2005 TOYOTA PRIUS Service Brakes, Electric Problems

(1). I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THERE WAS NO POWER BRAKES. THE 2005 PRIUS SLOWED, BUT DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AND I TRAVELED 3 CAR LENGTHS BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE. (2). LOSS OF POWER ASSIST HAD PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED WHILE BACKING UP, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST FAILURE GOING FORWARD. (3). TOTAL LOSS(TOTALED,, $7,000 DAMAGE). THE 2005 PRIUS IS NOW AT AN AUTOMOBILE RECYCLING YARD. )4) I NOTIFIED TOYOTA. BUT I HAD TO CALL THEM BACK SEVERAL TIMES, AND AFTER 15 DAYS, SOMEONE FINALLY ANSWERED, INSTEAD OF ME GETTING THEIR VOICE MAIL. IF THE POWER BRAKES HAD FAILED AT AN INTERSECTION, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL CRASH. *KB

Mileage: 74,215

NOV 15 2010 THE CAR WAS IN SERVICE FOR 5000 MILES CHECK. THE DEALERSHIP DECLARED THAT THE BRAKES AND COOLANT FLOW VALVE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND STATED THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. UPON AGREEING FOR REPAIRS THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND IT WILL TAKE 2 WEEKS FOR PARTS TO ARRIVE. 15 DEC 2010 THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR STATED REPAIRS ($2000), SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS HAVE INTERMITTENTLY BRAKING FAILURES AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER 20 MPH AND AT STOPS ON A DOWNGRADE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS AGAIN IN 16 JAN 2011. THE CAR STILLS HAS INTERMITTENT FAILURES, THE LIGHTS TO THE PARKING BRAKES, ABS BRAKES, VBC LIGHTS AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE STILL ON SINCE THE REPAIRS. WHILE REPLACING THE TIRES FIRESTONE ON 30 JAN 2011 FOUND THE CODE 1247 ON THE ECU BY THEIR TECHNICIAN. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ARE STILL ON AT ALL TIMES. AFTER LEAVING FIRESTONE, THE CAR SURGE FORWARD WHILE STOP ON A DOWNGRADE WHILE THE BRAKE DEPRESS, I FELT THE PRESSURE RELEASE THUS I DEPRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKES PETAL UNTIL IT WAS ON THE FLOOR, I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. I WILL TAKE THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THE THIRD TIME 31 JAN 2011. *TR

Mileage: 140,350

LOW-SPEED BRAKE FAILURE: ACCELERATED LIGHTLY AWAY FROM TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO APPROXIMATELY 5-7 MPH, TRAFFIC THEN SLOWED, APPLIED BRAKES NORMALLY WITH NO NOTICEABLE DECELERATION OR PEDAL RESISTANCE. REMOVED FOOT FROM BRAKE AND THEN REAPPLIED BRAKES VERY HARD, PEDAL AGAIN OFFERED LITTLE RESISTANCE, NO NOTICEABLE DECELERATION. ROADWAY SURFACE DRY, FREE FROM DIRT/GRAVEL, SMOOTH WITH SLIGHT DOWNGRADE, TEMPERATURE BELIEVED TO BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE FREEZING. IMPACTED CAR AHEAD AT LOW SPEED ' NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THIS CAR (EST. $750), ADDITIONAL MINOR DAMAGE TO TWO CARS AHEAD. AFTER CRASH, SHUT CAR OFF. AFTER RESTARTING CAR, BRAKES APPEARED TO WORK NORMALLY. UPON INSPECTION FOUND NO FAULT CODES PRESENT, NO WARNING LIGHTS, BRAKE PADS HAD SUBSTANTIAL MATERIAL REMAINING, BRAKE FLUID LEVEL NORMAL, TIRES WITH SUBSTANTIAL TREAD DEPTH. CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS SINCE NEW, ALL RECALLS HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH. . CAR WAS FULLY WARM, HAD BEEN DRIVEN 14 MILES SINCE START. CAR HAD BEEN OPERATED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS FOR LAST 5-6 MILES BEFORE TRAFFIC SIGNAL. BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE ALONG THIS FREQUENTLY TRAVELED ROUTE, HYBRID STORAGE BATTERY WAS ALMOST CERTAINLY FULL FROM ENERGY STORED DURING DECELERATION FROM FREEWAY SPEED ON EXIT RAMP, THUS HYBRID SYSTEM WOULD BE UNABLE TO DELIVER REGENERATIVE BRAKING AT TIME OF BAKE FAILURE/CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 84,228

DURING WET WEATHER, THE BRAKES GRAB. THIS USUALLY OCCURS DURING THE FIRST 10 MINS. OF DRIVING. BASED ON THE RECENT RECALLS, I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO DETERMINE IF OTHERS OWNERS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. *TR

YESTERDAY ON A LONG TRIP THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, LIGHTS CAME ON MY DASH ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS THAT INDICATED A HYBRID PROBLEM. HOPING TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD GET SERVICE I CONTINUED ON. (I ALSO NOTED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON.) THEN THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD WITH AN AUDITORY ALARM. I TESTED THE BRAKES AND THEY SEEMED OKAY AND THERE WAS NO BERM TO PULL OFF. THEN I HIT THE BRAKES ON A CURVE AND THE PEDDLE WENT DOWN LOW. I PRESSED HARD AND GOT IT OFF THE ROAD ON A WIDE SPOT THAT BY THE GRACE OF GOD APPEARED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. TODAY, THE DEALER SAID THEY CHECKED ALL CODES AND INSPECTED THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG AND ALL CODES HAVE LEFT. THEY SAID THE HYBRID BATTERY SEEMED TO BE LOW BUT THEY FIND THE BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM TO BE OK. (THEY SAID BRAKES DO NOT WORK WHEN THE BATTERY IS LOW AND THE BATTERY IS CHARGED BY BRAKING WHICH I WAS DOING PLENTY OF IN THE MOUNTAINS.) THEY ALSO SAID THE COMPUTER IS OK. THEY DRIVE IT AND NOTHING IS WRONG. *TR

Mileage: 161,700

I FIRST REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA MARCH 10, 2010. I DID SO AFTER TALKING WITH A COWORKER WHO HAD A 2010 PRIUS. I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS. WE BOTH EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. THEREFORE, I FIGURED I SHOULD TAKE IT MORE SERIOUS. THE TOYOTA'S SAFETY INCIDENT NUMBER IS [XXX] . WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND HITTING THE BREAKS I NOTICE THAT INSTEAD OF IMMEDIATELY SLOWING THE CAR DOWN, THE CAR SEEMS TO EITHER NOT SLOW AT ALL AND SEEMS TO ACCELERATE. KNOWING THAT GOING OVER BUMPS CAN CAUSE A TIRE TO TEMPORARILY LOOSE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD SURFACE AND THAT CARS CAN ELECTRONICALLY TRANSFER DRIVE FROM A TIRE THAT LOOSES CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE TO THE OTHER WHEEL, THERE MAY BE MIXED SIGNALS HAPPENING. THE BRAKES TELLING THE CAR TO STOP, THE TRACTION CONTROL TELLING THE ACCELERATION TO TRANSFER. IT SEEMS THE ACCELERATION IS TAKING PRECEDENCE. REGARDLESS, THIS SEEMS THAT IT COULD CAUSE A PROBLEM IF ON A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE OR A POT HOLE OR SOMETHING AND A CAR STOPS INFRONT OF ME OR A KID RUNS INTO THE STREET OR FOR SOME OTHER REASON I NEED TO STOP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 135,000

AUGUST 4, 2010 AROUND 8:36PM I WAS ON I4 HEADING EASTBOUND ABOUT 13 MILES FROM MY HOUSE GOING AROUND 66MPH. THE DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE HOT WITH NO RAIN. WHEN MY EMERGENCY LIGHT, EXPLANATION MARK LIGHT AND THE VSC LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND MY CAR EXPERIENCE A JERKING LIKING MOTION. I CALLED MY FATHER IMMEDIATELY TOLD HIM WHAT'S HAPPENING, HE TOLD ME TO TURN AROUND AND GET THE CAR HOME. I TURNED AROUND AND AS I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AFTER EXITING I4 ON SAND LAKE RD MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A LOUD CONTINUOUS BEEPING NOISE THAT LASTED ABOUT 20 SECONDS EVERY 2 MINUTES. WHEN THIS LOUD BEEPING NOISE OCCURRED THE BRAKES WOULD STOP WORKING FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS THAN START AGAIN. I MADE IT HOME AT 8:52PM AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. *TR

Mileage: 62,794

WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES OF EASY DRIVING (AND ALL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON A TIMELY BASIS AT THE DEALERSHIP) ON A SINGLE-OWNER TOYOTA 2005 PRIUS, THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE CAR'S DASHBOARD SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED, WHICH AN OUT-OF-TOWN DEALERSHIP INTERPRETED TO MEAN FAILURE OF THE "SKID CONTROL ECU". THIS PART CONTROLS ALL MAJOR BRAKING FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING CONVENTIONAL BRAKE CONTROL, REGENERATIVE BRAKE COOPERATIVE CONTROL, ABS, ENHANCED VSC AND HANDLES SENSOR INFORMATION EPS ECU AND HV ECU. IF OCCURRING ON A MAJOR CA HIGHWAY, LIKE US HIGHWAY 5 AND THE "GRAPEVINE", THIS WARNING AND FAILURE CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS AND UNEXPECTED DRIVING HAZARD. REPAIRS COSTS NEARLY $2,000 AND THIS PART MUST BE "ORDERED" BY A DEALERSHIP AND TAKE 4 -5 HOURS TO REPAIR ONCE THE PART IS DELIVERED OVERNIGHT OR LONGER. TOYOTA ALREADY IS RECALLING THIS "SKID CONTROL ECU" PART ON ALL 2002 -2003 SEQUOIA PASSENGER VEHICLES. TOYOTA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A DEFECT ON THE PRIUS, AND OFFERS NO RECALL OR HELP TO ANY OF ITS PRIUS CUSTOMERS; TO THEM IT IS SIMPLY A "(BAD) LUCK OF THE DRAW" SITUATION, TOUGH LUCK FOR THE PRIUS DRIVER-OWNER WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 44,589

I DROVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS VIN#[XXX] UNTIL 5/13/2010. AT AROUND 10AM I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY IN THE LFT LANE. WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON GOING 75MPH. I HAD A GPS ON AND NAVIGATING. AND I HAD MY BLUE TOOTH EARPIECE ON. THEN ALL AT THE SAME TIME MY BLUE TOOTH SHUT DOWN. MY GPS SHUT DOWN. AND EVERY WARNING LITE CAME UP IN THE CAR. EVEN THE DISPLAY THAT USUALLY SHOWS HOW THE HYBRID SYSTEMS WORKS WAS BLINKING PROBLEM!! PROBLEM!! SO I LET OFF THE GAS AND STARTED TO MOVE TO THE RT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THATS WHEN I REALIZED THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING. THERE WAS AN EXIT COMING UP SO I LET THE CAR SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 50MPH. AS I STARTED TO EXIT I PUT MY FT ON THE BRAKES. THATS WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE PEDAL WAS VERY STIFF AND VIBRATING. I WAS COMING TO A BLIND INTERSECTION AND I HAD THE RED LITE. SO I PUSHED ON MY BRAKES. INSTANTLY I COULD HEAR SCREACHING TIRES. SO I LOOKED IN MY SIDE MIRROR. AND TO MY SUPRISE IM LOOKING AT A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM ME! MY REAR TIRES HAD LOCKED UP AND MY FRONT TIRES WERENT DOING ANYTHING. SO I STARTED FISHTAIL BACK AND FORTH LIKE I HAD MY EBRAKE ON. I PUT ALL MY WT ON THE PEDAL CAUSE THE INTERSECTION WAS REALLY GETTING CLOSE. AND WITHOUT POWER STEERING IT WAS VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR FROM CRASHING. I CAME TO A STOP JUST BEFORE THE LIGHT. THEN DROVE MY CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALER AT IN BERKELEY CA AT 10MPH. I TOLD THEM EVERYTHING. EVEN ABOUT MY BLUE TOOTH AND GARMIN. THEY GOT ME A RENTAL CAR THEN 4DAY LATER THEY SAID IF I GIVE THEM $2000 FOR A PART AND $1000 IN LABOR IT MIGHT FIX IT BUT THERE NOT SURE CAUSE THEY NEVER SAW THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. AND THEY WERENT GOING TO PAY FOR MY RENTAL CAUSE THE PART WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AFTER 36000MILES. I HAVE HAD EVERY SVC DONE AT TOYOTA. AND IF THERES A COMPUTER PT THAT TOYOTA KNOWS CAN BRAKE EASILY. WHICH THEY DO. THATS WHY ITS ONLY WARRENTY TO 36000MILES. IT SHOULDNT RESULT IN THE LOSS OF YOUR BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS!! I COULD OF DIED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TR

Mileage: 142,962

I DRIVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. MY CAR HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT; WHICH IS VERY LOW MILEAGES. WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR`S LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD STARTS TO FLASH. THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AND BUZZER COMES ON ALONG WITH THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. I HAD NOWHERE TO PULL ASIDE. AFTER TWO MINUTES THE WARNING SIGNS SHUT OFF SO I KEPT DRIVING. FIVE MINUTES LATER, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON SO I DECIDE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY TO TAKE IT TO THE KNOXVILLE TOYOTA DEALER. AS I`M EXITING THE HIGHWAY, I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THAT I HAD NO BREAKS (WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY FOOT IT AUTOMATICALLY TOUCHED THE GROUND)! I REMEMBERED THAT MY DAD ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT IN CASE OF A BRAKE EMERGENCY TO PUMP THE PADDLE UNTIL THE BREAKS WORK. I ALMOST CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR; THE EXIT RAMP WAS VERY STEEP. I WAS GOING ABOUT 50 MILES PER HR BY THEN; LUCKILY I MANAGED TO STOP WHILE I KEPT PUMPING MY BREAKS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY. THEY CHECKED MY CAR AND REPLACED: PUMP ASSY. WATER, SUPER LONG LIFE C, INVERTER COOLANT PUMP, SLIDING YOKE, REFLASHED ENGINE AND HV ECU AND SHAFT KIT. STEERI. I FOUND MY CASE VERY DANGEROUS AND MY LIFE WAS AT RISK. NOT ONLY WAS MY LIFE AT RISK BUT AS WELL AS OTHER INDIVIDUALS. I WOULD HATE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE! IT WAS SCARY AND I FELT LIKE MY LIFE MIGHT HAVE BEEN OVER. *TR

Mileage: 26,000

1. WHILE DRIVING OVER RR TRACKS, A LACK OF BRAKE RESPONSE (OR FEEL) - HAPPENED ONCE IN 2008. MENTIONED TO DEALER, BUT I DID NOT KNOW IF THIS WAS A TYPICAL PROBLEM. 2. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL ON A SLIPPERY ROAD, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WAS NO FEEL OF BRAKING. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A CURB. HAPPENED JAN/2010. MENTIONED TO DEALER, BUT I DID NOT KNOW IF THIS WAS A TYPICAL PROBLEM. 3. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL ON SLIPPERY ROADS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN TO A STOP, OR NOT GO AT A S&G LIGHT. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY IN 2010. MENTIONED TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A FUNCTION OF THE TRACTION CONTROL THAT PREVENTED TIRES FROM SPINNING. *TR

Mileage: 88,000

VEHICLE TYPE: TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 [UNCORRECTED BY RECALLS] PROBLEM: WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE IN PREPARATION FOR A TURN AND BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS. EXAMINED BRAKE PEDAL AND DISCOVERED FLOOR MAT HAD CREPT UNDER THE PEDAL PREVENTING BRAKING. SHIFTED VEHICLE TO NEUTRAL. ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE MAT BUT UNABLE TO BY HAND. USED FOOT TO PULL MAT FROM UNDER BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO BRAKE. REMOVED MATS TO PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS. RESOLUTION: NONE. TOYOTA'S RECENT FLOOR MAT RECALL DOESN'T ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. CONTACT WITH TOYOTA HAS LEFT ME WITH THE FEELING THAT THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM [OR WORSE, HAVE MISDIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM AS BEING A STUCK ACCELERATOR PROBLEM WHICH IS ALSO RELATED TO THE FLOOR MAT]. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS ARBITRARILY LOST BRAKING ABILITY AS I APPROACHED A RAMP TO ENTER ANOTHER HIGHWAY. MANY LIGHTS WENT ON INCLUDING THE RED TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT. I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SKID CONTROL UNIT IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THIS PART AT A COST OF $2200. IS THIS UNIT A SAFETY THREAT?

Mileage: 76,600

INCIDENT WITH MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKING SYSTEM AND WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED. I HAVE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DOCUMENTATION OF WHAT WAS DONE TO MY CAR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS IN THEIR SHOP FOR 2 MONTHS AND IT TOOK 2 DEALERSHIPS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION, I'LL BE HAPPY TO COOPERATE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS HAS EXHIBITED THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED IN THE NEWS. WHEN YOU ARE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT LURCHES FORWARD. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING AS A "LURCH" OR "SKIDDING" SENSATION WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE MOMENTARY SPLIT SECOND FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. THESE BRAKES ARE ALSO EXTREMELY TOUCHY WHEN IT RAINS. THEY GRAB AS IF YOU HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. IT IS HARD TO DEAL WITH AND WE HAVE NOT FOUND A WAY TO AVOID THE PROBLEM BY SOMEHOW ALTERING OUR BRAKING. I MENTIONED THESE TWO PROBLEMS TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEN AGAIN WHEN ALL THIS WAS ON THE NEWS. THEY SAID THEY'D HAD NO COMPLAINTS AND DISMISSED MY CONCERNS. HOWEVER, WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE THERE ARE OTHER 2005 PRIUS OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE FOR THE CAR TO DO THIS. I THINK THE EARLIER PRIUS MODELS NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE INVESTIGATION AND FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 PRIUS ON THE 210 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES, CA IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE TRAFFIC SPED UP, THEN THE CAR INFRONT SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I HIT MY BRAKES HARD, AND THOUGHT "NOTHING'S HAPPENING." I REAR ENDED THE DAR INFRONT OF ME, CAUSING $A TOTAL OF $9,000 DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. *TR

Mileage: 135,000

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH MOMENTARY FAILURE IN BRAKING SYSTEM. OCCURRING 3 TIMES IN 2009. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE OVER BUMPY OR ICY ROADS REPORTED TO NHTSA IN 2005 WITH NO RESPONSE. TOYOTA DENIED FAILURE AND WE WERE TOLD TO SUE. *TR

Mileage: 2,000

I SENT AN E-MAIL TO NHTSA ON 2/8/10 DESCRIBING THIS COMPLAINT. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE THE OWNERS OF A 2005 PRIUS WHICH WE BOUGHT NEW. EVER SINCE WE'VE OWNED IT WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM: WHEN WE GO OVER A BUMP, POTHOLE, OR UNEVEN SURFACE WE EXPERIENCE A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY-WE HAVE ALWAYS FELT THIS WAS DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND NEVER CONSIDERED THAT IT MIGHT BE A DEFECT OR FLAW, UNTIL NOW. THIS SITUATION IS ONLY MOMENTARY, AND BECAUSE IT LASTS ONLY BRIEFLY WE NEVER FELT OUR SAFETY WAS COMPROMISED. THIS SITUATION IS ON-GOING. WE HAVE HAD OUR FLOOR MATS MODIFIED BY TOYOTA LAST MONTH. *TR

Mileage: 2,000

WAS DRIVING DOWN A FLAT HARTFORD, CT STREET AT AROUND 20 MPH AND BEGAN TO BRAKE AS APPROACHED INTERSECTION AT AN AVENUE WITH STOP SIGN. WHEN COMPRESSING BRAKE ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE CAME AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO GO AS IF IT WAS COASTING. WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION--FORTUNATELY IT WAS LATE AND NO TRAFFIC WAS PRESENT. HAPPENED AGAIN AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION, STOPPED BY BUMPING INTO CURB. . THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AT THE TIME, IT HAD STARTED SNOWING AND I FIGURED IT MUST BE SOME BLACK ICE. BUT GIVEN ALL THE TOYOTA BRAKE PROBLEMS REPORTED, AND THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT NO ABS SIGNAL EVER CAME UP, AND IT DIDN'T FEEL AS THOUGH ABS WAS "PUMPING" THE BRAKES IT SEEMS LIKE THIS COULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER REPORTS OF PRIUS BRAKE FAILURES. *TR

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS - SLIPPING BRAKES - MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OVER THE YEARS, ONE TODAY WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. AS CAR SLOWED, BRAKES SLIPPED DURING TRANSITION FROM REGENERATIVE TO MECHANICAL. CAR'S NOSE PASSED ABOUT 1 FOOT BEYOND WHITE LINE DEMARCATING INTERSECTION. NO CRASH OR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OR OCCUPANTS - THIS TIME. WHY IS TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE RECALL LIMITED TO 2010 YEAR MODEL WHEN THESE EVENTS ARE OCCURRING IN EARLIER YEAR MODELS? I HAVE SUBMITTED TWO REQUESTS TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS WITH NO RESPONSE. *TR

Mileage: 73,200

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES DIDN'T ENGAGE WHEN I PRESSED ON THEM IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I WAS BEHIND A UTILITY TRUCK WITH A CONCRETE POST HANGING ABOUT 10 FEET OFF THE BACK OF IT (PROPERLY MARKED), AND I GAVE MYSELF ROOM BEHIND THE TRUCK AND WAS AWARE OF THE POLE HANGING OFF OF THE TRUCK. TRAFFIC STARTED MOVING, AND I WAS GOING BETWEEN 5-15MPH, AND THEN THE TRUCK BRAKED AND I BRAKED BUT MY BRAKES DIDN'T RESPOND UNTIL THE CONCRETE POLE HAD COME THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD AND ROOF, INCHES FROM MY HEAD. MY ENGINE/FRONT OF CAR WAS NOT DAMAGED BUT MY INSURANCE ADJUSTOR HAS ESTIMATED DAMAGES AT A MINIMUM OF $4,000-$4,500 FOR THE WINDSHIELD AND ROOF, NOT INCLUDING POSSIBLE DASH REPLACEMENT FROM THE SHATTERED GLASS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE TO MOVE OFF OF THE ROAD, BUT FAILED TO TURN BACK ON WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO TOYOTA AND AM WAITING FOR A CASE MANAGER TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME. I WAS MIRACULOUSLY NOT CUT, MAIMED, OR DECAPITATED, BUT HAVE SUSTAINED SHOULDER, BACK, NECK, AND ARM INJURIES AND AM SEEING A CHIROPRACTOR AND AWAITING X-RAY RESULTS. I ALSO HAVE BRUISING FROM MY KNEE HITTING THE DASH BOARD. MY MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATE BASED ON AN OIL CHANGE RECEIPT I FOUND FROM LAST MONTH. *TR

Mileage: 47,800

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCES BRAKE FAILURE WHILE BRAKING ON BUMPY PAVEMENT OR ROUGH TERRAIN. THE CAR APPEARS TO LURCH FORWARD FOR ONE OR TWO SECONDS. I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO BAY RIDGE TOYOTA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE HAVING THE CAR SERVICED. THEY REASSURED ME THAT THE BRAKES WERE WORKING NORMALLY, AND THIS PHENOMENON WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WITH ABS BRAKES. SINCE I WAS TOLD THIS WAS "NORMAL", NO REPAIR WAS OFFERED ME. I HAVE HAD ONE RELATIVELY MINOR CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE HOOD OF THE CAR, BUT FORTUNATELY NO INJURIES. BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE SINCE I FIRST TOOK DELIVERY OF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS' BRAKING SYSTEM ACTS THE SAME WAY AS THE 2010'S WITH THE RECALL. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, IF YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE BRAKES DISENGAGE. *TR

Mileage: 1,000

IF THE CAR DRIVES OVER AN UNLEVEL SURFACE (E.G. STEEL PLATE, MANHOLE COVER, TRANSITION FROM ASPHALT TO CEMENT ROAD) AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE CAR ACCELERATES MOMENTARILY. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, BUT IS MORE RANDOM. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER (RUSSEL TOYOTA IN BALTIMORE MD 21228) WHO KEEPS SAYING THIS IS NORMAL AND EXPECTED FOR PRIUSES. I HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD THEM THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES IN MY OTHER CARS, IT NEVER ACCELERATES. THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT I CONTACT TOYOTA, BUT HAVE REQUESTED THAT I NOT REPORT THIS TO NHTSA. *TR

Mileage: 69,700

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING TEMPORARY BRAKE FAILURES SINCE THE FIRST WINTER IN 2005, OFTEN ON RAINY OR SNOWY DAYS, DRIVING DOWN HILL WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AT A STOP SIGN. I HAVE HAD 4 NEAR-MISSES, TWICE WITH THE CAR COMING INTO THE MIDDLE OF BUSY STREET AND WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS HAD THERE BEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, EACH TIME BEING TOLD THAT THE CAR IS PERFORMING TO SPEC, AND HYBRIDS TAKE LONGER TO BRAKE. I DO NOT BUY THIS ARGUMENT SINCE IT DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY BEHAVE THIS WAY, AND IF THE BRAKE CANNOT BE ENGAGED IN TIME, THEN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE TO BEGIN WITH. PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATION BRINGS OUR FAMILIES NO COMFORT WHEN WE LIE DEAD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THIS SAME PROBLEM IS BEING INVESTIGATED AND ADDRESSED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT TOYOTA WILL CONTINUE TO REFUSE ACKNOWLEDGING AND ADDRESSING THIS FATAL DEFECT UNTIL NHTSA PRESSURES THEM TO. PLEASE BROADEN THE PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE GEN 2 PRIUS ALSO, FROM YEARS 2004 THROUGH 2009. A QUICK GOOGLE WILL DEMONSTRATE HOW WIDE-SPREAD THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AMONG MANY UNHAPPY PRIUS OWNERS.*TR

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING TEMPORARY BRAKE FAILURES SINCE THE FIRST WINTER IN 2005, OFTEN ON RAINY OR SNOWY DAYS, DRIVING DOWN HILL WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AT A STOP SIGN. INSTEAD OF RESPONDING TO THE BRAKE, THE CAR WILL APPEAR TO TEMPORARILY SURGE FORWARD. I HAVE HAD 4 NEAR-MISSES, TWICE WITH THE CAR COMING INTO THE MIDDLE OF BUSY STREET AND WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS HAD THERE BEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, EACH TIME BEING TOLD THAT THE CAR IS PERFORMING TO SPEC, AND HYBRIDS TAKE LONGER TO BRAKE. I DO NOT BUY THIS ARGUMENT SINCE IT DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY BEHAVE THIS WAY, AND IF THE BRAKE CANNOT BE ENGAGED IN TIME, THEN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE TO BEGIN WITH. PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATION BRINGS OUR FAMILIES NO COMFORT WHEN WE LIE DEAD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THIS SAME PROBLEM IS BEING INVESTIGATED AND ADDRESSED IN THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT TOYOTA WILL CONTINUE TO REFUSE ACKNOWLEDGING AND ADDRESSING THIS FATAL DEFECT UNTIL NHTSA PRESSURES THEM TO. PLEASE BROADEN THE PRIUS BRAKE FAILURE INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE GEN 2 PRIUS ALSO, FROM YEARS 2004 THROUGH 2009. A QUICK GOOGLE WILL DEMONSTRATE HOW WIDE-SPREAD THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AMONG MANY UNHAPPY PRIUS OWNERS. *TR

AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT BEHIND A VAN, THE VAN ABRUPTLY STOPPED. I HIT THE BRAKES IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENABLE RIGHT AWAY AND THE CAR I WAS DRIVING REAR-ENDED THE VAN. *TR

AFTER CHANGING LANES FROM THE LEFT RIGHT LANE TO THE LEFT LANE NEAR DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, A CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ON A YELLOW LIGHT. I QUICKLY HIT THE BRAKES WHICH SEEMED TO SLOWLY ENGAGE AND WAS HIT THE CAR FROM BEHIND. *TR

EASILY REPLICATED, UNEXPECTED BRAKE RELEASE ON 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. 1) DRIVE OVER ROUGH PART OF ROAD, OR SLICK SPOT 2) APPLY BRAKES 3) NO RESPONSE FROM BRAKES FOR A SECOND OR SO. *TR

Mileage: 1

WE HAVE A 2005 PRIUS HYBRID. IT HAS, EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED IT, OCCASIONALLY ACCELERATED WHEN WE HAVE PUT ON BRAKES. IT STOPS AFTER A SECOND OR TWO, AND HAS NEVER CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, THOUGH IT IS SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS. I BELIEVE THE ONLY RECALL THAT APPLIES TO THIS MODEL YEAR IS THE FLOOR MAT PROBLEM, WHICH IS NOT THE ISSUE. WHAT I'VE READ IS THAT THE OLDER PRIUS'S DON'T HAVE THE BRAKING/ACCELERATION PROBLEM. BUT OURS CERTAINLY DOES. WE LOVE THE CAR OTHERWISE, BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOME ACTION WE SHOULD TAKE REGARDING THIS, AND IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 AND 2010 PRIUS. I HAVE NOTICED A SENSE OF"SURGE" WHEN BRAKING SLOWLY OVER IRREGULAR PAVEMENT WITH BOTH CARS. I ALWAYS JUST CONSIDERED IT A QUIRK OF THE CAR. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT THIS BRAKING PROBLEM IS AT LEAST PRESENT IN THE 2005 PRIUSES. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS RELATING TO THIS. NOTHING YET HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS. *TR

MY 2005 MODEL PRIUS LOST BRAKE MOMENTARILY AND ACCELERATED ON A BUMPY STRETCH OF ROAD. IT HAPPENS ALWAYS I PASS OVER THE SAME STRETCH JUST ON A STOP SIGNAL. IT STOPPED VERY CLOSE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT AFTER REGAINING THE BRAKE LUCKILY AVOIDING ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED ON THE 2010 PRIUS AND IS BEING RECALLED. *TR

FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS I'VE NOTICED A STRANGE SENSATION WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR RIPPLES IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BUT DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS A RARE OCCURRENCE. AFTER READING ABOUT TOYOTA'S RECENT RECALL OF THE 2010 PRIUS I REALIZED THAT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS THE BRAKES WERE RELEASING WHILE GOING OVER THE BUMPS. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE FEW TIMES IN THE SNOW, I HAD THE SENSATION THAT THE ANTI-LOCK FUNCTION RELEASED THE BRAKES FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS DURING WHICH I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO SENSATION OF PULSING OR SKID MARKS. THERE IS A RIPPLED SPOT ON A NEARBY ROAD THAT I CAN ALWAYS REPRODUCE THE BRAKE RELEASE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 5,200

I HAVE A 2005 (EARLY 2ND GENERATION) PRIUS AND I EXPERIENCED THE LATEST REPORTED "DESIGN FLAW" IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM FROM DAY 1 IN 2005. THE BEST DESCRIPTION I'VE HEARD OF IT IS "INCONSISTENT BRAKING OVER ROUGH SURFACES". THAT IS, WHEN DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE OR BUMP WHEN APPLYING THE (REGENERATIVE) BRAKES, THE BUMP SEEMS TO PUSH BACK, MOMENTARILY DISENGAGING THE BRAKES. THE EFFECT IS AT BEST, UNNERVING, AND AT WORST, SCARY, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO WHEN IT HAPPENS (IE, SLOWING VS TRYING TO STOP). I BROUGHT THIS EXPERIENCE TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER SERVICE PERSONNEL A COUPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND WAS MET WITH THE EQUIVALENT OF BLANK STARES AND THE SOUND OF CRICKETS. BOTTOM LINE, THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM IN 2010 MODEL PRIUS ONLY. *TR

Mileage: 1,000

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS THAT HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE ISSUES INCLUDING SURGING FORWARD WHEN BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT IS A BIT SCARY. I PLAN TO BRING IT UP TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHEN I GO FOR MY 45,000 MILE TUNE UP, PROBABLY NEXT WEEK. *TR

Mileage: 43,580

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES FAILED WHEN I TRIED TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS RED UNTIL I WAS VERY CLOSE TO IT, SO I "SLAMMED" ON THE BRAKES. I HAD MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE PEDAL AND IT WAS LIKE THE BRAKES RELEASED. LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LATER, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE PRIUS AND TRAFFIC INFRONT OF US STOPPED VERY QUICKLY. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM, THE BRAKES RELEASED WHEN HE HAD THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN. AGAIN THIS WAS AN "EXTREME" BRAKING SITUATION. I TOOK THE PRIUS TO DARCARS IN FREDERICK, MD, WHERE I BOUGHT IT, TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN. THEY SAID IF ANYTHING WENT WRONG IT WOULD BE RECORDED IN THE SOFTWARE OF THE CAR AND IT WASN'T SO THAT MEANT THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I THEN TRADED THE CAR IN FOR A RAV4 BECAUSE I WASN'T GOING TO DRIVE A CAR THAT HAD UNRELIABLE BRAKES. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKES FAILED TOTALLY WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I TOUCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES LOCKED HARD, AND THE SMELL OF THE BRAKE BANDS WAS HIGH. I SLOWED TO 20 MPH AND WENT TO TONIO DIVION TOYOTA IN RIVERDALE UTAH. THE DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY HAD NOT EXPIRED, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT A PART OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE ELECTRONIC BOARD FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $985.87. IF THIS QUALIFIES ON A PRIUS RECALL CAN I GET ANY MONEY BACK? *TR

Mileage: 55,000

2005 PRIUS THAT HAS THE SAME BRAKING ISSUES THAT THE 2010 PRIUS IS BEING RECALLED FOR. THE BRAKES MOMENTARILY FAIL WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND HITTING ROUGH OR SLICK ROAD SPOTS. THIS BEHAVIOR HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED MY PRIUS. *TR

Mileage: 2,500

I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT WAITING FOR IT TO TURN GREEN WHEN MY BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I ONLY HAD A FEW BLOCKS TO GET TO MY DESTINATION AND THE BRAKES STILL WORKED IF I PUSHED ON THEM REALLY HARD. I GOT IT PARKED AND LEFT IT FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS AND WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THEY WORKED FINE AGAIN. IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE. I HAVE ABS BRAKES. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS I HAVE THE SAME BRAKING ISSUE THAT THE 2010 PRIUS HAS WITH BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACES AND HITTING POT HOLDS MY BRAKES HAVE MEMORY LOSS THEY HIT THE UNEVEN SURFACE THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE, IT FEELS LIKE IT GETS AIR BORNE ALSO WHEN THE WEATHER IS WET THE BRAKES LOCK UP, I BARELY TOUCH THEM THEN BRAKES LOCK THROWING EVERYTHING FORWARD. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKE ISSUES THE LAST TIME WAS ABOUT 10/09 THEY FOUND NO TROUBLE, BOTH PROBLEM ARE CURRENT ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO TELL ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *TR

Mileage: 100

I HAVE NOTICED THE ONGOING DISTURBANCE WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, AS DESCRIBED IN MEDIA REPORTS ON THE NEWER PRIUS MODELS. DURING THE BRAKING PROCESS, IF I ENCOUNTER ANY DISTURBANCE IN THE ROAD SUCH AS A POT HOLE OR AN EXPANSION JOINT, I FEEL A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING. THE CAR WILL REGAIN BRAKING CONTROL IF I CONTINUE TO HOLD THE BRAKES DOWN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WAS JUST TO BE EXPECTED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ISSUE EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2008.

Mileage: 87,000

FEBURARY 13, 2009, MY BREAKS FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION. NO WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED. MY BREAKS JUST DIDN'T WORK. IN ORDER TO STOP MY VEHICLE FROM SLAMMING INTO CARS WAITING AT THE LIGHT AND PEOPLE CROSSING AT THE CROSS WALK, I APPLIED THE PARKING BREAK AND TURNED OFF MY CAR. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO STOP MY CAR IN TIME. I TURNED MY CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON; INDICATING SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. TOYOTA DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM CITING THE BREAK ACTUATOR AND COMPUTER SKID CONTROL. *CN

Mileage: 53,539

2005 AND 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING PROBLEMS. I HAVE A 2005 AND A 2009 TOYOTA PRIUS. ON BOTH OF THESE VEHICLES, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS WHICH ARE BEING DESCRIBED IN THE NEWS ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS MODEL. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE POTENTIAL IS CERTAINLY THERE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN I AM MOVING FORWARD, HAVE THE BRAKE SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED, AND I HIT A POT HOLE OR SPEED BUMP. THE WHEELS MOMENTARILY SPEED UP, SO I REACT BY PRESSING HARDER ON THE BRAKES AND THE WHEELS SLOW DOWN. *TW

Mileage: 20,000

BRAKES STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLIED GOING OVER ROUGH SURFACES SUCH AS RAILROAD TRACKS AND POTHOLES. THIS RESULTS IN A BRIEF SUSPENSION OF BRAKING ACTIVITY. OCCURS EACH TIME THE ABOVE CONDITIONS ARE MET AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. SINCE I ALWAYS REDUCE SPEED IN THESE POTENTIAL SITUATIONS, NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, BUT IT DOES RESULT IN AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN REAR END COLLISIONS. PREVIOUSLY MY 1999 CHEVROLET SUV DID THE SAME THING AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN INHERENT CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ANTILOCK BREAKING SYSTEM. *CN

Mileage: 10

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS OF THE BRAKES IN MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AND BRIEF, AND ONLY OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN OR POTHOLES. IT IS IDENTICAL TO THE RECENT ADVISORIES ISSUED ON THE 2010 MODEL PRIUS. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A NORMAL 'ANTI-SKID' FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE, BUT NOW I BELIEVE OTHERWISE, AFTER READING ABOUT THE 2010 MODEL ISSUES. *CN

Mileage: 160,000

2005 PRIUS THAT I PURCHASED NEW LOSES BRAKING MOMENTARILY WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR A POTHOLE. I NOTICED THIS SOON AFTER I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER CONTACTED THE DEALER REGARDING THIS BUT FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION IT AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

Mileage: 200

2005 PRIUS BRAKE MY BRAKES FAILED IN THE RAIN. I WAS DRIVING ON A ROAD THAT HAS OLD TROLLEY TRACKS AND I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 20 MPH AND I DECIDED TO STOP FOR A YELLOW LIGHT. I PUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I JUST KEPT ROLLING DOWNHILL. NO ABS NOTHING. IF THERE HAD BEEN SOMETHING IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HAVE HIT IT. AFTER ABOUT 20 FEET MY BRAKES STARTED TO WORK AND AT THAT POINT THE SKID LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS REALLY LUCKY THAT THIS INTERSECTION HAS A STOP 20 FEET BEFORE THE CORNER OR I WOULD HAVE GONE RIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A 2005 PRIUS. IF YOU HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE WHILE BRAKING FROM A NORMAL SPEED, THE CAR WILL BRIEFLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THIS CAUSES ADDITIONAL BRAKING PRESSURE TO BE NEEDED AND PRECISE STEERING. MANY PRIUS OWNERS SINCE 2004 HAVE INDICATED THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 100

WE HAVE THE SAME BRAKE DEFECT IN OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AS THE DEFECT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING REPORTED IN THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. IN OUR CAR, WHEN WE GO OVER A MANHOLE COVER OR SIMILAR IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS MOMENTARILY HYDROPLANING AND YOU HAVE LOST TRACTION. MY WIFE STOPPED DRIVING THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THIS SENSATION THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2005 AND HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR IS LIGHT WEIGHT SO I NEVER REPORTED IT UNTIL I READ PEOPLE'S DESCRIPTIONS OF THE 2010 PRIUS PROBLEM. OUR PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME THING. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

2005 TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKING DELAY ON BUMPY/WET ROADS SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT 04/16/2007 ON RT 70 IN BRICK, NJ. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

THIS MORNING'S AP STORY ABOUT THE NHTSA LOOKING INTO ALLEGATIONS OF MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES, POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN 2010 PRIUSES JOGGED MY MEMORY ABOUT THIS HAVING HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES TO ME IN MY 2005 PRIUS. I CAN'T STATE DATES, BUT I'D SAY THAT EVERY 3 MONTHS OR SO, I WILL BRAKE WHERE THE ROAD IS UNEVEN, THE SLIP INDICATOR LIGHTS UP ON THE DASHBOARD, AND I FEEL A LOSS OF CONTROL JUST FOR A MOMENT UNTIL I FEEL THE CAR REGAIN CONTROL. MAYBE THAT'S JUST THE ANTILOCK BRAKES KICKING IN, BUT IT IS AN UNEASY FEELING. *TR

Mileage: 1,000

I JUST READ ABOUT THE 2010 PRIUS BRAKING COMPLAINTS. I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS AND CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCE WHAT IS BEING DESCRIBED. EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP OR A POT HOLE, THE PRIUS LUNGES FORWARD ESPECIALLY IF I'M BRAKING AT THE TIME. ALSO, WHEN I BRAKE ON SLICK ROADS I OFTEN EXPERIENCE THE PRIUS' BRAKES NOT ENGAGING AS THEY SHOULD. ONCE I TRIED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, GOING A PROPER RATE OF SPEED, ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD. THE PRIUS' BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE ENOUGH TO SLOW THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE TURN. I WAS FORCED TO GO STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION. THIS "PROBLEM" HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2005. I KNEW IT WAS THE COMPUTER SYSTEM CAUSING THE ANOMALY, BUT I FIGURED THAT I JUST NEEDED TO GET USED TO IT. NOW, AFTER READING THE MEDIA REPORTS, I BELIEVE THIS IS INFACT A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLES SENSORS AND SOFTWARE. *TR

PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB, ON A SLOPE, MY 2005 PRIUS DID NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLOPE (HUNDREDS OF FEET), THE BRAKE STOPPED THE CAR JUST AT A VERY BUSY, FAST MOVING INTERSECTION. I TOLD THIS TO THE FLOOR MAT RECALL DESK (AS MY FLOOR MAT WAS FINE) AND THEY INSISTED I CALL A DIFFERENT NUMBER, WHICH I NEGLECTED TO DO. *TR

Mileage: 24,000

I BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA PRIUS IN 2005. WHEN THE VEHICLE RIDES OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT THE STABILITY CONTROL MAKES THE CAR QUICKLY LURCH FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. RECENTLY, I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES IN ICY CONDITIONS. I WAS CRUISING AT ABOUT 15 MPH TO A STOP SIGN, NOT ON SNOW, IT WAS JUST BELOW FREEZING THAT DAY, WHEN I APPLIED THE FOOT BRAKE I FELT NO RESISTANCE IN THE PEDAL. I COULD FEEL THE ABS SYSTEM DISENGAGE FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR USING THE BRAKES SO I ROLLED TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW MINUTES LATER. *TR

Mileage: 85,200

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND BRAKING UPON APPROACHING A CURVE AND A METAL PLATE ON THE ROAD ABOUT 40 FEET BEFORE A STOP SIGN. THE CAR ACCELERATED MOMENTARILY (SURGED) ON THE UNEVEN SURFACE, FOR LESS THAN 1 SECOND. AS I DROVE THIS STRETCH OF ROAD ONCE PER WEEK, I THEN APPROACHED IT MORE SLOWLY. AT LOWER SPEEDS, THE BRAKING PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR, BUT WEEKS WHEN I FORGOT TO DRIVE MORE SLOWLY, THE BRAKING PROBLEM RECURRED (NOT SURE OF THE HIT RATE - PERHAPS 40% OF THE TIME AT ~35 MPH). I AM UNCERTAIN OF THE DATES: VERY ROUGHLY, APRIL 2009 - SEPTEMBER 2009, WHILE THE METAL PLATE WAS IN PLACE. // I HAVE EXPERIENCED A BRAKING PROBLEM ON ONE OTHER OCCASION ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF UNEVEN ROAD, GOING ABOUT 35 MPH AND OVER A POTHOLE. THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 1, 2010. ONCE AGAIN, THE CAR ACCELERATED/SURGED FOR LESS THAN 1 SECOND. *TR

Mileage: 57,000

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS AND I WANT TO REPORT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IN THAT MODEL AS WELL. DURING THE 4 1/2/ YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR THERE HAVE BEEN THREE INCIDENTS WHERE THE ABS SYSTEM TOOK TOO LONG TO KICK IN. IN TWO OF THOSE INCIDENTS, IF THERE HAD BEEN ONE MORE SECOND BEFORE THE BRAKES WORKED, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. ALL THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED ON SMOOTHLY PAVED FREEWAYS. I WANT IT TO BE KNOWN THAT THE ABS FAILURE IS OCCURRING IN 2005 MODELS AND ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT. DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR THE BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THIS DID NOT PREVENT THE ABS FAILURE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THE INCIDENT DATE I AM INCLUDING IS THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAPPENED ON THE NORTH 5 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES IN DECEMBER 2009. *TR

MY TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 HAS THE SAME BRAKING ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE MEDIA TODAY FOR THE 2010 MODEL. IN ADDITION, THE SKID CONTROL CAUSES A SUDDEN POWER LOSS DURING ACCELERATION IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS TO THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED WITH BRAKING FAILURES IN THE 2010 MODEL (POTHOLES, EVEN SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD, RAPID ACCELERATION AROUND CURVES, IN ADDITION TO WHEN THERE IS ICE ON THE ROAD) THAT REPORTEDLY HAS BEEN FIXED. ALTHOUGH THE COMPLETE POWER LOSS LASTS LESS THAN A SECOND RECOVERY OF POWER IS SLOW ENOUGH TO HAVE STRANDED ME IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAITING FOR ACCELERATION IN A NUMBER SITUATIONS WHERE THERE WAS NO RISK ASSOCIATED WITH LOSS OF TRACTION. I CONTACTED TOYOTA SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND TRIED FILED A COMPLAINT (I WAS REALLY PERSISTENT), BUT THEY REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A DESIGN FLAW SAYING ONLY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT THE VEHICLE, AS DESIGNED, WAS DANGEROUS, THEY ONLY REITERATED THAT IT WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND REFUSED TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION. IT FELT TO ME THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT ADMITTING THE PROBLEM COULD AVALANCHE INTO A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY HAVE NOW. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING AND PERSISTENT ISSUE THAT HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR (FOUR PLUS YEARS). *TR

Mileage: 5

JUST HEARD A REPORT ABOUT BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE 2010 PRIUS. MY 2005 PRIUS DOES THE EXACT SAME THING - SOMETIMES ACCELERATES WHEN PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL ON BUMPY ROADS OR STREETS WITH POTHOLES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

WHEN BRAKING ON BUMPY ROADS OR POTHOLES MY PRIUS LURCHES FORWARD BEFORE THE BRAKE FINALLY ENGAGES. I PUT TODAY'S DATE AS THE "INCIDENT DATE" BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. THERE IS A BUMPY ROAD NEAR MY HOME WHERE I FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE THIS. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS, EXHIBITS THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF ACCELERATION, SKIDDING EFFECT WHEN HITTING A BUMP AND BRAKING, AS TODAY'S REPORT OF THE 2010 PRIUS DOING THE SAME THING. I THOUGHT IT HAS BEEN THE ANTI-SKIDDING MECHANISM ALL THESE YEARS, BUT THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS MALADY IN THE 2010 PRIUS SOUNDS LIKE MY 2005. *TR

OUR 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS SURGES WHEN WE ARE BRAKING, COMING TO A STOP AND PASS OVER A MOUND OR POTHOLE, THAT IS, ANY IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD'S SURFACE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, AND LUCKILY, NO COLLISION HAS YET OCCURRED. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS WITH ABOUT 80K MILES. WHEN BRAKING, THE CAR JERKED FORWARD INTO AN INTERSECTION ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR. THERE WERE NO SPECIAL WEATHER CONDITIONS TO REPORT WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND I WAS DRIVING AT A NORMAL SPEED BEFORE BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT THREE TIMES. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

I HAVE A 2005 PRIUS THAT HAS AN EXTRA OPTION OF STABILITY CONTROL. THE CAR DOES AS OTHERS ARE REPORTING IN THE 2010 MODELS. IF I HIT A BUMP OR ICY PATCH WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE OR AS I AM APPLYING THE BRAKE THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND THE BRAKE DOES NOT ENGAGE. THUS FAR I AM ABLE TO HIT HARDER AND HOLD THE BRAKE A SECOND TIME AND THE CAR THEN BEHAVES AS EXPECTED AND STOPS. *TR

'05 TOYOTA PRIUS. CHRONIC FAILURE OF ANTILOCK BRAKES AND OF VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL. TOYOTA DEALERS REPAIR SHOP CLAIMS THAT THIS IS TO BE FIXED AT MY EXPENSE. SEEMS TO ME THAT IMPORTANT SAFETY DEFECTS SHOULD BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. HOW MANY LIKE-COMPLAINTS HAVE YOU REC'D.? *TR

TOYOTA PRIUS 2005 FAILING BRAKE SYSTEM- FOR THE SECOND TIME (THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON 27-JUN-2008) MY BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE FIRST TIME THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP "RECALIBRATED THE COMPUTER" AND COULD NOT TELL ME WHY IS FAILED OR THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. THE SECOND OCCASION, YESTERDAY, I ACTUALLY REARENDED ANOTHER CAR. NO DAMAGE OTHER THAN A COMPLAINT OF POSSIBLE WHIPLASH AND A WARNING THAT I MAY HEAR FROM HIM IN A FEW DAYS. THE DEALER JUST CALLED ME THIS AFTERNOON TO TELL ME THAT NOW THEY ARE "REPLACING THE COMPUTER." DOES THIS HAPPEN TO PRIUS'S. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AND REALLY MAKES ME FEEL QUITE UNSAFE TO DRIVE MY CAR WHICH PRESENTED NO MAJOR PROBLEMS UNTIL THE PRESENT BRAKING ISSUE. THE ANTI SKID LIGHT COMES ON A FAIR AMOUNT AND MY TIRES SLIP. I HAVE BEEN ON LINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE AND IN DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 25,133

SPONTANEOUS FAILURE OF REGENERATIVE AND POWER BRAKING SYSTEMS ON PRIUS, RESULTING IN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BRAKING AND LONG STOPPING DISTANCE; THE 2 OCCURRENCES HAPPENED AT A SPEED OF LESS THAN 30MPH SO I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COME TO A STOP, BUT AT A HIGHER SPEED IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. THERE WAS NO WARNING, AND IN ONE CASE, THE BRAKES WERE NOT EVEN BEING APPLIED AT THE TIME, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. THE PROBLEM, BRAKE, ABS, AND PS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE, AND THERE IS AN AUDIBLE ALARM. THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM ANY REPAIRS AFTER THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT BUT AFTER A SECOND INCIDENT THEY ARE NOW REPLACING THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. *TR

Mileage: 22,000

I WAS INVOLVED IN A LOW-SPEED ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE BRAKES IN MY CAR (2005 TOYOTA PRIUS) DID NOT SLOW OR STOP THE CAR AND CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE MY CAR COLLIDED WITH. THE EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS ESTIMATED APPROXIMATELY $6700. SOON AFTER, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT MY CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM. I REQUESTED THAT THE EVENT DATA RECORDER BE DOWNLOADED TO DETERMINE IF THERE HAD BEEN A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. MY INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSED AND TOYOTA APPEARS TO HAVE IGNORED MY REQUEST. I ALSO FIND IT DISTURBING AND CURIOUS THAT THE FRONT END AND HENCE THE HYBRID SYSTEM WAS DESTROYED BEYOND REPAIR IN AN ACCIDENT SO MINOR THAT THE POLICE WOULD NOT EVEN GIVE IT A REPORT NUMBER. *JB

Mileage: 7,532