Bulletins

BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK
TSB-0174-1209/17/201210048160Toyota: instrument panel illuminates with malfunction of abs/vsc, mil on and brake warning lights, resulting in overly sensitive monitoring logic without any abs/vsc system issue. models 2007-2011 camry; 2004-2009 prius. *pe12/12/2012
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK - ABS WARNING LIGHT
TSB-0174-1209/17/201210048160Toyota: instrument panel illuminates with malfunction of abs/vsc, mil on and brake warning lights, resulting in overly sensitive monitoring logic without any abs/vsc system issue. models 2007-2011 camry; 2004-2009 prius. *pe12/12/2012
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TSB-0174-1209/17/201210048160Toyota: instrument panel illuminates with malfunction of abs/vsc, mil on and brake warning lights, resulting in overly sensitive monitoring logic without any abs/vsc system issue. models 2007-2011 camry; 2004-2009 prius. *pe12/12/2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK
TSB-0174-1209/17/201210048160Toyota: instrument panel illuminates with malfunction of abs/vsc, mil on and brake warning lights, resulting in overly sensitive monitoring logic without any abs/vsc system issue. models 2007-2011 camry; 2004-2009 prius. *pe12/12/2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - ABS WARNING LIGHT
TSB-0174-1209/17/201210048160Toyota: instrument panel illuminates with malfunction of abs/vsc, mil on and brake warning lights, resulting in overly sensitive monitoring logic without any abs/vsc system issue. models 2007-2011 camry; 2004-2009 prius. *pe12/12/2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TSB-0174-1209/17/201210048160Toyota: instrument panel illuminates with malfunction of abs/vsc, mil on and brake warning lights, resulting in overly sensitive monitoring logic without any abs/vsc system issue. models 2007-2011 camry; 2004-2009 prius. *pe12/12/2012

Consumer Complaints

Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SERVICE BRAKES
01/23/2013100000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while the driver drove down hill at 30mph the brake failed to engage. the contact had to steer the vehicle into ditch to avoid a crash. there was no warning light. the manufacturer was not made a ware of the failure. the vehicle was towed to a towyard. there was injury to report. the failure and current mileage was 100,000. li
05/20/2010119661
 On 20 may 2010 at 11,966 miles every brake/stability warning light came on (including the warning for the parking/emergency brake which was not engaged), regenerative braking appeared to have failed, and hydraulic/friction brakes behaved as if abs was acting at a very slow pulse rate, approximately a 5-second cycle. for about 2 seconds during the off portion of this cycle the brakes were effectively inoperative, with the parking/emergency brake the only source of braking. this behavior persisted after shutting down and restarting the car. the dealer's service department reported that three errors had been logged: c1247 - stroke sensor c1300 - abs ecu malfunction c2318 - low voltage error resetting the computers cleared the warning indications and restored normal brake system behavior. at my behest, the dealer worked with toyota engineering to identify why a low voltage would cause a computer failure which could cause substantial loss of braking ability. they kept the car for 8 days but did not appear to complete any sort of root cause analysis of the failure. on 17 december 2012 at 27,324 miles the brakes again failed with the same set of warning lights illuminated. this time, abs does not appear to be active at all. for the first 2-5 cm of brake pedal travel, in the regime where regenerative braking would be active, no braking is evident. as the pedal is further depressed, the hydraulic/friction brakes abruptly engage. pressing harder does result in increased braking though braking is rough. no pulsation as might be expected from abs was noticed. no attempt was made to brake hard enough to lock up the brakes. the vehicle is currently at the dealer. *tr
05/20/201011966
 On 20 may 2010 at 11,966 miles every brake/stability warning light came on (including the warning for the parking/emergency brake which was not engaged), regenerative braking appeared to have failed, and hydraulic/friction brakes behaved as if abs was acting at a very slow pulse rate, approximately a 5-second cycle. for about 2 seconds during the off portion of this cycle the brakes were effectively inoperative, with the parking/emergency brake the only source of braking. this behavior persisted after shutting down and restarting the car. the dealer's service department reported that three errors had been logged: c1247 - stroke sensor c1300 - abs ecu malfunction c2318 - low voltage error resetting the computers cleared the warning indications and restored normal brake system behavior. at my behest, the dealer worked with toyota engineering to identify why a low voltage would cause a computer failure which could cause substantial loss of braking ability. they kept the car for 8 days but did not appear to complete any sort of root cause analysis of the failure. on 17 december 2012 at 27,324 miles the brakes again failed with the same set of warning lights illuminated. this time, abs does not appear to be active at all. for the first 2-5 cm of brake pedal travel, in the regime where regenerative braking would be active, no braking is evident. as the pedal is further depressed, the hydraulic/friction brakes abruptly engage. pressing harder does result in increased braking though braking is rough. no pulsation as might be expected from abs was noticed. no attempt was made to brake hard enough to lock up the brakes. the vehicle is currently at the dealer.
09/18/2012600001
 2008 toyota prius (runaway toyota) 09/18/2012 at home depot parking area. as i was in a parking stall, i stepped on a brake to come to a complete stop, suddenly the car took off with its fully force. the brake pedal did not work. my right foot was on the brake pedal and not on the gas pedal. my car jumped over a wheel stop and banged onto a tree and stop. insurance agent came by shortly as well as a police. the car was towed to the big island toyota who denies defects. without my knowledge toyota made national claim so that my car is frozen-no one can touch it, until i sign a liability waiver (releasing toyota from any liability) . meantime they said i need to pay parking charge to hold my car in their service department. toyota wants me to sign a liability waiver and insurance company to repair the car so that they can whole sale the vehicle. my car 2008 toyota prius was recalled in 2008, the service department did something to the gas pedal. i want the world to know the car is not safe, it can trigger the gas pedal to go full when brake is stepped on. *tr
09/18/201260000
 2008 toyota prius (runaway toyota) 09/18/2012 at home depot parking area. as i was in a parking stall, i stepped on a brake to come to a complete stop, suddenly the car took off with its fully force. the brake pedal did not work. my right foot was on the brake pedal and not on the gas pedal. my car jumped over a wheel stop and banged onto a tree and stop. insurance agent came by shortly as well as a police. the car was towed to the big island toyoda who denies defects. without my knowledge toyota made national claim so that my car is frozen-no one can touch it, until i sign a liability waiver (releasing toyota from any liability) . meantime they said i need to pay parking charge to hold my car in their service department. toyota wants me to sign a liability waiver and insurance company to repair the car so that they can whole sale the vehicle. my car 2008 toyota prius was recalled in 2008, the service department did something to the gas pedal. i want the world to know the car is not safe, it can trigger the gas pedal to go full when brake is stepped on.
08/29/2012703741
 On 8/29/12, i got into my 2008 prius in the parking lot of the easton, md giant food-store to return home. this lot is on a slope just above a parking lot for walmart, with a paved road between the 2 lots. the parking lots were very crowded. i needed to get to the road separating the 2 lots in order to go home. i had just started the prius and put it into drive when it started to roar loudly, jumped out fast, and accelerated rapidly, even though i brake multiple times. the brakes seemed to make it accelerate faster. i was not touching the gas pedal, only the brake, but the car was roaring and out of control. on the way out of the giant lot, the prius hit 3 cars. the noise was very loud, and the car was out of control. pumping the brakes or holding them down did nothing to slow the car, and the noise was terrifying. the brakes did not work, and the prius continued to make a very loud roaring noise. the speed of the car made steering difficult, if not impossible, and there could have been injuries. the prius then left the giant parking lot, went down the mulched slope, crossed the street, bumped over the curb, and went up the walmart slope hitting a small tree. the car was probably going at least 40 mph and came to a stop only after it plunged into an unoccupied black car parked in the walmart parking lot. it was severely damaged and towed away. no one knew who the owner was at the time the police ordered it towed away. an occupant would have been severely injured or killed.during the above, the prius continued to run and the airbag functioned, keeping me uninjured. the brakes and the accelerator failed totally. four vehicles were damaged, one of which was totaled. but as far as i know, there were no injuries??for which i am grateful. this prius should not have been on the road despite having only 74,000 miles and its apparent good condition. *tr
09/02/2012820001
 The car warnings went on and displayed the symbol for brake systems failure. the car brakes went out and then the car sped up slightly until the brakes re-engaged. i was driving slowly and was near my home, so no one was hurt thankfully. we had to have it towed because the car manual said not to drive it more than 3 mph when you have a brake systems failure. it was determined that the defective parts were the electric water pump and the mechanical water pump. toyota has recalled 2003-2007 electric water pumps for the prius. my concern is that this could have been a tragic accident if we were going faster. my question is whether the 2008 electric water pump for the prius need to be recalled? *tr
08/29/2012703741
 On 8/29/12, i got into my 2008 prius in the parking lot of the easton, md giant food-store to return home. this lot is on a slope just above a parking lot for walmart, with a paved road between the 2 lots. the parking lots were very crowded. i needed to get to the road separating the 2 lots in order to go home. i had just started the prius and put it into drive when it started to roar loudly, jumped out fast, and accelerated rapidly, even though i brake multiple times. the brakes seemed to make it accelerate faster. i was not touching the gas pedal, only the brake, but the car was roaring and out of control. on the way out of the giant lot, the prius hit 3 cars. the noise was very loud, and the car was out of control. pumping the brakes or holding them down did nothing to slow the car, and the noise was terrifying. the brakes did not work, and the prius continued to make a very loud roaring noise. the speed of the car made steering difficult, if not impossible, and there could have been injuries. the prius then left the giant parking lot, went down the mulched slope, crossed the street, bumped over the curb, and went up the walmart slope hitting a small tree. the car was probably going at least 40 mph and came to a stop only after it plunged into an unoccupied black car parked in the walmart parking lot. it was severely damaged and towed away. no one knew who the owner was at the time the police ordered it towed away. an occupant would have been severely injured or killed.during the above, the prius continued to run and the airbag functioned, keeping me uninjured. the brakes and the accelerator failed totally. four vehicles were damaged, one of which was totaled. but as far as i know, there were no injuries??for which i am grateful. this prius should not have been on the road despite having only 74,000 miles and its apparent good condition. *tr
09/02/2012820001
 The car warnings went on and displayed the symbol for brake systems failure. the car brakes went out and then the car sped up slightly until the brakes re-engaged. i was driving slowly and was near my home, so no one was hurt thankfully. we had to have it towed because the car manual said not to drive it more than 3 mph when you have a brake systems failure. it was determined that the defective parts were the electric water pump and the mechanical water pump. toyota has recalled 2003-2007 electric water pumps for the prius. my concern is that this could have been a tragic accident if we were going faster. my question is whether the 2008 electric water pump for the prius need to be recalled? *tr
09/02/201282000
 The car warnings went on and displayed the symbol for brake systems failure. the car brakes went out and then the car sped up slightly until the breaks re-engaged. i was driving slowly and was near my home, so no one was hurt thankfully. we had to have it towed because the car manual said not to drive it more than 3 mph when you have a brake systems failure. it was determined that the defective parts were the electric water pump and the mechanical water pump. toyota has recalled 2003-2007 electric water pumps for the prius. my concern is that this could have been a tragic accident if we were going faster. my question is whether the 2008 electric water pump for the prius need to be recalled?
08/25/2012474001
 Around 4:30pm on saturday afternoon, we opened the car door to run some errands and were startled by a piercing noise. the dashboard was lighting up (abs & vsc) and although the car started, the dashboard remained lit and the beeping continued. when driving the car to the dealership, the brakes did not brake fully. after a $58 diagnostic test, we were told that acc pressure sensor needed to be cleared and if we returned with the same problem, we may need to replace a brake actuator part (cost = $2,560). before this incident, on saturday afternoon, we drove the car on the interstate for about 150 miles. for the last 15 minutes of our trip, we were driving through heavy rains on the interstate and on side roads. we did not experience any problems when driving the car in the rain, but are wondering whether or not the water affected the brakes. *tr
08/25/201247400
 Around 4:30pm on saturday afternoon, we opened the car door to run some errands and were startled by a piercing noise. the dashboard was lighting up (abs & vsc) and although the car started, the dashboard remained lit and the beeping continued. when driving the car to the dealership, the brakes did not brake fully. after a $58 diagnostic test, we were told that acc pressure sensor needed to be cleared and if we returned with the same problem, we may need to replace a brake accuator part (cost = $2,560). before this incident, on saturday afternoon, we drove the car on the interstate for about 150 miles. for the last 15 minutes of our trip, we were driving through heavy rains on the interstate and on side roads. we did not experience any problems when driving the car in the rain, but are wondering whether or not the water affected the brakes.
01/10/201250000
 Tl* the contact owned a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 25 mph, the brakes failed, which caused the vehicle to crash into another vehicle. no injuries were reported. the vehicle was destroyed at the scene and towed away to the dealer. the dealer diagnosed that the brakes functioned properly and there was no failure. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the failure was the contact
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
01/28/2010300001
 My car is a 2008 prius. the incident is that my car didn't stop and skidded into a concrete curb, damaging the right front power steering rack. it was snowing, about 1-2 accumulated. driving into my office parking lot, there is a street with a steep but short hill - maybe 50feet or less - (it was not plowed or sanded). at the foot of the hill, there is a left turn into a level parking lot or a right turn under a highway overpass, or straight ahead into shrubs and the river. i slowed down before going down the hill and as i went down the hill i lightly pumped brakes. tried to come to a complete stop at foot of the hill but car didn't stop completely, but was going slow. so, i made the left turn into the parking lot. the body of the car turned into the lot, but was not in control. with the brakes on, and the wheel turned to the left, the car went into a slide sideways to the right. the right front wheel slammed into a concrete curb and the car stopped. it felt as if i had no brakes - coming down the hill they couldn't stop me and there was no skid control coming on at any time. the failure: given the weather conditions i don't know how to prove a failure but i suspect something with the brakes. i have owned this car for one year (purchased it used) and during that time the one thing that bugs me in the car is the brakes and the skid control. they just feel strange, i go over a depressed manhole in the road and the dsc comes on and it feels like i skid - it should just feel like a bump. repairs: this is the list -entire power steering rack on right front to be replaced- tie rod, lower control arm, wheel, rim-all bent. front cover and lower ball joint damaged-to be replaced. over $3000 in repairs; they will be done this week (8 feb). if you want the old parts i can ask for dealer to save them. car is @ toyota dealer. mileage & speed are my best guess; components i guessed - your terms were not familiar to me. *tw
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
07/16/201028000
 July 16th our son was driving his 2008 prius when the brakes failed and there was excellaration with the car. he rearended an suv at a stop light. we took the vehichle to the toyota dealership where we purchased the car. they were going to check it out, but due to the fact of an accident, they had our son call toyota to give them a report of what happened. toyota said they would send a rep. to examine the car, which they would not be there for 2 weeks. we waited and they finally arrived around august 4th or 5th. the dealership called and said we could come and get the car, which i was concerned not knowing if there was defect or not. the toyota dealership told us toyota takes all responsibility out of their hands. i felt that was ridiculous since they sell toyota vehicles. on august 12th our son called toyota and they said that there would be a letter coming in about 35 days. we are still waiting and feel the dealership and toyota has done nothing but pass the buck. we also purchased another prius at the same time. by the way they both told my son in the beginning that there had been a recall. after everything that happened our son realized that there were several other incidents that took place with the car and thought it was him, until this accident happened. we feel that there is also an electrical issue with this car because there has 2 new batteries installed in the car since purchased in 2008. we just want answers!!!!! there was $1800 dollars damage sustained with this accident. it seems to me that no one here wants to take responsibility with some answers.
02/23/2010
 I am experiencing a feeling that the brakes on my 2008 prius seem to disengage when i go over a bump and sometimes when i am braking somewhat abrubtly. the uncomfortable feeling that the car is not going to stop and actually feels as if it is accelerating only lasts momentarily- but it is a scary feeling. the car was checked by the toyota dealership from whom it was purchased. they assured me that it was a common occurance with the abs system found in the model. i am however, not at all comfortable with the insecure feeling that the car is not going to stop.
03/01/201020000
 When braking on slippery surface-the abs kicks in- it feels as though the brakes disengage and the car speeds up slightly
03/12/201012000
 In my 2008 toyota prius, when i am breaking (using the regenerative breaking sytem) and hit a rough patch of pavement that requires the abs, there is a short time when no break is engaged and the car seems to speed up temporarily (just a split second). please note that this has happened on numerous occasions, not just the date requested below.
04/08/2010527021
 I was driving a rented toyota prius 2008 hybrid electric on april 8th in mississauga ontario and met with three vehicles collision. on a solid green signal, a min van coming from east, opposite direction cut off the oncoming traffic from west. first car slammed the brakes and did not hit the wrongful mini van. second car hit the first car. i rear ended second car. i was in safe distance and applied brakes. this car did not stop and kept moving and hit the second car. it was a rainy day. normal cars would stop without hitting. no one injured. i think toyota has to advice all year models to fix the brake problems. contacted toyota scarborough. it says this car is not in re-call list. how recalling list prepared, i do not know. after incidents? i will never drive prius again. *tr
10/10/2009350001
 Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). 2008 toyota prius [xxx] when applying brakes, if i drive over a bump, ie railroad track, the brakes disengage for a couple of seconds and then reengage. it feels like you hit a patch of black ice. i have had no accidents as a result, only a few scares. this problem has been recognized by toyota as a problem with the 2010 prius, but not the 2008 prius. the same problem exists on my 2008 prius. *tr
03/19/201021147
 I have a 2008 toyota prius that we purchased new in april of 08. on march 19th i was driving in heavy stop and go traffic on a street with construction panels on parts of surface. i was leaving a car length in front of me. when the car ahead stopped, i applied the brakes and nothing happened. the car kept going and crashed into the rear end of the car ahead. no one hurt but damage to bumper and hood of my car. took the car to the dealership next morning. toyota rep looked over it, ran diagonstic codes and said nothing was wrong with the car. i know the brakes failed. we have lost confidence in the car and toyota service.
03/23/201032669
 When hitting small bumps travelling at speeds of 25-50mph (such as bumps before bridges) the abs will activate and the pedals go loose. it seems the car can not be controlled for about 3/4 of a second once this occurs. luckily i have never been rounding a turn or approaching stopped traffic when this occurs or i would not have been able to stop. i had one close call where the brakes seemed to lag before kicking in, then jolting hard after the delay causing me to almost lose control of the vehicle.
02/22/2010120001
 I own a 2008 toyota prius. when we drive over a bump/pothole it feels as if the brakes fail for approx. a second and a half or so. and the vehicle lurches forward. it is a very unsettling feeling. it has happened several times. *tr
02/21/2009170001
 Driving 2008 toyota prius, going around a round about when the car went over a small patch of ice. the brake was applied but the car did not seem to slow down or respond. the cars passenger front tire hit the curb and caused $2300 worth of damage to the vehicle. there were no other injuries or damage. *tr
02/27/2010345001
 2008 toyota prius increases speed for 1 sec when starting to brake. this issue has occurred a few times per calendar year since i bought the car brand new in july of 2008. *tr
01/01/2010150001
 2008 touring prius with blizzack tires. driving at 10-15 mph in parking lot coated with ice, both smooth and bumpy. applied brakes to slow for a turn out of the lot and the brakes locked, the abs did not engage, and the car did not slow down, hitting an icy snowbank and cracking the front right fender. this incident was 1/1/10. on 2/1/10 on the freeway, at about 30-40 mph, on snow that was slick and icy, i applied the brakes, the car was sliding, the abs did not engage and the car was not slowing down; this time, though, i let up on the brakes and pumped them and then the car did slow down and i did not hit the car in front of me. in 45 years of driving, i have never had an accident. there may have been other times the abs did not engage, because i have had a number of times in which i have had to pump the brakes after it feels like there is no braking action. the two incidents above, though, are the two i specifically remember. *tr
06/14/200830001
 Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). hello and to whom it may concern: i purchased a 2008 prius on may 14, 2008 and experienced within one month of buying this prius, an issue with the brakes. i tried braking as i pulled up to my garage in order to park my car in front of it like i usually do, the brake acted iffy and the car went right into my garage door! originally, i thought this was my fault, but i knew i had hit the brakes correctly like i did in the past and swear something must of acted-up. a couple months later i experienced something like this again, in a target store parking lot where the brake was acting, iffy. when i brought my car into the toyota dealership for the 5000 miles check-up i had expressed my concerns, but this was before any recall notice what-so-ever!! i have been back to toyota for my every 5000 miles check-up since, and always inquire about that situation as i hope they document my concerns. knock on wood, i have not had this happen again, but it did happen, and i have a new garage door and scraped front fender to show for it! when i heard about the recall i just knew it was not me nor my imagination here!!! i am seeking repair/damage compensation for the front fender and garage door replacement! thank you very much. your experience regarding this problem is greatly appreciated. [xxx] *tr
02/08/2010247001
 My 2008 prius, may have had a braking problem similar to what i have read about. i have not seen a 2008 included in the news, but my experience sounds very similar to what others have been reporting. while driving to work on snow packed roads i was making a turn into the business park where i work. the corner was going normally until i hit the drainage dip in the intersection. at this time i feel that i lost all braking with the vehicle. the street was covered with packed fresh snow, but no ice. i had been driving in similar conditions on the 20 mile drive into work with no issues or traction problems at any intersection or corner. when i realized something was wrong and that i was not slowing i quickly tried to let off the brakes and then reapply them but nothing seemed to happen at all regardless if i was pressing the brakes or not. no pumping sound from antilock brakes, no traction warning light, no slowing of the car - nothing at all. it felt like the brakes were not responding to my push of the pedal in any way. luckily i was not going fast at all (i would estimate well under 10mph), so this happened over a very short distance. i did strike a curb that was part of an island and cracked a rim but no damage to the steering that an alignment did not resolve. i had to replace all of the rims since the local dealer had to order them in and i needed my car to get to work. i was very lucky that there was an island and that i did not crash into another car in the other lane or worse a pedestrian. i realize that i was on packed snow at the time and am not asking for anything for the damages to the wheel from toyota - but just wanted you to know that the braking issue may be more than the current model year. i have never had such a loss of control in a car before in any road conditions ever. it was a loss of any ability to brake or even slow the car. i hope this information helps you and that toyota is testing the software for older prius models too. *tr
04/05/20081
 In year of 2009, i drove my 2008 toyota prius to visit my friend's house on a local road. the weather was nice. while i saw my friend's house near, i started to hit the brake to slow down, all of sudden, my car got speeding up and i ended up to hit the roadside fence to stop this terrible shock. i spent about $2,500 to fix the front bumper cover and other scratches on my car. until now i read the news about the defect on toyota cars problem. i feel extremely frighten i could have got killed if i was on the highway during that time. i feel i have to give this report about my car accident on driving my toyota prius to let public to be aware of. i mentioned this to local toyota dealer. they told me that i have wrong model of prius for the problem that i should not have problem on this prius. i was disappointed at the response from car dealer who did not have auto safety concern at all for consumer. this is something related to the human life while they took such question carelessly. i have lost the confidence on toyota auto. if possible, i would like to seek toyota take back my prius and reimburse my repair cost of this accident. *tr
12/01/20091
 I have a 2008 prius, but i have that same braking issue that the 2010 prius has. at least 3 or 4 times in the past, i have hit a bump while braking, usually when approaching an intersection, and the car feels like it surges forward off the bump, requiring pushing the brake harder. it's a strange enough sensation that it would make me say whoa, that felt weird every single time, but i just thought i didn't brake hard enough. until i heard and read about the 2010 prius braking complaints, and then realized that is exactly what has been happening with my 2008 model. it was always when braking and hitting a bump at the same time. so far, there's never been a car close enough in front of me to hit when it surges forward. i don't have specific dates for the incidents, as i hadn't been keeping track of the episodes up until now. but your form requires a date, so i'm just using 12/1/09, although it has happened sporadically throughout the year. i sent an e-mail about it to nhtsa on 2/9/10. you replied back on 2/18/10 that it was received -- case number 232390 & nhtsa id: 194611. i have a service appt. at the dealership on 2/20/10 for some other warranty items, and i also mentioned this braking issue to them, although i don't know what they will be able to do with the information at this time, since the focus is only on the problem with the 2010 model at the present time. but it would appear that it involves earlier models, too. *tr
05/01/2009150001
 2008 prius:on several occasions while breaking on rough roads or over manhole covers, vehicle looses traction(lights on dash flash and breaks fail) momentarily. usually already slowing, feels like battery power starting to take over, then when you go to break it seams like the battery power is just kicking in. (a timing thing) exactly as what was described in 2010 prius. vehicle was taken to dealer a year ago. unable to replicate. nothing done. continues to happen. *tr
02/15/2010470001
 I own a 2008 toyota prius and since i received the car. i noticed that the anti skid system is set way to sensitive. driving over rough road or loose road and applying brakes to stop the anti skid usually kicks in and the car just continues to go forward. this is the only car i have ever drove that acts this way. my brother has the same make, year , and model and has the same problem. i do think toyota has a problem with older prius to not just 2010 models. from what i understand the braking system on the 2010 and 2008 prius's are the same so if 2010's are recalled 2008's should be to. luckily this problem has not caused me to be involved in a accident as of yet. *tr
07/11/200822474
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. whenever the contact drives the vehicle at a low speed and travels over a bump or pot hole while attempting to brake the contact noticed that the vehicles brakes would momentarily disengage and then correct itself. the vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact was informed that the vehicle was operating normaly. there were no prior warnings and the current and failure mileages were 22474.
11/22/200950000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. whenever the contact drives her vehicle at any speed and attempst to brake over a rough terrain the contact noticed that the vehicles brakes will disengage for a short period and then correct itself. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership and there were no prior warnings. the current and failure mileages were 50000.
09/22/200820
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that when driving over a bump at low speeds, when she depressed the brake pedal, the brakes would not engage. it would slow down eventually but not in the normal time it should. when depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle would jerk forward as if the contact made a sudden stop. she took the vehicle to the dealership twice. the first time she was told by the dealer that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and after the second visit, she was told they repaired the vehicle, however they did not tell her what repairs were made. she still noticed the same problems. she had not spoken with the manufacturer to-date. the current mileage was approximately 18,000. the failure mileage was approximately 20.
05/14/2009146401
 As the traffic began to accelerate after stopping at a traffic light the brakes on my 2008 prius, which i had for less than a day, apparently failed. i had plenty of room ( 3 to 4 car lengths) when the van in front of me stopped short. i slammed on the brakes, but the vehicle failed to stop (the highway was wet and i assumed the anti-lock brakes activated causing the stopping distance to be extended, but there was no evidence of the abs engaging). the resulting accident caused over $ 4,000 in front end damage. also, the esc appear to skip while traveling over a railroad track near my home. *tr
02/11/201010001
 Most recent failure was a few days ago but this has been a problem since i purchased the 2008 prius in march of 08--- i thought it was a quirk in the car --- something that just naturally happened when i would go over a pot hole or bumps in the road --- the car would lurch forward --- i had no control over the car --- no brakes --- i didn't realize that this was not a natural response until i heard the description on a news broadcast a couple weeks ago. model years prior to 2010 should be included in the investigation. i am going to make an appointment with my dealer. thank you *tr
02/01/2008181
 I own a 2008 toyota prius and i have been experiencing the same braking as the issues as the recent 2010 recall since i have owned the car brand new. when coming to a stop on a semi rough road (all the time) the cars brakes stutter and the antilock engages and dis-engages creating the car to not have proper braking control. nothing has been done to correct the issue. *tr
06/10/2009220001
 I own a 2008 prius and have experienced a loss of braking sensation numerous times while driving on winding, or uneven road at slow speed. i thought i was just imagining this for a long time until recent weeks. i'm hoping that toyota will go back and fix earlier models as well. *tr
12/04/20091
 I have a 2008 toyota prius and on december 4, 2009, i rear-ended another vehicle after my brakes failed. i applied the brakes as i was coming upon the car, and the car just kept going. fortunately, i was going at a slow speed. i immediately reported the accident to my insurance company and i did tell the representative that i hit the brakes but the car kept going. *tr
07/18/200920001
 We own a 2008 toyota prius there has been three separate incidents while braking that the car would speed up. the dealer said it was just the electric motor and gas engine changing back and forth. i read on the internet of other people with the same problem also one lady who was stopped at a red light and when she pressed on the gas pedal too take off at a normal speed the car sped up fast causing her too put both feet on the brake too stop the car. these are all pre 2010 cars they also need to be looked at. *tr
02/02/20101
 I own a 2008 toyota prius. there have been numerous occasions that the brakes on my car have not worked properly. the last time was on pavement that was wet, trying to stop for a red light on a downhill road. luckily the car in front of me went through the red light or i would have hit it. the other times have been near my home, i live on a dirt road, many of the roads are unpaved and uneven dirt roads in my neighborhood where i am extremely cautious when braking because many times the brakes do not work well. the light does come on to indicate uneven road, while braking. i have noticed this problem since i purchased the vehicle. i hope something can be done about the braking system. this occurs daily because i live on a dirt road. *tr
01/10/2010400001
 Not a smooth braking system when braking over bumps / holes, railroad tracks. *tr
05/15/2009150001
 When my 2008 toyota prius moves on a bumpy surface at low speed i feel a pause in the braking - same problem that is being reported on the 2010 models. *cn
02/08/20101001
 When i am slowing down and applying the brake on my toyota prius and there is a bump or defect in the road i get a feeling of being on ice. a feeling of a lack of control. i was always aware of this but i never mentioned it when having my vehicle serviced. *cn
01/12/2010370001
 My 2008 prius experiences the braking problem being investigated with the 2010 prius. *cn
02/05/2010100
 The issue that has been reported on toyota prius brakes failing to work on bumpy roads extends beyond the 2010 model year. i own a 2008 prius and know another person as well who have experienced the exact same problem with our cars when braking on bumpy roads. the toyota complaint line does not answer anymore due to the volume of calls (says the message), so i am reporting it here.
01/20/201056300
 I purchased 2008 toyota prius from anapolis toyota. the brakes failed on three occasions since purchasing car on january 18, 2010. car was taken in during the first 7 days after purchasing it. service departmdnt and used car sales management claimed nothing was wrong. problem occurs when i hit a bump in the road. brakes competely fail. very dangerous. it is not just the 2010 model that should be questioned. all prius' should be recalled until this is solved.
01/01/20101
 2008 toytoa prius brakes disengaging when going over bumps, potholes, railway tracks. no injuries yet but some close calls.
02/28/200815
 1) the even happens during normal braking from 40 mph over a road with potholes. the location is here: http://maps.google.com/?ie=utf8&hq=&hnear=cleveland,+cass,+missouri&ll=38.67887,-94.675729&spn=0.00139,0.00284&z=19 2) the car loses all braking for 1-2 seconds after running over the pothole. if somebody was in front of me, it would result in a accident. it happens 5 days a week as part of my daily commute. 3) toyota says it is normal for the prius to do this.
02/01/201026000
 Toyota prius 2008: when driving at slow speed and braking, if i hit a small bump (like manhole cover), my vehicle skid warning light comes on and it feels like the car temporarily stops braking for about a second and then brake re-engages. this has happened off and on for over a year. i reported it to the dealer when i first experienced it and they checked computer and could find no evidence of a problem.
10/01/200990001
 2005 and 2009 toyota prius braking problems. i have a 2005 and a 2009 toyota prius. on both of these vehicles, i have experienced the same problems which are being described in the news about the 2010 prius model. i have never had an accident relating to this problem, but the potential is certainly there. the problem occurs when i am moving forward, have the brake slightly depressed, and i hit a pot hole or speed bump. the wheels momentarily speed up, so i react by pressing harder on the brakes and the wheels slow down. *tw
01/28/2010300001
 My car is a 2008 prius. the incident is that my car didn't stop and skidded into a concrete curb, damaging the right front power steering rack. it was snowing, about 1-2 accumulated. driving into my office parking lot, there is a street with a steep but short hill - maybe 50feet or less - (it was not plowed or sanded). at the foot of the hill, there is a left turn into a level parking lot or a right turn under a highway overpass, or straight ahead into shrubs and the river. i slowed down before going down the hill and as i went down the hill i lightly pumped brakes. tried to come to a complete stop at foot of the hill but car didn't stop completely, but was going slow. so, i made the left turn into the parking lot. the body of the car turned into the lot, but was not in control. with the brakes on, and the wheel turned to the left, the car went into a slide sideways to the right. the right front wheel slammed into a concrete curb and the car stopped. it felt as if i had no brakes - coming down the hill they couldn't stop me and there was no skid control coming on at any time. the failure: given the weather conditions i don't know how to prove a failure but i suspect something with the brakes. i have owned this car for one year (purchased it used) and during that time the one thing that bugs me in the car is the brakes and the skid control. they just feel strange, i go over a depressed manhole in the road and the dsc comes on and it feels like i skid - it should just feel like a bump. repairs: this is the list -entire power steering rack on right front to be replaced- tie rod, lower control arm, wheel, rim-all bent. front cover and lower ball joint damaged-to be replaced. over $3000 in repairs; they will be done this week (8 feb). if you want the old parts i can ask for dealer to save them. car is @ toyota dealer. mileage & speed are my best guess; components i guessed - your terms were not familiar to me. *tw
02/05/2010380001
 I own a 2008 toyota prius. i've noticed that when i run over a bump or a pothole on the road, the car seems to accelerate or jolt forward. it happens while i brake to a stop sign and run over a bump or pothole. it has also happened while letting go of the gas pedal but not stepping on the brake. usually when this occurs the light for the traction control engages as if it detects a skid, even though there is no skid. i have to press the brake very hard in order to stop or slow down the car. i tend to leave extra room in front of me just in case the car accelerates unexpectedly, but there is definitely a problem with unexplained acceleration. *cn
03/18/20081501
 When i tried to slow down and hit the break, it took more time, compare to other car. i tried not to hit the car ahead of me and turn left and hit the left front door to the furniture on the street beside garbage can. i didn't crash to the other car and i didn't get hurt. i thought that is usual for hybrid car and i fixed my car in autoshop. since then, i hit break very early. and last winter, my car didn't stop on the icy road and since then i didn't drive whenver it snow or icy. *cn
01/10/20101
 I see in the news that 2010 toyota prius is investigated for braking issue on ice and slippery roads. i experience the same with 2008 prius. i feel a delay when i apply the brake when the roads are wet etc.it is sporatidc experience. *cn
02/04/2010340001
 Last night while driving home in light rain on a smooth,straight road a very loud alarm began to sound and a red brake light lit up on the instrument panel and the brakes felt like they were failing. the steering also became very stiff. the alarm did not stop until i had pulled over and used the emergency brake to stop and turned the engine off completely. i took the car to the dealership where i was told that it was driver error for driving with one foot on the gas and one on the brake at the same time, which is absurd. it was also implied that i had imagined this frightening emergency due to the recent problems in the news with the 2010 brakes on the prius. that is also completely false. i had never even considered my car might have a brake failure until it happened as nothing had ever happened before this incident. i left the dealership in tears and afraid to drive my car with no hope of an answer because i was not believed. they even said that there was no such loud alarm that could go off on the 08 prius. i was told that the code c1256 revealed,with 100% accuracy, that i had hit the brake and gas simultaneously 38 times! i explained that this could never have happened even once and was told that the computer is never wrong. *tr
02/05/201010001
 Another 2008 prius owner here attesting to the brake problems. just one half of a mile from my home i encounter the perfect one two combination that demonstrates the defect. there is a slightly recessed man hole cover very close to a slight ripple in the asphalt near a t intersection. while braking, if i allow my right wheels to drop into the man hole cover and the left wheels to cross the ripple immediately thereafter my traction control warning light comes on and the car does not slow. i have to release the brake pedal until the light goes off then re-apply the brakes in order to slow down at the intersection. obviously, i avoid these bumps now that i know what will happen. this defect can get me into serious trouble in an area i'm not familiar with. i can duplicate this problem in three different places nearby if anyone from nhtsa wants a demonstration. *tr
02/05/2010262001
 My car has the same problem that the 2010 prius has and i wanted to make sure that toyota looks beyond just the 2010 model year. whenever i brake as i hit a pothole or bump in the road, the car seems to speed up just a bit before the brakes begin working. this has happened since i have owned the car and i thought it was just part of how the car worked. i haven't had an accident because of this, but there have been a few close calls. there are certain roads where i know it always happens and i am now prepared for it. it happened to me again today as i was exiting a highway, there was a new pothole on the exit ramp and i hit it as i was braking on the curve. an orange light in the dashboard lights up when this happens, signifying slippery or unstable road conditions i guess. *tr
01/08/20105001
 I have a 2008 prius. i took it in because whenever the road is slippery the brakes don't engage properly and the car continues forward for some time. i took it to toyota in downtown la and they told me i needed to buy new tires and a rotation. i did this. now i see that the same problem i have in my prius still is what the new prius is being recalled for. i am sure i am not the only prius owner prior to 2010 that has this problem. i don't feel safe on the road and want to trade the car in to toyota or get it fixed. every time it rains, it happens. *tr
11/15/2009120001
 I have had some problems with my prius, 2008 model. the braking system has acted weird on several occasions...even before hearing about the problems with the 2010 model prius! when i brake, sometimes the car doesn't respond initially and then lurches before the brakes engage. also the orange light (abs?) comes on when this happens and then disappears quickly. i asked the dealer about this when i serviced the car (12000 miles) and they just said that is a feature of the braking system. i never have had a car that does that. i don't feel safe nor do i trust the judgment of the dealer. *tr
02/03/2010302001
 The brakes fail to work immediately and/or the car speed surges temporarily when braking on a bumpy surface, such as going over a pot hole. this started happening soon after i started driving the car and happens on a regular basis - the most recent being yesterday. at first, the short loss of control of vehicle speed concerned me, but i have come to expect it now when going over rough road at slow speeds. i started to think it was associated with the abs system and thought maybe it was supposed to work that way. but now, after hearing about the problems with the 2010 prius, i thought you should know the same problem exists in earlier prius models. this is a duplicate of a complaint filed earlier today under speed control. since then i learned that maybe i should have filed this under brakes. *tr
02/04/2010565001
 I own a 2008 toyota prius. i have experienced the braking issues that have been attributed to the 2010 prius. when going over a bump or other uneven road surface and while braking, the car has a short surge. i have experienced this problem since owning the car. *tr
01/30/20101001
 I never owned a car with anti-lock brakes until i had my prius. i have always noticed that when applying the brakes, if i go over uneven ground like a pothole, the car lurches forward a bit for about a second. i thought it was because of the unique braking system in the prius, but after seeing all of these reports, i thought i should report it since my car is older than the ones mentioned in the news reports. *jb
02/03/20103000001
 My 2008 prius, which i bought brand new with only 4 miles on it from longo toyota in california, has been experiencing the following brake issue: everyday while driving on pacific coast highway near manhattan beach, i will hit a pothole while braking, noticing my yellow traction control light flash on my dash board three times, and then my car will surge forward. this happens in the same general area everytime, and although i have not hit anybody in front of me, i am shocked each and everytime it does occur. i am almost guaranteed to experience this when driving in the slow lane in the location described above once a day. i love my 2008 prius, but this issue is very alarming. i have noticed this from november 20th, 2007 until today, february 4th, 2010. *tr
07/30/2008109901
 2008 prius speeds up when brakes are applied while going over bumpy road or pot hole this is a constant problem that exists today. *tr
06/15/20085001
 2008 toyota prius: driving over manhole covers or bumps in the road, the car felt like it accelerated when braking and the slippery light came on the dashboard. it happens whenever i need to brake over a manhole or bump or slick spot. i went to the dealer months ago (end of summer '09) with this complaint but said they would need to do a full diagnostics on the car at my expense since there have been no issues with the prius' abs they would need to check everything. i did not have this done. i checked service brakes, electric since your form did not have an option to choose anti-lock braking system. also, there are a lot more dates of incidents than just one. *tr
09/29/200701
 I have a 2008 prius and i experience the same problem of: as described by nhtsa's office of defect investigations consumers allege a momentary loss in braking during brake applications while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump in the roadway. my car won't brake properly when going over bumps on the road or uneven surfaces. the brakes hesitate briefly and the car slightly lunges forward. however, i have a 2008 prius. i have always noticed the problem but didn't know i could report this anywhere that would listen to me. ongoing problem. i've experienced this problem since i bought the car. the skid light goes on when this problem arises. i'm concerned about rear-ending someone ahead of me. *tr
02/04/2010202
 I own a 2008 toyota prius which surges ahead when i am braking under certain conditions: wet, uneven surfaces, and bumpy roads. it is scary because i nearly hit someone at a stop sign and i feel out of control when it does this. on average, happens 1-2x week. it happens when my foot is off the gas pedal and i am under 20 mph. it seems like a computer error and not accelerator related. *tr
10/01/2009300001
 I have 2008 toyota prius and i had also had issues when trying to brake over uneven speed bumps or metal connections in bridges (i do not know the name of the connectors). one time while driving on the bridge i started to brake since the upcoming stoplight had turned red. trying to slow my car down (since i was driving a street, i was not going fast in the first place), i pressed my brake pedal as i was going over the metal bridge connectors and the brakes did not work. it was if i was driving on ice. there was a car ahead of me so i slammed real hard on the brakes and luckily i was able to stop just a few inches behind the other car so i did not hit it. it was real close call. i have had similar experiences when i go over speed bumps (and i am going slowly over the bumps). it takes a while for the brakes to take effect. so i do not believe this problem is only related to the newer 2010 prius model. as discussed, i have braking problems with my older 2008 prius. also, i would like to add that i believe the sticky pedal problem can also be found on japanese made toyotas (such as the prius). if you look up sticking accelerator pedal on the internet, you will find the same issue has happened with the prius too. however, luckily, i have not experienced this sticky pedal problem. *tr
06/15/2009200001
 1. any uneven road surface, ice, or slippery road (after a rain) 2. the car lurches forward when attempting to brake as a car would with a standard transmission if braking without downshifting 3. nothing has been done. toyota summarizes the problem as such:the wheel slide or stability indicator switches on for no apparent reason equaling a loss of vehicle control. happens conditions ranging from perfect to other. *tr
02/03/2010205001
 The brakes of my toyota prius seem to have intermittent grabbing and delaying problems. the most frequent problem is that the braking system seems to apply extra pressure when slowing at low speeds causing the car to jerk slightly. less frequently the brakes can seem to go out for a short time after hitting a bump or pot hole. if the road is wet this seems to make the problem worse. approximate incident date is various. *tr
04/30/200801
 I have read news reports about the 2010 prius braking issues. as an owner of a 2008 prius, i have experienced near identical behavior. when braking, if the car hits a pothole or a bump, i momentarily (maybe 1/2 -1 second of time) lose all braking power before braking then resumes. after this 'hiccup' the abs/traction control light blinks 3-4 times. the issue has never resulted in an accident, however i have changed my driving habits to ensure i have extra room to stop as the issue is both recurring and quite frequent (there is one offramp on my way home from work with a small bump that causes this issue 35-50% of the time). i know that the current story is that the 2010 prius has a 'redesigned' braking system, so prior models and generations are supposedly not affected by the problem the nhtsa is currently investigating. my experience, however, leads me to believe the problem is more widespread and does in fact impact earlier generation prius cars, possibly in a portion of the braking control system common to both the older and newer prius models. *tr
05/01/200925001
 I have a 2008 toyota prius. i have experienced a change in deceleration as you are braking and the vehicle speed is 10-15 mph when the vehicle switches from regenerative braking to mechanical braking there is a lag and the sensation that the vehicle is speeding up. *tr
11/17/2009500001
 Headlights on toyota prius 2008 started dimming and going out intermittently at 50,000 miles. lights will go back on when turned off and then back on again. i have been stopped 3 times by the police for a headlight out and been let go with a warning. in addition, the abs system activates for no reason on dry roads and brakes are slow to engage. *tr
01/16/2010440001
 I have a 2008 toyota prius and have experienced several instances where the brakes appear to stop working over the last 2 years. this has happened while braking while hitting a pot hole in the road. it lasts for only a split second. *tr
01/03/2010214641
 I have a 2008 prius and have noticed that the car regularly loses braking ability and surges forward after hitting potholes. this has been occurring since i bought the car. i didn't realize until reading the news that other people were experiencing the same problem. *tr
01/10/2010100001
 Brake failure on my toyota prius is something that happens every so often, so far about 20-30 times since i have owned the car (june 08). i will begin braking with the car and all of a sudden the brakes will lose pressure and it does not brake, only to regain the braking ability about 2 seconds later. this mostly occurs in wet weather and i have narrowly avoided a few crashes because of the failure. it is not a function of sliding on the wet pavement but the brake failing momentarily. i contacted toyota who told me that they had not heard of my problem but that i could take them for a drive and hope that the failure happened while they were in the car. i did not pursue this since it does not happen regularly and they told me there were no other fixes. *tr
01/06/2010240001
 I was driving a 2008 toyota prius on the highway at around 50 mph when traffic came to a stop, and when i depressed on the brake pedal, the car kept going, and it wasn't until i jammed on the brake pedal all the way to the floor that the brakes seem to engage, but by that time, i had already collided with the car in front of me. on a separate instance, one year ago, the car failed to stop when i pressed on the brake and instead accelerated into my parking space, over the concrete block in front of my parking space and into the wall. *tr
02/01/201050001
 Brakes fail if the car is driven over even a very small bump in the road. brake failure is very sporadic. *tr
01/01/20085003
 2008 toyota prius - brakes slip when trying to stop at low speeds, especially on wet roads or on roads with bumps (including manhole covers). this has occurred repeatedly since i bought the vehicle. the dealer, on three separate occasions, said that they ran diagnostics and found no anomalies. i read today that this problem has also been reported on new (2009-2010) toyota prius models, and that the japanese government had ordered toyota to investigate. however the article said that toyota was unaware of any problems with older vehicles. i am filing this complaint in the hope that toyota will extend its investigation to series 2 prius models (2004-2008) as well. *tr
01/15/201090001
 Toyota prius 2008 driving over potholes or wet pavement, it's harder to steer or brake than i've ever experienced in another car. this has happened approximately 15 times since i bought the car in july 2008. *tr
01/31/201001
 2008 prius brake slippage- not the 2009 prius, but 2008. recurrent slippage when it feels as though the car is not responding to the brake pedal, usually after hitting a pebble or a slick area (even just water)...occurs approx once/month. news stories today only referencing the latest model, and it is clearly a problem in my 2008 car. no accidents yet, but always a bit alarming. otherwise love my prius. *tr
10/16/2009689801
 2008 toyota prius brakes did not work upon starting vehicle one day. no warning, just no brakes. vehicle was towed to nearest dealer (50 miles) and the linear solenoid valve was reinitialized. *tr
12/17/2009273871
 I have a 2008 prius. i was in bumper to bumper traffic and stopped. when the car in front of me moved up (i was about 2 or 3 car links behind them) i took my foot off the brake and my car surged forward , i pressed as hard as i could on the brake with both feet and the car crashed into the car in front of me. it was like in slow motion, but the car would not stop. i put the car in park then turned it off after the crash. my airbag did not deploy, but it caused the rear bumper of the car in front of me to almost fall off in the street. i had the car towed to the nearest dealership. i was not given a ticket by the police. i told all this to the dealership and ins. company and we requested an inspection of the brakes. after the body repair on my car iwas completed, the dealership did a visual inspection of the brakes, test drove it and said it met with their specs. and that the pads were still within the proper thickness on the brakes. they couldn't find any problem. *tr
01/26/2009101
 I own a 2008 toyota prius and from the day i drove it off the lot its had braking problems. i have always just assumed the car was useless in bad weather because the smallest amount of rain or snow seemed to prevent me from braking. i would begin to slow down and if the car noticed a tire slide even an inch it would seem to activate the traction control and the break would release. i thought this was some sort of horribly designed safety device to prevent hydroplanning. but i've been paying more attention to when my brakes release and it's anytime i slow down and hit a pot hole, or slow down for a dip. the moment the tires lose any contact/friction on the road the brakes stop working. so far it's been most dangerous when turning onto side streets or into parking lots with a bump or dip. if a car is coming out of the same driveway i'm slowing to enter i have to pump my brakes when i turn so i don't hit the other car. it's much worse in any snow/rain. it's almost as though when i begin to slide a little and the brake releases it actually accelerates. the brakes give out on a daily basis, this is not rare or insignificant. this has got to be a manufacturing error with the braking system it's just so consistently faulty. *tr
11/20/2009325001
 When i brake for a bump or pothole, my 2008 toyota prius, accelerates on its own when the front tires hits the bump or pothole. i must hit the brakes harder in order to slow. this occurs very frequently, i notice this especially at low speeds. this acceleration on a bump recently occurred when there was a car immediately in front of me, i barely missed hitting the car. this has nothing to do with floor mat. the floor mat is properly secure, moreover it only happens in this situation (i.e., the floor mat does not invisibly get in the way when i hit a bump and magically go back into place all the other time.) *tr
08/14/2009180001
 My 2008 toyota prius slides when i brake on wet roads. it is very scary and i'm concerned this will cause an accident...especially because occasionally when my 77 yr. old mother is driving it and is not accustomed to it. *tr
02/23/200811
 When i depress brake pedal just before stopping it feels like the brake disengages for a second and then reengages before coming to a halt. been this way since i got the 2008 prius. every one i speak to just shrugs. no incidents as yet. *tr
09/16/2009381
 Driving on pch in corona del mar, ca at a speed of approx. 25 mph. trying to brake at a pedestrian crosswalk where a car was already stopped in front of the prius. car did not brake, instead it accelerated and the car that was already stopped at the crosswalk was rearended. driver of prius injured ankle. prius is totaled. police report was filed. *tr
04/04/200950001
 I drive a 2008 toyota prius. as i was driving out of the gas station and stepped on the accelerator, the car continued going faster. the brake did not work, the only way the car stopped was by hitting another car. *tr see also 10265332 *dsy.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
09/19/201156900
 While entering a highway onramp in my company's 2008 toyota prius, the car suddenly began accelerating out of control without application of the gas pedal. i had to press hard on the brake just to hold the car at 65 mph. the car was surging and lunging forward, and i worried i wouldn't be able to find a place to pull over before losing control completely. for the next 5-10 minutes, as i approached traffic in front of me, the car continued to accelerate, even though i had my foot on the brake the entire time. at one point i noticed the car was reaching speeds in excess of 95 mph. a loud rattling noise ensued and an electrical smell filled the car. eventually, the brake completely failed to have any effect, and, barelling down the highway at 90 mph, i put the car in neutral, but it continued to accelerate. at this point i had my right foot on the brake pedal and depressed the parking break all the way to the floor with my left foot, this slowed the car slightly, but not enough to regain control. finally, i turned the car off completely, and with my hazard lights on, managed to pull the car away from traffic and off on the shoulder of the highway, where i coasted for a long distance, speeds decreasing gradually until eventually it stopped. smoke and a burning electrical smell filled the car. i filed a police report with an officer who happened to also be on the shoulder, giving someone a speeding ticket. my company towed the car to a dealership, and an investigation is supposedly underway, though i'm not optimistic about any sort of resolution based on the testimonies i have read from others who have experienced the same thing. luckily, in my case, this didn't result in an accident, and noone was killed.
03/31/201130000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact was braking from 15 mph and entering into a parking lot but the brakes did not respond. the contact continued to apply pressure to the brakes until the vehicle came to a stop. the contact stated that the vehicle sustained scratches due to being in close proximity to a building. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was awaiting a diagnosis of the failure. the manufacturer was contacted and stated they would send an inspector to investigate the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 30,000.
01/05/200821000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated while applying the brakes after hitting a bump in the road the vehicle lunged forward. usually the anti skid light illuminates on and off. the contact states there are no other family memebers driving her vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they cannot duplicate the failure. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage were 21,000...mw
12/23/201018000
 What happened on 12/23/10 was that i was going to turn around in a short driveway, approximately 6 ft long, that was on a steep incline. as i came up to the driveway, i took my foot off the accelerator to move it over to the brake. my foot was completely off the accelerator and, when the car hit the incline, it sped up really fast. i had to jam on my brakes to keep from crashing into a garage door. my main complaint, though, is that there is some sort of override system built into the 2008 prius so that, when you drive over certain potholes or bumps in the road -- but not all of them -- and your foot is on the brake to slow the car down, the car automatically speeds up to move you out of the pothole or over the bump. this overrides the brakes so that there is a possibility that you could run into the car in front of you if it was stopped or into something blocking the road or a garage door. it happens when you are braking to slow the car down, whether you are going down a hill, around a curve or coming up to a red light or stop sign. you have your foot on the brake and the car speeds up momentarily. there is a square metal plate that is slightly lower than the tarmac in the road about 1/2 mile from my house. the road is a canyon road so it is a hillside road that is very narrow. every morning when i drive to work, i have to drive over that plate and, every time i do, my car speeds up. this happens with other 2008 priuses that friends have, it's not just mine. it is very scary and everyone i know who has a 2008 prius knows that it is a bad design flaw that could possibly cause an accident or injury. something needs to be done to stop the override system. it's very dangerous.
06/01/200840000
 Tl - the contact owns 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving at any speed and the vehicle hits a bump the brakes go out. the vehicle was taken to a local shop, they were unable to do any repairs until toyota inspect the vehicle. the manufacturer was contacted and they are willing to inspected but it would take 60 days. the vehicle was repaired. the vehicle id number was not available. the failure and current mileage were 40,000. pm
12/10/201031000
 2008 toyota prius, when i hit a bump or pothole at relatively low speed, the car sometimes goes into anti-skid mode, leading to a brief disconcerting period of lurching/acceleration/loss of braking ability before the car returns to normal. this problem is usually accompanied by the yellow anti - skid icon indicator on the dash.
07/30/201030000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. he was unable to recall the original incident, but indicated that he could intermittently hear a squeaking noise when pressure was being applied to the brake pedal. the failure occurred while driving or while stopped. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where he was informed this was a known failure but it was not repaired. the failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 60,743. sm.
04/06/200925000
 1. in the k-mart level parking lot when starting to press on the brake pedal the car shot forward about 6 feet. note that the driver's side has never had a floor mat. 2. brakes were tested at the dealership where the preowned car was purchased and the dealer said that there was no problem with the brakes. 3. this problem reoccurred four other times, the most recent of which was on the way to the car dealership where the toyota gas pedal recall work was done. after the gas pedal recall service was completed the service manager road tested the car and then had the brakes checked and informed me that the brakes were okay and told me that i didn't know what anti-lock brakes felt like in a hybrid, although i had owned three other cars with anti-lock brakes.
01/01/19012
 2008 toyota prius. consumer states problem with brakes disengage when braking. *tgw in addition, the brakes disengaged when the tires rolled over a tar strip or any other type of bumps. also, the heating system was not adequate during winter conditions, the automatic dimming rear view mirror did not work because it was blocked by the rear window frame. consequently, the consumer was blinded by the lights of other vehicles behind him. *jb
05/21/201060000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius; he stated that on may 21, 2010, while driving 20 mph the driver applied the brakes and the vehicle would not stop which cause the driver to rear end the vehicle in front; there were minor damages to the vehicle and the driver had a leg injury and had to be taken to the hospital. no police report was filed due to kind of accident. the vehicle was towed to a repair facility where it was then taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the failure could not be duplicated. the manufacturer was contacted and he received a letter advising that according to the report they received on the vehicle the vehicle had no failure. the failure and current mileage were 60,000.
05/21/2010120
 2008 toyota prius - braking system. braking on a rough or bumpy road, the brakes will disengage and cause your braking time to increase by 5-10 ft without notice. when this disengagement happens, you feel for a few seconds as if you have lost control of the car and the skid light comes on as well.
01/01/2010
 In my 2008 prius, when i am braking and go over a bump, the anti-lock braking system kicks in. however, when it does, it feels like the brakes disengage for a second and the car speeds up. i feel like i am losing control of the car for a few seconds.
05/15/201010000
 When i step on the brakes, and the road is bumpy, the brakes feel like they are not working for a second, and then they grab. this happens every time i am braking and there is a bump in the road.
06/15/200920000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. when braking from speeds of 6 mph, there was an unusual increase in brake stopping time. the contact stated she applied extreme pressure to the brakes before they engaged. the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. there were no repairs made to the vehicle. the failure mileage was 20,000 and the current mileage was 25,000.
03/12/201012000
 In my 2008 toyota prius, when i am breaking (using the regenerative breaking sytem) and hit a rough patch of pavement that requires the abs, there is a short time when no break is engaged and the car seems to speed up temporarily (just a split second). please note that this has happened on numerous occasions, not just the date requested below.
05/05/200815
 2008 toyota prius -abs releases brakes while applying brakes over bump or bumpy road surface causing longer stopping distance. vehicle will stop acceleration in turn if going over bump as thug stability contol is activating.
04/25/201090001
 While driving about 65 mph on a smooth interstate, my 2008 toyota prius accelerated when i tapped the brake to take it out of cruise control. i stepped on the brake again and it stopped accelerating, and slowed down. i had removed the floor mat a few weeks prior. i took it to toyota to have the recall work done, which included a software upgrade. they said after they inspected the car that they determined form the log that the brake and accelerator had been pressed at the same time, twice. i am sure i did not step on both. as i said, i tapped the break to take it out of cruise control, and at the time it accelerated my foot was in the air, not touching either pedal. i suggested the cruise control may be erroneously putting flags in the log as it slows and accelerated to maintain a consistent speed. the dealer refused to report this suggestion or since it would be diagnosing, and said there was no place for them to report that i was sure i had not stepped on both pedals at the same time. thank you, and i hope you are able to resolve this problem. *tr
04/27/2010102/28/2008
 S10 appropriate handling-letter to the secretary from re toyota problems *tgw the consumer stated the brakes made a noise. according to the dealer, there may have been rust on the rotors, due to lack of driving. the vehicle was not getting proper gas mileage and the gas motor made a lot of noise.
02/12/2010193541
 Toyota prius 2008 less serious - frequent release or lapse of braking by abs (assumed) on irregular roadway small cracks seem to confuse system with significant forward travel of vehicle before brakes reengage. similar to my earlier 2005 model but more frequent occurrences and longer lapse in pad rotor contact during braking. most serious brakes failed almost 10 seconds. travel on wet slushy highway for 2 hours on 55 mph road with uphill grade and slight turn to right driver applied light brake pressure attempting to time deceleration to controlled intersection for green light. application of brakes slowed vehicle no more then uphill coast, firmer pressure to no effect, full hard pressure no effect, slight release and full slam, no immediate effect, finally abs stuttered/pulsed and stop vehicle. *tr
03/19/201021147
 I have a 2008 toyota prius that we purchased new in april of 08. on march 19th i was driving in heavy stop and go traffic on a street with construction panels on parts of surface. i was leaving a car length in front of me. when the car ahead stopped, i applied the brakes and nothing happened. the car kept going and crashed into the rear end of the car ahead. no one hurt but damage to bumper and hood of my car. took the car to the dealership next morning. toyota rep looked over it, ran diagonstic codes and said nothing was wrong with the car. i know the brakes failed. we have lost confidence in the car and toyota service.
03/09/2008525001
 I have a 2008 toyota prius that experiences the same hesitancy and shaking while braking that the 2010 recalled models have. i initially took the vehicle to toyota within the first year of ownership and they claimed to not be able to duplicate the problem. they also told me last week at the dealership they have had other 2008 owners state the same problem, but since the vehicles are not under recall, there is no recourse for these cars. i have never had a crash due to the problem, but it makes handling a bit difficult when the brakes shake. i feel the recall fix should be made available to other model years as well. *tr
03/01/201015000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while traveling at a speed of 25 mph the contact attempted to apply the brakes and noticed that they would not engage. when the brakes failed to stop the vehicle the contact crashed into a curb which caused the vehicle to stop. the vin was not available. there were no injuries or need to file a police report. the failure mileage was 15,000 and the current mileage was 15,500.
10/19/20091
 Vehicle did not stop as expected in stop and go traffic. i bumped the car in front of me in the morning. and then on the way home i almost rear ended another car. this never happened before or since. i thought something was wrong with me that would make my timing be so off that i would hit another car! i told the dealer about it and they said it was probably brake fade. i disagreed and stopped driving the car recently while the braking/acceleration concerns are investigated. i have a 2008 prius. *tr
03/15/2010106/01/2008
 Consumer is concerned with braking problems with the 2008 toyota prius. *ts the consumer believed the braking problem was related to weight of the vehicle, due to it being so light.
01/11/20101
 2008 toyota prius brakes failed while driving causing and accident. *kb the consumer stated the vehicle in front of him began to brake and he thought he had plenty of time to brake. in fact, his foot was already on the brake pedal, with the system he believed was already in regenerative braking. in fact, it actually seemed to decrease significantly for about a second while exhibiting none of the foot pedal vibration characteristic of anti-lock brakes. only after the second long period of no braking capability did any braking force seem to occur which the consumer believed was when the system's mechanical braking took over. *jb
03/09/2010240001
 My 2008 prius has an unacceptable level of abs false activation. i have been waiting for an software update to be developed and deployed, but it seems toyota only acknowledges the issue on the 2010 model. i am a former brake systems engineer and i know how the abs should operate. this tuning is too sensitive on rough surfaces and results in temporary reduction in braking force that is disconcerting and potentially dangerous. this occurs anytime braking on rough surfaces (chatter bump). *tr
03/01/201010001
 I own a 2008 toyota prius and i have problems with my brakes after going over bumpy roads or potholes. i notice this when i am applying constant brake pressure through bumpy road conditions as my brakes will simply let go. i personally believe that there is a software problem regarding the abs system and the system believing there is wheel lock up when there is none. this would cause the abs system to engage. it should not be so sensitive that is goes off when no wheels are slipping. i have experienced this in many instances and it has almost lead to me crashing into a toll booth arm/pole. or once driving too far into an intersection at a red light. toyota says the braking problem only affects the 2010 prius model but this is simply not true. i have been experiencing this since i first took possession of my model 2008 prius in early 2008. *tr
03/08/201011111
 Whenever i brake while driving over a bump in the road or a pothole, my brakes give out momentarily. at that same time a symbol flashes on my dashboard. my manual identifies this symbol as the vsc (vehicle stability control) has been engaged. this form requires a specific month, day, year. the approximately incident dates are every day, every week, every month, every year. *tr
12/24/200865001
 I was involved in a accident in my 2008 toyota prius. i was traveling east on greenback lane in citrus heights ca on dec. 24 2008 slight sprinkling at the time at about 35 mph when the cars in front of me began to stop i couldn't get the car stopped and rear ended a van . the brakes didn't work for a second or so and i kept pressure on and finally they started to work but to late to avoid the collision. i hit a minivan and it pushed him into a 2005 chevy trailblazer. i didn't realize at the time my car may be defective until all the news started to surface and now many others are having the same symptoms. everyone else said they weren't injured at the time but now the driver in the trail blazer says he has whiplash injuries. *tr
11/20/2009560001
 Momentary brake failure on 2008 toyota prius. so far the brakes appeared to fail for a fraction of a second on three occasions. in all three instances this happened when i was going over a defect in the pavement (not a pothole, just a rough section of paving). *tr
02/25/20101850002
 Second accident caused by brake failure with acceleration. 2008 prius in stop and go traffic driving in battery (brake)mode about 10-15 mph. car in front slowed down, i hit the brake and the car accelerated slightly. i look to be sure my foot was on the brake pedal and it was and then rear ended the car in front. car in front move forward but prius wouldn't stop and started to accelerate again so i pushed on the parking brake with my left foot and slowed it down for the second impact. car in front then drove slowly to a parking lot and the prius kept moving so i drove it into the parking lot and when it slowed going up the ramp i pushed the parking button stopping the car. i then restarted it and released the parking brake to move further into the parking lot. 4 people injured, 3 seriously. a similar incident occurred 29 september 2008 when driving on cruise control at 26 mph the prius suddenly turned left hitting a parked car. the video shows i was trying to counter steer hard right. skid marks showed the left front wheel stopped and the car pivoted on it with acceleration marks from the right front tire. *tr
01/19/201019000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. on january 19, 2010 while driving approximately 65 mph and applying the brakes to slow down with traffic flow the brakes failed to respond. the vehicle responded as if he was stepping on the accelerator pedal. he was able to change lanes and avoid a collision. he did not take the vehicle to the dealer, because he thought it was drivers error. the failure mileage was 19,000 and the current mileage was 20,000.
05/20/20083
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that when pulling up to her garage to park the vehicle, the vehicle would not stop when she applied the brakes and hit the garage door. there were no injuries. four months later, the failure recurred, minus the crash. she had not noticed any problems since then. she took the vehicle to the dealership and the dealer told her that they could find nothing wrong with the vehicle. she had not called the manufacturer to-date. the current mileage was 26,000. the failure mileage was approximately 3.
02/18/2010753001
 Low speed brake failure resulting in crashing into car in front. impact speed about 10-15mph. damage to car >$2800. stood on the brake and the car would not stop as it should. updated 03/12/10
02/10/2009118701
 A. dash lights would just disappear (no display for speed or gear) b. key bob wouldn't release and car wouldn't turn off. - twice c. car would rev-up when engine cool while in gear applying brakes 1. took to dealer to resolve - couldn't recreate the problems and was told to keep the key in my pocket. 2. second time was able to take to the dealer while the problem was happening. after 30 minutes came back with the solution of not to insert key bob. the lights and the key bob problem happen twice. the engine rev-up happen when the car was cold and i would need to make sure to firmly apply the brakes. the last time it happened i wasn't so lucky - going at a speed of 40 i started a turn to go under the freeway when the engine rev-up and forced me into a concrete wall... totaling the car. *tr
03/04/200847000
 I own a 2008 toyota prius and have been reading about the 2010 prius braking problem. i am experiencing the same symptons when i hit the brakes on a bumpy or pot-holed section of roadway. it is a temporary (split second) loss of braking power. although i have not had any accidents attibutable to this condition, i am nevertheless concerned and would like the problem corrected. will the nhtsa expand its investigation to include toyota's 2nd generation prius like mine?
12/27/2007300
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving 25 mph the contact applied the brakes and they did not engage. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the contact was advised that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. the failure mileage was 300. the current miles were 14000. the vin was not available.
02/17/2010340001
 The brakes cut out any time i hit a rough place on the road while braking. i have encountered this issue approximately once per week. it depends on where i am driving. for example: there is a road close to my work where i need to brake for a stop light right at a place where a rough bridge junction exist. when i drive on this road, the brakes cut out every time. toyota has announced they have this issue with the 2010 prius. my car is a 2008 prius. i kept waiting for them to include my car, but so far they have not. *tr
01/20/2010260001
 Even when new, only when braking on a bumpy surface, my 2008 toyota prius will reduce braking power all by itself, when i need them the most. when i press into the brake pedal, it will brake again, but by this time i will have lost 1 second of braking time. recently on jan 20th, i almost hit the person in front of me when i had to panic-brake, and the road became bumpy as i was braking. by pressing the brake harder after 1 second lost, i barely stopped in time. i never brought this to the dealer's attention, until two weeks ago, because i know this car has hyper-active wheel-slip sensors, and i just thought it was part of that design flaw. that problem comes up whenever i try to accelerate hard and make a right turn. even on dry pavement (and no wheel slip) the engine cuts out for about 3 seconds and the traction control light comes on. when it was new, the dealer said that's just the way it's designed. but that's not what i'm complaining about. that's just why i didn't report it until now. back to the brakes, two weeks ago, when i heard the 2010 prius has a software update to fix this problem, i thought they might be able to fix mine also. but when i went to the dealer, they said they couldn't do anything with it unless there was a recall, and there isn't for the 2008. they gave me the number to report it to toyota. i did that on 02/10/2010. then when i heard the toyota president (2 days ago) say that earlier prius' don't have the problem, i thought i should report it to you also. ps...i am an analyst by trade, i am highly mechanically inclined, and have even done my own brake jobs. i know how brake systems work and have had many cars with abs and traction control systems. this is the first car i have had that does this on a bumpy road surface. *tr
06/01/20081
 My 2008 prius has the same loss of traction when going over uneven surfaces as the 2010 cas. there are two sections of road that i drive over everyday to and from work. everyday, when i go over these surfaces my anti-lock brake light turns on indicating that it is momentarily not working. it then feels like i am sliding on ice until i get to even road. please expand the investigation to the at least the 2008 models. *tr
04/15/2008501
 Our 2008 toyota prius has a brake hesitation. this hesitation occurs when going over a rough road surface while braking or slowing. this problem happens often. i have learned that if i keep pressing on the brake when this happens i am able to stop and/or slow down. *tr
05/20/2008501
 I have a 2008 toyota prius. from day one, i have had a problem with braking over uneven terrain. when the vehicle goes over the uneven terrain, and you are braking, the stability control light goes on the dash and the brakes stop working until the vehicle is past the uneven road. this also happens on icy roads when the vehicle starts to slip, the brakes fail. i did not think there was anything wrong until i heard of similar complaints. i am taking the vehicle in to the dealer this week for it's service and will be reporting the problem to them at that time. *tr
02/15/2010120001
 2008 toyota prius with anti-slip rear-wiggle upon hitting small bumps in road. the anti-slip electronic system is way too sensitive as it is responding to small bumps in the road. i can understand how this may be helpful at high speeds or icy conditions, but at slow speeds the blinking yellow skid-control dashboard light and rearend wiggle as the system tries to recover does seem annoying. the system is overly sensitive. *tr
02/03/2010400001
 I own a toy.pri.2008,on 02/03/10 i was leaving driveway applied gas,car took off across st. into tidalflow of at. ocean at high tide,the car would not shift. brake or turn off. the police pic's noteded gas pedal was not visible, floor mat was over it, the salt water was in car and upon leaving car it was waist deep. the car was serviced 1/4/10 at toyota dealer for state inspetion and usual mt. never mentioned recall of mats which i now find was a well known fact in sept.09. they are insisting it will dry out and be fine,salt water on any car is deadly buti hybrid. the hour it sat in water prior to tow,the car still would not shut off. i called toyota that day as tow took car to it,they insisted that there was no issues with 2008 prius. the car was moving much faster than my 10mph of origin and would not brake,shift or shut off. water was pouring out stereo speakers and up under hood on/or under engine block,the engine ran for the hour the car sat in salt water. toyota hsa been absolutely no help and still insists despite an offical recall that there were troubles with 2008 prius. the police photos say it all. *tr
01/12/20101
 My 2008 toyota prius has the same problem as reported in the 2010 recall. when approaching an intersection (or doing anything), if my car hits a bump or pothole, the skid control takes over and i can not manually brake. why is this not being addressed? the date in question i was approaching an intersection and hit a pothole and even though i was hitting the brakes, not until the skid control was finished could the brakes actually fire, and that didn't happen until my car was halfway in the intersection! *tr
02/05/2010628001
 Hello, i live in israel, software expert, m.sc. in mechanical engineering. on feb 5th 2010 my prius 2008 crashed into the car driving ahead due to the brakes problem. crash pre-conditions: low speed - 28km/hour (17.4mph), slippery road during the rain, more than sufficient distance to the car ahead. the car ahead started braking sharply, instantly strong braking has been applied to prius with no response for a few tenths of sec, there was a feeling of sliding which resulted in crash. during two years disproportionally low brakes response happened to me twice in similar low speed conditions; when coming to roundabouts at 15-20km/hour while applying significant pressure on brakes i came 2-3m further than expected with the feeling of very weak brakes response. attempts to reproduce this condition didn't succeed, it happens in very specific circumstances. the crash resulted in no injuries, but significant damage to both cars (about $4000). *tr
01/01/200801
 Traction control issues with 2008 toyota prius. the traction control makes the car almost undriveable on snow covered roads due to power being removed from driving wheels. suggest adding a switch to disable the traction control. *tr
05/15/2009150001
 On my 2008 prius i applied the brakes over anything other than perfectly smooth dry pavement and the traction control light comes on and the car stops all braking force momentarily for approximately a second or so. while this is usually just an annoyance i was driving on the washington capital beltway i-495 east near the route 50 the car ahead of me slammed on the brakes, i looked away briefly then hit the brakes and the brakes did not apply pressure consistently causing my car to run into the back of a larger truck which should have a far greater braking distance than my prius. i should have been able to brake in time. *tr
05/19/20085006
 I have a 2008 toyota prius and have had brake problems with this car since it was new been back to dealers at least 6 times only to be told we cannot duplicate the problem. when it is raining and i first start out with the car the brakes will slam on and the tires will skid. my wife had the car out one time while i was in the hospital and she hurt her breast with the seatbelt when this happened to her. also when i am stepping on the brakes when going over some bumps the right front wheel will lock up and the anti skid light comes on. this car is dangerous to drive and the last time i spoke to toyota tues of this week the person i spoke to said what would i like for toyota to do for me and i told him toyota should buy this car back from me and all he said was that is not going to happen. just want to be heard at this point that is why i am making a complaint with nhtsa. we need to be heard. *tr
12/30/20082001
 We own two (2) prius cars. one is a 2008 touring model prius; the other is a 2010 prius v purchased in december 2009. both cars have the braking issue when the antilock brakes are used on rough roads such as potholes. i have made this known to caldwell toyota - i was told both cars operate within specifications. both cars jump and lurch forward when the brake pedal is slammed on. i know that the 2010 prius should be recalled and repaired. my concern is that the same issue exists in the 2008 prius. why is the 2008 year not being recalled? *tr
02/08/2008500001
 2008 prius which experiences momentary loss of braking on rough roads or surfaces which cause the feeling of a loss of braking momentarily. *tr
11/01/200850001
 When applying the brakes , over rough road the car will vault forward before stopping. *tr
05/27/200918001
 I was in williams, az on may 27, 2009. at the railroad rv park. got into my 2008 prius to return to conress and immediately smashed into a post about 50 feet from my starting point. it happend so fast i don't know how it happened. didn't even have a chance to apply the brake. filed an accident report report with the williams police department since there was property damage to the rv post and my prius. had moderate damage but was able to limp back home. repaired my prius at a local collision shop. drove down to the phoenix, az, area (almost 55 miles from home) about two months ago. after about the last 20 freeway miles i saw traffic stopped ahead at a stop sign. started to apply the brakes and noticed that i didn't slow immediately. finally ended up only about 50 feet from the car ahead. had to aggressively apply the brakes when i saw i wasn't stopping as soon as i thought. was relieved when i didn't plow into that car ahead this same occurance happened at least once earlier but was not as fightening. sometimes, while stopped at a light, i have a feeling that someone bumped me in the rear, but i have never been bumped. this identical problem even occurred when i had my 2002 prius. most service managers say it is nothing to be worried about. was hoping to have been able to wait until they produced a plug-in prius but i probably won't ever buy a toyota product again. i am really worried about a future accident in my prius and hate to drive it. my 2008 prius. *tr
02/05/2010175001
 I have a 2008 prius. i have had several incidents of while traveling on bumpy roads, over potholes, loss of braking power. my speed has been on average between 20 and 35 miles per hour the brakes will not catch for 1 or 2 seconds. i have come close to having an accident on three separate occasions because of inability to stop within. this only appears to occur over bumpy roads and the traction control light flashes in each incident. one incident occurred about september 2009 and the latest incident i have noted below. *tr
12/07/20091
 My 2008 toyota prius has experienced multiple incidents in which the brakes do not kick in for a second or so when trying to brake going over rough roads. the anti-lock brake light comes on the dashboard, but the brakes themselves do not begin to slow down the car for a second or so. *tr
02/09/2010610001
 My brakes flash a signal on the dash and feel like they 'release' when i am braking and drive across a rough spot. also, today my car did the same thing when i went to accelerate from a stop light, the road was wet from rain. this has happened more times than i can count and i didn't realize it was a problem although it is very concerning, until the toyota recall information about the new prius. i drive the same road everyday and there is a down hill area that comes to a stop light and my car does this every time if i have to brake going down the hill for the light, unless i take my foot off the brakes when i hit the rough areas. *tr
02/04/2010342501
 The car's anti-lock brakes fail to engage when the traction control kicks in. thus, the car slides forward uncontrollably. i have avoided accidents only by swerving. additionally, the traction control will activate when on dry pavement. thus, normal stopping can be difficult if the car's traction control is activated (typically due to a bump/pothole). *tr
11/28/20091
 2008 toyota prius. brakes seems to lose hold when driving at slow speeds and hitting a bump in the road. the loss of braking seems to only last for a fraction of a second but is very disconcerting. also, driver's side headlamp kept malfunctioning, going off periodically when driving. dealer could not replicate problem in shop, so stated there was no problem. took car back three additional times for same issue. finally dealer said there'd been numerous complaints and changed out the headlamp at a cost of $250.00. ($150 for the headlamp and $100 for labor) later got a letter from toyota acknowledging the faulty headlamp issue, but said toyota had given us a discount by only charging $150.00 for the headlamp instead of the regular $300.00 cost. $300.00 for a headlamp seems excessive and if it's a common issue why is toyota not issuing a recall for this matter.*tr
06/07/200801
 With the brake pedal engaged, the brakes shut off temporarily while the traction control light is on. this failure occurs daily when i approach the stop sign in my neighborhood. as a approach the stop sign (brakes engaged), the road dips slightly which turns on the traction control. at this point the brakes turn off (with my foot still on the pedal) until the traction control light goes out indicating that the traction control has disengaged. so far i have been lucky and have not hit anyone after rolling through the stop sign. this is not a new problem as it has happened basically every day since i bought the vehicle. i have been dealing with it until i saw the notice about the 2010 prius with exactly the same problem. i would like to submit a formal complaint so that the 2010 prius brake investigation can be expanded to include the 2008 prius. *tr
06/01/20081
 2008 toyota prius hybrid - braking problem since purchase of car. son remarked frequently when he drove vehicle. i noticed it only when hitting a bumpy surface that caused car to respond as if it had lost traction and seemed to engage the abs system. no consequences to date, but risky if bumpy conditions occur on icy patches. i mentioned at last vehicle checkup at toyota dealership where i go for service, but was told problem could not be duplicated - so no rememdy suggested. i feel confident toyota will address, but since i am a pre- 2010 prius, i wanted to bring this to your attention. *tr
02/08/2010200001
 2008 toyota prius - when braking over an uneven surface, the deceleration momentarily disappears - this is usually less than a second, but is very noticeable. this has happened for as long as i've owned the car (late 2007) - and i can reproduce the event. a road was just worked on near my house and a part of the pavement near the intersection has been removed and filled in with gravel - when approaching the intersection, the braking suddenly releases, then reapplies. i always thought this was related to the traction control. *tr
01/01/200940000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius hybrid. while driving 10 mph he experienced a delay whenever the brakes were applied unless he continued to apply pressure to the brake pedal. he will take the vehicle to the dealer to diagnose the failure. the failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 45,000.
01/30/20101
 Brakes momentarily fail and/or the car lurches forward when applying the brakes while driving on top of a pot hole or other similar obstruction. *tr
01/15/2010330001
 There are two issues with my 2008 toyota prius. when trying to accelerate rapidly, the engine cuts out and hesitates. i think it's related to the traction control, but this happens way too easily. i have new tires and it happens on dry pavement. the second issue is related to the brakes. when braking and encountering small bumps in the road, the car appears to leap forward. there is a sensation of accelerating when this happens, although i'm certain it is just the abs system. it is a very uneasy feeling. *tr
09/10/200845000
 Braking fails when going over rumble strips or rough road surface. 2 accidents in this car both on city streets with somewhat poor surface. both a speeds less than 30 mph but whole system shuts down utill bumps stop only accidents i have had in 40 years of driving. i work in 3 states avg 60k /yr i asked dealer to disable the anti skid feature as manual said could be done dealer said they had trouble disabling feature it kept reseting itself to on *cn
07/14/2009160001
 The brakes on my 2008 toyota prius disengaged for a second or two while attempting to stop on a road that was bumpy *cn
05/15/2009150001
 When my 2008 toyota prius moves on a bumpy surface at low speed i feel a pause in the braking - same problem that is being reported on the 2010 models. *cn
01/15/2010240001
 I have a 2008 toyota prius. on several occasions when braking and hitting a pothole (right front tire) i have experienced a momentary loss of braking. it kind of felt like the car was floating above the ground before braking was reengaged. i did not know what was going on until i heard about the 2010 toyota prius brake problems and instantly recognized the symptoms. i have not experienced any adverse consequences as the brakes reengaged and allowed me to control the car after a second. *cn
02/08/20081021
 I have a 2008 toyota prius. when i drive over bumpy surfaces such as road covers or pot holes while breaking, i can feel my car accelerating mid-brake and then have to press doubly hard on my brakes to slow the vehicle. i was in an accident driving because driving over some bumpy railroad track crossings, i had to break because the car in front of me stopped suddenly. i floored the brakes and my car continued to roll right into the car in front of me. i have also considered that perhaps there was electrical interference with my brakes caused by the railroad crossing. *cn
11/22/2008128001
 Brakes release at stops where only slight road conditions exist and here there should be complete braking. i have found this happens at numerous times during the period i have owned my 2008 prius. i believe there are valid concerns with this vehicles brake system that need to be acknowledged and addressed by the manufacturer. *cn
02/28/200815
 1) the even happens during normal braking from 40 mph over a road with potholes. the location is here: http://maps.google.com/?ie=utf8&hq=&hnear=cleveland,+cass,+missouri&ll=38.67887,-94.675729&spn=0.00139,0.00284&z=19 2) the car loses all braking for 1-2 seconds after running over the pothole. if somebody was in front of me, it would result in a accident. it happens 5 days a week as part of my daily commute. 3) toyota says it is normal for the prius to do this.
02/04/201053300
 Summary: brakes hesitate if i have the brakes on before driving over bumpy road transition: driving ~25 to 30mph going up hill, on bridge that is a freeway overpass, where i turn into the left turn lane that has a stoplight that leads to the freeway on ramp. if the light is red or i need to slowdown for the turn, when my wheels go over the metal transition plate between the asphalt road and the concrete bridge, if i have my brakes on prior to the transition, the out of control light flashes , abs engages and after the transition, i lose brakes for a second or two or maybe three. if the light is red it can be a little tricky as i need to stop for the light shortly after the transition. there are two lanes that turn onto the freeway and if someone shifts from one lane to the other for a better light position, it gets even trickier to stop on time. for those in san diego, this is the light at la costa in carlsbad, going west on la costa and entering the i-5 south on ramp.
02/07/2010549501
 While driving over a bumpy road today, i applied brakes to my prius (2008). the vehicle jumped into anti-lock position and would not stop even after applying more pressure. finally, just before rear ending the vehicle in front of me, i was able to stop. i notified toyota about this today on their web site. is there anything else i should do? *tw
01/28/2010300001
 My car is a 2008 prius. the incident is that my car didn't stop and skidded into a concrete curb, damaging the right front power steering rack. it was snowing, about 1-2 accumulated. driving into my office parking lot, there is a street with a steep but short hill - maybe 50feet or less - (it was not plowed or sanded). at the foot of the hill, there is a left turn into a level parking lot or a right turn under a highway overpass, or straight ahead into shrubs and the river. i slowed down before going down the hill and as i went down the hill i lightly pumped brakes. tried to come to a complete stop at foot of the hill but car didn't stop completely, but was going slow. so, i made the left turn into the parking lot. the body of the car turned into the lot, but was not in control. with the brakes on, and the wheel turned to the left, the car went into a slide sideways to the right. the right front wheel slammed into a concrete curb and the car stopped. it felt as if i had no brakes - coming down the hill they couldn't stop me and there was no skid control coming on at any time. the failure: given the weather conditions i don't know how to prove a failure but i suspect something with the brakes. i have owned this car for one year (purchased it used) and during that time the one thing that bugs me in the car is the brakes and the skid control. they just feel strange, i go over a depressed manhole in the road and the dsc comes on and it feels like i skid - it should just feel like a bump. repairs: this is the list -entire power steering rack on right front to be replaced- tie rod, lower control arm, wheel, rim-all bent. front cover and lower ball joint damaged-to be replaced. over $3000 in repairs; they will be done this week (8 feb). if you want the old parts i can ask for dealer to save them. car is @ toyota dealer. mileage & speed are my best guess; components i guessed - your terms were not familiar to me. *tw
01/23/2010200001
 Proceeding to get on highway and in gravel driveway vehicle lost traction and brakes failed.(at least 5 or 6 times in 2009 and most rescent 2/03/10)headlight and relay switch failedfront running light not working all the timeradio switching from fm,fm2and am randomlycar for no reason going dead at a store orbeing parked for an hour or 2and having to be jumpedmain batteries losing charge(most of these issues have already been documented at toyota with the response that there is nothing wrong with the car as far back as august and most recent in december '09) also the tires went bald after 20,000 milescan't put more than 8 gallons of fuel in tank'ever *cn
01/08/2010400001
 Driving on a dirt road which turns into a paved road. started sliding as soon as i hit the paved road. pumped on the brakes, the abs didnt work. the car kept sliding off the road into a fence. $4000.00 in damage. *cn
02/05/2010150001
 2008 prius, 2006 lexus 400h momentary brake loss. i believe the 2010 prius brake issue goes well beyond 2010 prius models. i think the momentary (split second) delay in braking happens at low speeds, infrequently, perhaps in the b shift position exclusively (not certain on this in the lexus) and usually on slippery surfaces and/or cold weather and usually when going down an incline. the feeling i got in my prius and my wife in her lexus was not an acceleration feeling but a going into neutral feeling. it kind of felt like the car picked up speed but more from the coasting effect than anything to due with an accelerator. i would look at the anti-lock braking as it relates to regenerative braking with a dash of speed thrown in. good luck. i still feel the cars are safe. date below not real-just placeholder -today's date. *tr
01/15/20101
 I own a 2008 prius and i have the same brake problem as many owners have reported. the brake sometimes does not work on a bumpy road edge and when it occurs the orange light that indicates unstable condition turns on. it also occurs when it is raining. foursome reason, it works well in a heavy rain but doesn't work on a road under light raining condition. whenever it happens, the car slows down but doesn't stop and i feel it's sliding on the road surface. i haven't contacted the dealer regarding this problem. *tr
02/05/2010580551
 I just reported the brake problem for this car, but there's also a problem with the tcs. when trying to accelerate on slick surfaces there is a momentary loss of traction resulting in an overly-long compensated period of seriously reduced acceleration; this has caused safety problems in intersections, where i am unable to quickly accelerate out of the way if conditions are slick or sandy, it is so unsafe that i wish i could turn off the traction control system.. *tr
10/21/2009210001
 When going over bumps it fells like the brakes stop working. it almost feels like the vehicle accelerates. *tr
12/18/2009530001
 My 2008 toyota prius has experienced the same braking problems described in recent media releases. my 2005 prius also had the same problem, but i've since sold it. when driving over a slippery surface (ice, a wet sewer cover or painted crosswalk line) and needing to brake - when i first apply the brake it begins to stop, then the car suddenly speeds up again before continuing to brake. i've learned to keep my distance so i don't hit anyone in the split second the car is no longer braking. *tr
12/28/2009285001
 I have a 2008 toyota prius and live in st. paul, mn. in late december following a snow and then ice storm i was driving on city streets. as i was coming up to an intersection with a stop sign, i applied the brakes and nothing happened. the anti-lock brakes did not engage at all. i pressed harder and nothing happened. i avoided an accident by making a sharp right hand turn and missing the car which i was about to hit broadside. i have taken no action yet regarding this malfunction. *tr
02/05/2009310001
 This is for a 2008 toyota prius. this problem occurs during normal daily/routine driving, and occurs almost daily. problem: while braking, if i encounter any non-smooth surfaces (small pot hole, slight gravel, etc) or while braking and turning--the braking pressure/force momentarily releases for about a 1/2 second ,and is immediately followed by a flashing abs light. when this occurs, the car also momentarily lunges forward due to having no braking force. on 4 occasions i almost ended up into cross traffic at an intersection. this has occurred since i first owned the car back in july 2009 and is not a recent development. this same problem occurred today during my commute to work on wintry mx weather roads, but i did not have any near collisions. no repairs or work has been performed on my car to fix this problem. i assumed this problem was inherent to hybrids, but in light of recent prius braking problems on the news, i felt it was my duty to report that my 2008 prius does have a braking issue. *tr
01/24/2010490001
 I am an owner of a 2008 toyota prius. i have also experienced the braking problems that have been associated with the 2010 model. when hitting a bump in the road or an uneven part of the road, the brakes will not take hold and the vehicle seems to accelerate or jerk forward. also the anti-lock brake light flashes. *tr
08/30/2009446081
 Toyota prius 2008. i bought the car as used fleet car in august 2009. the first time i drove over uneven roads, specifically manhole covers on a slight down grade, the slip light came on and the car felt as if it were sliding without gripping the road over the cover. i continued to have that same feeling when trying to stop on uneven road conditions, specifically metal manhole covers. i mentioned this to the dealer over the next couple of months. as long as the road is dry, this is a momentary feeling. however, one day the roads were recently wet from a rain. i went to stop and the car slid at least several feet before the car stopped. i was decelerating from 35 miles an hour to an abrupt stop. this reaction persists. i have taken the car in to be inspected and told there was nothing wrong with the anti-locking mechanism. however, i continue to have no gripping action on wet pavements (i slid completely over an ice patch this week at a stop sign. the patch of ice was at least 10 feet across. i anticipated this problem so approached the spot slowly and still slid clear to the other side, which put me into the cross street traffic. fortunately, i was the only one on the street. *tr
10/31/2009300001
 Toyota prius 2008 seems like it releases brake or the brake doesn't work when driving over a bump, pothole, or wet roads., although brake is applied. feels like car jumps or slips. a light indicator comes on when this occurs. it is a orange light indicating car is slipping it has occurred several times over the year. took it to the toyota dealer and explained what happened, but was told it was my driving and could not identify problem unless it happened to them and it never did. sometimes it continues to occur. *tr
09/20/200835001
 I have a 2008 toyota prius and my problem is with the braking and the anti skid coming on even on dry pavement. i have also a noise that comes from braking when the car is stopped. when you press on the brake it makes a clicking and grinding noise even when the car is not going. i have had it in about 4-5 times for these 2 problems and 3 times they bled the brakes and 2 times they changed the actuator. this problem started about 3-4 months after i purchased my 2008 prius. *tr
01/30/20101001
 I never owned a car with anti-lock brakes until i had my prius. i have always noticed that when applying the brakes, if i go over uneven ground like a pothole, the car lurches forward a bit for about a second. i thought it was because of the unique braking system in the prius, but after seeing all of these reports, i thought i should report it since my car is older than the ones mentioned in the news reports. *jb
04/20/20081001
 I have a 2008 prius that has the same problem as that reported with the 2010. every time i brake on a rippled or bumpy surface, there is a repeated momentary loss of braking. on a certain downhill stretch of road near me, it happened every time i drove it, until it was resurfaced. another problem is that if the vehicle is on an inclined surface of crushed rock, there is a complete loss of power. the dealer describes this as an overly sensitive traction control system that cannot be adjusted. this is also hazardous because on slick surfaces, each momentary loss of traction results in an overly-compensated period of seriously reduced acceleration; we have been sitting ducks in intersections, unable to quickly accelerate out of the way if conditions are slick, not because of the surface itself, but because of the way the vehicle mis-handles the situation. *jb
11/19/2009495001
 I own and operate a logistics company in southern maine. part of our fleet is three 2008 toyota prius'. in reading the description of your 2010 prius brake failure investigation, i can say for absolute sure that this same problem exists in the 2008 model year. in all three of our prius', on several occasions, i have experienced this problem. we aren't known for having the most wonderful roads in the northeast and we also have many railroad tracks. the problem as i see it is that when you hit a large pothole/ railroad track there seems to be a 0.5 - 2 second lag time before the brakes actually respond. we have many different employees drive our cars and in asking them they all, at least on one occasions, have experienced this problem. please look into years beyond just the 2010. i can assure you that if you sent out a survey there would be a large percentage of people who have had this problem. we drive these cars for a living and we rely on you to make sure that what we drive is safe for us and our employees. *jb
07/15/2008850106/01/2008
 The nhtsa should widen their formal investigation of the momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump in toyota prius hybrids, beyond model year 2010, to at least the 2008 and 2009 models. i have a 2008 toyota prius hybrid and i've been having the same problem since i bought mine in june of 2008. please widen your investigation to at least the 2008 & 2009 prius models as well, if not even further back than that... thank you. *jb
03/01/200812001
 Vehicle was hit from rear while stopped at a traffic light. despite the brakes being applied at the time, the rear impact caused the car to be pushed forward into the car in front of it as if the brakes were not even in use. there was minimal damage to the bumper from the rear impact but more significant damage to the front of the vehicle form the second impact. *jb
02/03/2010510001
 I am having problems with braking in my 2008 prius that sound identical to the problems being investigated on the 2010 model. when stopping at a stop sign or light, sometimes the brakes disengage and the traction control light comes on the dash and the car lurches forward. this also happens when hitting gravel, pot holes, bumps, wet patches, ice, etc. this has been a problem from the time i bought the vehicle. just yesterday, i was barely moving(less than 10mph) and coming to a stop sign where it was wet, and when i applied the brakes i continued to advance forward into an intersection. i was fortunate the other vehicles on the road were far enough away to have time to stop before hitting me. once the brakes re-engaged i proceeded to drive in control. the brakes also have problems when there is any moisture. when applied in these conditions, when they do engage, the vehicle stops too abruptly, causing the driver and passengers to be lurched forward. this sometimes engages the antilock brakes when there is no traction issue causing the vehicle to slide a bit. these things sometimes happen on a daily basis or in dry conditions it may be a few days between incidents. *tr
09/14/2009458763
 I have a 2008 prius and on three occasions while driving at slow speeds when i went to apply the brakes they just locked up on me and sent me lunging forward. thank god i was wearing a seat belt. when i complained about this to the dealer they said they told me to take the floor mats out. now i come to find out this morning that they have a problem with the brake systems on the prius but after investigating this they say only on the 2010 models. sorry it has happened to mine and it happened 3 times only at slow speeds. most of my driving is highway driving and that is probably why i have only experienced this only 3 times. *tr
10/20/2009520001
 Prius brake problem as described in media recently has happened to me twice. brakes were applied and braking was delayed for at least one full second or longer and vehicle felt like it was actually accelerating. *tr
02/04/2010420001
 2008 toyota prius with a braking condition which i've come to realize isn't normal. since i've purchased the car, i've had poor braking while traveling over rough roads, potholes and cornering. i thought this was normal as a result of abs brakes and skid control. the feeling is disconcerting and feels as though the brakes aren't initially engaging. i now realize that this isn't normal handling and performance even though i've somewhat gotten used to it over time. i can replicate this issue. there is a road that i travel frequently that causes this issue. *tr
01/03/2010450001
 I own a 2008 toyota prius and it also has a problem when braking while driving over a rough surface or pot holes. the traction control light comes on and there is a 1-2 second delay before the real brakes kick in. i have learned to be aware of this issue and press the brakes harder until the brakes start to work. *tr
12/26/20091
 I own a 2008 toyota prius. after reading a report about possible braking problems with this auto, i wanted someone to be aware that this is also happening with the 2008 prius and not just the 2010 prius. i have experience several times when i hit a small pothole or even a speed bump, that there is a problem with a momentary loss of braking capability. this has not resulted in any accident or injury, but very scary when it happens. i dismissed the problem thinking it was suppose to act that way, but now i am concerned. *tr
02/02/201010001
 When my 2008 prius goes over anything slick, wet, and sometimes loose gravel, particularly on a down-hill surface, the car slips when the brake is engaged. if applied while on the slick surface, it is as if the brake does not respond immediately; if applied previous to the surface, the brake stops responding when it hits the slick surface. it happens very frequently, at least every 50 miles or so. the variable stability control engages at the same time the slipping occurs. the only correction is to continue to hold the brake, wait for it to engage, and leave extra time/distance to brake. this problem repeatedly happens at specific points of frequently driven routes (ie. manhole cover on my street at bottom of hill). i have not have this problem in any other car. *tr
06/03/2008501
 I am having issues with my 2008 toyota prius brakes. when i apply pressure to the brakes (gentle- not sudden) there is an instant when the car jerks forward and seems to speed up. the abs sensor light comes on for a second or two, then goes off and the normal braking resumes. this also happened to me with my 2006 highlander hybrid (of which i leased from 9/06-4/08). when i brought it to my dealers attention, what was going on, they said that it was completely normal. it did not seem normal to me. in fact, i have a neighbor who also has a highlander hybrid who attributed a recent fender bender to this very brake/jerking issue. this happens almost on a daily basis (every 2 days would be more like it), particularly when i drive on the bumpy country dirt roads around where i live. i typically drive slow (10-15 mph) on the dirt roads because i don't want to damage/jossle the parts in car 'loose', so 'high' speed would not play a role in why my abs light comes on and the car jumps forward. the issue has not been corrected by my dealer, though i have brought it to their attention with both cars. as i mentioned earlier, they said it was 'normal'. fortunately this has not caused an accident but i typically drive very conservatively and am very aware of what this car does - brake wise, so i tend to brake early, if possible. *tr
02/02/2010250001
 I am experiencing temporary loss of brakes while braking on uneven surfaces, bumpy streets, potholes, railroad tracks. this is not the same as normal abs activating, but longer and complete loss of braking for a few seconds. dealer informed me this is by design. all my other cars (with abs) do not experience this in the same conditions. incident repeated daily during my commute. i have to drive much slower because of this and i want this fixed since if it's by design then its a bad design!!! note this is on a gen2 prius, 2008 model. *tr
01/10/2009300001
 On my 2008 toyota prius, the brakes do not work after hitting a large pothole or bump. i thought it was how they normally worked on the prius as it is a very light car. however, i can make it happen at any time and have since learned of the recall (or pending recall) of the 2010 prius for the same issue. *tr
01/10/201020003
 I own a 2008 toyota prius. i bought it new 4/12/08 in bend, oregon i live in madras, oregon. the problem has happened 3 times, it happens on packed snow slick conditions. it happened 2 times making 90 deg turns at 20 mph, i slow down into a right turn and half way thru i touch the gas and the car starts to slide and it will not come out of it. 1st time i hit the curb on the left side of road and went clear up on sidewalk. it did damage to left front tire. 2nd time same turn but there was now side walk i went off the road. 3rd time i was going into a left hand turn normal conditions would have been a easy 55 mph corner. with packed snow i was going about 30 mph i slowed into the turn and half way thru i touched the gas pedal and it instantly went into a slide and hit the snow bank on the right hand side and knocked me back into the road. on the prius when you step on the gas and the tires start to spin it stops the tires from spinning instantly. if you hold the gas pedal the same it will start and stop power to the wheels until it gets to the point of no spinning of the tires. i think that when i touch the gas and the tire spins it instantly stops the tire from spinning and the car goes into a slide and it will not let me control the slide because the tires are still in the lock mode and it slides out of control. i do not want to drive the car on slick roads but i don't want to sell it and have someone else get in a wreck because of the problem. i am going to try and contact toyota and tell them. *tr
06/12/200925000103/01/2008
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. whenever the contact would attempt to apply the brakes while driving at a low speed they would not fully engage increasing stopping distance. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the failure could not be reproduced. the current and failure mileages were 25000. updated 03/09/10. *lj the consumer stated the vehicle would lurch sporadically, which only occurred when stopping. updated 06/11/10.*jb
01/27/2010253211
 Re: my 2008 prius. the brakes occasionally seem to 'skip,' especially on wet or rough roads. they always work, but seem to pause or hesitate before stopping. i've only heard word about 2010 models, but this has been happening to my 2008 too often! *tr
02/02/2010170003
 My 2008 prius lurches forward after applying the brakes when encountering a small pot hole/ slippery conditions...the traction control light comes on. i have heard of this happening with the 2010 prius, but i am also experiencing this with my older model. this happens every time i encounter some unforeseen obstacles (2 or 3 times/month). *tr
07/10/2008180001
 I bought a 2008 toyota prius in the summer of 2008 and almost immediately got into an accident. i was turning a corner and the car didn't handle as i expected - i got a hydroplaning warning light even thought it was not raining and tried to brake, but the brakes did not react and i ended up crashing into a curb, causing $3,000 in damage to the wheel, axel, and bumper. no one was hurt and there was no property damage other than to my own car. at the time i chalked it up to not yet being used to the car, i had previously had a jetta that handled wonderfully and i was used to that car being completely responsive. i made the necessary repairs to my car and just tried to be more cautious when i was driving in the future. i have always noticed certain things about the handling and braking of this car, and the current recall on the 2010 version made me realize i wasn't imagining these problems. i constantly get the hydroplaning type warning on my dashboard when i go over bumps or in bad weather, to the point where i feel unsafe driving my prius in inclement weather and often borrow a relative's car. i have been lucky to have no more accidents other than that first one, but there have been most definitely been times when i felt the car was not handling the way it ought to. even when i had that accident i had maintained to family and friends that i just couldn't fathom how i got into that accident and i felt like it was the car's fault. i didn't spread this opinion too widely though because it sounded like i was just making an excuse for my accident. that's really how i felt though; as if something went wrong with the brakes that day. i felt if i had been in any other car i've ever driven that accident could have been avoided. i didn't even know there was an option to file a complaint with the nhtsa until this recall hit the news, so i figured filing a complaint now is better than never filing at all. thanks for your time. *tr
02/04/2010370001
 I have a 2008 prius and it does exactly what they are reporting the 2010 models are doing. mine jumps forward while braking over a rough road. my friend owns a 2007 model and his does the same thing. mine occurs almost daily when transitioning home from work over a particular stretch of road. i will be glad to testify. i also sent a complaint to toyota. *tr
04/11/2008301
 Toyota prius braking problems not limited to generation 3 vehicles. i have and 2008 prius (generation 2) that always lunges forward while braking when the vehicle rolls over a pothole. *tr
01/28/2010470001
 2008 toyota prius. have not experienced the braking failure currently being investigated in the 2010 prius, but i have experienced multiple similar failures with the traction control system on both slippery and bumpy roads where the car will completely disengage from the drive train for an unreasonably long period of time, and then pulse wildly between having the drive system engage and disengage. in minnesota with slippery roads for many months in the year, it can be very tricky making a left had turn even when oncoming traffic is a very safe distance away. you can stall mid turn in a very vulnerable broadside position. same issue has happened, to a lesser degree on bumpy roads, not just icy roads. i have not pressed toyota on the issue. i raised it once in conversation and they simply said that it was just how the traction control operated. i am telling you as you open the investigation into the 2010 prius braking system. i think the scope is wider than brakes, it is acceleration as well, and i don't think it is limited to the most recent model of the prius. i drive a late model previous generation prius. *tr
12/15/20092150010
 I drive a black 2008 toyota prius and after reading the news reports, i think there might be similar braking issues with my vehicle. the condition definitely does not happen very often, but i would say at least 5-10 times over the 23 months (march 08 - present) that i have had the vehicle. with the brake pedal applied after going over a rough spot or pothole in the road, it felt like the car was skidding or sliding. the car would resume normal operating conditions within a few seconds. the car was never out of control, but the steering wheel and brake pedal definitely felt very loose which is different than under normal circumstances. also, when this condition occurs, the low-traction indicator light on the dashboard illuminates for a few seconds. these incidents occurred when there was not other traffic around. up to this point, i attributed the condition to driver error, but i would rather add my description and err on the side of being overly cautious. *tr
02/08/2008100001
 Pulling into a driveway, my brakes failed to hold, my 2008 toyota prius car jumped forward while my foot was still depressed on the brake, and my car hit a parked car. i reported the accident to my insurance company. damage was done to the parked vehicle; only minor damage was done to my car. i advised my dealership of the incident, and i was told that they could inspect the brakes, but there was nothing else they could do regarding the incident that occurred. *tr
03/01/200851
 I have a 2008 toyota prius; it has the same problem with braking as what you describe in the 2010 models. when approaching a stop, if you hit a bump, or pothole, the brakes kind of 'release' momentarily. they do grab again within a half-second, or so. but it is very unnerving. i could see how it could lead to a crash under certain circumstances. *tr
12/24/200999801
 I was driving approximately 25mph. a fire engine entered the intersection ahead of me without warning. i applied the brakes immediately, but they locked up and i slid on ice. i could not stop and hit the fire engine. my vehicle was totaled and i was found at fault for the accident. *tr
10/01/200985001
 2008 toyota prius - the car had strange acceleration issues and would act like it was going over potholes when the road was smooth. the abs would engage when the roads were dry, even at slow speeds. i was driving approximately 15 mph, looking for a parking space. i saw one, applied pressure to the brake pedal, and my car lurched sideways, to the right. i thought my axle had broken. i got out and saw that i had hit the car that was parked along the street, but had not caused any damage to it. my tire rods and axle were broken and damage to my steering column was found. i thought this should have been covered by my warranty, but the dealership said it was caused by hitting the car next to me. my car should not have gone sideways when i braked. the dealership hooked the car up to the computer and said that there was no record of any failures. *tr
04/24/2008136051
 Prius brake problems - on 4-24-08 i brought my pruis into toyota to replace a brake actuator. at the time of the incident my dash board lit up like a christmas tree. it took toyota about 4 weeks to fix the problem. is this related to the brake problems released recently or a new problem. there was no accident involved. *tr
01/30/2010340001
 2008 toyota prius. brakes fail/inoperative when driving over bumpy roads and/or potholes. it seems as though the abs or the electronic stability control engages when there is no need. this is the same type of incident that is being reported in newer prius models as well. *tr
06/30/2009320001
 2008 prius brake acceleration. i pulled slowly into my regular parking spot at work . my prius all of a sudden sped up and i couldn't stop it before the car hit the utility box on the side of our office. i have pictures and a witness. i informed my insurance allstate when the problem was brought to public attention but because i had moved and no longer have allstate, they were not concerned. i have notified toyota and as of this date, they have not commented. i was told at the time that it was my fault, therefore i assumed it must have been. i want you to know that i experienced this problem and now realize i was not at fault. the accident is on my record for three years and my prius had to have a new bumper which causes it to no longer have full resale value. *tr
11/07/20093000010
 When trying to brake at slow speeds for very bumpy, rough or pot holed road, the brake pedal goes dead for a very short instant. it feels like there is no brake pedal at all. your not sure if you lost your brakes or what. it is like it skips a beat or something. it must be when the car is in the traditional braking mode versus re-gen mode. this has happened about 10 times over 2 years. no accident. it just makes you stop slower/longer. *tr
01/05/20101
 2008 prius on very slushy roads can momentarily lose its brakes when transitioning from regenerative braking to the wet and ineffective friction brakes at about 6 mph. the friction brakes then dry quickly and work. consider requiring automatic intermittent light friction brake application during regenerative braking so that the friction brakes are ready to take over when they are supposed to. there is no single incident date; it's an ongoing problem. *tr
01/05/20101
 2008 prius abs takes much longer to resume braking after losing traction over railroad tracks or other bumps than did my three previous abs-equipped cars (from 1987 and 2001 with bosch abs). car travels tens of feet at 30 mph with no apparent braking before braking returns. don't believe regenerative braking forces bad abs performance -- there's an ample source of accumulated high pressure fluid available for the friction brakes that is quite instantaneous if ever you stamp on the pedal enough to trigger brake assist. if toyota can't make regen compatible with good abs, ask them to revert to the hydraulics. please update fmvss no. 135 to disallow this kind of abs performance. it's an ongoing problem. there is no single incident date. *tr
02/02/201001
 Whenever i drive my 2008 prius over an uneven road surface, the brake abs light goes on and the brakes appear momentarily unresponsive. this happens on a regular basis. it has not caused an accident, in part because i am a very conservative driver. but, i worry that in an emergency situation i would not be able to stop in time. *tr
01/10/2010130001
 When going downhill and approaching a right turn near my home i apply the brakes and often runover the same uneven surface on the road. that triggers my 2008 toyota prius' traction control light to blink on and off a few times and my brakes seem to stop applying pressure at that point while my car's speed increases for 1-2 seconds then the traction control light goes off and the brakes work fine. i am just worried about all the issues with toyota cars and want to make sure my family is safe. hence, telling my small story before it happens and i can't control it. *tr
12/15/2009230001
 When braking, if a pothole or bump in the road is hit, the car seemingly jerks forward/accelerates for a split second. *tr
01/02/2010300001
 I own a 2008 toyota prius. given the already many complaints, i would like to add my comments on this prius. first this car is very unsafe due to poor visibility. you can not see out of this car. second, i had the headlight failures that these cars have. i have had both headlights replaced in this car. the headlights would go out while driving in the dark. many times i had to turn the switch off and back on while driving in the dark to get the headlights to come back on. this is not safe and many, many prius's have this problem. the dealer replaced the headlights but not without a struggle on my part. last point i would like to make is that this 2008 prius has the same exact issues with brakes and stopping that the 2010 does according the accounts i have read. for example, i went over a railroad track recently which when it hits an uneven surface it is very hard to stop! i almost hit a car that was turning just past these tracks because it feels like the car does not have a good grip to the road. it happens also with even a small cluster of small pot holes. this car is not safe in my opinion. i do not understand how the headlights alone did not make a recall. it is an ongoing unsafe situation. the car not stopping however is something that needs to be recalled and not just limited to the 2010 prius. *tr
02/01/2010240551
 About once a month the brakes partially fail then i press the brakes harder and they reengage fully. this happens after i've had my foot on the brakes for 5-10 seconds when i am trying to come to a complete stop. this has never led to an accident. i'm planning to take the car into the dealer to have it inspected. *tr
02/01/20102001
 I would like to report a brake problem on my 2008 toyota prius. this is an apparent momentary loss of braking when hitting a rough spot in the road. the same problem was apparent on an earlier 2002 prius. it has not caused any accidents, but it is worrisome. it happens consistently and reproducibly. *tr
09/01/2008150001
 On september 1, 2008 i had an accident involving my 2008 prius. while driving south on 295 near richmond, va, traffic came to a total stop near the virginia beach exit. i was unable to stop and hit the suv in front of me. after seeing the traffic stopping, i applied my brakes as hard as i could but the car did not stop. i also did not feel the abs engage. naturally, i was charged with causing the accident. when the prius was repaired (~$12,000), i requested toyota to check for a failure of the abs. they reported that the computer did not register any malfunction. i am submitting this now after hearing through the media that the prius has had reported brake problems. i have always believed that my accident was caused by the prius' brakes failing to stop in a reasonable distance. i was driving in the right-hand lane, not exceeding the speed limit, but the car just would not stop when i braked very hard. i had no visible or tactile indication that the abs had engaged. thank you for considering my issue. *tr
02/03/2010386791
 I have a 2008 toyota prius which i bought new from a dealership in riverhead, ny. the car's braking system seems to temporarily stop working when i try to stop on a slippery or bumpy surface. if i depress the brake pedal forcefully, the car will eventually stop, but the stopping distance is at least 2 to 3 times what it is under other (normal) road conditions. i am a certified nys driver education instructor in my mid 60's and have never run into this situation in any other car model i have ever driven. please have toyota investigate this issue as i have narrowly avoided several accidents. i have not had the car checked since i thought i was perhaps just skidding, but today i have read about other drivers experiencing the same braking problem with the 2009 prius. i believe the problem exists on the 2008 model as well. please keep me informed of any action i should be taking to ensure the safety of my family and myself. *tr
02/02/2010200001
 I have a 2008 toyota prius, and it seems to have an extremely over-aggressive anti-lock brake system. when driving over ice, bumpy roads or even potholes and pressing the brakes, the abs system disengages the brakes on all wheels if even one of them momentarily slips. this is most egregious when the cause is a bump in the road, as traction is not in question for any of the tires (as it might be on ice). the effect is that the brakes temporarily cease operating, which can lead to dangerous conditions (but no crashes yet). *tr
10/21/20089999
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius purchased new. he stated while braking at speeds less than 10 mph, the vehicle would violently jerk forward. this incident was described as, the brakes momentarily failing and attempting to accelerate but then would catch itself.the contact stated the failure occurred over 15-20 times within a year and a half. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor were there any recalls for his vehicle. the failure and current mileages were under 10,000.
04/16/200927000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. whenever the contact drives the vehicle during wet conditions and applies the brakes the rear tires will lock and then release without warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact had the rear brake drums cleaned. the failure is still occuring. the contact has noticed the failure since the day the vehicle was purchased. the current mileage is 46000, failure mileage was 27000. updated 03/10/10 *bf
01/22/2010426801
 On a few occasions when applying my brake a low speeds it does not apply the brake it seems to lock up the brake but not stop the vehicle. i will release the brake and reapply the brake until i get the desired reaction. *tr
01/15/200980001
 Brakes totally failed on 2008 prius, causing it to crash into car ahead, which in turn was pushed into the car ahead of it. wife driving, granddaughter in back seat. reported to toyota, which investigated and claimed no problem with the brakes. $16000 repair tab. same syndrome (no brakes) in same car encountered by husband last month (jan 2010). accident avoided due to car ahead pulling out. car taken to toyota dealer who kept it a week, reported no trouble found. *tr
08/23/2008220004
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving 60 mph the front brakes locked on the vehicle. on one occasion the failure almost caused a crash with a heavy truck. after inspecting the vehicle four times, the engineers admitted there was an actual brake problem with the vehicle. however they could not identify the cause of the failure. the current mileage was 94,400. the failure mileage was 22,000. updated 1/4/10 *cn the brake pads were replaced and the front rotors were machined. updated 01/06/10.*jb
08/15/2009227001
 On my 2008 toyota prius, the brake actuator and brake regulator failed first in november 2008-- car was less than 6 months old. in about august 2009, chirping front end noise returned somewhat intermittently-- noise has gotten to the point that it happens repeatedly every time the car is driven. took car to toyota dealership to be diagnosed yesterday (10/17/09) and they have determined that it is the brake actuator that has failed again-- twice in less than 1-1/2 years of owning the brand new car. vehicle mileage as of today is 22,900. they have not fully diagnosed the car and will not look to see if the regulator has also failed again until they replace the actuator. meanwhile, they've put me back out on the road in this car for a few days until they get the part in. these are multiple failures of components of the anti-lock braking system early in the life of the car. they do not seem concerned about trying to diagnose the true root cause-- what may be causing these parts to fail. the dealer has asked multiple times if this vehicle has been in an accident-- no, it has not. evidently brake actuator failures is a known problem on the 2004-2007 prius (toyota issued a technical service bulletin-- not proactive, but if a customer complains... here's what to do to fix it). it seems that no such bulletin has been issued for 2008 model. i'm very concerned that it is not safe to drive this car with two different parts (and maybe others?) of the abs having failed repeated times. i'm also very concerned about toyota's cavalier attitude about it. *tr
09/29/20097800
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while parking the vehicle, the brakes failed. as a consequence, he crashed into a fence. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. since september 29, 2009 the dealer has had possession of the vehicle, but they haven't identified the cause of the failure. he filed case #0910101726 with the manufacturer. the vehicle identification number was unavailable. the failure mileage 7,800.
09/18/2009212511
 2008 prius hybrid. brakes failed at low speed on september 19, resulting in a collision with an on-coming car. i was pulling out of a parking lot very slowly when i observed a car making a right turn into the street i was attempting to enter. i immediately applied the brake, with absolutely no response. no one was injured because it was a very slow speed impact. i have consequently read of other drivers' exact same experiences. toyota has modified their braking system for the 2010 model. from what i can read, the problem lies in the computer system which has trouble deciding which system to use, resulting in a delay which causes a collision. *tr
07/29/20081001
 Every time we step on and off the brake there is a grinding noise. i have visited 2 dealerships to help identify the problem at least 7 toyota people have verified the noise but are unable to determine the cause. the local rep originally said i hear it, don't know what it is and therefore cannot fix it. after i contacted their corporate hqs in ca he now says it is a normal noise.without explaining cause. this is a 2008 prius vehicle. friends who have 2005,2007 and 2009 prius' do not have this noise. it is a life threatening problem until the cause is determined. since it involves the brakes. i have a detailed list of all the actions i have taken, which individuals verified the noise and the individuals i have spoken to concerning this problem. is it a faulty electric motor or controller between gas and electric motor? this vehicle uses the electric motor as part of the braking system. did the vehicle design put a noise in 2008 and take it out in 2009? please help me have toyota examine the vehicle and determine the cause of the noise and fix it. please help before someone gets hurt. *tr fred zivitofsky
05/18/2009100001
 No brakes, 2008 toyota prius with only 10,000 miles. failed sensor. *tr
09/10/20082200
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that the brakes on her vehicle were highly sensitive. when she barely depressed the brake pedal, the vehicle would come to a complete stop. there were four warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. once the indicators illuminated, the contact depressed the brake pedal and discovered it was soft. the pedal then extended to the floorboard. the vehicle was taken to the dealer six times for replacements, but the failures could not be duplicated. the brake actuator was replaced, but this did not correct the failure. while driving less than 15 mph, the vehicle came to a sudden stop without the contact touching the brake pedal. she then turned on the emergency lights and depressed the accelerator pedal until the vehicle responded. the failure mileage was 2,200 and current mileage was 8,800.
02/03/20093382108/15/2008
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving in stop and go traffic at 15 mph, the vehicle would not slow down when the brake pedal was depressed. the contact crashed into the preceding vehicle. there were no injuries, but a police report was filed. through online research, he discovered that there is an ongoing issue with the prius' electric brakes. the dealer stated that water may have entered into the electric brake system and caused the malfunction. the current and failure mileages were 3382 updated 4/14/09 *cn updated 04/17/09.*jb
07/19/20081
 While coming to a stop at a red light, another car changed lanes in front of us. my husband pressed on the brakes harder to stop faster, the car did not continue to stop and instead continue to accelerate into the car that had changed into our lane causing us to rear end the car in front of us. since then we have had the car serviced and they say the brakes are fine. the car still will not slow any faster if the brakes are pressed harder and often the abs will engaged as we come to a stop causing the car to jerk to a stop. *tr
09/26/20083500
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle failed to stop when the brake pedal was depressed. the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle. no passengers were injured. a police report was filed. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and the mechanic stated that the brakes were not defective. the manufacturer has not been notified. the current and failure mileages were 3,500.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK
02/01/20111
 2008 toyota prius. consumer states two problems with vehicle, the abs release momentarily causes a brief surge forward any time there is a small bump in the road when braking and consumer also states he nearly rear ended another vehicle at a stop light when he almost couldn't stop, even by putting his entire weight on the vehicle. *tgw the consumer also believed the pedals were designed too close together. *jb
01/01/19011
 2008 toyota prius. consumer states brake problems with the vehicle. *tgw on several occasions, prior to public notice and the recently announced recall, the consumer noticed an unusual braking incident. the incidents happened while slowing down to make a turn. when she applied the brake, the engine raced for a split second and the vehicle surged for a moment. *jb
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
12/18/2008500
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. when driving approximately 15 mph over an icy or bumpy road surface and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle seemed to continue accelerating instead of decreasing in speed. the driver had to continue depressing the brake pedal in order to decrease the speed of the vehicle. she noticed the problem on at least 6 separate occasions. the dealer was contacted and stated that there was nothing they could do to correct the failure. there were no recalls on the vehicle. the manufacturer was not contacted and no repairs were made to the vehicle at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage was approximately 5,000 and the current was 500.
02/08/201065000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. whenever the contact applies the brakes while traveling over a rough surface the abs will activate causing the vehicle to surge forward. the vehicle had not been diagnosed by the dealership and there were no prior warnings. the current and failure mileages were 65000.
04/10/200925000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. she stated that three times she has experienced sudden acceleration. once while turning left on the highway at 55mph the vehicle suddenly accelerated. she also experienced brake failure when pulling up to a stop sign, or red light, or driving over a bump the brake did not respond immediately. she took the vehicle to the dealer. the dealer stated the vehicle is not included in the recall and there was nothing they could do, but they would report the failure to the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 25,000 and the current mileage 33,765.
05/05/20082000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that during inclement weather the brakes locked. the contact states while driving 5 miles per hour the contact applied the brakes and went through the intersection while applying the brakes. the contact states that the vehicle was having problems when it was purchased. the contact states that he has taken the vehicle in for inspection and was told nothing was wrong and since the issues could not be duplicated they were not willing to fix the problem. the contact states he spoke with toyota and was advised that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. the contact states that while going over a pothole or a railroad track the brakes would not engage and the anti skid light on the dashboard comes on. the contact states that the brakes interlock three to four seconds later. the failure miles were 2000 miles. the current miles were 24500. the vin was not available.
12/06/200914000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving approximately 6 mph on an icy road surface; proceeding to make a right turn with pressure applied to brake pedal, there was a three second delay power response. the driver exerted excessive force to the brake pedal and suddenly, the vehicle slowed down. the vehicle was able to resume normal operation. the failure occurred whenever making a right turn on any type of road surface conditions. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the technician refused to inspect the vehicle. the vehicle has not been repaired at this time. the failure mileage was 14,000. the vin was unavailable.
10/22/2007100
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that while driving 25 mph and applying the brakes they failed to respond unless she applied pressure. this failure occurred approximately 20 times since she purchased the vehicle. the brakes also malfunctioned whenever she drove over railroad tracks. the dealer stated that she must be doing something wrong to cause the brakes to malfunction. no repairs have been made. the failure mileage was 100. the current mileage was 13000.
02/08/200810
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. the contact stated that when driving over a rough or bumpy surface and trying to depress the brake pedal, the pedal would depress further than normal and the brakes failed for a few seconds before the abs activated. the issue was ongoing and occurred whenever he drove over a particular rough surface in his neighborhood. he also attempted to brake before he drove over the rough surface and coast to avoid the failure. he has not seen or spoken to the dealer or manufacturer to-date. the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. the current mileage was approximately 40,000. the failure mileage was approximately 10.
04/20/20081001
 I have a 2008 prius that has the same problem as that reported with the 2010. every time i brake on a rippled or bumpy surface, there is a repeated momentary loss of braking. on a certain downhill stretch of road near me, it happened every time i drove it, until it was resurfaced. another problem is that if the vehicle is on an inclined surface of crushed rock, there is a complete loss of power. the dealer describes this as an overly sensitive traction control system that cannot be adjusted. this is also hazardous because on slick surfaces, each momentary loss of traction results in an overly-compensated period of seriously reduced acceleration; we have been sitting ducks in intersections, unable to quickly accelerate out of the way if conditions are slick, not because of the surface itself, but because of the way the vehicle mis-handles the situation. *jb
11/19/2009495001
 I own and operate a logistics company in southern maine. part of our fleet is three 2008 toyota prius'. in reading the description of your 2010 prius brake failure investigation, i can say for absolute sure that this same problem exists in the 2008 model year. in all three of our prius', on several occasions, i have experienced this problem. we aren't known for having the most wonderful roads in the northeast and we also have many railroad tracks. the problem as i see it is that when you hit a large pothole/ railroad track there seems to be a 0.5 - 2 second lag time before the brakes actually respond. we have many different employees drive our cars and in asking them they all, at least on one occasions, have experienced this problem. please look into years beyond just the 2010. i can assure you that if you sent out a survey there would be a large percentage of people who have had this problem. we drive these cars for a living and we rely on you to make sure that what we drive is safe for us and our employees. *jb
07/15/2008850106/01/2008
 The nhtsa should widen their formal investigation of the momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump in toyota prius hybrids, beyond model year 2010, to at least the 2008 and 2009 models. i have a 2008 toyota prius hybrid and i've been having the same problem since i bought mine in june of 2008. please widen your investigation to at least the 2008 & 2009 prius models as well, if not even further back than that... thank you. *jb
05/31/2008201
 2008 prius brake problem. the same problem described with the 2010 prius, is exactly the same issue i am having with my 2008 prius. please consider extending the evaluation of the prius back to earlier years of the problem. *jb
01/02/200820000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving 10 mph the brakes failed whenever the vehicle was driven over a bump or pothole in the road. the vehicle lost traction and continued to accelerate uncontrollably. the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle is designed with the braking feature that caused the failure. the contact is concerned about the risk of a crash occurring. the failure mileage was 20,000.
11/26/200818300
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. whenever the brake pedal was engaged while driving at speeds of 20 mph or more over ice or a speed bump, the brakes failed. when the failure occurred, the traction control would activate causing the vehicle to slide momentarily. the manufacturer was contacted via email; however she has not received a response. no repairs were made to date. the failure mileage was under 1,000 and the current was 18,300.
06/06/20072
 Tl*the contact owns a 2008 toyota prius. while driving 35 mph it became difficult to engage the brake pedal and the vehicle felt as if it were gliding. the failure has occurred since the vehicle was purchased and only occurred whenever she drove over a pothole. the contact has not taken the vehicle to a dealer. the failure mileage was 2.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - PEDALS AND LINKAGES
02/01/20111
 2008 toyota prius. consumer states two problems with vehicle, the abs release momentarily causes a brief surge forward any time there is a small bump in the road when braking and consumer also states he nearly rear ended another vehicle at a stop light when he almost couldn't stop, even by putting his entire weight on the vehicle. *tgw the consumer also believed the pedals were designed too close together. *jb

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