2008 Toyota Prius: jerking or lurching

Filed Sep 23, 2019 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 179,000 miles · GA

Was parked in line to pick up child from school. Turned car on and put it on drive, moved slowly when parking brake light, ABS warning light, traction control light all came on and then my brakes went limp. Had to push all the way to the floor and stopping was still hard to do. Almost hit the car in front of me when suddenly all lights went off and brakes jerked to a sudden stop. I'm terrified to drive my car at faster speed knowing my brakes basically went out. Pretty sure it's failing brake actuator and toyota knows about this probably but didn't do a recall only extended warranties... I didn't own the car when those warranties we're going on in 2016. Headlights also will randomly turn off and I have to turn them off and back on constantly driving at night.

Filed Mar 4, 2018 · Acceleration, Brakes · 149,800 miles · TX

Running on a city street at 20 miles, gas pedal would not work, could not decrease or increase mileage. Brake pedal worked but went all the way down and finally stopped with a jerk. A constant noise and and has a toyota confirmed brake acctuator problem that toyota refuses to help since extra warrant expired in 12/2017

Filed Sep 26, 2016 · Body, Brakes · 82,000 miles · MA · crash

I was in a parking lot and turned my car into a parking space. As I slowed my car to bring it to a stop, applying the brake, the car accelerated on its own and crashed into a railing at the head of the parking space. Although I pushed the brake all the way to to floor, I could not stop the car. The car hit at such a speed that it broke a solid wood railing at the front of the parking space. My car was declared a total loss by my insurance company because of the damage. It seemed to me the car accelerated on its own and the brake was nonfunctional. I could not stop the car. I had two related incidents prior to this crash. The first, I rear-ended another vehicle when applying the brake to stop at a traffic light. Again, the car accelerated and the brake would not stop it. Even with the brake fully pressed, the car hit the other vehicle, bounced backward, continued to accelerate and hit the car again before coming to a stop. Secondly, one time I noticed when applying the brake to make a sharp right turn, the car lurched forward. This did not result in a crash.

Filed Jul 29, 2015 · Driver assistance · 80,000 miles · NY

I purchased my 2008 toyota prius as a certified pre-owned vehicle in 2014. Every time the car goes over a bump in the road -- be it a man hold, railroad tracks -- the car traction control light illuminates and the car lurches forward for 1-2 seconds. This has happened countless times. It is a commonplace occurrence when going over any kind of uneven surface on the road. From what I have read, this is common in the 2008 prius and I am wondering why this hasn't been investigated. On july 12th, I was driving in ky in heavy rain, going about 50 MPH. The traction control light came on, I began to hydroplane, and the car accelerated to 60mph and I almost drove off the road. I have been driving for sixteen years and have never hydroplaned. My fear is the car doing the same thing in rain that it does on uneven surfaces on dry road -- lurching forward slightly which is not what you want when driving in the rain.

Filed Dec 6, 2014 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 100 miles · CA

When making a turn from a stop and trying to accelerate quickly the car jerks and hesitate as the anti slip system light flashes and engages. You cannot accelerate quickly into traffic from a dead stop making a turn as the car refuses, jerks and acts like it will stall. Pavement is dry and no gravel. Happens each and every time since I purchased the car. Easy to replicate. Come to a complete stop, then turn right while pressing the accelerator down quickly and the slip system kicks, car jerks, hesitates and then very slowly starts to eventually accelerate.

Filed Dec 6, 2014 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 100 miles · CA

We have two prius cars with same issue - when making a turn from a stop and trying to accelerate quickly the car jerks and hesitate as the anti slip system light flashes and engages. You cannot accelerate quickly into traffic from a dead stop making a turn as the car refuses, jerks and acts like it will stall. Pavement is dry and no gravel. Happens each and every time since I purchased the car. Easy to replicate. Come to a complete stop, then turn right while pressing the accelerator down quickly and the slip system kicks, car jerks, hesitates and then very slowly starts to eventually accelerate.

Filed Nov 18, 2013 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 180,000 miles · MN · crash

When I brake and also go over a bump my 2008 prius lurches forward. The traction control light illuminates. The brakes become ineffective. This caused me to have an accident last night. The cars before me came to a sudden stop. I was driving 15-20mph but unfortunately I hit the brakes while unknowningly simultaneously going over a bump. The faulty traction control system sent me into a 1-2 second lurch forward with zero brakes. When I finally was able to have brakes I had to maneuver the vehicle to the left of the car ahead scratching the aura and denting my front right panel. This is not the first time the brakes have failed but it is the first time I was involved in an accident because of it. Toyota drivers need to leave a 4 sec. Space between cars to make up for the 2 sec. Lapse in brakes.

Filed Jan 7, 2013 · Engine · 63,274 miles · MS

A sudden jerk and a bunch of warnings lights appeared on dashboard. The car made it 20 miles to my home but I was running on a damaged engine. Took it to the dealer the next day, allen toyota of gulfport, ms, and they fixed it saying water pump had to be replaced charging me $295. I have receipt. Dealer told me to apply to this website as I recently received a recall notice from toyota about this part promising they would reimburse if the part had been repaired at my expense before receiving recall letter.

Filed Dec 20, 2010 · Acceleration, Brakes · 31,000 miles · CA

2008 toyota prius, when I hit a bump or pothole at relatively low speed, the car sometimes goes into "anti-skid" mode, leading to a brief disconcerting period of lurching/acceleration/loss of braking ability before the car returns to normal. This problem is usually accompanied by the yellow anti - skid icon indicator on the dash.

Filed Jul 15, 2010 · Brakes · DC

I have a 2008 toyota prius, and repeatedly experience the "brake drop-out" problem that has been discussed on numerous prius-related websites. (see, for example, http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-technical-discussion/80218-traction-control-disabling-brakes-over-bumps.html, or http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-hybrid-news/75647-toyotas-next-page-ranking-nightmare-prius-brakes-4.html, among others). I also understand that this problem has been raised with the federal safety agency numerous times. The problem I experience is that when I drive over a bump or pothole, particularly at a low speed, while braking, a warning light flashes on and the car momentarily lurches forward. Several times I have felt close to getting into an accident as a result. I understand from the extensive online discussions of this problem that it has to do with a transition from the regenerative braking system to the traditional friction braking system, but that only explains the problem, and does not solve it. I understand that toyota has addressed this problem in the gen iii prius, but has done nothing about the gen ii prius. Also, this has nothing to do with the floor mat recall for this car.

Filed Jul 12, 2010 · Brakes · WI

My 2008 toyota prius touring edition has had a consistent problem with the skid light going on under the most innocuous of conditions. I now have 34,000 miles on it, and after it happened again yesterday, and I saw this website address, I decided to report it. Often, when I drive at any speed, especially on city streets, if I go over a tiny bump, a small pot hole, a minor moist spot, not to mention snow and ice, the yellow light comes on while the car seems to become airborne for a few seconds, seems out of control, and skids when the tires grip the ground again. My heart lurches along with the car, and it makes me afraid to drive it (in addition to the general recalls that have eroded my confidence in the car). In some cases, I have actually skidded into a curb before I could regain control with the brake. (I was told by my dealership 1) they haven't heard of such a problem; later: 2) well, it is because of the tires, which had only 20,000 miles on them; and when we replaced the tires with michelins and it still happened: 3) the car is supposed to do this and it's good that the braking system is so sensitive.

Filed Jun 2, 2010 · Brakes, Driver assistance · OH

On my 2008 toyota prius, when I hit a bump or pothole at relatively low speed, the car sometimes goes into "anti-skid" mode, leading to a brief (~1/2 second), disconcerting period of lurching/acceleration/loss of braking ability before the car returns to normal. This problem is usually accompanied by the lighting of the yellow skid icon indicator on the dash.