2004 TOYOTA PRIUS Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

2004 & 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR VIEW VISIBILITY AND BRAKING ISSUES IN BOTH VEHICLES. *SMD

MY 24 YR. OLD CHILD WAS DRIVING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH WHEN THE CAR STOPPED AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING BRAKES AND ENGINE AND TRIANGLE WENT ON. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. IT WOULD NOT TAKE A BATTERY JUMP. HAD IT TOWED TO TOYOTA SERVICE AND THEY DISCOVERED CODE P0335 PRESENT AND VERIFIED A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, REPLACED IT, AND CLEANED THROTTLE BODY. THE CAR WORKS NOW. COST FOR DIAGNOSIS AND SERVICE WAS $367.07. THIS FAULTY PART WAS A PART OF A RECALL DATED IN 2006 FOR 2001 AND 2002 PRIUSES. WE WISH TO ADVISE THE AGENCY THAT WE BELIEVE THE YEAR 2004 AND PERHAPS OTHER YEARS OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE SAME RECALL AS THE 2001 AND 2002 PRIUS MODELS WITH RESPECT TO A FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. WE BELIEVE OUR CAR HAD A FAULTY SENSOR AND THAT WE SHOULD BE A PART OF THE EARLIER RECALL, AND ALSO OBTAIN A FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR CHARGES. THIS SUDDEN STOPPING BY THE VEHICLE POSES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANY DRIVER. OUR CHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER AND COULD HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A HORRENDOUS ACCIDENT. WE URGE YOUR AGENCY TO BE PROACTIVE IN INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 92,521

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR THE FAULTY BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR UPON APPLICATION. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED REPEATEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE ABS ACTUATOR. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE DEFECT COULD POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO THE SKID CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 94,000

WHILE DRIVIMG UNDER CRUISE CONTROL AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A CONTINUOUS LOUD BEEP OCCURRED, ACCOMPANIED WITH THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS ON THE DASHBOARD: RED "BRAKE" WARNING AND YELLOW "((!))", "ABS" (ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM), AND "VSC" (VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL) WARNINGS. ATTEMPTING TO PULL OVER AND STOP, THE BRAKES HAD NO POWER ASSISTANCE BUT, FORTUNATELY, COULD BE OPERATED UNDER HEAVY FOOT PRESSURE. AFTER PULLING OVER AND STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE, ALL THE WARNINGS AND THE BEEP WERE STILL THERE WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A SAFER LOCATION AT A GAS STATION. BRAKING WAS STILL ENTIRELY UNDER FOOT PRESSURE ONLY. AS THIS WAS IN CANADA, DRIVER TURNED OFF THE ENGINE WHILE TRYING TO DECIDE THE NEXT COURSE OF ACTION. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE ENGINE WAS AGAIN STARTED IN ORDER TO MOVE THE CAR SLIGHTLY IN THE PARKING LOT (TO GET AWAY FROM A PUDDLE) AND ALL SYSTEMS, INCLUDING BRAKE POWER ASSISTANCE, WERE NOW OPERATING NORMALLY WITH ALL THE WARNINGS OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT STATES, "COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMER'S COMPLAINT". THUS, NO REPAIR WAS DONE NOR FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE DEALER. *TT

Mileage: 84,380

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CRASH. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR BACK AND NECK AND WERE UNDER GOING THERAPY FOR THEIR INJURIES. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRASH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WHICH WOULD NOT OPEN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN INSPECTOR WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE REPORT FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY DID NOT INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY FAILURE AND WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE AHEAD OF HER. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND SHE HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

Mileage: 32,000

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMPY PATCH OF ROAD, IF I BRAKE, SOMETIMES THE BRAKE APPEARS TO NOT CATCH FOR A BRIEF TIME (1 SECOND OR SO). AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION, BUT OVER THE YEARS IT HAS HAPPENED OFTEN ENOUGH THAT I AM CONVINCED THE SENSATION IS REAL. I HAVE RECENTLY READ ABOUT OTHERS DESCRIBING THE SAME EXPERIENCE. I CANNOT GIVE AN APPROXIMATE DATE OR MILEAGE; THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY OVER THE 6 YEARS I'VE OWNED THE CAR. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DATE AND MILEAGE I AM ENTERING IS THE MOST RECENT TIME WHEN I NOTICED IT. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

MY 2004 PRIUS FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES LOSE CONTROL WHEN I'M GOING OVER A BUMP. I APPLY THE BRAKE, IT CATCHES, THEN RELEASES MOMENTARILY, THEN GRABS. THE TIME OF THE RELEASE FEELS TOO LONG TO BE SAFE, AND I AM NEVER REALLY SURE THAT IT WILL GRAB EVENTUALLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED SINCE I BOUGHT IT, AND TOYOTA ASSURES ME IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 200

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH MY WIFE AND INFANT DURING THE EVENING LAST SUMMER, AND OUT OF THE BLUE THREE RED INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AS WELL AS A BUZZER, AND MY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. THE PEDAL WAS ABLE TO BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. PUMPING DID NOTHING. SINCE IT WAS LATE THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND, SO WE WERE ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CHECKED FOR ANY DAMAGE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND NOTHING. OVER THE NEXT HOUR WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK, WE TRIED RESTARTING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE BRAKES WERE JUST GONE. WE FINALLY GOT TOWED AND GOT A LOANER CAR. THE NEXT MORNING AFTER THE TOYOTA DEALER HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE CAR, THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY DID A COUPLE HOURS OF DIAGNOSTICS ON MY DIME AND RESET THE FAULT CODES. THERE WAS NO AIR IN THE BRAKES, FLUID LEVELS WERE JUST FINE, AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH ANYTHING. APPARENTLY THE BRAKES FIXED THEMSELVES IN THE PARKING LOT OVER NIGHT. THIS HAS MADE ME FEARFUL SINCE THAT DAY THAT IT COULD HAPPEN TO ME AGAIN AT ANYTIME, PERHAPS DURING RUSH HOUR NEXT TIME. I'VE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THEN, AND THE ONLY SOLUTION THEY HAVE TO GIVE ME IS TO HAVE MY BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED REGULARLY. THIS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A NORMAL THING TO HAPPEN AT ALL, AND I WOULD FEEL GUILTY EVEN SELLING THIS CAR TO SOMEONE ELSE AT THIS POINT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT MORE I CAN DO SO I AM NOW REPORTING TO SAFERCAR.GOV. *TR

Mileage: 113,000

RECENTLY, I PERFORMED A ROUTINE FLUSH OF THE BRAKE FLUID ON MY TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN I STARTED THE PRIUS AFTER COMPLETING THE BRAKE FLUID FLUSH, THERE WERE WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING ON THE DASHBOARD FOR THE BRAKES, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS DIDN'T SURPRISE ME THAT THE CAR DETECTED AN ABNORMALITY DURING THE BRAKE BLEEDING OPERATION. WHAT DID SURPRISE ME IS THAT THE PRIUS COMPUTER INSTRUCTED THE FRONT BRAKES TO BECOME NON-OPERATIONAL THE TROUBLE CODE IN THE PRIUS COMPUTER AUTOMATICALLY DISABLED THE FRONT BRAKES BECAUSE THE COMPUTER WAS CONFUSED BY THE VARYING PRESSURES PRESENT IN THE BRAKE LINES DURING A ROUTINE BRAKE FLUID FLUSH. I DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP WITH ONLY THE REAR BRAKES OPERATIONAL. AT THE REPAIR SHOP, A TECHNICIAN CLEARED THE TROUBLE CODES FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM STORED IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE OF THE PRIUS. THE BRAKES WERE THEN COMPLETELY OPERATIONAL. I FIND IT UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THE CAR COULD DECIDE ON IT'S OWN TO DISABLE THE BRAKES, EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE OTHERWISE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. PLEASE REQUIRE TOYOTA TO PROGRAM THEIR CONTROL MODULES TO ALLOW THE BRAKES TO FUNCTION WHEN TROUBLE CODES ARE ACTIVATED.

Mileage: 56,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT, AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE; UNLESS THE TEMPERATURE, BRAKE OR OIL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE INVERTER WATER PUMP AND THE SKID CONTROL ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU). THE INVERTER WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 61,000.

Mileage: 61,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A GRAVEL ROAD. PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO POWER RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OPPOSING VEHICLES DRIVER, AND PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN ESTIMATE OF THE BODY DAMAGES. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

Mileage: 186,000

2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SKIDS OUT OF CONTROL. *KB

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. I FIND THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON A ROAD SURFACE WITH BUMPS, THERE APPEARS TO BE A LAG BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL. THE BRAKES DO NOT HESITATE TO ENGAGE ON LEVEL ROAD SURFACES. I ALWAYS ATTRIBUTED THIS TO THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGING, BUT AFTER THE RECENT RECALL OF THE 2010 PRIUS FOR A SIMILAR COMPLAINT, I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO AT LEAST ADVISE OF THIS SITUATION. *TR

Mileage: 196,000

TWICE WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS, I ENCOUNTERED A SMALL SLICK PATCH ON THE ROADWAY SURFACE, FELT MY FRONT TIRES SLIP MOMENTARILY, THEN GRAB, THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON LIGHTING UP THE DASH. IT SAID I SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE SMALL BATTERY AND REPLACED IT FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE SECOND TIME, THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER AND REPLACED THAT. *TR

Mileage: 68,002

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY TREE AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS AND CONTINUED TO PUSH THE TREE FURTHER INTO THE STREET. THE CONTACT'S FOOT REMAINED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE POLICE OBSERVED SKID AND BRAKE MARKS IN THE DRIVEWAY, CONFIRMING SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL AT THE TIME. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES NOT WORKING WHEN HITTING ROUGH SURFACES SUCH AS POTHOLES. *TR

MY 2004 PRIUS HAS THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED FOR THE 2010 PRIUS, THAT IS, WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN AND HIT A BUMP OR HOLE, THERE IS A MOMENTARY ACCELERATION. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA IN 2004 AND REGIONAL TOYOTA REP CAME OUT AND LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL. SO...THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO 2010 PRIUS. *TR

Mileage: 100

ON THE 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS WHEN DRIVING FROM A STOP ACROSS A ROUGH ROAD OR POT HOLES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES/ANTI-SKID SYSTEM ENGAGES AND MAKES THE CAR SKID ON WET SURFACES. IN WINTER ON ICY ROADS THE (PROPER - NON-PUMPING) APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON MODERATELY ICY OR WET ROAD SURFACES CAUSES THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND THE CAR SKIDS UNCONTROLLABLY. THE LATER OCCURRED TODAY WHILE THE SECOND ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE PRIUS BUT I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE A DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

ODD BRAKING BEHAVIOR IN 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHEN CAR IS IN ITS FIRST FEW MINUTES OF OPERATION AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, THIS ODD BEHAVIOR OCCURS: THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME I APPLY THE BRAKES, THEY GRAB AS THOUGH THE PEDAL HAS BEEN PRESSED VERY HARD. THE CAR LURCHES TO A STOP. I RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO FORWARD AGAIN, APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THEN I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GRABBING HAPPENS AGAIN. USUALLY BY THE THIRD BRAKING ACTION THE 'GRABBY' BEHAVIOR STOPS. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE THE CAR GETS IT 'OUT OF ITS SYSTEM' BY THE TIME IT IS WARMED UP. I USED TO BE A MECHANIC AND THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER FELT BEFORE, SUCH AS CONDENSATION ON THE DISC ROTORS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WA NEW IN 2004. I WORKED AROUND IT. BUT NOW WITH THE NEWS ABOUT BRAKING PROBLEMS ON NEW PRIUSES, I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 PRIUS WHICH I BOUGHT USED ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND WHEN I READ THE LINE THAT I CUT AND PASTED RIGHT FROM YOUR NEWS RELEASE, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE IT DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME NUMEROUS TIMES. "ALLEGATIONS OF MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP," BUT THIS PROBLEM WHICH HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY (USUALLY ON THE SAME POTHOLE ON THE SAME STREET) HAS NEVER CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR MORE THAN A SPLIT SECOND. SO UNTIL I READ THIS PASSAGE I THOUGHT I MIGHT JUST BE IMAGINING THIS PROBLEM. IF IT HAPPENED FOR EVEN MORE THAN A SPLIT SECOND I COULD SEE HOW IT WOULD CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND POSSIBLY GET IN AN ACCIDENT. BUT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

ABOUT 40% OF THE TIME, MY TOYOTA PRIUS DOESN'T WANT TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, I HAVE TO APPLY THE BRAKES HARD AND THEN THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO "RUN AWAY" WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IT EXHIBITS THIS BEHAVIOR IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES: STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT, SLOWING DOWN ON AN EXPRESSWAY, OR SLOWING DOWN ON A CITY STREET. *TR UPDATED 11/23/09 *BF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW SWITCH WASN'T OPENING OR CLOSING THE WINDOW UNLESS THE MASTER SWITCH WAS USED. THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE CLEANED. THE FAN BELT AND BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 11/24/09 UPDATED 01/06/10 *BF UPDATED 01/07/10.*JB

Mileage: 68,000

WHILE NORMAL CONDITIONS I HAVE EXPERIENCED A MAJOR BRAKE MALFUNCTION, BOTH THE ABS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON. THE VEHICLE BARELY HAS BRAKES, THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE 6 TIMES TO HAVE TO IT FIXED, AND THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. BRAKES REPEATEDLY FAIL ON A REGULAR BASES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR, BRAKE COMPUTER, RESET THE BRAKE PISTON CALPALTORS, AND THE RELAY THAT CONTROL THE BRAKES, AND THE 12 VOLT BATTERY. NONE OF THESE REPAIRS HAVE WORKED. BRAKES STILL FAIL REGULARLY. COMPLAINT LODGE WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CENTER. *TR

Mileage: 43,000

BRAKE FAILURE, THIS HAPPENED TO ME TODAY 8/5/08. I PURCHASED THIS 2004 PRIUS 2 WEEKS AGO(90,000 MILES), AND I'VE ONLY HAD PROBLEMS UP TILL NOW. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WENT OFF, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT TURNED ON(AND A BUZZER WAS HEARD). I HAD TO DEPRESS THE BREAK PEDAL HARD IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO BREAK. IT FELT JUST LIKE WHEN A CONVENTIONAL CAR LOOSES ITS BREAKS. THANKS GOD I WAS ONLY 1 MILE FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER. I HAD A SCHEDULED EVAPORATOR REPLACEMENT ($450)SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW SO I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE CAR AT THE DEALER (THIS IS WHAT THE MANUAL SAYS TO DO WHEN BOTH WARNINGS GO OFF). *TR

Mileage: 90

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, ALL OF THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,980.

Mileage: 42,980

TOYOTA PRIUS TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM-IF YOU ARE GOING UP A HILL AND YOU LOOSE TRACTION DUE TO SNOW AND THE CAR STOPS. YOU CANNOT EVER GO FORWARD,IF THE TIRES ATTEMPT TO SPIN AT ANY LEVEL OG GAS/ELECTRIC THE RPM GOES TO ZERO. THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE THE CAR IS TO BACK DOWN THE HILL. NEED I SAY MORE. THE DEALER AGREES AND STATED TOYOTA NEVER GAVE US A FIX. WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PRIUS OWNERS AND THEY ALL SAY THE SAME ,YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR OTHER CAR. WHICH I DO. HOWEVER MY WIFE USED THE CAR LAST WEEK AND WE HAD SOME MINOR SNOW AND SHE WAS ON A HILL(GOING UP) FOR 2 HRS BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO BACK DOWN WHEN MORNING TRAFFIC SUBSIDED. THIS IS A 2004 PRIUS. THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A PERSON THAT IS UNCOMFORTABLE IN BACKING DOWN A HILL. *TR

WARNING TRIANGLE, DASH LIGHTS-BRAKE, ABS, CAME ON ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD WHINING SOUND. THE NEXT TIME I NEEDED TO USE THE BRAKES I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE - PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKES. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO ROLL TO A STOP. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUBURN TOYOTA (IN CA) AND THEY SAID IT WAS A SKID CONTROL ECU FAILURE. THEY REPLACED IT AT A TOTAL COST OF $1868.74. *TR

Mileage: 83,668

TL*- THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS TRAVELING UP A HILL AT 10-15 MPH WITH ICY ROAD CONDITIONS AND THE ANTI-SKID CONTROL ENGAGED AND ALL FOUR WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE LOCKED. THE CONTACT PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO BACK THE VEHICLE UP IN ORDER FOR THE WHEELS TO EVENTUALLY GO FORWARD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, TESTED A PRIUS AND HAD THE SAME TYPE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT WAS THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. *AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

Mileage: 49,000

I TURNED LEFT INTO DRIVEWAY OF A HOME- DRIVEWAY HAS AN INCLINE. I TURNED OFF POWER AND TWO CHILDREN EXITED CAR. ONE PASSENGER RETURNED WITHIN FIVE MIN AND SAT IN FRONT. I PLACED FOOT ON BRAKE. BRAKE FELT "LOCKED" WITH NO GIVE. I PRESSED POWER BUTTON WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, AND PLACED GEAR IN REVERSE. I LET FOOT OFF BRAKE TO ROLL SLOWLY OUT OF DRIVEWAY. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE TO SLOW EXIT, MY FOOT WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR--NO POWER. I NOTICE GEAR WAS NEUTRAL. POWER WOULD NOT TURN OFF. CAR WAS ROLLING CLOSER TOWARD A BUSY FOUR LANE STREET. I NOTICED THE POWER BUTTON LIGHT COLOR WAS RED, AND THE FOLLOWING YELLOW WARNING INDICATORS WERE LIT: BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP, ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT, SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT. I DEPRESSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. I TOLD MY 14 Y/O PASSENGER TO EXIT THE CAR AND WHEN SHE DID THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE ABOVE LIGHTS REMAINED LIT. THE BRAKE CONTINUED TO DEPRESS TO THE FLOOR. I AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE POWER WITHOUT SUCCESS. I EXITED THE VEHICLE WITH MY SMART ENTRY KEY IN HAND AND AS EXPECTED LOUD BUZZING NOISE CAME ON. I THEN CONTACTED TOYOTA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE REFERENCE NUMBER IS 269-568-6678. I CALLED BACK LATER TO CHANGE THE REFERENCE NUMBER TO 269-492-2066. I HAD ASKED FOR POLICE ASSISTANCE FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL, BUT THE POLICE DID NOT SHOW. ON 9/6 A.M., JIM AT METRO TOYOTA SERVICE, KALAMAZOO, MI CALLED & I DESCRIBED THE ABOVE TO HIM. AT 1530 ON 9/6/06, I DESCRIBED MY EXPERIENCE TO MARVIN AT TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATION. THE CASE NUMBER HE PROVIDED WAS 200609051137. THIS IS THE SECOND LIKE INCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE. I DID NOT REPORT THE FIRST INCIDENT TO THE NHTSA WHICH OCCURRED A FEW MONTHS AFTER I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE THEN NEW 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT, BY THE SAME DEALERSHIP SERVICE. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. ALSO, WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL BECAME SOFT AND WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. UPDATED

Mileage: 16,997

2004 PRIUS HYBRID ABS AND OTHER DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED . PROBLEM WAS FIXED PER MECHANIC, 15 DAYS LATER LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. *TS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON ENTERING A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING. EACH TIME BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED; THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. ALTHOUGH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS MANUALLY ACTIVATED IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. WITH BRAKE PRESSURE APPLIED, THE CONTACT MANAGED TO EXIT THE FREEWAY USING THE EXIT RAMP. WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWED, THE PARK BUTTON OPTION WAS PRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THERE WAS NO FURTHER ACCELERATION OR GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IS AWAITING INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED, WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL BECAME SOFT AND WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPDATED

Mileage: 12,995

WHEN TRYING TO STOP ABRUPTLY CONSUMER BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. *TS *JB

Mileage: 10,391

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN NORMAL CITY STREET TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, BRAKES PULSED SLOWLY SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN FAILED. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CAR CRASHED INTO REAR-END OF CAR AHEAD. *JB

Mileage: 6,000

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS FAILED. THE ABS AND VSC LIGHTS FLICKERED WHILE SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES AND ALL FOUR TIRES LOCKED. THE LIGHTS CAME ON LAST WEEK WHEN THE FUEL WAS LOW IN THE VEHICLE. THE ABS WAS STILL NOT WORKING. HE WAS TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY. *AK UPDATED 1/25/2006 - *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT STATED THE PEDAL HIT A STOP BEFORE LOCKING THE WHEELS TO BRAKE. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID CHECK BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL, BUT S IT WAS A NORMAL BRAKING PROCEDURE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE PRESSED THE BRAKES,THERE WAS A MINIMUM BRAKING CAPABILITY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER HIT A VEHICLE THAT WAS IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE HE COULD NOT STOP IT. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE, AND DID FEEL THIS WAS A PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 33,378

FLUID ON LEFT REAR TIRE RIM AND LOSS OF HUB CAP. DISCOVERED LEAKING BRAKE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY AND SOAKED DISK BRAKE PADS. MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE LEVEL DOWN TO TO MINIMUM FILL LEVEL. BRAKE FLUID POOLING ON GARAGE FLOOR UNDER LEFT REAR WHEEL. *AK

Mileage: 11,906

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, I EXPERIENCED A MAJOR BRAKE MALFUNCTION (BRAKES BARELY RESPONDED AT ALL--ONLY BY PUSHING BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR DID I MANAGE TO SLOW DOWN/STOP VEHICLE). A CONTINUOUS WARNING BUZZER SOUNDED, AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON DASH. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER. THIS COULD HAVE LED TO A CRASH AND INJURIES IF TRAFFIC HAD BEEN HEAVY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A "BRAKE ACTUATOR" FAILURE, AND THE PART(S) ARE CURRENTLY ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS. *AK

Mileage: 8,500

REPORTED TO TOYOTA ON 2/7/04 FILE #200402110133. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, 70MPH, CRUISE CONTROL ON, BOTH MY WIFE AND MYSELF HAVE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE GEAR SHIFT KNOB WITH OUR HAND AND PUT THE PRIUS INTO DYNAMIC BRAKING MODE (DBM). THE SEMI-TRUCK BEHIND ME ALMOST RAN ME OVER BEFORE I COULD GET THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE. VERY DANGEROUS!!! THE BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON DURING DBM. TOYOTA SHOULD CHANGE THE SOFTWARE TO MAKE A DELAY IN THE GEAR-SHIFT FOR DBM SIMILAR TO SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL?*AK

Mileage: 2,389