When backing up, the car will, on occasion, automatically accelerate excessively. This causes the driver to need to step aggressively on the brake in order to control the car. This cycle of "race and brake" continues until our need to reverse is complete. Once we are in drive there is no further problem. This has occurred about six times since we purchased the car in late july. It has most often occurred when it is the initial drive of the day, but the most recent time the car had already been driven 100 miles and had been idling for several minutes. We contacted the dealership from which we bought the car. They have not heard of the issue. We also took it into our local dealership. They were, of course, not able to replicate the problem. No resolution or correction has occurred.
2010 Toyota Prius acceleration complaints
Page 6 of 11: complaints 131 to 160 of 287, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl*the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. The vehicle accelerated on its own while driving 30 MPH, when the contact attempted to stop at an intersection. The failure occurred six times. The driver stated that when the failure occurred they were unable to stop the vehicle. The toyota dealer stated that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. The failure has occurred for over 9 months. The contact has not received a recall notice from the dealer but she is aware of an existing recall. The failure mileage was 2,500. The current mileage was 5,500.
2010 toyota prius cruise control caused unintended acceleration when re-engaged. After disengaging cruise control set to 65 and coasting at 50 for a while when the cruise control was re-engaged the vehicle resumed in excess of 70 MPH before I disabled cruise control. Date of incident is approximate. I didn't think much of the failure at the time other than that the cruise control was behaving oddly (I have avoided cruise control on this car since). In light of the current investigation I thought I would submit a report.
We bought a 2010 toyota prius ii in 7/2009. We have on multiple occasions experienced a brief acceleration of the car when our foot is applying the brake pedal to try and slow down. Most of these occasions have happened when going over bumps and often when turning a corner. We did have the software upgrade that was recommended by the recall just 2 weeks ago. Still, my wife experienced the same problem again when coming home in the car a few days ago. It has happened in total about 5 times since we bought the car in 7/09 and have driven about 10,000 miles. On one occasion last year I almost lost control of the car going around a curve because of the acceleration. I don't think this is simply a brake issue, the car actually seems to accelerate briefly.
Tl*the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. The driver stated that she recently had a recall repair performed on her vehicle for the acceleration; however, she continued to experience the identical failure. When she drove over a bump in the road, the vehicle accelerated on it's own. She called the service manager and she is waiting for a return call from him. The failure mileage was 500. The current mileage was 8,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. The contact was stopped the vehicle and then noticed that the engine would suddenly surge without warning until the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 4700.
Tl*the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. While driving in reverse out of the garage he experienced an unintended acceleration at least three times within a month. Also when he was driving at 5 MPH and coming to a stop, the vehicle lunged forward and as he jammed his foot harder on the brakes, the vehicle kept going . The vehicle was taken to the dealer on two occasions; however, during a test drive they were unable to duplicate, diagnose or repair the failure. The toyota manufacturer has not been called. The failure mileage was 1,700.
Tl*the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. The driver stated that she was traveling 35 MPH when she switched lanes. When she applied the brakes and the vehicle started to stop but then it lunged forward and accelerated on it's own while her foot was on the brake pedal. The driver stated that the vehicle then came to a stop after her foot remained on the brake pedal. The driver did notify the dealer of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage and current mileages were 10,000.
My 2010 prius hybrid accelerates from electric to fuel mode on its own. I have taken it to toyota dealership 2 times for problem. Toyota servicemen states it will occasionally do that depending on the mode the vehicle is in. I find it to be very dangerous as I do not have control when it will happens. Servicemen also said that is why there is an alarm beeping to let driver know it is backing up. That does not make sense the alrm is not going to control the mode the vehicle is in. It is a safety issue several times I have almost hit other vehicles or pedestrians when backing up. I now try not to use reverse to avoid a possible accident. Please let me know if other vehicles have similar problems.
Tl*the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius hybrid. He stated that when the gasoline engine was engaged in any gear, including the park position, the vehicle would surge. He also stated that upon turning the gasoline engine off, the vehicle would momentarily roll backwards. This would often occur while any electrical component of the vehicle was utilized, to include the heater, defrost and radio. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they could not duplicate the failure. The dealer stated that the vehicle was operating as it was designed. There were no repairs made to the vehicle to date. The failure mileage was 200 and the current mileage was 1,398.
Our 2010 prius was experiencing surging over bumps, we had it re-programmed last week and today we experienced the surge again when we went over a bump, just like before.
2010 toyota prius; when shifting into reverse is sporadically difficult to control acceleration. Lifting my foot off the brake a tiny amount causes the car to feel like it is "surging" backward. The car is controllable, but it is a very different experience from being in reverse most of the time. Shifting to park and back to reverse seems to make it go away. This has happened to me 4 times since I bought the car in august 2009.
Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) february 15, 2010 at 3:29 pm I spoke to [xxx] at toyota 1‑800‑331‑4331 about problems I've experienced with my 2010 prius. I told her about the cruise control danger, where the car had been going along nicely on cruise, but suddenly rapidly accelerated when, on august 11, 2009, I was on the trip between new jersey and illinois coming through the tennessee/kentucky area. I had been traveling at about 65mph on cruise and it rapidly accelerated to over 80mph and I panicked while trying to get it to slow down. I tried slowing it down using the cruise button, then depressed the cruise off button. Didn't work. It did not respond immediately to the brake until I braked really hard. Therefore, my driving it was severely limited to driving at very low speeds in town. Other unintended acceleration has occurred even when not using the cruise. The car bolted forward numerous times on a bumpy section of road on my route home from work; it happened often enough there that I compensated by taking a different route. Efforts to stop the forward lunge included braking with no response, using the knob to shift to a different setting, and scrambling to find the [xxx] button to press park. Something finally stopped it, but I don't know what. The next scare occurred after it snowed. I drove slowly on the plowed road, but when the car encountered snowy lumps it rapidly accelerated lunging forward again. My attempts to stop caused me to skid dangerously into oncoming traffic lane. I parked the car in the garage and have not driven it again in well over a month due to the danger. In february, my co-worker[xxx] urged me not to drive the car because she had heard about a recall and was afraid for me, but I had already parked it by then ' knowing something was wrong with it. It has not been driven since prior to my learning that others have had similar experiences ' some have died or been injured as a result.
In my 2010 prius, the vehicle randomly accelerates when the cruise control is disengaged. This happens every 10th or 15th time of disengagement. When the brakes are applied harder the vehicle slows properly. The unexpected acceleration is very dangerous in traffic. The vehicle has been checked by the dealer and I was told that nothing is wrong. I called for a second time and was told the problem is not on the recall list. I will take it in anyway next week.
Crash due to brake failure, sudden unintended,sudden uncontrolled dangerous acceleration, surging forward momentary loss of braking capability while traveling extremely low speed under 5 MPH on an uneven bumpy country road surface, pothole, or bump, lurched forward skidded side ways into tree. Frequently occurs. Major collision damage, in repair shop 1 month. *tr updated 04/27/10.*lj updated 08/11/10
When I am driving my toyota prius 2010 and the vehicle goes over a bump or hole in the road the vehicle "jumps" especially is I am braking to slow the vehicle down.
2010 prius purchased in august 2009. Surge when applying brakes. Occurred 4 times including 2/15/2010. Has occurred in same place 3 times. Each time there were potholes. When they were fixed, did not happen until they returned. Complained to toyota dealer and was told this was normal when hydraulic and electronic brakes exchange. I suggested it was a dangerous normal. No damage or injury in any case. Was always able to push harder on brake to stop car. Stuns you when it happens because it is not normal. Since first instance, have tried to keep distance when slowing and braking.
We have experienced engine surges/lack of braking with our 2010 toyota prius on 5 different occasions during aug 2009 - feb 2010: -1: hit pothole with right front tire and experienced surge. -2: hit exact same pothole on another day and same result (surge). -3: while driving on paved road hit some ice and experienced surge. -4: while approaching stop light, applied brakes, when front right side of car hit gravel, experienced surge. -5: while preparing for left hand turn on busy street, when car went over a large drainage grate in the turn lane, experienced surge.
I have a 2010 prius. Everyone in the media is talking about brake issues but the real problem is that the car accelerates after it hits bumps in the road. It feels like an electronic problem. The brakes aren't the issue.
My 2010 toyota prius does not always recognize the key and will not open doors and not start the vehicle. The gear shift jumps out of gear going from reverse to drive and vice versa. The heater does not work properly. I am afraid to drive my newly purchased vehicle. Please advise.
I have a 2010 prius. Occasionally when I go over a bump (pothole, train track, rough road) my car feels like it jolts forward for a few seconds. This happens when I am not hitting the brakes so I don't think it is covered by the anti-lock braking recall. It is difficult to replicate this and I haven't reported it to the dealer because of this, but it happens about 1-2/week. It could be a problem in a traffic situation where cars are following closely.
This problem has existed since the vehicle was purchased. Cruise control either does not function at all or fails to function correctly. Sometimes the cruise control will not engage. Sometimes the cruise control will engage properly, but after applying the brakes (and disengaging the cruise control) the cruise control cannot be reengaged. Two operations will cause the cruise control to begin functioning properly again: 1) turn the vehicle off; 2) put the shift lever into the neutral position, then back into drive. Returned vehicle to dealer three times for repair. They did not fix the malfunction during any of the three repair visits. Their final response was to claim that the vehicle was "functioning as designed".
Using cruise control feature,when I hit the brake for split second the car speeds up before disengaging cruise control this happen all the time not on just the date below.
I have a 2010 prius. We have had the problem with the brakes when we go over a bump. In addition, if I am driving in cruise control and have to put my foot on the brakes, there is a brief feeling of acceleration so instead I have gotten used to turning off the cruise control before putting my foot on the brakes thereby delaying braking for a brief moment.
I own a toyota 2010 prius. I complained to the dealership where I bought my car in july at my first service/oil change about a sudden surge in speed while driving over bumpy surfaces. I presented them with internet information I had copied from consumers having the same problem but they would not take them from me. They serviced the car, drove it and returned it to me saying they found no problems and that I was the only person who had ever complained about it. They said they knew of no other similar complaints. I asked them to put on my bill the fact that this was happening to my car so that it would be documented for the future. They did not seem at all concerned at the time. It remains an ongoing problem when I drive.
2010 toyota prius, purchased nov. 2009. Using cruise control, the car accelerated quickly on it's own when I attempted to change speed by using the cruise control lever on the steering wheel. Happened twice, then I stopped experimenting for reasons of safety. The problem is identical to the one described by steve wosniak in public two weeks ago--one that got a lot of press. Acceleration stopped when brake pedal was tapped or cruise control was turned off.
I have experienced two problems with my 2010 prius v that I purchased last summer. First, on approximately 6-8 occasions, my car has not stopped immediately when I applied the brakes. This occurred 3-4 times when I approached a stop sign on a road between my home and church. The surface of the road approaching the stop sign had been scraped and roughened to get ready for re-paving. As I approached and applied the brakes, my car surged forward for about a second, but I was able to stop. This happened 3-4 times in other locations, as well. It is an incredibly strange and helpless sensation. This problem was probably noted between late august 2009 and last occurred about three weeks ago. Even though I was forced to put an exact date in the field below, I have no idea now when the exact dates were in which this braking issue occurred. When I brought my car to the dealer for its first oil change, I described what had happened but was told this had nothing to do with the other problems that had been identified in the media as to other cars. The person at the service desk just kind of ignored my comments and was not interested in hearing about the braking issue further. The second problem I have experienced is that when using the cruise control accelerate function the car just continued accelerating even though I was no longer turning the cruise function lever. This stopped when I applied my brakes. It did cause me to stop using the cruise control during that trip though. The cruise control issue probably occurred last august in I-5.
To the federal safety agency: I am an owner of a 2010 toyota prius that I purchased in june 2009. Since owning the vehicle, I have had about a half-dozen to a dozen occurrences of the same problem. At low speeds, when the rear wheel hits a bump, for a split-second the car feels like there is a burst of acceleration and is out of control. This lasts only a split-second. I saw another consumer in a news article about the prius brake issue describe it the exact same way. I actually mentioned this to my dealer (bernardi toyota, framingham, ma) when I brought the car in for the 5,000 mile service a month or so ago. The service dept told me that the behavior is normal for the hybrid vehicles, and known by toyota -- no fix or adjustment recommended. This seemed like an odd response, but because they told me there was no safety issue, I left it at that. I am providing my experience to aid the federal safety agency apply pressure on toyota to fix this problem in the prius.
The brakes on my 2010 toyota prius at times do not engage immediately. It may be necessary at those times to depress the brake pedal by 1/3rd before braking begins. There is a similar delay when braking is used to turn off cruise control. Neither of these have caused an accident, but in both cases there is some risk.
Soon after I got my 2010 prius in august, I experienced a braking problem. This has happened about 8 more times so far. While braking as I slowly approach a stop sign or light, if I simultaneously go over a bump or break in the road, the car will lurch forward a couple of yards requiring me to push harder on the brake which then stops the car. This problem has also happened 2 times in the last week while driving slowly and then braking when I encounter ice on the road. Luckily, no cars have been directly in front of me when this has happened. I have not reported this to toyota because I have not yet serviced my car.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2010 Toyota Prius?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history