Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK - CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TSB-0363-1012/22/201010037647Ready06/01/2011
TSB-0363-1012/22/201010037647Toyota: when stopped there may be an abnormal noise when the brake pedal is released. this is a software problem. 2010-2011 prius. *rm06/01/2011

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SERVICE BRAKES
04/22/20112156
 First incident: was traveling approx. 68 mph on 405 freeway in los angeles (downhill into the san fernando valley). dry conditions. attempted to stop as cars ahead of me began to slow/halt and car lurched forward, carrying me to almost hit the car ahead of me, stopping only inches behind. dealership could not replicate and dismissed my concerns. multiple similar incidents all in good weather have occurred. most recently on surface road with uneven pavement, travelling at less than 15 mph. braking for stopped vehicles ahead, resulted in car lurching ahead.
01/14/2012100
 Periodically, after going over a bump at fairly low speeds, the car will accelerate. in light of the other unintended acceleration issue reported under odi 10499911, i wonder if these two events are related -- possibly something to do with going from the motor to the battery?
01/24/20135000
 First incident: was traveling approx. 15 mph on side street. icy conditions. attempted to stop at stop sign and car lurched forward, carrying me through intersection. dealership could not replicate and thought mat might not have been fully seated. toyota case # 1301250823 2nd and third incidences one month later (both on 2/23/2013) in fine weather conditions. 25 mph. attempted to stop at stop sign and car lurched forward. toyota case # 1302250072
01/14/2012100
 Periodically, after going over a bump at fairly low speeds, the car will accelerate. in light of the other unintended acceleration issue reported under odi 10499911, i wonder if these two events are related -- possibly something to do with going from the motor to the battery?
01/24/20135000
 First incident: was traveling approx. 15 mph on side street. icy conditions. attempted to stop at stop sign and car lurched forward, carrying me through intersection. dealership could not replicate and thought mat might not have been fully seated. toyota case # 1301250823 2nd and third incidences one month later (both on 2/23/2013) in fine weather conditions. 25 mph. attempted to stop at stop sign and car lurched forward. toyota case # 1302250072
02/10/201325000
 I am an excellent driver. i purchased this prius in the summer of 2011. we (my wife and young daughter) were proceeding on juanita drive n.e. in kirkland, wa. my wife and i agree that our speed was approximately 30-33 mph and that there were approximately 3+ car lengths between us and the vehicle in front of us. the weather was dry and sunny. suddenly, a vehicle three vehicles ahead of us stopped to make a left turn, and the two vehicles behind it were able to stop. i immediately applied my brakes to the floor as soon as i observed the stopped vehicle ahead. i felt no response - no gripping of the brakes or gripping of the wheels to the road, no squealing, no skidding, no sense of the brakes slowing the vehicle in the three seconds i applied them. due to vehicles in the opposing lane, a narrow road and no shoulder (a ditch with telephone poles on the right), i was forced to design the least harmful impact - my front right corner to the rear left corner of the vehicle in front. the impact tore open the right front of the vehicle, shattering the windshield next to my wife and causing her legs to fly up and strike the dashboard, injuring her legs in several places. her airbag did not deploy. my 7-year-old was in her car seat in the back seat. the larger split back was behind her. the back became unhinged at impact and flipped forward, forcing my daughter's upper body forward. she sustained minor facial injuries. while it is possible that the airbag non-deployment was appropriate (i am not certain of this), there is no question that the braking was soft, squishy, non-existent, and the back seat should not have become unhinged.
06/06/20111
 When i brake at the end of my road which has small holes or bumps, the car shoots forward very fast before it stops. this has happened numerous time. i thought at first i imagined it, or my foot slipped, but since it has happened numerous times i knew something wasn't right. so i got on web and started goggle it. and sure enough its happened to other drivers. *tr
06/06/2011
 When i brake at the end of my road which has small holes or bumps, the car shoots forward very fast before it stops. this has happened numerous time. i thought at first i imagined it, or my foot slipped, but since it has happened numerous times i knew something wasnt right. so i got on web and started goggle it. and sure enough its happened to other drivers.
12/16/201213000
 I was travelling down a mountainous road and the road surface changed from gravel to asphalt. i was also braking at the same time when the brakes seem to become nonexistent and the car just lurched forward. this has happened 3 times before.
09/10/2012181501
 While driving on a rough road surface and applying the brakes the car lost its brakes or the power to the brakes and surge forward. there was a feeling that the abs had engaged than disengaged leaving the car with no brakes. normally the brakes are very consistent, they slow and stop the car quickly and safely, however when the brakes are applied while riding on rough roads they become very inconsistent and unreliable. it feels that the brakes stop functioning, braking distance becomes longer as does the time required to stop the car. i first noticed this condition while braking on a rough road at about 30 mph. the condition now occurs not only when driving on rough roads (paved roads with potholes/pothole repairs) but also on wet/slick roads. this condition is intermittent but is occurring more frequently and at any speed, road surface and weather condition. the dealership has been unsuccessful in replicating the condition by driving the car over rough roads and applying the brakes. they tell me that unless they can experience the condition (see for themselves) they can not diagnose or repair the condition. toyota corporate tell me they stand behind the dealership and can do nothing. *tr
09/10/201218150
 While driving on a rough road surface and applying the brakes the car lost its brakes or the power to the brakes and surge forward. there was a feeling that the abs had engaged than disengaged leaving the car with no brakes. normally the brakes are very consistent, they slow and stop the car quickly and safely, however when the brakes are applied while riding on rough roads they become very inconsistent and unreliable. it feels that the brakes stop functioning, braking distance becomes longer as does the time required to stop the car. i first noticed this condition while braking on a rough road at about 30 mph. the condition now occurs not only when driving on rough roads (paved roads with potholes/pothole repairs) but also on wet/slick roads. this condition is intermittent but is occurring more frequently and at any speed, road surface and weather condition. the dealership has been unsuccessful in replicating the condition by driving the car over rough roads and applying the brakes. they tell me that unless they can experience the condition (see for themselves) they can not diagnose or repair the condition. toyota corporate tell me they stand behind the dealership and can do nothing.
10/05/201274001
 We purchased a 10 month old toyota prius on march 16nd 2012 with only 1367 miles. the prior owner who was leasing this car returned the car due to mileage inconsistency..... on oct 5th 2012, i was driving on sunny dry day at 22mph the vehicle in front of me slowed down. i stepped on the brake to slowdown but the car did not stop. when i stepped on the brake it did not respond immediately, i applied complete pressure to the brake however the car still did not slow down enough and i hit the car in front of me. per the report from toyota the speed went down from 22mph to 5mph at the time of the impact. i do not agree with the toyota report that i only stepped on the brake for 2 seconds as it was much more... before the accident the brake was much harder and less forceful pressure made the car stop after the accident the brake feels softer and more pressure is needed to make the brake work. this is an almost brand new car with 7k miles on it however i do feel safe in this car anymore after this accident and i fear for my life and public safety. what will happen i drive on a highway at 60mph and the brake will not work?? toyota denies any technical error with the car and blames the accident on me. there are plenty of reports of similar accidents reported by consumers on this same issue here: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0db60b. *tr
10/05/20127400
 We purchased a 10 month old toyota prius on march 16nd 2012 with only 1367 miles. the prior owner who was leasing this car returned the car due to mileage inconsistency..... on oct 5th 2012, i was driving on sunny dry day at 22mph the vehicle in front of me slowed down. i stepped on the break to slowdown but the car did not stop. when i stepped on the break it did not respond immediately, i applied complete pressure to the break however the car still did not slow down enough and i hit the car in front of me. per the report from toyota the speed went down from 22mph to 5mph at the time of the impact. i do not agree with the toyota report that i only stepped on the break for 2 seconds as it was much more... before the accident the break was much harder and less forceful pressure made the car stop after the accident the break feels softer and more pressure is needed to make the break work. this is an almost brand new car with 7k miles on it however i do feel safe in this car anymore after this accident and i fear for my life and public safety. what will happen i drive on a highway at 60mph and the break will not work?? toyota denies any technical error with the car and blames the accident on me. there are plenty of reports of similar accidents reported by consumers on this same issue here: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0db60b
09/28/2012170001
 This was not the first incident, but the most noticeable. when braking and coming to a stop, if the tires hit a pothole or any kind of hole or bump in the road, the vehicle accelerates suddenly. today, it accelerated as i was braking and coming to stop at a red light. my back right tire went over a pothole, and the car jumped and accelerated about 10 feet. luckily there was no car in front of me. *tr
09/28/201217000
 This was not the first incident, but the most noticable. when braking and coming to a stop, if the tires hit a pothole or any kind of hole or bump in the road, the vehicle accelerates suddenly. today, it accerelated as i was braking and coming to stop at a red light. my back right tire went over a pothole, and the car jumped and accerated about 10 feet. luckily there was no car in front of me.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
09/13/20111000
 Braking over uneven road surface cause loss in braking force. this only occurs while braking over uneven road surface. very close calls.
11/13/2011
 While stepping firmly on the brake and shifting into reverse, the vehicle moved approximately 18 inches backwards then stopped suddenly. this has occurred on at least three separate occasions, although usually when starting the vehicle. this time i paid close attention to the position of my foot on the brake. it was firmly pressed, but traveled only 1-2 inches. after the vehicle stopped and i was satisfied that i hadn't made a mistake i released the brake and reapplied it. this time it traveled the normal 3-4 inches. each time i have the car serviced at the dealer i mention this to the technician. they reply that they've heard of that happening, but offer no solution.
07/26/20116600
 I have a 2011 prius and if while i am braking, i drive over a bump in the road, the brakes release. i must re-apply the brakes to re-engage them. i feel this is very dangerous. there are numerous website references to this problem. when will a recall happen before someone has a serious accident?