2009 Toyota Prius: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Feb 17, 2015 · Body, Steering · 68,440 miles · AZ · crash

While inching slowly into a parking spot, vehicle suddenly accelerated at full speed to jump over the parking barrier. Wheels were turned slightly to right, so car veered right and stopped as it high-centered on the barrier, just behind front wheels. No injuries- driver & child in back were buckled. Witnessed by many pedestrians who ran to assist. One witness said the same thing happened in her prius, but toyota was useless to help. In months since the incident, toyota has been terrible at responding in any helpful way. The black box recorder shows nothing, of course, since it was a slow impact without airbag deploy. Most interestingly, the federal safety agency has no info of this incident, which I'm reporting today only because I noticed in the owner manual on rear page, small print, some info about reporting safety defects for u.s. Owners... But at least 20 toyota personnel, insurance adjustors, repair facilities and sales team members never said anything about such a report. Hence my assumption that most of these incidents are not reported to gov't unless fatalities occur.

Filed Dec 31, 2012 · Transmission · 108,000 miles · OH

While engine running and in parked mode, engine suddenly raced as if gas pedal was depressed and vehicle lunged forward a few inches.

Filed Nov 22, 2011 · Acceleration, Electrical · 23,687 miles · AZ

I was gliding into a commercial parking space with my foot off the accelerator in the second before I moved my foot onto the brake. Suddenly, the accelerator pushed down by itself, the car surged forward towards the truck in the space in front of mine. I slammed on the brake. End of incident. No mat was in the way. I had taken part in the recall.

Filed May 23, 2011 · Acceleration, Transmission · 500 miles · NC

I was driving my 6-month old 2009 prius one summer day on a dry, paved, slightly downward incline when the following problem occurred. As I approached a traffic circle at about 5 MPH and then applied the brakes, my car jumped forward for about a second and a gold light on the dash was briefly visible through my peripheral vision. Because I was familiar with anti-lock braking systems, I think that I kept my foot on the brake pedal, though I may have reflexively released it in my startle. At any rate the car stopped a few feet later. Thankfully there was no collision, largely due, I believe, to my habit of coasting to a stop when practical. However, this was a bit unnerving, and also since it was during the period of concern about toyota prius' unintended acceleration, I made a point of reporting it to my car dealer. I could not identify which dash light had flashed for a second. The dealer's response was that there was probably an uneven surface on the road that caused the problem. Sure enough, there had been both a shallow pothole and a bit of gravel where the stopping problem occurred. However, I take issue with toyota's blaming road conditions for this problem when clearly the problem is that the car cannot respond appropriately even during very slow speeds. The problem hasn't recurred because I avoided the pothole afterward and never have to stop on a dime, pothole or no. I have had cars with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and never encountered this problem with them. Therefore, imo toyota needs to improve the ABS or the (then new) stability control feature on priuses, both of which my car has. In all of the hype about toyota cars' sustained unintended acceleration, I do not remember that this other event that I have described was also being addressed. How come? Where are the federal safety agency, nasa, and toyota on this?

Filed Sep 23, 2010 · Acceleration, Airbags · 8,000 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. The contact stated that the vehicle was at a complete stop when it suddenly accelerated. The vehicle crashed into the brick wall although the driver was attempting to apply the brakes. The driver experienced severe whiplash, swelling in her chest, bruising on her ribs and shoulder. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There was no mention of the vehicle being destroyed. A few months prior to the failure the dealer performed an complete vehicle inspection and dealer stated that there was nothing wrong it. The manufacturer was not notified. The current and failure mileages were approximately 8,000.

Filed Sep 23, 2010 · Acceleration · 9,000 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. The contact stated that when the vehicle stopped it suddenly accelerated. The contact attempted to apply the brakes but the vehicle would not slow down causing the vehicle to crash into a wall. The crash the air bags did not deploy and the contact suffered injuries to the neck, knee, and chest. The contact called the manufacturer regarding the crash and the manufacturer stated that they wanted to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe and does not want it repaired. The failure mileage was 9,000.

Filed Jul 28, 2010 · Acceleration · 20,001 miles · KY · crash

Tl* the contact owned a 2009 toyota prius. The contact stated that while attempting to park, the vehicle abnormally accelerated at a rapid rate of speed. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle and crashed into a brick wall. The contact was uninjured. A police report was available. The vehicle was repaired by the dealer however, the contact did not feel safe driving the vehicle and traded the vehicle for another. She stated she had experienced numerous unintended acceleration incidents prior to the crash. The contact called the manufacturer who inspected the vehicle but offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 20,001 and the current mileage was approximately 20,045.

Filed Jun 22, 2010 · Acceleration · 30,000 miles · NY · crash

I was involved in 2 identical accidents over the past 6 months with the same car, a 2009 toyota prius. In december '09 I was making a right turn to pull into a parking spot. I was completely in the spot and went to come to a full stop when my 2009 toyota prius suddenly accelerated and crashed into a car. Then again on june 21, 2010, I was making a right turn into a parking spot and the same car suddenly accelerated as I went to come to a full stop in the parking spot. This time the car jumped the curb and went through a chain link fence. Both times I was making a right turn into the spot, both times I was braking and both times the car accelerated as I went to come to a full stop. The dec '09 accident was reported to the police, the june'10 accident was not.

Filed Apr 29, 2010 · Acceleration · CA · crash

2009 toyota prius. Consumer states unintended acceleration. *tgw the consumer stated as she made a u-turn to park, she moved the gear shifter from reverse to drive when the accelerator became stuck and the vehicle went forward despite the fact she was pressing on the brake and the vehicle did not stop until she ended up in a ditch. *jb updated 05/05/10.

Filed Apr 13, 2010 · Acceleration · 20,000 miles · MA

2009 toyota prius - unintended acceleration. On this vehicle, uncontrolled acceleration can be reproduced at will. I called toyota and they are treating it as yet another crank call, service manager advised to remove floor mat and bring in later in week. I would hate to see it swept under the carpet like other recent complaints.

Filed Apr 1, 2010 · Acceleration · 18,000 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota prius. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated to 60 MPH after he applied pressure to the accelerator pedal at a traffic light. The driver was able to stop the vehicle and drive onto the emergency lane where the vehicle was left overnight. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but no repairs were made when the complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000. The current mileage was 18,224.

Filed Mar 31, 2010 · Acceleration · 6,800 miles · VA

I was driving my newly purchased 2009 toyota prius (VIN# [xxx]) on rt 66 in arlington virginia on march 31, 2010. I was driving approximately 50-60 miles per hour and accelerating. I took my foot off the accelerator to slow the car and the car kept accelerating. I then depressed the brake, but the car did not slow, and in fact I heard what sounded like the engine 'gunning' and it continued to accelerate. I pressed the brake down as far as it would go and while the car slowed its acceleration, it did not slow or stop the car. As soon as I lifted my foot from the brake, the car began to accelerate again and I could hear the engine racing. I pressed the brake again, and the same thing happened ' the car slowed its acceleration, but did not slow its overall speed. As soon as I lifted my foot from the brake, the car accelerated. I did this three times, becoming increasingly afraid. I then jammed my foot hard on the brake and pulled off onto the side of the highway. I turned the car off, and it finally stopped. I sat there for a few moments, then turned the car back on and got back onto the highway. As soon as I got up to highway speeds, the same thing happened again ' the car accelerated on its own and the brake would not stop the car. I pulled over a second time and turned the car off as the only was I could find to stop it. I turned the car on again, and this time was able to reach my destination with no more incidents. I reported the problem to the carmax dealer from whom it was purchased and have been on hold to report this directly to toyota for over 30 minutes, but have been unable to get through. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).