Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. While the contact was driving 75 MPH the vehicle suddenly accelerated. In order to stop the acceleration the contact had to apply the brakes and shift the vehicle into neutral gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the cause of the failure could not be determined. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 15000 and the current mileage was 18000.
2009 Toyota Prius acceleration complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 71, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I was driving my 2009 toyota prius, exiting the staten island expressway and as I approached the intersection the light began to turn yellow and I tried to stop (the road surface was uneven). When I put my foot on the brake the car lurched forward into the intersection so I had to go though the red light and I was lucky that the oncoming traffic hadn't begun to move yet.
My 2009 toyota prius has had occasional bursts of energy and jolts forward on is own. Luckily I was in "park" each time it happened. I wasn't even pushing the gas pedal. It was a very sudden thing, I had no warning. It's definitely not a floor mat issue. Now I'm afraid to drive it. The last time this happened was approximately a month ago, I asked if there was recall for my car, and the dealer said no. What's making me worry now is the story on the news about a "runaway" prius. I thank you in advance for anything you can do to help.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. The contact stated as she was driving there was unintended acceleration which happen twice. To stop the vehicle she had to pull to the side of the road or run the vehicle into the curb. The dealer was called and stated she can bring the vehicle in for them to take a look but there is no fix for the failure. The toyota manufacturer was called and they stated there is no fix and gave her a claim number. The failure mileage was 25,000.
1. After turning off cruise control, vehicle accelerated on its own up to 95m.p.h. Until I was finally able to get it stopped by pressing the brakes to the floor. After getting the vehicle pulled over to the side of the interstate, there was a lot of smoke coming from the front brake pads. I restarted the vehicle in an attempt to get it off the interstate for further inspection. As I exited the highway, I turned the vehicle onto the off ramp but the vehicle did not turn and drove us directly into the guard rail. I contacted toyota and they have denied there was anything wrong with the vehicle and dismissed my complaint.
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. While driving approximately 65 MPH on a cold day, the vehicle accelerated up to 108 MPH. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was stuck. The vehicle was placed in neutral gear in order to stop it from accelerating. The vehicle did not crash and there were no injuries. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000 miles and the current mileage was 11,000. Updated 03/24/10 *bf upated 07/07/10.
Multiple issues with 2009 prius. First: loss of air pressure in front left tire from time I picked up the vehicle to present. I continually need to put air in the tire, usually on a weekly/bi-weekly basis. The other tires are fine. Second: for the same tire, the tire pressure light would not be triggered until ~23 pounds, should have been triggered in same tire at 33 lbs. Third: vehicle would not stop when applying pressure on brakes at slow speed. This has occurred about 6 times in a 6 month period. Simultaneously, the vsc light went on and the slid indicator went on. The terrain was on either asphalt or concrete roads, slightly downhill (concrete) and one street is a bit rough (filled in pot holes). Also, both areas are within a quarter mile of each other and near the ocean. With each occurrence the vsc went into effect. On 11/21/09 it jolted hard much more than the other occasions; this date was the incident on the bridge when the car was going in a slight downward direction. I lost control of the vehicle for several seconds and was afraid that I would hit the car in front of me; I beeped my horn to warn the driver in front of me. My vehicle did stop in time but it took alot longer than it should have taken. On a later occasion, I was going about 5-10 MPH faster on a nearby street and attempted to stop for a stop sign and it did the same thing, however the vsc did not jolt back as hard. The vehicle was not angled down as much as the 11/21/09 incident. On 11/21/09 I took the vehicle to cabe toyota dealership and they looked at the car but found nothing wrong with it. I also had the car looked at by toyota corp today and was told that the driver feels that I felt the ABS brakes only. This is not the case. When I stepped on the brakes each occasion it was as though there was nothing there and I had no control in stopping it. This was especially true when the vsc kicked in (the jerking). Each time it lasted many, several or more seconds.
In addition to the traction control, ABS, gas pedal/floor mat problems with the toyota prius there is also a safety issue with the power button. In an emergency situation, like the door coming open, throttle getting stuck, etc. You can't power off the vehicle quickly. You must hold the power button for some amount of time before the car will shut off. Unlike the toyota camry example where they suggested turning off the ignition, you can't do that on the prius. You also can't remove the key/fob to turn the vehicle off or power it off. There is also an extreme under steer problem with the vehicle which is a safety concern. In wet conditions it is exacerbated. It can be observed on clover leaf overpasses and general cornering.
I keep hearing about the momentary loss of braking on the 2010 toyota prius. However, I have encountered the same problem on my 2009 prius. When passing over a slick, bumpy, or icy surface, I experience a momentary loss of braking, and a warning light that looks like a car skidding comes on for less than a second. This generally occurs at slow speeds, but has occurred at speeds up to 25-30 MPH.
I have a 2009 prius and on at least 4 occasions in cruise control my car has accelerated without my doing so. All of the times I was able to brake and bring down my speed. We tried to report this to toyota but they were not concerned. We then reported this to the dealership and the mechanic told my husband that " that sometimes happens". No report was filed or action taken.
I was driving a 2009 toyota prius and came to a stop at a friend's garage. All of a sudden the car accelerated forward, it hit an old fir tree and a brick wall. I checked and the floor mat was in the same position it always was. A friend pushed the fender back into place and the toyota dealer buffed out the scratches. I have contacted the dealer several times about checking out the accelerator. But they always tell me that I have to wait for a letter. I am very nervous about driving this vehicle and am having nightmares about this incident.
2009 toyota prius issue: dealership: there has been no response/recommendation despite multiple voicemails and email dated 2/6/10 to [email protected]. Toyota: awaiting response from toyota case manager after two phone calls, once on 2/9/10 and one on 2/10/10. Summary: 1. I want to bring to your notice that I experienced a sticking accelerator problem several weeks back, while pulling out of the driveway, when the car was moving in reverse and would not stop despite the brake being pumped a few times. The car was finally brought to a stop by pressing the power button for an extended period. I do not have any additional floor mats in the car, besides whatever was available with the basic package. 2. When braking on puddles/pot-holes the car seems to stall and the orange light turns on.
Accelerator sticking on 2009 toyota prius
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. The contact was positioned in the vehicle without the engine turned off when there was forceful pressure applied to the accelerator pedal, followed by the sticking of the pedal; however, the accelerator pedal released within a few seconds. Whenever the vehicle was in operation the driver applied partial force to the accelerator pedal to avoid the pedal sticking. The authorized dealer was been notified of the malfunction. The failure mileage was unknown.
The unintended speeding also happens on 2009 toyota prius when driving on a bumpy road, this happens every time when I hit a pot hole on one tire, car pulls to the opposite side at an increased speed and brake seems too slow to react.
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.
I purchased a 2009 toyota prius in april 2009. On at least four separate occasions I have had issues of my vehicle surging forward or being hard to stop after driving over a potholeand when driving on a washboard roads (1 time on the pot hole the other times were while on the dirt road). I just figured the vehicle didn't handle well dirt roads and pot holes so I am just extra careful in those conditions which is why I did not think to report this until now when I heard the report on brake issues with the prius. I do not know if my problem is significant of not, I thought I would report it just in case. I do not have approximate dates, just between april and september 2009.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. The contact was driving the vehicle at approx 10 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated as the driver's foot was on the brake trying to slow down. The vehicle in front was rear ended but the vehicle still did not stop accelerating so the driver swerved and hit a sign. There were no injuries reported at the scene, but after 3 people in the other vehicle reported injuries. A police report was taken at the scene. The contact took the vehicle to the dealership after the body repairs were done and the dealer inspected the vehicle. He was informed that they could find nothing wrong with the vehicle. He called the manufacturer and reported the problem. He was still awaiting a response at the time of the complaint. The current mileage was approximately 14,000. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000. Updated 03/12/10. *lj updated 09/30/10
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.
While crossing a small bridge over an expressway, applying brakes at the point of bumpy transition caused the vehicle to lurch forward for approximately one second. This caused a sudden panic, but no other effects. This is the second occurrence at the exact same bridge transition and bump over the course of 8 months. There are no recognizable side effects. This has not been reported to the dealer, nor to the company.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. The contact stated she was pulling into a parking space and the vehicle accelerated into a parking ramp and damaged the bumper of her vehicle.there were no injuries. Vehicle was driven to the dealer and they could not duplicate the problem they told contact if the failure happen again to bring the vehicle back to the dealer. The failure mileage 5,000 the current mileage is 13,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. The contact was driving approximately 45 MPH on normal road conditions when the "engine" warning light indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. There were numerous failures with various components within the vehicle. The consumption mpg screen on the instrument panel displayed inaccurate information. The engine exhibited a reduction of engine power. When depressing the accelerator pedal an excessive decrease in acceleration occurred. The fm and am radio selector failed to function properly. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing on two separate occasions. The technician was unable to duplicate the failures. There were no resolutions. The vehicle has not been repaired for the malfunctions. The failure mileage was 2,000. The VIN was rejected and will be updated upon receipt of the safety complaint form.
November of 2008 I bought a 2009 toyota prius. Since then I have experienced 4 incidents where the accelerator became partially depressed causing an unprovoked acceleration, the most recent being on sunday, january 24, 2010. I contacted the toyota dealership where I bought my car the very next day (1/25/10) and reported all 4 incidents. I was told by the toyota representative that there was nothing that they could do. I was given an 800 number to call to report my concerns. I received an automated reply telling me to call back at another time. I have been calling back but to no avail. I live in the high desert where it sometimes snows and the highway can get icy during the winter. I fear for my safety and the safety of other motorists if I continue to drive my prius due to the unpredictability of the accelerator sticking. I am retired and live on a modest income and cannot afford to pay for the repair of the accelerator problem. In the incidents that I have described the sticking of the accelerator was not caused by the floor mat or any other accessories.
2009 prius purchased may 15, 2009 has 4,675 miles on it. Acceleration/surging forward or not properly accelerating at other times. I do not have the floor mats mentioned in the recent recall. I am concerned about other possible issues with sudden engine acceleration and problems controlling vehicle . Have taken car to dealer several times and they told me it is "bad gas" or my driving habits. Called toyota and they told me to take car to dealer for them to try and repair it. Dealer still claims they cannot "replicate the problem" therefore there is no problem. Car mileage now down to less than 17 mpg. Lacks heat or heat does not properly function. Have had 5 instances of surge /acceleration "incidents. Some when going up hill and had trouble gaining power then when I put foot on brake it suddenly lurched forward rapidly;maybe to 60 or more mile per hour at an exit ramp. Had to keep braking in order to stop. Other times only leaving driveway..went from reverse to drive and car hesitated then "surged" forward rapidly before I was able to brake approximately 20 ft ahead. This had happened three times like this & twice when going up hills where I lost power and then the car suddenly surged forward and I had trouble stopping it. Very frightening, especially when dealer tells me nothing is wrong with my car and won't do anything about it..even when I have contacted them numerous times and have driven there to speak with them about this. Something is wrong with this car. Now the mileage has dropped right off to 17 mpgs. What is going ?
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. While attempting to approach an intersection at 20 MPH the vehicle would not decelerate. Consequently the driver rear-ended another vehicle, which caused that vehicle to rear-end another vehicle. A police report was filed. There were no personal injuries. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the front bumper was replaced. The failure mileage was 2,485. The current mileage was 5,023. The VIN was unavailable.
Hi. I have a 2009 prius that has had 5 separate episodes of accelerator sticking. Since I bought the car 11-09. The last incident was oct 09. No floor mats in the car. It has only occurred when, at 55+ MPH, I accelerate rapidly to pass another car. The accelerator felt like it had remained depressed with continued speed acceleration. This did not respond to pushing down on or pulling up on the accelerator, or to depression of the brake pedal. The episodes lasted less than 10 seconds and resolved spontaneously. I was unable to identify why the acceleration suddenly stopped, but when it finally did stop, the speedometer indicated over 70+ MPH. I pushed continuously on the brake pedal to slow the car during the episodes, with only minimal slowing of the vehicle. I have not taken the car to the dealer yet, as everything in the media indicates that they deny any problems with the care and have had no explanation for the events except the car mats.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. While making a turn at 25 MPH, the vehicle accelerated without intention. After repeated brake application the vehicle would not stop. He struck a curb which damaged the front driver side tire. The vehicle has not been inspected. The current and failure mileages were 4000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. While applying pressure to the brake pedal at 10-15 MPH, the vehicle forcefully surged forward. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. The technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer on a separate occasion for the identical failure which there was no resolution. The failure mileage was 5,000. The current mileage was 10,000. The vehicle identification number was unavailable. Updated 2/26/10 *cn the consumer stated the vehicle would surge at times upon starting the engine. It would also lurch while in park. The consumer stated there were 2 incidents where her foot was still on the brake and the vehicle accelerated which caused 2 minor accidents. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for electrical and brake work. However the vehicle continued to surge when started intermittently. Updated 08/24/10
I was first in line at a red light. The light turned green. I accelerated aggressively in order to change lanes as I pulled away. When I was across the intersection I lifted my foot off the gas pedal and it continued to accelerate. Shocked I depressed the brake, but it had no effect on the acceleration. There was nothing in front of me so I pulled to the right side of the road and hit the power button and the car stopped. I got out and immediately checked the mat. They were not near the gas pedal. I started the car again and it seemed fine. I took all side streets to get home and stayed away from all cars and people. I brought the car to toyota the following morning. They could not duplicate the event and said there was nothing wrong with the car. My car was a prius 2009 package #3 with 7500 miles on it. Until that day, it drove perfectly and I was very happy with it. I won't drive the car again.
I am writing to let you know of a problem I am experiencing with a 2009 toyota prius that I purchased new just one week ago and which still has less than 500 miles on it. A couple of days ago I was approaching a stop at an intersection, in town where my speed had been only about 15 MPH. While my foot was on the brake, just prior to a full stop, the car accelerated on its own. I kept my foot on the brake, pressing hard, and the brake eventually overrode the accelerator and stopped. Looking at the dash I saw that the ABS brake light flashed on briefly. It was a sunny day, no rain, no slick surface. No one was in front of me, so no damage to me or anyone else. Another incident happened this morning in my garage. I got into the prius, foot on the brake, pushed the power button, and then a moment later, still in park, I felt a surge. The car did not lunge forward, but I strongly felt the revving and surge of power, and the car lifted from the power. These incidents caused me to search the web for similar experience of others, and I have found many, some with severe consequences. I would also like to add that in hindsight I realize that two other things I have noticed about the brakes might be important to relate. I sometimes hear a slight grinding disk sound when I brake, and I have on a few occasions noticed that the brakes are skipping and the ABS engaging, as if I were on a slippery or graveled surface. Yet that was never the case; the road conditions were dry and tar was in good condition. I know this because I looked back each time to see what might have caused the brakes to act strangely. There was no apparent cause. In retrospect, after having experienced the acceleration at the stop sign, I realize that these other odd braking issues might be symptoms of the bigger braking issue.
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