I have a 2005 toyota prius, purchased in september 2006. Ever since I've owned my 2005 prius, I have experienced unintended acceleration on a regular basis. It most often happens on a particular street in my neighborhood where I need to stop before entering a main thoroughfare. There is a very slight decline just before the road terminates at an intersection. I'm always traveling at a relatively slow speed (15-20 MPH), coasting and not depressing the gas peddle when it occurs. Just at the point where I begin to brake, the car suddenly lunges forward and accelerates. I have to hit the brakes, and the car feels like it's still going forward, and the traction control light on the dashboard comes on. This first time it occurred was during the winter following purchase of my car. Initially I thought that the car performed poorly in snow because the traction control light was coming on. But then after that first winter passed and the roads were completely dry, it happened as well and continues to happen regularly. Fortunately it always happens under these very particular circumstances when I'm not traveling fast, otherwise I fear not being able to stop the car and plowing into a main street, or hitting a car in front of me, or worse hitting a pedestrian.
2005 Toyota Prius acceleration complaints
Page 5 of 5: complaints 101 to 109 of 109, newest first, as owners wrote them.
2005 toyota prius, 10 months old, 14,000 miles. My wife experienced an unintended acceleration while coasting down interstate at 65 MPH with feet off pedals. Vehicle surged to 90 MPH even though she applied both regular and emergency brake during acceleration. She checked both feet on brakes not obstructed. She exited interstate and careened through small town eventually ditching vehicle through forest, ending up in a river after somersaulting end over end 3 times, clipping off trees 10 feet above the ground. State patrol investigation concludes accelerator caused accident. Numerous contacts with toyota beginning day of accident. No action by toyota as of march 2007. *jb **12/10/09 cw ** updated 12/14/09
I was driving on a highway at approximately 65 MPH. Vehicle suddenly went into uncontrolled acceleration while the vehicle was in operation on the highway. The only way that I was able to slow down the vehicle was by riding the brakes. I finally slow down the vehicle with the brakes and turned it off. Smoke was coming out of the wheels when the vehicle was turned off. Vehicle was towed to the dealer.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle stalled on two separate occasions. The first time it occurred was on april 7th while driving at a steady speed of 25mph. The second time it occurred was on april 21st while driving at a steady speed of 5-15 MPH. All the warning lights illuminated and the vehicle was pulled over. Once pulled over, the vehicle would not go back into the drive position. Afterwards, it stalled and would not restart. The stalling occurred 3-5 minutes after it was pulled over. The vehicle was towed to the dealership both times. The first time the dealer replaced the entire transmission. The second time the dealer replaced the inverter. On april 23rd while driving the dash board lights became inoperable including the speedometer, and the gear indicator. The contact alerted the dealership by phone who explained the problem was likely the circuit board and it was okay to continue driving the vehicle. Afterwards, the vehicle began to blow out hot and cold air and the dealership was alerted again which explained it was okay to continue driving. Shortly after it began to rain, the wipers were turned on, and the dash lights became inoperable once again. The vehicle is scheduled for inspection on monday may 8th.
The critical safety concern is noted as follows: on october 21, 2005, I was traveling with the cruise control active at 55 miles per hour. Upon approaching a slower vehicle and checking traffic, I proceeded to accelerate the vehicle in an attempt to quickly pass the vehicle driving before me. Upon successful passage of the vehicle, I let off the accelerator and pressed the brakes several times, but the vehicle continued to accelerate under full power. Under the conditions, I tried to quickly disrupt this safety critical issue. To the best of my recollection I tried to slow the vehicle by pushing the power button, manipulating the cruise control lever, and putting the vehicle in neutral. All attempts were unsuccessful. Under considerable distress, traveling approximately 20 miles over the posted speed limit at this point, and continuing to accelerate, I elected to apply full braking force to the prius while "laboring" the vehicle to a standstill on the gravel shoulder of the road. Regaining my composure, I pushed the power button, and the vehicle shutdown. The cabin of the motor vehicle exhibited a strong odor reminiscent of electrical motor smell. No root cause has been found to date. Vehicle was driven by dealer and issue was re-created during initial test-drive from porter.
Dt: consumer was driving about 45 minutes / 65 MPH when vehicle lost power/stalled. All warning lights were on. Consumer was able to restart vehicle after it stalled by letting it sit for a while. Vehicle had a history of accelerating and stalling. *ak
Dt: while driving at approximately 68 MPH the vehicle began to loose speed. The consumer was able to pull the vehicle off to the side of the road and park. No warning light illuminated indicating there was a problem. The consumer had been driving for about an hour at 68 MPH when the vehicle began to lose power. After the vehicle sat for about 1 1/2 minutes the vehicle operated as if nothing had happened. *ak the consumer heard one beep, then the vehicle lost all power. The consumer pressed the accelerator but it did not respond. The service dealer could not find a problem. *sc
2005 toyota prius -- floormat becomes lodged between pedals. -- while driving at high speeds (60-70 MPH) on the freeway, I noticed a loss of sensitivity on both the brake and gas pedals. I had to press very hard to get a reaction from either pedal. As a result I was unable to keep driving at the same speed as the surrounding cars. Everything else seemed to be operating normally. The sensation continued for a few minutes until I could safely pull off of the freeway. Upon investigation, I realized that the floormat had come unhooked from its restraints and stuck between the pedals and the floor. I secured the floormat to its hooks once again and continued driving without trouble. This has happened a couple times since, but I recognize the symptoms and fix it promptly. However, I fear that another owner might experience this when they need to brake or accelerate suddenly to avoid an accident. (I noticed another posting that described the same problem). Perhaps toyota should install locking hooks rather than the current ones that easily twist and unhook from the mats.
Car was being driven on multi-lane city arterial in moderate traffic. To try to quickly avoid an obstructing vehicle ahead, driver rapidly depressed accelerator pedal to fullest extent while steering. Car then immediately, and without warning, lost all engine power and rolled to a stop. Two general warning lights on dashboard illuminated. Repeatedly depressing accelerator pedal produced no motion or other result. After engaging emergency flashers, only way to regain engine power was to shut off ignition, which required engaging parking circuit and depressing power on/off button, then after shutdown procedure was complete, again pressing power on/off button and waiting for hybrid system to energize. Warning lights again came on but car now responded to accelerator and driver was able to move to parking lane. This was the third time in the eight months of owning this new car that such a sudden shutdown occurred. After the first two times in late november-early december 2004, car had been taken to dealer for service and was returned to owners reported as fixed by replacing faulty accelerator sensor.
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