Toyota Prius slipping problems

Filed Sep 27, 2023 · Brakes · FL

After I started my car and began driving away from a shopping center, I noticed that there were 3 static warning lights on the dashboard that had not been there before. They were the slip indicator light, the brake light, and the ABS light. I also heard a short, repeating buzzing sound coming from the front of the car that I had never heard before. As I was driving, the brake suddenly felt loose. Luckily, this happened as I was pulling out of a shopping center parking lot, so I was able to pull over to the side of the road instead of getting on the highway, which I was about to do. The following day, a Toyota dealer indicated that the issue was the brake booster pump/actuator system and that my car returned with error code C1391. The dealer indicated that this is a known problem with Priuses within my year range. I was told that I would have to replace both the pump and actuator. After talking to the dealer, I realized that there had been subtle clues of this problem beforehand. In the few months leading up to this incident, sometimes if I hit a big bump in the road, for a moment the Slip indicator light would flash and I would feel like I had no control of the car i.e. I was ever so briefly slipping. However, because this happened so briefly and when I hit a bump and everything went back to normal, I didn't think this was an actual problem, but now I believe this was an early sign of the brake failure. I contacted Toyota Corporate Office. They confirmed that this was an issue known to them with Priuses and said that they had sent letters to the previous owner of the car in 2019 offering an extended warranty not a recall. However, apparently, the previous owner had not fixed the problem and the extended warranty expired. Toyota refused to pay for the repair for this and refused to forward a copy of the 2019 letter to me,. This brake defect is a serious issue with no major warning signs. As of this writing, the part is available for inspection.

Filed Aug 27, 2020 · Transmission · 190,000 miles · NY

Automatic transmission slips into neutral unexpectedly, and when it does, often you can't get it out of neutral without turning car off. This has an electronic shift selector. This appears to be a rampant problem with this car. Do an internet search on 2008 prius slips into neutral and you will see many people are having this issue. Very dangerous when this happens on the highway.

Filed Aug 4, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 212,888 miles · CA

My 2008 toyota prius brake system is very dangarous ,on the hi way speed of 55 I push the brake softly ,out of sadden car started acting like a wild horse slipping to the left and right and I am an experienced driver on ice,I lived in m ichigan for a long time ,so I survived , and all drivers around me stopped and there was no accident, I am afraid driving that car,I have called toyota dealer, seems like use to be a recall but they have some hesitions to accept the faulty,dangarous brake system,I am going to complain to the ceo of the company.god help me,I was lucky my family and I survived ,my message to the toyota prius owners is please double check your VIN number and recalls,and insist to fix this common defect on toyota prius ,by the dealer with no charges.very very unsfe brake system. And my instrument lights are on and off I can not see the speed and the odometer and the gas indicator,I heard it was a recall but the dealership did not accept it. If I want to fix these faulty defective parts would cost me over 4000 dollars,toyota is responsible,I beleive should and must fix it for free valuntarly ,

Filed Apr 11, 2020 · Transmission · 123,000 miles · CA

Driving vehicle on a city street in drive gear and it slipped out of drive into neutral without warning. Tried to put it back in drive (as I was on the road) but every time I switched gears back to drive and released the gear shifter it would immediately pop back into neutral. I parked & turned the car off, waited and then turned it back on again. It seemed to be okay so I got on the freeway home and after I merged into traffic the same problem happened (but while I was driving at a much faster speed). I had to hold the gear shift down in drive the entire ride home (with my one year old in the car). I got home and after I parked and let the car sit I went back out and tried the car again and it happened again. I checked and the same problem happened in reverse (it won't stay in reverse, it just pops back into neutral).

Filed Feb 3, 2020 · Brakes · 70,000 miles · CO

Car fails to stop and/or loses traction when applying the brakes at low speeds. My tire shop has inspected both winter and summer tires for tread and inflation, so those factors weren't an issue during the times I lost traction control. Examples include: 1) skidding and failing to come to a complete stop at the exit to a dry, paved parking lot (fortunately my car stopped before entering traffic, but I slid past the actual stop sign in line with the sidewalk - it felt like I was rolling on loose gravel but when I got out and checked the pavement was clean); 2) failing to stop when applying brakes on a straight road in snow as I approached a light that was changing while going about 30-35 MPH (I had enough stopping distance to test every braking technique, from normal braking to pumping the brakes to pushing the brake pedal all the way to the floor; I ended up making an emergency right turn into the shoulder otherwise I would have gone through the light into the path of other cars); 3) sliding and failing to stop on winter side streets despite only traveling 5 MPH because I don't trust my brakes. I've also had the traction light come on and felt my car slipping when driving normally (20-25 MPH) through dry residential intersections with engineered drainage gutters running perpendicular to the street, or while making slow turns through intersections with unavoidable shallow potholes. I took the car to a toyota dealership in october 2019 in response to a customer support program notification that indicated my make and model might be affected by a brake booster pump assembly issue, but the dealership found "nothing wrong" (no warranty related diagnostic code per toyota's guidelines) and subsequently did not perform any repairs. I've experienced this issue sporadically for over a year, most recent incident on 2/3/2020.

Filed Jul 2, 2019 · Brakes · 5,000 miles · IL

Since purchasing the vehicle in october, 2017, I have had intermittent occurrences where the brakes feel like they slip when coming to a stop. It has happened in all weather conditions, (but mostly when wet), and at all speeds. I can go weeks without an occurrence, and then it can happen several times in a week. It seems to be completely random. I have been to two dealerships, and finally was able to drive with a tech who felt the "slippage". They kept the car for a few days and told me they talked to corporate and that a bump in the road triggers an ABS sensor to fire, causing the ABS to kick in. They also told me tire pressure might affect it. None of this sits right with me because it continues to happen. I have experienced driving a car when ABS kicks in, and this is not the sensation I am getting in the prius. "slipping" is the best adjective I have to explain what it feels like, and when it happens it is terrifying. The last time I took the car in to have them look at the brakes again, I was told that since corporate had been contacted previously, they would have to go back to them. They didn't keep the car, and told me they would call me back when the corporate rep would be there so he could drive with me. That was a few weeks ago, and they haven't called back, or returned my call. At this point, I feel like toyota is hiding something from me and I have lost all trust in the brand. I feel like I am driving an unsafe car and toyota is ignoring everything I am saying to them.

Filed Apr 30, 2019 · Brakes · 106,000 miles · MT

Front wheels loose all traction on icy patch! Traveling north on an old paved country road with a moderate crown and narrow lanes, I came upon a modest bluff that was just abrupt enough to keep me from seeing the road surface on the other side. Within 50' of the other side was blowing snow, some sticking and turning into ice. Air temp. 27 degrees. Don't know the surface temp, and it was sunny, nice. This patch was 500' or so and prompted me to remove my foot from accelerator. I was approaching 50 MPH, not fast for this road and was in no hurry. Within the time of a breath, my front end blew smoothly toward the ditch and me and the prius came to rest within 30' or so. Now this light to moderate cross wind took control of the front of the car, 'not the back'. The point being, rear wheels are free spinning, while front wheels have a rather aggressive breaking effect. Mind you, never considered touching the 'breaks'. In addition, I've learned that driving on snow covered town streets, that it is best to pop the car into neutral when approaching an intersection and applying the service brakes, this action would prevent the car slipping or sliding at all. (3 mo. Old michelin defender tires) not dedicated snow tires, but in my experience, very good. This town I live in has very steep grades, I'm able to negotiate all of it coming and going. I believe this incident (state farm claim #[xxx]) was caused by the overly aggressive regenerative breaking action when removing ones foot from the accelerator. Additionally, I would like point out that a hour earlier while driving to my destination, I'd driven over many drifting patches at varying speeds from 50 to 70 MPH with a stiffer cross wind. However I could see them far in advance. After a lengthy go-a-round with toyota over the phone, the response was, they will take no action on this car or in the future models. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 29, 2019 · Brakes · 30,000 miles · MA

When I brake on an uneven surface (potholes, bumps, etc) the car will sometimes jump forwards. I am unsure whether it is referred to as brakes slipping but it is exactly the same thing that I've read happening to many people. It was an issue in the 2010, which LED to a recall, yet there is no recall on the 2011. It doesn't make any sense, people have said that the actuator was the part that needed replacing, yet it is a $3-4k part and should not be left up to the consumer. This is a safety issue and is a known problem and needs to be addressed by toyota. It has been happening ever since I've owned the car. I have been lucky so far that it hasn't accelerated me into another car or person.

Filed Aug 6, 2018 · Acceleration, Electrical · 12,240 miles · CA

The vehicle started normally but when I reached about two blocks from my house, the prius started to act as if the electric motors were not engaging. The engine did not engage either and the gas pedal was unresponsive. The first time this occurred, I was stuck in the middle of a 4-way intersection until I shut down the vehicle and restarted it. After I restarted the prius, it continued behaving erratically. It sounded and felt like the gas motor had engaged but the electric motor had not. It also felt like the transmission was slipping/not engaging and I had to rev the motor to get the transmission to engage (which it did with a kick like it was being put into gear). This has happened 3 times so far. I had a passenger in the vehicle on the last incident. I have taken the vehicle into the dealership 3 times, but they are unable to find any issues with the vehicle. I reached out to toyota to see if they could address the issue, but they said that their field tech was unable to find any problem. I am worried that this car will fail in traffic and cause an accident. The incident dates are june 20, july 2 and july 27, 2018. The only indication that something was abnormal on july the 27th. Was a lower mpg reading on my display. Other than that, there was no warning or error codes displayed.

Filed Aug 22, 2017 · Brakes · MI

Brake slipping when over the manhole and lost control even not wet surface. I intentionally drove over same spot 4 times on 8/20/2017 and exactly same conditions happen.