2009 TOYOTA PRIUS Service Brakes, Electric Problems

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. *TR

Mileage: 9,000

TOYOTA 2009 PRIUS LOSES BRAKES TEMPORARILY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. *TR

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. *TR

Mileage: 500

ON 4/05/2010 AS I WAS DRIVING WEST ON GALBRAITH ROAD I WAS HEADED DOWNHILL TO A RED LIGHT AND APPLYING MY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN FOR THE LIGHT. AS I WAS SLOWING THE ROAD BECAME EXTREMELY BUMPY AND MY BRAKES 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 BRAKING 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 BRAKE 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. *TR

Mileage: 6,250

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

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

Mileage: 47,453

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.

Mileage: 33,000

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

Mileage: 21,500

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

Mileage: 10,000

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.

Mileage: 13,500

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

Mileage: 10,000

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

Mileage: 1,000

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

Mileage: 26,000

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

Mileage: 5,000

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

Mileage: 10,000

2009 PRIUS DISPLAYS ERRATIC BRAKING BEHAVIOR WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON IRREGULAR SURFACES...RR TRACKS, GRAVEL ETC. *TR

Mileage: 17,000

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

Mileage: 22,000

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

Mileage: 20,000

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

Mileage: 100

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

Mileage: 13,000

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

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

Mileage: 10,000

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

Mileage: 2,100

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

Mileage: 21,000

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

Mileage: 3,000

2009 TOYOTA PRIUS HIT POTHOLE AND CAR LURCHES FORWARD. BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON FOR A SECOND. *TR

Mileage: 6,600

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

Mileage: 20

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') SUDDENLY STOPPED. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES BUT MY CAR KEPT GOING. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AS MY CAR PLOWED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AT THE SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE IMPACT WAS SUFFICIENT TO DISLODGE MY FRONT LICENSE PLATE. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, HOWEVER THE TWO PASSENGERS WERE EXTREMELY SHAKEN UP. THERE WAS A MASSACHUSETTS STATE TROOPER ON THE SCENE WHO TOOK ALL THE INFORMATION BUT DID NOT FILE A REPORT. AS SOON AS I COULD, AT ABOUT 11:00 AM, I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA TO REPORT THE ACCIDENT, AND I EXPLAINED ALL OF THE DETAILS TO THEM. *TR

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

Mileage: 5,000

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

Mileage: 12,500

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

Mileage: 9,100

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

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

Mileage: 20,000

MY 2009 PRIUS CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCES LOCKING BRAKES WHEN SMALL BUMPS ARE HIT. I CAN RECREATE THIS ISSUE CONSISTENTLY ON SPECIFIC ROADS. *TR

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

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

Mileage: 11,000

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

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

Mileage: 24,000

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

Mileage: 29,000

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'T WORK. I THEN SAW A WOMAN IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, ABOUT A FOOT FROM ME STANDING ON THE CURB IN FRONT OF THE BLDG'S GLASS FAADE. I TURNED THE WHEEL JUST MISSING HER AS WELL AS THE BLDG. FRANTICALLY PRESSING THE BRAKES WHILE THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING MORE, I ALMOST WENT ON TO A BUSY ST. ACROSS FROM A MALL. SOMEHOW I SAVED MYSELF & OTHERS BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RT, REENTERING THE PROPERTY VIA A CURB CUT FOR WHEELCHAIRS, ETC. I MISSED HITTING A POLE BUT RAN OVER 2 TREES, WHICH THE CAR SEVERED & WHICH ABRUPTLY STOPPED THE CAR, JUST BEFORE HITTING A BRICK WALL. THIS ALL HAPPENED AT NIGHT, IN THE DARK, IN REVERSE.THE POLICEMAN & THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR WERE INCREDULOUS HOW THE CAR GOT INTO THAT SPACE. IT WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY TOYOTA DEALER, WHERE THE BRAKES WERE PRONOUNCED "PERFECT". SO MY HUSBAND INSISTED I BE CHECKED OUT. WHILE RELATING THE INCIDENT TO THE DOCTOR, THE DR. GOOGLED "PRIUS BRAKE/ACCELERATION PROBLEMS" & FOUND MANY & PRINTED 1 OF A 2009 PRIUS WHERE THE DRIVER ENCOUNTERED 3 SUCH OCCURRENCES "DUE TO A COMBINATION OF MYSTERIOUS ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF BRAKES". THE DR. WAS CERTAIN I WAS THE 'VICTIM", BUT SUGGESTED I HAVE AN MRI "TO BE SURE"--WHICH I DID & I'M FINE. THAT I WAS IN CONTROL IN A TOTALLY UNCONTROLLABLE SITUATION AT NIGHT WITH A CAR IN REVERSE, WHERE I ALMOST KILLED SOMEONE & POSSIBLY KILLED OR HURT OTHERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, AND DONE CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE ALONG THE WAY IS A MIRACLE AND THE CULPRIT, I'M CONVINCED, IS/WAS A "GLITCH" IN THE CAR'S COMPUTER. *TR

Mileage: 3,222

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

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

Mileage: 16,230

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

Mileage: 3,400

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