Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK | |||||
| TSB-0174-12 | 09/17/2012 | 10048160 | Toyota: 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. *pe | 12/12/2012 | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK - ABS WARNING LIGHT | |||||
| TSB-0174-12 | 09/17/2012 | 10048160 | Toyota: 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. *pe | 12/12/2012 | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | |||||
| TSB-0174-12 | 09/17/2012 | 10048160 | Toyota: 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. *pe | 12/12/2012 | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK | |||||
| TSB-0174-12 | 09/17/2012 | 10048160 | Toyota: 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. *pe | 12/12/2012 | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - ABS WARNING LIGHT | |||||
| TSB-0174-12 | 09/17/2012 | 10048160 | Toyota: 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. *pe | 12/12/2012 | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | |||||
| TSB-0174-12 | 09/17/2012 | 10048160 | Toyota: 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. *pe | 12/12/2012 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | |||
| 02/15/2013 | 66500 | ||
| I purchased my 2009 prius 3 years 4 months ago. i noticed a strange new sound coming from the engine. it was a rattling noise every 15 seconds or so lasting approximately 3-4 seconds then starting over 15 seconds later constantly repeating this cycle. it continued when the car was off or on. i brought it in to my toyota dealership. they called me the next day with very unsettling news saying it was the brake accumlator as it was losing brake pressure and the noise was it trying to build the brake pressure back up but it wasn't holding. he said it would cost $2,700 to repair. my service representative said this is a part that should not fail and has never been replaced before at this dealership. it was a first for them. i was very upset as this shouldn't be happening in a 3.5 year old car with only 66,500 miles on it that has been impeccably maintained. the more research i did, i saw this was occurring quite often in camry hybrids along with the prius's. this is a part that should not be failing at all especially in newer cars. if this part is not replaced it can lead to catastrophic break failure. this should be investigated and added to toyota prius's never ending recall list! this is the last toyota i will own. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC | |||
| 05/22/2010 | 9000 | ||
| Going over pot holes it feels like the brakes skip. it occurs almost every time i go over a hole of some sort and apply the brake. i asked toyota to double check that the abs brakes were working correctly. toyota says its normal and that the abs system works by momentarily interrupting the braking force to prevent a skit and the resulting loss of control. | |||
| 05/16/2010 | 6000 | ||
| 2009 pruis model1220 a 2 experiences where car seemed to surge when brakes applied in traffic. only lasted seconds but disconcerting. abs did engage initiallly (felt pulsing). took car to dealership 5/17 after first episode. nothing found wrong; tech could not duplicate problem. had second experience 5/21. | |||
| 05/18/2010 | 500 | ||
| I own and drive a 2009 toyota prius, and i have noticed a lapse in braking while braking on rough roads. this goes back to dec. 2009, shortly after i purchased the vehicle. on my current commute, i'm noticing this lapse in braking almost daily. | |||
| 05/17/2010 | |||
| Toyota 2009 prius loses breaks temporarily when going over bumps in the road . | |||
| 04/12/2010 | 6250 | ||
| On 4/05/2010 as i was driving west on galbraith road i was headed downhill to a red light and applying my break to slow down for the light. as i was slowing the road became extremely bumpy and my breaks all of a sudden felt like i was sliding or floating even though i had the pedal depressed. with my stomach in my throat i lifted my foot off the pedal and reapplied. it then began to slow again. i thought i was mistaken. on 4/12 at 9:30 am as i was leaving my house i was headed down the hill. i was breaking to maintain my speed. i hit some bumps in the road and all of a sudden it felt like car was not slowing although i had the brake depressed. with my stomach in my throat, i removed my foot and re depressed the brake and it was fine. i decided i needed to call toyota. however when i got to the bottom of my condo complex and was making the right turn out i had my foot on my break to control my turn, the same thing happened when i hit the bump out of here and i over corrected my turn with my heart in my throat and i hit a small retaining wall gashing the passenger side of my car and ripping open my rear tire. my car is currently on a toyota lot awaiting my insurance adjuster before toyota will repair or inspect the vehicle. | |||
| 02/01/2009 | 1 | ||
| I have a 2009 toyota prius and the brakes sporadically don't work/respond when i got uneven road, hit a pot hole, or corner. it doesn't last long. *tr | |||
| 02/24/2010 | 47453 | 1 | |
| I keep hearing about prius brake problems on 2010 models but my 2009 has the same problem. i read this in an article online and realized that my 2009 model has the braking problem as the 2010 model. article: going downhill and approaching a stop sign. my foot is steady on the brake and i am gradually coming to a stop. then, i inadvertently go over a bump in the road and the prius lunges forward. i had to immediately slam hard on the brakes in order to keep the car from going into the intersection. fortunately, there was no car or person in front of me as i was stopping. *tr | |||
| 11/25/2008 | 33000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. while driving 5 mph toward a stop sign and applying the brakes, the vehicle failed to stop. the traction control light illuminated as soon as she removed her foot from the brake pedal. when the light was not illuminated, the brakes functioned normally. the failure mileage was 50. the current mileage was 33,000. | |||
| 02/21/2010 | 21500 | 1 | |
| Braking issues with a 2009 toyota prius model. under rough road condition the brake system does not seem to engage immediately causing a overrun of the distance needed for the vehicle to stop. *tr | |||
| 11/11/2009 | 10000 | 1 | |
| The car in front of me slammed on the brakes and i followed suite. however, as had happened in many occasions before the brakes were delayed for a second or two and the light showing that the care is slipping came on. as usual it felt as if i was sliding on ice although there was none. i don't know if i could have stopped in time but the delay was definitely a factor. *tr | |||
| 02/08/2010 | 10000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2009 toyota prius. i was pulling into a parking spot in a shopping center when my car suddenly accelerated. i hit a small tree and the car beside me. the car is being towed to camelback toyota in phoenix az. the car seemed to accelerate even though i stepped on the brake. i did not step on the breake hard but the car just pulled ahead *cn | |||
| 01/12/2010 | 13500 | ||
| I own a 2009 prius, purchase dec 2008. i have experienced similar brake problems as 2010. when i hit a rough or bumpy road, the brakes get squishy & less effective. i note the anti-skid caution flashes, brakes do become slightly less effective. i am an engineer. i reported this to toyota 2/8/2010. | |||
| 05/30/2009 | 1000 | 1 | |
| I have the brake problem being reported for the prius, but mine is a 2009 model. when braking on rough surfaces, the brakes quit for a moment. since i don't tailgate, i've never felt in danger. but it is a slightly out of control feeling. i've filled in the date below as may 2009, when i purchased (leased) the car. but the situation has been continuous. *tw | |||
| 06/01/2009 | 5000 | 1 | |
| Brake failure when going over rough pavement or pothole in both 2005 and 2009 toyota prius. we have owned two prius, a 2005 and now a 2009, and both have exhibited the braking anomoly that is being described in the press as only occuring with the 2010 prius. i experience this failure frequently. the failure occurs only briefly -about one or two seconds and we have never had an accident because of this. however, it is disconcerting and if this is a malfunction, it should be taken care of for all prius, not just 2010. *cn | |||
| 02/04/2010 | 26000 | 1 | |
| 1. brakes fail to work properly 2. occurs at least once or twice weekly; consequences -- emotional duress and concern; no accidents yet, thank god. 3. nothing has been done to correct this yet. i went to my toyota dealer, toyota cavender in san antonio, tx 48 hrs ago to get usual oil change and to get the brakes checked for this problem. i was told by the service dept. that they were closing in an hour and the toyota prius technician was not there. i had to call for an appointment with him -- even though my brakes had nearly failed to stop when i pulled into the dealership service area. *cn | |||
| 10/30/2008 | 100 | 1 | |
| Every day i encounter a large pot hole on my way to work. it is about 20 feet from a stop sign, so at this point i am already driving slow and braking. however, when the one wheel dips into the hole, the yellow traction system light comes on, and i feel what could be a slight loss in braking, as if the car is coasting for a split second (versus braking/slowing) or perhaps accelerating forward. the car/system recovers as soon as all wheels pass the pothole. not having had a traction control system prior to this car, i didn't know what was normal so i didn't pursue it, but i know i don't like how it feels! this has been happening every time i drive over that pothole since i bought the car. luckily they just paved the hole last month finally. otherwise i try to avoid rough roads as a matter of course. perhaps a related problem is when trying to go up an icy/slushy slope and the traction control shuts off the wheels to keep them from slipping/spinning. since i live on a hill, this makes winter especially stressful and makes me fearful of driving to from work and encountering even a slight incline that is not plowed or salted --what if the car stopped and i got hit? toyota says this is normal to keep the electric engine from being over stressed or some such thing. *tr | |||
| 02/03/2010 | 22000 | 1 | |
| I was driving home from work in my 2009 prius. when coming to a traffic light (icy conditions) i took my foot off of the accelerator, started to coast and then began to brake. i had total brake failure. the car kept going and i heard a thumping like the anti-lock brakes were trying to engage. i finally had to throw the car into neutral. *tr | |||
| 02/05/2010 | 20000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2009 toyota prius. the problem i describe has been happening since i first purchased the car, it is not a new problem. occasionally, when i step on the brake to slow down when approaching a stop sign, stopped car or red light, the car does not stop immediately it seems to be delayed in it's response and then i have to step down harder on the break to make it stop and then it becomes a hard stop. this happens usually at slow speeds. 20-55mph. i've notice this problem occurs many times during the week, today i already experienced it once and i am becoming afraid to drive this car. i never know when the problem will occur, there is no forewarning. i have been concerned for a long time and fear that it's just a matter of time before this breaking problem results in an accident. i took my car in yesterday to my local toyota dealer and they said everything checked out fine and they could not find/recreate the problem. i have mentioned it to them in the past and they told me it was just a different feel because of the brake vacuum design. *tr | |||
| 11/28/2009 | 17000 | 1 | |
| 2009 prius displays erratic braking behavior when brakes are applied on irregular surfaces...rr tracks, gravel etc. *tr | |||
| 01/20/2010 | 10000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2009 prius, purchased in march 2009. several times my brakes have stopped working on rough surfaces and the surged forward. each time i was attempting to stop for a traffic light. i would brake, the brakes would work, and then i would hit a rough patch in the road, the brakes would stop working, and the car would surge forward. the most recent incident was in january of this year. each time i was able to stop the car by letting up on the brakes and then braking again. luckily i have never had a car in front of me when this happened. one time though i almost went into the intersection before being able to stop. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2009 | 1 | ||
| Applying light to moderate pressure on the braking pedal of my 2009 prius while simultaneously going over a pothole at low to moderate speed (such as in traffic) causes the braking system to release and the car will fail to stop. removing pressure from the pedal and reapplying pressure to the brake pedal usually regains braking function but causes a few seconds of lost braking. this is easily repeatable and frequently occurs in the same spots on a daily commute for the past year i have owned this car. on two occasions soon after purchasing the car in october 2008 i was still unfamiliar with this braking quirk and rear ended two separate cars on different occasions. there was minor damage to both bumpers of the vehicles. both occasions were in heavy traffic traveling under 10 miles per hour, attempting to brake with unwittingly hitting a pothole at the same moment.*tr | |||
| 01/01/2010 | 1 | ||
| My 2009 prius consistently experiences locking brakes when small bumps are hit. i can recreate this issue consistently on specific roads. *tr | |||
| 02/03/2010 | 9100 | 1 | |
| I own a 2009 prius and anytime that i apply the brakes and hit a pothole or any raised object on the roadway the vehicle skids or accelerates forward. the prius was purchased in february of 2009. this failure occurs everytime i hit a pothole, manhole cover or any raised object in the road while braking. when the failure occurs the yellow skid warning light in the dashboard illuminates. i have no control over the automobile while this failure is occurring. *tr | |||
| 11/22/2009 | 1 | ||
| I bought a 2009 toyota prius in march 2009. on several occasions, while braking over rough roadways, the brakes have seemed to skip (and the abs dashboard light comes on). my wife has also experienced the same issue several times. while we initially thought it was due to the road conditions, after the announcements regarding the brake issue with the 2010 model, i had to report that this issue is also present in my 2009 model. *tr | |||
| 02/03/2010 | 20000 | 1 | |
| The brakes on my 2009 prius are dangerous. when i go over a bump or rough part in the road, i can feel the pedal roll under my foot and it feels like i momentarily lose control of the brakes. *tr | |||
| 01/03/2010 | 12500 | 1 | |
| My 2009 prius, which i leased in november of 2008, has had brake problems since the day i drove it home. occasionally the brake will catch (when applied), then release, then catch again. i've reported it to toyota 3 times and told each time by the service dept that they can't find anything. it happened as recently as 3 weeks ago, while traveling 70 mph on a highway in arizona in 22 degree weather. it was a little scary to say the least. i can't get toyota to respond to my inquiry - and haven't driven the car since. *tr | |||
| 01/25/2010 | 5000 | ||
| I purchased a 2009 toyota prius from my local dealer and have had the brakes do the same skipping as the 2010 model. when brought to the local dealers attention they stated that is the way the brakes work in anti lock mode. this has happened several times to her and just recently to me at night. so far there has been no accidents but i am concerned that it is only a matter of time. thank you. *tr | |||
| 03/01/2009 | 20 | 1 | |
| I drive a leased 2009 prius. this is my family's first hybrid vehicle. enroute home after work each weekday (a drive totalling 5 miles), i drive down a typical los angeles main street, that has numerous potholes. if braking when riding over the potholes, the car surges forward for a second, and seems uncontrollable. because it has done this since our lease of the prius (we got it last march, new), i attributed it to my needing to get used to the difference between a hybrid and the 2008 camry we own, and try to refrain from braking over potholes when possible. now that i know this is a defect, i am concerned about continuing to drive either car with my 3 year old in it..... please expand the research on toyota's braking system for prius beyond 2010 models. *tr | |||
| 01/28/2010 | 6600 | 1 | |
| 2009 toyota prius hit pothole and car lurches forward. brake light comes on for a second. *tr | |||
| 12/25/2009 | 3000 | 5 | |
| I purchased a 2009 toyota prius from dunning toyota in ann arbor, michigan in october 2008. unfortunately i, as well, have absolutely experienced sudden brake loss when hitting my brakes hard and suddenly. it feels like you are sliding on ice and the vehicle is locked - you have no control. as others have stated recently, this suddenly locked brake loss occurs for approximately a second to second and a half. this has occurred to me 4 or 5 times in the past year. i didn't think too much about it until the news reports, and my wife indicated that it too has occurred to her 3 times in the past year. i noticed that when it does occur that if i take my foot off the brake and then slowly depress down i regain my brakes again. although the service has been good through the dealership, i had to be honest in filing this complaint for myself and the publics safety. *tr | |||
| 02/04/2010 | 21000 | 1 | |
| Braking over uneven road surface such as manholes, railroad crossings and broken pavement, the car's rate of deceleration is briefly halted (giving a sensation of acceleration). *tr | |||
| 06/09/2009 | 1 | ||
| On the morning of june 9, 2009 i was traveling south on i-93 near the town of medford, ma. i was on my way to logan airport to return the 2009 toyota prius i had rented that previous wednesday. it was approximately 9:30 am; the freeway was still bumper-to-bumper with rush hour traffic. i was in the left-hand lane of the highway and traffic was stop and go. a gap opened up in traffic and i accelerated. the car in front of me (approximately 60 | |||
| 02/27/2009 | 2100 | 1 | |
| On my 2009 toyota prius, i consistently experience braking difficulties on rough or uneven surfaces. if i am pressing on the brake and pass thru a hole or hump in the road, the car flashes the stability control warning lights and i have no brakes what-so-ever for what feels like a few seconds. if i release the brake and press down again, i then have brake control back. i reported this to my dealership several times in the past year and continue to receive the same response 'that is the way the brakes are on the prius.' *tr | |||
| 02/01/2010 | 10000 | 1 | |
| I noticed on my toyota prius 2009 takes about a second or two to actually brake. i noticed that even when i start braking slightly the car does slow down but i have to press harder (more than half way in) for the car to respond on braking. *tr | |||
| 02/04/2010 | 1 | ||
| I own a 2009 toyota prius and notice a delay in braking specially over bumpy roads or ice, also at higher speeds. when you apply the brake the vsc light comes on in the dashboard and the car travels freely for a couple of meters sometimes even accelerating a bit before the brakes actually engage. this is observed very often. *tr | |||
| 12/15/2009 | 13000 | 5 | |
| Prius braking failure. i have experienced several instances (four or five) of a braking failure on my 2009, second generation toyota prius. it has occurred during relatively slow speed braking, such as approaching a stop sign, coincident with hitting a severe bump, such as a pot hole or crossing rough railroad tracks. there appears to be a surge where the brakes are ineffective for a short period of time---less than a second. i describe it as a surge but it may well be just a total release of the brakes. it seems to be most severe the greater the bump. i have only experienced this at speeds less than 30 mph or so. there has been no loss of control of the vehicle. normal braking returns immediately. i have owned the vehicle since november, 2008. this problem was reported to my dealer who suggested that it was normal anti-lock braking action and expressed little interest in trying to determine the cause. i've been driving for over 50 years and at least 10 years with anti-lock brakes and have never felt this type of action from any other vehicle. *tr | |||
| 10/13/2009 | 29000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2009 toyota prius hybrid . occasionally when i step on the brake the car does not stop immediately even at slow speeds when braking. i now hit the brakes about 10 feet before a stop sign or light, so i wont go into the oncoming lane. i have not taken it in to get looked at yet. *tr | |||
| 06/18/2009 | 3222 | 1 | |
| Waiting for my husband at his mother's assisted living residence, i put my 2009 prius in park mode. deciding to return to the bldg entrance, i put the car in reverse (out of parking mode) and let it go at its own speed. my foot never touched the accelerator. i was about to turn the wheel to reenter the entrance area, when the car started to accelerate. i quickly put my foot on the brake but the brakes didn | |||
| 01/01/2010 | 1 | ||
| My company provides for me a 2009 toyota prius and it has been my primary vehicle for the past 36,000 miles. i've noticed braking issues ever since i got it brand new at the dealership. the brakes normally work exceptionally well. this car stops extremely well under normal conditions. however, if while braking, i hit any type of bump or hole or any rumble strips or anything like that, the car feels like the brakes just go away. sometimes it even feels like the car begins to accelerate for a brief moment! again, this only happens if i hit a pothole, bump, etc. it happens enough that i've thought of setting up an experiment of running over a whole row of rumble strips just to see if the car would stop at all. it's almost like the car won't begin to stop until it's on smooth pavement again after the bumpy part. it's unfortunate because under normal conditions the prius has excellent stopping power, in my opinion. anyway, that's about it. i can't explain it much better than that. *tr | |||
| 02/02/2010 | 24000 | 1 | |
| 2009 prius brake failure in less than 1 snow covered road. car slid to stop with no brake control. pedestrian in road uninjured because they moved out of car path!! second time no brake control in snow. car had been recently inspected with no brake findings. will no longer drive car in snow until remedied. *tr | |||
| 12/03/2008 | 0 | 1 | |
| At all speeds below 15mph, the prius' electrical braking system pulses the brakes resulting in a deceleration that is not smooth. the effect is similar to that you might expect as the transmission downshifts. but...the transmission effect can be eliminated since the brake pulsing effect remains after the vehicle's transmission was placed in neutral and the brakes were applied. the local albuquerque prius dealership indicated this pulsing is normal for the prius. on slippery pavement, this effect could be deadly. the braking should be smooth throughout the braking cycle. it is not. disregard date - this is an ongoing problem. *tr | |||
| 02/03/2010 | 11000 | 1 | |
| I recently read the following article http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/03/autos/prius_complaints/index.htm and would like to report that this problem occurs in my 2009 prius. i have had it since 4/09 and it occurs consistently when i am exiting my workplace. i descend a fairly steep paved road and when i hit a specific bump in the pavement, my car accelerates for a split second. this is a regularly repeatable occurrence. *tr | |||
| 06/15/2009 | 16230 | 1 | |
| Hi there, i rented a new 2009 toyota prius. a couple of days ago as i was driving in one of the inside streets in a neighborhood, i got into an accident even though i was driving with a low speed of 15-20 mph i rear ended a car that slammed on their brakes all of a sudden. i slammed hard on my brakes and it skidded a little and hit the van rear end bumper ahead of me. the accident did a quite a bit of damage to my rental prius. the front bumper of the car is completely destroyed and will need to be replaced. i took the car back to hertz and they swapped the car; i told hertz to check the brakes thoroughly; because there is a definitely a problem with the brakes at low speed. please help. even though my insurance company will take care of the damage; i am concerned about the safety of the other people in the same situation of low speed and brakes do not work. *tr | |||
| 05/14/2009 | 3400 | 1 | |
| My 2009 toyota prius was less than 4 months old. as i was parking in front of my apartment, i could feel the car still accelerating while i had already moved my foot to the brake. braking as hard as i can i realized my car wasn't responding at all. the car climbed on to the curb into the grass, hit a light pole, tilted to its right side (i was parking to my right) and fell down on its side. i tried to turn the car off, but wont turn off. the wheels were still accelerating as i was trying to get out of the seat belt, called out for help and got out through the driver side window. i called 911. police helped me turn off the vehicle; until that time, the car was still accelerating on its own. this seems to be a common issue with the toyota prius 2nd generation. this happens when the car is at very low speed (like in my case, while parking) or when its floored all the way. this should be thoroughly investigated. the car is with geico, my insurance company for further investigation. *tr | |||
| 03/27/2009 | 1 | ||
| Hi there, i have a new 2009 toyota prius. a couple of days ago as i was pulling into the parking spot at the garage my foot on the brake, the car started all of a sudden moving very smoothly without any resistance regardless of my attempts to stop it. it was hitting the wall in front of it a couple of times until i managed to power down the car. the front bumper of the car is completely destroyed and will need to be replaced. i took the car to a dealer to check brakes thoroughly. they did and told me that everything is fine with the brakes. personally i strongly believe that the brakes have mind of their own and i sincerely hope that they will not fail on me in traffic since i am a mother, i have a 1-year old boy. his safety is a top priority for me. right after my car was purchased it had to stay at a dealer for a week since there was some electrical problem, i believe with doors. both that fact and now the brake failure make me wonder if my car is a lemon. please help to sort this out. thank you! *tr | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||
| 04/10/2012 | 73000 | ||
| I was approximately 8 or 9 car lengths from a vehicle that slammed on her brakes before hitting the car in front of her, so i stood up on my brakes at about 30 -35 mph. the cars brakes did not grab for about a secound, then started to grab right before impacting the car in front of me. | |||
| 12/02/2011 | 67000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius hybrid. the contact stated that while attempting to brake, the traction warning light illuminated and the brake failed to respond with a reduction in engine power. the contact stated that the failure only lasted for a moment before returning to normal function. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 67,000. the current mileage was not available. kmj | |||
| 12/02/2011 | 67000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius hybrid. the contact stated while attempting to brake the traction light illuminated. the brake failed to respond and the vehicle lost power. the contact stated the failure only lasted for a moment. the vehicle returned to normal function. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 67,000. the current mileage was not available. li | |||
| 11/10/2011 | 57000 | ||
| One week after being at the dealership for its routine oil/vehicle check-up (55,000-60,000), my red brake light, the yellow warning sign and the abs lights come up on my dashboard. towed it back to dealership since the breaks didn't work. they found i needed to change my brake actuator and the solenoid that is stuck. according to what i've read, this should not happen period paragraph but if it does it would be on a much older vehicle with a lot more miles with a stop and go history. according to the customer service representative at the dealership this is a malfunction of the part. when i called toyota they gave me the go around about being out of warranty. i need help. also there is a reflective line of light that shines on the driver side of the window from my dashboard. | |||
| 01/11/2010 | 5000 | ||
| My 2009 toyota prius's brakes are faulty. the brakes do not respond properly, especially on slippery roads and on a decline. i took the car into the dealer in 10/2010 and they didn't find anything. i changed all 4 tires on the car in 2/2011 and still experienced the problem. i took the car into the dealer on 5/24/11 and again they did not find anything. they mentioned abs system and implied that i was experiencing the abs system kicking in. the problem is intermittent, and thus difficult to identify. but, i do notice the problem more frequently when it rains. | |||
| 09/24/2010 | 17500 | ||
| Braking ability decreases temporarily what appears to be a second or so while driving when applying brakes and going over a bump or small pothole. decreased braking ability while going over bumps/potholes appears to occur every time. the last time of occurrence it appeared that the car may have accelerated momentarily when initially braking and going over a very shallow small pothole. | |||
| 04/28/2010 | 11400 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. while driving at 35 mph approaching an intersection, the contact depressed the brake pedal but when the vehicle went over a bump in the road, it did not slow down. the contact had to apply more pressure to the brakes to slow the vehicle down. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. the failure occurred again after the contact picked up the vehicle from the dealership. the failure mileage was approximately 11,400. the current mileage was 11,634. | |||
| 05/16/2010 | 6000 | ||
| 2009 pruis model1220 a 2 experiences where car seemed to surge when brakes applied in traffic. only lasted seconds but disconcerting. abs did engage initiallly (felt pulsing). took car to dealership 5/17 after first episode. nothing found wrong; tech could not duplicate problem. had second experience 5/21. | |||
| 07/01/2009 | 13000 | ||
| 2009 prius, on three occasions i experiected a slight hesitation in the braking of this car. i emailed toyota about the problem on 2/15/2010, and bib not receive a answer until 5/10/2010. i made an appointment with the local dealership before i received their answer on 5/10. the local dealer said they did not find a problem or any brake error on the computer. why should it take so long to answer my email and i still have no solution to my braking troubles. | |||
| 04/30/2010 | 31500 | ||
| I depressed the brake pedal suddenly going about 35 mph to avoid a car stopped in front of me. the brake didn't catch immediately, delaying stopping time and forcing me to swerve off the road to avoid a colliisiion. the break problem has occurred before, approc. once a week. the dealer told me its due to the transition between battery and gas engine and there's no remedy. | |||
| 04/07/2010 | 9200 | ||
| I was moving toward a stop sign and slowing as usual. the road is level and it was dry. suddenly there seemed to be no braking and the next thing i knew i had been hit by a truck travelling at right angles from my left. i apparently went through the stop sign. i brought the car to a stop safely at the side of the road to check on the truck which had swerved into a fence. the driver of the truck was cut by glass. my car had the bumper and grill torn off and unibody bent. this was a brake failure. unlike some reports, the road was not rough. this was a low speed failure. another few feet and my driver's door would have been hit and i could have been seriously injured. | |||
| 02/18/2009 | 480 | 2 | 02/14/2009 |
| S10 appropriate handling re toyota brake problem fm owner of a 2009 toyota prius. *kb four days after purchasing the vehicle, the consumers wife was heading down a gentle incline toward a traffic light at an intersection shortly after a light snowfall, the street was wet, but there was no ice on the road. as she braked to slow down, she noticed there was no deceleration and continued to press down on the brake pedal to no avail. to avoid crashing into other cars, she veered sharply to the right into a curb and came to a stop. the vehicle sustained extensive damage to the wheel, axle and undercarriage. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and after the inspection, the consumer was informed there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. the dealer implied the consumers wife must have applied the brakes incorrectly and was not accustomed to abs. a few months later on another wet rainy day, there was a similar incident of brake failure. *jb | |||
| 04/07/2010 | 15000 | ||
| 2009 toyota prinu with 15000 miles. when i step on the brake (going less thank 30 mph) they slip for no reason. it was a nice sunny day, tmeps in the high 70s. i was in the process of making a right turn and the brakes slipped for a few seconds. the yellow light comes on on the dash board showing traction control comming on. this happend comming down a small hill to a intersection , it happens with out warning and for no reason, the brakwes were just checked and i was told they are ok from the local dealer. it seems to be happening more often. | |||
| 02/18/2009 | 480 | 2 | 02/14/2009 |
| Fax on behalf of re a safety concern related to their 2009 toyota prius; respond attn caroline/nyc office. *tgw four days after purchasing the vehicle, the consumers wife was heading down a gentle incline toward a traffic light at an intersection shortly after a light snowfall, the street was wet, but there was no ice on the road. as she braked to slow down, she noticed there was no deceleration and continued to press down on the brake pedal to no avail. to avoid crashing into other cars, she veered sharply to the right into a curb and came to a stop. the vehicle sustained extensive damage to the wheel, axle and undercarriage. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and after the inspection, the consumer was informed there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. the dealer implied the consumers wife must have applied the brakes incorrectly and was not accustomed to abs. a few months later on another wet rainy day, there was a similar incident of brake failure. *jb | |||
| 09/15/2009 | 5000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. while driving 2 mph in reverse, the contact shifted the vehicle into drive and noticed that the vehicle was still reversing. the vehicle was then shifted back into reverse and then back into drive before the vehicle would drive forward. the failure has occurred on three different occasions the vehicle had not been diagnosed by the dealer. he contact also stated that when pressing the start button the vehicle would not start. the brake light also illuminates on the instrument panel even though the brakes are not engaged. the failure mileage was 5000 and the current mileage was 10000. | |||
| 05/25/2009 | 1 | ||
| We rented a 2009 prius when we were in las vegas. we almost got into a collision in the parking lot of a casino when someone pulled out in front of me all of a sudden. i pressed on the brake pedal as hard as a could and the car did not want to stop. i t was if the pedal was pushing on air. it did not go down as expected and the car barely came to a stop. this happened well before all the recalls with gas pedals sticking and such. i think that the sudden application of the brake pedal might of locked up the cylinder. the effect was similar to trying to push on a shock absorber really fast. they lock up and don't move very much. i am no small person 6'-2 and 285 lbs. and i was stomping on it ! *tr | |||
| 03/09/2010 | 17000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2009 prius that is not a part of the braking/traction recall, however i've experienced the same exact problem from day one of driving the vehicle. on wet or uneven surface the traction control kicks in and car seems to lose power in the brake and accelerator for a few seconds and it is not possible to control the vehicle. in other words, you should be able to either brake and prevent a bad situation or accelerate your way out, and neither are possible for a few seconds. this happens nearly every day on the 2009 prius. looking at consumer blogs, it is obvious this has been a consistent problem with the prius, and not just the 2010 model. *tr | |||
| 03/09/2010 | 15000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2009 prius. the issue that i experience which is giving me concern is that when i'm pressing on the brake and i pass over a bump or rough terrain or something, all of a sudden, i feel the braking to stop and the car seemingly accelerate or lurch forward and the slippery road indicator signal (sorry i don't know what it's called) will pop up for a second. *tr | |||
| 03/08/2010 | 6300 | 1 | |
| I was driving my 2009 toyota prius, exiting the staten island expressway and as i approached the intersection the light began to turn yellow and i tried to stop (the road surface was uneven). when i put my foot on the brake the car lurched forward into the intersection so i had to go though the red light and i was lucky that the oncoming traffic hadn't begun to move yet. *tr | |||
| 03/03/2010 | 1000 | 1 | |
| 2009 toyota prius: when driving over pot-holes, bumps, or uneven patches of road at all different speeds, the car's traction light will flash and the car will momentarily surge forward. it seems at this time that the brakes also temporarily lose power. this happens several times a week. this worries me as i feel this could lead to car accidents or put pedestrians in danger. spoke with many other prius owners and they report the same problem. contacted the dealership where i bought the car and the service manager told me this was a normal function of the abs. i still feel this is a safety issue that is not being properly addressed. i've driven many other cars with abs and none of them behaved this erratically. *tr | |||
| 02/15/2009 | 250 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns 2010 toyota prius. while driving 25 mph in the rain or turning a corner the tire warning light illuminated and the brakes would not engage. she will take the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed. the failure mileage was 250. the current mileage was 900. | |||
| 11/21/2009 | 9719 | 1 | |
| Multiple issues with 2009 prius. first: loss of air pressure in front left tire from time i picked up the vehicle to present. i continually need to put air in the tire, usually on a weekly/bi-weekly basis. the other tires are fine. second: for the same tire, the tire pressure light would not be triggered until ~23 pounds, should have been triggered in same tire at 33 lbs. third: vehicle would not stop when applying pressure on brakes at slow speed. this has occurred about 6 times in a 6 month period. simultaneously, the vsc light went on and the slid indicator went on. the terrain was on either asphalt or concrete roads, slightly downhill (concrete) and one street is a bit rough (filled in pot holes). also, both areas are within a quarter mile of each other and near the ocean. with each occurrence the vsc went into effect. on 11/21/09 it jolted hard much more than the other occasions; this date was the incident on the bridge when the car was going in a slight downward direction. i lost control of the vehicle for several seconds and was afraid that i would hit the car in front of me; i beeped my horn to warn the driver in front of me. my vehicle did stop in time but it took alot longer than it should have taken. on a later occasion, i was going about 5-10 mph faster on a nearby street and attempted to stop for a stop sign and it did the same thing, however the vsc did not jolt back as hard. the vehicle was not angled down as much as the 11/21/09 incident. on 11/21/09 i took the vehicle to cabe toyota dealership and they looked at the car but found nothing wrong with it. i also had the car looked at by toyota corp today and was told that the driver feels that i felt the abs brakes only. this is not the case. when i stepped on the brakes each occasion it was as though there was nothing there and i had no control in stopping it. this was especially true when the vsc kicked in (the jerking). each time it lasted many, several or more seconds. *tr | |||
| 10/10/2009 | 28000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. the contact was driving approximately 25 mph on an uneven road. suddenly, when pressure was applied to the brake pedal there was a temporary delay of braking power. the vehicle was able to continue in normal operation. the failure occurred whenever encountering an uneven road surface. the vehicle has not been inspected for the malfunction. the failure mileage was 28,000. | |||
| 01/05/2010 | 22000 | 10 | |
| I have had more than 10 occasions of braking problems with my 2009 prius. most recently, in january 2010, but also prior to that. after the last problem, i called the local dealership to see if a brake recall existed but was told no only recall for floormats on my model. the issue has occurred on pavement and gravel road, in school zone, traveling at less than 20 mph. when slowly pulling up to stop sign and applying even break pressure the car will suddenly come to a jolting stop before the anticipated stop. all the kids in the car look at me like i'm crazy for making their heads suddenly hit the back of the seat. fortunately, no one has been driving closely behind me during these abrupt stops. i am very familiar with the feel of this vehicle, as this is my 3rd prius and i drive many miles. *tr | |||
| 11/09/2009 | 7050 | 1 | |
| Three events describe safety incidents concerning the brakes in my 2009 prius; 1) descending a ramp onto rock creek pkwy at calvert street, washington, dc, where road flattened out, car in front stopped abruptly on a dry surface. i responded quickly, applying the brake with hard, lasting pressure.the car slowed but not to match the pressure on the brakes i was applying--i had the pedal to the floor. the car coasted smoothly, seemingly slowly to a stop, terrifyingly about 1 inch from the stopped car. the brakes did not grip sufficiently but miraculously i avoided a crash. 2) at times when i go over a bump in my prius and hit the brakes, the car kicks and jumps to the right or to the left or a bit ahead. this is not an unusual occurrence and happens mostly on dry road surfaces 3) i was descening a very slight incline on a city street--reno road. the road was partially damp from a shower an hour or two before, but not puddle. i was going about 28 mph. the car ahead stopped abruptly because the traffic light at tilden turned yellow. i hit the brakes and the rear of the car bucked a bit and then slid into the left lane. luckily there was no one in that lane and i was able to regain my position in the lane in which i'd been traveling. 15 seconds earlier and i would have hit someone in the left lane. nb--on this form i am not sure i chose the right type of brakes. i have regular prius 2009 brakes in my car and i do not know if they are known as hydraulic brakes. *tr | |||
| 03/05/2009 | 7000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. while approaching an intersection the contact tried to apply the brakes and stop the vehicle. the contact stated that he was driving approximately 15 miles per hour when the brakes did not engage. the contact crashed into a vehicle in front of him. the vin was not available. the failure mileages were 7,000. the current mileages were 21,000. | |||
| 01/01/2010 | 100 | 1 | |
| 2009 prius (not 2010). when applying brakes on bumpy surface, brakes will momentarily stop working. occurs all the time. *tr | |||
| 02/13/2010 | 10000 | 1 | |
| 2009 toyota prius my 2009 exhibits similar braking issues to those being recalled on the 2010. at least weakly during slow braking over a bump, pothole, or damp surface, the slip indicator comes on and the car lurches forward for approximately one second. *tr | |||
| 02/18/2009 | 480 | 2 | |
| We bought a 2009 prius on 2/14/09. on 2/18/09 while driving 25mph on a local road during light snowfall, the brakes failed. to avoid hitting the car in front of her, my wife steered into the curb sustaining extensive damage to the wheel, axle, and undercarriage. the car was towed to our local toyota dealership. they found nothing wrong with the braking system and maintained the accident was her fault. a few months later we experienced another brake failure incident, this time without any accident as we were traveling at a slow speed and were able to decelerate by turning up an empty incline. again the dealership maintains there is no problem. since they can't find anything wrong with the brakes when they test them, they say there is nothing to fix. we speculate that there is a computer software problem, but toyota is not yet acknowledging that this is the case for the 2009 model. *tr updated 04/19/10 | |||
| 03/12/2009 | 100 | 1 | |
| I live on a dirt road 2 miles long with 1 mile uphill. i bought my new 2009 prius on march 10th 2009 and on march 12th could not drive out. going up the hill when ever the drive wheel slipped the traction control would brake the wheel until, with many brief braking, the prius came to a stop. i was unable to go forward and had to back down the hill till i could find a place to turn around. this created a very dangerous situation. i had the car towed out and toyota checked it and said all systems were working properly. i asked for an off switch and they said impossible. when i came home the same thing happened again and was towed out and again toyota refused to deal with it. i went to arbitration and presented my information along with articles i found on the consumer affairs website about this same problem affecting people all over the nation, some with bad results, especially on ice, stranding them, in intersections. toyota said this was not covered in the warranty so all my information and my case were totally disregarded. this is the same thing that has happened to others with the same problem. toyota refuses to acknowledge the problem or add an off switch. i also called the manufactures of all other hybrid or electric cars with traction control and they either have an off switch or offer one just for this reason. i was lucky that my road association spent $16,000 on the road shortly after this happened but as the road is deteriorating and there wont be enough money for several years i may be stuck again in the future. every other car can get up the road, even at its worst, including a 2003 prius without traction control. this happened again on another dirt road but i was able to get out thru the use of ropes and rocks and a shovel. is there anything you can do to help as i don't want to hire an attorney to follow through . thank you *tr | |||
| 02/13/2010 | 1 | ||
| Momentary brake failure when driving over potholes. also, brakes are grabby at very low speeds. both conditions have existed for several months. nothing has been done to correct the problems. *tr | |||
| 11/15/2008 | 12000 | 1 | |
| 2009 toyota prius, brakes do not hold on uneven pavement or icy roads. you lose contact with the road which is very dangerous. the first time i noticed the icy road problem was november 2008, and the uneven lane/washboard road problem was in the summer of 2009. it was mentioned to the dealership but since they could not duplicate the problem no repairs were made. *tr | |||
| 08/15/2009 | 3000 | 1 | |
| While driving on a wet city road, the car in front of me stopped abruptly. when i applied my brakes, my car was over railroad tracks. initially the brakes didn't respond and my car didn't slow down. i didn't hear anti-lock or other brake noises. after a 2-3 second delay, the brakes began to work normally. had the brakes delayed much longer, i may have collided with car in front of me. i have about 6,000 miles on the car, and this is the only incident when the brakes didn't respond as expected. *tr | |||
| 02/09/2010 | 11850 | 1 | |
| On a daily basis, my 2009 toyota prius loses control, skids, (the traction light goes on), fishtails and has brake failures on ice and snow. when i hit potholes or big bumps, the car accelerates and i have to quickly brake. the northbrook toyota service manager drove it today. the car lost control, skidded, the traction light went on, it fishtailed, and the brakes failed on the ice and snow. his comment was that's the way the car is. it doesn't drive well on ice and snow. we couldn't find a good pothole for the car to demonstrate the acceleration today. i was told by an automechanic that works on our other cars that the 2009 and 2010 prius have problems with their brakes. presently there is no recall for the 2009 prius. i am afraid i am going to kill someone at an intersection when i can't stop. yesterday i had 2 catholic nuns in the car and the car failed to turn left at an intersection, almost fishtailing into an embankment before it righted itself. a lexus suv behind me almost hit me while trying to avoid me. i am hoping that no lives will be lost, or severe injuries occur, before these problems are acknowledged by toyota and fixed. *tr | |||
| 10/25/2009 | 15000 | 1 | |
| I bought my 2009 prius in april 2009. i have been having the same brake slipping problem that the 2010's are being recalled for. i have had my car to the dealership three times to have this problem addressed. each time it was no fault found and gosh these brakes are complicated and you would have an idiot light go off if there was a problem. i am feeling very unsafe with this vehicle and want to know when my software will be updated. *tr | |||
| 07/01/2009 | 1 | ||
| When driving my 2009 prius in either wet or snowy conditions, i've noticed that the car skips/doesn't hold the braking when i apply my foot steadily to the brake pedal. i've noticed this in wet conditions from the time of purchase, in june 2009, and again more recently in snow. i've wound up not driving the prius when the roads are either wet or snowy now, but obviously have been caught in these conditions when rain or snow started while i was on the road. it is not a safe feeling to feel the car slipping. *tr | |||
| 01/15/2010 | 5400 | 1 | |
| Toyota 2009 prius brake problem 15 jan. 2010 i took my 2009 prius to lakeland toyota (my dealer), lakeland florida, usa 33880. the brakes had gone all the way to the floor. they have a maintenance record of the event. at the time they could not find any mechanical problems in the brake. i was driving on a rough road on a cold day just prior to the brake failure. please expand the prius recall to include the 2009 year. *tr | |||
| 05/21/2009 | 1000 | 1 | |
| Last may, i purchased a 2009 toyota prius. for some time now, i have been aware of braking issues that sound eerily similar to what is being described with the 2010 prius recalls. i have not reported anything until now because i was able to identify when the problem occurred, and adjust my driving accordingly. whenever i hit the brake pedal, while simultaneously going over rough, bumpy, or potholed areas of road...my slippery road conditions light flashes momentarily on my dashboard. additionally, it almost feels as though the car accelerates in that split second, but as long as i keep my foot on the brake pedal, i have always been able to stop the car. i make sure to keep adequate space between my car and the cards in front of me, but if i ever had to stop too quickly on road conditions such as i have described above i am certain that i would crash into the other car before my brakes actually took over. i am simply reporting this issue because i wonder if, despite toyota's claim that only the 2010 model is being affected, other year models of the prius are having issues as well. i am entering an approximate incident date below, however, i really can't pick just one. this has happened on a multitude of occasions since i purchased the car in may of 2009. *tr | |||
| 12/06/2009 | 1 | ||
| 2009 toyota prius while driving on uneven pavement or icy roads, when depressing the brake pedal the car slides and it feels as if you are losing control over the car. this happens on any uneven surface like speed bumps and or wash board roads, and during the winter months for icy roads. i have an appointment with toyota in colorado to fix since it is still under warranty but they say no recall has been initiated on the 2009 model. *tr | |||
| 12/12/2009 | 40000 | 1 | |
| When i go over a railroad track or large bumps the braking system of my prius stops operating for a moment. *tr | |||
| 01/20/2009 | 1 | ||
| I have a 2009 prius, and the brakes seem to disengage when going over a bump or pothole. i notice it everytime, in particular when exiting the freeway, if there are bumps on the off ramp. *tr | |||
| 01/03/2010 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2009 toyota prius vehicle slid into intersection, no collision occurred. approx 3 ft past stop point. during moderate to hard braking, if a wheel hits sand or a pothole, the traction control system engages, causing the brakes to release for approx .25 to .75 second. it is very unnerving (to say the least) to be out of control of my vehicle. it is also repeatable when accelerating on a short entrance ramp around a corner. this ramp is very uneven. the traction control engages and the car seems to steer straight, towards the outside of the curve. i spoke to the dealer about the issue, and was told that the vehicle is behaving normally, and there is no way for an operator to disable the traction control. i thought i would have to live with this, and assumed it was something about this vehicle... but now with the investigation on 2010 i am wondering if my report is similar and if the investigation should be expanded to include 2009. *tr | |||
| 09/15/2009 | 18000 | 1 | |
| I wish to report a breaking problem with my 1999 toyota prius. this occured in about sept. 2009. i have a 2009 toyota prius that had about 18,000 miles on it at the time of this failure. i had just pulled out of a gas station (for gas only) when i got a number of warning lights on the dash board. (about 4 as i recall) all the warnings were either tire of break related warnings. i immediately noticed a big problem with the breaks. only maximum foot presure would actuate the breaks and then they would grab very hard. fortunately, the local toyota dealer was just around the corner, so i carefully limpped the car in. no damage or accident was caused by this failure. toyota did fix the problem the next day and reported that the front breaks had stopped working and only the rear beaks were stopping the car. if i recall the fix correctly, they replaced some part called the break actuator since then, no problem has been noted *cn | |||
| 11/28/2009 | 125 | ||
| I am an owner of a 2009 prius. i have experienced from day one, an issue when braking over a bump or pothole in the road. the brakes do not grasp. a picture of a swirving car appears on the monitor of the car showing out of control vehicle. this appears to be the same problem as the 2010 recall. please recall all affected prius' which now include 2009. | |||
| 11/15/2009 | 18000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2009 prius and i have noticed numerous times when i am driving at a slow rate of speed and i hit a bump, i lose control of the car for a split second. it seems the brakes lose traction. when this happens, i notice a orange light on the dash lights up for a second. *cn | |||
| 11/28/2009 | 1 | ||
| I have a 2009 prius. i've been complaining to friends and family, since i got it about six months ago, about its instability when i go over small bumps and ruts in the road. the car seems to surge ahead, swerve a bit, and lose contact with the ground. the other major problem is the car's horrible traction on wet highways. if i'm traveling over 45 m.p.h., my car begins to hydroplane. the experience is unnerving. i've never driven a car that feels so unsafe and that makes me feel such a lack of confidence, and i've been driving for 35 years. plus, during the last snowstorm, when i put my prius in park on a slight incline on the road in front of my home, the car slid about 20 feet, in park. i had to put on the emergency brake to stop. it slides all over the road, in snow. i hate this car and wish i'd never bought it. i believe that its merits were misrepresented. despite the chosen date that you've required me to enter, unfortunately these problems are ongoing. *tr | |||
| 02/05/2009 | 17000 | 1 | |
| Toyota prius ii brake issues. i have a 2009 prius that exhibit similar braking problems as the recalled 2010 prius. when i'm coming to a stop and hit a bumpy patch, the brakes will release momentarily. the release is for a second resulting in the car traveling 3 feet before i have to apply additional pressure to the brakes. this could easily mean a fender bender if i'm a bit closer to the vehicle in front of me. it is especially an issue when stopping down hill which is not uncommon here in seattle. i bought my car (brand new) in spring of 2009. i've always noticed the problem but thought it was just the nature of the hybrid drive. my concern is that this may worsen with the age of the car. please advise. i would hate to see this issue disregarded. *tr | |||
| 01/08/2010 | 26000 | 1 | |
| Snow covered road, was braking for stop sign, went over manhole cover, abs (electronic stability control) kicked in, lost braking for about three feet. *tr | |||
| 12/16/2009 | 16000 | 1 | |
| 2009 toyota prius. strange behavior of antilock brakes/traction control system when hitting a single pothole or small patch of ice on otherwise clear road surface. vehicle significantly dampens brake response and does not recognize that the tires are now on a good contact surface and continues to be in tc mode for excessive time period. only way to assure you will stop within reasonable distance is to lift up on brake pedal and redepress (now out of tc mode car will stop quickly). this problem presents itself regularly when road conditions are right. the problem is the most noticeable at moderately low speeds i would estimate 5-25 mph but likely occurs at higher speeds which is less noticeable. it seems to be a factor of distance or the fact that the car does not realize the wheel is getting traction again. *tr | |||
| 02/05/2010 | 21000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2009 toyota prius and i have experienced the same issue as the reported 2010 brakes. when i drive over pot holes or street covers, my vehicle feels like it's out of control. what is the difference between the braking system in the 2010 with the 2009 models? *tr | |||
| 12/20/2009 | 19000 | 1 | |
| 2009 toyota prius - delayed braking has been experienced several times. seems to be related to hard braking. it only last about a second but is very unlike any other car i have driven. i had passed it off as just something weird but then i heard others describe it on the tv and i said that happened to me too! as a safety engineer in the aerospace industry, it does seem to be related to the delay from switching from regular braking to hydraulic braking...sometimes it seems to switch in a weird way. *jb | |||
| 01/28/2010 | 22000 | 1 | |
| I have read about the brake issues with the gen 3 2010 toyota prius. my gen 2 2009 prius has the exact same issues with brakes releasing after driving over a pothole. i can demonstrate this issue to anyone at will any day of the week. it is quite easy to reproduce. there is a pothole near my work that i drive over often and there is a traffic light shortly after the pothole. if the light changes and the car in front of me brakes for the light, i have come very close to crashing into the car in front of me several times. i have learned to leave an extra amount of space between me and the car in front to allow for this situation. but that only works for potholes that i know are there. a new or unknown pothole is still a danger. this really needs to be fixed as i said, i can demonstrate this issue at will to anyone who doesn't believe it. *jb | |||
| 02/04/2010 | 10000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2009 toyota prius and am experiencing the same problem with braking that the 2010 prius' are having. when braking on an uneven or bumpy surface, it seems like there is a momentary pause or hesitation. *jb | |||
| 03/05/2009 | 1800 | 1 | |
| My 2009 pruis had a braking problem i took it back to dealer i told them i thought it was a software problem and it caused my car to spin out on a wet road it is fixed now and has not done it again. *jb | |||
| 12/18/2009 | 1 | ||
| The problem is that our 2009 prius at times seems to accelerate momentarily when the brakes are applied. my wife and i drove this car for eleven months and didn't realize we had a problem until i had to drive the car during the start of the snow storm with 2 of snow. i was going down a hill that i have driven on in different cars a number of times in the snow. with the prius, everytime i applied brakes to keep the car at slow speed , it seemed to accelerate a bit before the brakes would work, thereby causing the rear of the car to slide sideways. the loss of control was of great concern to me (i had my wife and granddaughter in the car). so i inched down the hill. a considerable number of cars backed up behind our car. since then i have noticed the momentary acceleration before breaking on a number of occasions in dry weather as well.. today, i took the car into newark toyota world in delaware and explained the problem to them, including the service manager. they drove the car and said they ran the diagnostics but couldn't find the problem. i am sorry but, to me, that's not satisfactory because neither my wife nor i trust this car in inclement weather. someone should look into this problem before something serious happens. *jb | |||
| 01/22/2010 | 12000 | 1 | |
| When braking on rough road, like when you hit a small pothole, our 2009 toyota prius handles improperly. the slip indicator light flashes. it briefly feels like there is a loss of control. *tr | |||
| 07/06/2009 | 26500 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. the contact stated that whenever the brake pedal was engaged while decreasing the speed driven, the vehicle lunged forward and accelerated. the dealer advised the contact that when the electrical engine switched to the gasoline engine it was normal for the vehicle to lunge forward. the contact stated that the malfunction occurs frequently when the brake pedal was engaged. the dealer has not diagnosed the failure. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 26,500. | |||
| 01/15/2010 | 13500 | 1 | |
| I own a 2009 prius, purchased april 2009. i have more than once, if braking in a section of bumpy road or on slick surfaces (such as in snow or ice), experienced the car jerking forward/accelerating for a split second. it almost seems to stutter as if the abs brakes are engaging, but doesn't feel like they are working. i thought it was my inexperience with the braking system and computer software in the prius, but i am realizing now that it could possibly be a potential safety issue for me. *tr | |||
| 12/14/2009 | 6300 | 1 | |
| The braking problem that has been reported in the 2010 prius is not limited to that model year. i have a 2009 (2nd generation) prius and i have at times experienced the same slight braking problem when going over a bump or a railroad track. *tr | |||
| 02/03/2010 | 15215 | 1 | |
| I am experiencing momentary loss of braking capability while driving over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump. this happens frequently in my car. sometimes even on a stop sign and making a right turn into a state high way it feels like jumping off with no control of the car. *tr | |||
| 12/31/2009 | 5000 | 1 | |
| 2009 toyota prius also suffers from temporary loss of braking after hitting potholes or other rough road surface. this problem has existed since the car was new. this is an ongoing problem. *tr | |||
| 12/15/2009 | 4000 | 1 | |
| Continual problem whenever we try to brake, the car will begin to accelerate. this problem has been apparent since we purchased the car and each time we mention it at the servicing, we are told the brakes are working fine. *tr | |||
| 08/10/2009 | 6000 | 1 | |
| In may 2009 i purchased a 2009 toyota prius my prius has had similar braking problems as those described as affecting the 2010 prius models. in august 2009 i brought my prius in to the toyota service department because i had experienced a significant lag in braking (more than 1 second) while slowing to a stop. since then i have experienced the same problem on several other occasions. unlike the first time i experienced the problem, the recent occurrences have happened when i was trying to brake and hit a small pothole and when braking and hit a lane divider. although the media reports do not indicate that this problem affects prius models other than the new 2010 models sold prior to january 2010 i would like toyota and the nhtsa to be aware of the fact that my 2009 prius is having similar problems. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2010 | 1 | ||
| Toyota prius - are you guys paying attention to this? *tr | |||
| 01/27/2010 | 9500 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. while the contact was driving 50 mph he attempted to stop the vehicle and noticed that the brakes were taking longer than usual to stop the vehicle. the contact also noticed that the vehicle lunged forward before coming to a complete stop. the vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer who stated that the failure could not be reproduced. there were no prior warnings. the current and failure mileages were 9500. | |||
| 01/10/2009 | 20000 | 1 | |
| My 2009 model toyota prius is having similar braking problems being reported on 2010 model prius. car loses braking power when driving over uneven surfaces. *tr | |||
| 02/15/2009 | 50 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. the contact stated that in slippery weather, when he depressed the brake pedal, he did not notice an immediate response in the braking system. it seemed to lag so he would continue pressing down until it kicked in. he noticed the issue everytime it was raining or there was slippery weather. he took the vehicle to the dealership but the dealer could find nothing wrong with the vehicle. he had not called the manufacturer to-date. the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. the current mileage was 11,248. the failure mileage was approximately 50. | |||
| 08/01/2009 | 20000 | 1 | |
| Any time the slippery condition light comes on (for instance, when going over a pothole or a patch of water on the road), my 2009 prius jumps forward. i told the dealership about this in the fall and was told that the car was working properly. now, it appears that there are others with 2010 priuses with the same problem, but mine is a 2009. i have a young daughter and i won't put her in this car anymore because it's winter now and it happens on slippery roads nearly every time i drive. *tr | |||
| 01/15/2010 | 25000 | 1 | |
| Acceleration of 2009 prius when braking and hit a pothole. *tr | |||
| 04/23/2009 | 100000 | 1 | |
| Brigham physician killed in car crash top internist was loved by patients, hospital's staff she was a mother, wife, doctor, and supervisor. globe staff / april 23, 2009 email| print| single page| yahoo! buzz| sharethistext size | |||
| 11/10/2009 | 5051 | 1 | |
| Driving car on los angeles freeway during a gentle rain. i was going slow and a car cut in front of me and when i went to brake, the car began to accelerate. took car to hamer toyota in mission hills and they tested the car and said the brakes were fine. today's headlines that i am not the only person that is experiencing this problem makes me all the more concerned. *tr | |||
| 10/17/2009 | 12000 | 4 | |
| I have a 2009 toyota prius, and the brakes do not always engage. there have been several instances where i felt that the car would not stop, one time i even engaged the emergency brake to stop it from going into my garage wall. i have had it into my dealer about 4 times, and each time they haven't found any problem and that it is just the way the car works .*tr | |||
| 08/15/2009 | 7000 | 1 | |
| While crossing a small bridge over an expressway, applying brakes at the point of bumpy transition caused the vehicle to lurch forward for approximately one second. this caused a sudden panic, but no other effects. this is the second occurrence at the exact same bridge transition and bump over the course of 8 months. there are no recognizable side effects. this has not been reported to the dealer, nor to the company. *tr | |||
| 12/11/2009 | 20200 | 1 | |
| On dec 11, 2009, i was driving down a street in cambridge, ma (i had a coworker in the car) and we were in stop and go traffic at a stop light. the car in front of me crawled up to approach the light after several cars had gone through-then stopped @ the red light. i proceeded to do the same. when i applied my brakes to stop there was no response, so i pressed down harder-still no response. i then began to pump my brakes to avoid the accident but there was still no response from the braking system. if the braking system had not failed i would have more than enough response time and distance to stop but my car kept @ a steady speed and ended up rear ending the car in front of me. no one was injured but there was minor damage to the car in front of me and $1800 damage to my car. i've had other instance where i've hit potholes in the past while slowing down- and the brake system would stop momentarily from working. i work in the boston area- where i'm constantly in stop and go traffic. i've experienced 2 previous times slight brake delay-which i've compensated for and give myself more room between my car and the car in front of me. in addition there was one instance 4months ago where i was coming to a stop- and i heard one of the motors (i'm assuming the electric b/c it charges as you stop) rev up and my car jilted forward- as if i had stepped on the gas but i had my foot on the brake the whole time. that was the only instance of that. i've had my car since april 2009 and when the two instances of brake delay occurred, i had the toyota service center check my brakes and they came back stating they were fine. after the accident i did report the failure to toyota and have yet to hear from them about it. i would like to note that there are several sites online with customers complaining about brake failing/delaying at speeds less than 20mph. *tr | |||
| 06/04/2009 | 430 | 1 | |
| I am writing to let you know of a problem i am experiencing with a 2009 toyota prius that i purchased new just one week ago and which still has less than 500 miles on it. a couple of days ago i was approaching a stop at an intersection, in town where my speed had been only about 15 mph. while my foot was on the brake, just prior to a full stop, the car accelerated on its own. i kept my foot on the brake, pressing hard, and the brake eventually overrode the accelerator and stopped. looking at the dash i saw that the abs brake light flashed on briefly. it was a sunny day, no rain, no slick surface. no one was in front of me, so no damage to me or anyone else. another incident happened this morning in my garage. i got into the prius, foot on the brake, pushed the power button, and then a moment later, still in park, i felt a surge. the car did not lunge forward, but i strongly felt the revving and surge of power, and the car lifted from the power. these incidents caused me to search the web for similar experience of others, and i have found many, some with severe consequences. i would also like to add that in hindsight i realize that two other things i have noticed about the brakes might be important to relate. i sometimes hear a slight grinding disk sound when i brake, and i have on a few occasions noticed that the brakes are skipping and the abs engaging, as if i were on a slippery or graveled surface. yet that was never the case; the road conditions were dry and tar was in good condition. i know this because i looked back each time to see what might have caused the brakes to act strangely. there was no apparent cause. in retrospect, after having experienced the acceleration at the stop sign, i realize that these other odd braking issues might be symptoms of the bigger braking issue. *tr | |||
| 03/22/2009 | 1200 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. while driving 5 mph into a parking space, the brakes did not work when the pedal was depressed. on two separate occasions, the vehicle struck a garage door and the contact rear-ended another vehicle due to the brake failure. there were no injuries. the dealer has not been notified. currently, the vehicle is in the repair shop for the body damage, not for the brakes. a police report was filed. the failure and current mileages were 1,200. | |||
| 02/18/2009 | 480 | 2 | 02/14/2009 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. while driving approximately 25 mph on a lightly snow covered road surface, the brakes did not respond when the pedal was depressed. the vehicle failed to slow down. there were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact crashed onto the curb in order to stop the vehicle. the driver was uninjured, but the vehicle sustained severe damage. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for inspection, but they could not determine the cause of the failure. the vehicle is in the process of being repaired. the failure and current mileages were 480. four days after purchasing the vehicle, the consumers was heading down a gentle incline toward a traffic light at an intersection shortly after a light snowfall, the street was wet, but there was no ice on the road. as she braked to slow down, she noticed there was no deceleration and continued to press down on the brake pedal to no avail. to avoid crashing into other cars, she veered sharply to the right into a curb and came to a stop. the vehicle sustained extensive damage to the wheel, axle and undercarriage. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and after the inspection, the consumer was informed there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. the dealer implied the she must have applied the brakes incorrectly and was not accustomed to abs. a few months later on another wet rainy day, there was a similar incident of brake failure. updated 04/15/10.*jb | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK | |||
| 02/01/2013 | 1 | ||
| 2009 toyota prius. consumer write regards to vehicle brake problems. consumer also sent revised toyota document. *smd the consumer stated the same braking problem existed for models before and after the 2010 models. however, only the 2010 models were recalled. | |||
| 02/18/2009 | 480 | 2 | 02/14/2009 |
| S10 appropriate handling re toyota brake problem fm owner of a 2009 toyota prius. *kb four days after purchasing the vehicle, the consumers wife was heading down a gentle incline toward a traffic light at an intersection shortly after a light snowfall, the street was wet, but there was no ice on the road. as she braked to slow down, she noticed there was no deceleration and continued to press down on the brake pedal to no avail. to avoid crashing into other cars, she veered sharply to the right into a curb and came to a stop. the vehicle sustained extensive damage to the wheel, axle and undercarriage. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and after the inspection, the consumer was informed there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. the dealer implied the consumers wife must have applied the brakes incorrectly and was not accustomed to abs. a few months later on another wet rainy day, there was a similar incident of brake failure. *jb | |||
| 02/18/2009 | 480 | 2 | 02/14/2009 |
| Fax on behalf of re a safety concern related to their 2009 toyota prius; respond attn caroline/nyc office. *tgw four days after purchasing the vehicle, the consumers wife was heading down a gentle incline toward a traffic light at an intersection shortly after a light snowfall, the street was wet, but there was no ice on the road. as she braked to slow down, she noticed there was no deceleration and continued to press down on the brake pedal to no avail. to avoid crashing into other cars, she veered sharply to the right into a curb and came to a stop. the vehicle sustained extensive damage to the wheel, axle and undercarriage. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and after the inspection, the consumer was informed there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. the dealer implied the consumers wife must have applied the brakes incorrectly and was not accustomed to abs. a few months later on another wet rainy day, there was a similar incident of brake failure. *jb | |||
| 02/08/2009 | 20000 | 1 | 11/08/2008 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. the contact was driving approximately 20 mph. whenever encountering a bump or pothole in the road the vehicle began to operate uncontrollably with an illumination of the warning light indicator. also, the failure occurred while making a sharp turn. the vehicle was taken to a dealer regarding the failure. the contact stated that the malfunction could cause a potential crash. the failure mileage was 20,000. updated 3/8/10 *cn the consumer stated the yellow brake system warning light illuminated and the vehicle lost traction momentarily. updated 05/11/10.*jb | |||
| 11/13/2009 | 1 | 04/29/2009 | |
| Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. the contact stated while driving at 45 mph he had to brake hard and fast. the vehicle slowed down but crashed into a truck. the contact stated the vehicle was totaled. updated 04/28/10.*jb the consumer stated he never felt the abs activate. updated 02/24/10.*jb updated 3/8/10 *cn the consumer stated he did not hear the anti-lock system sound or feel the usual brake pedal vibration. the vehicle slowed initially, then deceleration began with no lock up of tires and no apparent anti-lock system engagement. the accident was due to the vehicles failure to stop as expected. updated 05/11/10. *jb | |||
| 02/18/2009 | 480 | 2 | 02/14/2009 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. while driving approximately 25 mph on a lightly snow covered road surface, the brakes did not respond when the pedal was depressed. the vehicle failed to slow down. there were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact crashed onto the curb in order to stop the vehicle. the driver was uninjured, but the vehicle sustained severe damage. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for inspection, but they could not determine the cause of the failure. the vehicle is in the process of being repaired. the failure and current mileages were 480. four days after purchasing the vehicle, the consumers was heading down a gentle incline toward a traffic light at an intersection shortly after a light snowfall, the street was wet, but there was no ice on the road. as she braked to slow down, she noticed there was no deceleration and continued to press down on the brake pedal to no avail. to avoid crashing into other cars, she veered sharply to the right into a curb and came to a stop. the vehicle sustained extensive damage to the wheel, axle and undercarriage. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and after the inspection, the consumer was informed there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. the dealer implied the she must have applied the brakes incorrectly and was not accustomed to abs. a few months later on another wet rainy day, there was a similar incident of brake failure. updated 04/15/10.*jb | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | |||
| 02/01/2013 | 1 | ||
| 2009 toyota prius. consumer write regards to vehicle brake problems. consumer also sent revised toyota document. *smd the consumer stated the same braking problem existed for models before and after the 2010 models. however, only the 2010 models were recalled. | |||
| 10/01/2009 | 10 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. while driving approximately 55 mph across the railroad tracks, the brakes would release momentarily before being reapplied. the contact also experienced the identical failure after driving over a pothole. the failure occurred about two hundred times. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the contact had not called the manufacturer when the complaint was filed. the current mileage was approximately 33,000. the failure mileage was approximately 10. | |||
| 10/16/2008 | 2 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. he stated that while driving at low speeds less then 5 mph when braking and going over a slight bump on the road the brakes disengaged momentarily. the failure occurred frequently and continued to do so whenever he drove on an uneven road. the dealer has not been notified. no repairs were made to the vehicle. he also stated that he does own another vehicle experiencing the same brake failure. the failure mileage was 2 and the current mileage was 27000. | |||
| 11/28/2009 | 12000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. while driving 30 mph going down hill on a wet road the vehicle surged forward when she engaged the brake pedal and crashed into a vehicle. the brakes fully engaged after she crashed. the failure only occurred whenever she drove over a pothole. the dealer advised the contact to have the vehicle diagnosed and stated that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. the failure has occurred 5 to 6 times. no repairs have been made to date. a police report was unavailable. the failure mileage was 12000. the current mileage was 15500. | |||
| 04/22/2009 | 10 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. the contact stated that when driving approximately 15 mph over an uneven surface and trying to depress the brake pedal, the abs light illuminated and seemed to hydroplane for a short time. the failure never occurred on smooth surfaces. she called the dealer and was told that the brake system was too perfect which was why she experienced the failure. she had not spoken with the manufacturer to-date. the current mileage was approximately 10,000. the failure mileage was approximately 10. | |||
| 03/21/2009 | 500 | 1 | 02/27/2009 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. while driving approximately 30 to 40 mph, the driver encountered a bump whenever she drove over a bump or a pothole. the vehicle resumed normal operation; however, the failure occurred whenever encountering a bump or pothole in the road. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. the technician stated that the occurrence was normal contributing to the anti-lock brake system. the failure mileage was 500. updated 4/27/10 *cn the consumer stated while braking, there was a momentary lapse in the brakes. updated 05/17/10 | |||
| 11/23/2008 | 16000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. while driving approximately 20 mph and engaging the brake pedal and making contact with a pothole the vehicle would accelerate. the dealer has not diagnosed the failure and it continues to occur. the failure mileage was 16,000. | |||
| 12/14/2009 | 1000 | 1 | |
| 2009 prius - i've had what felt like the car was recovering from a skid but there was no skid. during this time i sometimes see the skid warning light on and hear one wheel spinning fast. it occurs very rarely but when it does occur the road is wet or bumpy. an easy way to see this problem is to drive down the fdr north of the triboro bridge. if you want a test track of bumps this is it. it has occurred randomly since i got the car. a friend with a 2004 prius reports the same problem. i guess we just thought it was something the prius did. i haven't thought of it as a safety problem. *jb *tr | |||
| 02/04/2010 | 10000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2009 toyota prius and am experiencing the same problem with braking that the 2010 prius' are having. when braking on an uneven or bumpy surface, it seems like there is a momentary pause or hesitation. *jb | |||
| 03/05/2009 | 1800 | 1 | |
| My 2009 pruis had a braking problem i took it back to dealer i told them i thought it was a software problem and it caused my car to spin out on a wet road it is fixed now and has not done it again. *jb | |||
| 12/18/2009 | 1 | ||
| The problem is that our 2009 prius at times seems to accelerate momentarily when the brakes are applied. my wife and i drove this car for eleven months and didn't realize we had a problem until i had to drive the car during the start of the snow storm with 2 of snow. i was going down a hill that i have driven on in different cars a number of times in the snow. with the prius, everytime i applied brakes to keep the car at slow speed , it seemed to accelerate a bit before the brakes would work, thereby causing the rear of the car to slide sideways. the loss of control was of great concern to me (i had my wife and granddaughter in the car). so i inched down the hill. a considerable number of cars backed up behind our car. since then i have noticed the momentary acceleration before breaking on a number of occasions in dry weather as well.. today, i took the car into newark toyota world in delaware and explained the problem to them, including the service manager. they drove the car and said they ran the diagnostics but couldn't find the problem. i am sorry but, to me, that's not satisfactory because neither my wife nor i trust this car in inclement weather. someone should look into this problem before something serious happens. *jb | |||