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2010 Toyota Prius brakes complaints

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See the summary of 2010 Toyota Prius brakes problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · NJ

Like many others, I too have experienced the brake problem with the 2010 prius. When going over a pothole (while using the brake), the brake fails momentarily and the car lurches forward.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · CA

Just adding fuel to the fire, but I have a 2010 toyota prius and there is definitely a braking issue. Specifically, I notice it when I hit a pothole (and I live in los angeles, which is all the time). I frankly don't know whether there's actual acceleration or just total loss of braking (I basically notice it at slower city speeds--braking while turning a corner, for example), but there is definitely a momentary "surge." it happens regularly (ignore the date I had to enter below)--so much so that at this point I anticipate it.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 2,500 miles · WA

I have a 2010 toyota prius purchased 2 november 2009 that is having the braking problem on an intermittent basis. Sometimes when braking, the car will "lurch" forward when it should be coming to a stop. It happens just before I expect it to stop, and have compensated by braking more slowly in anticipation of stops. I worry about what would happen in a sudden, emergency stop, however. Thank you. (the date below is just to complete the form; you should have a category for intermittent problems that aren't tied to a particular date.)

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes, Visibility · 5,000 miles · CA

I bought a toyota prius v 2010. I have complained to toyota about the braking system. I am also filling a formal complaint with the federal safety agency. Also the back auto dimming mirror doesnt work properly. They cant find a fix. Lane keep assist works really poorly. I would say I doesnt work! Also bluetooth systems doesnt work properly. There is a delay in answering the call.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 100 miles · CA

I have had the 2010 prius for 2 months now. I have experienced the brake failure when going over potholes (which there are many of in los angeles) about 8 times in the last 2 mos. Over a pothole, I step on the brake and instead of braking my car actually accelerates a little, as if the pothole is pushing me forward. It's a loss of control over the vehicle for those 1-3 seconds, and if another car were in front of me no doubt I'd hit it as the brakes fail. I thought it was a problem with just my car until I read the news today.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 3,000 miles · OH

When traveling over a pothole or bump in the road during brake application of my 2010 prius, I sometimes lose braking power and the car will lunge forward or seem to accelerate. It's scary but thankfully I've been far enough away from the car in front of me that I haven't hit it. I didn't know whether to report this until I heard of the complaints that you were receiving and realized that it was a major problem.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 3,500 miles · CA

2010 prius purchased july 2009. Turning into my driveway while braking (which had a pothole in front of it) my car felt like it was lurching forward out of control after it hit the pothole. I would have thought that the pothole would impede my forward progress not increase it! I was going very slowly so the incident was momentary, but it did scare me. This happened several times before I learned how to avoid the pothole. I thought it was very strange but once I started to avoid the pothole I forgot about it. So I did not pursue it until I read the descriptions of the rough road complaints and realized that was exactly what had happened to me and that I should report it here. The dates, time and mileage are actually unknown because I did not make a note of it at the time.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 2,000 miles · PA

When driving through an alley, at the end, before I stop for the street, there is a pothole. Twice I hit it while braking for the stop sign at the street and something felt weird, like the brake didn't quite hold. Honestly I thought I moved my foot from the brake or something. I think it may have happened one other time. I am conscious of if because I wanted to be aware if I was doing something wrong so I could correct it.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 2,000 miles · NC

On about 5 or 6 occasions, I have experienced a momentary loss of braking capability in my 2010 toyota prius, which I purchased in november, 2009. No injuries or accidents of any kind have occurred and the loss of braking was for only a second or so, but when I read the reports today of the federal safety agency's investigation I knew that what I had experienced is exactly what has been described by others. This incident has occurred when braking at a relatively low rate of speed (25mph or less) over a bumpy, uneven surface in which both front tires are going over the uneven surface. The brake pedal depresses as normal and the brakes begin to work, but at the moment of contact with the bumpy area the brakes stop working momentarily, causing the vehicle to begin moving forward quickly for just a second. It feels almost like the vehicle is sliding or speeding up for just a second before resuming a descent in speed. I absolutely love my prius and in all other ways it is a great vehicle, but I did feel it was important to report this incident given your ongoing investigation.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · CA

Every time we drive down a hill near our house and hit a pothole/crack in the road, the 2010 prius seems to accelerate through the pothole even though I am breaking down the hill. This has happened since the first day we drove the car (in august 2009). There have been no accidents or injuries since this road is not heavily traveled, but it makes me hesitant to drive my car if I have to go down that hill.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 5,013 miles · CA

1. We purchased a 2010 prius six months ago. We have had four incidents braking where we feel the ABS over-compensates when the wheels are on different surfaces (e.g. Gravel/pavement, puddle/pavement, etc.). Two of the four incidents are notable because it felt as though I had lost control of braking and I was going to 1. Rear-end another car and 2. Go off an embankment. I am not an aggressive driver. Today, I was alarmed to learn,--reported in the news--that other drivers are experiencing the same issue. Toyota has checked out my car (at the 5,000 mile oil change), but reports nothing wrong. Something is wrong! If feels as though the ABS over-compensates on all four wheels when the surface under one wheel is "irregular" and causes the ABS to react to slipping/sliding. I've owned six cars with ABS, but none of them gave me the feeling that I'd lost control braking. There is something wrong with this car's ABS and I am concerned that toyota will not address it in a prompt manner. Your auto-fill form requires that I specify a date of incident. Four times, between november 2009 and january 2010, we feel we've lost control of our ability to brake this car at very reasonable (braking) speeds and distances. It's not just one incident.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 11,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. The contact stated that when she attempted to stop the vehicle by engaging the brake pedal while driving approximately 26 MPH over a pothole, the vehicle lunged forward. The dealer confirmed that the vehicle was functioning properly since it has an electrical engine. The failure continued to occur and has become more consistent. The failure mileage was 11,000.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Acceleration, Brakes · 10,000 miles · CA

I have a 2010 prius. On at least three occasions, in the last six months, the following has occurred. When I am traveling and I apply brake pressure the vehicle begins to accelerate. No matter how hard I press on the brake pedal it does not slow down or stop the vehicle. It actually begins to speeds up while my foot is pressing down on the brake pedal. The acceleration has only lasted approximately 5-6 seconds. However, it is very frightening when you are traveling at a high rate of speed and trying to slow down especially off a freeway off ramp. The last thing you want to do at that time is accelerate even if it is momentarily. This has occurred in various places. It has happened while I am getting off of the freeway and on city streets. There was nothing I did in particular that corrected the failure. The prius just stopped accelerating on it's own.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 3,000 miles · MN

My 2010 prius hybrid has a problem in certain instances when I apply the brakes. The first time it occurred was when I was applying the brakes to stop in front of my home. There were wet leaves in the street and when I applied the brakes, there was a moment when nothing happened. Then it felt as if the ABS system actuated and momentarily the brakes locked up and the car started to skid, then the ABS took over and the car came to a stop. Truthfully I was frightened. I have owned the vehicle since september, 2009 and this has occurred several times. I was lucky one time when it happened in traffic when the vehicle in front of me stopped suddenly. I was sure I was going to hit the other vehicle but it moved forward far enough so that I did not hit it. I have noticed that it occurs most often when the street or highway is rough or bumpy in the area where I am braking. It is especially treacherous here in minneapolis when the streets are slick from snow or ice. I certainly have learned to give the other car plenty of room so that I will have time to brake. However there are occurrences, such as 4-way stop signs, where it is almost impossible to allow enough space.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 2,200 miles · MN

Approaching a four way stop sign in my 2010 prius, I applied the brakes but the car continued for approximately a second before the brakes took effect. There was patchy ice on the road before the stop sign. I went through the intersection, past the stop sign by about 20 feet. I originally thought it was just the ABS braking characteristics however now I realize it was an actual delay in the breaking itself. I drove my previous 2004 prius for 108,000 miles without ever having this occur.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 451 miles · AL

My 2010 toyota prius brake problem: to begin driving my prius from a stopped position one releases the brake pedal before pressing the accelerator pedal. Quite often when attempting to release the brake pedal on my prius there will be an instant jerk and any vehicle movement appears to be dead locked. After several attempts it will then appear to straighten out and then driving is ok. Considering my driving habits, this is very much a safety problem for me, and also I don't trust the car.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 100 miles · WI

Hitting a bump while braking causes the brakes to not work properly for a split second, giving the feeling that the car is lunging forward.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 1,800 miles · NC · crash

2010 prius did not stop even though I pressed brake hard enough to make my foot sore. Brakes had been squealing slightly since I purchased car on 12/30/09, but I thought it was the cold.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 5,000 miles · WI

When applying brakes, to my prius 2010, on at least 3 occasion the brakes seem to fail. Applying more pressure doesn't seem to work right away, then the brakes grab hard. Only noticed at slower speeds, and rougher roads.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 200 miles · CT

2010 prius - confirming reports about brake failure. At the company I work, there are rumble strips leading to a gate when departing the grounds. I have learned to slow way down before hitting the rumble strips because I almost hit the bar that rises at the gate the first few times after purchasing the car last summer (2009). The brakes briefly fail then kick in again. Have not been on rough terrain but I'm sure this would occur similar to the rumble strips.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 2,400 miles · OR

Brakes did not immediately catch when applied and caused slight skidding.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 3,500 miles · NY

I want to register a complaint that I am experiencing loss of braking in my 2010 prius when the car hits a bump or pot hole in the road. Have been in conversations with toyota personnel. No satisfaction to date with possible fix. No accidents have occurred thus far with my vehicle. It has occurred several times, most notably since the roads are getting rougher as a result of winter.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 5,000 miles · CA

We purchased a 2010 prius in june and took it in for servicing in december. At that time we reported exactly the same problem that is now in the news -- when braking at low speed the vehicle occasionally lurches forward for an instant before slowing down. At the time we reported it, the dealer said that it was just the transition from electric to gas at the moment we applied the brakes. It now appears to be a more serious problem so I am writing to add our experience to your files. This problem does not happen often, but it is unsettling when it does since the driver does not expect the car to accelerate, even momentarily, during braking. In a tight situation or heavy traffic, this could easily cause an accident. So far when it has happened, there have been no consequences, but it is something we worry about. The date below is the date we reported the problem to our toyota dealer.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 8,800 miles · CA

I have a 2010 prius iii with brake issues. Sporadically, when driving backwards from a parked position the brakes become incredibly sensitive and I have to turn off the car and turn it back on again for them to function normally. On about 01/17/2010, after a heavy rain, when I was again pulling backwards out of my driveway my brakes made a grinding sound as if the pads were gone. Mind you I have less than 9,000 miles on the car. Again, turned off the car and back on to fix. Has not happened again but it hasn't rained either.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 100 miles · IL

My 2010 toyota prius was a week old. I was exiting on a sloping downward ramp from lake shore drive in chicago and getting ready to stop and turn right. Road conditions were wet and cold but not icy. I applied the brakes and the car failed to stop. I pumped the brakes several times before they "grabbed." luckily there was no car in front of me or behind me. If there had been a car in front, I would surely have rear ended it. I thought being a "new" prius driver I had done something wrong but it definitely caused me some panic. I now have 456 miles on the odometer. The brakes have not slipped since the first incident but I have been very cautious in applying them in similar situations.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 5,000 miles · CA

Three separate occasions of momentary loss of braking going over rough surface (two different locations) on dry asphalt. Each time the braking resumed after a short moment, as the brake pedal was kept pressed. When the brakes went out, it felt as if the car started lurching forward, causing momentary panic with the driver and the passengers. Luckily there was still time to get to a complete stop before impact.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 3,000 miles · NJ

2010 toyota prius brake problem. This occurs when hitting a brake when on some sort of rough road area, like a pothole or a bump. It feels like either the brake isn't engaging or it's speeding up. It's hard to tell. Either way, it's scary and it can cause an accident. For instance, if you're driving in manhattan and you hit a pothole as you brake with a car in front of you. (I was lucky when this problem kicked in and I hit that pothole as there was no car in front of me at the time.) this problem has happened to me close to 10 times now. Please note that this has happened numerous times. It happened within a couple days of when I got the car. I didn't see "brakes" on your list of parts that were defective. I did see "service brakes" in 3 categories, but I didn't know if "service brakes" was some special meaning, nor did I know which kinds of brakes had the problem (or even which kind the car has).

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 3,500 miles · AZ

There have been 3 instances where the brakes of my vehicle briefly stopped working effectively. These instances always occurred when I was attempting to brake over rough pavement or potholes. It has not resulted in an accident for me yet, but having just read that this is an issue for the 2010 prius, I thought it important to report that I too have experienced this problem in my 2010 prius.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 1,800 miles · OK

I have noticed the temporary loss of braking in my brand new 2010 toyota prius purchased in december 2009. When braking on uneven ground, if you hit a pothole in the road the car lurches forward and it feels like you hit the accelerator. Please encourage toyota to address this issue.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 3,000 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2010 toyota prius. The vehicle began to accelerate without warning while driving approximately 15 MPH over a pothole. The contact was forced to apply extreme pressure to the brake pedal in order to stop the vehicle. The dealer advised the contact that the vehicle will continue to respond that way whenever the electrical engine switched to the gasoline engine. The failure mileage was 3,000.

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