2006 Toyota Prius: jerking or lurching

Filed Jan 19, 2022 · Brakes · IN

When I brake and also go over a bump my 2006 Prius lurches forward. The traction control light illuminates. The faulty traction control system sent me into a 1-2 second lurch forward with zero brakes. Then the brake engage then I can stop. I told the dealer about it and they told me there is reprogram fix for the ECM but only 2008 to 2009 which a 2nd generation as my car since 2nd generation is 2005 to 2009 but they said we can do it for my car. I am not sure how they decide what year it can be applied to within the same generation which has the same exact parts. I am sure many prius owners have the same issue, you can see it from the bumpers detached at one side on the front and maybe both side becuase this how it was when i got my car who ever owned must have went through braking issue and i am sure he was shocked sinc i have driven so many csrs and non of them have this issue.

Filed Jun 27, 2018 · Brakes · 68,000 miles · FL

Brake actuator failed when car was backing up in a parking lot; car made jerking action and stopped on its own; all warning lights lit; warning to take it for service immediately - which was done after consultation with the dealer (driven there).

Filed Aug 1, 2016 · Transmission · 500 miles · UT

From the time I purchased it new in 2006, while in park/stationary, it's normal for a prius to shut off their gas engine while in idle.. However, when the gas engine comes back on to help charge the battery while in idle, it causes the car to jerk forward 1-2 inches. One time this bumped a person crossing the street that walked near my idling car. It happens every time. So the date below should have an option for everyday.

Filed May 5, 2016 · Acceleration, Brakes · WA · crash · 1 injury

I was in a 2006 toyota prius car accident on the freeway when the steering wheel started jerking (to the point of no control), the brakes stopped working and the car kept accelerating. Car lost control.*dt*jb car was totaled, two witnesses and a police report. I was sent the emergency room. No responsibility was assumed by toyota, which completed their "inspection" on march 9th, 2012. Then eight months later on november 14, 2012 they come out with two recalls: a steering recall & an engine and engine cooling, hybrid propulsion system recall, probably as part of what they saw happened to me. I was never notified after about these recalls that my car potentially could've been defective from and part of.

Filed Feb 1, 2016 · Brakes · 86,000 miles · NY

When I driving on a decline and hit uneven ground or a pot hole, while braking, the car will lurch forward and the braking is suspended for a second. This is a recurring event and can be easily replicated with high probability. I have listed the most recent time this error has happened.

Filed May 17, 2014 · Engine · 114,980 miles · CA

After long drive up mountains, vehicle lost power when going uphill, pressing on the gas pedal resulted in jerky movement of a few feet. Vehicle stopped. Checked battery and it was low but had two blue bars. No warning signs were lit on the dashboard. Managed to turn vehicle around and it coasted downhill with no subsequent problems. The loss of power occurred on a road with a blind curve. Turning back was a potentially dangerous situation. There was no warning of any problems. Dealer was not helpful in solving this potential problem.

Filed Mar 28, 2010 · Acceleration · 25,000 miles · CA · crash

Returning home at 10 p.m I drove up to my garage door and attempted to turn off the motor. Instead the car lurched forward, hitting the door with some force. I slammed on the brakes and put the car in reverse. But instead of stopping it backed rapidly out of the driveway, across the roadway, and into my neighbor's cadillac. When I put it back in drive it still moved rapidly, this time back across the road and into my garage, causing terrible damage. This happened 4 days ago . Never before. I'm now waiting for a settlement so I can buy a less risky car.

Filed Mar 9, 2010 · Brakes · 52,000 miles · NY

When I go over a rough patch on the pavement while braking in my 2006 prius, the skid light comes on briefly on the dash and the car lurches forward even though my foot is on the brake. It feels like the computer is perceiving the possibility of a skid and is compensating by accelerating until the pavement is smooth. Fortunately no one has been in front of me when this happens and I haven't hit anyone. But it has happened repeatedly and it takes a time before the car responds to my own handling and brakes again. This is more than just what you might expect and want from electronic stability control.

Filed Feb 25, 2010 · Brakes, Engine · 49,000 miles · SD · crash

I am a rural mail carrier with well over 350,000 miles driven on my route without incident. I drive in all road conditions on gravel and paved roads. I was driving my 2006 prius on a wet but not muddy gravel road at about 38 MPH. The back end began to slide a little. I let up on the gas with no response. I pressed the brake pedal with no response. I went into a deep ditch filled with 3 ft tall grass. I steered to drive the center of the ditch and continued with the brake fully depressed for about 15-20 ft, ripping the tall grass out by the root as I went. The car traveled over a driveway approach, still at 35 MPH, striking the approach with the left front corner with enough force to bend the frame and do other serious damage, but with no airbag deployment. I continued over the approach and down the ditch, still at 35 MPH, for another 30 or more feet. I was pressing and holding the brake and lifting the gas pedal with my toe. The gas pedal was not stuck and the engine's rpms were low. Only when I put the car in neutral did it slow to stop. It took several attempts to get the car out of this ditch as the traction control kept lurching and stalling. I was able to drive the car out and home without incident. It had to be towed to a dealership for over $4000 in repairs. This was in mid-2008 and I don't know if any corrections made or were even known at that time. This was an absolutely terrifying situation. The car did not respond to any action I took. I had no control what so ever. The car is no longer driven..

Filed Feb 25, 2010 · Brakes · VA

Almost immediately after purchasing the vehicle, I went over a pothole and the car lurched forward briefly. Unsure if an acceleration issue or a braking issue. It has happened numerous times, but has been minor. I have reported this to toyota, but they ignored most of my emails to my surprise and disappointment. Today, I turned the corner and hit a small pothole. I felt it lurch, but the brakes did not work. I pumped them and no brakes. I pushed the on/off button and held it for the 3 seconds they recommend and it did not turn off the car. It took over 5 seconds before finally turning off and I coasted to a stop. It was terrifying!!! Once I calmed down and tried to start the car, it would not turn on and then once it did, it would not go into drive ... Only neutral. This happened 4 or 5 times before I was finally able to get it into drive to get home. I immediately called toyota on amherst dr. In springfield, va and spoke. He said it was not under warranty and that I would have to pay for a rental car. I let him know how displeased I was and he was kind and said he'll talk to his boss in the morning. I have told toyota that I am afraid of my car ........ Upgrade that to terrified! This was a very scary event. The 2010 car owners should not be more important than those of use with an earlier model of this car. It's not the floor mats. It's not the sticky accelerator pedal. It's their computer system and I need to have toyota respect my safety too and support this dangerous car that I'm stuck with. I would appreciate your help.

Filed Feb 17, 2010 · Brakes · 3,000 miles · CA

The federal safety agency id: 193333 I understand that the japanese government is investigating a braking issue on 2010 priuses -- involving slipping or surging forward when the brakes are applied. This is not unique to the 2010 model; our 2006 prius slips in the same way, under the same circumstances: when the driver brakes at slow speeds on a wet surface like a light rail track, or goes over bumps or into potholes while braking. It feels as if there are no brakes, and the car lurches forward. This has happened only on flat streets -- never on hills. The problem occurs about twice a month. In conversations about this problem, the toyota dealer tells me any vehicle will do this, but the anomaly is one I have never experienced in any other car I've owned, including 2 toyotas. In other words, nothing has been done to address this situation, because the dealers say there is no defect. "approximate incident date" question below makes no sense, because this is a recurring problem. Also, "mileage" information is useless, since this has happened dozens of times.

Filed Feb 15, 2010 · Brakes, Driver assistance · PA

I have a 2006 toyota prius. If I hit a pothole while I am braking, it feels like the brakes slip for a second and I lose my ability to brake while the car lurches forward. A second later everything is back to normal. The vsa light flashes concurrently with the incident. The first couple of times it happened, it really scared me, and I could have easily been in an accident. Now I make sure to leave more than the normal space between me and the car in front of me in case this happens. I just assumed this was something the car did that I would have to get used to, but now that the 2010 prius recall has been publicized, the issue being described there seems very similar to the problem my car has always had.