WHEN I DRIVE OVER A MANHOLE COVER, THE CAR SEEMS TO SPEED UP FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT FROM THIS YET, BUT WANTED TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT WITH WHOMEVER ELSE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

REGENERATIVE BRAKING DISENGAGES FOR A SECOND OR TWO BEFORE MECHANICAL BRAKING TAKES OVER CAUSING CAR TO LURCH FORWARD/ACCELERATE WHEN BRAKING ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES. THIS EFFECT WAS NOTICED TWICE AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 15 MPH WHEN FRONT TIRES HIT RUTS IN ROAD ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AT STOP LIGHTS OR WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER. I TRY TO DRIVE CLOSE TO THE RIGHT CURB ON THE EVEN ROAD SURFACE TO AVOID BREAKING WHEN POT HOLES/RUTS ARE PRESENT IN MY LANE WHERE OTHER CARS TYPICALLY DRIVE. *TR

WHEN I DRIVE OVER A BUMPY ROAD AND APPLY THE BRAKES, MY CAR DOES NOT STOP. *TR

I BOUGHT MY NEW 2010 PRIUS JUNE 6TH 2009. SINCE ABOUT OCT 2009, I HAVE NOTICED WHEN I AM BRAKING AND GO OVER A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD, THE CAR SEEMS TO SPEED UP. THERE IS A POTHOLE BY MY HOUSE SO I CAN TEST THIS FREQUENTLY. IT HAPPENS WHEN I GO ABOUT 30 MPS (AS I'M SLOWING DOWN DUE TO THE STOP LIGHT ON THE CORNER). I TOOK MY 2010 PRIUS INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON DEC 28TH AND THEY WERE VERY UNHELPFUL AND RUDE. THEY TOLD ME TO REMOVE MY FLOOR MATS EVEN THOUGH WHAT MY ISSUE WAS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FLOOR MATS OR THE GAS PEDAL. WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP ENCOURAGE THEM TO FIX THIS ISSUE AS I FIND IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE MY CAR?? I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TWICE. IT'S VERY CONCERNING. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS IV SINCE AUGUST 2009. OVER THE PAST TWO TO THREE MONTHS, I NOTICE THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I BRAKE, MY CAR JUMPS FORWARD A LITTLE BIT BEFORE BRAKING. IT FEELS LIKE SKIDDING ON ICE BUT THERE IS NO ICE AROUND. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST A FEW TIMES EVERY WEEK. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY SO FAR THAT THIS ISSUE HASN'T CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I NOW MAKE SURE I HAVE EXTRA SPACE WHEN BRAKING BECAUSE I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND A REASON FOR THIS HAPPENING. THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WHEN THE BRAKES WILL REACT THAT WAY. I AM PLANNING ON CONTACTING MY DEALERSHIP TODAY. *TR